Altered Time

WOW what a cold and long winter we've had here in the UK and it's something we don't get very often - Time just seemed to drag on and on ... which brings me timely to my latest blog (Corny I know hahaha)!

Using the fabulous March  Project Pack  I had oodles of fun creating this Pocket Watch taking the Mad Watch scene from Alice in Wonderland as my inspiration.  I didn't add butter or mustard! but I did use some of them to pull together my colour pallet.

So first I unpacked and laid out the ingredients from the project pack, picked out some PowerColors and mixed up the black bister from the kit.

I always like to get a rough layout even though I know it will change once I get started. 

With this one I wanted a slighty deeper clock face so I used some MDF dropouts to raise the rim above the clock face.

First I used some Easy Structure and a cogs stencil (from my own stash)  to create some background texure that fitted with the theme.

Easy Structure dries really quickly and I prefer to let it dry naturally but if you are in a hurry you can blast it with some heat from a hair dryer or heat gun.            

Once the easy structure was dry I coated the whole layer  of Ivory Powertex from the kit (with a generous amount where there was no stencilling). 

I then placed some of the drop outs around the perimeter of the base, added the heart in the centre and the largest cog on top.   


I added some Ivory Powertex under the outer rim of the top layer of the watch and placed on top taking care to line it up accurately.  I applied more Powertex  over the top layer and then sprayed generously with black bister.

I used a hairdryer to dry and create some areas with a  bister split creating more texture and interest.

This part was all done in around 10-15 minutes.

While this finished drying I coated the numbers, clock hands and a few circle mdf dropouts with ivory. I then did the same to the remaining cogs which I placed into position while they were still wet.

The image tp the left shows where I thought I would place them, but I did move them around a few times before I put the Powertex on.  


Once the cogs, numbers, hands etc were dry I used Rich Gold Colorticx and Easy Varnish to richly coat the numbers and clock hands.  

I applied Yellow Ochre, Red Ochre and Dark Green pigments randomly over the cogs and circles and applied with Powertex pressing firmly on each piece until they had started to stick.


I used bronze gold colortricx to dry brush the background of the clock face.  

I then added washes of turquoise pigment as well as the yellow, red and dark green pigments to build up a rusty look.

I built this up over several thin layers.

I added a few flat back crystals to highlight where there were missing numbers and also popped some rusty circles to finish off the smaller cogs.

I did a similar finish to the stand using Ivory Powertex, Black Bister as well rich and bronze gold to give a cohesive look to the finished piece.

Below are some other close ups so you can see how it was all finished.

And here is the finished altered timepiece...

Have fun and don't forget to share your makes with us over on Powertex Addicts or why not join our fab new group The Powertex Studio where Certfied Powertex Tutors as well as YOU can share your creations and we can inspire each other.

Bye for now

Fi xx

This is what I had left!!!!!

These are the pigments I used and below are some close ups...

Jack and Sarah - The end of a wonderful year

Hi Everyone

Hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas and have a very Peaceful New Year.

So we are at the end of what has been an amazing year for Jack and Sarah, but what did happen on New Years Eve??? (if you're not up to date with the story check back on our previous blogs)


                             ***********************************************
JACK

19:30 - gets into his pre booked car and heads to the Empire State Building, checking his pocket three times to ensure the ring is safely inside.

19:45 - Arrives at the main entrance and heads for the lifts to the Observation deck to meet the minister and make those last minute checks ensuring everything is as he wants it to be for his girl.


20:05 - He waits patiently for Sarah to arrive after all it is customary for the bride to be late.


                             ***********************************************

SARAH

19:00 - slips into her designer dress and sits in front of the mirror to apply her makeup and put the finishing touches to her hair.

19:30 - Gets into her pre booked car heading for the event that could change her life

20:00 - Arrives and steps out of the car and heads for the entrance stopping only at the cloakroom on her way in to check for any last minute fixes.

20:15 - As she sweeps into the Ballroom of the Australian Embassy for the masquerade ball, she catches a glimpse of herself in the mirrored walls. She really was turning into an Ice Maiden with a heart of stone. Still this was her fourth year of doing this, and although this last year with Jack had been fun, she quite fancied being wined and dined down under next year, she just had to choose the next victim wisely!

