Monday 23 July 2012

Considering Steampunk. . . . In Love!

The challenge this week at DragonsDream Tag It On is entitled 'Considering Steam punk'. The ingredients to be included are fantasy, inventions and Victoriana.

Quite a tough one this but good fun though! I decided to show the fantasy element as my steam punk man who travels on cogs wheels but has his own wings when he needs to fly - he is also one of the inventions shown as well as various stamped inventions! Victoriana comes from the beautiful lady he is in love with and of whom he thinks of constantly - hence the thought 'bubbles and heart' leading from his head to her, way up high in her heart shaped cloud. The steam punk is represented by industrial stamping, use of cogs, brads and other suitable items.

I kept to a very monochromatic palette with the exception of my lady who is painted like a portrait in Victorian art - I should also say that she's the nearest image I've got to any victorian lady! I have also included little touches of colour with some cogs cut from copper sheet which were heated to change colour - great fun and you never get the same result twice! I toned down the colours with some alcohol ink as they were too bright for this piece.

Here's my tag, hope it fits the bill:

The completed tag showing the lovesick steam punk man trying to float up to his lady - sadly he's tethered so won't get far!! The tag background was inked with distress, stamped with various images in both distress and archival ink.
The steam punk man is tethered by a chain made from jump rings and  brads. One set of cogs were cut from metal tape on card and the others from copper sheet. The metal tape cogs were embossed then coloured with alcohol ink. The copper cogs were prepared as stated in the main text.

Steam punk man has 'tortoiseshell' wings made by stamping stazon onto acetate then cutting out and assembling. The wings are angled to give a 3D effect.

The lady was stamped, painted and embossed twice with clear powder. The edge of her heart 'cloud' was finished with a gold pen. She has matching wings to the steam punk man. She also has a little crown peeking out which was made from a cog using the same method as the man's wheels. The key charm and ribbon finish the look.
Some feminine flourishes are stamped around the lady to give contrast to the 'manly' feel of the tag. The lady image looks blurred but really is how she stamps - she's like an Impressionist image: she looks better from a distance! 

Various inventions have been stamped in the background to comply with the  'ingredients' given in the recipe.  The date of 1898 has been stamped randomly on the background.

The steam punk man is thinking about the beautiful woman hence the little thought bubbles ascending to her cloud - one bubble is represented by heart shaped brad.

Hope you like this piece - I prefer it to the card made yesterday! 



31 comments:

  1. A fabulous tag Julia, you always put so much depth and detail into your work. I had a peek at your card too, love the leafy background and even if it's not your favourite colour combo, it is very striking. xx

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  2. Oh, poor guy ... I think I know exactly how he feels.
    A gorgeous tag with many amazing details, love the idea how they can't get together, as sad as it is ... and I love your choice of colors. Great work.
    Best, Suzanne

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  3. What an amazing tag Julia! THe details really are Victorian and steampunk...it's gorgeous to see all those details!

    greetings, Alie :-)

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  4. Great tag Julia, poor man being chained down and kept away from his love. Maybe the key is to unlock her heart? Thank you so much for sharing with jus at Dragons Dream TIO. Elizabeth x

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  5. gorgeous tag I love how you added the wings to the man. Thanks for sharing at TIO

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  6. ...a gorgeous Tag that fits the bill perfectly...gorgeous colours and elements Julia...Mel :)

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  7. This just sings with your creative talent and imagination Julia. There is so much to see as each little element and image has been finished to such a professional standard. Good luck with the challenge. Hugs, Buttons x

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  8. Fabulous tag Julia, love all the background stamping. Great story to go with your lovesick little man!
    Avril xx

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  9. Fabulous Tag Julia, Brillant background stamping.. love the story and those wings well A simply AmAzing idea... Love it!! Thanks for dreaming with us at TIO... May x

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  10. Oh this is just a stunning piece of work Julia! So much detail to look at, I love it :D x

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  11. What an AWESOME tag, Julia! I love it!
    Hugs and smiles

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  12. Hi Julia this is a fabulous tag. I love the layered background images and using the acetate wings brings further dimension to this wonderful, inspirational piece. TFS. Thank you too for visiting my blog and leaving such kind comments. Just had a look at your bookmark and wish I had thought about adding on the head to improve length. Crafty hugs Annie x

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  13. Like all of the elements that you have used the really compliment each other!p.s I wonder if I I had been in your textile class if you would have ended up doing the same as my teacher when i was making a child's pinafore " I can't take it any more so instead of buttonholes we'll just use velcro dots instead!!" It worked wonder if that's where my love of wonder web came from??? hee he x

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  14. Wonderful elements on this fab piece of steampunk art Julia! love the acetate wings x

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  15. Such a wonderful tag, your wings are amazing. Thanks for dreaming with us at TIO.

