Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge - Steampunk Poppy!

Hi everyone! It's time for the August Karen Burniston Designer Challenge! This month Karen asked the team to use any of the fun Character dies in their creations. These little dies are so adorable - I was a bit intimidated. My style is definitely more grungy than cute and I was worried that I would let the team down. I decided that I would try grunging up one of these cuties and my Steampunk Poppy is the result!

You may remember I made a similar shaped card a couple months ago as an anniversary card for my daughter. I decided to take that same idea and give it a steampunk feel. The card was cut from black cardstock and the outer edges embossed with a gear stamp from Artistic Outpost. After I embossed it, I painted over it with  Brushed Pewter Distress paint to give it a vintage look. I printed the watch stem and embossed it as well, then sandwiched it between the layers.

To make the clock, I cut white cardstock using Karen's clock face die and then stamped it with Tim Holtz's crackle stamp. I embossed it with several layers of UTEE to give it an enamel finish. The sentiment was computer-generated and then cut with the banner die from Karen's Lorna Label pop-up set.

And here's the star of the show - Poppy! To create my little steampunk owl, I cut the bottom layer from black cardstock and the top from cardstock that had been covered with foil tape. His spats (OMG, those spats!) were created by cutting the top foot layer from white cardstock and then trimming off the toes. I added buttons with black Sharpie. His little hat was cut with one of the dies from the Props 1 collection, stamped, and decorated with tiny Prima gears.

The monocle - because every steampunk owl needs one, right? - was made by cutting a piece of clear shrink plastic with the 1.75" circle die from Karen's Ring Accordion Album set, shrinking it, and then adding a wire loop around it. So cute! Since I wanted the front of the card to be clear, like the glass on a pocket watch, I cut out the center portion with another die from the set and added a piece of transparency. I added another clock on the back of the second panel so that it would show through the front.

Whew! I hope I didn't overwhelm you with the how-to! If I'd had more time I would have taken pictures along the way to better show my method. Please let me know if you have any questions on how it came together. It might look complicated, but it's not at all!

All the supplies I used can be found at Elizabeth Craft Designs and Inspiration Emporium via the links below. Remember to use my coupon code - stamptramp - to save 10% off at IE. And check out what's new in their store - they have all the new dies from Karen available for preorder right now!

7/30 UPDATE! Thanks for all your kind words about my Steampunk Poppy card. You can find the ECD bundle deal in the links below!





If you'd like to make a card like this of your own, here is the watch stem I created for it. Make sure you stop by the Elizabeth Craft Designs blog on Wednesday to see what all the other designers came up with for the challenge, and to be inspired by a fantastic video tutorial from Karen!

18 comments:

  1. Amazing work. This owl is cute and so steampunk :))

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is so cute. Love the owl. Fantastic project

    ReplyDelete
  3. Brilliant I love it Shelly and the owl is so adorable and I adore that you made him look. Ore industrial too, right up my street. Fantastic design. Tracy x

    ReplyDelete
  4. Super card. Steampunk Owl with spats...........I'm in Love!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Let the team down! Never! This is a stunning creation, I love how you made the card into a pocket watch and those spats you created are such fun! Anne x

    ReplyDelete
  6. The monocle is pure genius! Fantastic steampunk card - and cute to boot!

    ReplyDelete
  7. LOL... too cool.... spats, monocle and all ! Just fabulous... Steampunk Owl OMG ... your creativity blows me away !!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello Shelly. I just took a class from Karen and mentioned I'd like her to do a robot with steampunk props so I could punk him or her up and then I open your blog note to find your Steampunk Owl! How wonderful! Totally cool! The first die I bought at the class was the Evergreen Pivot Card because of one of your previous posts. Fortunately, another die I purchased was Poppy! Thanks for all your GREAT inspiration. Also, thanks for all of the details on the cards you make. It really helps.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Completely LOVE this, Shelly!! That little steampunk owl is the cutest thing ever! I love his itty bitty little gears that adorn his hat :) Totally Awesome KB Dies!! Another WOW creation!! XOXO-Shari T.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love what you did to the owl! How did you do the tummy rivets? He's so dignified now all decked out in his industrial gear! Love your projects!

    ReplyDelete
  11. That's incredible, Shelly, and incredibly fun and fabulous!! I came over to meet you from the new IO team where my friend Anne is just joining, too! It's a pleasure to meet you and become your newest follower! Hugs, Darnell

    ReplyDelete
  12. Just came back to say how thrilled I am to be working alongside you on the Inspiration Team Shelly, I am a great admirer of your work and especially love what you do with the Karen Burniston dies!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Another masterpiece! Love steampunk owl, The details, oh my! Pure genius!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Nobody does steampunk better than you. Love Poppy in foil tape. Thanks for the visual on the clock placement. Very helpful.

    ReplyDelete
  15. We hat a cutie, loved your take on Karen's die.

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is just darling. You ALWAYS have the most creative posts. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  17. SERIOUSLY AWESOME card Shelly - LOVE IT ALL!!!
    The spats and monocle are ADORABLE!!!
    THANK YOU for sharing your CREATIVE INSPIRATION!!!
    THANK YOU for the watch stem too :)

    ReplyDelete

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