(BET YOU DIDN'T EXPECT THAT!!)

                             ***********************************************

This was created on a polystyrene swan neck covered in Powertex lead and Stone Art.  The Snowflake detail was made using Easy structure and dusted with black, silver and Powerpearl pigments.  The headband is a piece of corrugated cardboard painted with lead Powertex and then easy structure detail was added.

The hair was built up using gauze and black Powertex.

The makeup was designed and applied by the very talented Amber Young using black, white and powerpearl pigments with easy varnish and gloss varnish on the lips.

The plastic icicles, false eyelashes and stone bling were all added using easy varnish.

Thats all for this year folks hope you've enjoyed this creative adventure and i look forward to bringing your more projects next year.


Axx

Floral Stoneart

Hello Bloggers!

Today I have a canvas project incorporating my most favourite of all of the Powertex techniques and that is Stoneart.  Since the very first day on my Powertex training session Stoneart has been the technique that I find most inspiring and has always has the WOW! factor each and everytime I make something with it.

This is a project that I made to inspire 6 students that came to a beginners Stoneart workshop at the weekend and they all thoroughly enjoyed it and created some superb finished pieces. I apologise for lack of photographs of the stages I got carried away and realised when I had almost finished!

We started off with a canvas measuring 9" x 12" so that gave us a good area to play with.  The project began on the base canvas with the ivory Powertex and then using the Stoneart powder to create the incredible Stoneart effect.  I added 2 pieces of polystyrene into the bottom corner to create lots of dimension.  I broke the polystyrene away so that the inside was exposed as this is fabulous in creating that faux stone effect to the project.  The Stoneart process was carried through onto the polystyrene which finished the base for the floral arrangement.

The flowers and leaves were all made with Stoneart clay which the students thoroughly enjoyed making. A variety of Powertex flower and leaf moulds were used for the centrepiece.
After laying the flowers down and securing using Powertex Easy Structure I filled in any gaps with ivory Powertex and then filled with 3D sand and balls adding more interest.  The whole floral area was then covered with several colours of bister including natural browns, yellow, green and burgundy.

After this had dried the colour was added using Powercolours and Colourtrix.

This is my final project as a member of the 2017 Design Team for Powertex and it has been an absolute pleasure to be part of the team over the year and hope that I have been able to inspire you with some of my projects.  I have been invited to be a guest blogger in the new year so I will be popping up now and again with a little something so hope you enjoy these too!

Thankyou Tracey and Gary for the opportunity of being part of the Design Team I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

Bye for now

Jo x

It's about "Time"

Hello Everyone!

Today I have a mixed media inverted canvas that I would like to share with you all using a selection of Powertex products.

I started off with a 12" x 9" canvas which I decided to invert to ring the changes.  This creates a lovely frame to use as a feature. 

Ivory Powertex was used throughout the project. 

I decided to use a variety of fabrics to create texture and these included cotton sheeting around the framework and as you know this creates some really lovely pleating which is how I created the draping on the corners.  I also used hessian on the background as this added a rustic look.

As you can see I have used lots of plaster moulds to add all the detailed pieces including the frame, face, cogs, screws and flowers.  I also included a few die cuts which included the main clock.

Sand and balls in different sizes added interest and dimension in the right top corner.

Easy structure through a few patterned masks created more interest on the frame.

The theme of the canvas was Time so I chose a phrase that I felt sums it up very well.

A mixture of Scrabble letters, printing from the PC and wooden letters added variety in the way that I added the words.  Glossy accents were then put over the top to protect the letters and also add thickness and gloss.

When it came around to colouring I have been itching to try out the new inks from Powertex and I am loving how they were so easy to apply and how effective and bright. It really made the project pop !

a little Terraviolet Colortrix finished the project off a treat and highlighted specific areas.

I hope that you have enjoyed checking this project out and that it has inspired you to have a go at an inverted canvas.

Bye for now,

Jo :) x

A fishy tale

Hello Powertex Lovers!,

I would like to share a project that I put together for Tracey and Anna's show on Hochanda.

