That's Life: Caution Beware ~ 286

Happy Monday everyone...

It's that time of the week again and that means the brand new Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge has just begun and this week our theme is STEAMPUNK. So, it's time to put your steampunk hats on and hope come join us because we can't wait to see what you create using this fun theme as your inspiration.

For my project, I created a Size 8 Etcetera tag, all about the steampunk beetle, specimen no.13 and used plenty of products from Tim Holtz, Sizzix, Stampers Anonymous and Ranger Ink to tell the story of this deadly creature that creates havoc to all those who cross his path when it wakes in the dead of night...

Click on any photo to enlarge them and see all the details!

So, let's get started and here's how I created this piece!

To begin with I took one of Tim's Distress Heavystock Mixed Media Size 8 Tags to use as my background and after lightly spritzing it with water, I added the following Distress Sprays; Speckled Egg, Ground Espresso and Antique Linen. Layer the sprays to add colour and then give another light misting of water to blend the colours together and either set aside to dry or if you're like me, then give a quick blast of heat to dry.

I then spritzed Speckled Egg Oxide Spray over the top of the inked tag before adding a little more of the Speckled Egg Distress Spray. Once dry, I wanted to add some more layers and for this used a combination of stamps and stencils. I took the Script Mini Stencil from Set 49 and using Vintage Photo Oxide Ink, inked through the stencil using an applicator tool.

I then added some text from the Dearly Departed set over the top of the stencilled areas using Black Soot Archival Ink before a final layer of stamping using the splatter stamp from the Examination set and for this I stamped in clear embossing ink before sprinkling the stamped areas with Weathered Gold Wow embossing powder and heat embossing the powder until it melts.

The final stamp imagery is taken from the Examination set and I stamped the wording Identification Check in the bottom left hand corner.

After inking the edges with Walnut Stain Distress Ink I added a machine stitching a border using black cotton and then adhered the tag to my Etcetera Tag. I've used this because I want the tag to be substantial to hold the arrangement of gears that I'll be adding...

...and for these I used the Industrial L Bigz die to die cut some thick chipboard. This die is one of Tim's older dies and has been available from SSS but after I made this piece, I realised it's currently unavailable. But I'm sure many of us Tim Holtz addicts already own this or another of Tim's gears die, and if you don't, then don't worry as there are alternatives ~ I would recommend you can use either Gadget Gears and Sprocket Gears from Tim's idea-ology range or even this die from Spellbinders. Also, why not try cutting circles using Tim's Stacked Circles die set.

Once I had all my die cuts, 14 in total ~ I applied some Translucent Grit Paste over small areas of each of the gears, allowed the paste to dry and then painted them all with Black Soot Distress Paint. After allowing for the paint to dry, I then layered my paint colours to create the rusty, crusty goodness. I used Rusty Hinge, Antiqued Bronze, Evergreen Bough, and Ground Espresso and between each layer of paint, I always let them dry before adding the next as you don't want to end up muddying your colours. To add the final layer of colour, I used Metallic Distress Crayons and just gently applied the crayon over the top, before blending out any harsh lines with my fingers.

When I was happy with the look of each piece, I then arranged and layered all but one of the gears to cascade down the right hand side of my tag, using foam pads and Matte Collage Medium to adhere them into place.

As a final detail to the gears, I added some Hardware Heads to some of them, applying the Distress Paints over the top to colour the silver metal.

Now for the focal point and for this I used the largest beetle from the idea-ology Entomology Adornments. To colour the metal I painted it with Alcohol Pearls in Envy, Tranquil and Mineral and then placed the beetle over the top of the remaining die cut gear.

The gear is then sat over the top of two small pieces of mica sheets which I've had in my stash for years and years ~ in fact it was one of the first crafty pieces I bought. I layered two pieces of the mica over the top of one another and then placed the bug on the gear over the top. I then added three Hardware Heads to the mica sheets to create the look of them being screwed onto the tag.

Now for all the finishing touches ~ I added a poison snippet ephemera piece above the Identification Check stamp, together with a star adornment.

In the top left hand corner, I placed the No 13 which I cut from Tim's Halloween Label Tape.

Finally, I used a Swivel Clasp and hung a spider charm from the Halloween Adornments, a Halloween Token ~ 'Caution Beware" and a sprocket gear. I also added some tiny offcuts of metal that I embossed with the Foundry 3D Texture Fade and had left over from a previous project and as they were sitting on my desk, I thought why no ~ they just added that finishing touch.

After placing a Machinery Head in the bottom right hand corner, altered with Rust and Pitch Black Alcohol Inks, I added a Prima Metal Mini Hardware piece in the opposite corner.

...and that's my tag complete and my project for this week finished! I hope you've enjoyed the creative process behind this piece and I've inspired you with the tips and techniques I've used! It was definitely fun to create and if you're not a huge fan of Halloween, then this is idea as I think it's got a nod to the dark side but not full on creepy!

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 $25 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....