WOYWW

 Hello peeps, it has been a busy few days.  Work, a friends wedding and two days at the NEC in Birmingham for the Art, Cake and Craft show.

Having been off work for a few days I am having to schedule this as I am super busy trying to catch up. Here are my spoils from the show.  I was really surprised how little I bought.

I bought a couple of magazines (that came with dies, stamps and a sewing pattern I liked the look of).  Two magazines and all their freebies were £6.  I bought some robot fabric for a Christmas present I am thinking of making, some stencils (£1) and a couple of small dies at £2 each (a sugar skull and a birthday cake).  An archival ink in violet (I don't have archival in pinks or purples so this will be perfect) and I bought 10 posca paint pens for £10 which is a bargain as I usually pay over £2 each for them.

I also bought some easy to use secateurs as we broke ours this summer so they needed replacing and it seemed like a good deal.

On the left is also a small canvass where we did a powertex session on the Thursday (£5) and we also did a pyrography session (£3) which is something I have been wanting to have a go at for a long time (I did it once many years ago with my dad but not for the best part of 15 odd years).

For £3 (which I thought was really good value) you chose a stamped item (I chose a coaster) and then you had some instruction and a practice on a plain piece before embarking on your final coaster.

It took a little while and the shading wasn't as easy but I was really pleased with the end result.

My 'Man Bites Dog' cards this week....well you will probably know the result by now...but my cards said...."Angry Thousands Lost Prez".....the world is watching.

So, do you have a desk (or floor) to share?  

Why not pop over to Julia's blog here and join us.

Happy crafting

Kyla

Powertex playtime

 Not had much time for crafting or blogging but I was able to have a go at playing with my powertex.  First I made sure I covered the table with plastic sheeting and wore an apron and for once I also wore gloves!  I know, me, the person who nearly always has messy hands (just have a look at http://lunchladyjansfabricfrenzy.blogspot.co.uk/ that's my hands the lovely Jan used for her title!!)

Next I poured white powertex over the canvas, spread it out leaving some areas slightly thicker to see if it affected how it cracked (it does, the cracks are deeper on thicker layers)

 I then sprayed Bister (I remember this as a wood dye my father used to use back in the 70's but powertex sell it as a good way to add colour) and added some splatters too.

 I then cut up an empty milk carton to mix some thickener up with the white powertex.

 After I dried the canvass with an airgun the cracks started to appear.

 I used a pallet knife to apply the thickened powertex and coated some wooden canvas stretchers with it to help it adhere.

 I then added some powertex clay balls and started to play with mica's and acrylic inks dribbling and spritzing water to see how they reacted (after all the idea of this was to play and see how the products react).  

I also soaked some scrim in water and powertex and scrunched this up (and was REALLY pleased I was wearing gloves-boy is this product messy).

 My final piece, not sure if its a cross or a desolate tree after a forest fire (on my mind at the moment, my thoughts go out across the pond to those in Alberta).

 Not too sure on the final piece but I do like the depth and texture you can achieve with this product so I know I will be making some more time to play.

Happy crafting

Kyla

A show and a couple of classes

 There are not many craft shows (or indeed craft shops) down here in the West country so last weekend we had a Coven outing to the Shepton Craft fair.

I didn't buy much (in fact most of this actually fitted in the storage box I bought!) but what I did buy were items that I know I will use.

The storage box was only £1, perfect for storing my colouring pencils.

The light weight air drying clay and memento ink are replacements as I have run out of mine.

The Vintaj metal embossing plates were TOO good a bargain at either £2 or £1 each as were the resin blanks at £1 each and the TH mini distress pads are lovely bright colours that I don't have and know I will use.

We were lucky enough to enrol into two make and takes: the first was Powertex 

where we made mini canvasses

The other was glass foiling where we made these sun catchers-and got to play with soldering irons-what's not to like!

I know the internet sometimes makes things seem much closer (skyping my family in NZ, buying from the states etc) but I also remembered how small the crafting world can be as I bumped into a couple of friends  (waves at Kay) and Morti albeit for a short time (as I was doing the class at the time), but great nonetheless.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend

Happy crafting

Kyla