Have you ever been asked what art supplies you would bring to a deserted island? I always had fun answering this question – of course in a light hearted way *yeah-easy-duh!*. But now…although I am not really going to a deserted island, I actually have to give this question some serious thoughts. In less than nine weeks I will move to the U.S. which means that my art supplies and my whole studio will be in a sea container from 4 to maybe even 8 weeks. I will also not be able to ship certain supplies like my beloved Liquitex Spray Cans, Alcohol Inks, certain adhesives, oil paints etc. which means I will have some serious expenses on art supplies once over the pond. So in a way I am going to a deserted island and I pretty early came up with the thought to put together an emergency art kit to ship ahead of time to the States, to keep me able to work and the costs low in the beginning.
As you can see I was going back and forth a bit on my list. For example I decided against taking embossing powders or an embossing ink pad because my heating gun won’t come with me to the States (220V) and I have to buy a new one there- so that can wait a couple weeks. The first item is my art journal- so the surface question is answered right away ;) I picked a shoe box and a 12×12 flat box to put all supplies safely in, which also makes it safe to ship with some of our other emergency items we need in the first days (some kitchen stuff, towels etc.).
I packed some of my favorite Liquitex Heavy Body Paints and then also some of my Ranger Distress Paints-. They are so different that it made sense to pack two different kinds of acrylic paints and they do not take that much space. I packed actually 4 Dylusion Ink Sprays – it was hard to decide on the colors . All these supplies are perfect to use on their own for backgrounds, with stencils, or with each other. The Gesso bottle was actually an extra. I had Gesso along with Gel Medium, Cosmetic Sponges, Liquitex Spraypaints and the Heating Gun on my list to buy in the States, but since this bottle is brand new and still sealed I decided it makes just sense to bring it and safe on that bit of money. Plus remember – Gesso is my Dumbledore ;)
I then also packed a Gelli Plate- actually it is a cut piece of a Gelli plate – so just a small piece in order to be able to do some fun things with stencils and perfect also to use with the Ranger Distress Paints. As I always love to incorporate text and lines and love to use alpha stickers for titles, I decided to pack a small text background stamp, a stamp with wavey lines and my wooden alpha stamp set – which gives me more freedom when a couple packs of alphas where I will be missing the most important letters pretty soon. Going along with it, my Archival Ink Pad- of course re-inked. You see my three favorite Distress Inks with a Blending Tool – I love to use it to give depth and it is also perfect for stencils. Then a black journaling pen, my favorite foil writer, a white Signo Pen and a Water Mister -as you can use it with so many techniques for with the Acrylic Paints, the Distress Inks and the Dylusion Sprays in the kit. Furthermore you see in the picture my two favorite scissors – the bee cutter for finer cutting and the Tonic Scissors for heavy duty stuff.
I also packed some of my favorite Paint Markers – as I use them for so many different techniques in my work nowadays and they really do not take that much space.
I packed a brayer- I love using a brayer for many different background techniques, with the Gelli Plate and even to smooth out adhesive – so that was a given thing to pack. The Paper Cutter wasn’t actually super necessary but I am a klutz when it comes to cutting straight lines with a craft knife – so I am sure I will be pretty happy to find it in my kit later ;) I also packed a craft mat. Also some brushes – different ones and a palette knife -not a necessity but it really wanted to come with me because I love using this one ;) I also threw in a roll of Crafty Power Tape (not in the picture) – as this is my favorite adhesive for mixed media stuff.
And at last stencils- and I decided to just pack my six stencil designs and a set of alpha stencils. As I am a stencil junky it was hard to leave the others behind for now but I am also looking forward to work on new fun projects with my own stencils.
And here is the whole list of what I take in my emergency art kit:
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I hope this will cover me till the container arrives plus it is going to be fun to be so restricted on supplies :)
What would you take with you ?
Nat
Comments (28)
Leslie Tucker Jenison
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Hi Nat. If you can get your hands on some electrical tape it works great around the neck of your paints. They absolutely will not leak. Good luck to you with the move. Where in the States are you heading? Julie is a friend of mine, too. I hope we cross paths someday!
Leslie
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nathalie-kalbach
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Wonderful idea Leslie- I will definitely do that with the paints that go into the shipping container. My emergency art kit arrived in the States with not problems :) I will be moving to Jersey City in New Jersey – I would love to meet you one someday! Have a gorgeous day, Nat
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SusanJane
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Suggestion? How about a preprepared travel journal? Something for the last few days before you leave, during the flight, and a few days after you arrive. Sort of transition journal?
