Steampunk Charms- Handmade

I love steampunk. I know alot of other swap-botters out there do too so I thought I would combine this with a favourite pastime of mine, making charms.

The aim of this swap is to create 1 steampunk inspired charm for each of your 5 partners. That way, we should end up with a wonderful variety of charms for our bracelet. Anything goes as long as the charms incorporate the steampunk theme and are durable enough to wear on a bracelet. The charms can be made from scratch using whatever you like, be it metal, beads, watch parts and gears, clay, felt, shrink plastic, fimo, wood etc. Or, if you prefer, you can alter existing items such as bottle caps, scrabble tiles, dominoes, poker chips, chipboard shapes, pendants, and vintage lockets by embellishing with the appropriate imagery and anything else you fancy. Size wise, I'd say the charms should be between 1-2 inches including any dangly bits and the jump ring. Please DO NOT FORGET to attach a jump ring or split ring so that the charm can be added to a bracelet as soon as your partner receives your unique creation.

STEAMPUNK (definition from Wiki)- The term denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used — usually the 19th century, and often Victorian era England — but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or real technological developments like the computer occurring at an earlier date. Other examples of steampunk contain alternate history-style presentations of "the path not taken" of such technology as dirigibles, analog computers, or digital mechanical computers (such as Charles Babbage's Analytical engine); these frequently are presented in an idealized light, or with a presumption of functionality.

Think mechanical objects, cogs, gears, bits of metal/brass, Victorian inventions, Victorian ephemera, utilitarian but romantic, lace, goggles, telescopes, scientific instruments for navigation etc.

Google ''steampunk'' and ''steampunk jewellery'' or check out handmade charms and pendants on flickr or etsy for inspiration.

No newbies and a rating of 4.9 or more is required to join this swap. I will check profiles and ban any suspect swappers before assigning partners as I am not able to angel this swap should someone flake.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SEND CHARMS THAT YOU WOULD BE HAPPY TO RECEIVE YOURSELF SO THAT YOUR PARTNER CAN WEAR YOUR CREATION WITH PRIDE. THIS IS A SWAP REQUIREMENT AND YOU WILL BE RATED ACCORDINGLY.

Any questions please feel free to ask.

Image is of a piece created by GlitteryBlue on Etsy.