Steampunk Hot-Air Balloon

The steampunk queen strikes again! FYI I didn't give myself this title...you did, or at least some of you Lol! I sure love steampunk and I'm happy to share with you another project. This one looks difficult but it's much easier than you think! It's because of all the tricks I'm using here to create faux metal and keep everything light weight.

I started with a plastic ball I got at the craft store, you can use an ornament or even a glass ball, although you will need to be a little bit more carefull with that. I covered the ball with pieces of gold Duck Tape and then painted it with black acrylic paint. I waited for about half a minute and then wiped the paint with a paper towel, creating a really pretty effect of blackened metal.

I added faux leather stripes with faux rivets and steampunk embellishments, including a propeller. I used an old cardboard box as the basket. I covered it with paper and embellished it a little. Remember you don't want the hot-air balloon to be too heavy so don't add a lot of metal pieces. Then I added four chains to the four corners of the basket and attached them to a wire ring I created to go around the balloon.

This was such a fun project. I love it so much I want to try to create an old zeppelin like they had in the 1940's. This might be slightly more difficult because it has an elliptic shape. I may use styrofoam shape or create it from newspapers and glue...I'll have to figure it out.

Since I've uploaded the video tutorial in advance and scheduled it (I'm at CHA, remember?)  I can't embed it here. So if you want to see the full video tutorial, it's on my YouTube channel.

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Have fun creating!

Faux Wood Fairy House

I've been wanting to do this for awhile...build a fairy house that'll look like a real (as much as a fantasy can be real) forest fairytale hideaway. With a mossy roof and little door and windows. Finally I did it! This fairy house is part of my Designer Showcase presentation in the CHA Mega show 2016
(which I'm at right now!). It was so fun to make I thought I'd share it with you...

I started with an empty plastic flowerpot. To give it a faux wood effect you need to create all the ridges in the trunk. The way to do that is with a wet paper towel. Glue the paper towel on the flowerpot while sculpting it a little. After it's dry paint it with a few brown shades. I had only one brown paint so I added black and white to create more colors.

I created the roof from pieces of corrugated cardboard I painted first. I cut small triangles and squares and made them uneven. Then I created a little cone (like a witch's hat on Halloween) and covered it with the cardboard pieces. Before adding a little moss in between the gaps I sprayed the roof with some spray inks.

Finally I added the windows and door and the house was reay! I knew the house was good when my mom said she feels like playing with some dolls and the house Lol!

Since I've uploaded the video tutorial in advance and scheduled it (I'm at CHA, remember?)  I can't embed it here. So if you want to see the full video tutorial, it's on my YouTube channel.

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Toys Shadow Box Wall Hanging

I did some new year's cleaning in my boy's' room and found some old toys they didn't want anymore. I gave most of them but I kept a few small ones that I likes to create a toys' shadow box to hang on the wall. It reminds me of the old days when they were little kids playing on the carpet and making noise.

I used some old jewelry boxes as the base of the shadow box collection and covered them all with paper on the outside and inside. I tried to match the paper to the toys as well as adding the same themed embellishments.

You can use all kinds of boxes to create this collage and different size or theme toys. For a girl some ballerinas, butterflies or small dolls would be great! It's a really nice childhood memorabilia to display at your home.

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Steampunk Altered Boxes Chest

You asked for altered art videos And you asked for steampunk projects videos so what's better than combining the two? This was such a great project to make. I know I say that about all the projects I make but I really enjoy creating steampunk projects! Pure FUN!!

This project almost didn't happen. I was thinking what to do for this week's Saturday MIXTRAVAGANZA video tutorial and my mind went blank. I couldn't think of what to do, nothing came into my mind. I remembered you guys asked for altered stuff projects so I went to my studio and started going over stuff I have in my drawers. Nothing...my mind was empty! Whenever you have a situation like that the best thing is to stop thinking about it. Just leave it. The minute I let go it came...I'll do a steampunk altered boxes and I'll pile them one on top of the other and create a funky chest.

As all my projects go...that's about all I had. Didn't know hoe to do it, with what to cover the boxes what embellishments to use. But when I started working the magic happened, my mind was filled with ideas and they kept on coming. I never plan ahead. sometimes it's nerve wrecking, because I have to film a tutorial and I have no clue what I'm going to do. But there's a lesson to be learned here...trust yourself, trust your talent, your intuition and experience and everything will be ok!

