n*Studio 2011 Recap – ATC Frame

24 Friday Feb 2012

Posted by in Altered Art

≈ 6 Comments

When I was teaching at the Scrapbook Island in California this January, I was shown these amazing ATC Frames which are manufactured by the Japanese company Memory Palette.

You can have them standing on display or hang them too- and I love how the sliding glass protects your inside- but still makes it possible to work dimensional. Such a clever and awesome idea.

I’m so thankful that Emi and Ken were so sweet to get one from Japan and presented it to me at CHA. That was so wonderful of them!

And I took it to good use – as there is space for 12 ATC’s or of course you can just scrap mini layouts in that size – I thought of recaping my n*Studio year.

For those of you who don’t know I quit my paralegal job last year in January to do what I love full time…getting my hands inky and painty :) . It was an amazing year- but somehow I was so busy with always the next project, that I forgot to look back and celebrate some of the highlights that this first year of my n*Studio brought.

And so I finally did so by creating this ATC Frame. It was so much fun looking and thinking about the things that happened, the up- and -downs. It made me stop and say “wowsers” – especially when looking at April: Teaching Mixed Media in Norway, Greece and Australia -how did I do this? LOL – good thing that the worst of that ….nights of packing class kits, are vanishing memories. What stays is the good memory ;) This frame will definitely get a nice spot in my n*Studio.

Supplies: Memory Palette ATC Frame, White Cardstock, Eco Green Crafts Acrylic Paints, Derwent Inktense Blocks, Ranger Distress Stains and Color Wash, Heidi Swapp Color Magic Banners, 7Gypsies Tags, Hambly Screen Prints Rub Ons, Canvas, Typewriter, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L MyStik Permanent

I hope those frames will make their way into some European Stores soon. What would you do with it, if you had one?

Have a gorgeous and creative day!

Nat

Pictures from Pour l’Amour Du Scrap in Lille, France

23 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by in Photos

≈ 6 Comments

Last weekend I taught for several days at the Convention Pour l’Amour Du Scrap in Lille,  France. It was a lovely organized event – lot’s of small stores with yummy treats and the organizer did a gorgeous job in the set up of the designer show cases, classrooms and other displays- Loved it.

Excuse the grainy pictures – I didn’t take my big camera with me :) It was a lot of fun to spent time with Birgit Koopsen, Sharon Laakkonen, Rachel Greig and Irene Tan and her hubs Denny, as well as Sharons wonderful husband Bill.

Here is a quick shot of my students Birgit and Benedicte playing in the Free Your Creativity Class

Here are Rachel and Irene playing with spray paint- LOL

The wonderful Rachel having her students play :)

and here is Sharon playing with her students :)

And Birgit having a short chat with me ;)

 

The sweet France Papillon doing Make and Takes – gorgeous tags!

The wonderful Tanya Watts- I am always happy when I see her :)

a nice dinner on the last day

I wish I could have bought all of those at a booth at the convention - looovee!!!

I s

the hotel we were staying was the icing of the cake- soo beautiful! The hotel was former a hospice built in ….1462

You see below the bar – which was covered by a glass roof – so amazing

and then you sit in the bar at night…the former courtyard and this is your look – isn’t that amazing?

 

Thanks to the Organizers of the event, as well as to Evelien for having me! I had a great time.

Have an amazing day

Nat

 

 

Stand Tall – Canvas

21 Tuesday Feb 2012

Posted by in Acrylicpaints, Gesso, Mixed Media

≈ 13 Comments

First of all- thank you so much for your wonderful comments on my CHA Designer-Showcase in the post below! They made my day!

I am back from Lille in France but before I show you some photos from the show next, I share this canvas I made. It is actually part of my Über*Media Gesso class which now ended. I will reopen the sign ups in April/May I think – so if you are interested let me know :)

Supplies:

White Gesso, Black Gesso,  Eco Green Crafts Acrylic Paints, Punchinella, Posca Marker, White Signo Marker, Heidi Swapp Color Magic Banner, Tattered Angels Black Magic Glimmer Mist, Heidi Swapp – old – Chipboard Letters, Sakura Souffle Pen

I wanted the background to look crazy busy….it fits with what I wanted to say with this project.

I am totally back to Acrylic paints right now- I have discovered so many new techniques along with the many I knew already – I think it is time to plan the next Über*Media class ;) HINT HINT – LOL

Looking at this picture btw I realize that my hair is playing tricks on me – I discovered a LOT of grey and WHITE hair the last weeks. Excuse me??? How can this go right into white hair? Oh well…I guess I better get used to it ;) Funny enough when I was a kid I always wanted white hair…I thought it looked just so graceful…mmhh – yeah…not sure if I think this now for myself – LOL.

