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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Steampunk Christmas Tree Canvas

Creating steampunk images are a lot of fun. It's basically an easy idea where you create an image from metal embellishments, clock faces and cogwheels. It can be any image like a person or an abstract image. I think it's time to start thinking about Christmas so I created a steampunk Christmas tree.

I used a 8x8 canvas and created the background from old book pages. I inked all the edges with brown and black distress inks. When it was dry I used large metal pieces to create the base of the tree and added smaller pieces as ornaments. I also added metal squares with twine as gifts. I stamped Merry Christmas and added little metal beads as stars.

You can create the same tree with other style of embellishments if you don't want it to be in a steampunk style. The style and color of the embellishments you use will determine the mood of the canvas. For example if you use blue and white paper and embellishments you will have a snowy canvas and if you use old Christmas embellishments or photos you will have a vintage scene.

This can be a great gift or a decoration on your wall. Any way you'll create it this canvas will get you and everyone into the season spirit!

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5 Minutes Craft - Steampunk Magnetic Bookmark

Today in 5 Minutes craft I'm sharing a magnetic bookmark, but not only is it functional and super easy to create it's also in steampunk style! So I'm having fun all around!

Steampunk is one of my favorite styles. I love the dark colors and masculine feeling to it and I also like the mechanical and Si-Fi feel to parts of the imagery. If I can play with cogwheels, wires and other metal embellishments I'm happy! Steampunk is much easier to create than you think. All you need are scraps of paper in dark colors with a pattern like script, numbers, keys,shapes etc. just make sure there are no cute or flowery images. Then you need a metal embellishment that can be a cogwheel, a flower or a key as long as it's metal.

Once you have all the things you need just create the bookmark or even a few of them. The secret to this bookmark is that it's magnetic and can't fall. It holds the book pages between its two sides. Check out the video to see how to create it! Check out the video to see how to create it!

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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

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

Faux Leather TP mini Album - THE PAGES!

WOW!! I got so many amazing responses. Thank you! I'm so happy you liked this mini album as much as I did. Wasn't it really fun and easy to make? Well...after much anticipation here comes the second part...THE PAGES! We'll venture into these beautiful pages and learn how to create them one by one!

Let's get started!

This album is full of interactive surprises. Pockets, flaps and more... as well as handmade embellishments that will take your breath away. Some of the work is delicate and requires patience but believe me, it's worth it!

 

Since TP rolls are already pockets, that part is rather easy. All you need for this part is to add tags. I used scraps of paper from Tim Holtz papers to create the tags. To embellish the tags I add a cogwheel or sticker to each one.

The most challenging pages were the corset opening page and the butterfly embellishment page. They took a long time to plan, but you're lucky I've done all that for you already. They do need patience to create but I think you'll agree it's worth the time.

In general the entire mini album took longer to make then I originally thought partly because I tend to try almost every possibility when I design until I'm happy. So I need to work on that... I've managed to edit the video so it will be much shorter but still simple and easy to understand.
Make sure to watch the video tutorial for all those important steps to create all the pages!

I will be happy to see how your mini albums turn out. If you make one please share!

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Have fun Creating!
Einat