Following a discussion about the attributes of the Steampunk subgenre, students were asked to come up with a design for a new invention. Amelia's design was unique to her peers' and demonstrated her ability to think creatively and innovatively to come up with an idea that would be useful and practical. The Helping Machine is a contraption of several gadgets a person might need in their day-to-day lives. To achieve the Steampunk effect, Amelia coated her collection of recycled objects and wooded cogs with various tones of brown paint mixed with PVA, followed by a copper rub.