As you can see I have used the MDF fish that was part of a kit on the show.  It was an excellent canvas to show some of the brilliant effects that Powertex can produce.

Firstly I put the few pieces of the MDF kit together which is simple and explained on the packaging. I went on to paint the MDF in ivory Powertex to give it a base and then in certain places I adhered 3D structure paste where I wanted to add texture and dimension. 

I have been collecting egg shells over the last few weeks thinking that I would want to use them for something in the near future (as we all do with odd bits and pieces I'm sure!) and this project was shouting out for them to be used to give a scale like appearance. I broke the shells up quite small and then embedded them into the paste which held them perfectly. 

I also wanted to include some bits and pieces which would probably be found on the sea bed so I included shells, which I distressed, netting (which had oranges in from Asda!), sand and a little bottle with a message in.

Natural brown, yellow and green Bisters were used to add a base colour and then dry brushing with a variety of power colours.

Oh and don't forget the googly eye to add a bit of fun!

It was a great project to have a play with and you can achieve many other equally eye catching results with this MDF blank canvas.

Thankyou for popping by and hope this project has given you some inspiration for one of yours that you may do. Don't forget to save the egg shells for excellent texture!

Bye for now

Jo :)

Powertex and Permanent Markers

Hi Everyone

Did you know that you can use permanent markers on top of your Powertex.  Perfect for adding those delicate details and no need for that really steady hand.

Here I have used the scary “The End” stencil from Powertex UK with Easy Structure paste to place the main skeleton face.  Once dry I filled in the outline using Powertex White Universal Medium and let it dry again.  Then I got out my permanent markers and started to play.

The background floral stencil behind the head was created using the Easy Structure paste blended with Black Powercolor pigment.  Make sure you mix it well with a palette knife to get it at smooth as possible before applying through a stencil.

With the ghostly images I used the Powertex transparent Universal Medium and stipples through the stencil with a stiff brush.  Whilst wet I sprinkled 3D Sand onto the image and left it to dry completely.Once dry brush away the excess sand.    

    

I had great fun creating this..........what will you create with your Powertex goodies?

Don’t forget to share you make on the Powertex UK facebook page Powertex Addicts United and look up your local tutor for even more Powertex inspiration.

Bye for now
Ax

Walk like an Egyptian!

When we all saw the 'wonderful things' Egyptian collection bought out by Powertex Uk. It was like being at a fireworks display! The ooooo's and the ahhhhhhh's. And then when we all saw the samples together in training they just got progressively louder. 

I think this has to be my favourite theme so far and Tracey put some cracking products together. From rice papers, to mdf shapes, moulds, plaster busts, rubber stamps and more! So without further a do here are some of the luscious Egyptian pieces of art created. Toodle pip Anna xXx

HALLOWEEN IS COMING!!

30 x 30 Mixed media canvas 

I used Powertex lead with 3D Sand for the texture

A plaster skull , an acanthus leaf,  a plaster scroll, an MDF keyplate, 

3D balls and items from an embellishment pack

Adding a black glass pearl to the eye socket of this SKULL 

and a few flat backed crystals added a bit of glamour!

I pressed the "THE END" stencil into my sandy paste.

I have to admit I'm a little bit in love with the texture you can get 

when combining Powertex universal medium with 3D Sand

Don't forget we have CERTIFIED TUTORS who can help you achieve something like this.

Can't wait to see your creations!

UPCYCLED CABINET TO EGYPTIAN TREASURE

UPCYCLED CABINET TO EGYPTIAN TREASURE

This cabinet had served us well in our spare bedroom but had become redundant when we redecorated however I still loved the design and the shape of the legs so I hadn't let it go

 and thank goodness I hadn't because when it came to finding interesting surfaces 

for creating for our Egyptian themed shows it was a perfect candidate. 

It was an incredibly difficult item to take photographs of so I have included the one above which was taken on the show and then below I have included snapshots of individual areas. 

You will see I have used lots of different techniques, Powertex products, MDF pieces, the 

"Wonderful Things"stencil and rice papers to get the effects I wanted. 

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