Steampunk Birdhouse In Your Soul ATB

I recently participated in the Artist Trading Block Swap.  For those of you who are wondering, an ATB, is basically a 3-D version of an ATC (Artist Trading Card).  A small work of art, to be given away and shared.  While stalking my partner's Pinterest I noticed she had pinned an altered art tag, which had the lyric "Make a little birdhouse in your soul" on it.  If you are unfamiliar with this brilliant song by They Might Be Giants, you can watch the video on Youtube.  A brief explanation is that the song tells the story of a nightlight, which watches over its owner while they sleep.  The night light tells the listener to make a birdhouse (being a safe place for something small and vulnerable) for the light it creates in their mind and soul.

And after seeing noodle-bug's amazing hand stitched Birdhouse for Your Soul, I knew I had to completely steal ahem, take inspiration from her example and create a Steampunk Birdhouse for amaryllisroze's Soul. 

The front contains an antiqued blue bird in a frame, as a reference to the lyric "Bluebird of friendliness", and a set of antiqued chipboard letters.

The first narrow side includes a window looking onto an Edwardian lady, and a metal bee, as a reference to the lyric "Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet."

The back contains a 3-D metal birdcage with a delicate Swarovski crystal heart dangling from it, in reference to the vulnerable parts of ourselves which we try to sheild.

The final side contains a bit of ruler, with a tiny hinged tin box that says "passion", and a light bulb full of glitter which is a reference to the fact that the song is told from the point of view of a nightlight.  Below that is a "Cherish" token, a clock, and the symbol for infinity, which references the line "My story's infinite".  While I was working on it, I searched high and low for a picture or embellishment with a lighthouse on it for this side, but seemed to be thwarted at every turn.  Of course I found the perfect one 2 days after shipping it.   :P

And finally, the whole thing is topped with a small bird's nest, which contains the Ace of Hearts, a gear, watch hand, a button, and freshwater pearl "eggs".  I had a devil of a time getting the nest to stay on top, so I ended up using a Vintaj brass embellishment, bent up into the shape of a bowl to support the nest.