Steampunkin...and the Thief of Time!

Steampunk!

What is it about Steampunk style that is so appealing to me?  Sometimes I wish I were younger so I could get geeky and immerse myself in this whole other world.  It's kind of a fanciful Victorian-JulesVerne-Science Fiction-Fantastical Voyage into steam-powered technology, with a lot of rusty gears.  I have always been a nerdy kind of person.  I was into Star Trek from the time I was 12. I went through a Lord of the Rings fan phase...as the collection of Hobbit figurines in my office will attest. As I get older, I don't seem to feel the need to go to ComicCon...but I still feel the desire to dream fantastical dreams.  George likes the idea of Steampunk and has been collecting materials to build a few cool lamps. 

I love it when the creativity gods smile down on me...sending those Eureka! moments that strike at the oddest of times.  Mine happened while I was organizing my Halloween crafting materials and found a pad of scrapbook paper I forgot I had.  It's a Graphic 45 collection called "Steampunk Spells" and it's pretty cool.  I had an inspiration flash...Steampunkin!  What could be more fun?

Steampunkin...Jack-in-the-Box!

Steampunkin Jack!

Old bed springs are the perfect size for a Jack-in-the-Box.

Finished Jack is about 18 inches tall.

Jack's hat was a woman's fascinator.

Zurchers has a Steampunk section in their costume department.

They have a fun selection of accessories...jewelry, hats, goggles, you name it!

Even little bags of gears!

The medallion on the front of the box was a brooch from Zurchers.

I used the lid of the box for a platform for Jack's box to sit on.

I wrapped the edge in leather and added nail heads.

The legs are mini-candlesticks from Hobby Lobby.

Jack's box is wrapped and embellished with Graphic 45's Steampunk Spells papers.

Up next...Jack's companion!

Thief of Time...Altered Crow!

Thief of Time.

I've had this crow on a wooden platform for a few years.

I thought a clock theme would be fun for him.

Everyone knows that crows are thieves...so he became "Thief of Time."

Note...clocks on the wheels.

TOT wears a capelet made from the fingers of an old kid glove.

I found the glove in with some old lace that belonged to Grandma Patta.

I embellished it with clock hands, a clock and some gears.

TOT's hat is also embellished with little clocks and gears.

Tiny clock hands are the "feathers" in his cap.

He carries a stolen timepiece in his beak.

Little Steam-Punkins.

I saw these gold-veined pumpkins at Walmart and just knew they needed the Steampunk treatment.

More clocks and gears!

Temporary display...I start decorating this weekend!!

Hooray for September!

Are y'all as excited as I am for fall?

Fall Fairy Garden!

A Fairy Forest...Fiery Fall Finery!

Fall Fairy Garden...

My first fall fairy garden...using grasses and fall flowers.

The tiny stacked pumpkin "snowman" was from Joann's

I spray painted the tin cake plate cinnamon...a purchase from Pick Your Plum.

Added  black dots and modge-podged owls and cats... printable by Johanna Parker.

Closer View.

I get frustrated when the photos don't do it justice.

Fall Acorn Fairy.

Inspired by Pinterest.

Another Wee Acorn Fairy.

Beautiful Fall Mushrooms.

These were from the shop at Thanksgiving Point Gardens.

I wish I had bought more.

Rusty gate and arbor garlanded with tiny leaves.

Fairy-size Lantern.

Do you see the tiny green-eyed kitty in the background?

Tiny Owl Detail.

Miscellaneous Halloweenies...

Oil Can Post Card Holder

Another "Inspired By Pinterest" project.

The "Singer"oil can makes a cute pumpkin.

The printable for this Jumping Jack can be found all over

 Pinterest!  I printed him on card stock and glued it to a sheet of 

black card stock before cutting out the pieces.  

I added a bit of glitter here and there.

Black Cat Bingo Card Ornament.

I think I am going to need another black tree.

40% off right now at Hobby Lobby...in Christmas!

My Fall Fantasy!

I wish I were there right now.

Happy Fall Crafting!

First Halloweenies...It's Pinterest's Fault!

Calendar...You're Not the Boss of Me!

I have never been a summer person...unless it's Indian Summer.  My soul longs for golden days and cooler nights.  It's not just because I am in the autumn of my life...I've always felt more alive when the calendar page tears off to reveal September.  I want to drive down country roads lined with the sunny faces of wild sunflowers and take trips up the canyon to watch the first trees change color.  Labor Day weekend is usually the kick-off to my fall crafting season, but I seem to feel a sense of urgency somehow...like autumn can't come quickly enough.  It doesn't help that Pinterest is alive with fantastical ideas right now.  Creativity for me comes when it comes...I can't force it.  

