Blog: November 2011

Artsy Advents Calendar – easy peasy :)

The origins of the advents calendar come from Germany to count down the days till christmas – and therefore- as we Germans celebrate Christmas on the 24th…there is only 24 doors on our advents calendars :) The coolest advents calendars contain of course 24 minigifts – and I used to make those a lot for hubs…who…well…loved it….but this year – ahem – I really had no time to make a fancy cool 24-gifts containing calendar for him. But how to make an effort to make still a cool unique one? I show you how :)

Der Adventskalender ist eine deutsche Tradition :) Na ja und wie Ihr wisst sind die coolsten schönsten Kalender die, die 24 Minigeschenke enthalten- und normalerweise habe ich das auch oft so gehalten mit meinem Liebsten – aber die letzten Wochen waren leider zu verrückt- also musste eine schnelle Lösung für einen besonderen Kalender her. Ich zeige Euch welche :)

Sometimes you get this ad-presents – or there are like really cheapy cheesy advents calendars. And this one has yummie chocolate from a well known Switzerland company inside- so not too bad- but who would hang this UGLY calendar on the wall besides an employee in the office of this company???? (sorry for bashing)

Manchmal bekommt man ja diese Werbegeschenke – oder halt ganz billige Kalender. Nun dieser hat zumindest yummie Schokolade von dem “Wer hats erfunden Land” inklusive- also nicht zu schlecht ;)  – aber nun mal ehrlich wer außer Mitarbeiter dieser Firma in ihrem Büro, würde diesen HÄSSLICHEN Kalender aufhängen????

What about then this version of this calendar?

Wie wäre es mit dieser Version des Kalenders?

That was fun to make :) I used  Eco Green Crafts Acrylic Paints  (don’t think the company still exists) as this calendar contains food and although the chocolat is wrapped I wanted to make sure that I do not kill hubs slowly in 24 days by weird chemicals going through the wrapping ;) as I really love him dearly- LOL

Es hat wirklich Spaß gemacht :) Ich habe Eco Green Crafts Acrylic Paint für den Kalender verwendet, da dieser ja auch was zum Mampfen beinhaltet. Obwohl die Schokolade verpackt ist, wollte ich sicher gehen, das ich meinen Liebsten nicht in 24 Tagen um die Ecke bringe- denn ich lieb ihn ja sehr ;) – LOL

Supplies: Advents calendar, Eco Green Crafts Acrylic Paints, Prima Mask, Crafter’s Workshop Stencil, Brush, Number Stickers, Ribbon

Wishing you a wonderful day today

Nat

Nat

Comments (10)

  • jana

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    WOW! I love this different way to look at the advent calendar! It brings a fresh and young wave to Christmas! LOve it!

    Reply

  • Cynthia Lloréns

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    Hi sweet.This is so fantastic …just a explendid idea!!!!
    Great job.
    Big kisses and huges
    Cynthia

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      You are the cutest Cynthia- huge hugs and kisses back :)

      Reply

  • Denise Morrison

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    what a great idea Nat! How was your pj day with Julie?

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Thanks Denise :) my jammie day was awesome- but Julie made me organize my studio- LOL. Will show pictures tomorow. hUge hugs nat

      Reply

      • belle2create aka hedwig

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        Cannot wait to see that! My hobbyspace is almost ready after 2,5 month remodeling the attic and i am soooooooo happy to have acces to all my stuf. NOW you have acces to your stuf too…. in case you were still aware you had it *giggle*

        Reply

  • Caroline

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    cool … like the idea a lot, in a weird way and a bit adapted, this gives me ideas for a well rather large birthday card substitute

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    Sweet…literally!

    Reply

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Mixed Media Circus Workshop Event- The Photos

I cannot believe it is over…and it was AWESOME!!!! So many months of planning, long skpe meetings, brainstorming, organization and then it was there …the weekend and we loved it!

Ich kann es gar nicht glauben, dass es schon zuende ist …und es war genial!!!! So viele Monate der Plannung, lange Skype Meetings, Brainstorming, Organisation und dann war es schon da…das Wochenende !

We had students from The Netherlands, Spain, Greece, Italy and Luxembourg. It was so much fun..and we all know how to imitate the sirens in those countries ;)

Wir hatten Teilnehmer aus den Niederlanden, Spanien, Griechenland, Italien, Deutschland und Luxemburg und wir können die Sirenen dieser Länder nun ganz gut imitieren  ;) . 

We had not rented a super fancy room since we were doing a Mixed Media Circus which indicates Messy-ness- but everyone seemed to like the room- it fit the purpose :)

Wir haben keinen super schönen schicken Raum gemietet, da Mixed Media Circus auch ziemlich klar zu verstehen gibt, dass hier rumgeschmaddert wird ;) – aber ich hatte den Eindruck, dass alle den Raum mochten, es diente der Sache :)

We had a very colored candy bar and my sweet friend Liz made as always the best cupcakes ever ( I love you girl!!! Huge hugs!)

