Ink Stains: Steampunk Flower Pendant

Recently I joined a swap where you had to make a Steampunk Flower Pendant charm on the Facebook group - Art Charms. I have been thinking about what to make ever since. I knew I wanted to include lots of copper (it's my fav. metal color), a few gears and of course a bit of ink just because that's my thing.

Here's what I came up with....

What do you think?

I actually made 3 of them - 2 for the swap and one for me to keep/wear. I am really happy with how they came out. They have depth, different textures, a bit of sparkle (gemstone brad in the center) and lots and lots of copper. Very me :)

Here's how I made them....

First I started off by die-cutting several flowers from copper - 2 large flowers for each pendant. Some of the metal was inked before I die-cut (shown above) then embossed with a mini gear embossing folder. I ran out of the inked copper and cut a couple plain copper then swiped the ink across the flower after it was embossed. (see the bottom pendant in the photo showing the 3 charms.) I think I like the pre-inked charms better - it's got more of a grunge look to it.

Next I die-cut a few flowers from gold colored aluminum metal that I inked with Spiced Chai Stazon to highlight the embossed texture. I also die-cut some copper mesh (not shown).

And finally a few leaves which were embossed & inked with both Emerald City (darker green) and Spiced Chai StazOn ink. LOVE the mix of colors. Looks so pretty in person.

NOTE: I sanded all of the edges of each die-cut piece so it didn't have any sharp edges.

Time to assemble! I used an oval filigree piece as the foundation for my pendant. I started off by attaching the leaves to the pendant with a mini brad.

Next I gathered up all of the various flower components, a couple gears and a gemstone brad. I poked holes in all of the flowers; threaded each element onto the brad in the desired order and secured the back of the brad.