Thursday, February 3, 2011

Steampunk Faux Fuse Charm

O.k..I know I mentioned yesterday that I was going to share a nifty little pillow box for Valentine's Day but in the wee hours of the morning a totally awesome charm came to me and I just had to try it.  It worked so well I couldn't wait to share it with you all so here goes...

I guess I should explain a bit first...I love the steampunk look but some of the materials they use are usually expensive, rare or hard to find.  I love the way they use vintage glass fuses and stuff but man are they ever expensive.  I found a box of them at a flea market a couple months ago but they were like $40.00.  WAY too expensive to experiment with.  Sooooo I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out an easy and cheap way to recreate them without breaking the bank (or cutting my fingers - lol).  So, this is how I came to be dreaming about fuses and charms.

Steampunk Faux Fuse Charm

Steampunk Faux Fuse Charm 001

Supplies:

Clear Plastic Tube
2 Flat Rondelle Spacer Beads
2 Bead Caps
1 Head Pin or Eye Pin (2"+)
Seed Beads
Wire Working Tools
Jumpring (optional)
Watch Gears (optional)

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of clear plastic tube approx. 1" long.  The ends need to be as close to straight as possible.  This is going to be our faux glass piece for our fuse.

Steampunk Faux Fuse Charm 002

2. Glue the flat rondelle spacer beads to each end of the plastic tube.

Steampunk Faux Fuse Charm 003

3. Slide one of the bead caps on the eye pin then slide the tube over the pin.

Steampunk Faux Fuse Charm 005

4. Slide the seed beads on the eye pin.  Make sure they go all the way down.  Continue adding beads until it reaches the top of the tube.

Steampunk Faux Fuse Charm 006

5. Add the final bead cap and make your loop with the remainder of the pin.  Clip off any excess.

Steampunk Faux Fuse Charm 007

and here is what the faux fuse looks like at this point...Really looks like glass doesn't it?

Steampunk Faux Fuse Charm 008

6. (optional) To add that little "extra" to really give it a Steampunk feel I attached several different sizes of watch gears to a jump ring on the bottom eye pin.

And you're done!!

Steampunk Faux Fuse Charm 009

Isn't this charm awesome!!! 
OMG ~ I was so excited when I finished it. 
I just love how it turned out. 
Very inexpensive and oh so easy but man does it ever look great!
So, what do you think?

36 comments:

  1. That is pretty stinkin' cute. So simply and it really adds elegence to the charm.

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  2. Awesome!!! Great idea. Shari (cricutrookie)

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  3. That is the best idea ever for an inexpensive steampunk! Great job!

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  4. lol luv it! where would I find the clear plastic tube? gonna try this one for sure! cher

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  5. Hi Roni -

    I made a charm like yours. I was making mine as a part of a bracelet for my sister and I used sterling silver and red swarovski crystals in mine. But I really like the addition of the little watch sprockets and gears, gorgeous. I picked up my tubing in Wal-mart in the pet section where they sell fish tank supplies. I got 8ft. of 2.44mm tubing for just a few dollars, I think it cost about $3 or $4.
    Now I have to go and canabilize a few watches - LOL! I really love how yours turned out.

    Elaine Allen

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  6. Hi Roni

    Thanks a bunch for this great tutorial.

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  7. Love it!! Who'd a thunk it wasn't the real thing? Love those ideas that come in the middle of the night!!

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  8. I think that is absolutely fabulous! Would love to have a go at something similar.

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  9. Absolutely love this charm... will be returning to this post in the future for directions!!!

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  10. A girl after my own heart!! Fab idea. - Hugs from NZ

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  11. You are so clever! It's another super charm.

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  12. This is amazing, a brilliant idea x

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  13. Such a cute charm Roni! I really like this one. Judith xx

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  14. You come up with the most creative ideas!! and you don't break the bank. thank you

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  15. These really are incredible. I love this one even more than the last.

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  16. merci beaucoup pour ce magnifique tuto!

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  17. This is wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing the "how-to".

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  18. Joni, you continually amaze me! Absolutely brilliant!!! That looks so real. I must make one. Looks like the tubing is about 1/4" in diameter, am I right?

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  19. Ohhhhh, you are so smart! I love it. Thanks for sharing.

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  20. Fantastic, dont you just love those middle of the night ah ha moments....

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  21. That is just sooooo clever :)
    Cheers Von x

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  22. brilliant Roni- thanks for sharing I love how you are always working stuff out- I just need to get some plastic tubing now ...x

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  23. I absolutely love it! I just had to feature it on my little blog. http://mynerdynook.blogspot.com/2011/02/faux-fuse-charm-by-ink-stains.html

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  24. Hey Roni, long time no see. You have been busy creating some amazing stuff (as always).

    This charm is da bomb! How awesome is that? Gonna make some. Thanx for sharing with us.

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  25. Oh this is so cool!!! I just found your blog and I love it!!!

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  26. love this and going to give it a try!

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  27. Roni.... this is brilliant, Steampunk is one of my fav's and this will definitely help save some $$$$

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  28. Toooooooo Awesome!!!!! Love It!!!! Thanks for Sharing this!!!!
    Patti

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  29. These are great! I agree...love steampunk, but the supplies can be expensive to experiment with. Thanks so much for sharing this. It was exactly what I was looking for!

    hugs,
    Angi
    Making Mayhem | Because Life is Messy

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Thanks for your thoughts and comments!