Wir hatten eine sehr farbenfrohe Süßigkeitenstation und meine liebe Freundin Liz hat wie immer die besten Cupcakes der Welt gemacht (Ich hab’ Dich lieb! Ich drück Dich ganz dolle!)

The first class on saturday was my Mixed Media Pillow Class- you needed a strong forefinger- LOL.

Der erste Workshop am Samstag war mein Mixed Media Kissen Workshop – man brauchte einen starken Zeigefinger – LOL

The results were all totally different and so cool!!!

Die Ergebnisse waren alle total unterschiedlich und so schön!!!

Then we had Julie’s class “Object Manipulation” – it was awesome- she rocks :)

Dann war Julie dran mit “Object Manipulation” – und es war grandios- she rockt :)

It was cool to see here as well how different everyones object manipulation turned out :)

Es war total cool auch hier die unterschiedlichen Ergebnis der Objekt-Manipulation zu sehen :)

Sunday we started with our Entrance of the Gladiator Workshops

Sonntag began dann mit unseren Entrance of the Gladiator Workshops

We played with lot’s of different media .

Wir haben mit vielen verschiedenen Medien gespielt.

Julie likes to teach like this ;) I do it often on my knee- don’t have a photo though- LOL

Julie unterrichtet oft so ;) Ich zeige Sachen oft auf meinem Knie- aber davon habe ich kein Photo- LOL

Last was our Technique Class which we taught together and that was fun!!

Der letzte Workshop war unser gemeinsamer Technik Workshop und das hat viel Spaß gemacht !!

And then…somehow I forgot my camera and Elina had a little fun with it- hahaha- girl- those photos…are so going to be on a layout ;)

Und dann …habe ich irgendwie meine Kamera vergessen und Elina hat ein wenig damit rumgespielt – hahaha- die werde ja wohl sowas von verscrappt ;)

It has been an amazing inspiring weekend for me and I loved every single minute. We all had such a wonderful relaxed time together and it felt as if we were all away on a creative retreat :) Thank you all for coming! Julie and I are kind of thinking we should do it again …maybe somewhere else ;) She left this morning and I feel a bit sad and lonely since it was one of my best weeks ever , what a wonderful person and friend!

Es war ein unglaublich inspirierendes Wochenende und ich habe jede einzelne Minute genossen. Wir hatten alle eine entspannte Zeit miteinander und es fühlte sich an wie ein kreativer Rückzug :) Danke Euch allen, dass Ihr gekommen seid! Julie und ich haben schon auf einer Wiederholung rumüberlegt…vielleicht irgendwo anders ;) Sie ist heute morgen wieder losgeflogen und ich fühle mich ein wenig traurig und allein, denn es war eine meiner besten Wochen , was für eine tolle Person and was für eine wunderbare Freundin!

Nat

Nat

Comments (11)

  • Marta

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    What a wonderful paintungs the students did! Congratulaions! And it seems you all had so much fun.
    I hope there will be a second edition! :D

    Reply

  • Kerstin

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    Ich renn Dich etwas verspätet doch noch mal mit ‘nem Dankesknuddler um: Ihr wart ein Dreamteam! Ich hab mich hervorragend amüsiert, auch weil die anderen Mädels ebenfalls sehr großartig waren. Ich hab sogar ein Andenken – nämlich noch heute hartnäckige Farbreste unter den Fingernägeln. ;D

    Reply

  • Nat

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    The intensity and focus of the budding artistes, followed by the glee on their faces, makes it look like it was well worth the effort.

    Nat

    Reply

  • Kim S

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    looks like you all had so much fun. Wish I could have been there!

    Reply

  • Cuchy

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    Such a fantastic experience! To be treasured and to be repeated!
    Thank you girls

    Reply

  • martha

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    It was all simply wonderfull!! We spent great time together and the classes were fabulous and so inspiring! I love the food too and special mention for liz’s cupcake!!! Recipe please ;)

    Reply

  • Joan Gilmore

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    So jealous of the class participants, wish I could have been there! Looks like you all had a productive and colorful time, and yummy snacks, too. Oh, man …..! ;-)

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    Look at ALL that wonderful color!!!
    I once went to a crop at a fancy place and the room was wonderful but we could not use paint or glimmer mist inside (so as to keep the carpet clean). So your room choice was key.

    Reply

  • Khristen Foss

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    Looks like you all had so much fun…wish I could have been there!

    Reply

  • Martha Richardson

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    The classes look AWESOME…the students looked like they were having a messy, fabulous time!

