The Gears of Inspiration: Steampunk Crafts by Jack & Cat Curio, Sherry Cheever, and Melanie Forbes
Hello Crafters!
Happy Monday to all of you! We hope that whatever you're up to today, that you're enjoying the day. We've been having that funny mix of clouds, rain, and occasional sun. Some days it's hard to believe it's spring! But that makes the warm, sunny days all the more sweeter. And speaking of spring, we're giving away a Once Upon a Springtime 12x12 paper pad as well as some other gorgeous craft goodies as part of this week's blog contest! If the weather isn't going to abide, at least we can have spring in our hearts. This week we're just asking you to leave us a blog comment telling us about something fun you've done this spring. Maybe you've had a nice walk in the park on a sunny day, or perhaps you're working on a beautiful garden. Let us know how you've been enjoying this wonderful season and you could win this terrific prize pack. A Once Upon a Springtime 12x12 Paper Pad, Metal Hinge Staples, Once Upon a Springtime Cling Stamps, and three beautiful chipboards by Imaginarium Designs! You can leave your comment any day this week and we will choose a random winner and announce them on Friday, June 3rd. Hooray!
You are in for such a treat today, crafters. Our Design Team has whipped up some spectacular Steampunk Debutant crafts that are out of this world! We've even got amazing tutorials by Sherry Cheever and Melanie Forbes! The thing that I love about today's crafts is that they all feature altered art with Steampunk Debutant. Altered art is always so much fun to create, especially with a decadent collection like Steampunk Debutant with all its rich colors and whimsical designs. So lets check out these amazingly inspiring creations! This first piece was created by the fantastic Jack & Cat Curio. This beautiful Steampunk altered tin has so many lavish details and a perfect rustic look. It's just another example of Jack & Cat's stunningly unique artistic vision. Take it away, Jack & Cat!
"We call it….”layering the strange”…. bring enough odd objects together, cover them, distress them, and disguise them. You will unify them into a grand piece of eye candy. Such is the case with this piece… we gathered a mint tin, ceiling mount, brass charms, and our favorite “Steampunk Debutante” imagery." -Jack & Cat Curio
Supplies:
Altoid tin, ceiling mount
Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante Collection: Ephemera Extraordinaire, Mechanical Mind, Time Flies, Nouveau Artistry
Ink: Ranger Distress Wild Honey, Walnut Stain, Black Soot, Distress Embossing Ink
Golden Light Molding Paste, Modern Masters Metal Effects Iron Paint and Rust Solution, Claudine Hellmuth Blank Canvas, KAISER Colour Sea Breeze, Golden Glaze Patina Green, Zing! Gold Embossing Powder, Adirondack Metallics Acrylic Paint Dabbers Gold, Judikins Fluxe
Leaky Shed Studios Gear and Cogs, Leaky Shed Studios Ornate Corners, Graphic 45 Staples Metal Flowers, Graphic 45 Metal Staples Buttons, Tim Holtz Idea-ology Sprocket Gears, Tim Holtz Idea-ology Timepieces Watch Faces, Tim Holtz Idea-ology Adornments—Regal, Tim Holtz Idea-ology Long Fasteners, Objects and Elements Oval Hobnail Copper Bezel, Resin Black Frame, vintage rhinestones, netting material, vintage dictionary pages, brass crown, brass keyhole
Glue: Claudine Hellmuth Multi Medium, Hot Glue, Super Glue gel,
Tools: Tim Holtz Alterations Sizzix Bigz Dies Tattered Florals
Next up is a beautiful Steampunk Debutant altered frame by Sherry Cheever. Overflowing with gorgeous flowers, butterflies, clock gears, and luscious colors, this altered picture frame is beautifully balanced and breathtaking. Want to know how it was made? Sherry has prepared a video tutorial that shows you her techniques! Amazing! Here's what Sherry had to say about this lovely creation.
"The frame was painted black and then covered with Steampunk Debutante paper. The paper was glued down with Multi-Medium matte and the excess was removed by sanding away at the edges. Vintage Photo Distress Ink was then sponged on the edges of the frame. The middle image was centered and the wings were painted with Black Soot Distress Stickles. An extra hat and dress were cut out, the edges sponged with Vintage Photo and raised over the image with foam mounting tape. The hat was also painted with Black Soot Distress Stickles.
Craft Foil was die cut with Sprightly Sprockets and then covered with Black Soot Alcohol Inks with a drop of Copper Mixative added.
The flowers were made by die cutting/embossing Steampunk Debutante paper with Rose Creations and Carnation Creations. The flowers were shaped with a petal roller and a foam pad. All the leaves were die cut with the Foliage Die Template and then colored different hues of greens.