I’m getting chatty….everything to procrastinate the paperwork I have to do today ;) – so I better keep going. Wishing you an amazing day!

Nat

 

Designer Showcase CHA 2012

19 Sunday Feb 2012

Posted by in CHA 2012

≈ 20 Comments

The Designer Showcase at CHA 2012 was my first one to attend and show my work. Basically in a nutshell CHA Designers display their work on a table in a separate room in the convention center- and I believe we were about 60 designers.

With the suitcase restriction and being on the road for 3 weeks, traveling and bringing the booth projects for manufacturers, I had a hard time to get everything packed- and I wish I would have been able to do more decoration – there were some amazing amazing decorative tables out there- but oh well – LOL- this science fair table is actually pretty much me, isn’t it ? You get the raw me – let the work itself speak ;)

It is a nice way to show others what you do and what you can do – and I have enjoyed doing it. The work was show cased for two days and the evening of day one there was a slideshow with an introduction of the designers and a 2 hour “Meet and Greet the Designer”. I enjoyed meeting many new people and it made me happy that some wonderful people got aware of my work and it is very thrilling to see how things evolve.

You are not allowed to take photos in the room- other than of your own display- so I’m sorry- you will only see my display :) As this year the show case was not only open to manufacturers, editors and publishers but also to designers we were recommended to only show published work and that is what I did, besides my little…..n*Studio.

My n*Studio has suffered a bit during the flight- but I tried to assemble it back together the best I could. Just as an reminder – a picture of the real n*Studio:

I was able to come close with the furniture I think :) the mess is a different topic – LOL

Here are some pictures when I was still building it at home- somehow I didn’t manage to take more picture of the n*Studio when it was finally built and set up at CHA.

I created miniature canvases of my real 12×12 canvases on the wall- some were also showcased.

I wish my shelve would look as nice and orderly in real life- sorry Julie- it didn’t really evolve since you were here ;)

I would like to thank the following companies for supporting me for my Designer Show Case: Eco Green Crafts, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L, Elmers for the Display Board and Velcro

Also thank you so much to my besties Birgit and Cat who helped me in the 1 hour time slot to set it up and take it down. It was wonderful that you did that – I so love you two! Also thanks to my designers around me that helped me with emergency glue guns, tapes and chocolate – LOL.

I did leave the studio in LA -it would have not survived another flight – I still have furniture and the canvases though- any ideas on what I should do with it?

Wishing you a gorgeous day!

Nat

 

 

 

Eco Green Crafts Movie

17 Friday Feb 2012

Posted by in CHA 2012

≈ 6 Comments

During CHA I was filmed by Christine from Scraptime at the Eco Green Crafts Booth. If you have not checked out Christine’s blog yet- which post regularly videos about products and techniques – check it out – it is a great blog and it is in my feedreader for a long time now :)

I have to laugh when I see myself in the video – you have to know that those situations make me nervous – because I wasn’t really prepared…and I do not like to be not prepared ;)

Some of you asked about my stamps with Eco Green Crafts and when they will be shipped – it looks like they are going to be shipped in April – so it is still a bit till then …but hey…LOL- I’m as impatient as some of you :) You just have to remember- most of the new products that are shown at CHA are not yet produced …it is a convention that shows prototypes and new ideas .

Speaking of Eco Green Crafts – in the video you see me using the new Artist Spackle.

Artist Spackle is a heavy textured medium for structural, dimensional, and textural applications—a dream come true for mixed media artists. Artist Spackle can be thinned to make paste and has great adhesive qualities.

I so love it- you will see a lot of projects coming up with it- I’m still testing and trying- and you saw already one of the layouts yesterday using it :) – AHHHH TEXTUREEEEEE

Wishing you an amazing weekend ahead

Nat

 

 

 

By The Numbers

15 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by in Cards, Cocoa Daisy, Scrapbooking Layouts

≈ 7 Comments

is the name of the February 2012 Cocoa Daisy Kit and it was fun playing with it. I do have to say that I really love working with those kits – it is so much fun how well the kits are assembled and yet there is such a versatility on what you can do with all the products, which reflects pretty well in the Design Team. This is the first month that the Design Teams are posting two times :) The National does it when the kit comes out and midmonth now we Internationals post our projects. And it is time for us now :)

Fan Base

It was a lot of fun at CHA and one of the funniest moments came up when Birgit, Ronda and I saw our girl …well let’s say our “Dirty Girl” doing her amazing Make’N Takes for Crafter’s Workshop. We screamed like Groupies – ahem ;)

The Journaling reads: There is not doubt about it that Birgit, Ronda and I are huge fans of Julie’s work and personality – we had to cheerlead at her awesome Make’nTakes at the Crafter’s Workshop.

