Steampunk Brooches

I have always felt the allure of steampunk, since before I knew it had a name, or even was a thing.  The Victorian nostalgia combined with a future of steampower and gears, the mystery and genius of Nicola Tesla, yes please!  So when I saw these Deep Dish Jewelry findings, I knew I had to do something special.  Their design also held a wonderful surprise for me, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

MATERIALS

Zinc Jewelry Findings Oval and Rectangle

3D Crystal Lacquer

Steampunk Debutante Tags

Distress Stickles

Various Gears, charms and pins

Grungeboard Wings and Key

Teal Adirondack Paint Dauber

Distress Ink: Pummice Stone

Pinbacks

 As limited as my sewing ability is, I have built a corset, and I would really like to make steampunk costumes.  So I decided to start with some cool brooches that would have an industrial, artsy, slightly miliatry feel to them.  Obviously victorian, nouveau and gears are a must! One girly one for me and more Tesla for the Boy.(my boyfriend)
I put on my Caravan Palace Album for background inspiration, selected my images and used the shapes that came with the charms as templates for trimming though they were a little larger than the bottom.  Once I had my images trimmed to fit I put a dot of 3D Lacquer inside and stuck them down. MAKING SURE THE CHARM EYE WAS IN THE DIRECTION I WANT FOR MY CHAINS TO HANG!!

 I chose my tiny gears and a couple small charms for inside.  My initial plan was to layer crystal lacquer and gears, letting each layer dry, giving it a 3D feel, but here's the surprise... those shapes that came with the Jewelry Findings are actually nicely protected acrylic that fits perfectly on the top of the finding like a shadowbox!!  So I scrapped my Lacquer filling idea for a loose gear shadowbox.  It's kind of a "Duh Chelsea" moment I know, but I was super excited!  And I wanted to make sure you know you have the option of either one.  So I added a little Distress Stickles to my images inside, as well as some Crystal Lacquer on the Light Bulb, and let them dry overnight.  I also Embossed a clock image on the grungeboard wings and painted them with teal Adirondack Paint Dauber, and inked the Grungeboard Key with Pumice Stone Distress ink.(not pictured)  I left these to dry as well.

 The next day...
I peeled off the protective film from the acrylic shapes and arranged my charms and clock gears (from a real clock) inside.  I put a thin line of Crystal Lacquer along the top rim lip and placed the front window panes in place.
While that dried I sanded the raised surface of the wings, and inked them, then glued the wings and key to the backs of the Findings with Crystal Lacquer. Behind that I glued the pinback also with Crystal Lacquer. Finally I attached all the hardware using jump rings, a few charms and the chain on the Finding loop and then a couple charms and a pin in the other end of the chain. VOILA!!!

The top pin is my girly one and the bottom is the Boy's, more industrial one.

Here's a closer view of the Brooches themselves.  Feel free to comment, or ask questions, I love sharing ideas, that's what it's all about!  For more great ideas check out the Sakura Design Team Blog!  

Merci!

-Chelsea

Movies I had on for inspiration while I worked: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, and Hellboy.

Playing in the Dirt: Part 4

Thought I would feature photos from the Boy's garden, since I have mostly posted ones from Mom's.

Everything is growing along great!  Been harvesting and deciding what to plant next as space is freeing up.  At the boy's I've harvested 12 huge green beans off the pole bean, 2 heads of bibb lettuce as well as the usual herbs.

 The herbs are thriving, even better than the ones at Mom's

 The tomatoes are starting to bud so that is very exciting too.

 Here is the most recent lettuce I harvested.

The neighbor's veggies we share half the garden with has a thriving zucchini that is shading some of our plot, so I have moved the eggplant in hopes it can get more sun.  All the onions I had transplanted from under that shade didn't make it so I have sewn more seeds.  

At Mom's the cucumber is getting close to harvest time, lots of tomatoes have been picked, lettuce too,  the strawberries in both gardens are gearing up for a nice big crop.  Next on the planting agenda, beets and red carrots.

Shiver Me Tin-bers!

This tin was so fun to make, the moment I saw it my mind swirled with ideas.  I jumped in with experiments and loved how it came out!  Summer eventually gets me excited about Pirates and they come hand in hand with Mermaids.  So naturally I ended up with this  swashbuckling Pirate/Mermaid theme.  Oh it's so fun, I am really excited to share!

Materials:

Crystal Lacquer, Gem Particles, Color Crystal Lacquer, Glass Tiles, Jewelry Finding, milk tin, StazOn stamp ink-jet black, Ship and mermaid rubber stamps, Rusty Pickle Pirate coupons, seashell stickers, key stickers.

First I selected my materials and decided how I wanted them arranged.  Next I stamped my images directly on the tin using StazOn Jet black ink.  It stamps on EVERYTHING!