The butterfly in the top right corner was glued to a piece of Clearly for Art, heated with a heat tool and the wings were shaped with the Clearly for Art was still warm." -Sherry Cheever
Supplies:
Paper: Graphic 45 Steampunk Debutante; Tim Holtz idea-ology GrungePaper
Spellbinders: S4-328 Foliage; S5-048 Sprightly Sprockets; S5-050 Rose Creations; S5-049 Carnation Creations; F-012 Premium Craft Foils – Precious Metals; Grand Calibur
Ink/Paint: Ranger Peeled Paint Distress Stain, Lettuce and Meadow Color Wash, Vintage Photo Distress Ink, Adirondack Copper Mixative and Pitch Black Alcohol Inks and Blending Solution; Black Acrylic Paint
Embellishments: Tim Holtz idea-ology Memo Pins; 7 Gypsies Brads; Maya Road Vintage Pearls and Brown and Turquoise Leaf Trinket Pins; Ranger Black Soot Distress Stickles
Tools: Ranger Ink Applicators w/Felt (alcohol inks) and w/Foam, Non-Stick Craft Sheet, Claudine Hellmuth Studio Multi-Medium Matte; Studio 490 Art Parts Clearly for Art; Black Craft Wire; Sanding Tools; Imaginisce Petal Roller; $1 Wood Frame from Michaels; Foam Mounting Tape; Foam Pad
Check out Sherry Cheever's video tutorial all about this amazing altered Steampunk picture frame!
Next up is this amazing Steampunk Debutnat alered clock by Melanie Forbes. This is a perfect example of Melanie's delicate and beautiful artisitc sensability. The multi-colored clock gears look so amazing in this altered clock, especially when combined with the gorgeous flowers and that amazing peacock feather. This is such a great example of taking a simple object and turning it into something magical! Lynette has even prepared a step-by-step tutorial on how this amzing clock was created! Get ready to be inspired!
Supplies:
Twiddleybitz
Butterfly multi pack BUT007
Steampunk Gears corner SPK004
Steampunk Blossum SPK009
Graphic 45
Steampunk Debutante: Mechanical Mind, Steampunk Debutante, Time Flies. Staples: Metal Flowers, Stickers
Prima blossoms
Creative Colour sprays – copper
Crafty Notions Jewel enamels – light copper CCE21 & Black
Lumiere Paint – halo blue gold
Black ink
Peacock feather
Steampunk Debutant Altered Clock Tutorial:
1. Cover backing piece with “Mechanical mind” paper. Middle cut out piece is reversed and placed on centre backing piece.
2. Top mdf piece is covered with Steampunk Debutante – all edges inked and sandpapered.
3. Cogs are coloured in using either crafty notions spray, enamels or black gesso
4. Assemble clock as per instructions
5. Attach inked black steampunk gears and blossom to either side of clock and glue flowers and butterflies into place.
Big thanks to our amazingly talented Design Team members: Jack & Cat Curio, Sherry Cheever, and Melanie Forbes. Their work is always so inspiring and it was a pleasure to be able to feature all of their amazing work in one blog post! We look foward to reading all of your blog comments this week. We hope today's crafts helped to brighten your spring day.
With Love and Pretty Paper,
Team Graphic 45
Wow! Gorgeous creations!! Awesome talent by these ladies!! I love SPRING! I'm enjoying the green grass, the birds chirping, my roses blooming!!
Posted by: Karrie | May 31, 2011 at 12:20 PM
I have been enjoying taking some mixed media classes on line since it has been so cold and yucky here outside.
Posted by: Char-D | May 31, 2011 at 01:00 PM
We toured Downtown Charleston,SC with our Son and his Wife we had a great time looking at all of the mansions and flower gardens, the water front and Riding in a horse drawn carriage. So much fun!!
Posted by: Deb T | May 31, 2011 at 01:21 PM
j'ai découvert le steampunck grace à cette superbe collection, j'adore
http://pussyscrap.over-blog.com/article-challenge-scrap-sanctuary-71591647.html
Merciiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Posted by: pussyscrap | May 31, 2011 at 01:32 PM
We visited some lovely public gardens, "Innisfree". The Spring flowers were abundant due to a very snowy winter. Very relaxing.
carol b
Posted by: carol b | May 31, 2011 at 01:57 PM
I've spent my spring watching my oldest son graduate from Marine Boot Camp. It was 13 weeks in the making and an awesome way to start spring.
Posted by: Karen B Kontrath | May 31, 2011 at 02:15 PM
Fabulous creations! Love the tutorial and the clock would look fabulous in my craft room! Thank you for all the inspiration! This spring we took the kiddos for the first time to our local Botanical Garden - fabulous family time!
