Creative JumpStart

Don’t miss out – Creative JumpStart 2018 Sale!

Don’t miss out on your final chance to get Creative JumpStart 2018 for just $40!!! If you are looking for some inspiration for your artmaking this fall, CJS is just the thing for you. You’ll get 31 downloadable video lessons from some of my favorite mixed media artists. The lessons cover a variety of media and artistic styles and are super fun to watch and follow along with. You will also get access to the project gallery where you can see all the awesome projects that students were inspired to make and then you can share your own too! Join today!

Sale ends Monday, September 17th at 11:59pm EST. The clock is ticking!

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Jump into Autumn! Creative JumpStart 2018 Sale

Fall is just a week away and maybe you are looking for some inspiration? If you missed Creative JumpStart 2018 this January, it’s not too late to take advantage of the online workshop. For the next few days (September 14-17, 2018), I am running a 20% off sale on CJS18 for those of you who might need a little JumpStart to your mixed media projects :)

The price is just $40 when you sign up by September 17th, 2018. You can sign up here and get started right away!

Creative JumpStart 2018 features 31 downloadable videos by leading mixed media artists. The videos are downloadable until November 15th 2018 and once downloaded, are an invaluable resource when you need some new ideas.  Although you may have missed the fun and excitement of playing along in real-time with the CJS community, you will still have access to the CJS18 Classroom through Nov 15, where you will find material lists, artist bios, and galleries of project images that Jumpers uploaded during January.

Enjoy the sale and I hope to see you in January 2019 for the next Creative JumpStart!

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Sometimes you are the window…sometimes you are the rock

Loved Michelle Ward’s video at Creative JumpStart 2018 and used her technique with my Amsterdam and Versailles Stencil creating a grungy background.

Just love the outcome – Michelle does the technique a bit different when I usually do- so it was fun to do it with a different approach. What Technique you ask ? WElllllll…LOL- yes- I am doing this to you right now…you gotta sign up to and see yourself- it is so much fun and the videos are so awesome. You still have time to join us for Creative JumpStart and play along!

Loved creating the girl with some ink sketching and stamping- ….I kinda want her coat- LOL.

Here are some of the supplies I used for this spread:


Comments (1)

  • Dee Spillane

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    Love this so much!

    Reply

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Fire – Art Journal

“I survived because the fire inside me burned brighter than the fire around me!”

I started this art journal spread a while ago but Carolyn Dube used in her Creative JumpStart Video junk envelopes which inspired me to add some collage elements from the inside of junk envelopes as well. I stamped with my Central Avenue Foam Stamps and acrylic paint on top of the envelope pattern and then cut out circles in different sizes – the lines of the stamp providing perfect cutting guidance.

I used a black Fude pen for the journaling and to add some dots here and there and then added some white highlights with a white Signo pen. It basically repeats the color scheme and the circles theme of the collaged envelope circles.

The figure was from a demo in a class in Oregon – Ink drawing on deli paper and then pasted into the art journal with gel medium.

The red and green are giving a great contrast and impact – it is a not so simple but kind a simple looking page  – I like it. Here is what I discovered with this page:

  • I always forget that in the US a lot of the bank statements have security envelopes with cool pattern inside – great collage material
  • I mostly use women when using figures in my journal  – it was fun to change that up for this one :)
  • I am still in love with the subtle texture scraped gesso over an acrylic painted background provides – It makes me happy :)

There are so many ways you can get something out of Creative JumpStart – wether you are a beginner, an intermediate or advanced Mixed Media Artist. You can take the videos “literally” and do the same project, you can get inspired by the theme, certain materials, use the same techniques, try to substitute materials to see what happens in comparison …the ways are different…but they all have something in common – YOU HAVE TO WALK!

I hope you walk with us :)

Comments (12)

  • Ben Gill

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    Looking great! Some nice textures and patterns going on here. The colors are great also.

