ONE TUTORIAL A DAY FOR 31 DAYS – DAY 23 OF MY JOURNEY – INSPIRED BY STEAMPUNK

The first thing I published on my blog, some time ago, was a Steampunk – inspired jewelry box.

And a friend blogger (SPIRITOFDRAGONFLIES) said she would like to see a Steampunk-inspired piece of jewelry. And it took me a lot of time to take courage and decide to make something. I love Steampunk very much and I really wanted to make something special.

The definition provided by Wikipedia for: Steampunk refers to a subgenre of science fiction and sometimes fantasy—also in recent years a fashion and lifestyle movement—that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery.

For me Steampunk is a nostalgia for an era that has never existed, a fantasy dream land that is perfect because it is imaginary. And I love the mixture of clock pieces, gears, keys, industrial design and leather.

And finally I have made this Steampunk-inspired statement cuff and I am rather satisfied with the result. I hope you will like it too.

Materials and tools used: white Fimo Professional polymer clay, a pasta machine, clock pieces, a chain, a screw, a flexible blade, an wooden stick, pastels, copper metallic Fimo powder, varnish, molds.

I have conditioned the clay.

I have drawn a pattern on a sheet of paper (trying it on my hand to make sure the size is ok).

Then I have folded it in half and used it to cut two pieces.

I have put the pieces next to each other and made holes (in which I would add a lace).

I have made a pattern around the hole using a screw.

I have enlarged the holes.

I have arranged the pieces in the initial pattern and stuck them together pressing gently with a wooden stick (rolling the stick from top to bottom).

I have imprinted a leather pattern using some faux leather fabric I had from an old handbag.

I did the same thing on the back.

Using a mold, I have molded a focal stone.

I cut out the exceeding clay.

I have pressed the clock elements into the clay (I have added some liquid Fimo as well) and then I pressed the molded stone on top of them (adding Liquid Fimo again). I have made two holes on the sides of the clock needle with the intention to add a chain to the finished cuff. I tried this idea when the cuff was finished but I did not like the effect.

I started imprinting patterns using clock gears.

I have molded two little stone for the sides of the cuff.

Using a chain, I have imprinted more texture on the cuff.

I continued to add texture to the clay using the clock elements.

Time for pastel colors (I have used dark brown and light brown).

I have colored it with light brown pastel.

I have added a little bit of brown pastel.

Then I have added some metallic copper Fimo powder.

I have added a ball of polymer clay on the wheel, textured it a little bit and painted it with metallic copper Fimo powder.

I put it on an aluminium beer can and then into the oven.

I have painted the back of the cuff with a mixture of varnish and brown pastel colors.

I have painted the stone with black alcohol ink and then I have painted the frame of the stone with a mixture of  varnish and metallic copper Fimo powder.

I have varnished the entire cuff.

I have put a lace through the side holes.

And that’s it. I am happy to have finished my Steampunk-inspired piece of jewelry (Initially I wanted to add a layer of black acrylic paint and then remove it with a baby wipe – to accentuate the texture on the clay – but I decided not to do it, I was afraid I would ruin the cuff and I really liked the colors).

Thank you for accompanying me in my journey! Have a wonderful day! Mihaela

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