Wonderful Egyptian Journals

It was fantastic to be able to have the space to create a canvas when I was up at hq. But it wouldn't be a project from me if it wasn't a journal really. So here are three journal designs I put together for the Egyptian show.

To start with I coated  bases of the Tut and Nefertiti journal with yellow ochre Powertex. With the scarab journal I used black Powertex on the base. I then stenciled a sand and Ivory powertex mix through the wonderful things stencil on the covers. I coated the Tutankhamen and Nefertiti heads with a little of this sandy mix to give an extra bit of texture to the plaster busts. 

I made some easy 3d flex clay and stamped into it with the stamps I specifically designed for the range which were the Heiro Heaven for the Nefertiti and Tut journals.

 Scarabella stamp for the front of the scarab journal. Some hessian for an extra bit of texture. I also used some of the mdf pyramid and ank trio on the front of this one. The pyramid was stencilled and the ank I put a little clay on the front and stamped into it. I did the same for the ank and pyramid on the back of this journal. The cracking of the easy 3d flex gives them extra dimension and lots of texture. For the inside of this journals covers I placed some rice paper over a black and gold base.

The first image was stuck straight on to the darker base and the second I painted a little ivory powertex on first before putting the rice paper on. It was interesting to see the different effects that you could get using them on the different coloured surfaces.

I sprayed all the journals with brown bister and then dry brushed for the varying shades of colour. The pages were also sprayed with the brown bister to make them looked aged and I also stamped some of the pages. Hope you are inspired by this wonderful range, we'd love you to share you makes on the powertex addicts united page on facebook. We love to see what you have been creating. Toodles Anna xXx

Wonderful Egyptian Canvas

I was super excited when Tracey told me of her plans for her Egyptian show! It was so refreshing to have a theme that suited Powertex so well. The earthy tones of the bisters and the Easy 3d flex just lent itself so well to all the crackles, depth and texture that you would see on an Egyptian relic or within a tomb inside a pyramid.

One of the pieces I created for the show was a mixed media canvas. The center piece was created by taking a piece of fabric and dipping it into Ivory Powertex. I then laid it out to dry flat on a piece of plastic sheeting,but made sure the edges were rolled like a scroll.

Once thoroughly dry I tore around the rice paper image I wanted to use and took some Easy coat matt to apply it. Tracey has made a fab video on how to apply the rice papers here.

I then allowed it to dry and stenciled around the edges using some sand mixed in with Powertex through the Wonderful things stencil.

I had some sand/powertex mixture left over so put a little Easy 3d flex in and pasted it around the edges of the fabric scroll for more texture. Then I made some easy 3d clay and stamped into it with the stamps I specifically designed for the range which were the Heiro Heaven and Scarabella. I coated the mdf shapes with Ivory Powertex I used the eye of horus, hieroglyphic tablet and mini hieroglphs once everything was stuck down it was left to dry. I then gave a generous spray with some black, red, yellow and brown bister to dull the tones of the Ivory down and add extra depth to the textures. And added a dash of colour with some pigments which were dry brushed.

The background was a canvas that Tracey had knocking around the studio and it already had a good helping of texture made with sand and powertex on it. So I just finished the other side, stuck the scroll piece in the middle with more powertex! Added some sand and balls to the left side of it for even more texture then sprayed with bister. 

Hope you are all still loving the Egyptian range as much as we are! Toodles Anna xXx

Product Development Day at Powertex UK

It is very important to us at Powertex UK hq that we make sure we use the products to the best of our knowledge and what better way to do this than having a product development and experiment day! 

This was no way at all, just a jolly and play day! It takes hard work and tons of dedication and effort to push the boundaries of products and ideas, it's a tough job but someone has to do it! ha, ha, ha. 

We did have a fabulous amount of fun, pushing the products in every direction so that we can learn and pass on that knowledge to our tutors and Powertex addicts. 

Here's some of the new inks in use, they come in a fabulous variety of colours. 

 

 It would have been rude not to have tried out the new rice papers and on a big canvas too! We were really going for it and learning new techniques.

 We can't wait to see what you create. Toodles Anna xXx

If I only had a heart

I have been manically trying to get my ducks in a row. After a very busy end of October and beginning of November. My body obviously thinks I need to slow down as I have the dreaded man flu and feel like I have been dragged through a hedge backwards I think I may look like I have too. Anyway, this is a little commission I created sometime ago I though I would share. 

I am pretty chuffed with how this one turned out. It's always really tricky when creating a custom piece for someone. 

Compositions don't always come to me very easily, I really have to work hard on a special piece, the pressure seems a little more intense. I always seem to second guess myself as to whether I am hitting the mark or if what I create will be received well. Doesn't really help that I am such a perfectionist as well!

The tin in on the heart represents tin for ten years of marriage. The one side represents the mechanic in the relationship and the flower and filigree side is the feminine side. With the map representing travel. I love being able to create a meaningful piece. Toodles Anna xXx

The NEC with Powertex UK

Well, what an amazing response we had from you all at the Birmingham NEC hobbycrafts show. It was so wonderful to share with everyone our love for Powertex!

The team at Powertex Uk hq worked like busy bees and did a grand job of filling packets, labeling, punching, stapling, organising and packing stock in between the normal day jobs. 

Tracey and Garry out did themselves again!! They had a long Wednesday set up, with a 7 am start and they didn't return home to 6.30 pm. But they certainly brought the blank canvas that was the stand to life. With a beautiful array of new products, samples and jaw dropping, stunning artwork.

The creative team were a buzz with excitement. It's so lovely for the tutors to get an opportunity to get together and put a face to the name you often speak with on social media. And gives them all the experience of a big show and to share there knowledge and passion too! 

We managed to catch up with some old faces and some brand new ones who had never seen Powertex before.

We had a good lark about with our neighbours, whom included the crew at Hochanda, Craig at Marbling 4 fun and the team at Totally beads to name but a few. Convinced some of them to go pink for Powertex pink sunday. And raised a bit of money for Cancer Research in the process.  Who says you can't have a bit of fun on the last day!

We crashed out yesterday and had an easy one. Traceys feet were broken, don't worry not literally, Garry had overdosed on sweeties and my ribs were aching from all the laughter. We always have a good crack at the shows and I think that's apparent from the atmosphere on the Powertex UK stand. 

We hope you all enjoyed yourselves. We definitely did! Until next time, we'll meet again. That's all folks. Toodles Anna xXx