Guest Blogger Tonya Gibbs: Steampunk Debutante Canvas

Tonya Gibbs

I am so excited to have this opportunity to be a guest blogger for my dear friends at Flamingo Scraps.  I met Suzanne and Susan through a mutual friend about three years ago, and instantly fell in love with their style.  I am a true addict of all things shiny and colorful, and their store is full of all of it.  Flamingo Scraps are definitely enablers for my addiction!

I married my high school sweetheart 20 years ago and we have two beautiful teenagers, Brittany and Brighton.  I'm a web designer at the University of Florida Foundation and a photographer.  I attended the University of Florida where I studied Fine Arts (Go Gators)!  I spend a lot of my spare time volunteering for not-for-profit, kid-oriented organizations.  These kids have dubbed me Psycho Mom and I've truly embraced it.  I opened a scrapbook store and named it Psycho Moms, I was very sad when I had to close it due to health problems.

I have been a crafter my entire life, from ceramics to crocheting, I've done it all.  My love for scrapbooking began in high school, and it has been fun to watch the evolution of my pages.  Recently, I've noticed I've been migrating from the traditional scrapbooking to wall canvases and mini albums.  These types of projects allow me to use the techniques I learned in Fine Arts.  I'm all about getting dirty when I craft!

I fell in love with Graphic 45's Steampunk Debutante the minute I saw it.  When Suzanne told me Flamingo Scraps was ordering it, I was so excited!  Trust me, you will not want to cut this paper it is so rich.  The weight of the paper is awesome, the colors vibrant, the theme whimsical and fun.  Inspiration oozes from the pages.

When I think steampunk, my mind goes to the industrial revolution.  Debutante instantly makes me think of a woman.   For me, my family is what makes me tick.  They are who I am and what I live for.  So for me, the Steampunk Debutante is a strong woman whose complex make-up is her family.

Steampunk Debutante Canvas by Tonya

In the above photo, I created my Steampunk Debutante from the G45 paper.  Her dress is made from acrylic to which I added alcohol ink and bead gel.  The dress is decorated with Prima swirls, broken watch parts and metal roses.  The dress is attached to a 6 x 12 inch piece of chipboard with Tim Holtz grungeboard hinges and a button closure.  Inside the glass door you can see the gears and family that make up this Debutante.  The girl was taken from the G45 paper and I wanted to enhance the mechanical flow by adding metal parts.  Prima's Caravan Oasis flowers were made for this collection!  I also used Chocolate Prima Say It In Pearls, metal roses, a stick pin and another G45 tag.

Close up Front of Dress

Close up of Top

As you open the dress/door, the gears are exposed.  The gears were cut from my Cricut with the Accent Essentials and Indie Art Cartridges.  Each gear has a photo of a member of my family.

With the Front Fanned out

The entire piece is mechanical.  Each gear is attached with a brad, has bead gel on the edges for texture and is painted to match the patina aged metal.

Close up of Gear

There are photos on both sides of the gears.

View of Back Fanned out

All Fanned out

For a complete walk through of this project watch this video:


Thanks for looking!

http://www.psychomoms.com/