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  16. Wonderful tag, love all the details and the colours. Your man reminds me of the Hitchcock profile, which used to be shown on TV many, many years ago! Valerie

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  17. Just fabulous... what a great story to your dream!!! Thanks for TIOing with us and we are already looking forward to seeing some more of your work over there
    Frankie
    xx

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  18. This is beautiful Julia, I love all the finishing touches like the gold edging around the heart, and your stamping is perfect. I hope 'Hitch' manages to get the girl in the end! Thanks so much for sharing with us at TIO and I hope to see you this time with our Alice theme x

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  19. Totally cool...totally cool...how you stamped ole Hitch on patterned (appropriately) paper!!! Kind of like his cameo all over again! Love his wings! This is so cool...awesome design!

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  20. A stunning tag..and boy I lve those wings!!! Trace x
    I am your newest follower! X

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  21. Julia this tag is flippin awesome! It's so detailed, with all the layers going on, it's just so interesting to look at. It's a great design and a really great concept. Thank you for your really kind comment on my blog. Michelle xxxxx

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  22. Julia I've spent a good hour with a big mug of coffee just browsing through your older posts and I have come to the conclusion that you are a tag genius. I am looking in awe of all the detail and work you give to each and every tiny piece that you put on your tags. Your attention to detail is amazing, you've certainly given me a few ideas that I want to go away and try out. Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent. Michelle x

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  23. Brilliant! Love the wings. Mr. Steampunk looks a little like mr Hitchcock? Lovely layout and cool tag!

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  24. Oh wow wow wow Julia! I've just had a quick look at your most recent posts and I think I'm in love too - with your art! Actually anyone who has anything to do with Fuzzie Fingers has got to be OK in my book - I love her art too!!! I'm definitely signing up to follow you, too - thanks so much for following me, and for your great comment on my blog. This is all such awwwesome stuff and I feel quite overcome! (Not sure why I held off so long from getting the Dylusions inks because they are to dye for... Sorreee!!)

    I'm working on an 80th birthday card atm with butterflies - and Dylusions inks of course. I've just had a brainwave about what to use inside the card (will show through the aperture) - old kitchen roll soaked with ink!! It's fabulous. Goodness I'm sooo excited. (Calm down Shoshi or you'll faint, with the heat and all!!)

    Your blog is a real treasure and I can't wait to explore! I'll tell Fuzzie you found me via her!

    I adore your steampunk tag, and especially the gorgeous story behind it. It's so romantic and lovely, and quirky too - right up my street. The contrast with the male steampunk and the romantic feminine swirls is just perfect. I have to agree with Suzanne C that Mr. Steampunk does look a bit like Alfred Hitchcock! Lol! I've never thought of heating metal to get the colour effects. Great idea. My dad used to do a lot of amateur engineering and was always going on about tempering steel, and judging the hardness by the colour - my favourite was the beautiful blue.

    The whole thing is perfect... Love it, love it, love it!!

    Shoshi

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  25. Oh WOW, Julie, your tag is gorgeous!! and it tells such a fabulous story--how amazing! I love all the textures and layers...it is superb!
    XO
    Cindy

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  26. Hi Julia
    Just popped by to say thanks for your lovely comment and wow! was blown away with your lovely makes here! Thanks for becoming a follower, I will look forward to seeing more of your creativeness!
    x Michelle

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  27. Hi Julia, thanks for dropping by my blog today, for your kind words and for becoming a follower. It is nice to meet you. What a fabulous tag! Congrats on your Top 3 slot at MMM this week. Best, Yvonne

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  28. This is an amazing and detailed piece of work Julia. I love that you've given us all your thought processes too! Vicky x

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  29. Your work is really something special, it`s always full of details and it`s looks amazing!

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  30. Thank you so much for visiting my blog,your lovely comment...and following! Much appreciated and shall return the favour.....well thats no hardship cos you work is fab, a real treat for the eye on here !!

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  31. Fabulous tag! Love how you have embraced the Steampunk theme! Thank you for dreaming with us x

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. Juliax