Steampunk Travellers Mixed Media Canvas (by Anne)

Oh my goodness – I really enjoyed myself with this Steampunk canvas – I just love to get myself lost a bit of fantasy. I used lots of Chocolate Baroque stamps from my stash and two of the new stamps from Mark Gould (Sailor Jim and The Aviator).

I first cut 2 pieces of left over mount board and trimmed them to approx. 25 X 31cm and 31 X 41 cm. The back board was coated front and back with Bronze Powertex. The second board was coated with Ivory Powertex.

I used a page from an old atlas and glued it to the board using Easy Coat Mat decoupage medium. Note: There are some lovely map themed Rice Papers on the Powertex website.

I then applied some Easy Structure paste through stencils from my stash to create some wave and cloud textures.

Next I applied elements from decorative rice papers (sea themed and pocket watches) using Easy Coat medium. It looks like the pocket watches sheet I used is out of stock but there is a similar Victorian Steampunk sheet  available. Tip: draw around the parts of the image that you desire using a water brush or pen, then gently pull away the image from the sheet. This avoids harsh cut edges and the images will blend better into the background.

I also applied a little of the new Golden Metallic Acrylic Ink through my stencils, and onto areas of the pocket watches.

I next stamped my images using Versafine Ink (Onyx Black) onto recycled tissue paper (packaging). I also stamped some onto white card using Versafine (Vintage Sepia), cut them into little sentiment strips and edged them with a dark brown alcohol marker. The images and text sentiments were applied to the canvas using Easy Coat decoupage medium.

I added a little colour over the decoupaged stamp images using Golden Metallic and Aqua Acrylic Inks. These inks have a lovely translucency so do not obliterate the image beneath. You don’t need to be super careful with colouring either.

My characters were stamped onto smooth stamping card using Versafine (Vintage Sepia), cut out and coloured with pencils. I applied Ivory Powertex to the backs to seal them, curving and doming them slightly. I coated the fronts with a layer of Powerwax to protect them. I chose this option as I was concerned that a slow drying wet medium might smudge some of the pencil colouring.

I used one of the MDF Heart Flowers (approx. 12.5cm across) to make an embellishment for the top. The moulded flower was from my stash. It had been made with Stone Art and Ivory Powertex mixed into a clay and used with one of my moulds. When dry it was painted with Easy Varnish tinted with Burgundy Powercolor, then dry brushed with more varnish tinted with Silver, Rich Gold and Copper Colortricx. The MDF flower was coated with Bronze Powertex and the moulded flower glued to the centre with a little Easy Structure paste. Easy Structure paste and Powertex were used to glue the embellishment to the top of the canvas.

Black cotton netting was treated with Bronze Powertex and applied to the canvas base and diagonally across the middle. The characters were then positioned and glued down with Easy Structure Paste (i.e. using it as a 3D glue). Care was taken not to smudge the images with paste or Powertex. Any slight mishaps were wiped away quickly with a damp sponge.

I gathered together lots of Steampunk and nautical embellishments from my stash including die cut ship wheels, anchors, gears, swirls etc. I also had a stash of shells created using paper clay and moulds (already coloured with ink sprays). The embellishments were all coated with Powertex (Transparent or Bronze) and glued in place, using Easy Structure paste where needed. I also dropped some 3D Sand and Balls into wet Powertex for added texture.

In addition I used some recycled gear cogs from the inside my finished double sided tape rollers. These are plastic so I used copper gilding wax to colour the top surface (Powertex doesn’t stick to plastic) and embedded them well with Easy Structure paste and Powertex coated card pieces etc.

Finally I dry brushed Easy Varnish tinted with Bronze Gold Colortricx lightly over the embellishments to enhance them.

The canvas could be mounted into a 3D box frame to fully protect it from dust etc. It could also be hung directly – perhaps holes cut in the top edge and a string would look quite nautical? If hanging without framing I would advise that everything be fully sealed with Easy Varnish (the characters with more layers of Powerwax); particularly the areas coated with transparent Powertex (coloured Powertex is already weather resistant). It could then be cleaned with a damp cloth (or even rinsed under the tap).

I hope that you like my fantasy creation. I have included a few more pics for more close up views, Anne x.

Barny the Owl

I went for a bit of a different look for my owl!

Firstly I used Easy Coat Mat to apply some music paper onto the chest.

I then used bronze Powertex and Stone Art to give it a downy look and then applied 

Easy 3D Flex onto the wings to get that lovely 3 dimensional crackle effect.

I didn't use much from my project pack apart from the owl template and the bronze Powertex 

so keep your eyes peeled for some of the other elements being used on other projects!

Tracey x

'Always' Powertex seahorse

I think that there is something to be said for Seahorses they really have got it right! They mate for life and the males have the babies. Sounds good to me! So if you hadn't of guessed it already my blog this month is a little bit valentines.

I asked on my Facebook page what everyone thought about valentines and the resounding answer was that we should love each other through the year and not just on one day. I agree and for the most part the other half and myself generally forget to celebrate on the day. We don't make a massive fuss over it cause we have every other day of the year to show one another we love each other. A very important thing when you have been together for 13 years! 

I was going to do a journal but being as I have a few of these guys sitting in my craft stash I couldn't resist. And it was a perfect fit for my theme. This seahorse mdf shape is still available on the Powertex UK website. So if you wanted to make a little valentines creation for your loved one you can! 

