Flashback: Easy Faux Glass Eyeballs for Steampunk Projects

Craft & Design
Flashback: Easy Faux Glass Eyeballs for Steampunk Projects

CZ_WebBanner_A_Flashback.gif

CRAFT_glasseye11_b

By Cathe Holden

Creating faux glass eyeballs (that seem to follow you as you move) is very simple using actual eye images and glass bubble gems. These eyes can then be incorporated into a fabulous steampunk pendant that you…er…can’t look away from.

Materials

Images of eyes, either your own, or use the image below

Photo-editing software

Printer and high-quality printer paper

Pencil

Scissors

Flat-backed glass gems

Small paintbrush

Mod Podge

Assorted jewelry components (see below)

Directions

GlassEye2.jpg

Step 1: To get the main image for the project, I talked my daughter into sharing her eyeball (and a tiny bit of discomfort). I decided after attempting to shoot several photos of my own eyes that her younger, clearer, blue ones were so much lovelier. And, having an extra set of hands helps when photographing, because it helps to stretch the eyelids open a bit.

GlassEye3.jpg

Step 2: I think using your own eye or that of someone you know is a pretty cool idea, but I’m including the eye image I used in a few color variations for you to use, if needed.

GlassEye4.jpg

When crafting with an image of your own eye, you may need to edit it using Photoshop, PS Elements or another image editing software to remove blood vessels (which can also be added to a printed image with a red colored pencil), erase eyelids to create more white area, and size the overall image. Print the eye image in several different sizes. The glass bubbles magnify images placed beneath them, so you may need to test a few sizes to get the right effect.

GlassEye5.jpg

Step 3: Once you have chosen the best size, trace around the glass marble and and trim out the eye image just inside the traced line.

GlassEye6.jpg

Step 4: Use Mod Podge to laminate the eye image to the flat side of the glass bubble gem.

GlassEye7.jpg

Step 5: Use your glass eyeballs for collage, jewelry, magnets, and more.

To create a pendant, I used baubles made from junk jewelry, flea market watch parts, and a glass vial, most of which can be purchased on Etsy. Brass filigree cabochon pieces are also great for creating steampunk-style jewelry.

GlassEye8.jpg

I tucked a tiny rolled section of cigar box tape into the glass vial and then threaded a wire looped headpin into the cork. I trimmed it down and bent it into a hook to keep it from slipping out.

GlassEye10.jpg

About the Author

CatheHoldenPhoto.jpg

Cathe Holden is a graphic designer, professional crafter, wife, and mother of three teens who lives in beautiful Petaluma, Calif. Cathe shares creative inspiration, craft tutorials, free digital downloads, and product giveaways on her blog, JustSomethingIMade.com.

Discuss this article with the rest of the community on our Discord server!
Tagged

Haley Pierson-Cox from Red-Handled Scissors is a maker of crafts, a lover of cats, an avid swearing enthusiast, a cross-stitch book author, and a general purveyor of quirk. She's also sometimes an irritable cartoon named Tiny Cranky Haley. https://www.redhandledscissors.com

View more articles by Haley Pierson-Cox

ADVERTISEMENT

Escape to an island of imagination + innovation as Maker Faire Bay Area returns for its 16th iteration!

Prices Increase in....

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
FEEDBACK