November, already

I know it happens every 12 months, this is the time of year for some of us when Autumn settles in, seems it has started as it means to go on.  Dull, wet and overcast, best make the most of those few daylight hours and get crafting.

 At this time of year all over the land foxes are pairing up, locking, and getting ready to welcome next springs cubs.    When I found this little fox mask at the Range it just fell into my shopping basket demanding to be a future project; and it has been ages since I last 'did' a mask.

The paper mache form was given a white gesso coat first followed by Imagination Crafts gold shimmer paint.   The remains of a fat square dipped into Bronze Powertex and throughly coated before being laid out on a piece of card.  The face settled onto the fabric, time for scraps and snippets.  Various pieces of lace and ribbon given the powered treatment and laid over and around the project, together with a couple of little wooden trimming things.   Next small balls of clay were dipped into the remains of the powered and added randomly over the project and some Brushos sprinkled onto the still wet Powertex.   Everything then left overnight.

We are told with Powertex to leave it an hour to start to go off before applying any dry brushing, but if you leave it longer the hardening process is more advanced and there is a firmer surface to work on.   Water spritzed to activate the brushos.  Playtime, pigment powders and varnish provided by the Powertex people Green, Orange, Red and Copper were used given the darkness of the Powertex used it was the Copper that worked best.

Back to the mask and out with the ProMarkers in Red and Orange.  Brush marks in the gold were filled with pen the eye sockets outlined and dots added to accent shapes.   Rough string used for the hanger added with contact glue, a bit messy but the string is not going anywhere.   The Papyrus die cut butterfly is a bit battered and the worse for having sat on my work table.   You might remember that I have problems using this die and this was another failure damaged by my efforts to get the bits out.   What better finishing touch but a battered butterfly?

Over time the drying process continues and the treated fabric gets stiffer and stiffer, it has long since been peeled off the backing card.   This project now hangs in the hall with a lot of my other masks.  From there I'm sharing the with.

Altered Eclectics - Always anything altered goes
Mixed Media Mojo - Autumnal with twist Metallics
Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Always anything altered goes
A Inky Mess - Always anything mixed media

In closing, my Granddaughter called me yesterday to tell me she had just had her nipples pierced.  Yep I cringed as well.