You get a small square back plate to hold the pieces together as they arrive in two sections. I started by coating the back of the seahorse making sure it was dry before covering the front. 

 I love the mdf shapes I tend to throw every piece of detail and texture I can at a piece I work on. I also like to cut the shapes, I have a pair of jewelry pliers which cut through. If it's a thicker piece of mdf I tend to use my little craft saw. I lined the mdf heart flower up on the seahorses belly and drew lines as a guide for cutting.

 TOP TIP: Have an idea of where to place your pieces before getting messy. Take a photo to aid your memory, or lay the pieces next to your design as a rough guide.

 The left over hearts I cut from the mdf shape were placed on the tail and fin of the seahorse.

 I used some of the mdf letters on the mane, a daisy I had premade from the daisy mould, some old buttons from my nans button tin. Everyone has got a button tin right? and some of the drop outs which are my absolute favourites. 

 I decided I wanted some extra texture underneath all the embellishments so cut wallpaper and dishcloth to size to fit the shape of the seahorse. For the head and neck I used a palette knife and liberally coated in easy structure, make sure this is thoroughly dry before covering in powertex. It will hold embellishments in place should you wish to stick them on before it dries. 

 Then I place all the embellishments on and coated everything in bronze powertex.

So I was going to reach for my go to turquoise. But as I have already created a seahorse in this colour, I felt it would be fun to do burgundy and lilac powercolour with a hint of the new pearl pigments mixed into the varnish.

 I loved the colour of the button on the eye, so left it uncoated and stuck it, and the flatback gems and pearls I had in my stash with some transparent powertex.

 Hope you have been inspired this little project. Toodles Anna xXx

Powertex goes Industrial

Hi I'm Kore, artist, crafter and tutor at SkySage Studio. I'm bringing you my industrial Powertex make using the Owl Project Kit. I've always loved birds of prey and I had a close encounter with a rescued barn owl once. She was called Willow and she wasn't nearly as excited as I was!

My industrial owl project is inspired by my love of the film Bladerunner. Real animals are rare in that futuristic world and synthetic, fake animals were kept instead. So here is my half organic, half machine owl.

The owl project pack contains everything needed to make a beautiful owl for indoor or outdoor display. I add some Stone Art, a drop of ivory Powertex and some red Bister spray to my ingredients!

I start by painting my mdf pieces with the bronze Powertex. While it's wet I adhere one of the wings down. I've already decided I'm going to decorate my owl in two halves so I add a thin layer of Stone Art powder to the right side of the wet Powertex. This makes a great natural texture. As you can see I'm not too precise with it!

I leave the Stone Art to dry and add strips of lace, covered with Powertex and lay them out down the left side. Some Easy Structure paste through letter stencils is layered on top of the Stone Art. I'm not trying for readable words, just random shapes. The Stone Art leaves a soft "furry" feel on the right side.

While that's drying I mix up some Stone Art clay with the bronze Powertex. Just enough to cover the raised wing and make some textured feathers. I press the clay onto the wing, thick enough to press in some metal embellishments, painting them, layering them up and sticking them down with Powertex.

I roll out the left over clay and use the wooden beak shape as a template to cut out some feathers. When the Easy Structure paste is dry, it's time to paint everything with bronze Powertex and start adding the rest of the embellishments.

Adding the geometric pieces from the Drop Outs creates the machine like shapes. I've chosen my pieces so now I just keep layering them up, wooden shapes, metal pieces and my Stone Art clay feathers. I check everything is covered with bronze Powertex ready for dry brushing.

While I wait for that to dry off I prepare the wooden circle for the eye. I apply some ivory Powertex, and Bister with heat for this lovely crackle technique. Time to wait for everything to dry....

I choose Copper and Green pigments to add colour by mixing with Easy Varnish. Dry brushing on Green for the organic parts and Copper for the machine parts. I use some white highlights for contrast but the pigments in the pack can be mixed for lots of options. The green and copper look brilliant together.

The final pieces are dropped into place on the eye and a quick check for the need for any more white highlights.

Here she is, my mechanical Willow.

I got so absorbed by this project. Just me and my Powertex. I have all these pieces left over for another project!

Don't forget to post your finished project in our Facebook group at Powertex Addicts United. I'd love to hear what inspires your owl project.

You can find more of my art on my Facebook page SkySage Studio.

Until next time, let your art out to play!

Kore x

Love using Powertex

So my first official post of the year. Happy new year everyone.

To create this piece I had a large paper mache heart I have had hanging about in my shed. I have recently been playing with glue gun texture, so decided to try this out on a larger piece. 

I painted the heart with yummy red Powertex and found some old tablecloth, which is the cross texture, you can see, I then used my new glue gun that Santa brought me and drizzled hot glue randomly around the heart shape. 

I had a good old rummage in my stash of metal embellishments and added using the red Powertex as my adhesive, I then added the Love MDF piece and set about bringing this heart to life.

I next sprayed some black Bister over the embellishments to add depth and shadow to my piece.

Next, I did some dry brushing with my favourite Colortricx Rich Gold, to add highlights and make this little beauty pop and pop she did!

I added a gold-tone large hook so it can be hung up.

The photo below is a close up of the glue gun texture, it works so well with Powertex. 

I have added some gloss varnish on the MDF heart to give extra pizzaz. Hope I've left you inspired I had a ton of fun creating this piece. Ta ta Jinny x