 Next I arranged my stickers inside the Jewelry Finding and sprinkled in some Peacock Green Gem Particles, filled it with Crystal Lacquer and set it aside to dry for a few hours.  I also stuck 2 key stickers back to back to make it double sided and covered it with Crystal Lacquer letting each side dry before coating the other side.

While I waited on those I colored my stamped images using the Color Lacquer, I am pretty sure I used almost every color in every set!  It was fun to use the Glitter colors on the Mermaid tails.

I filled in the skull and swords of the Pirate  Flag with Clear Crystal Lacquer and once all the lacquer had dried, I started to attach my paper pieces with the Clear Crystal Lacquer

I punched a hole in the lid of the tin with my Crop-a-dile and attached it , the  Jewelry Finding and the key with some pieces of string.  Using the Clear Lacquer  I attached a small square glass tile over the X on the Treasure map to highlight it.  Then I added bubbles to the empty space around the swimming mermaid.   I waited for it to dry, and VOILA!

(Click on the photos to enlarge them)

I hope you enjoy this project!  Be sure to comment, I love sharing ideas, and follow my blog, I dabble in all kinds of fun stuff.  Also check out the Sakura Design Team Blog, those ladies are super talented!

Avast, ye skervy, land loving, knaves

~Chelsea

Sakura Blog Hop!!!

Hi there Hoppers!  Welcome to my page.  

This project is fast, fun and simple! I made a book mark but you could also make pretty stained glass sun catchers this way.

Materials:

Pastel Glitter Color Lacquer set

Plastic packaging (I always save these in case, waste not, want not)

Outline Stickers

THAT'S IT!

Adhere your outline sticker to the clear plastic packaging, the trick is making sure the sticker fits on the packaging, and get it stuck on nice and smooth.
Tip: resist the urge to cut it out, the edge of the packaging gives you something to hold while you color.

Next I colored in the image, using all the colors in the Pastel Glitter set, and set it aside to dry.  

Once it was dry I cut it out, around the outline of the sticker.  Punched a small hole in the top with a Crop a dile, strung a pretty piece of string through and put beads on the ends.
I love the way it sparkles and glows!

Check out more amazing and versatile products at Sakura Hobby Craft

Thanks for stopping by, remember if you are doing the Blog Hop make sure you click "Follow" at the top of each blog to follow us, and comment so you can win our Blog Candy!!  If you aren't doing the Blog Hop, you should!  Happy Hopping!

Merci~ Chelsea

Your next Hop Stop is: Creative Souls

Here's the blog list:

1)Sakura Hobby Crafts

2)Terri Sproul

3)Jenifer Van Pelt

4)KatScrap Studio- Karen Myers (previous)

5)Whimsykins by Chelsea (you are here)

6)Creative Souls (next stop)

7)Carole Lassak

8)Carol Berns

Ladylike

This is a paper mache dress form I decorated with a ladylike/steampunk/gypsy look.  I decoupaged her with paper and Alphonse Mucha images, I made the Mucha advertisement title into a garter belt, and put the girls in the ad on the back.  I cut the door in the front off with a craft knife, and sprayed Glimmer Mist inside, the newsprint that had been used for the dress form gave it even more of a vintage feel.  Then decorated with flowers, velvet ribbon, toule, paper flowers, gypsy theme stickers, rhinestones, pearls and a stick pin... oh and some charms hanging off the door.  Voila!  Hope you like her.

Merci!

~Chelsea

Front

Back

Collar Detail

Playing in the Dirt: Part 3- Patience is a Virtue

I haven't updated you all on the gardens, mostly because the changes have been subtle, over the weeks.  But I went to New York, and when I got back the difference was dramatic.  I suppose a watched pot really doesn't boil.  So I will start with the progress from before I left town, and end with what I found when I came home!

Garlic Chives and Rosemary

 The Garden at the Boy's house is slower going than the one at Mom's.  It has a little more shade.  Things are going along well, but slower than the other gardens seems to that gets full sun all day, and slower that the Boy would like.  That being said, we've used the herbs in cooking, we've steamed snap peas with Garlic Chives (using these makes us more patient with the garlic itself) and Rosemary.  We've also harvested the Bibb Lettuce and made a fantastic salad.  I found the location of the onions was too shady, so I have transplanted them and hope they have survived and thrived in my absence.  I will update more when I check on that garden this week.

On to Mom's Garden.  Before I left town here is what had progressed:
I had to cover all the seedlings with mesh to keep critters from eating the strawberries and destroying the kale.  Once that was done, all the plants seemed happy.  The pole bean is really working on reaching the Giant's house in the clouds.  Mom also planted more bean plants and some Corn, which I am very excited about.

Vegetable Garden

Corn and Green Beans

Artichoke Seedlings

 The artichokes sprouted, all 6 of them.  Only one has sprouted at the Boy's but that's good, we have limited space there.  Now we're thinking about where to transplant them when they get big, because they won't fit there eventually.

