DIY Steampunk Medals

Make your own steampunk medal! A perfect, easy addition to any Halloween costume!

Materials & Tools Needed:

• Medal Ribbon (any length you desire)
• Bicycle Gear (from a cassette)
• Pocketwatch part (preferably one of the cover pieces which are more ornamental)
• Pin
• Safety pin
• EE3000 or 5000 glue
• Needle & Thread (if you prefer to hand sew) or Sewing Machine (which I’d suggest)
• Scissors

Steps:

1. Cut ribbon for the medal.
2. Place your bike gear in the middle of your ribbon.
3. Grab your pocketwatch part (the piece I used is the cover which you can detach by removing the hinge pin which attaches the cover to the rest of the watch).
4. Glue a pin to the back of your pocketwatch part with EE3000 or 5000 (or another kind of glue that fuses to metal).
5. Fold your ribbon (lining up the 2 ends evenly).
6. Fold over the top of your ribbon (toward the back side of your medal ribbon). Place your safety pin inside the fold.
7. Sew (by either hand stitching or machine sewing) along your fold. Be sure to stitch and back stitch if you are using a sewing machine.
8. Cut off the excess thread.
9. Pin your pocketwatch part to the front of your ribbon.

You’re finished! Wear with pride!

 

Upcycling from Bicycles!

I have a brand new reason to love bicycles–other than green, heart healthy transportation and tons of fun on a sunny day–bicycles have beautiful gears that are perfect for steampunking! Mine were given to me by a friend who works in Tom’s Bicycles here in Tulsa (thank you Casey!).

For other steampunkers out there–be warned that bike gears are incredibly tough to clean. It will take you a couple of washes and a ton of elbow grease. I would recommend using a brillo pad saturated with Dawn (or any grease cutting soap of your choice). Despite the hours (and believe me you will be at it for an hour or two) of cleaning, used & worn bike gears are ideal steampunk material because the rough edges have already been worn down from riding and are no longer sharp.

Another great thing about bike gears (those from cassettes, that is) are their many holes. So while you will spend a great deal of time cleaning them, you do not have to file or drill at all! This is even more perfect for beginner steampunkers who have not built up an arsenal of tools or for those who are steampunking on a budget. Without further ado, here are my bicycle creations!

Steampunk Cyclist-Poet’s Necklace: Made with various chains, a pen nib, metal filigree, and clock cogs & gears.Asymmetrical Steampunk Cyclist’s Necklace: Made with key, various chains, and metal filigree.Steampunk Brake Pad Earrings: Made with bicycle brake pad parts, chain, and washers.Steampunk Cyclist’s Key Chain: Made with key, various chain, and clock gears.Steampunk Brake Pad Necklaces: (Left) Made with brake pad, chain, washers, and grandfather clock gear; (Right) Made with chain, brake pad, washer, and lock washer.

Hope this inspires you to upcycle!