Posted by: Carol | May 31, 2011 at 02:56 PM
Great projects! This spring my grandchildren had a combined birthday party at the lake! The weather didn't cooperate very well, but when you're 5 and 2 it doesn't really matter! Thanks for the fabulous giveaway!
Posted by: Ginger | May 31, 2011 at 02:58 PM
Sounders Soccer games and planted our first garden !!! Thanks for the chance to win such great prizes !!
Posted by: Carole Hepburn | May 31, 2011 at 04:34 PM
I have been watching 3 baby robins being hatched and taken care of by both Mom & Dad Robin. They built a nest on an outdoor light fixture outside my living room window. Nature is such a beautiful thing when we take time to enjoy it. I can't wait to watch them teach the babies to fly. Great give-away. Thanks for letting take part.
Posted by: Mary Allen | May 31, 2011 at 06:17 PM
This may not sound that fun, but my mother and I have been going through my grandmother's things to clean out and prepare for a big garage sale. In doing so, we have found some wonderful items to share with the family. It has been fun going down memory lane and getting to see some of the things that my grandmother has treasured all these years (including some cool vintage finds!)
Posted by: Stephanie | May 31, 2011 at 09:21 PM
These projects are gorgeous... and I really love the tutorial!!!
I've been loving spending time with my youngest son in the pool almost everyday!!!! So much fun.
I do have to say the best thing though (the best it can be in the midst of a tragedy, a tornado hit our little part of town in Bedford, Indiana) is seeing my family come together to help our neighbors after a tornado hit their homes & businesses on May 26. It has been very humbling for my boys (11 & 16) and also for my husband & myself. We were very fortunate that the tornado missed our home (it shook us a lot, but no damage).... but we've been together as a family & community helping out those who did lose everything, and it's very hard sorting through all of your belongings & trying to find all those precious "things" that can't be replaced. It definitely has been a humbling experience for my family!!!
Thank you so much for sharing (I've really enjoyed reading everyones Spring stories) & the chance to win!!!
~Ola
okj83 at live dot com
zloe.blogspot.com
Posted by: Ola Jaggers | May 31, 2011 at 11:17 PM
This spring we went on vacation in TN, we had a blast. 4-wheeling, intertubing behind the boat, smores by the fire at night! Simple times, yet so much fun :)
Posted by: MIRANDA EDNEY | June 01, 2011 at 03:58 AM
This spring I took my grandchildren to Disney World. It wasn't very relaxing but oh what fun. Now we spend our days by the pool trying to cool off. Love your give-aways. Hope to win!
Posted by: Patti | June 01, 2011 at 05:26 AM
We have had tones of rain in our great lakes area. That means all the weeds get pulled out easy from our gardens. Sore body, although beautiful gardens......that is the definition of a great spring...smile
ava
cottagerca
Posted by: ava | June 01, 2011 at 09:55 AM
I got to take my Baby Sis who just graduated from H.S. on a trip to CA. We had a FABULOUS week together and got to enjoy the Color Connection in Riverside CA- it was a fun time and we will never forget it!! =)
THANKS for the chance to win and have a FABULOUS WEEK!! =)
Posted by: Larissa Hesektt | June 01, 2011 at 10:16 AM
I went with the elementary Rocket Club to Washington, DC! It was a phenomenal trip! This weekend the kids will be in competition launching their rockets against other groups of all ages. Can't wait!
Posted by: Pam | June 01, 2011 at 02:27 PM
Stunningly beautiful works of art!!!! I am unable to do much as I wait for my bilateral knee replacement surgery, so I mostly scrap, but I did enjoy a beautiful afternoon on our community park with my good friend. Thanks for the chance to win another great prize!!
Posted by: Darlene Whalley | June 01, 2011 at 03:02 PM
After this rough winter in the Northeast, I am loving just spending time in my garden taking photos of the irises. They are beautiful!!!
Posted by: Deb Vanek | June 01, 2011 at 07:02 PM
We took my two year old son to the Zoo....Now he tells me everyday mommy, I wanna see a monkey :)
Posted by: Theresa Kimbrell | June 03, 2011 at 09:33 AM
Love the projects. I have been very busy this time of year...working more in my real profession of Dental hygiene. I use my Cricut to cut the flowers to be altered instead of Spellbinders. I get more out of a piece of paper due to using my Gypsy as well. Love to craft with it!!
Posted by: Beverly Jordan | June 03, 2011 at 10:20 AM
Very, VERY nice!
Posted by: IVETTE SEGARRA-STEELE | June 14, 2011 at 03:53 PM