' Steampunk Self Portrait ' Creating Fine Art with Rubber Stamps! A Blockheads Design Team Creation!

Howzit Stampers!

click on the photo to enlarge

I'm back today with another Blockheads Paper Arts design team tutorial!  I've designed a really cool Steampunk-style self portrait creation that demonstrates how you can create Fine Art with rubber stamps for a truly unique piece of Art worthy of being framed or for making personalized art cards.  I also used metal washes and T!m Holtz Idea-ology embellishments to achieve that perfect Steampunk look!

All the stamps I used are from Blockheads Paper Arts exclusive stamp line.  Click on each image sheet for more info.  All are available unmounted or cut on cling cushion.

 MATERIALS

I used the the following stamps:

Poppy and the Calendula flowers from the Flowers Full Sheet 

 Small Blossom and Butterfly from Nature Medallions

 Flourish from Grunge It Up

Paisley Flourish from the Painted Butterflies Set
Two Blossoms from the Victorian Eccentricities Collection

Three Moths from the Grunge Collages Collection

Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad

Various Copic Markers from the Blue Green, Blue and Blue Violet ranges

Prismacolor pencils

White gel pen

White, Blue and Purple cardstock

7 Gypsies 6"x 6"Black Book Board

Spellbinders Square die 

Glitter Glue

Double-sided tape

Crafter's Pick The Ultimate Glue

Steampunk embellishments:  metal washes and T!m Holtz Idea-ology Gears

I started out by drawing my own face in profile on white cardstock suitable for use with Copics and stamped the first of the largest images, the Butterfly, with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

I then stamped the large Calendula and Poppy flowers and proceeded to add smaller images.

I added the flourishes to give the feeling of flowing hair mixed in with all the flowers and insects.  I continued to build up the images until I was happy with the overall design.  I then used a square Spellbinder die to cut out the panel.

Next I stamped the butterfly and moths a few times on scrap pieces of cardstock and cut them out.

I coloured them with Copics and embellished with glitter glue.  I love the one that has the gorgeous iridescent ultra-violet glitter in it.  I then creased and folded up all the wings.

I coloured my self portrait with a combination of Copic markers and Prismacolor pencils.  I added glitter glue to the flower centers and to all the flourishes for extra sparkle.  I also added highlights to all the areas with a white gel pen.  I didn't do any extra shading or multi-colouring to the stamped butterfly and moths though coz later on I glued all the insect cut-outs over those images to give dimension to the piece.

I then embellished my self portrait Fine Art piece with various Steampunk elements.  I used silver metal washes in three sizes that I picked up from Home Depot - those are the smaller pieces I glued to the centers of all the smaller flowers.  I also attached the large silver Idea-ology gear to the center of the Calendula flower with a mini silver brad.

I then layered the art panel onto blue and purple cardstock mats and then finally onto a 7 Gypsies 6"x6" black book board.  I intend to mount my piece in a shadow box or frame suitable for hanging on my studio wall.  The last step was to adhere all the insect cut-outs to my self portrait.

I hope I've inspired you to create some Fine Art portraits of your own.  They would make perfect gifts for your family and friends too - portraits of them of course LOL,  but I'm sure your Moms would appreciate ones of you ;0)

For more Blockheads inspiration check out Karen's blog.  She's got some very 'sharp' tags to share with you using the Sewing sheet ;0)  Don't forget that Karen is also currently hosting a Blockheads Facebook Challenge!  There's an awesome prize up for grabs so go check it out!

Happy Stamping!

THE SHARPIE DOMINO QUEEN
I design for Blockheads Paper Arts * Third Coast Rubber Stamps * About Art Accents