    Reply

  • AnnaB

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    And when youn say “somewhere else” I’m guessing you’re thinking about Sweden…. perhaps Strängnäs…. in a cool place really close to my house…? No? ;)

    It seems like you had so much fun and the classes look really awesome!

    Reply

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BalzerDesigns and n*Studio having a fun time

Julie and I had so far an amazing week and I’m sure it will be even more fun coming up.

Julie und ich haben bislang eine grandiose Woche verbracht und ich bin mir sicher, dass wir noch viel mehr Spaß haben werden. 

(Julie’s picture :) )

Julie is learning some essential words in German – like Wurst (Sausage), Genau (Excactly), Tschüss (informal good bye), Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market), Was ist? Wo ist? (What is? Where is?), Gesundheit (Bless you) and right now she is trying to count in Germany….but I better not write it down as accomplished ;) LOL !

Julie lernt unglaublich wichtige Deutsche Worte wie Wurst, Genau, Tschüss, Weihnachtsmarkt, Was ist? Wo ist?, Gesundheit und während ich dies schreibe, versucht sie auf Deutsch zu zählen …LOL – das schreibe ich aber noch nicht als erlernt auf!

We had a great couple days in Berlin!

Wir hatten ein paar nette Tage in Berlin!

we can’t wait for our Mixed Media Circus starting tomorrow- last minute preps in full force! Lot’s of plans ahead too ;)

Wir können es gar nicht abwarten, bis unser Mixed Media Circus beginnt – die letzten Vorbereitungen sind auf dem Wege ;)

nat

Nat

Comments (6)

  • ania

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    What?? you have cookie-o-mate?? You two look cute! (and yes Im browing old reader history :p) Merry Xmas in advance haha, take good care :)

    Reply

  • Vicki Chrisman

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    OH how totally fun!

    Reply

  • Anne Porretta

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    Danke, Nathalie for an opportunity to test my memory of Deutsch . . . I was a little German speaking child when I arrived in Canada right after World War II and quickly lost it to English and Yiddish. I’m so delighted that I could figure out what you wrote–(didn’t even see the translation until later) and that you both are obviously having a wonderful time!

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    Looks like fun and great pics to scrap later!

    Reply

  • Martha Richardson

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    I don’t know about you 2…looks like you’re having a great time! I know the circus is coming to town ;)

    Reply

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Accomplished – XXL Scarf

Finally…LOL -I finished up my XXL-Scarf. It is 7.20 feet long (2,20 m) – warm and cozy, topped off with some wonderful Prima Flaxence Barley Flowers and I finished it just in time for going to Berlin with Julie Fei Fan Balzer who arrived yesterday :)

I will try to post some pictures of us in Berlin before the Mixed Media Circus starts :)

Have a great day

Nat

Nat

Comments (4)

  • Kim S

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    That IS long indeed. have fun in Berlin and share some piccies of you with the scarf!

    Reply

  • Yvonne

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    Der Schal ist toll und die Prima Blümchen passen darauf wie dafür gemacht. Eine schöne Winterzeit. LG Yvonne

    Reply

  • Michaela

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    This scarf looks so cozy. I would need that around here – it is so cold here in Munich

    Reply

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A year ago….Paris Fun

almost on the day …Julie, Vicki and I spent a couple days in Paris after teaching at the PACS event. Here is a layout which was published in the SAZ Sketch Book from that time.

We had such a blast!!!

Lot’s of chatting during the night, lot’s of laughter and lot’s of FUN

Supplies: GCD, Webster’s Pages, 7Gypsies; Tape, Danyeela Patterned Paper: 7Gypsies; Sticker: Jenny Bowlin’s Letters, Basic Grey Die Cuts; Screen: Tattered Angels; Paint: Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist und Glimmer Glaze; Letters: Tattered Angels Framed Fonts; ribbon: Studio Calico Fabric Ribbon and unknown ribbon; others: canvasflower- source unknown, Buttons and Pearls, Pins and Doiles, Riff-Raff , Prima Leave, Eco Green Crafts Glass Pebbles; SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES by 3L 3D Foam Pads, E-ZRunner, Ranger’s Glossy Accents

And now, as this post goes life… I’m picking Julie up from the airport to have our own event here in Hamburg this coming weekend- wohooo.

have a gorgeous day!

Nat

Nat

Comments (5)

  • Kelly Deal

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    I love this layout Nathalie! All of the elements are awesome!

    Reply

  • Yasmin

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    Beautiful work! :) Love the layering.. Hope you have fun times with your classes! :)

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    I love all the chunky layers of goodness on this LO and I hope that you and Julie have a blast teaching classes together! I’m sure that there will not be much sleep involved in the week.

