How to Make Paper Mâché Corsets

At last! The Mermaid Room is open for corset tutorial enrollment! Paper Corsets part I and II are available for purchase in my Le Charmed Life Etsy shop.  These two videos go over what you will need to make the basic corset in any size or shape you want. It also includes a template file for use as a guide to help you get the corset shape perfectly sized or you can modify it to reflect your own personal style and character.

This tutorial includes parts I and II video instruction along with an instantly downloadable PDF file containing a dress form guide and supply list. Price of this tutorial is only $15.00. Enjoy!

Dimensional Collage Project

It's official! Dimensional collage is going to be my paper project for the year. As previously posted, I've got several paper outfits that need homes someplace besides stuffed in a drawer. Basically we will be making boxes but here's how I envision this working.

Dimension Collage Mixed Media Project 2013
©Kell Belle Studio

I'll create some tutorials or PDF files giving the dimensions and materials I've used that way all you DIY lovers can construct or customize your own boxes. Otherwise, I'll be assembling some kits for sale to help make things easier for those who are less constructively inclined.

Make your boxes into dimensional journals for chronicling a vacation or journey of some kind either physical or metaphorical or both! Turn it into a ladies diary or a boutique. There are so many delicious possibilities. I'll leave it up to you as far as what you want your box theme to be about so get ready to have some fun!

Fiery Opal Paper and Wire Corset

I see Opal dancing playfully on the horizon with a fiery sunset. Energetic yet well grounded and tempered with a cool nature, it is here she feels comfortable enough to set her audacious heart free. Mostly I'm talking about myself. Opal is an expression of my desire to break out of conformity.

wire and paper corset front

The Opal corset is a combination of paper and wire combined beautifully to demonstrate the organic possibility of wire and the architectural power of paper. Each leaf was hand cut, hand painted and hand adhered to a hand twirled piece of annealed wire.

wire and paper corset back

My creative process is such that I don't always know what the finished outcome will be as my muse likes to change direction on me mid stream. Thank the universe she does because I'm always delightfully surprised. This corset has now got me thinking about other ways I could use wire in my paper designs.

Boho Basil Paper Corset

In her gypsy caravan she traveled around the old country giving intuitive readings to those who would request it. A bit of a loner but never lonely she enjoyed her nomadic, creatively fulfilling life of freedom. I can still hear her wisdom whispered in dreams and omens as she speaks to me from that other worldly place.

"Boho Basil" paper corset

Boho Basil started out brown with flecks of white because the paper I used was brown on one side and white on the other so the white came through on the torn edges. The poor thing just screamed "cow hide" and Basil wouldn't have it.  I had to agree so I started over.

cowgirl corset

Wielding a rather heavy hand with the distress ink, this girl definitely looks well aged. Actually I couldn't make up my mind about whether I wanted to use distress ink to color the whole thing brown or not but I think this works.

paper corset front view

Without giving much thought to color, I used bits of white scrap paper left over from the last project to embellish the skirt. I rather like the look of the creams and whites together. There's something just yummy about it.  Look for your diary page and inspirational video to post tomorrow.

Corset Diaries X: May Corset Inspiration

Adding a paper pannier to the May corset challenged me to find a way to add a pretty skirt to this corset while leaving parts of the pannier still showing. I think the effect is nothing short of beautiful. Your corset diary page appears below and was created around the pannier theme.

click image to enlarge and download

The diary page is 7 1/2 inches wide by 7 inches high. The left side of the page is only supposed to be 2 1/2 inches so don't fold this exactly in half or it won't match your other pages. Measure 2 1/2 inches from the left, score then fold. The bottom of the right page is left open for you to write notes or add your own bits of ephemera.

To my horror, shortly after photographing the corset, my cat got hold of it.  Seriously? Did I not believe that hanging strings and curly paper left to dangle from a rod were anything but a cat magnet? Pfft! Fortunately the damage was minimal and easily repairable. Your inspirational video appears above. Please enjoy. :)

Yesterday's Courtier

She lived in the time of kings and queens and associated herself with society's elite. Mostly she led an inspired life filled with joy and optimism yet she often wondered if there would come a time when ladies would be allowed more freedom in their dress.

In the spirit of 18th century vintage, Miss May is aptly called Yesterday's Courtier. Sit for a moment and take yourself back to that time. Can you remember your life? Did you follow the rules or were you a rebel?