Yesterday, I showed one of my cute neighbors my latest Halloweenies.  She jokingly requested that I wait until at least the first of September to decorate my front porch.  I think I can manage that if I replace the red/white/blue decor with sunflowers and vintage kitchen knick-knacks.  Hmmmm...getting a few "scathingly brilliant" ideas here.  Back to Pinterest!  But first I will share the Halloweenies in question.

Spice Tin Ghoulies and Mr. Cotter!

This is Mr. Cotter.  He's ready for a party.

Paper clay and Styrofoam balls make prim pumpkin heads .

I found the little 2.5 inch black and orange cotter pin box at 

Trackside Mall in Idaho Falls.

Just like Cinderella...Mr. Cotter's party ends at Midnight.

The Watkins Brothers...

Nut and Meg Watkins.

Their hats are small gelatin molds.

Tiny silver sugar spoons became quirky arms for these shelf-sitters.

The spoons are also from Trackside Mall.

Metal measuring spoons would have been my first choice.

And Finally...

Trick or Treat Containers.

Spray painted veggie cans with candy labels on two.

New Halloween Photo Backdrop.

I couldn't find my Halloween or Christmas backdrops.  I usually make them from those science project easels from the school supply department.  I went to Walmart to purchase one and found they now come in four or more sizes.  I was cutting down the huge 36" by 48" to make 2 or 3 backdrops.  The one I used was about 22" wide by 14" tall and folds to a compact 11".  Just decorate them with seasonal scrapbook paper and you're set.

Don't you just love this tin?

Oh, the ghoulies these would make!

For some reason, antique dealers seem to think that old spice tins are made of solid gold and price them accordingly.  I could see if they were unique like the tin above.  But tins of fairly recent vintage are sometimes marked $7 to $14 or more.  I tend to find better prices at local vintage flea markets like Fleaology  held several times a year at my friend Paula's home in Payson.  Even then, the selection varies.  If I want a certain color combination, I might not be able to find it.  I found a lot of great spice tins pics on Pinterest.  Maybe I could modge podge the labels I want on some of the cans I have.  It's something to think about.  

Be it Summer or Fall...Get Your Crafting On!

Falloween Spice Tins...Enjoy!

Late Summer Crafting....Howlets and Ghouliwogs!

I Heart Howlets!

 

You may ask...What is a Howlet?  It's an old Scottish word for owls or owlets that I discovered during my "I Heart All Things Scottish" phase...lol!  I think I first saw it in the lyrics in the liner notes of a  Dougie MacLean CD...either that or it was in a Robbie Burns poem...I forget.  But I really, really like it!  I thought I would make some "Howlets" for my front porch. 

 

I usually turn to my old stand-by crows and sunflowers for late summer.  When I dug out my "remarkably realistic crows wearing plaid scarves" I noticed that their feathers had faded even more than I remembered.  It was time to send them to the Old Crows Home in the Sky.  Or I could give their feathers a dye job with some black paint and give them another year...we'll see.

 

Kitchen Junk Windchime 

Used a four-sided cheese grater for the base.

The large holes look like feathers.

Rusty wire and odd bits make a face.

 

Jar Lid Howlets

I got the idea for these from Pinterest...of course.

Super easy...the hardest part was finding the old lids.

The red and yellow things were from my pal Paula's booth at Treasures.

 

 

Late Summer Door Décor! 

Sunflowers and Howlets.

 

Wreath with Ghouliwog.

"Gouliwog" is my new made-up name for whatever that is.

Old rusty cheese grater and assorted junk.

I love the toothy mouth.

I am making a few more for Halloween.

 

More Mushrooms...

I was a little late to the "Toadstools in the Garden" party.

But they look really cute under the lilac bush.

Tallest is about 24".

Found wooden bowl at thrift store and red pots at Hobby Lobby

for 80% off.  Too lazy to paint spots...they're vinyl.

 

The kids in the neighborhood went back to school yesterday.  I don't know why that makes me happy, but I'm already feeling my "Fall into Halloween" good crafting mood.  Of course it's rained for two days...but the acorns are starting to fall off some of the scrub oaks in the Highland Glen park.  I will be picking up pocketsful on my walks around the "wee loch" in the glen.  Maybe I'll see some Howlets with insomnia...it's been known to happen.

 

Happy Fall Crafting!

 

A Few Interesting "Howlets."  For Whoooo?

You!