My travel kit and “couch” kit work together. A flat pencil pouch with clear pocket and two zippered compartments. In the unseen part I have a tiny cutting mat, a folded paper towel and piece of waxed paper (“craft sheet”), and a tape runner. In the compartment that can be seen there is a cutting knife, Fiskers spring scissors, a black ball point pen, a .5 black Micron pen, a mechanical pencil, 6″ of a clear plastic ruler, a small Uhu glue stick. In a 4x6x2″ tupperware I have a small pan water color set, several cut down brushes, a wonderful small water container that folds flat, a mini mister, 5 pieces of water color paper cut to fit, several kleenexes (work better than paper towels for water color), and a spare tape runner. Since I mostly do collage I have an index card box with labeled dividers with all sorts of papers in a range of solid colors and patterns. If I can fit it in I take a 1″ black or brown ink pad and several small clear stamps.
As you can guess I’ve been doing this for awhile!
For plane travel I take another pencil pouch (on the plane–the rest goes in luggage) with a small selection of pens (jelly, permanent, ball point), mechanical pencil, tape runner, a few travel theme papers, water color paper cut to fit. Nothing sharp, pointy, toxic or wet. All my other papers are from travel brochures, airline magazines, tourist flyers, street finds, receipts, ticket stubs, etc. I have not been on a single trip domestic or international that I couldn’t find free collage supplies that documented my trip or whim. Paper are torn not cut. And I do pre-prepare a journal with backgrounds. On my last trip I was totally jammed for time so I did some quick gelli prints on tags, and took my Polaroid 300 camera to supplement found papers.
Ta-dah!
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nathalie-kalbach
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Love your travel kit- sounds awesome! For me it was more to survive about 6-8 weeks without artsupplies with which I have to work though – prepping workshops and other stuff. So it is a bit different. But I will totally take your advices on the travel kit- awesome ideas!!! You should take some pictures and share on a blogpost- I am sure people would love to see!!!, Nat
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Michelle
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I had to do the exact same thing 6 weeks back. I actually put off the decision for a month till I absolutely had to pack or I would have been totes nekkid. I packed white SC mist because it’s the shiznit and 5 colors Dylusions because they can be watered down for softer colors. I left the spray cans. I’m not happy to hear they won’t even ship by sea. Will have to have them brought by husband in car along with our furniture. Hmmmm. My list looks the same except I packed all my 6×6 stencils ’cause I wasn’t sure I could find them easily in SLC. And I brought all my water color pencils, my Silhouette Cameo and lots of Thickers. My bag had more crafty stuff than clothes! i had to leave my crazy huge stash of Hambly transparencies since they freaking weigh a ton. That hurt. I wait to see you in NY in the fall! (If you can spare an hour or two!)
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nathalie-kalbach
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Michelle- ok…so reading your answer …and then my heart stopped at “had to leave my hambly transparencies” – WAHHHHH. I hope you get those with the spray cans in the car! The restrictions are pretty high because of customs – and you have to avoid dangerous goods. For example we have to super duper clean our city bicycles – because they want absolutely no dirt on them which could contaminate. Of course no food, but then also restrictions on the spra ycan. I cannot bring my resin or stuff like this- pretty sad :(
Definitely we will meet in Fall – I can always spare an hour or two for you :)
Nat
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Nurse Ratchet
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Very intriguing concept….if only I could decide what to take to a crafting afternoon!! Want to bring my whole stash….just in case??!!
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nathalie-kalbach
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LOL- I hear you ;), Nat
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Deleted User
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I think you have everything you will need and a little more. What about the cardstocks!…i see that the journal is the first of the list, but some white cardstock will help!…
Some things i would carry with me are my paints, inkpads, some stencils, stamps, my scissors and a paper cutter for the cards! that is all,….
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nathalie-kalbach
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White Cardstock is a great idea Petrin, but I am actually out of white cardstock – and since that is cheaper in the States I will purchase it when there – it has some advantages to move to the States for sure- LOL. Most supplies will be easier and cheaper to get and I don’t have to pay for customs – I am sure you know how bad that is. How does it go for you – are you paying a lot extra? – Nat
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Rob Keogh
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It sounds like you have everything covered Nat, I’m sure that you’ll be able to be very creative with what you have packed. Wishing you all the best in your move to the USA.
