Enveloping Steampunk by Sarah Anderson

I was thrilled when Hels and Jennie asked if I'd be a guest designer here on The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog, especially in light of the new cogs and gears backgrounds Jennie has brought out!  I just love them :)

I have some little brown envelopes which I discovered fitted an ATC inside, so I decided to go with a Steampunk theme and make a little envelope book.

I took a Mushroom and a Lake Mist Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber and smudged paint onto the envelope and stamped with the sequin waste open background stamp and dots.

I always do this on a sheet of copier paper too, which then gives me a co-ordinating background on which to stamp then cut images from.  The Cogs Background from the 'Time' collection of stamps is brilliant for working with a Steampunk theme.

And Tick Tock, in the same collection, has these wonderful clock/watch faces with an open centre, which look great combined with the cogs background.

After collaging some stamped papers onto my envelope I then partially stamped the large moth from Insects and Butterflies Collection No 1.  This provides the detail for the moth's antennae.  I then cut out a plain white moth from copier paper and collage it on top.

I decided I wanted more of a contrast in this piece, so used Pool and Eggplant Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabbers to colour the moth.

I decorated two more envelopes in similar fashion,

and the front cover [made of folded card to fit the envelopes].  I used one of Tim's Idea-ology clock faces and some watch parts to add an authentic feel to my book.  Vintage Watch Collection parts are available here at The Artistic Stamper.

The book is made from 3 envelopes, hinged together with folded card covered with paper.  Now I just need to make some ATCs to live inside!!