Steampunk Nutcracker

 Warning : Long post. Grab snacks and beverage of choice.

It's time for another challenge at Eclectic Ellapu and this time both teams are combining their efforts for an Anything Goes challenge. I could hardly wait to post this. I bought the November/ December issue of Somerset Studio magazine and discovered these fabulous nutcrackers altered by Michelle Ward. She has also posted them on her blog and they are brilliant. I was absolutely smitten with the Steampunk version and since I collect nutcrackers and am a huge fan of steampunk, I had to create one for myself, not copying hers but using it as a wonderful source of inspiration. I actually didn't look at her nutcracker again once I started mine because I knew I would be tempted to CASE it...hers is so cool!

I had an unpainted nutcracker in my stash from years ago when I thought I would paint one. I'm so glad I kept him even though I rarely paint these days. I used acrylic paint to cover all of the wood (black, fleshtone, pigskin) and let him dry. There he was...a blank canvas ready and waiting for anything that suited my fancy.

A flat jewellery piece from my stash was glued to the top of his hat. Hrdware pieces from my husband's toolbox, a watch part, and a half pearl decorated the hat along with two pieces of chain. His one eye is cut from a G45 sticker and the other has two stacked jewellery pieces. His fluffy moustache is black yarn pieces tied in the middle.

Steamy's suit came next. Gray trim was adhered around his epaulettes and a TH mini gear was glued to the top of each. His cuffs were wrapped with pieces of a TH ruler sticker and half pearls were added for the buttons. A Bo Bunny compass sticker was adhered to the wooden piece that moves up and down when the handle does. HAlographic Dazzle stickers were placed to form his buttons and more mini gears decorate the peplum part of his uniform. His belt is silver ribbon with a TH pin looped over it before it was adhered. A partial clock charm and a rusty key charm were attached to the pin with jump rings.

Steamy's boots were fun to create. Grungeboard hinge pieces became the decorations for the front with half pearls filling in the holes. The hinges were inked with Vintage Photo Distress ink before adhering them. Tiny watch parts formed the buttons on the boots. On each side of each foot, a TH mini paperclip was adhered to amp up the metal factor :)

The final two elements added were the clock key glued to the handle in the back and two clock hand stickers for his chin straps or ears...whatever you want them to be. I had an absolute blast creating this guy. I had no idea how he would turn out yet he is exactly what I hoped for. Love it when that happens!

Thanks so much for visiting Steamy and me today and thanks to Michelle Ward for her inspiration.. Pop by the Eclectic Ellapu blog to see the amazing creations from the rest of the DT. It's well worth the trip! I hope you find time to join in this challenge. I'd love to come and visit you.

I am entering this guy in the following challenges:
Craft Us Crazy ~ Challenge 32 Christmas/Winter/Favourite embellie
Inspire Me Fridays ~ Anything Goes
Really Reasonable Ribbon ~ Challenge 62 Anything Goes + Ribbon
Anything But A Card ~ Challenge 8

Life is good; so is art.
 Bonnie