Yes, you guessed it, I’m back again with another steampunk project, and this time I’m showing you how to create a DIY Mixed Media Steampunk Hat. I’d been hoarding this empty plastic bucket in my shed, waiting for inspiration—and once I realised its potential, a steampunk hat popped into my head. I’ll guide you step by step through adding layered textures, crafting resin gears and rubbing on copper highlights to turn an ordinary bucket into a bold steampunk hat—and then into a show‑stopping lamp.

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After crafting a mixed-media steampunk lamp I was thrilled with, I decided to merge it with my hat design to create one spectacular piece.

DIY Mixed Media Assemblage Steampunk Hat

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Materials Needed

• Small plastic bucket (or similar container)
• Cardstock (cut into 5 cm squares)
• Mod Podge or craft glue
• Texture paste and spatula
• Mixed media stencils (various patterns)
• Mesh (from vegetable sacks)
• Corrugated cardboard
• Christmas beads and bead chain
• Paper packaging scraps
• Braid trim tape and burlap fabric
• Silicone moulds and epoxy resin
• Hot glue gun + sticks
• Faux leather or heavy fabric for brim
• Black gesso (or black acrylic paint)
• Metallic copper wax paste
• Small detail brushes
• Acrylic spray sealer
• Lazy Susan or turntable base
• Old drawer pulls or decorative knobs (for stand legs)
• Steampunk goggles & feathers (optional)
• Hole saw (if making lamp combo)
• Scissors, craft knife, ruler

Step 1: Prepare the Bucket Base

I built this hat almost entirely from recycled bits I already had at home. Start with a small plastic bucket or similar container, then give it a mixed‑media makeover by layering on texture. Cut 5 cm cardstock squares and adhere them to the bucket with Mod Podge—this patchwork of paper creates a strong, uneven surface for all your embellishments to grip. Don’t worry about perfect placement; a little overlap adds character and depth.

If you’d like to turn your hat into a lamp, simply use a hole saw to cut a circular opening in the centre of the bucket; otherwise, you can skip this step.

Step 2: Add Mixed Media Texture

There are many ways to add texture to a mixed media assemblage project. This post will show you how.

Randomly position stencils over the bucket and spread texture paste with a spatula.

Remove each stencil immediately and rinse to keep it reusable.

Embed mesh, corrugated cardboard, beads, packaging and braid tape with tacky glue or hot glue.

Layer burlap strips for extra depth. Use tacky glue for lighter pieces and hot glue for heavier bits, layering them in a random, overlapping fashion to build rich texture and detail—no need for perfect placement. At this stage, don’t stress over the chaos—it may look messy now, but trust that the layers will come together beautifully.

Step 3: Create Resin Gear Embellishments

With the base complete, it’s time to add your embellishments. To keep costs down, I use silicone moulds to cast my resin pieces. Once cured, a quick blast of a hairdryer makes the resin pliable, so you can easily mould each piece around curves and contours.

Design and cut gear shapes with your Cricut on thick cardstock, and glue layers together for a 3D effect.

This is a view from the other side of the steampunk hat.

Finally, finish by scattering small charms and beads into any gaps or layering them over larger pieces to achieve a rich, dimensional effect.

Embellishment Supplies

Here’s a list of some of the small charms and beads I used to finish off the hat:

• Steampunk charms
• Craft charms
• Decorative buttons
• Bead chain
• Decorative studs
• Peacock beads
• Filigree charms
• Hinges
• Clock mechanisms

These tiny pieces can be tucked into gaps or layered over larger embellishments to create a richly detailed, three‑dimensional look.

Here’s a close‑up of the detailing—before I paint, I always trim away any stray hot‑glue strands to ensure a clean, polished finish.

Step 4: Assemble the Brim

Trace the bucket onto cardboard, leaving a 5 cm outer lip. Cut “pizza” slices toward the centre, fold up the inner circle to fit..

Cover the brim with faux leather using Mod Podge or craft glue, trimming slits to fold edges neatly.

This is the bottom view of the hat brim.

Decorate the brim in the same way you did the top.

Glue the brim inside the bucket base with hot glue at intervals.

Step 5: Paint and Highlight

Coat the entire hat—including brim—with black gesso; let fully dry.

I applied a metallic copper wax paste to accent the black gesso, lightly dipping my fingertip into the wax and gently working it into the raised details. Leave patches of the matte black exposed so the copper pops and adds depth. If you don’t have copper wax paste, you likely already have the ingredients to make some at home. This post shows you how.

Use a fine brush for tight gaps, moving in gentle circular strokes.

The wax paste will now need about 12 hours to cure.  To seal the hat, you can use acrylic spray.  This will make the copper paste stand out and prevent any fading in the future.

Step 6: Build the Stand

While applying the acrylic sealant, I perched the hat on a retired Lazy Susan, which just happened to become its stand.

Drawing from my stash of reclaimed hardware, I attached old drawer pulls as legs, then coated the stand in gesso and gently rubbed on copper wax highlights to echo the hat’s finish.

For more steampunk inspiration, explore my other projects here!

Step 7: Assemble and Optional Accessories

To merge the hat and lamp, I removed the lamp’s base and secured its mounting plate to the new stand. Then I guided the lamp column through the hat’s centre hole and re‑attached it to the plate, slipping off the plug first made threading it through much easier.

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