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Sunday, March 10, 2013

Steampunk Susan


Meet Susan.  Susan is a dress form I purchased at a prop sale a long while back.  She was wrapped in bubble wrap and I could not quite see how anatomically correct she was.  I'm sure she must have been a model for one of those Frederick's of Hollywood  swanky lingerie shops.  At any rate, when Carol at the Polka Dot Closet sent out the invites for this year's annual dress form ball, I'm not sure Susan was the kind of guest she was hoping for.  So I set out to try to make her a respectable lady.  This is as close as I could get with the material at hand.
 Her body was white and plastic.  I used an old pattern and decoupaged it to her body thus giving her actual skin.  One layer of the tissue pattern wasn't quite enough so I selected some graphics from The Graphics Fairy and took more of the pattern paper, cut out enough of the pattern to tape onto regular copy paper.  I ran it through the copier to copy my script and graphic images and then decoupauged the patterned and scripted tissue over the original layer.  The tutorial for making your own homemade script tissue paper can be found on my side bar.
 I used Carol's wonderful tutorial on how to make this beautiful corsage.  You can see it on her side bar when you visit the dress form ball.
 I made the skirt following a simple tutu tutorial on the web, spiced it up with a pretty vintage clock, a skeleton key and some crinkly ribbon.  Her adorable velvet jacket was purchased at the Goodwill.
 I added some lace trim that resembled garter belts and adorned her with some of my own jewelry.
 I used a little strip of the tulle and made her a halter top joined with a sparkly pin, or the tulle can just be tied like I did it in the following photo.
 Here is the dress pattern paper attached to the copy paper.  This time instead of using the spray adhesive, I used scotch tape to attach the tissue to the copy paper and just ran it through my copier.
 You will get a smaller sheet of tissue paper than 8 1/2 x 11, but it's a great way to get a thin sheet of paper to decoupage with.


Now if you are wondering where Susan got her name, I named her after Madonna's character in the movie Desperately Seeking Susan.  My Susan's character fits the character in the movie to a T.  Thanks for stopping by.  Susan will be attending the Dress Form Ball at The Polka Dot Closet.



I may be partying at...


Mondays          Le Chateau des Fleurs       The Graphics Fairy    
                                      Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday
                            
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage    A Stroll Thru Life   
                                     Cozy Little House Tweak it Tuesday
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style
                                           
Thursdays        The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday    
                                     Rustic Restorations Homespun Happenings
Fridays            French Country Cottage       My Romantic Home        Miss Mustard Seed
                                    Potpourri Friday     Common Ground
                                    The Charm of Home    Rooted in Thyme
Saturdays        Funky Junk Interiors

Sundays           


34 comments:

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

OMG!! I just LOVE Susan!! I bought a dress form that I haven't done anything with yet so I am getting lots of ideas!!

I will be linking up later after I get home from work and finish my post so I hope you will stop by later in the day....

Hugs,
Deb

Inmaculada said...

I have been a beautiful body and very elegantly dressed.
greetings and happy week

Diane said...

Very cute. Lovin the steampunk look.

Vickie @ Ranger 911 said...

You have every transfer method perfected and the tissue decoupaged to Susan't body is genius! The little vintage jacket is the perfect addition to her funky attire! Have fun at the ball!

Deneen@dreaming-n-color said...

This is so funny. You have to check mine out. We were kinda thinking the same in a few parts. I love the way yours came out. Looks like something Madonna would love!!

Julia @ Vintage with Laces said...

Hi Maggie, Susan is a beautiful lady! The graphics you chose look great on her and her outfit is very pretty. I love the steampunk details too.
Hugs,
Julia

Lynda Bergman Decorative Artisan said...

I LOVE it!! So Creative and beautiful!!

Curtains in My Tree said...

