Sunday 23 June 2013

steampunk?

The ATC swap theme over at Chocolate Baroque this month is steampunk - now this is SO definitely out of my comfort zone, and steampunk stamps are not in my   collection - though I admit to having the lovely CB  punk rose on the wish list - so I was somewhat stumped as to what to do. Thanks to the lovely ladies on the Wednesday chat session , ideas came in plenty - I ended up trying 2 of them out.
The quickest and easiest was to cover card with foil, run through an embossing folder and grunge up  - the only folder I had that approached steampunk was a Tim Holtz clocks one, so that was duly dug out. It embossed beautifully, but just didn't look right to me - definitely seemed to be something missing, so I tried again using dark grey coredinations card, which I inked and sanded down, then added a butterfly cut from the original foiled pieces using a  freebie die.                          
                              

The suggestion I liked best was simply to stamp something and grunge it up - now that I can manage! I remembered buying a set of mini stamps ages ago for the lovely tree images, and not using the rest .............I stamped the crackle and hessian texture stamps from mail art randomly across the cream card using SU crumb cake ink, overstamped with a script and the tunnel from mini scripts in early espresso ink, finally with the cyclist from curiosities in black versafine twice. A hefty smudge of vintage photo and black soot distress inks and some roughed-up edges to finish.
Not sure that either of them are really steampunk, but they're the nearest I'm going to get to it!

6 comments:

  1. They look great! Could this be a new style for you?

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  2. They look steampunk to me. Especially super your second set - love the smudging inks description.
    Paula (PEP)

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  3. Where would we be without our crafting friends?? You've improvised very well here with what you have - wouldn't like to choose between them really.

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  4. These are all fab and I should say definitely fit the stam punk theme. It's outside my comfort zone too but I got the Christmas tree steam punk stamp in a grab bag so mine are definitely Christmas ATCs but I'm not sure they really fit the steam punk theme. Hey ho it was what I had.
    My favourite of yours are the second set but both are great

    Jackie x

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  5. Hi Veronica, sorry I've not stopped by in a while. Lots of stressful things STILL going on in this neck of the woods (18 months now and counting!) and I have to admit its taking it's toll on energy levels. Still, have to believe IT WILL GET BETTER !!!

    I think you did brilliantly with your ATCs especially as you don't feel you are into steampunk..... I wouldn't have known because these are great!

    I'm ashamed to say my resolve to join in the swap at the beginning of the year has come to nothing :-(

    Hugs
    Lesley Xx

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  6. Theses look great,it's not my favourite style either. I think I like your second set best because I like the sepia tones.
    Jean x

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