Saturday 13 April 2013

Which Witch?



      Hello everyone! And thank you so much to all who have joined my blog. I have reached 100 followers!

   This was a project that at first glance at the challenge my gut instinct was "Nope, I can't do that"...but I carried on reading and something sparked in my imagination, ideas began to happen. Me, being me, I just dismissed them, but they kept lurking....and I was starting to think "Perhaps?"

        The subject was 'Fairytales, into our Steampunk world' and the idea in my head was the Wizard of Oz....a favourite story of mine.

      I still had one of the houses from the Range and I wanted to make the house very Steampunk (if I could figure out how, having never done Steampunk before) and I would focus on the Wicked Witch of the West.....

       Like I said, Steampunk wasn't something I had ever done before...I did some research online, found some amazingly inspiring things and began to make notes of what I had that I could use on this project...It seemed I had enough items to have a go and I thought "Lets just see what happens"...I figured if Steampunk wasn't my thing, then no one need ever know about it ;o)

     The first idea that stuck in my head was this - I had the Wicked Witch of the West....


      I began to consider bringing all characters in - then I thought it would get too crazy! I decided to focus on the Wicked Witch of the West and her hunt for the ruby slippers.

       Here is the finished house - Sometimes I like how the photos turn out but today I think they are a bit disappointing - they really don't capture the magic of this. I am so pleased with how it turned out, but the photos sadly don't capture it....I even went outside to see if natural light helped....

      


      Anyway - enough of my poor photographs and on with how I did it!

          First I covered the walls with a set of brown paper, with Steampunk words and images. Then I had some metal embossed card and I covered it with black acrylic paint, smooshed over with a babywipe and then sprayed with metallic glimmer mists. I cut separate sections for the edge of the roof to give a slight 'winged' effect.



       Lets see all four sides of the house -


        The Wicked Witch of the West is, naturally, on the west side of the house - And she is looking for those ruby slippers....I stamped the image and painted her face with Peeled Paint DI and coloured the background to match the rest of the paper I chose for the house (Frayed Burlap was a good match) I cut her hat out of card, blended Black Soot DI and stamped an image of clocks over it with archival ink. I used glossy accents to create the glass on the binoculars.

       

I stuck the skull and crossbones behind her hat and cut a strip of metallic ribbon for her hat brim.




















      As for her broom....well surely a Steampunk witch will have a steering wheel? I used a twig from the garden and using the same method as making the fringed flower, I made a broom, securing it with rusty wire and adding a few wire curls for an added mechanical look.

        The wings....I couldn't create a hurricane, so for this creation, the house 'flew'! I covered the wings with Frayed Burlap DI on both sides and then on the other side I spritzed with a variety of metallic glimmer mists.

    Now the South side of the house -



     .I attached various left over pieces of 'metal' effect card and attached gold brads. Texture paste was applied to corners and covered with copper glimmer mist painted on with a paintbrush. A bronze cog was added and I made a clock and compass out of images from the paper covering the walls and stuck onto various card and glossy accents were applied to make the glass effect. I also used bits of broken jewellery to the wire and the clock.



      This is the East side of the house -

   

       Again bits of leftover 'metal' was used to decorate the side of the house. A cog was stuck on and a heart cut of card, edged in frayed Burlap and had rusty wire wrapped around it with a compass stuck on that had been coated in glossy accents. The pendant had a clock face attached to it and then I applied glossy accents...after it had dried it looked too neat and not grungy enough...so I dabbed on some rock candy crackle glaze and after that was dry I wiped it with some black acrylic paint and then wiped the paint away revealing the cracks...


    And of course it is the East side of the house where the ruby slippers are



Lets see the North side of the house....




           Here you can see the cogs just below the roof. This was done with embossed card which had black acrylic paint smooshed over it with a babywipe. This was then covered with Tarnished Brass Distress Stain.
          I used bits of leftover 'metal' effect card...this time applying eyelets to one piece and threading rusty wire though - because the wire was difficult to bend it buckled the card giving a lovely wonky effect - Happy serendipity!



I attached a key and a metal label holder with the word 'Steampunk' inside. The pointing finger is declaring 'Danger' - as it is pointing to where the Wicked Witch of the West is beginning her search.....

      And the directions of the house? Indicated by the weathervane.....


     I constructed this from rusty wire. Made into a cross and stuck together at the joint with glue...I then moulded texture paste around the joint - to hide the wires and make it look more grungy.

     I drew the rooster shape and cut two pieces out of card. I painted them with Vintage Photo DP and then sprayed with a dark copper glimmer mist to give a rusty look. When the texture paste was dry I did exactly the same thing.

    I then got the N,S,E & W letters from my collection of metal letters (I wanted one of the letters to be smaller case so chose the 'E') I attached them to the wire, sticking leftover cog embossed card on the back and covering this with the copper glimmer mist painted on.




















     I had the most wonderful time making this little house. I adored stepping into the world of Steampunk - It is so much fun! - and I do hope you have enjoyed seeing it!



             Hope to see you all soon!


       I would like to enter this into the following challenges -

Sandee & amelie's Steampunk Challenges - Fairytales into our Steampunk world 3D
Simon Says - Fly
Craft-room challenge - In the library

37 comments:

  1. Unbelievably AWESOME doesn't even begin to describe how COOL this is! I could stare at it all day!! Your weather-vane is completely incredible...the whole house is just a masterpiece! :D

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  2. What a totally super cool project, absolutely fabulous!! So much to see and admire, I adore it! Both you and Alison are so imaginative, - it must run in the family.... (I realize it can't be the genes, but there must be something there...) Like Lisa said, this is a complete master piece!!