I like sexy Susan very much

coming over for a visit from the Ball
I joined my gals in the party also

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

How lovely, Maggie! What a great idea to use a pattern as the main decoupage paper. Love how that turned out. Love the outfit, too. Her skirt is very flirty and I like how you did the garters.

Irene Helms Designs said...

Susan is absolutely divine!

NanaDiana said...

Susan is just beautiful and I love this party- It is so much fun seeing everyone's dress forms all partied up! xo Diana

The Polka Dot Closet said...

Oh Maggie, Susan has already arrived here at the ball and I can tell you...She is the talk of the ball!! She has the men around her like bees to honey!!! She is fabulous, you thought way out of the box!! I love the tissue paper graphics!! I will have to keep a close eye on her lol ! I bet your family cracked up! Thank you so much for joining the dress form ball!

Carol

Betsy@My Salvaged Treasures said...

I think Susan is stunning in her fancy clothes. I adore her garters, black tutu, and of course those gorgeous jewels. Love her new skin too...very clever.

Unknown said...

Wow!!! This is amazing thanks for the great inspirations and tips. Thanks for linking.
Xo

Maureen said...

Well Susan IS the perfect name for her! Love how you decorated her!

miss flibbertigibbet said...

I love Steampunk stuff and you did a fantastic job!!

Susie said...

Love, love the decoupage. It makes it better. cute jacket too.xo,Susie

Bliss said...

Susan you are rocking that little black number.

Bliss

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Maggie,
Susan is a stunner. You are one creative girly and I love what you did to design your girl. She has to be having a fabulous time at the Ball.
I also designed a table top with vintage pattern paper and yes it is thin, but I used several layers. Would you believe I forgot to include her in my post. Oh well, maybe next year. LOL

Have fun, Hugs, Celestina Marie

Createology said...

Susan is quite the charmer in her lovely outfit. Your clever method of printing Graphics Fairy ephemera onto pattern tissue is brilliant. This is such fun. Dancing the night away...

Pendra said...

I wish I had Susan's figure...I might wear her outfit too!!! So fun and what a creative and very clever way to decoupage with the graphics!! She'll add a little spunk to the ball!
Hugs,
Pendra

Beansieleigh said...

What a sassy little thing your Susan is!!!! So CUTE, and I LOVE the movie, Desperately Seeking Susan! I would love the dvd, but haven't seen it yet... Well, it was very nice meeting both you, Maggie, AND Susan via The Dress Form Ball today! ~tina

Michele's Treasures, Teacups, and Tumbling Rose Cottage said...

Wow! Check out the garters! Love the paper you used too. ; )
~Michele

sunnyskiesandsweettea said...

I really like the paper on her! She turned out very beautifully.

Blessings,
Amy Jo

Nanna said...

very creative, all the work that went into her realy paid off, she's fabulous!
Helen

Kathy said...

I adore the steampunk look and I think her and my Mona are probably rockin' the punch bowl!

MONSIEUR LE CHAT ET MOI said...

So nice dress form and so nice lace skirt ! I loved that film and Suzan's dresses (like mines) too I'm pleased to be your newest French follower !
xoxo from PARIS
Joëlle

20 North Ora said...

Susan is great in her decoupaged tissue and all of her trimmings. Hope she enjoys the ball!

Judy

Dreaming of Vintage said...

Susan is going to be the sexiest lady at the ball!

Debi said...

Hi Maggie! Susan is just adorable! She reminds me of my Lady Kate with that sassy attitude hehe! I have another old dress form that has sat here for 3 years that I have been meaning to do something with....I love your tissue method! I will have to keep this in mind when I go to transform her. Really liked that alot! Great post! I wonder if our girls met! :)

Have a nice weekend!
Debi

Laurie said...

The graphics look so perfect on that pattern paper -- you did a great job with your floozie!

Unknown said...

Featuring you tomorrow on my blog and Facebook. Thanks so much for linking!
XOXO

karen@somewhatquirky said...

Ok just one more comment...This is awesome!!!!! really really cool!

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