I like to imagine myself a courtier. Outwardly I followed the rules but I smiled a smirky smile as my calling card to the world that I kept many secrets. I inspired curiosity about the mystery and intrigue held within. Decadent pleasures await those who dare to reinvent themselves.

Panniers and Paper Corsets

This paper corset has to be one of the more interesting ones I've done so far with it's paper pannier. This is not the finished piece but I had to share.

paper pannier and corset

Did women really wear this kind of thing? It looks like battle armor to me. To say the least, without getting into the history, panniers are fascinating to look at.

18th century pannier via Making History Tart and Titillating

At any rate, I see tattered fabric dripping from this corset and oozing with vintage charm. I don't know though. I'm really at the whim of my muse and what she decides is fashionable.

Note: You can read a little more about the history of panniers at Making History Tart and Titillating.

Little Miss April Paper Corset

Light and airy, little Miss April comes on with all the subtlety of a spring whisper. As she tip toes her way through my thoughts I am reminded of life's more ordinary pleasures.

april paper mâché corset

Warm rainy mornings, bird song, rustling leaves on a breezy day, a shooting star on a clear evening, the pleasing sights and sounds of pure nature that I love so much. Miss April embodies all of these and more.

april paper mâché corset back

The edges were left rough, tissue paper was used which gives the pice a little bit of translucency and twirled paper was added as greenery around the bottom. She is indeed a delicate flower.

Corset Diaries IX: April Corset Template

Corset Diaries for the April corset comes with a change in the template offering this time. I've created two styles for you to choose from. One is free and the other is not. The free template appears below. To find out what you're missing with the other template, visit the Kell Belle Boutique.

corset diaries template for April

The diary pages are meant to be beautiful additions to your journals in a Practical Magic kind of way. Remember the book of shadows the aunts kept in that movie? That was my inspiration for the second diary page found in the boutique.

The inspirational video for assembling the April corset includes instructions for putting your paper violet together and hopefully offers some ideas about what you can do with the petals instead of making the whole thing the same color. Enjoy the new offerings this month.

Mysterious Ivy Corset

Is she shy or simply guarded? When I speak with her I get the sense that she prefers to stay out of the spotlight, remaining ever on the edge between sleep and wake, where the meadow meets the forest.

mysterious Ivy paper corset

Her wisdom is profound and yet as fleeting as a dream. You can't hold on to it with thought but the feeling of it permeates your soul. This is the stuff of magic.

mysterious Ivy paper corset back view

March has come and gone but she reveals her gifts to us in her own good time, right now. I give you Mysterious Ivy and she has a message for you. To retrieve it, center yourself and look within.

Intrigues of the Corset

Created by Belinda Durrant, this magnificent rose corset both captivates and intrigues me greatly. The subtle translucency of the corset suggested by the softness of the light and juxtaposed against the unexpected surprise of thorned wire is a visual bedazzlement.

Belinda Durrant Rose Corset

I am unable to tell what this is actually made of nor can I seem to find any detailed explanation on Belinda's website. I think it might be paper and if it is it makes the work that much more intriguing to me. This corset is so gorgeous that it inspires me to attempt something like this with our paper corset project, without the thorny wire of course.

Uptown Girl Corset

Tailored and polished, the muse of the uptown girl carries with her an energy of unique origin. She strives not to better her creator but instead to show her possibility already present within herself.

paper mâché corset front

In turn, is it possible for the creator to offer earthly wisdom to her clever muse? If so, what might the lesson be?

paper mâché corset back

There is beauty in simplistic design. To embellish further is to hide away true beauty or to deny that it exists in the first place. Set free your fear. To do so is to befriend uncertainty.

Corset Diaries: Miss November

Finally! Our Miss November makes her appearance. I'm not sure what to call her but I'm leaning toward something simple and country. Daisy, maybe? Not quite but it's in the neighborhood. My muse seems to be silent at the moment. She never fails me though so I'll be patient.

paper corset miss November - front

I said something about adding panties to this corset but it occurred to me that lacing the back might become a challenge so I went with faux panties instead.  Notice the slight fold of fabric and paper in the center of the front which suggests we've got a little bloomer going on here. I rather like the look.

paper corset miss November - back

I should have a diary page and template for you this weekend plus a little free bonus to help you pretty up your pages. Feel free to throw out some names if you are so inclined. Maybe it will spark something. Think peasant, simple, and country. Toodles for now!