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Ursula
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Hallo Nat, ja die Zeit rennt jetzt wirklich langsam ……. Also, ich würde ja noch eine Rolle Malerkrepp mitnehmen, bestempeln, einfärben, bematschen …… Und warum willst du deinen Embossingfön “entsorgen” ? Kauf dir doch einen Adapter und gut ist – für sämtliche 220V Geräte – funktioniert prima. Ach ja, und wenigstens ein absolutes LiebllingsstempelSet + einen Tacker – iiiiich bräuchte den, unbedingt ;)) – bis bald
LG Ulla
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nathalie-kalbach
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Hallo Ulla, nneeee so einfach ist das nicht mit dem Strom ;) DA ist ja nur 110 V – da bläst man sich mit nem 220V Gerät ganz gerne mal die Elektrik um die Ohren – Da bräuchte man einen sogenannten StepdownConverter und der ist dann fast genauso teuer wie einfach ein neuer Heißluftfön. Wenn es bei Dir bislang mit solchen Geräten geklappt hat- dann waren es entweder welche, die auch auf 110V laufen (so wie Laptops zum Beispiel oder andere die gleich für beide Märkte hergestellt wurden) – oder Du hattest unverschämt Glück ;).
Ich hoffe ich sehe Dich zur Ausstellung- die Einladung habe ich Dir geschickt :), nat
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Laura Strack
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It will be fun to see the art that transpires. I’m sure anything you create will not be any less beautiful. The good news is, when your crate finally makes it arrival to your new home, it will feel like Christmas!!
Hugs, Laura
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nathalie-kalbach
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Hahahaha- you are so right – it will be like Christmas, Easter and Birthday on one day ;) hugs, nat
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Deborah A. Pierro
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Hi Nat–What a great emergency art kit. Thanks for the info!
I’m kind of glad you’re moving to the US, because I will have a better chance (hopefully) to meet you in person some time.
I just met Julie at Create NJ, which was a great thrill. I gushed over her a bit too much, though. I also said (and she agreed) that you are lucky to have each other as friends!
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nathalie-kalbach
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I am looking forward meeting you too some time- I am sure it will happen! I do agree too – I am very happy that Julie and I are friends..but don’t tell her- LOL ;) – Nat
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Gunvor
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This post is a great tip for me, since I’m rather new to Mixed Media and still thinking about what I need. Good luck with your move!
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nathalie-kalbach
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Gunvor – that is pretty much the essential stuff I would recommend- but of course also the Gel Medium that I mentioned in the part of what to buy in NJ. Nat
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Deleted User
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Art journal, small set of acrylics, black pens, white pen, paint brush, spray paints, a few stencils by either you or Julie, baby wipes and a black ink pad and a few small stamps. I also would bring my liquid adhesive and a small ziploc bag of scrap papers that I really love (great patterns that I could not get rid of). Best wishes on the move and I love that you will have your kit with you as you travel. Imagine how much fun it will be to set up your studio once you get settled.
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Andrene
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I have absolutely no clue what I would pack. I dabble in so many forms of crafting (mainly cards and 3D mini album projects) so I would have to make some serious choices. Or I could just decide to take mixed media supplies and use your list ;)
Andrene
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MarthaRichardson
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LOL…I’m packing my emergency kit and I’m only going home to Buffalo, NY for 7 days!!!
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Jean A Marmo
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You have more in your travel kit than I have altogether! Looks like a good stock of supplies.
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Corrine
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That’s a pretty nice mini studio on it’s way. I love the paint covered stencils….art all by themselves. xox
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Moni
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Hallo Nat, nun ist es bald soweit! Wünsche Dir gutes Gelingen u. vergiß uns nicht hier in Germany!
Deine Materialien werden hoffentlich reichen! :-))
Liebe Grüße aus München, Moni!
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nathalie-kalbach
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Danke Moni, ein bisschen dauert es ja noch – aber es wird schneller kommen als gewünscht ;) Liebe Grüße Nat
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Michelle Guest
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I have moved many times but not to a different country like you… I would suggest ziplock baggies for all liquids as one leak would make a big mess/possibly ruin things… But if contained in a baggie it would be a minor issue.
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nathalie-kalbach
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Oh they are packed safe- don’t forget I am a seasoned traveling Workshop Teacher…I have had enough paint or liquid adhesives all over in my beginning years- LOL. Nat
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