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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?
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36 comments:

  1. NettyFebruary 3, 2011 at 6:58 PM

    Totally brilliant

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  2. UnknownFebruary 3, 2011 at 7:00 PM

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

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  3. Kelly WarrenFebruary 3, 2011 at 7:25 PM

    fabulous, roni!

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  4. shariFebruary 3, 2011 at 7:31 PM

    Awesome!!! Great idea. Shari (cricutrookie)

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  5. AnonymousFebruary 3, 2011 at 7:43 PM

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

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  6. AnonymousFebruary 3, 2011 at 7:47 PM

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

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  7. Elaine AFebruary 3, 2011 at 8:22 PM

    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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  8. Scrap VampFebruary 3, 2011 at 8:35 PM

    That is so COOL!

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  9. Carole RBFebruary 3, 2011 at 9:26 PM

    Hi Roni

    Thanks a bunch for this great tutorial.

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  10. Jean Franks BeckFebruary 3, 2011 at 10:29 PM

    Love it - fantastic!

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  11. DianeFebruary 3, 2011 at 11:17 PM

    greatest, I love it.

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  12. CarolynFebruary 3, 2011 at 11:50 PM

    Love it!

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  13. calamityjaneFebruary 4, 2011 at 12:47 AM

    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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  14. RosAFebruary 4, 2011 at 12:49 AM

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

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  15. snowbearFebruary 4, 2011 at 12:50 AM

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

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  16. EstherFebruary 4, 2011 at 2:54 AM

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

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  17. VicFebruary 4, 2011 at 3:09 AM

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

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  18. SueFebruary 4, 2011 at 3:18 AM

    This is amazing, a brilliant idea x

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  19. judith@poppy cottageFebruary 4, 2011 at 3:37 AM

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

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  20. GioFebruary 4, 2011 at 4:08 AM

    I think it's so brilliant!!

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  21. Carol CFebruary 4, 2011 at 5:17 AM

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

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  22. Kendra-Sue and JamieFebruary 4, 2011 at 7:09 AM

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

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  23. Nadia HerFebruary 4, 2011 at 8:23 AM

    merci beaucoup pour ce magnifique tuto!

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  24. JanaFebruary 4, 2011 at 9:18 AM

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

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  25. ConnieFebruary 4, 2011 at 10:20 AM

    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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  26. AnonymousFebruary 4, 2011 at 12:20 PM

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

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  27. Kelly KFebruary 4, 2011 at 3:07 PM

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

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  28. VonFebruary 4, 2011 at 6:01 PM

    That is just sooooo clever :)
    Cheers Von x

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  29. DebiFebruary 4, 2011 at 7:03 PM

    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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  30. Nerd MamaFebruary 5, 2011 at 11:05 AM

    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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  31. DebFebruary 5, 2011 at 5:34 PM

    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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  32. Marva Plummer-BrunoFebruary 5, 2011 at 11:06 PM

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

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  33. Lynn StevensFebruary 8, 2011 at 12:18 PM

    love this and going to give it a try!

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  34. ToniFebruary 8, 2011 at 4:55 PM

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

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  35. TwoHeartsPathFebruary 9, 2011 at 1:29 PM

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

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  36. AngelaJune 18, 2014 at 5:25 PM

    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!