Eyes of the Beholder

 More Steampunk!

Another mannequin/paper mache' dress form--I've actually decided it would be fun to work in a series.  You can check out #1 in my dress form series here.

Number Two (drum roll, please)...

 

 Inspired by this month's theme at Sandee & Amelie's Steampunk Challenge: "Eyes Tested"\

and the back...

 I gave the paper mache' a leather-like effect by crumpling packing paper, inking with distress ink and then mod-podging it to the dress form.

The gold emboss swirls were added by stamping on tissue paper that had been inked with distress stain, carefully cut out and then applied with glossy mod-podge.

The eyes are dolls eyes.  I drilled into the form and then sanded to create a hole wide enough to fit & recess them a bit and then glued them in place.

Brass colored brads were added for a more metallic effect.

The base was made from a wooden candlestick, distress ink and mod-podged tissue. 

I then secured a skewer and some soft wire to the hole in the candlestick with plaster of paris.

Thanks for stopping by!

Unfinished Steamy Fempunk...ya, that's what I'll call it.

Another Steampunk project and it's for Sandee & Amelie's Steampunk Challenge...AGAIN.

What can I say--I love steampunk.

The challenge this month is "unfinished'.

This was a hard one for me.  What to do? What to do?

I didn't want to make something and just not actually finish the item, although a few of the people in the challenge have and did some really cool looking stuff.  I wanted to uber-challenge myself and make "unfinished" part of my finished project.

Here it is...my steampunk bot? steampunk machine? steampunk fembot?  steampunk mannequin?

I dunno what to call it to be honest.

 Steambot?  Steamy Fempunk?

She still needs a head and arms, but for my part, as a project it is finished.

I started with a paper mache' mannequin from Michael's, hollowed it out, caved in some seams to look like metal pieces, painted it black and then metallized it with rub n' buff.  I also added some small grommets for a more steampunky look.

Inside the hollow I added a soldered metal concoction made up of jewelry, gears, wings and wire to create Steamy Fempunk guts and glue that in.

I reattached the door with copper tape that doubles as a hinge.

I wish I'd planned the doors a little better so I could use actual hinges, but once the Styrofoam was cut, it was a done deal.

I added a skewer that I metallized to the bottom of the mannequin and then embedded it in a wooden candlestick base that I also metallized.  Gears and a flourish were then added because it IS steampunk and ordinary just won't suffice!

To cover the hole in the candlestick I added a medallion that I purchased at craft warehouse some time ago. 

 Last, but certainly not least because it MAKES the theme work, are the wires that lead to the head connection.  I used copper, aluminum and some plastic coated--some of it I curled, some left straight.

There we have it!

My Steamy Fempunk!

Steampunk Wishes to you all and happy creating!

~Tabitha



Third-Eye at the Opera

Another steampunk challenge at Sandee & Amelie's!

I do love my steampunk.

January's theme is the number 3

I decided to repurpose a plastic six-pack beer can topper that's used to hold the cans together.

After some cutting, some spray paint, rub n' buffing, shrinky dinking and embellishing I came up with...

 Any steampunker worth there salt would simply have to have access to a third-eye while at something as populated as an opera. 

Why not make it fashionable.

 

 The lens were created from shrink plastic, which I've found is NOT an exact science.

A dremel ended up being quite useful in sanding my shrinked (shrunk?) discs down to size which were then glued into place.

 The signature third-eye, complete with gauges for adjustment.

Navigational eye

A normal lens for actually seeing the opera.

I used a wire hanger, homemade gauges, beads and embellishments for the dainty holder.

Again, fashion is important.

I just KNOW they'll be the talk of the town!

Happy Day to everyone!

Steampunk Fashion

I should have been painting the front room.

Instead, I made a hat.

A steampunk hat.

  I couldn't resist posing it on our door gargoyle

 Detail Close-ups...

 Metal-look flowers made from a Silhouette rose cutout and hardware cloth

 Random gears and a band made with black edging finished with gold rub n'buf

hinge made of cardboard and embossed with gold powder

feather sprayed painted silver

The hat form itself was made with black plastic that I purchased at a Habitat For Humanity store for only a dollar!

I used a free top hat template by Tom Banwell.

 I sewed the pieces together with black wire

 It wasn't easy and will test your patience, so I recommend have a side-kick who can laugh at your curses in the room with you!

It was her idea to spray paint the plastic with a rust colored paint. 

Perfect!

Now I suppose I need to paint...

After I post this at Sandee & Amelie's October Steampunk Challenge (Steampunk Couture), of course!

Halloween/Steampunk Prep Supply

Matchbox Swap prep for has begun ...

 I've decided to make three.

One I will send to my partner and the other two I will fill and giveaway in October.

The two craft supplies I couldn't live without for Halloween and steampunk design:

1.BLACK CHALKBOARD PAINT

I've found that the chalkboard paint "accepts" metallic rubs and other finishes better than  regular spray paint, although I have had some problems with it adhering well to plastic.

 

2. SPRAY PAINT TRIGGER

 Where would I be without my spray paint trigger?

I think I paid $1.99 for it--worth every penny and more!

You spray more evenly, no sore fingers and you won't get spray paint all over your hand.

 

Now for the fun part...

HAUNTING THE BOXES!

Punk for the Teacher

 A bonus challenge, school is about to start and I spied a styrofoam apple at Dollar Tree

...I couldn't resist

A present for your favorite teacher.

A little spray paint, gold rub n' buff, some embossing, a few gears, a latch made from an earring and you've got yourself the a punked apple.

The inside generates electricity and can be programmed to do many things. 

School projector not working?

Let the apple run it.

 Entering this lovely in:

A Laboratory for my rusty treasure.

I am in love with my latest project.

  I started out with a rusty electric box thingy that I find out on a dog walk and I turned it into... 

A Miniature Steampunk Laboratory

inside view

Outside view with embossed flourishes.

Everything is made by hand using scrap pieces of metal, jewelry findings, and other odds and ends.

Here...lemme show off some more :)

The stool is made from a bottle cap.

The rug is from an upholstery sample I cut up and edged with a zig-zag and finished with paint.

The little blue prints...squeeee!

Check out the mousey skull that I found in an owl pellet last year. 

Perfect for my lab!

A steampunk invention of some sort on the desk.

And don't forget the inside door!

I had so much fun making this little laboratory.

I've had the electric box in my stash for a  year now, quietly waiting for the perfect idea.

When I saw that theme for the August Challenge at Sandee & Amelie's was "In the Laboratory" I knew I had the right project for my rusty treasure.

I do love it when things work out, the glue sticks, the pieces fit, etc!

 
I'm linking this project to: