Steampunk... Live from the Dollar Store

I've got Steampunk on my mind... And it is all Alyssa's fault. Firstly, she makes the most incredible Steampunk costumes I have ever seen; seriously, I've been Googling for pictures and surfing on DeviantArt for inspiration and I have yet to see female outfits as intricately detailed as hers. I am in awe of all of her Steampunk garb. Secondly, after I asked her to post a tutorial on how to make those Steampunk guns, she shared the following videos:

So of course, I wanted to make some right away. I went to the Dollar store and picked up two ray guns for 2$ each (what can I say, with the current economy, even the Dollar store has to up their prices) from the toy section. They make noise and light up, or at least the first one does, because I didn't notice before buying it that the second one's trigger was broken. I can't exchange it, but considering I don't really care about the noise and the lights, I guess it's a good thing I'm the one who bought the defective one, or else, it would have wound up in the garbage.

Future Steampunked Ray Guns

I wanted to get starting with the modding right away, but my local craft store, Omer de Serres, does not carry Rub n' Buff. As the closest Micheal's Craft store is about 3 hours away in Ottawa, I'll either have to wait until I go in November for the Oirechtas, and hope they have some, or I'll just order it from eBay. In any case, I can't work on them for the moment, but I have a feeling I'll enjoy doing so.

Another find on my trip to the dollar store was this Top Hat:

Dollar Store Top Hat

I have been looking at top hats sporadically on eBay for years, but they are rarely cheap. For a 2$ costume hat, this one makes a pretty decent base. I would change the ribbon and add to it, but I have to say, I really like it (my daughter loves it too, but she has a fascination with hats, so I guess she's not really impartial).

Gwenyver's new Top Hat

And I look cute in it too. I think I might go grab a couple more and start decorating them. These are great for any Victorian themed costume: Steampunk, Dickens, Satine from Moulin Rouge (2001), etc.

Oh, and if you don't like the Faux Fur finish, you could always cover it up.

The Costume Trunk: Top Hat Makeover

Alyssa also shared a link to this Top Hat Makeover Tutorial which uses my top hat as a base.

Right now, my goal is to slowly make a Smashing Steampunk outfit for Montréal Comic-Con 2011; since the 2010 edition is going on this week-end (and Data is there and I'm missing it - *snif*), it gives me a whole year. Can I do it? Or will I be rushing to finish on Labour Day Week-end of next year? Stay tuned to find out!