One Vision...

Hello friends...

Hope you are all safe and well in this crazy world that we're living in right now! Over the last couple of weeks, with so much filling our heads and minds, it's been nice to be able to escape into my own little world of creativity and just allow myself to switch off and create some art and if you feel the same and would love to join us for the brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, then we would love for you to play along! Our theme for this week is all about "Steampunk"and we can't wait to see what you create!

So, as my regular followers have probably already guessed, I was kind of in my element with this theme and I created a project using that encompasses the theme and packed it full of rusty, crusty goodness!

So, let's get started because it's time to create some steampunk...

To begin with I used a 20cm MDF circular base which I primed with gesso ~ I have a few of these in my stash but of course, if you don't have one, then you can cut a circle from card, and just adhere it to a piece of chipboard or mount board.

I used Distress Paints to add the colour to my background and started with a layer of Peacock Feathers, which I applied over the entire surface. Once the paint was dry, I then started the layering using the dry brushing technique which I use to create depth of colour, dipping the brush into Black Soot Distress Paint, removing the excess onto a paper towel until there's hardly any left and then just brushing the remaining paint across the surface.

When the surface is throughly dry, I used a palette knife to apply some Crackle Paste to onto the background ~ allow for the paste to dry and crackle before taking the Gathered Twigs Distress Crayon and just running it over the top of the paste, then using a damp fingertip, just blend out the colour ~ you'll find that the pigment of colour from the crayon will seep into the crackles and really make them pop.

To add the rusty texture around the edges, I applied some Translucent Grit Paste and after allowing for the paste to dry, I applied some colour ~ a combination of Rusty Hinge, Vintage Photo, Ground Espresso and Black Soot Paint, applied over the top of the textured areas, using a paint brush to layer each individual colour. When layering the paint, I always ensure that the previous layer is dry, otherwise it can become muddy in appearance which isn't the look we're aiming for!

Once I'd achieved my rusty edges, I then applied a small amount of Vintage Gold Alchemy Wax over the top, applying a light touch using my fingertip and just kissing the paste to accentuate the texture.

The background is now ready to decorate but before I did, I added one last detail...

I had a piece of metallic cardstock that I had leftover on my desk. The metal had been embossed with the Foundry 3D Texture Fade Embossing folder and I cut this into three separate strips before attaching each of these onto my panel. I then added some metal bolts onto the metal strips to give the appearance that they're riveted into place.

The next step was to create the cogs and gears and for this I used the Industrial Die to cut pieces of chipboard that I covered with metal foil tape and combined these with a few Kaisercraft Wooden Cogs that I had in my stash. Using a selection, about half of the gears I cut, I started to add my rusty colour to each gear, using the same paints as I used on the edges of my panel and adding some more Translucent Paste to create texture. With the remaining gears, I used an applicator tool to apply Alcohol Inks to the metal surface ~ Rust, Mushroom, Pitch Black and Patina.

In the centres of some of the gears, I added some metal knobs and bolts...

...and if you look closely, I've added a little hidden No.3, into the arrangement, which comes from the Specimen Remnant Rubs.

After building up and layering all my cogs, arranging them to create a circular frame in the centre of the panel, I then moved onto the central focal point of this piece.

The first thing I did was to die cut the top layer and for this I used the Steampunk Parts Bigz Die and cut the pieces from chipboard, (I didn't use the blades for this project so put these away for another day). I then applied gesso to each individual die cut before painting them with Black Soot Distress Paint. Once the paint was dry, I took the large circular piece and painted Candied Apple over the top of the painted die cut. For the circular frame piece and the nuts and bolts, I applied a small amount of the Vintage Gold Alchemy Wax. I then attached all my pieces together to form the frame. Adding the nuts and bolts pieces around the edge.

In the centre of the frame, I added a stamped image from the Inventor 2 Stamp Set and stamped the image of the head only, onto Heavystock Mixed Media card. After colouring the image, I cut it to size and placed it behind my red Steampunk Part frame, before adding a layer of black chipboard, cut slightly larger in size than the red frame. I then just added a touch more gilding wax around the edge of the chipboard before mounting the piece onto foam pads and attaching it to the centre of one of the ephemera pieces from the Urban Layers set.

To complete this piece, I then attached three Index Clips around the edge of the ephemera piece, all rusted up with alcohol inks ~ rust, pitch black and a touch of gold mixative before I then added a Hardware Head to each of the clips.

Attach the layered panel using foam pads and placing in the centre of the panel, over the top of the gears.

We're nearly there and all that's left is to add three Star Adornments around the outside of the cog arrangement. Each star was painted with Candied Apple Distress Paint...

...and finally, I added a metal plaque from the Foundry Adornments set, and placed this at the bottom of the panel, again all rusted up nicely with alcohol inks.

Hope you've loved this project and enjoyed me taking you through how I created it. If you click on the photo below, you can enlarge it to take a look in closer detail, see all the layers, the rusty goodness and the shimmer and shine from the cogs.

Don't forget, if you would like to see more inspiration from my talented teamies over on the challenge blog and every week, one lucky random participant has the chance to win a $50 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp and you can join in up to 5 times, which means you could have 5 chances to win. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in and good luck....

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by today and see you again soon.

Stay safe everyone and take care of yourselves and your loved ones...

....love, care, believe ~ Emma

xxx

Recipe for project:

Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous: Inventor 2 Stamp Set
Tim Holtz/Sizzix: Steampunk Parts, Industrial
Distress Paint: Ground Espresso, Candied Apple, Peacock Feathers, Rusty Hinge, Vintage Photo, Black Soot
Distress Marker Pens
Distress Crayons: Gathered Twigs
Alcohol Inks: Rust, Gold Mixative, Pitch Black, Patina

Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Hardware Heads, Urban Layers Ephemera, Specimen Remnant Rubs, Star Adornments, Index Clips, Foundry Adornments

Mediums: Matte Collage Medium, Crackle Paste, Translucent Grit Paste, Black Soot Archival Ink

Surfaces: Mixed Media Heavystock Card, Metallic Kraft Stash, metal Foil Tape, Graphic 45 Black Chipboard, Graphic 45 Chipboard
Kaisercraft Wooden Cogs
Prima Marketing: Mini Hardware, Vintage Gold Alchemy Wax

Glass Media Mat

Big Shot

Heat Gun
Circular MDF plaque from my own stash