Monday 1 February 2016

Steampunk ATCs by Alison

Hello all, Alison here from Words and Pictures and I'm back on the ATCs today.  I have to go with two pictures straight away, because even I can't believe how different these look in sunlight...


... compared to in the shade!  Either way, I love working with the Calico Craft Parts ATC blanks - even the Plain ATCs give such substance to this small format.


This time I've paired them with some of the fantastic Steampunk designs - cogs and gears are always fun to play with.


I started out by layering stripes of tissue tape onto the ATCs (last of the process photos, sorry - I got wrapped up in it all!).


I applied a light coat of gesso to soften the look of the tape and then added DecoArt Crackle Glaze with my fingers.


When it had crackled, I played with layers of Antiquing Creams and DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics, adding them and wiping back, until I was happy with the look of the backgrounds.


(At times I was quite brutal with the scraping of the crackle - I really wanted a distressed, eaten-away effect.)


I used a coat of Ultra Matte Varnish to seal it all in so no more of that crackle will be going anywhere.


For the beautiful Steampunk Cog Butterfly (in sunlight and in shade)...



... and the Steampunk Mechanical Cogs Style 3 (in sunlight and in shade)...



... I also used the DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics...


... rubbing colours on with my fingers and wiping back...


... the same process really...


... but with some gilding wax layered in to the mix at times.


A couple of rub-on words complete the look.


I like how you can embed a rub-on right in to the piece so that it seems to belong there.


And that's your lot... I hope you like them, and if you'd like to play with a Steampunk look, do check out all the amazing designs available by clicking on the links in the text.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I'll see you again soon.

Alison x
Words and Pictures

31 comments:

  1. Love the cog butterfly, and how different it looks in both lights! Your crackling is superb.

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  2. Beautifully put together as always. The cogs are great set into the crackle like that. You get a sense they've been there a long time and things are beginning to creep over them. Love it! Lx

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  3. Absolutely stunning, just drooling over that crackle texture and design !

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  4. Never applied crackle with fingers....yet...need to add it to my Butterfly notebook! Adore the background...looks so authentic....cogs sit happily too! X

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  5. Wonderful! I love the idea of those solid atcs!

    Lucy x

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  6. Stunning work Alison. Love both of these. But the butterfly is awesome. The backgrounds are fabulous. The crackle matches perfect the style of steampunk.
    Thank you for sharing your lovely art.
    Hugs from Monica... Spain

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  7. Wow Alison -- your design work is always fabulous -- the backgrounds for both of these cog images is perfect - sets the whole mood. I really said wow when I opened up this post!!!! You have a vision that few of us can match - that is why they pay you the big bucks right!!!!
    sandy xx

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  8. Oh dear,I think I'm in love with that butterfly and that means a spend up......
    Hugs
    Donna xxx

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  9. absolutely awrsome. i love that cog butterfly. brilliant backgrounds too. beautiful. work alison. hugs rachel x

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  10. Wow, these backgrounds are ever so stunning! Such fabulous crackling! Gorgeous work, Alison!!! <3

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  11. Fabulous! Love the colours, love the crackle and love the cogs parts.

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  12. Two wonderful ATCs and reat use of all those cogs!!

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  13. Amazing Tags with great backgrounds, I love the crackled parts on it.
    Greetings
    Sabine

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  14. Wow Wow Wow, fabulous ATC's, amazing textures and I need a Butterfly !
    Julie x

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  15. The difference in the lighting is really interesting. Great ATCs! That crackle makes my heart happy!

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  16. Love the results of all the layers - fabulous. xx

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  17. Absolutely,positively too cool!! Love these Alison!!

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  18. Sweet ATCs, Alison! I love them both. I know the size of an ATC, but I can't help imagining these as huge pieces of art (almost floor to ceiling) hanging on a wall! Awesome!

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  19. Love those gear pieces - wonderful color and crackle!

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  20. Wow is all I can think to say! Oh, yes, I need those cogs, the butterfly is fabulous... the crackle looks pretty amazing too. Anne xx

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  21. You could push me over with a feather right now, alison! I am in love with your ATCs! The crackle is fantastic and the cogs are finished to a lovely patina--I think I like them best taken in the shade. so happy you were brutal with the crackle; it looks like these have been around for centuries! Put my name on these, Alison, and if you're ever doing a clean out... just sayin'! But in the meantime, I'll pin them so I can drool at my convenience! Hugs!

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  22. Gorgeous and stunning! Loves both designs and the crackle is fantabulous!!! Awesome sauce and a bag of chips! Wowzers!!!! ~Niki

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  23. So beautiful Alison, fabulous colours and textures and love the cogs! Deb xo

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  24. Gorgeous, -amazing crackles and colors, Alison
    Love how your scraped away some crackle to make it look beaten and beautiful.
    Hug, Dorthe

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  25. They are gorgeous, the crackle looks amazing.

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  26. These really pack a punch for ATCs, Alison! I love the different colours; the crackle and the text. Wonderful work! xx

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  27. These ATC's are totally amazing love all the layers and textures, need these blanks in my stash lol.
    MaggieH

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  28. Absolutely gorgeous!!!! And I love the colours and all the shades on the Steampunk elements, fantastic result Alison xx

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  29. Such clever cog designs beautifully displayed and altered here Alison. Jenny x

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