Sunday, May 29, 2011

I Made the Coolest Thing!

My fellow Inspiration Emporium DT member and fantastic artist, Linda Cain, recently replied to a comment I'd left her. She wrote, "It's always fun when the pieces come together and make you smile." I knew exactly what she meant and, to myself, lamented that it had been a long time since I'd done a project that made me feel that way. This ended up being one of those projects - I am madly in love with it!

It all started when I was perusing the latest Technique Junkie newsletter online. I spotted the bonus online technique - Telescoping Cards - and immediately thought of gears and Steampunk! I had recently bought the Spellbinders Sprightly Sprockets die set, but hadn't had the chance to use them. I had a feeling they would work perfectly with Tim Holtz' Weathered Clock die, and they did. I love it when a plan comes together!

The sprockets and gears were all given a metal look using my Faux Tarnished Silver technique. I experimented with using gold embossing powder for a brass look and it turned out better than I'd hoped! For the center section, I created a small beeswax collage using a variety of Tim Holtz rubber stamps on top of vintage dictionary paper. Love the way the text from the back side shows through.

The is the piece opened up. How cool is this technique?! The Weathered Clock was cut from chipboard and painted with a black Adirondack Dabber. The Dabbers are so perfect for projects like this. The back is covered with an embossed piece of Idea-ology Kraft Glassine. I love the way this lets the light through, yet is strong enough to hold the other elements. The sentiment was embossed on a Journaling Ticket and attached to the base, along with a pair of Idea-ology wings.

I'm planning to send this to my dad for Father's Day. He's a retired machinist and this will be such a perfect card for him!

Here's a little video I did showing how it opens:



The supplies I used can be found at Amazon and Simon Says Stamp via the links below.






55 comments:

  1. Absolutely fabulous piece, I love it, so so creative. Your dad will treasure this. Tracy x

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  2. This is so absolutely wonderful! Yes, I can see why it made you smile when done....perfect!

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  3. OMG Shelly, this blows me away!!! Fabulous!

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  4. w.o.w :) That's fanfrickingtastic!!!

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  5. OMG!!! I just adore this.....love it fabulous work x

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  6. It's so great that words fail me! love it!
    JoZarty x

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  7. Wow, Shelly, that really is just the coolest thing!! LOVE IT!!

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  8. This is a great project. I love it when you can put together things from different manufacturers and they all work together! That doesn't happen very often. Thanks goodness Tim thinks about everything he sells working together!

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  9. Wow Shelly this is just the coolest project. Watched the video and it shows how magical this piece really is. Wonderful project and am sure your father will be totally fascinated by it.
    Annette x

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  10. It is totally knock-your-socks off COOL!!! I Love it.

    WOW~

    Linda

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  11. Wooaaaaaahhhh this made my jaw drop! Fabulousoh creation that i have severe project envy of!!!
    Julie xx

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  12. Wow - that truly is the COOLEST thing! Such fun details - steampunk at it's FINEST!!!

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  13. Stunning. Love how it folds out.

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  14. I can see why you love it so much! This is totally fantastic work, Shelly! I LOVE it!

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  15. Absolutely gorgeous Shelly I love your style and all that you do ...
    TFS.

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  16. Just when I think I have seen it all or again you blow me away. This is incredibly brilliant. I love it all. I think I needs that die cut. LOL
    Thanks for your email as well Shelly.
    Lesley ♥

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  17. OMG!! That is the coolest thing!!!!

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  18. Your dad will be so impressed with this...I know I am! Really awesome, Shelly!

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  19. Add my WOW to everyone else's comments!!!! This has got to be one of the coolest projects I've seen in a looooooooong time! Thanks for sharing!!

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  20. Three words: A. MAY. ZING!! =)

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  21. Pardon my french, but this is frikkin' amazing!!! SO COOL! Seriously!

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  22. This is the coolest thing! It's wicked cool!

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  23. Shelly,
    This is absolutely wonderful. I love it! I wish you taught classes near my house. Actually, I'd drive pretty far!

    K.

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  24. Shelly - this is REALLY awesome!!! Perfect use for those dies!!! I really put a smile on my face too - what a little gift!!!

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  25. Absolutely GORGEOUS! I luv finishing a project/layout that makes me smile because I like the way it turned out. When that happens I hear a baseball themed song and think to myself, "I hit this one straight out of the ballpark". Isn't that silly?

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  26. Shelly, this piece is just awesome! Your Dad will be so proud of what you created for him. Takes my breathe away with what you come up with!!!!! You are soooooo incredibly talented. Have a good rest of the weekend:)
    - Debbie Kaste

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  27. Amazing project! I love everything about it!!!

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  28. Fantastic! I think you will be making more of these!

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  29. Very, very, very cool!! Your dad's going to love it!

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  30. LOVE this Shelly...I'm always just Blown away by your projects....

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  31. Shelly, this is the absolute Coolest!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!!!

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  32. thats totally awesome, love it!!! so much amazing detail, my husband is a automotive machinist and a tool and die maker and this would be perfect for him....I made him a tape measure card that really works from the boys but still have to make him something super duper from me....LOL

    TFS with all of us its amazing
    Cindy

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  33. Wow!What a fabulous piece of work!I'm sure your dad will love it.

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  34. Fab...FAB....FABULOUS!!! You rock!!

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  35. Hello Shelly,

    you may bet this IS COOL!!!

    I'm so in love with mechanical cards and pop-ups and this is a simple one I had not discovered yet !

    simple to make, great effect but the way YOU assembled it makes it even more stunning !

    It indeed looks like the gears are moving the whole thing.
    i love how you make your compositions and your use of colors and embellishments.

    You did a great job : Again ! :)

    greetings from belgium
    Inge

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  36. you are amazing, Shelly! this is super cool! love it!

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  37. Wow! Even better than the previous one--very cool indeed!

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  38. This is sensational Shelly. And I love the quick video that really shows it off.

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  39. Wowza, Shelly, that is stunning! And I have ALL the stash to make one. And I will certainly give you the credit for the idea.

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  40. Inspirational. I have made a similar one.

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  41. This really is fantastic- Love all the little elements, looks like it was such fun to make! I had to Pin it on Pinterest so I can come back later to drool some more!

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  42. Only just found this in a very roundabout way!!! It's fabulous, pure and simple
    Frankie
    xx

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  43. Absolutely the coolest thing ever! Found this from a google image search. LOVE!

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    1. u r absolutely right... this is fantabulous! I have 2 make 1 - just for myself :-)

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  44. OMG, that is fantastic, love it

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  45. This is fantastic! Thank you for sharing your awesome ideas :-)

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