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

Mixed Media Journal cover inspired by William Morris

I absolutely adore the beautiful nature inspired art and design work created by William Morris. Associated with the Pre-raphaelites. In the late 19th Century he created the Arts and Crafts movement as he felt the need for more creativity in the decorative arts. He also had a taste for the medieval. One wonders whether he drew his inspiration from the beautiful tapestry's created in medieval times. As a textile designer himself I could imagine this would have been his Pinterest board of inspiration for some of his pieces.

My interpretation is a very subtle nod to Morris lots of pattern, nature, acanthus and texture with my own colourful twist. I like how innovative his work was and is to this day, it strived forward and created something visually stimulating and different to anything that had been before. But also keep the handicraft feel which was something he would stand by. A man after my own heart he would not let machines take over, this however would be a hindrance as not many people would be able to afford his work.

I also like how he didn't fit into a mould and it's inspiring to think he created his own movement and style from there. I often have trouble explaining my style because it too doesn't always slot in to an established genre or form. I just explain my style as it's very 'Anna'. Anyway enough of my thoughts and wafflings here is what I created........

As I do with all my designs I decided on my layout before I got messy. You don't have to do this yourself, it's just my preferred method of working. All materials were as usual supplied to me through Powertex UK in my lovely design team kit. Journal kits will be coming soon to the website.

Top Tip: Mould a job lot of all your embellishments so when you need them you can just focus on your projects. I used the daisy mould https://www.powertex.co.uk/moulds/367-fossil-mould.html with the stone art clay https://www.powertex.co.uk/14-stone-art to make mine.

I wanted to get some texture on the base layer of the journal before I put all my embellishments on so I added some lace, cardboard and Easy structure  https://www.powertex.co.uk/30-easy-structure through the arty quotes stencil https://www.powertex.co.uk/the-secret-art-loft/301-30-x-30cm-arty-quotes-stencil.html and then painted a coat of black Powertex over everything.

I then added on the embellishments and decided to add the acanthus on there too. I used the stone art clay on top of the mdf acanthus shape and then stamped into the clay with  https://www.powertex.co.uk/rosehart-studio-stamps/375-rosehart-studio-stamp-aphrodite-s-kiss.html

 I also stamped the back cover using aphrodite's kiss and Cassiopeia with some ivory Powertex.

I used a piece of lace on the inside of the front cover. All the pages are bits and pieces of patterned paper and wrap I have in my stash. And the coloured yarn holds them all together.

I dry brushed the with yellow ochre, turquoise and burgundy powercolor and varnish. I also added some bling to the front. Well, I'm off to get stuck into to more creating. Toodle pip Anna xXx