NOW LIVE! New changes are afoot at the Powertex UK blog!

Some exciting changes are afoot with the Powertex UK blog.

We are moving across to Word Press!

Join us over on the new Powertex UK blog by clicking here.

We are just moving all the projects, step by steps and tutorials across for you - there are over 200 so bear with us!

We wanted to make sure we had a platform that was easy for every one to access and interact with!

So please do follow us across. Make sure you stay with us to be access all the free projects brought to you by the Powertex UK Design Team and guests.

Please come with us as this will be a permanent move.

Now LIVE! 

Thanks for joining us on our journey.

From all the Team at Powertex UK.

Simple step by step to a cute Powertex Penguin

For this month's Powertex Blog we were given the theme of winter crafting.

As we are getting towards the end of the year, and I have obviously got lots of lovely new Powertex goodies on my Christmas list (and I have been a fairly good girl) I thought it was a good opportunity to also use up some spare bits I had from previously in the year.



Meet Quentin

Quentin (made using bronze powertex)

 Priscilla

Priscilla (made using grey powertex)

 and Paulio

Paulio (made using black powertex)

What I used:
Small amount of Powertex Stone Art 
Small amount of Powertex Fabric Hardener
Powertex Colour Pigments
Small amount of Powertex Easy Varnish
Small scraps of fabric
Small Polystyrene Eggs

How I made my Powertex Penguins:

I had a few small polystyrene Easter eggs left over from Easter crafting workshops and projects, and when I looked at these, the image of a cute little penguin appeared in my mind.

Having just finished a unicorn workshop I had a small amount of stone art clay left over, (which was made using bronze powertex) which was just perfect for covering the egg to create a penguin shape.

I had my stone art clay already mixed left over from my previous workshop (if kept in an airtight container it will last for quite some time once mixed up).  But if you are mixing it fresh it is very easy to do (it always reminds me of making pastry)

Simply pour a small amount of your hardener into a tub, and gradually add stone art, little by little, mixing with a pallet knife until a dough like subtance forms.  Roll it into a ball, and keep kneading and rolling until it comes away cleanly from your hands.

I made up three small balls, as I find it easier to work in this way

mix up small balls of stone art clay using Powertex Fabric Hardener and stone art

 From here I simply rolled small bits out and covered my egg shape with the clay. I like to create textures in the clay so I used a small stamp to do this as I went.  Be sure to make the base of the egg quite flat so that your penguin is able to stand steadily.

I rolled a smaller ball to create a head shape, then added small rolls flattened out to indicate the wings, and molded a beak which I added to the head.  For eyes you can use any small round beads.  I was making it up as I went along, and had some Powertex sand balls handy so used these, painted black which worked just as well.

Starting to look vaguely penguinesque 

 It is when you add the colour that the penguins start to come to life.  I used black, white, tequila sunrise and silver, but basically you can use any colour that takes your fancy.  These are fantasy penquins, so use your imagination.

I was quite pleased with Quentin, but something was missing.  My daughter had the solution.  'He needs a little scarf' she told me, and she was right, he did.  So I simply cut up an old scarf from my stash of material, soaked in transparent powertex and wrapped it round him to keep him nice and snug.  The final touch, and purely optional was some frosty glitter.

I was so pleased with him, and with how easy it was to make, that I made up some more stone art clay using some black powertex that had been lingering in the bottom of a bottle, and also some grey and made him a mum and a dad, so now I have my own cute little Powertex Penguin Family

Quentin, Priscilla and Paulio - keeping as snug as possible against that cold wind

These were genuinely quick and easy to make - and a great way to use up any last bits of stone art clay or powertex that you have lying around.

If you decide to make a Powertex Penguin we would love to see your photos over at the facebook page  Powertex Addicts United

You can see more of my makes on my website www.artandmurals.co.ukwww.artandmurals.co.uk 

Penguins - Mini Makes for you and the little ones

Hi Everyone

Well we're at that time of year again where time just flies by and everything you wanted to get done somehow doesn't.  So I thought I'd show you a nice easy make that you can do on your own, with friends and with the little ones.

We are going to make penguins and I have to admit they are a little addictive so you may well end up with your own little waddle  - that's one name for a group of penguins on land, they can also be called a colony or a rookery whereas when they are in water they are called a raft (thanks Google!!).

So lets waddle away and get creating.......

