Sunday, February 17, 2013

METALOGY - A STEAMPUNK HOT AIR BALLOON

Good Monday morning everyone! I hope you had a fantastic weekend!  It's time for this week's Simon Says Stamp and Show's challenge!  I LOVE this theme....
METALOGY!
When I think of metal, I immediately think "STEAMPUNK".  And when I think of steampunk, I think of hot air balloons.  So ...


I have designed this steampunk style hot air balloon that I discovered is very hard to photograph in order to reflect it's true dimension and vintage feeling!  It is approximately 9" long from clock key top to tassel bottom.


I began with a 3" styrofoam ball and Ranger's Metal Foil Sheet strips.  I cut them into 3/4" width strips and randomly cut their lengths.  I then laid my metal strips on my Ten Seconds Studio Humungo pad and ran a detail wheel down the edges of the strips; making the edges looked soldered. 


Since the Metal Foil Sheets already have an adhesive backing, it was easy to simply attach the strips to the styrofoam ball.  Then I added some little pearls to many areas of the soldered strips to look like rivets.

I wanted my hot air balloon to look vintage, so I painted over the metal foil first with black (heat set it dry) and then randomly dry brushed the "balloon" with a rusty acrylic paint color.  When that was dry, I lightly added some gold highlights with a Gold Paint dabber and also some gold paint swiped onto my finger. 

Next I wanted to add some metal chains to use not only to embellish the balloon but also to attach the "basket" underneath the balloon.  


I found a really cheap bag of cool assorted chains at a flea market and have used the heck out of them!  Here, I cut 5 1/2" sections of a gold link chain.  Then I cut it at 3 1/2", where I inserted Tim Holtz' Mini Gear and joined them to each section of the chain with his Jump Rings.  Then I attached the remaining bottom section of the chain.


Because I was using a styrofoam ball, I could simply attach the chains at the top with straight pins pushed into the ball.  I also anchored them to the sides of the balloon with a straight pin.  Here, you can also see the transformation of the hot air balloon itself, from shiny silver metal to a rusty, vintage, more steampunk look.  I liked the way the chains looked against the balloon but it still needed something.....more chains!


So, I mixed the colors of my chains and draped an antiqued silver link chain across the balloon, spanning from gold chain to gold chain.  I cut those silver sections of chains at 3" and secured them with the straight pins that I had used to anchor the gold chains in place on the sides of the balloon.  Finally, to hide where the chains all came together and also add some more "umphf" to the balloon, I heat embossed these wonderful little vintage looking star circles from Tim Holtz' Bitty Grunge stamp set using Queen's Gold Embossing Powder.  I cut them out, lightly distressed them with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink and hot glued them in place.  I love the vintage feeling they add.


I added this metal assemblage to the top of my balloon.  First a copper piece topped with an antique gold clock face and a Tim Holtz antique gold Clock Key on top.  All hare screwed together and hot glued in place.  This really finishes off the top of the hot air balloon nicely and adds to the steampunk charm.

Now I was ready to create and attach the "basket" to my hot air balloon.  In keeping with the Metalogy theme, I wanted the basket to be metal but I wasn't sure how to go about creating it.  Then it hit me .... a bathroom size Dixie cup!!!


Even the bathroom size cup proved to be a bit too tall for my liking, so I measured 1 1/2" up from the bottom and cut around the cup.  Next, I cut a piece of Ten Seconds Studio's chocolate colored sheet metal to cover my Dixie cup.  I dry embossed it using Tim Holtz' Checkerboard Texture Fade and then slightly sanded the raised areas of the metal.  Finally, I added highlights of gold onto the checkerboard pattern using my Gold Paint Dabber.  


The "basket" was really coming together but, even with the embossing, it still looked plain to me.  So, I added some metallic foil Dresden trim to the top and bottom.  Then I hot glued four of Tim Holtz' Pen Nibs to the basket to attach the gold chains from the hot air balloon.  I adjusted the lengths of the bottom section of the gold chains to proportionally fit the hot air balloon to the basket (leaving just 4 links of gold chain underneath the Mini Gears).


Underneath the hot air balloon, I added an assemblage of a Tim Holtz' Mini Gear and a Tassel in the center to attach to the underside of the balloon "basket".  Now the balloon was finished but it needed a passenger.


So I stamped one of my favorite fellas from Wendy's Vecchi's European Art stamp set onto a piece of Manila Cardstock using Coffee Archival Ink.  Then I colorized him using Milled Lavender (skin tones) and Tumbled Glass (shirt) Distress Inks and a Small Sakura Water Brush.  I attached more Mini Gears to his hat and a steampunk-ish hand from Tim Holtz' Warehouse District stamp set.  It is attached with a coiled piece of wire.  



