We love steampunk style and put our own twist on it in our book Steampunk Chic. Here’s one of our favorite Steampunk projects, a Steampunk Chic Picture Frame. We’ve included the exact items we used, but with steampunk style you can make it your own. Just use our Steampunk Chic Picture Frame as inspiration then let your creativity take flight!
HOw To Make This Steampunk Chic Picture Frame
Flea Market Finds
2 porcelain clock faces, 2” to 2½”
1 watch face, ¾”
2 shirt buttons
Materials
1 unfinished wood picture frame, 11¼” x 9¼” with 5” x 7” opening
1 yd. self-adhesive die-cut felt ribbon, vine, black, 1½”
27 nailhead stickers, gold, 5mm
1 brass stampings, leafy flourish, 63.5mm
2 brass stampings, leafy flourish, 40mm
2 brass stampings, fancy corner, 43mm
2 brass stampings, angel wings, 54mm
1 filigree square, silver, 35mm
1 filigree round, gold, 25mm
1 washer, zinc, 1¼”
2 small wood screws
9 weatherstrip nails, copper, #17 x ¾”
Plaid FolkArt craft paint, Metallic Periwinkle #669
Plaid FolkArt craft paint, Metallic Pure Gold #660
Charms
1 Vintaj Round Disc Flower Stencil Charm, natural brass, 16mm
1 Vintaj Gear, antique silver plate, 19mm
1 clock gear, 1”
1 bee charm, silver
1 bee charm, bronze
1 bee charm, pewter
Tools & Supplies
Beacon Adhesives Quick Grip
screwdriver
hammer
foam paintbrush
Steps
1. Paint the wooden picture frame with the Metallic Periwinkle paint using the foam paintbrush. Let dry.
2. Remove the backing from the first 12” of the die-cut felt ribbon. Adhere to the top of the frame, then cut at an angle to miter the corner. Continue on to cover all four sides.
3. Stipple the Metallic Pure Gold paint on the front of the frame (not the sides), going directly over the felt ribbon. Let dry. Decorate the felt fusion ribbon with the nail head stickers.
4. Nail the brass corners in the upper left and lower right using two copper nails per corner. Nail the brass flourishes in the other corners using one nail per flourish.
5. To attach the porcelain clock faces, layer a gear over a clock face and screw into the frame. Glue a shirt button (for height) on top of each screw head. For the left clock face, glue the flower charm and a bee charm in the center. Glue a bee charm to the center of the other clock face. To increase the intrigue, face each bee in a different direction.
6. Center the wings at the bottom and nail to the frame. Layer and glue the filigree square, followed by the washer, the filigree round, and the watch face. Finish with a bee charm facing in yet another direction.
7. Select a great old black-and-white photo to fill the frame. We found ours at the flea market years ago and have been holding onto it to use in a project just like this!
Picture This: To get the same effect as the die-cut ribbon, dab black acrylic paint through a swirly stencil and dust the wet design with velvety flocking.
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