I had so much fun...you guys know how much I love steampunk! I know I still need to work on the Creating 101: Steampunk class and I promise it will be ready soon! In the meantime you can enjoy this tutorial.

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Altered Steampunk Wood Frame

One of the things I decide to do this year is use things in my stash, upcycle and alter. I have too many things cluttering up my little studio and finding new ways to use things that I have is not only challenging my creative mind, which is a good thing, but also declutters my room.

For this steampunk frame I used an old wood frame that I started about 6 years ago, yes...I had it for 6 years! Altering a wooden frame is easy - all you need to do is prime it and then embellish! I gave it a steampunk look with all kinds of embellishments that I have in my stash.

The idea behind steampunk is a combination of industrial and victorian. That means you need to combine industrial looking things like cogwheels, pipe parts and hinges with more soft romantic things like flowers, buttons and keys. Some of the things I used are: cogwheels, clock parts, washers, pipe parts, hinges, bottle caps, zippers, spring, metal flowers and buttons, key and all kind of metal embellishments and trinkets.

Use a strong adhesive to attach everything to the frame and then decide if you want to cover it or leave it untouched. I covered it with acrylic paint and spray inks. You can also cover it with gesso and just spray.

  

Watch the step by step video tutorial to find out how the entire process works and get some tips on where to get all those findings and embellishments.

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Have fun creating!
Einat

Mixed Media Perpetual Calendar with Blue Fern Studios

Before the age of smart phones and computers remembering important dates was difficult, at least for me. In those days I used to create a perpetual calendar that had the months only and I wrote all the birthdays and anniversaries dates so I won't forget. I decided to create another calendar even though I have all the dates on my phone...

This calendar doesn't end when the year ends. Because it has only months it is perpetual and good for every year. On the front of each page there is the number of the month and on the back there is a place to write all the important events of the month.

I created this calendar with the new Blue Fern Studios paper collection Sanctuary and embellished it with different Blue Fern Studios chipboard. Since the chipboard have very intricate designs I didn't cover them with papers. I used water color pencils and perfect pearls in different techniques.

I also used the pattern paper to cover the Ikea picture frame, I turned the double sided thick cardstock to tissue paper with water! An easy fun technique that you can try.

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Have fun creating!

Einat

Steampunk Desk Organizer

Don't throw away empty food packages or tp rolls...use them to create something new and useful! I used mine to create a steampunk desk organizer for some new brushes, aquarelle pencils and other supplies.

I started with covering all the boxes and tp rolls with paper. I used several patterns that have a steampunk vintage look. The best way to cover something with paper is to use Mod Podge. Just use a brush to apply it. after everything was completely dry I painted the inside with black acrylic and added a nice washi tape border.

I assembled all the parts gluing them together to create the desk organizer. Then it was time to embellish! I added steampunk theme metal embellishments like gears, screws, cogwheels and more. I also added other embellishments that looked good with the general theme. I inked the exposed areas with brown and black inks for that industrial feel.

Now all I need to do is buy all that supply I need and put it in its new home!
Check out the video for a step by step tutorial and tips.
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Have fun creating!
Einat

3D Reverse Canvas Mother Goose Frame

Mother Goose is such a lovely character that brings back childhood memories, nursery rhymes and fun moments. I have the Graphic 45 Mother Goose paper collection for awhile and I wanted to create something that I can combine with a photo of my kids.

So I went through a lot of photo until I found the right one where they were sitting down and the background was contrasted enough for me to cut out. Then I had to adjust the size of their image with the sizes of images on the paper. I measured the images on the paper and enlarged the kids' images in Photoshop accordingly. Then I simply cut out the image and I was ready to go.

I took an 8X8 canvas reversed it and covered it with paper to create the frame. Then I started layering cut out images from the paper onto the frame. Each layer was attached to the frame with a different height of 3D foam tape so the layers created the depth of the entire scene. I also added the photo of my kids. Finally I added images on the front of the frame.

Now I can decorate the wall in my studio with a great reverse canvas Mother Goose 3D frame! Try this technique to create your own frame. Check out the video for a step by step full tutorial.

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Have fun creating!
Einat