Finally, I added a little "signage" to my balloon:  an "Admit One" ticket and an "Enjoy The Journey" flying banner.  Enjoy the journey is appropriately enough from Tim Holtz' Going Somewhere stamp set.  Both pieces are stamped on Manila Cardstock and distressed with Gathered Twigs and edged with Black Soot Distress Inks.


So, that it's it ... my high flying steampunk chap in his metallic hot air balloon!

Check out the wonderful metal inspiration from all of the Design Team over at Simon Says Stamp and Show and then enter our challenge. You could be the lucky random winner of our ...


$50.00 credit voucher to spend at Simon Says Stamp!  You might also be one of our very talented TOP THREE choices for the week! 

I hope my metal hot air balloon has gotten your creative wheels turning!  Thanks for stopping by my blog and good luck with this week's challenge!

Here are the products available at Simon Says Stamp that were used in this project:



45 comments:

  1. This is just frigging awesome, I would never have guessed in a million years that the main elements consist of a styrofoam ball and a dixie cup. Holy mackerel I gotta try this one day, very soon lol.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Brilliant! When I saw this in the post I was floored and had to think about how you put this together. LOVE all the beautiful details including that little flag with the sentiment! Once again you have outdone yourself!

    ReplyDelete
  3. OMG!This is sooo Amazing!The Rust Ballon and all details of stamps is adorable,very stunning piece of art,I LOVE this!!!

    Big Hugs Jeannette

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is absolutely brilliant!!!! LOVE IT!

    Hugs,
    die amelie x

    ReplyDelete
  5. OH MY HOLY STEAMPUNK, CANDY! Your hot air balloon is A-MAZ-ING!!! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  6. You knock me out of my socks with your steampunk balloon. I think this idea goes around the world and we'll see a lot more of them. How cool and i wonder, why i didn't had the idea to use a styrofoam ball. Your transforming is stunning. All the ideaology pieces seems to made for this balloon. What an eyecatcher. I loooove it!! (:o)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your work of Art turned out just FABULOUS!! I love the whole thing! (the guy in the basket just makes you smile!) TFS

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm not a metal momma in any way, shape or form but you have certainly made one fantastically, intriguing piece of art, my friend! The winds are out of the sw this morning...I'd be in the path if you let it go flying high! lol

    ReplyDelete
  9. this is totally over the moon...AMAZINGLY cool!
    LOVE your attention to the smallest detail!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow Candy, praise indeed from Wendy, above! I cannot believe that I went out this morning to buy an egg shaped paper mache thingy to make a hot air balloon and here you are with a steampunk one...... mine was to make with the Grandchildren for Easter but I think I may have to do a steampunk one now..... This balloon is a seriously cool piece of amazing art - you really are a genius at coming up with unusual, but brilliant projects. Hugs, Anne x

    ReplyDelete
  11. Dear Candy, that project is incredible magnificent!
    It's really a breathtaking masterpiece, all the elements and techniques make an awesome and un ique result!
    Hugs Anja

    ReplyDelete
  12. OMG this is totally divine .... I cant take my eyes away from it ... super awesome! Candy, you´re so talented! BRAVO!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is just an amazing piece Candy! I don't know how you get your ideas but I sure am glad you do. Another wonderful creation!

    ReplyDelete
  14. NOW that is Genius I say .. Hey Candy:)Your creativity in making this piece is totally off the radar, LOVE LOVE LOVE! x

    ReplyDelete
  15. Fabulous piece Candy, love how you created the basket and I love your use of the pen nibs to attach the chain, which in itself was a great find from the flea market. Love your use of metal and the touch of gold from the Dresden trim on the basket, looks so authentic. Your passenger is perfect and I love the added metal embellishments too. This would look great hanging in a teenagers bedroom. As always your attention to detail is perfect my friend. Enjoy your week. Tracy x x

    ReplyDelete
  16. I've been watering at the mouth to comment on this one Candy!!! The tutorial is worth major mullah!!! LOVE lOVE LOVE!!! You are amazing!!! This rocks...so PINNED!!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Candy, I'm speechless! This has to be one of the most amazing things I've ever seen! The finish on the balloon is incredible - seriously SO cool!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. wow your styrofoam ball is pure inspiration Candy, totally loving the whole piece........fabulous work. Annette x

    ReplyDelete
  19. This is absolutely, positively fantastic. I love everything about it.

    Thanks so much for showing step-out photos of how you created this fabulous piece of art.