    Been reading your blog for a while but first time commenting here :)

    Reply

  • sue-sharp

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    I love your texture and colours! I keep forgetting what a great impact white scraped over colour makes!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      thank you Sue, yeah I love the grungy white scraped look over color.

      Reply

  • gloz

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    This is fabulous, Nathalie! I too have started saving the insides of security envelopes for collage. I never noticed them before Carolyns’ jumpstart project!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      thank you so much Gloria- yes those security envelopes are so cool!

      Reply

  • florenceturnour

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    Love your background, Nathalie. Lots of details in there. Your Art Foamies are very cool as well.

    Reply

  • cathsheard

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    Love what you created and great to see you jumping too :-)

    Reply

  • dcnewman52

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    Glad to see you playing along with us and enjoying the fun of Creative Jumpstart that you created for all of us!

    Reply

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Thoughts on Paper – Art Journal

After watching Tina Walker’s Creative JumpStart Video I was inspired to pull out my PanPastels. Her video wasn’t about using PanPastels but she had used them in a little part of her video and that made me pay extra attention. I used to use them all the time and also teach with them and then somehow I really neglected those little pans full of pigment joy! So it was time to dust the pans off and get them out.

I had covered up some of the background with black gesso which I had stamped with my Versailles Positive & Negative Foam Stamp Set and my Van Vorst Positive and Negative Foam Stamp Set.

I used gold and bronze PanPastel over black gesso using my Versailles Stencil. I always love how black gesso makes the pastels really pop.

I also stamped with the white side of RubberMoon’s new awesome Moonlight Duo Ink Pads. Each ink pad has a white pad next to the initial color for creating tints and I just love the white by itself. It dries permanent – yeahhhh!!! I used my Embroidery Stamp Rubber Stamp set. This page was really more a bit of a play but I had fun and I put some thoughts down as well – and it served a couple of really good purposes:

  • I pulled out my PanPastels again and I realized I need to use them more again!
  • I tried the white ink pad side of my RubberMoon ink pads and know this will be a staple in my mixed media art
  • I actually did something creative on a day which was filled with computer work and non creative to-do’s and that prevented grumpiness
  • I once more realized that I do not like the look of light green and metallic color next to each other – yeah – sometimes even that is a thing to discover- LOL

I hope you are part of Creative JumpStart as well – it is such a great and supporting community and looking at everyone’s project based on the daily videos is another wonderful source of inspiration. If you haven’t joined yet- you can still do it – sign up for Creative JumpStart 2018 !

Here are some of the supplies I used for this spread:


Comments (7)

  • florenceturnour

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    Lol hairspray. Does it smell perfumed? I guess workable fixative doesn’t smell all that nice. I love that you are writing white on black. I’m going to have to give that a try too!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      LOL- all I head. Fixative is actually smelling worse and most you have to apply. That wasn’t an option with the cold here anyway- LOL

      Reply

  • cathsheard

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    Oooh, those metallic PanPastels – wow! They look fab….

    Reply

  • Catherine

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    Nathalie, I really like these journal pages! I love using Pan Pastels, but never quite know how to affix them to the page! Did you use anything so they won’t rub off? Thanks!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      thank you Catherine. yes they def. need to be fixative either with a fixative or in this case just with hairspray.. hairspray might change the color but i can live with this in my art journal

      Reply

      • Catherine

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        Thanks, Nathalie! I think that would be the easiest! Will try it!

        Reply

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(self-)Respect – Art Journal

I am so excited- LOL- Hold your horses! This is the very first year in seven years, I actually started to play along with Creative JumpStart– usually there is just too much going on on the administrative side of organizing the workshop, traveling to teach and with CHA/Creativation that I just cannot play along. But ha – this year I am in! This art journal spread was inspired by the first video with Mystele in CJS18 – wow- she rocked that video. I used some of her ideas to jumpstart my own page and then went for it.

