Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Grungy Monday Meets Gothic Arches

Hopefully, I'm not hearing any moaning and groaning that my take on this week's Grungy Monday challenge is a bit similar to last week's! I honestly can't get enough of these new Steampunk stamps from Tim Holtz. Plus, in my defense, the Gadget Gears die makes such a great foam stamp!

I had way too much fun playing around with different techniques, in addition to the 'Distress Ink With Studio Multi-Medium' challenge technique. One of my new favorite things is using Tim's Faux Rust technique on everything! Here, I used it on a frame that was cut from thick chipboard using the Tag and Bookplates die. It looks so cool!! I had actually made it awhile ago and then stashed it away to use later. When I opened my stash box, I spotted it and thought it would be perfect. I stamped the men from the new Steampunk stamp set from Tim Holtz and cut one out to use in the frame. I stamped the background from the same set onto a green piece from the Lost and Found paper collection, and mounted the man onto it and then secured it to the frame with Glossy Accents. I use a Versamark pen to apply ink to the cavity and then filled it with clear Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel. I heated it and repeated a few more times. Love this look!

I had a piece of cardboard lying around that I thought would add a nice bit of texture to my Gothic Arch. I did a random bit of Faux Rust here, too. This time I used Vintage Photo Distress Stain to add color. The metal piece was stamped with an Artistic Outpost stamp and then 'rusted' up a bit. I attached it using my Tiny Attacher (can't live without it!).

This is one of my favorite bits! I wanted to experiment with stamping on copper. I stamped the pointing finger from the Steampunk set using StazOn. I heat set it and then applied liver of sulphur - oh, that stuff stinks!! But, it blackens the copper beautifully and gives it a great vintage look. After it dried, I buffed it and was thrilled to see that the stamped image was still there.

Finally, I embellished the frame with an Idea-ology Philosophy Tag attached to a Hitch Fastener with Jump Rings. I also added Sprocket Gears to the upper part of the arch.

Be sure and pop over to both Linda's Grungy Monday and Gothic Arches blogs to take a gander at all the fantastic artwork!

39 comments:

  1. Wow, love your steampunk take on this! I was thinking of using the gears also as I need a steampunk piece for another challenge this week. Great work!

    ReplyDelete
  2. You certainly did steampunk this GM Gothic Arch! Love the gears for the background resist and your rusty frame is of course perfect! Love this plate also, but have only used the hand! Very cool!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Fabulous piece, everything blends so well together and I love the background. Tracy x

    ReplyDelete
  4. What an amazing piece - those gadget gears do work really well for this technique don't they - great minds think alike!! I love your stamping on metal too.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow this is an amazing piece - the gadget gears work so very well.

    ReplyDelete
  6. No complaint from me that the artwork may be similar to last weeks! Wow, this is so neat! I do find it difficult to read colored text on the black background of blogs, though.

    ReplyDelete
  7. WoW - lovely piece of steampunk grungy marvelousness

    ReplyDelete
  8. For someone who does not do any Steam Punk, and probably never will, it does not mean that I do not recognise a piece of wonderful art. This is such an interesting piece Shelly, with all its many different techniques and embellishments.
    Smiles:)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow, Shelly, I'm missing words, your steampunk arch looks fantastic. Wonderful arrangement of all these elements.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Fabulous gothic arch Shelly... loving the steampunk and the gears... awesome faux rust too...

    Hugs
    Jenny x

    ReplyDelete
  11. great tag, loving the steam punk look, everything blends so well together.
    janet

    ReplyDelete
  12. Terrific arch Shelly, such great composition and love all the embellies especially your Steampunk sign, so cool. Have a great week, Annette x

    ReplyDelete
  13. Fantastic arch, definitely shows the Steampunk theme! Love how you have put all the elements together.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow, this is so fun and fabulous! I've been debating that tag and bookplates die.... looks like I "need" it! Gorgeous, inspirational piece here!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Well, I know I'm not sick of it. I find it inspiring and food for my addiction (lol)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow, Shelly this is just awesome!!! Love your arch, your fabulous techniques and the different elements you've used to create this brilliant piece of art :) Bravo girl!!!
    hugs and smiles,
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  17. Very cool piece! Fab job with all the techniques you used!!
    Pam

    ReplyDelete
  18. WoW! It´s an absolutly great peace!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Shelly ~

    These are fabulous! What an amazing gift you have. Thanks for sharing!

    Gentle hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  20. LoVe this piece, Shelly! You do such awesome work. Your blog is always sooo interesting....

    ReplyDelete
  21. oh wow!! this is awesome!!! fabulous details!! =)
    hugs, SannaS

    ReplyDelete
  22. another fantastic grungy monday contribution!! love what you did with the mask on the math background!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Great piece! Love the background and all your beautiful touches.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Love it! Love the metal, love the screw brad, love the rust. And rust never sleeps.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I love all of the details colors and shapes, this is a great piece.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Your attention to detail is an art in and of itself. I love your stamps, technique, embellishments...ok All of it.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Wo can complain when you work is so awesome!..Donna

    ReplyDelete
  28. What a gorgeous piece. Love it. That stamp set is definitely calling to me !

    Marilyn

    ReplyDelete
  29. This is a fantistic piece! I love how well the gears have come out. Gonna order that die later today!!May have to order the stamps too!!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Nice use of the technique! Good job!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hey this is a fabulous project
    Frankie
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  32. Wow...love the "Arch" look to this and the details are incredible. Gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I love a good Gothic Arch, and this is a is an absolutely FABULOUS one! Great job with the MM Resist technique, Shelly, and a completely wonderful work of steampunk brilliance! I love those stamps, too, so use them as often as you wish for the GM challenge! I love this piece.

    Isn't Faux Rust the coolest?

    ReplyDelete
  34. What a stylish arch! i love the Steampunk take on this challenge. Very nice!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Gorgeous! Love the distressing and inking!

    ReplyDelete
  36. I am so far behind on keeping up with my favorite blogs! I found this on Gothic Arches, when I was just checking to see if there was anything new. You do Steampunk so well!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts. I appreciate your comments so much!