Some of you will remember that for our Hochanda show in August we had some incredible rice papers available, well it has taken a while but we are now the proud UK stockists of the full range of By Creative rice papers! We have been very excited here at HQ and I've been itching to get creating with some of the papers but........ there are so many to choose from!

I started by painting my canvas with Ivory Powertex and then used this enchanting Victorian photograph which I laid over the new Powertex handwriting silk paper, I love how the writing came through the image. I applied the papers and sealed each layer with Easycoat mat, there is a tutorial showing you how I apply rice paper on YouTube.

 

I then painted around my image with Black Powertex, I applied some scraps of music paper at this stage but you will see by the end that I ended up covering them up.

Once everything was dry I added StoneArt, 3D Sand and Powertex mixture and Easy 3D Flex in a fairly random way. I also added some fabric and MDF inclusions for detail. Once I was happy with this layer I sprayed with red and yellow bister

Once the bister was dry I began to wipe it away from the areas I wanted to lighten.

I used 3D sand mixed with pigments and Powertex to add some stencilled words. I then used PowerWax mixed with pigments to add soft colour to the texture. There is a quick tutorial showing the basics of using the Powerwax on Youtube

I also added a subtle hint of extra colour to the image using my PowerWax and pigments

I then left the piece overnight, as much as I liked the softer pretty shades when I was touching up the edges of the canvas with my black Powertex just I knew that I needed to darken the bottom of my piece so I got out my black bister and hey presto!

I will need to do a little more blending but I feel much happier with the overall look however we all know that our work is never truly complete and the beauty of Powertex is that we can totally transform our work by adding different pigments, wax or maybe even using some of our new acrylic inks... inks..... now there's a thought... I will keep you posted! Tracey XX

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

Art Nouveau Canvas

Art Nouveau Canvas by Liz Dixon

Hi Everyone.  Have you seen the beautiful new rice papers & all the lovely MDF shapes that Powertex UK now have in stock?  I couldn't wait to get making as there are so many Mixed Media possibilities (as if there weren't enough already within the Powertex range!!)

I particularly love the Art Nouveau papers - elegant ladies in flowing gowns, which go perfectly with the swirls & curls of the Acanthus MDF shapes.

The canvas was given a base layer of Ivory Powertex & once dry, the Rice Paper was applied with Easy Coat Mat.

I raided my stencil collection & added texture to the canvas & MDF using Easy Structure, before getting busy with the Bisters.  The Rice paper was a great place to start for colour palette inspiration!

Paper trim, more MDF, paper flowers & some self-coloured Stone Art clay Ivy leaves completed the complilation, before dry brushing with Easy Varnish & Colourtrix Pigments 

I wonder what your Powertex inspiration will be today?

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!

Inspired by leftover wallpaper?

Hello there

Did you read the latest Powertex newsletter and see the top tip for September was to use leftover wallpaper within your Powertex creations.....

Well it got me thinking about how useful that would be to create a really quick Halloween canvas

Here I used some leftover brickwork wallpaper and adhered this to my canvas with Easy Coat Mat varnish .  I then created a thick clay with Ivory Powertex and 3D Sand  

Using the new stencil "The End", I applied Easy structure paste through the bottom left skull image and once dry applied colour  to the clay and image using pigments and Easy Varnish   

The words were added by stippling the ivory powertex through the stencil once everything else was dry.

What wallpaper do you have that could inspire you?

Bye for now

Annette x

I don't know about you but we are still loving the Egyptian theme here! 

I thought I would share how I  created this 30 x 30 canvas, it's still one of my favourites.

I used a Tutankhamun bust cast from one of the silicone moulds for my focal point. 

I added yellow ocher Powertex and 3D sand mixture to the canvas and pressed in a stretcher wedge and the 

Heiro Heaven stamp to give the ancient tomb brick/stone impression.

I also pressed the Wonderful Things stencil into the mixture to add another dimension.

The next layer was a torn scrap of leftover wallpaper that I held onto because I just loved the texture and some corrugated cardboard. One of our MDF Stacking flowers served very well as a sunburst and an inverted MDF heart worked as the pyramid. I couldn't resist adding the little wedges I used at the beginning to symbolise the pyramid blocks at the bottom and I felt that the addition of some small and medium sand balls just finished the piece off.

There are lots of techniques used on this canvas, if you would love to make something similar but don't feel you could get there on your own have a look at our website and find a tutor near you who is qualified to teach at all levels, that way you can be sure of the very best advice and attention.

You can find them here.TUTORS

Don't forget to sign up to our blog, we have some great design team members and they are giving away loads of tips and ideas! Tracey x

Lady of the sea

I was very excited about creating this piece. It was a sample for Hochanda and the first time I got to use my stamps and that I had seen them in the red rubber stamp format than just my hand drawn illustrations. I also got the fossil moulds https://www.powertex.co.uk/home/360-fossil-mould.html and fossil stencils and absolutely could not wait to use them. So what better way than to put them together and create a journal cover I thought.

I think this was one of the first times I didn't think of a layout and just got straight in. I made some stone art clay and rolled it flat and then stamped into it with the Aprodites kiss stamp. The red rubber really does give exceptional detail. 

So I was a bit happy go lucky with stencils and structure paste. I do love them for giving extra texture and depth to the pieces I create. Even if I do happen to cover them completely with embellishments in the end. You can see I also added some silk paper with Easy mat coat to the front cover above, you can just about see a tiny piece peeking through in the final piece.

 This was the inside of the front cover. I think it's important to decorate all the space you have to hand, it is also good practice.

The back cover started life with just the fossil stencil on. https://www.powertex.co.uk/stencils/349-fossilized-30-x-30-stencil.html I then added some ivory and sprayed black bister on it when it was still wet. If you do this and then add a hair dryer you get some amazing crackling effects happening.

 I used Ivory Powertex over each side. Then sprayed with black bister. This gives a softer effect to just using the black Powertex. I forgot to photograph that stage as I had my head buried in all sorts of ideas for tv. I then dry brushed turquoise, gold and some pearl for the final colour. Would love to see what you create with my stamps. Please share on the Powertex addicts page on Facebook. We love to see what you have been up to. Toodle pip Anna xXx

https://www.powertex.co.uk/rosehart-studio-stamps/375-rosehart-studio-stamp-aphrodite-s-kiss.html

WE HAD FUN WITH FOSSILS!

We recently had some shows on Hochanda and shared our fossilised ideas with everyone, we had moulds and we had stencils - oh when I say had you haven't missed out they are still available on the website, we have moulds and stencils  so that you can join in the fun! I mixed various colours of Powertex with 3D Sand for all of the fabulous effects, we send out instructions with each mould so don't worry! Watch out for Fiona Potters blog about how she incorporated fossils into her jewellery designs, they are incredible!