Tomatillo, Zebra Tomatoes

The Tomatillo plant is gorgeous and thriving, as is the Green Zebra, next to it.  The Early Girl is living up to her name and starting to bear some green tomatoes, and the newer Heirloom looks very happy with it's Marigold and Basil Pot-mates.

 The herbs look quite happy, one of the Cilantros didn't survive transplanting but the other did.  the Dill is reaching for the sky and starting to flower, which we decided to just let it do.  We've started using them for cooking, it's so nice to have fresh grown herbs, I love it!  I say if you can grow nothing else make an attempt at growing your own herbs.  It may be a challenge but you definitely enjoy reaping the rewards.

Herb Garden

Then we got the Composter!!  You read that right.  After reading The Year I Ate My Yard, and getting Mom reading it.  We warmed to the idea.  Mom has a few friends who do it and they gave us great tips and support, one even gave us worms.  So Mom got a bin, and we filled it with grass clippings, newspaper strips, banana peels, cucumber peels, (organic) coffee grounds and filters, more dirt and grass trimmings, etc.  Added water and wormies and now the patience really begins!

Composter

Hard working Worms

Then I left.  When I got back all kinds of things had changed.  The Early Girl has one tomato turning red, and 12 more gearing up, the Zebra has 11 little ones starting to grow.  The Market Cucumber has 2 tiny cucumbers and boy are they spiney.  The lettuce is exploding, the Pole Bean has 2 tiny beans starting, and the Kale has almost doubled in size.  Everything looks pretty happy, as you can see.  So wait until they get to munch on some home made compost! 

Early Girl Tomatoes

Market Cucumber

Post trip Veggie Garden!

I guess now I better start looking at recipes, I am already excited to make my beloved Gazpacho recipe with home grown tomatoes, cucumbers, garlic and cilantro!  Oh boy oh boy!

~Chelsea

Father's Day Card

A play I have been doing since April (I Never Sang for My Father) is closing this Sunday, Father's Day.  I have had a great time doing this play, it's a wonderfully talented cast, and we have a great time together.  The play is about family relationships, loss and connecting with our fathers in particular.  So I thought my cards to the cast would also make a great Father's Day Card!  The specific touches I used for the play, can simply be changed for the things the Father in your life likes!

What I used:

• 3D Crystal Lacquer
• Metallic Color Lacquer
• Blank Greeting Cards
• Patterned Paper
• Cardstock with Poster Clip Art printed on my printer
• Cricut Sentimentals Cartridge, Chair
• Tim Holtz sheet music Texture Fade
• Distress Ink Pumice Stone, and Honey
• Rubber Stamps 

As I said, I used images that are from the play.  The Father's Chair is present on stage the whole time, and I think it's a great symbol of Dad, like his throne.  Can't think of a man I know who doesn't love his recliner, spot on the sofa or special gaming chair.  Dubonnet is also referenced in the play, but you could take Dad's favorite hobby, beer, soda, what have you and find a great vintage poster image like I did!  Trains, golf sports team, make it special and all about him.

I was mass producing these, if you have multiple Dads in your life you may want to do the same.
First I cut up my little Vintage posters, and die cut all my chairs and cushions.
I also cut some 3.5"x5" pieces of white cardstock and embossed them with the sheet music texture fade.  You could use any texture fade but I chose music, again, specific to the play...

Next I inked all the sheet music with Pumice Stone and an ink blender and went over again with the ink directly, to make the notes really stand out. 
I inked the seat cushions with the Honey ink, the chair in our play is kind of a mustard color, the paper I had matched but wasn't quite yellow enough, and I also wanted to give the cushions more dimension like a real cushion.

I used 3D Clear Crystal Lacquer on the bottle and glass of Dubonnet, to make it look like glass, and I added some copper accents of Metallic Color Lacquer to the edges of the image.  This really gives an image and extra quality, and polish that I love!  It's such a great way to keep it from looking like something you just printed on your printer.  It gives it that special touch.
I adhered the cushions to the chairs, and let everything dry for a bit. 

Finally I Stamped the word "Congrats" on the side of the card, and used 3D Crystal Lacquer to glue everything in place.  I like the Lacquer as an adhesive, it sets things in place in seconds, and I know pieces aren't going to fall off, even going in and out of an envelope and being handled, like with some adhesives.  I also added some dots of more copper Color Lacquer to the "Congrats" to give the whole thing a uniformity.  And TADA!!  This photo doesn't do it justice, but the Crystal Lacquer really gives it finish and pizzaz!  I love the effect it creates, and I always love the "wait, you made that?" aspect that Crystal Lacquer gives.

I can't wait to hear what Father's Day slants you put to personalize yours, feel free to share!  Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful Dads in your lives!  Be sure and check out more incredible ideas by the other ladies in the Sakura Craft Design Team on our Blog.  We're also going to have a Blog Hop June 30th, with the blogs of all the designers so stay posted for that. Have a great weekend!  Merci.

~Chelsea