Steampunk or steampunk style is great for men’s card. The design is quite simple – I was trying to recreate a smoggy scene and grunged it up a bit.
Inks: Distress inks Black soot, Antique linen, and Pumice stone, Black India ink
Card: white card, pale dusky green, black
Stamps: Clarity stamps wrought iron corner (?), Oxford impression Steampunk
Other: natural sponge to stipple on black ink
In the March 2012 issue of the Craft stamper magazine Riet van Zundert shows how to use your acrylic block to add colour to your card so I had a go with her technique for Ceara’s birthday card. You basically ink up your acrylic block then swipe away any areas you don’t want colour on. Then use your block like a stamp and press onto your card. I stamped the pink colours first, then added the green to the centre, then stamped the images normally and coloured them in.
Inks: Distress inks Spun sugar and Bundled sage, Cosmic shimmer Angel mist, Memento Tuuxedo black
Card: White, Black glitter card
Stamps: Inkadinkado Mindscapes, Elusive images Easter grasses
Other: Gelly roll glitter pen, Lime green stickles, black 1/2 pearls and nail heads, tiny flower sequins and seed beads
For a little something extra I made a steampunk bracelet. It was a kit from John Lewis but I won’t be buying any more as the quality is very poor. The metal is very soft and is a strange colour that is neither silver nor gunmetal colour. Instead of the large metal heart they had in the kit I added a dragonfly in it’s place. Just the addition of a few cogs apparently makes it steampunk….Hmmmm.
For John’s birthday card I went for a bit of a steampunk theme. He has written a book and is just waiting for his literary agent to give the go ahead to get it published so I have tried to portray the fact that his writing ideas will take off. There is only a tiny number 60 on the front of the card around the bird’s neck.
Inks: Black document ink, Versafine archival Vintage sepia, distress inks Frayed burlap and Vintage photo, Black Stazon, embossing ink.
Card: Ivory card, Metallic effect card, small bits of grunge board
Stamps: Oxford Impressions Steampunk elements and Steampunk works, Clarity corner stamp
Other: Copic sepia multi liner, vintage pen nibs, Diamond glaze, copper peel-off hinge, vintage copper brads, Distress Vintage photo embossing powder mixed with Brass detail, Kettle copper embossing powder mixed with Brass detail, small piece of metal stamped using metal stamps (number 60) with black acrylic paint rubbed in.
I love the Steampunk style that can be seen in a few stamp designs now and it really lends itself to cards for men. Now I am not saying Steampunk is not for women – far from it – just that it is great for male cards which can sometimes be more difficult. I remember a few conversations about Steampunk with Donald (whose birthday it is very soon) so this card is for him.
The corner elements are made by sticking thermawrap tape onto paper lace border and using an embossing tool or paper stump carefully emboss the lace pattern. Then paint over with black acrylic paint and wipe off most of it before it dries just leaving some in the de-bossed areas.
Inks: Memento Tuxedo black, Distress inks Barn door, Aged mahogany and Peeled paint, versamark with silver embossing powder
Card: white, black, silver miri card
Stamps: Oxford Impressions Steampunk
Other: watch parts, diamond glaze, paper lace covered in thermawrap tape, copper pen