Thursday, June 20, 2013

DIY STEAMPUNK

I have been creating some items for the Steampunk display we are making for the library.  The theme for the teen summer reading program is "Beneath the Surface".  Below are a few items that will come in handy while Zombie hunting.  First is a Steampunk Journal.  It's made from an old book I had saved from a discard from the library.  The black hose is actually a plastic straw from a Six Flags cup.  I made the gauge from a Powerade bottle cap and a downloaded print.  I got the watch piece from my local jewelry store.  They were happy to give me old watch pieces and gears.  The larger gear I got from my local bicycle shop.  They also had a big box full of old and bent gears and were happy to get rid of them.  The other pieces I found in my mom's basement.




One of my co workers raided her son's stash of NERF guns.  Her son said I could use it if he could have it back after it had been transformed into a Steampunk gun.  I found the brass pieces at Goodwill (total $2.67) I made the gauge, and part of the plastic straw again.  The silver and gold color is Rub 'n Buff I found at Hobby Lobby.  




Another gun using and old tungsten tube, gear from the bicycle shop, and other bits and pieces I had around the house.  The small gears are from the Dollar Store and came in a spirograph package.




I knew these Tropicana tops would come in handy some day!  With a little Rub 'n Buff, a downloaded gauge photo and topcoat of varnish, I transformed it into a pretty cool gauge.




This is a 12" x 12" canvas I prepainted with green, cream and rust acrylic paint.  I used several sizes of gears from the bicycle shop, old watch parts from the jewelry store, curly cue plastic straw, springs, and a few buttons.  


I really like how the helmet turned out.  I found a yellow kid's construction helmut at Goodwill for 26 cents.  I spray painted it silver, added upholstery studs and a copper painted plastic straw on top. I bought the goggles from Home Depot for $2.00.  I just spray painted them and used a little Rub 'n Buff for the details.  With just a little imagination, found items around your house or the Goodwill, spray paint and some hot glue you can create all sorts of Steampunk items.


2 comments:

Warjna said...

This is some pretty awesome Steampunk gear! The corrugated straws make some very nice tubes and cables, and I very much like the fact that you took the trouble to make the gears mesh on the verdigris panel (nice job, BTW!) Most times people just slap a gear on stuff and call it Steampunk. I always think it should look like it actually has a function. You did it!

Rice Paper said...

Awesome. Just AWESOME. You have given me some wonderful ideas. Thank you.