Photo: Courtesy of Crafter’s Workshop

I used the white Cardstock in the kit and mixed 3 different colors of Acrylic Paint together to create the background. On top I used the awesome Chevron Stamp – so awesome and of course Chevron Pattern is all over right now. I then used the Sassafras Tailored Deck numbers in the main kit and added it to create my own patterned paper.

Supplies: Cocoa Daisy By The Numbers February Kit and Chevron Stamp, Eco Green Crafts Acrylic Paints, Posca Marker, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L MyStik Permanent

Fun Day

As some of you read already this January my husband and I took a mini vacation before CHA and headed out to the Death Valley National Park – so so so beautiful. Breathtaking landscape. And the sand dunes- so amazing.

I used a Crafter’s Workshop Template with some Artist Spackle by Eco Green Crafts on the background. I cute out the My Minds Eye Flowers and used the Stacked Numbers Stamp to the Packaging Paper of the Sassafrass Tailored Deck numbers. Then I used an Eco Green Crafts Ink pad over it to repeat the background paper color.

Supplies: Cocoa Daisy By The Numbers February Kit and Stacked Numbers Stamp, Eco Green Crafts Artist Spackle and Exquisite and Paris Trunk Ink Pads.

*1 2 3 Relax*

The first day of our vacation in San Francisco we just did NOTHING than hanging around with friends, drinking coffee and stroll around- It was HEAVEN. We enjoyed it so much.

I used the MME Paper of the kit and cut out the Patchwork flowers in pairs of two so they could resemble a heart. I dropped some ink on the paper, let it run and added marker dots and Signo White Pen Dots to it.

Supplies: Cocoa Daisy By The Numbers February Kit, Fountain Pen Ink, Posca Marker, Signo White Pen, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L MyStik Permanent.

LOVE Card

 

A little cheerful Valentine’s Card. I created the heart with aluminium foil run it through a texture folder in my Die Cut Machine, Painted it with gesso and then used paint on top of it. I stamped the Birds on a Wire Stamp on the Library Card in the Kit and then cut it out in a banner like form. Love the stamp!!!

Supplies: Cocoa Daisy By The Numbers February Kit and Birds on a Wire Stamp, Aluminum Foil, Gesso, Eco Green Crafts Exquisite Ink Pad, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L Crafty Power Tape.

I wish you an amazing day!!!

Nat

 

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Icy fun on the Alster

14 Tuesday Feb 2012

Posted by in Photos

≈ 19 Comments

We have this nice river Alster – besides the river Elbe – which is dammed in the city center and form two huge artificial lakes there. It adds a lot of beauty to our city- and once in a while in winter it freezes.

It freezes so much that you can walk on it – …kind of like..it could be safe enough to walk on it- we won’t kill you if you do so but we also might not save you if you do so. This happened last 2 years ago and is in itself rare.

But then…..VERY VERY RARELY it freezes so that the city of Hamburg officially says – ok…you can go on it on your risk (yes….there is a difference to former said ;) ) and we will safe you when you break in AND – you can even have a little party called “Alstervergnügen” on the “Lake”.

This happend last in 1997 – so 15 years ago.

 

So all Hamburgers (stop laughing – that is what we are called) LOOOOVEEE when this happens.

They say about 700000 people visited the ice this weekend -and we were two of them :)

You know what an outdoor party in the winter means in Germany right?

Sausage Booths (well- that is also a given thing in summer ;) and mulled wine. That is pretty much it – and yet it is so much fun.

I had no ice skates – at the last move 5 years I decided the Alster might never ever freeze again…oh well ;)

BTW – it took about 1 hour till we – totally bundled up were freezing in the ice cold wind on the alster- so we headed home and Kitty was like…PAH – “why on earth would you leave cozy warm house anyway???” ;)

And so the rest of the day we worked drinking hot tea and having the heater go bonkers :)

What is your favorite local winter thing to do ? Ice Skating, skiing?

Nat

 

Sign-Ups for Über*Media Classes Gesso & PanPastel

13 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by in Gesso, PanPastel, Workshop Schedule, Workshops

≈ Leave a Comment

In case you missed it – I will close the sign ups for the Gesso and the PanPastel Class tomorrow midnight EST.