You will need

Powertex Black (approx 75ml)

Powertex Stone Art (approx 20g)

6cm Polystyrene egg

2-3 cm Polystyrene egg

2 x 2-3mm animal eyes

Cocktail Stick

Masking Tape

Plastic container to mix clay in

Brush

Easy Varnish

Pigments (I opted for orange, white and yellow ochre)

Apron

Disposable Gloves

Optional - Pokey tool

Start by covering your work area with a protective layer.  This could be an waterproof tablecloth, oil cloth or even newspaper.

Break the cocktail stick in 2.  Using one piece connect the 2 eggs together to form a body and head

Place the head at an angle for a more realistic look

Using the masking tape cover the whole shape ensuring that the the transition from the head to the body forms a neck. Place the other piece of cocktail stick on the small egg where the beak will be.  Now coat with a layer of Black Powertex and set aside.

Place approximately 75 ml of Black Powertex into a suitable container (you are going to be mixing this so make sure the sides are high enough) and begin adding the Stone Art, using the non bristle end of your paintbrush begin to stir the mixture.  Add the Stone Art slowly and mix well between each addition.  Keep going until the mixture pulls away from the sides.  Now go in with your gloved hands and knead the mixture bringing together into a firmer clay consistency.  Keep adding more stone art until the clay doesn't stick to your gloves and there are no white flecks showing.  Make sure you pull the clay apart to check that there are no white flecks inside.

Make sure that the clay isn't too dry otherwise you will have difficulty covering your penguin. If it is just dip it in a small amount of Powertex and knead it thoroughly.

You can now use the clay or double wrap it in cling film for use later.  So long as you keep it airtight the clay will be useable for several weeks.  This is a bonus as you can make the clay ahead of time and have fun sculpting it later with the children.

Take approximately 2/3rds of the clay and roll it into a ball then flatten it into a disc approximately 1/2 cm thick.

Lay it over the beak and onto the head, then using your fingers push it down onto the body thinning it as you go.  Make sure it meets underneath to form a base.  Stand the penguin on your work surface and give it a little wiggle to make sure it will sit without toppling.  If it doesn't sit properly use a little of the remaining clay to make some feet and/or a tail to support it.

                                      

With the remaining 1/3 clay split it into 2 and form rolls.  Flatten them to around 2mm and shape to form wings.  Attach to the body on the sides.  If your clay has dried, paint on some fresh powertex to stick the wings to. Shape the wings to give your penguin character.

Now make any final adjustments, make sure the beak is a nice shape and push the eyes through the clay into the underlying egg.  You may need to use a pokey tool to make the hole first.

Using the Easy Varnish and pigments dry brush on the colour to complete your penguin.  I opted to colour mine in different ways to make a real mixed waddle.

Don't forget, you can always scale it up by using larger eggs to make bigger penguins just remember to increase the amount of clay you make.

I hope you've enjoyed this project and look forward to seeing your makes.  Don't forget to post photos of them over on the Powertex Studio facebook page

Until next time happy creative adventures

Annette

Something wicked this way comes! by Anna Emelia Howlett

Some of our family live in Canada and it's kind of a big thing to decorate your houses and go trick or treating. Every year we get photos of the different outfits chosen and the copious amounts of candy my nieces have collected. We don't so much celebrate Halloween in our household. However, I do happen to have a Harry Potter inspired room. And this guy is going to fit right in. 

He was rather a challenge but here is my ghoul inspired Dementor. And I am about to walk through with you exactly how he was created. So you can make one as a decoration for Halloween or just as a permanent feature to your room. 

Suggested Ingredients list: Wire, empty kitchen roll, masking tape, skull head, Black Powertex, cheese cloth or old t-shirt, stockinette, powercotton, white powercolor, silver colortricx, interference blue pigment, varnish.

Step One: I had a spare mini skull in my stash. I cut his teeth out and changed the angel of his jaw. Holding it in place with a long piece of wire. Making a loop at the top I thread the wire through the top of the head holding the jaw in place, leaving a length as his neck. Then attached to a kitchen roll, which I bent into an arch for his shoulders and covered in masking tape. I measured about 60cm of wire to pass through the roll before taping up these would become the base of his arms.

Step two: I used some masking tape to fill in his mouth and around his eye sockets which I made a little larger by cutting out with a scalpel. And started wrapping the arm wire with foil. Using more around the top and bottom end of the section to create a bone looking shape.