    And yes. I'm pinning it!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wow Candy........what a fab Steampunk piece you have created here. The use of the ball is genius. You are hugely talented.

    Thank you for sharing.....I so love to visit your blog

    Annie x

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi Candy. This is a magnificent make. The use of the ball and nibs to attach the chain are genius. Great tutorial. Thank you for sharing. This is why I love to visit.....your creations are amazing

    Annie x

    ReplyDelete
  22. Ohh my goodness Candy your balloon is AMAZINGLY made wowwwzerss a fabulous piece with the basket and all wowwzersss Your metall pieces are just WOWWWWZERSSSSs I cannot believe my eyes that you made this amazing piece with a cup and a ball....wowwwwwww FANTABULOUSNESS all over Hugs Terry xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  23. This is amazing Candy - majorly impressive and absolutely ingenius. Nicola x

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love Steampunk style, stamped "Admit One" is so beautiful. The vintage style is fantastic.
    (Eu amo o estilo Steampunk, o carimbo "Admit One" é tão bonito. O estilo vintage é fantástico.)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Cool project, Candy! I love the way you 'aged' the baloon and it's embellished perfectly! :)


    *mwah*
    Steph
    Simon Says Stamp!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Wow, Candy! An amazing tutorial! Love your metalic hot air balloon. All the details are perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Absolutely stunning! Love your eye for detail!!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Way, way, way too much fun!!!! You're soooo creative, my friend!

    ~Linda

    ReplyDelete
  29. A foam ball and a dixie cup. Are you kidding me? This is brilliant! I love the layered and aged strips of metal on the balloon. The chains, the gears, the basket, pen nibs...just incredible. I absolutely love the topper piece and the tassel at the bottom...talk about attention to detail. Your passenger is a wonderful choice as is the signage. Amazing!!

    ReplyDelete
  30. This is awesome, Candy! Can't quite believe the before and after pics, just fabulous! Your attention to detail, as always, is just phenomenal and the finished result is fantastic! I'd love to have a rummage through your stash, you always seem to have such interesting details and embellishments - my stash would be very tame in comparison! Thanks for sharing your amazing creativity, hugs, Lisa x

    ReplyDelete
  31. Such a fun, cool Steampunk piece Candy! I LOVE it!

    ReplyDelete
  32. This is absolutely breathtaking!!!
    I love steampunk and I really love this balloon
    What a fantastic idea.The gears, the chains, the pen nibs and all the other details look so beautiful together.
    I have to say it again: I love it!!!
    Have a nice week.

    Anke x

    ReplyDelete
  33. Be still my beating heart... I'm in love with a steampunk balloon!! What an absolute triumph of imagination, creativity and skill, Candy - I'm blown away!!
    Alison xx

    ReplyDelete
  34. Wooowww, Candy! This is one amazing project! Love how your creative mind came up with this one! It's absolutely stunning! Don't know what I like most about it. It's all fabulous! Hugs, Sandra

    ReplyDelete
  35. This piece is amazing Candy! I've been looking forward to see all close-ups and read about how you made it. SO clever. The details are absolutely wonderful. I wish I could see it in real life.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Liebe Candy, was für ein atemberaubendes Kunstwerk! Erstaunlich, wie toll der Ballon gestaltet wurde, er ist großartig und ich bin total verliebt in Ihre Arbeit.
    Lassen Sie sich umarmen und bewundern.
    Liebe Grüße,
    Bärbel

    ReplyDelete
  37. WOW -- this piece is absolutely STUNNING!!!!! Love it!!!

    ReplyDelete
  38. I have no words! I am speechless.... you are amazing!!!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Absolutely stunning! This piece is wonderful!!!!! BArbarayaya

    ReplyDelete
  40. i cannot imagine the creativity that comes through this creation… it is amazing and i cannot find words to express the stunning -ness of this piece… i love how you add such little details that makes each piece so beautiful…. OMG!!!

    ReplyDelete
  41. wow what an amazing project!!! I LOVE it...well done!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Holy Moly! I would've loved to have been a fly on the wall while you were making this. It's totally awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Candy, that's simply WOOOOW! Why didn't this occur to me before? What a wonderful project! There are so many charming details ... simply stunning! I LOVE the way your created the ballon: simple metallic strips with wheeled edges, colored and layered on a styrofoam ball - gorgeous, simple and ingenious as well as the basket. Compliments!
    best wishes serafeena

    ReplyDelete

I am so happy that you stopped by my blog! I truly appreciate your time and thank you for leaving a comment! Have a wonderfully blessed day!