Step by Step Paper Mâché Corsets Coming Up!

You asked for it and now I'm ready to show you step by step how to make those glorious, paper mâché corsets you've all repeatedly asked me about. Some things I think will make this tutorial series stand out is that the instructions will allow you to easily make whatever size or shape of corset suits your fancy, plus we are going to create a display setting for your finished piece.

mermaid corset inspiration from FractalWings on Etsy 
perfectly tattered and absolutely stunning!

So here's the skinny. Since we are quickly cruising into the summer season, I thought it might be fun to make something with a cottage chic, beach theme mostly because I haven't done anything like that yet. I'm thinking coastal hues like tranquil turquoise, blue-greens, soft whites and sandy neutrals, mermaids, and patina painted wire. What do you think?

image courtesy Vibeke of Vibeke Design

I expect to have the series finished by 4th of July weekend so y'all have something creative to do over the long holiday. (*snicker* As if!) During the next 4 weeks I'll post some sneak peaks and teasers to whet your creative appetite. Feel free to add your comments about what you might like me to cover. Other than that, let's get this party started!

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.

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 VIII: March Diary Page

Your corset diaries page does not include a template this month and is meant to be more of an elements page. You can print it out and include it in your book or print it on light weight paper and use the elements in your collages.

corset diaries elements - 10 x 7 inches - click to download full size

Since the March corset was made the same way, please refer February's Uptown Girl video to make your basic corset and follow along with the March video to give you inspiration and embellishing ideas for making your outfit.

There are endless ways to design and decorate your corset. Be creative and try to come up with some interesting ideas for making your outfit a reflection of your own unique style. Enjoy!

The Artiness of a Sugar Plum Corset

Speaking through the voice of my creative hands the muse of the sugar plum fairies comes forth in a swirling parfait of feathery, pleated and crumpled paper.

sugar plum fairy paper ballet tutu - front

She teaches me artful lessons about life and about myself. She is a reflection of my inner soul dancing on Swan Lake to a tune that only I can hear. This is the creative process.

sugar plum fairy paper ballet tutu back

I've learned a lot while making this corset. Some of it I'll repeat in future work and some I'll kindly leave. Mostly I'll offer my gratitude to once again be an instrument of creative expression.

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!

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.

October's Paper Mache Corset Takes Shape

I'm starting to get more enthusiastic about these paper mache corsets! This is the vampire corset so far although she doesn't look very vampire like at the moment, nothing a little black paint won't solve.

paper mache corset for October - work in progress

I want to savor this look for a minute. White on white, rough, torn paper edges and frayed, uneven cheese cloth make me crazy with excitement. I could almost leave her as is but not today. Love it!

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.