Getting a feel for Steampunk Art....... experimenting

So lately I have been spending quite a bit of time online looking at different things to get to add to my artwork shadow boxes I plan on making. Eventually I'll need to get some clock gears and cogs, some typewriter keys, some dominos, and some decorative stationary paper.
luckily for me, being Halloween season I have been able to find miniature skeletons without an issue.
Once I've got the
those pieces I need to go to the party store and buy some of those little swords they put in mixed drinks. The fun part is going to be finding fake olives, sunflowers (tiny ones), and tiny itsy bitsy crown jewelery. I have located the small furniture and tea sets I need. I plan on getting those with my next paycheck. The shadow boxes will either have to be bought second hand and recycled, or my brother and his friend, or my friend Cori's dad will have to make or help make them for me.
I am also in search of something to use as pedestal bases for them. I'm thinking the bottom part of old lamps, old cabinet knobs, or maybe plumbing pieces. It really depends on what I can find.

I will also need to look around and attempt to find a few types of primer and spray paints. Since winter is rapidly approaching I'll have to use my brother's shop in his backyard, or my parents garage since I don't have one.

A few weeks ago I tinkering around with some items that I already had on hand and they came out pretty neat. Below are the images of the pieces I made with what I got to work with.

Since I didn't have any shadow boxes and I needed something that would hold the pieces I grabbed some blank CD's and I microwaved them for about 10 seconds to get the cracked. Then I used crazy glue to apply the parts. Sorry about the picture quality. I couldn't find the good camera. I have no idea where the boyfriend put it. I guess Maybe I should ask him before I try to use the camera on my phone again.