Thursday 22 April 2010

Can you hear the wheels turning?

I've been playing with some new chippie shapes from Tando Creative - cogs in two different styles and sizes.

I managed a bonus project from these! I'm loving all the embossed metal that's around at the moment but I've been trying not to add another dimension to my papercrafting addiction by buying the moulds etc! I did have some sheet aluminium in my stash though and I own paper stumps for colouring so with the application of a little imagination, my chipboard cogs enabled me to make this ATC! I just laid my metal over the shapes (I did one at a time), rubbed over with the paper stump to get the basic shape to show through and then embossed fully with the tip of the stump. Easy peasy and you get to use the shape itself for something else :o)

Supplies:
Chipboard Cogs by Tando Creative
Aluminium sheet by AMACO
Train timetable stamp set (Cornish Heritage Farms)Ferro paint by Viva Decor (Graphite)
Chipboard ATC
Silver embossing powder
Black acrylic paint
Spring from inside a video cassette

And the something else I made in this case was this wall clock...

I bought a cheapo clock (£3.99 in Poundstretcher) a while ago with the idea of tarting it up for my craft room. The cogs seemed perfect for the project! This is a 30cm clock so you can see that the cogs are a decent size.

I dismantled the clock and pulled off the bright white plastic face. I used that as a template to cut a circle of watercolour paper which has a nice texture to it. I stamped some sheet music and some crackle and then used a Tim Holtz mask to sponge over for the clock face on the right.

The clock surround was really a bit on the nasty side - bright chromed plastic. I gave both it and the cogs the same kind of treatment to give them a pitted and corroded look. I gave them a coat of embossing powder (actually UTEE in the case of the surround) and then slathered black acrylic paint on there, let it dry and then rubbed it off the high spots. If you use a single coat of embossing powder or UTEE over a reasonably large area it tends to give an "orange peel" sort of texture which is perfect for ageing with acrylic paint like this.

Here's a little detail shot for you so you can see more of how that texture works out. I love how the teeth of the smaller cogs fit perfectly together. If you were very clever, I reckon you could use them to make an actual turning mechanism on a card or maybe a page in a mini album.

Supplies:
Chipboard cogs by Tando Creative
Aged Sheet music Scrapblock by Cornish Heritage Farms
Cracked Montana Earth Backgrounder by Cornish Heritage Farms
Watercolour paper
Tim Holtz Distress ink by Ranger (Black Soot and Weathered Wood)
Silver embossing powder and UTEE
Black acrylic paint
Timeworks masks by Tim Holtz/Ideaology
Silver brads
Washers


Thanks for stopping by, happy crafting!

19 comments:

Caroline said...

Fab Joanne - love the embossing - what a fab idea. And the clock is gorgeous - that would look super on my wall, lol.

Karen said...

WOW Joanne...this is amazing! Those cogs really look the business and you have made a lovely clock! X

Sid said...

Two brilliant projects Joanne. loving the altered clock very much !

Lisa Silver said...

These are just STUNNING! I love the effect you achieved with the clock. I'll never look at a cheapo clock the same way again. I'll always wonder if there is an opportunity to alter!

Gorgeous!
lise

Anonymous said...

Amazing pieces Joanne! I love your altered clock! xx

iriseyes said...

Joanne, you are so talented! These pieces are gorgeous! I have an old clock I've been wanting to change, the UTEE idea will be perfect - thanks.

Kathy said...

Goodness Joanne, your creativity and ingenuity knows no bounds - what amazing crafting you've been doing

sam21ski said...

FANTASTIC xxxxx Need some of those cogs xxxx

craftimamma said...

Wow! I love your clock. What a fabulous idea. Thanks for the inspiration. Those cogs are really useful.

I'm into using metal and moulds very much at the moment as at this time of year at least 5 male family members have birthdays so cogs, timepieces and metal = great men's cards.

Lesley Xx

Tee said...

Love the look...I can't work with metal or metal theme..need to work on that..

suuperbly done..

ejal

Deborah said...

wowowowowow! Love that clock!

stampqueen said...

I just love the clock!!!!! Just what I need - another something that I 'HAVE' to try!!!! After I use up my stash of cigar boxes and briefcases.....

LME said...

Wow lovely hope to have a go with Tim's cogs :)

Lorraine said...

love all the cogs clocks and metal..great textures

Traceyr said...

Absolutely stunning Joanne. I adore that clock you are very clever. :)

Jean Franks Beck said...

Fabulous projects, Joanne - you are sooo creative!

Gez Butterworth said...

WOW Joanne these are both FANTASTIC! Looks like you had great fun with these. :)

Anonymous said...

Both are fantastic and i love that atc,how creative and clever
hugs June xxxx

Marlene (cards4u) said...

WOW this clock is wonderful!!!