Step three: I took 6 lengths of quite long wire. I wanted my ghoul to have long boney fingers. Taping at the base I bent one length done to be able to attach to the arm. The other lengths I trimmed so they mimicked the length of fingers on a hand. 

 Step four: Then I started covering with masking tape. Adding tin foil at the knuckles and then covering in masking tape. Attach the hands to the end of the wire arm by winding the spare wire at the hands wrist section around the bone arm base. Cover up with masking tape.

Step Five: This is the type of base you want to have created. I covered in Black Powertex and kitchen roll to give the base and extra sinewy finished. But you can skip that part if you like. 

Step Six: I draped a piece of cloth over the shoulders to create a base to work up from. An old pair of cheese cloth curtains, but you could use an old t-shirt.

Step Seven: Create a hood with lighter cheese cloth material or t-shirt. Then add stockinette to add depth and texture and then some Powercotton draped over for extra texture.

Drape all the different textures through the boney fingers.

Step Eight: My favourite part. Dry brush using varnish and white powercolor. I then used a touch of silver colortricx in places. And for the hands and the face a touch of interference blue powder pigment from The Secret Art Loft range. 

 I love to show how you can make a piece by re-purposing or building your own base. If you don't wish to create the structure you could always buy a skeleton base instead and decorate that in the same way. I also forgot to add some paper decoration. I love this as texture it would work perfectly for this project. The great thing about Powertex is you can add to it when dry. So I can always go back and add some paper dec at a later date! 

Don't forget to share all your makes with us on Facebook in The Powertex Studio group or on the Powertex Addicts United page.

You can find me at Rosehart Studio on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. Toodles Anna xXx

Powertex Tutor Training Days

The last blog Sam shared with us was about her Garden Party experience. (We still have a few spaces left for next years Garden party, it's an event not to be missed!)
Now Sam is sharing her thoughts on her tutor training at Powertex UK HQ with Creative Director Tracey Evans. Read on to find out more. If you feel inspired to become a Powertex tutor for your area please send an email to info@powertex.co.uk.
Fancy learning from a tutor? Find your nearest in the new tutor directory at Powertex UK. 

So guess where I've been the last couple of days? Yes, on my Powertex tutor training course, along with three other lovely ladies all set to become tutors for their designated areas.

First of all we played with the ivory Powertex.

The mdf shape that I was given was an owl and there was a huge box of embellies to choose from, so as you can see I went off piste with mine (what's new there then!) and went down the skull, cog and Halloween route.

We then started working on the next piece.

This was the next piece, either an angel or a fairy, I chose an angel and the others made fairies.

Here at the end of day one are my three pieces all ready for their colour tomorrow.

Back again for day two and today the sun was shining.

We played with different colouring and layering techniques firstly on the bottle.

Everyone is on a roll now.

Michele popped down to see how we were all doing.

I went for the blue for my angel.

This is a photo of the projects I made taken outside this morning in my garden - love them all.

This is a snippet of my certificate, so it's now official!!

And my absolute special favourite is my fabulous apron which I shall wear with pride - thank you sooooo much.

Can't wait to also share my other news with you, but that will have to wait until nearer the end of the year!!

Some bling and a skull

Halloween, don't you just love Halloween?

I do because I can go all out spooky with the Powertex and my artwork.

So without further ado, here is my Halloween project for this month.

I have had this skull for eons and knew that at some point I would be able to use it.

I started by painting the skull with IVORY POWERTEX as I had an idea in my head.

I gathered some embellishments and bits of lace type material and started applying to the skull.

After I was happy with what I had added to the skull I painted the whole thing with some more Ivory Powertex and then added one of my favorite products from Powertex, some STONE ART.

I waited for it to dry a bit and then rubbed the stone art to add to the texture.

Now my finished result was not what I had in mind to create, I was going for a ivory and beige/faux bone type but this is what evolved.

I ended up getting out the new MICA POWDERS from the Secret Art Loft and added some gems, this is a bit lighter and colorful to my usual style but it is pretty... for a skull  :) 

The STONE ART helped the embellishments to blend in with the skull. I repainted the eye and nose sockets and added shadow to the teeth area

I dare say I may make some more spooky Powertex projects before Christmas gets here, oops did I say the C word, sorry!! 

You can see more of my projects at Mums Shed  and if I or any of the other Powertex Design Team have inspired you, go on over to Powertex.co.uk 

You can always get inspired via POWERTEX STUDIO on Facebook

Until the next time, 

LIVE

LAUGH

LOVE 

~Jinny~