You Never Looked so Good Pilgrim

This pilgrim is looking downright shabby chic in a corset ensemble made using my own digital collage papers. I like this look a lot although I do think it defies that simplicity I was going for originally but what the hey! The muse says go with the pink roses.

I haven't cut this to the final shape yet as I'm still waiting for the inside to dry before I start carving into this beauty. This corset was made a little bit longer to allow for the panties and garter straps at the bottom. Oooh! Isn't this gonna be fun!

Confections of a Dusty Rose Corset

Whilst ravaging the internet (as I often do) for vintage corset inspiration I came across a most gorgeous delight. This corset was found in an antique store by Kerry who publishes a blog called I Love My Home. Couldn't you just look at this for days?!

vintage corset

The wheels are spinning, ideas are formulating, and paper corsets may soon be evolving yet again. Dusty rose, vintage satin and aged tulle beaded with pearls. Couple all that with the flowering vines and I can't help but see the makings of a fine art piece in this divine little confection. We've GOT to make one of these.

Image Credit: Kerry of I Love My Home

Francesca: Mistress of Shadow

Miss October, mistress of shadow makes her presence known in subtle, mysterious, style. An old world girl with a distaste for the Halloween frenzy, Francesca reveals herself today yet she remains ever on the edge, always one step beyond the reach of light.

paper mache vampire corset - front

The corset diaries proudly presents the tattered, old world charm of October's vampire corset. An original beauty in more ways than one, she is made mainly of paper with crushed black tulle and glittered red tulle accents at the bust and skirt line. Satin ribbon is used for the straps and lacing.

paper mache vampire corset - back

For being so uninspired at the start of this project, I'm really happy with how this corset turned out. Of course y'all know what this means. Your template and tutorial video are forth coming so look for those to show up in the next day or two.

A Dominatrix Corset?

I've been feeling pretty uninspired by black lately which is probably why I'm having such a difficult time finishing the corset of the month. I know it's Halloween, season of the vampire and all things black but for some reason I'm not all that enthusiastic about it.

black paper mache corset for October

Painted with black acrylic, my paper mache corset now has a bit of a shine which conjures up for me images of the dominatrix in black patent leather. Blech! Not the look I was aiming for but I'ma go with it.  I have to know what that creative muse of mine has in mind.

Corset Couture: Tattered Alice

The blossoming young Alice comes of age to seduce the world in ravishing corset couture style. She wanted to be different, to break out of the mold and so she became a little slice of tattered, paper mache heaven.

Tattered Alice paper mache corset front view

In pursuit of an arty, more antique and aged look to my work, I did something quite a bit different with this corset. Alice is entirely hand sculpted using torn paper, cheese cloth and lacy fabric.  Isn't she just divinely imperfect?!

tattered Alice paper mache corset back view

For me, the Alice corset is about breaking out of old habits. She represents pushing beyond perfect symmetry, and embracing uncertainty. She is a liberating first work of many more like her to come.

Corset Diaries: September's Corset

By the skin of my teeth, the Corset Diaries presents your corset template for the month of September. The diary page can be downloaded by clicking the image for full size and then either dragging it to your desktop or right click to save.

corset diary Sept journal page 5" h x 10" w 

You'll notice that I'm not using the template this time.  Yep, I've changed things up a bit just to keep it interesting. I won't be offering a tutorial.  After all, a girl's gotta keep some secrets, right?!  Doesn't mean your corsets won't be beautiful though. :)

Video instruction is provided to give you ideas for embellishing your pieces.  Feel free to cut the straps off, alter it, adapt it and otherwise play around with it to make it your own.  Just enjoy and let your creativity flow.

A Sneak Peek Inside Alice's Paper Corset

Don't you just love the arty look of this paper corset?! I'm trying out a new and different approach to artfully handmade paper fashion that I think will open up more possibility for embellished detail

paper machè corset front view

Happily my perfectionistic inner critic with a penchant for symmetry seems to be embracing the small variations that give handmade items their charm. Have I have triumphantly beaten her into submission at last? Ha!

paper machè corset back view

These photos are a down and dirty sneak peek that don't really do this corset justice but at least you get an idea of what can be done with paper once thinking outside the flat paper box begins.

paper machè corset side view

So, what's next? I did write in an earlier post that adding fabric was too easy. I think I'ma have to eat a little crow on that one because that's exactly what I wanna do. Paper will still be the major design element with fabric added only as an accent so maybe this was the distinction I was originally trying to get across. We'll see how well that works out for me. (tee hee :)