    Reply

  • france papillon

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    love all the layering on your lay out! wishing you a blast for the days to come! enjoy :)))

    Reply

  • Linda

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    And you two are going to have a blast this week. Have fun and play. Wish I could be the and play with you guys… Hugs and kisses

    Reply

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Tattered Angels Design Team 2012

The Tattered AngelsDesign Team 2012 is picked  :) . Hier ist es also das Tattered Angels Design Team für 2012

Golden Ambassadors:

Nathalie Kalbach – Germany (Design Team Coordinator)

Vicki Chrisman – USA

Designers:

Alissa Fast – USA

Anna Björklund – Sweden

Anna Dabrowska – Poland

Birgit Koopsen – The Netherlands

Evgenia Petzer – South Africa

Holly Simoni – USA

Jana Korečič – Slovenia

Kaori Fujimoto – Japan

Karine Cazenave-Tapie – France

Lene Neby – Norway

Louise Nelson – Australia

Martha Richardson – USA

Zoe Nemburt – Canada

I’m looking forward seeing all the projects and working with this team ! Ich freue mich schon auf die Projekte und die Zusammenarbeit mit diesem Team !
nat
Nat

Comments (1)

  • Jan Hennings

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    Congrats ladies and what a diverse team :)

    Reply

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ScrapArtZine Design Team Call

Nat

 

Nat

Comments (1)

  • Vicki Chrisman

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    yay! Thankyou for all you do Nat! You are the best !

    Reply

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Double Nuts or handmade title

My sweet friend Julie who comes to visit me in THREE days (squeeeeel) had this challenge at the Cocoa Daisy Crop this weekend on using your own handwriting as titles on layouts. I would say this does not really represent my own handwriting- LOL -but it was fun :)
Image

I used a brush and black acrylic paint as well as a white marker

Image

I love the handmade loook of it- need to practice more :)

Image

Supplies and Tools I used:

Nat

Comments (6)

  • sylvia

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    i love the title!! and nuts is good!!!! hugs, xx

    Reply

  • shire

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    Das sieht ja wirklich süß aus…vor allem mit den kleinen weißen Punkten in der Schrift!
    Liebe Grüße,
    Inga

    Reply

  • Cynthia Lloréns

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    This page is so cute …and the way you used the stencil look fabulous.
    I will try to go to the Cocoa Daisy for participate I never been in this site before.
    Have a wonderful weekend.
    Kisses and huges
    Cynthia

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    Super cute LO Nat…I love how you used the stencil. I also did this challenge and have not managed to upload it to the gallery yet:-(

    Reply

  • Jan Hennings

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    How cute! Being “nutty” is a good thing!

    Reply

  • Cuchy

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    So funny and “julie-sh”

    Reply

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Sneaky Post…

in a positive way :)

I have been working like crazy the last couple weeks on lot’s of stuff -so here are some sneaks …

Mixed Media Circus Sneaks:

 
Cocoa Daisy December Kit Sneaks:

Amber Snowflake
Definition: the color of a snowflake
when lit by a street lamp at night.

All is quiet. The snow is gently covering the ground. Winter may be a cold time of year in Michigan, but a beautiful evening snowfall, the sight of snowflakes slowly falling down, lit by the street lamps, can warm even the chilliest of souls. Our December kit, Amber Snowflake, echoes the same colors and look as a deserted main street during lovely nighttime snowfall. Warm golden tones balanced against cool blues and dusky grays, a bit of glitter, lots of texture, an exclusive stamp-unique in its negative space and grungy design, antique inspired designs, all these add up to make Amber Snowflake a cozy way to document your memories.

The add-ons:
Sunshine & Snowflakes

Frosty Windowpane

Cocoa & Marshmallows

The kit and add ons go on sale to subscribers on the 28th of November, and to the general public, December 1st.

What I’m working on Sneaks:

So that was my sneaky post :) I wish you a wonderful …unsneaky day :)

Nat

Nat

Comments (6)

  • Vicki Chrisman

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    Total Eye Candy.. and definitely left me wanting to see MORE! :)

    Reply

  • Denise Morrison

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    so cozy and crafty Nat. can’t wait to see more!

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    Tease!!!! I for one can’t wait to get my December Cocoa Daisy kit…that kit club is wonderful!

    Reply

  • Maria Schmidt

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    Ich liebe ja die Kits von Cocoa Daisy und bin schon sehr gespannt was du wieder geniales draus gemacht hast!!!! Die Sneaks sehen ja schon Hammer mäßig aus!!!
    xo

    Reply

  • Michelle LaPoint Rydell

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    I love your sneaks Nat! I just subscribed to Cocoa Daisy, and can’t wait to see what you’ve done with the kit!

    Reply

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