One of my favorite genres is Steampunk or as others prefer to call it, Vintage Industrial. I like both labels. I like to make Assemblages, bottles and keepsake boxes. It's fun making art in this genre because there are no rules (well almost); there is no right or wrong way and it's liberating because you don't feel the fear of messing up (well, when compared to say....watercoloring). If anything, you just want grunge things up. What I also like about Steampunk is the spirit of recycling or if you prefer "upcyling", using discarded objects and giving it a new life. As the matter of fact, you are not a cool kid if you don't make your Steampunk projects from discarded objects, so I hear...just teasing.
I decided to make a Steampunk keepsake box from a cigar box that I got my local tobacco shop for free. I used cardboard to make the sheet metal. The cardboard is part of the packaging from all the crafting goodies I order online. Also used a blown out car fuse (the faux power apparatus), clock face, and plumbing hardware (clock face cover). The gears are made of chipboard and metal. I made the rivets and screws from dimension paint and polymer clay, for the exception of a few screws; they are brads. I have also painted the inside with acrylic paint. Because the lid was too heavy it was causing the box to tip over. So I needed some kind of lid holder. I tried using a couple different metal box lid holders (they look like arms) from the hardware store, but they were too big for the box. I ended up using a necklace chain and real screws as the lid holder; worked like a charm. Hope you like my Steampunk keepsake box.
I am submitting this project to several challenges
What a fantastic make and keepsake that is! Oh my! Love this to bits! I love to use the card from packagings from my orders too. ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd I love that you make the rivets from clay and dimension paint! They look awesome!
Thank you so much for playing along with us at SAnDee&amelie's Steampunk Challenges!
Claudia x
Hello! This box is so amazing! How's
ReplyDeleteDid you do the paint effect? It turned out so authentic. Tell me How??
The whole thing is painted in black gesso, then used Gilder's pastel; used Foundry Bronze, Bronze, Silver; applied it with my fingers, works best. The Green area is acrylic paint, three different greens and black, using strictly a dry brush technique; gives that distressed look.
DeleteWhat a cool box, Iris! I love how you problem solved and came up with a solution for the lid. So much texture with the plates you created and all the details!! Very imaginative and industrial steampunk! Thanks so much for sharing with us at SASPC! Love seeing your work! Maura
ReplyDeleteWOW awesome how this came out. I love steampunk :) Thanks for playing along with us at Creative Artiste Mixed Media Challenge this month
ReplyDeletefantastic steampunk keepsake box!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us at Altered Eclectics.
Lisa - AEDT
This is a wonderful box! Love the details! Thanks for joining us at CanvasCorpBrands!
ReplyDeleteOh this is so fun!! I love the details you added to this wonderful trunk! Thanks so much for joining in this month's Canvas Corp Brand challenge! We look forward to seeing you again! Hugs, DT Karla
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