Today I’m sharing my Mixed-Media Assemblage Mannequin Torso (Steampunk-Inspired). I transformed a thrifted torso with found hardware, gears, and copper accents. This project blends upcycling, texture play, and bold metallic finishes. It’s perfect for artists who love layering and dimension. I’ll walk you through priming, building depth, and highlighting those raised details. Create a striking wall sculpture with budget materials and loads of character.
If you follow my blog, you will know that besides DIY, I also love creating mixed media assemblage art. I am always on the lookout for interesting items that can be turned into unique home décor pieces by giving them a mixed media makeover. On a recent visit to my local markets, I came across a quirky jelly bean dispenser in a junk box. The moment I saw it, I knew this jelly bean dispenser was destined for a steampunk makeover. With a bit of imagination, embellishments, and paint, I transformed this ordinary piece into a statement steampunk jelly bean dispenser that looks right at home on a bar counter.
This week’s project is for the International Bloggers Club (IBC) challenge. Our theme is “All Bottled Up”—make something using a bottle. If you follow my Facebook page, you’ll know mixed media bottle assemblage is my thing. I’ll admit, it felt a bit like cheating because this theme plays to my strengths. Mixed media bottle assemblage turns a plain glass bottle into rich, touchable art. In this post, I’ll walk you through the basic techniques for making a mixed media bottle assemblage, step by step. In this post, I’ll share 15 techniques I use to build bold, 3D texture on mixed-media bottle assemblage projects. More about IBC at the end of the post.
This DIY steampunk book lamp with a hidden clock began as my “Bodacious Books” project for the first IBC (International Bloggers Club) challenge of 2022. I turned a plain lamp and a papier mâché book box into a mixed-media statement piece that doubles as secret storage. If you love steampunk, texture, and upcycling, this easy tutorial shows every step, from cutting clean holes to adding bronze highlights and a working clock.
Assemblage art is all about taking ordinary or discarded objects and transforming them into layered, imaginative creations. When I found an old teapot at the back of my cupboard—bought at a car boot sale over 20 years ago—I knew it was the perfect base for a new project. Rather than throw it away, I decided to upcycle it into steampunk assemblage art.
If you’re a fan of science fiction, industrial technology, or vintage aesthetics, you’ll love these 20 steampunk-inspired DIY projects! As a passionate steampunk enthusiast, I’ve found that this creative genre often sneaks its way into many of my designs, whether I’m working on a furniture makeover or a quirky decor piece.
Who doesn’t love a sock gnome? In How to Make Steampunk Sock Gnomes: A Quirky Upcycled DIY Tutorial, you’ll learn to turn simple recycled socks into charming steampunk decorations perfect for your home or as handmade gifts. Steampunk sock gnomes fuse Victorian-inspired flair with thrift-store finds, making this project eco‑friendly, budget‑wise and endlessly customisable.
In this DIY Boho Mixed Media Cow Skull Wall Art Tutorial, I got a Facebook message one day from a friend asking if I could breathe new life into a couple of sun‑dried cow skulls. It sounded odd until I remembered the Instagram‑worthy painted skulls I’d seen on Pinterest. As much as I love painting walls and furniture, detailed skull art was new territory—yet my knack for mixed media transformed a rustic skull into a fashion‑forward statement perfect for a boho‑style home.
I’ve been steampunk mad all year, so creating this DIY Steampunk Christmas Tree: Upcycled Recycled Mixed Media Holiday Decor was inevitable. A reader’s comment on one of my previous projects—“I hope you make a steampunk Christmas tree!”—sparked the challenge, and I couldn’t resist. In true upcycling fashion, I built the entire structure from recycled cardboard, timber offcuts and found trinkets before giving it a mixed-media, industrial-chic makeover that’s sure to spark conversation this festive season.
Welcome to our next Int’l Bloggers Club challenge, “Don’t Sweater the Small Stuff,” and I’m thrilled to present Steampunk Sweater Doorstop: Don’t Sweater the Small Stuff, where a recycled sweater and a broken cement bottle transform into a striking, functional piece of Victorian-inspired home décor. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to turn project “fails” into a flourish, layering lace, leather and gears to create a doorstop that’s as practical as it is eye‑catching.
If you follow my blog, you’ll know that last year I began exploring the wonders of steampunk, and now I’m totally addicted. With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, crafting a 3D Steampunk Heart: Cardboard Upcycle DIY for Valentine’s Day seemed like the perfect next project. In this tutorial, I’ll guide you through transforming ordinary corrugated cardboard into a mechanical masterpiece layered with mixed‑media embellishments, blending vintage romance with industrial flair to create a show‑stopping decoration or gift that sings steampunk style.
