Memories are special moments that tell our story

This month the Design team has been given free rein to create a piece of keepsake art. I decided this was the perfect opportunity to take some bits and pieces rescued from my nans button box and various pots of broken bits she has kept over the years and not thrown away from her house. Last year we had to clear out my nans house because she has dementia and could no longer look after herself, so had to move her closer to us. I think she had kept everything she had ever owned. There were so many memories in bin bags in the loft. We saved some things but we couldn't possibly save them all. Lots of memories came flooding back when we entered the sewing cupboard of summers spent in Devon at my nans sewing and creating book marks. Raiding the button tin mostly just to look at the wonderful assortment rather than use any of them. 

I had prepared the base of a blank canvas a while ago with White Powertex and Easy 3D Flex. I then sprayed black bister into the cracks to make them more prominent.

 I took an assortment of elements  I had taken from my nans house. I kind of thought that they deserved to be used somehow after all she had spent her whole life keeping all these little bits and pieces. Old keys, broken watch straps, buckles, buttons, brooches, broken christmas decorations. 

 I found some textiles that would compliment the layout, lace, power cotton and some netting. And created a composition. 

 Now was the time to stick everything into place and coat with Powertex.

 I then resprayed with black bister just to some extra depth in the colour. 

 I then took the new Secret Art Loft acrylics and painted up the left side of the canvas in Plum pudding and right side in Mint Jelly. Adding some highlights with white Powertex.

 To finish off the piece I decided to use some of the Powerwax with the Limoncello Gold pigment powder from the Secret Art Loft. 

Then I hand stamped a bit of card with some alphabet letters and black ink to form the word memories. So here it is a modern take on a lot of well kept old bits and pieces from my nans, and every time I look at it I will be reminded of her. Not sure she would quiet understand what its all about mind you. Toodles Anna xXx

Artful keepsake

Hello, hello one and all.

My project this time is all about keepsakes and memories.
I had loads of ideas running around my head but as I am sorting my home to relocate and having to downsize drastically, this also means my craft stash in my shed, which I have been collecting for about the past 18 years or so!!
So whilst sorting out my stash I came across some pieces that I have collected over the years and have loved and never used, I would get them out to use and put them back, saving them for that "other" project and this my lovelies was this project!
Hands up anyone else who does that, oh come on, we are all friends here lol.

Ok, so I took an old small pine box (another loved object that has been kicking around my shed for a couple of years) and collected some of my loved pieces and decided to make an assemblage of these pieces.

I applied some Ivory Powertex and STONE ART over the box, inside and outside. This has to be one of my favourites, using the Stone Art.

I found some metal bookmarks that I had been hoarding and also incorporated these into my design.
I glued in my pieces and spritzed with red and brown BISTER. I still had no idea with which colour scheme to do and was waiting for my muse to kick in and let me know!

I ended up also adding some EASY 3D to the sides of my piece, using the Alice in Wonderland stencil. I painted the whole box with black Powertex and then was going for a stone look by adding some Ivory Powertex.  Pigments you can see in the photo are what I wanted to use!

I layered (lots of layers) in these 4 colours here until I was happy with the end result. I don't know about you but I could lose hours and hours just doing this part.

I wanted the inside of my assemblage to be different from the outside, so chose colours that I don't normally use and my gosh did it turn out yummy. Again lots of layering with dry brushing.

And this is the end result, An Assemblage of treasured pieces I have collected but never used, now all in one place for me to look at and for it to be pretty. And small enough for me to take with me when I move next month. Win, win I'd say.

I hope I have not bored you too much, maybe I may even have inspired you to try something like this yourself. I really love working with Powertex and it's endless possibilities of turning nothing into something and something into a keepsake, which is also a piece of art.

~See you all soon~

~Jinny~

Keepsake Kubes - a unique way to remember.....

Hello there

Our project theme this month is all about keepsakes, mementoes and lovely memories, so in keeping with that I would like to share with you my Keepsake Kube(s) .......there is an extra ‘s’ as I am sure you’ll want to make more than one!!

My Kube has all the memories of a little girl’s first year, I thought it would be lovely to continue building more blocks adding more memories as she grows so that by the time she has her own family she will have a full set of building blocks.

So here we go.........

For this project you will need

A cube shape - I used 6 empty wooden mini trays to make mine, as I love to recycle,  however you could use a cardboard box, mdf or even plastic.
Masking tape
Powertex - Transparent
Powertex Easy Coat Mat Varnish
Old clothes - natural fibres work best
Pieces of ribbons, buttons etc
Piece of cardboard
Typewriter or computer/printer

I stacked the trays on top of one another, making sure that the top and bottom were solid sides, then I secured them all together with masking tape and coated them with Powertex.










Don't forget to give your Powertex a good shake before using and only pour out a little at a time as it is air drying.

If you are using cardboard or plastic,  cover with the masking tape and coat with Powertex ( for cardboard - coat one side at a time, letting it dry in between to prevent the cardboard from sagging).  You can always speed your drying time up by using a hairdryer.

If you are using MDF then apply a layer of transparent directly to the base to help seal it.

I then took a selection of baby clothes and other memorabilia  - and cut out interesting bits eg embroidered motifs, metal fastenings, pieces of the base fabric, lace edgings, buttons, ribbons etc

I laid these out on the cube to see which pieces looked best where and once I was happy I coated each piece with transparent Powertex and then placed it on the cube giving it a firm push to make sure it was properly adhered.  I layered the motifs on top of the base fabrics after they had been coated in the Powertex. It is best to work on one side at a time allowing it to dry thoroughly, this way nothing will fall off as you are turning the cube over.

💡Why not use pinking shears to give your pieces a funky edge and prevent fraying.

When working with the transparent, make sure you take your time to cover all of the fabric as it can be difficult to see where you have been and remember although the Powertex will look milky when you pour it out, once dry it will be transparent.


To attach the plastic buttons I used a dab of Easy Coat Matt varnish.

I worked the 3D bears head last as this would take more time to dry.  I then left the cube for a couple of days to allow the bear to completely firm up.

I created the tags by using a good old fashioned typewriter and cardboard, you can also create the tags on the computer and print them off or hand write them with a waterproof pen.

When the fabric cube is completely dry, attach the tags again by using the Easy Matt Varnish.  I applied a coat of varnish over the top of the tags as well to make sure they were secure.

Now have a good look at the cube, does it need anything extra adding?  - don’t forget with Powertex you can continue to add onto already hardened items.

💡So now you've created your first cube, what will be on your next one?  How about one just for the school years, or their budding football career, a unique 21st birthday or even a wedding day keepsake with confetti etc......

I hope you have enjoyed this project and don't forget to share your makes with us over on our facebook page - The Powertex Studio. or why not continue your Powertex adventures by joining your local tutor on a workshop.

Until next time

Happy Creative Adventures

Annette