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  3. Congrats on achieving 100 followers! Your steampunk project is amazing! You should be very proud! Bravo!

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  4. Absolutely brilliant Laura, love how you added the witches hat to the image, looks so dimensional. Love the roof and your weathervane is fantastic. Love the clocks and the wonderful texture. This is a very clever well thought out piece. Thanks so much for joining in the Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge. Tracy x

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  5. You can call your house whatever you want . I just know that it is NEAT-O from where I'm sitting. Truly a work of art. I tend to like the frou-frou vintage stuff, especially if it's pink, but I am thoroughly enchanted by this little house. I have gawked and drooled for a bit and cannot decide what I like best. Maybe the roof this moment and that weather vane the next. nise

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  6. Oh I just lurve this!!The witchy hast works so well withthat image. Fantastic project!

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  7. Wow Laura ! Your Steampunk little house is fabulous ! Sue C x

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  8. One would never believe that this is your first step into Steampunk, Laura!

    I so LOVE LOVE LOVE your wicked witch's house with all those awesome details and textures and story-telling things on it!!!! A brilliant make and a wonderful take on our fairy-tale-Steampunk challenge theme!!!!

    Thank you so much for stepping out of your comfort zone - it was so worth it!!!! Thanks for sharing this gorgeous creation with us at SanDee&amelie's!

    Hugs,
    Claudia - die amelie x

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  9. Fabulous box!! Oh my! Every side has something to look at in detail.

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  10. I agree with Lisa, this is AWESOME! To list all the perfect things would be longer than your post, so just to say each of the little elements is so well constructed and there is so much texture it's beautiful. Hugs, Jenny x

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  11. Oh my, this is one of the best makes we have ever seen. It's truly FAB and if we saw it for sale at a craft fair etc we would be over to that stall like a shot. We love Wizard of Oz, and love that stamp,and just totally love what you did with the house. Awesome.

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  12. O my word... This is Fabulous... One of the BEST altered houses I have ever seen...Full of texture & wonderful detail..your design is a AmAzing.. Love it!! Hugs May x x x

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  13. That house is just brilliant Laura! I've sat with a big smile on my face while I've read how you made it and have thoroughly enjoyed the "story". The attention to detail is amazing and there are so many things to look at, I think its a masterpiece. Love, Margie xx

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  14. This is such an amazing house Laura...thanks for showing all the pictures, I really like every part of the house...very, very creative!!

    kind regards, Alie :-)

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  15. Wow, I'm missing words, such an outstanding piece of art - really a masterpiece.

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  16. Laura, what a brilliant house :-) love all the details but love the witch the most, thanks for sharing with us at Craft Room challenge, Debi x

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  17. Absolutely stunning work. I would pay to have that sitting on my shelf. You should be very proud of your creation .

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  18. Fantastic house... every detail is so much fun - the curly twigged broom, the fabulous weathervane, delicious green-faced witch - love it!!
    Alison xx

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  19. Wow, wow, wow, that is stunning!! Beautifully embellished! :)

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  20. totally fabulous and bursting with creativity! I love all the details and the weather vane is brilliant. A wonderful creation and idea! LOve it. Thanks for sharing with Simon Says Stamp & Show. Sarah.

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  21. You will hit 200 before you know it! Laura, you have not left off one detail! This is beyond Awesome and I love that witch! So cool! Hugs!

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  22. This is a particularly wonderful job, incredibly well done.

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  23. wOOw! This is pure Steampunk awesomeness! I am totally speechless and I really cannot find words suitable to express how cool this project is. Every corner hides something fantastic to drool over and the weather vein definitely won me over!!! I had to show it to my hubby and he loved it too!!! Lots of hugs xxxx
    Ps. did you get my email? xxx

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    1. Hi Joanna, No I haven't had any email from you. Have checked junk folder and there isn't anything...Try adam.bomber@btinternet.com Love and hugs xxxxxxx

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    2. Thanks Laura, I've just resent it to Adam's email address. Please let me know if you have/not received it xxxx

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  24. Oh Laura, the fantasy bird is the BOMB, I love all of your pics:). Well I looooove every inch of it all the stamping, the metal all your embellishments, outstanding job done my dear, thanks for sharing all this inspiration... Have a great day..

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  25. This fortnight at Craft-Room Challenge we have been spoilt by an number of extraordinary projects this is one more of those. I'd say you have Steampunk down pat this is brilliant, blown away thank you for sharing with us. XOXO Zoe

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  26. This is amazing wow i love your creation - just stunning and breathtaking - faboulus.
    Thank you indeed for sharing this at SanDee&Amelie´s STEAMPUNK CHALLENGE!
    XOXO SanDee

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  27. A fabulous creation. Thank you for joining us at Craft Room Challenge.
    xxx Hazel.

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  28. Wow Laura, this is just fabulous! It is a truly amazing steampunk piece, the green witch is just stunning, love her hat and the house is fabulous. I particularly love the weather vane - a genius addition. I would never have guessed that you were new to steampunk. Hugs, Anne x

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  29. Wowwwwwwwwwwwwww Laura
    This is amazing what a beautiful project with so many great details,
    It'really Fabulousssssssssssssssssssssss.
    Love it.
    Greetings Janny

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  30. Oh, I just LOVE this! You truly have some talent! Keep up the great work and keep on inspiring us!
    Hugs,
    Leslie
    http://leslieturner58.blogspot.com

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  31. WOW, this is a fabulous project, and so many amazing details.
    Avril x

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  32. Terrific project Laura! I just recently found your site and hope to visit often. You are SOOOOOOOO talented!!!
    Best Wishes:)
    DebbieK

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  33. TOTALLY COOL!!! Every inch of this is fabulous...what a design piece! I love her! Bravo!

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