Steampunk Mixed Media Book Cover

When I say “mixed media”, I really mean it. This cover used chipboard, clay, metal pieces, plastic, foam sheets and more.

I like Steampunk because I can use my imagination and found objects. A lot of the pieces on this cover came from an old microwave we had in our garage.

I based my design off of a design I saw on Pinterest by Ola Khomenok. Here’s the link to her video – https://mixedmediaplace.blogspot.com/2018/02/steampunk-canvas-tutorial-by-ola.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+MixedMediaPlace+(Mixed+Media+Place)&m=1

Ola used pieces she bought. I did not, mainly because I’m cheap. I cut chipboard for the first time on my Cricut to make the hot air balloon. I couldn’t make one with the gears already on it because the Cricut won’t cut intricate designs out of chipboard.  I decided to just design the carcass of the air balloon and then glue gears all over it.

IT TOOK FOREVER TO CUT ON THE CRICUT! Just for the hot air balloon, a lock, a gear, Roman numerals and a circle, it took over three hours to cut. It estimated that it needed 24 passes. It also ruined my mat because it cut into it. I actually stopped it around the 13th cut because I needed to go to bed. It was cut all the way through so ai don’t know why the Cricut thought it wasn’t complete.

I was going to cut a few more pieces from chipboard but decided to try cutting foam sheets instead, thinking it would be faster and easier. NOPE! The Cricut tore the pieces up. I managed to save a lock, a star and a bicycle link out of the mess.

Clay Pieces- I have always wondered where everyone was getting their little copper pipes for their designs. I discovered a mold for pipes. Isn’t that the coolest ever?

I cut out the heart with a cookie cutter and stuck tiny gears in it.

I was going to use a 6″ by 8″ book but decided my design was too big so I used an old binder I had.

I painted it black with gesso and started arranging my pieces.

Notice the metal piece under the hot air balloon? That’s from the microwave. There is a motherboard or whatever it is called with a fuse and a few other pieces I used too.

I painted almost everything with black gesso and then just started highlighting everything with metalic paints in gold, silver and copper. I used a chestnut brown to imitate rust. I used a metalic green for the motherboard thingy and the star and metalic coral on the heart.

It was fun to make.

Next, I’m going to make a cover for my genealogy research.