The last lesson for the Über*Media Gesso was just posted – but you have 4 more months to check it out:


Über*Media Gesso

If you have troubles watching this video in this format – you can also see it here: ( I will always provide two options :) )

I would love to share you some home*art that some of my students created for the class:

Cuchy aka Carmen Sanchez:

I love how the texture draws you into the page- amazing !

Eeva

I love how Eeva used this sweet photocopy of a photo of her baby to do the painting. I love that nobody can see she used a photo- awesome!

I love the background and then Mia’s awesome tissue paper heart and the flower. What a great mixture of all those techniques we used in lesson 1!

 Rebecca:

I love how Rebecca took all the techniques a step further for example on using a straw or sanding the metal after spraying it. That she used a soda can metal is rocking cool!!!

Riikka

These are gorgeous pages by Riikka- I love the weaving of page three and the amazing colors and texture of the first two ones- wonderful!
Ana:
I love the free approach to both of the pages and the awesome edge on the second. How fun that her son did those together with her – this rocks!
—————————————————————
Über* Media PanPastel Class

  • this workshop just started into the second week -yesterday – so you can super easily still join :)

You can watch the video also here:

I would love to see you :)

Nat

Prima Make ‘n Take CHA Winter 2012 – Tutorial

10 Friday Feb 2012

Posted by in CHA 2012, Mixed Media Workshop, PanPastel, Prima Marketing Workshop, Tutorial, Tutorial Video

≈ 9 Comments

As promised I post a tutorial about the little Make’N Take Notebooks which I made for Prima Marketing at the Winter CHA 2012. It was lot’s of fun to be there and thanks to all that were there :)

I would like to give a special thanks to PanPastel, Tonic Studios and Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L who sponsored products for my Prima Make ‘n Takes !

Sorry for some of the out-of-focus parts in the video- it was hard to do this today with the lights here and I didn’t want to postpone it for another week :)

————

You can still sign up – it started last sunday and you can still easily catch up:

Due to popular demand and getting lot’s of emails asking about it, I decided to reopen theÜber*Media PanPastel Online Workshop earlier again. So as of now you can sign up again for this 6 week-long extensive workshop. It starts today on February 5th, 2012 – you have access to the classroom till July 31st, 2012- Check it out here .

If PanPastel is not up your alley ;) but are interested in taking an inspiring and fun online workshop, you can check my Über*Media Gesso Online Workshop which started  on February 15th and is a 5 week-long extensive workshop- also access to the classroom till July 31st -Check it out here. It is not to late yet- but for this workshop I will close the signups next week.

Nat

 

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CHA Designer Giving Tree Ornament

08 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by in CHA 2012, HandCrafted

≈ 10 Comments

The CHA theme this year was The Power of Community. Some wonderful Charities were doing all kinds of activities during the show. The Designer Members were given the opportunity to create an ornament for one of the charities of their choice and it hang in one of those Community Parks from a tree and was later auctioned off.

I chose to create my ornament for Crafting for a Cure – which “is  a not-for-profit registered charity that looks for opportunities to insure children are having a positive experience when a hospital visit is necessary.”

Having spent a lot of time of my childhood in hospitals – something that I for sure never mentioned and also almost never talk about- this charity rings a personal string in me and I love the thought behind this charity.

Being in the hospital as a kid is scary. You do not understand everything that happens whether it be the things that are happening with you or around you.

I remember one of the times I was in the hospital – I had an operation the next day and I was 6 or 7 and the night before the operation I was brought to this special room – I actually still don’t know why they did this- but they brought me and another boy there because we had our operation the next day and it had something to do with getting us ready easier the next morning or so. So anyway- we both were lying in bed the whole night scared about our upcoming operation and talked. I’m sure it just felt for us as if it was the whole night and it was only a couple of hours- but anyway we talked about our fear of the operation.

The boy was getting a heart operation.When we were rolled out to the elevator the next morning to get to OP we actually said bye-bye and promised to visit each other later. A couple of days after my operation I asked my mother to find out where the boy was – so I could visit him. She came back and had to tell me the boy did not make it.

Still to this day I don’t like hospitals. I have a hard time visiting hospitals. You must be a really good friend or family member that I actually do visit you. I will have all kinds of excuses why I can’t make it. The smell, the look, the atmosphere – everything reminds me of those times back then. And once in a while- not often- but once in a while I think about the little boy with whom I had spent a scary night in the hospital and who I never  even asked about his name, because all that mattered for us was our fear.

Thank you Crafting for a Cure for doing such an amazing work! I hope my little ornament helped a lot towards your cause!

Also thank you to Candice Windham for organizing this  for CHA – what a wonderful idea!

hugs

Nat

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