Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Altered Playing Cards, Week 19: Steampunk?

At Claudine's Art Corner for Week 19, the theme was Steampunk/Time.  As seems to be the case with most of these challenges, I had NONE of the requisite products.  But I had warmed my craft room, so was ready to take on this challenge.

That 's when I decided to experiment.  So I grabbed two colors of craft acrylics and a cheap paint brush

and proceeded to make a mess because the paint I chose had separated.  No wonder.  I got it at a garage sale years ago.

At least the black was good.  In fact, it had never been opened before.

Although I didn't have any of the cogs that Claudine had, or the dies to make them, I had similar looking masks.  And I had an idea of how to make these work.

I positioned the large gear on both playing cards,

then the smaller one on the black painted card only.  Using the now clean paint brush, I spread silver glitter glue on the card I painted black, and part of the mask.  Although I haven't added the glitter to the card on the right in the above photo, I applied it next.

When I removed the masks, I remembered yet again why I didn't like this product.  I have used these same gears on both paper and fabric in the past.  They simply don't work for me.   But this was a challenge, and I was not about to give up.  There wasn't much I thought I could do with the black card, but I felt I could rework the maroon card enough to make it acceptable.

That is exactly what I did.  I cleaned the masks (warm soapy water as directed on the package) and dried them.  Then I repositioned them over the original masked area and painted metallic acrylic paint over the glitter glue.

Please be aware, I am documenting my process through step-out photos, but not endorsing any products.

I was actually quite pleased with how the one on the right turned out.  Now it was time to rummage through my supply of recyclable watch gears and cogs.

For this card, I found three genuine pieces I removed from a large man's watch and named the APC "Be the best cog in the machine."

All of the other recyclable gears were unusable as they were, because they had too many protrusions on one or both sides.  That's when I decided on a quote I garbled from the internet: "Colors must fit together like cogs in a wheel."  That's not really the quote, but I took the part I thought was appropriate, especially for this rather uniquely colored APC.


Here they are together.  I was really stuck when I first saw this theme, so was glad I could go to my recyclable stash and find what I needed.  And no stamps were harmed or inked in the making of these two cards!!!  Please enjoy.

17 thoughtful remarks:

massofhair said...

Love your ingenuity Elizabeth, two fantastic APC's with two very original sentiments. Fab as always :-) xxx

Unknown said...

APC's are a fun challenge. The word Steampunk always seems to frighten me away because it's an art i don't understand. I doubt that i would have taken on the challenge. You did an amazing job. The 10¢ garage sale pain made me laugh! I have a 25¢ bottle of white gesso that I purchase before i even knew what gesso was! Wonderful post today. WOYWW #46

johanna said...

i enjoyed the process of looking, even if it was hard for you *g*... but you were brave and persevered and had really good results! btw, i love stencils, but i also have a hard handling with These gears (i have the same) from t.h... they are a bit sticky and somehow i avoid to use them any more...
clever add-ons and quotes, elizabeth!

froebelsternchen said...

Fantastic quotes to this great little artwork pieces dear Elizabeth!
Happy Thursday !

froebelsternchen said...

I also have these stencil set.. and they are better when they are messed up with acrylics ( like mine are in the meantime) - they don't stick now ..what is better in my mind.. ste stickiness is just good for wiping with inks ore stamppads over them....so use them often and don't clean them and you will get happy with them!

Craftymoose Crafts said...

These are both wonderful! You did a great job reworking the blue & red one! Your quotes are perfect. Cool how you thought to interlock the gears, too.

We may make it through this deck yet!

pearshapedcrafting said...

We have a quiz show called Mastermind in UK with a tagline for the final question-"I've started so I'll finish" if the buzzer goes halfway through the question being asked! Elizabeth you have finished with style despite your obstacles! I love your quotes too! Stay warm! Hugs? Chrisx

Divers and Sundry said...

I love the concept, the cogs, the way your colors turned out :) I'd love it to work as bookmarks for science fiction books.

Claudine said...

These are so sweet, love your dogs and quotes this week. Way to improvise and make them your own.

Krisha said...

What a great job you did pulling the challenge together with what you had. I like your quotes too.
I think they both turned out fantastic.

dawn said...

Hello Elizabeth! So nice to see your awesome cards today, love them both. Creative and fun, turned out so well, YAY!

I have had a busy week but a good week. Still organizing and getting things done. My plan is to do my T day post on Sunday since I babysit Monday. I'm off on Tuesday and will have time to make rounds late Tuesday or Wednesday morning, YAY! Miss seeing everyone.

Hope you are staying warm enough. I have some PL on my blog now if you have time to peek.

Have a great weekend.

Jo Murray said...

Great cards! I'd've taken the separated paint and poured it all out, mixed it up, and sloshed it over some canvas to see where it led me.

Nan G said...

I could see the difference in the black apc after the glitter glue. Your cog was a nice dark black. Love the blue you added to the red one. They both turned out pretty cool with their little quotes. Giving my hands a break today. Picking up all those dies earlier this week did a number on them. Have legal stuff take care of today anyway. Have a great weekend. Hugs from me. (The Girls are off napping in the drawer under the washing machine. :)

TwinkleToes2day said...

Another good result from your experiments Elizabeth. You are an inspiration in that regards. If at first you don't succeed, then try summat else!
Or, as I've seen on a stamp or two - If you think you can't, think again :o))

Vicki Miller said...

Your experiments always have ahappy ending! I love how you worked this one out

Unknown said...

Love these creations!!! Love seeing the process.

ionabunny said...

Cool. These turned out really well. I like the indistinct cogs on the red/blue one. Great idea with the glitter. Still a bit behind. Must try to get another couple at least finished tomorrow. Really got to go and get those water flask now. I'll be back to view you other cards soon. Hugz