Mystele painted a gorgeous face – I used a hand carved stamp – see you can do whatever you want with those videos (get inspired by the technique, the material, the way the artist use things, the look, the colors…nameless options) but they do totally feed you if you are just willing to play- and Oh and I am willing this year ;)

My word for 2018 is (self-) Respect – and so it was a good page to do !

Are you in for Creative JumpStart 2018? If not you can still join – check it out !

Give yourself the permission to play!

 

Comments (4)

  • sue-sharp

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    Wow, I love the colours, and energy from this page.. and LOVE that hand carved face!

    Reply

  • cathsheard

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    To quote you “love love love” that you are finding time and space to JUMP as well :-)

    Reply

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Jumping with… Jen Crossley…a CJS Interview Series

In this interview with Jen Crossley, we talk about Craft vs. Art, metal edging, junk stores, her love of cooking and the unlikely likely occurrence of poisonous spiders in Australia ;)

Jumping with… Jen Crossley…a CJS Interview Series from Nathalie Kalbach on Vimeo.

Jen is also sharing one of her favorite recipes with us:

1 Lge BBQ chicken cooked
1 small Brown onion
1 pkt Bacon
3/4 cup Chicken stock
1 cup Milk
3 Tablespoons Plain flour ( not self raising)
3 dessertspoons Butter

Topping:
3 tablespoons of butter
2 cups cornflakes

Break up the chicken into small pieces no bones. In a saucepan melt the butter then add the onion, add the bacon and cook until done, do not brown the bacon or onion. Next add flour – do not brown the flour. Cook for 2 minutes. Add chicken stock and milk, stir until this thickens then simmer for two minutes. You can add a bit more milk if the sauce is too thick. Mix in Chicken pieces then put it into a casserole dish.

Topping:
Melt the butter and the cornflakes together then spread on top of the chicken base. Bake in a oven on a medium heat till the cornflakes brown on the top.

Serve and enjoy!

You can download Jen’s recipe here: CJS18 Recipes Jen Crossley

I hope you enjoyed the interview- Jen’s video for CJS is shows such a cool technique! Come and join us for Creative Jumpstart 2018  and see yourself !

Comments (2)

  • JoAnn Campisi

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    Hi Nathalie,

    Just caught up with your last two interviews – enjoyed them both. It was so nice to get to meet the artist in advance of their tutorial – tomorrow!!! Yay!!!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      so glad you liked the interviews- It was really fun to chat with them! Looking forward seeing you in the class room :)

      Reply

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Jumping with…Kae Pea – a CJS Interview Series

It was so much fun to talk to Kae Pea, who is one of our teachers yet again for Creative JumpStart. Join us while we are chatting about unfinished art, how to find time for arting, how she finds inspiration for her stamp designs, cooking begrudgingly or not ;)

Jumping with…Kae Pea – a CJS Interview Series from Nathalie Kalbach on Vimeo.

I hope you enjoyed the interview- his video for CJS is full of techniques and ideas! Come and join us for Creative Jumpstart 2018  and see yourself !

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Yummy Recipes for Hungry Artists – CJS2018 JumpStarter Recipes Part 2

Ready for some more Recipe fun? Our Creative JumpStarters thought they would share with you some more of their favorite recipes- from easy to hearty to holiday special. I hope you will also join us for their Mixed Media Recipes at Creative JumpStart 2018 !


Ingredients:
3 avocados, chopped
1 tomato, chopped
1 purple onion, finely chopped
1 lime, juiced
1 chili pepper, seeds removed, minced
garlic clove, minced
With a fork, mash 3/4 of the avocado in a bowl. Scoop all the other ingredients plus the remaining avocado in the bowl, toss and enjoy!

you can download Birgit’s Recipe here: CJS18 Recipes Birgit Koopsen

Turkey Chili with Vegetables

Begin by sautéing:
1 large, diced, onion, until translucent
Add (in this order):
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced zuke
1 diced pepper (any color)
1 peeled and diced eggplant

Add to taste:
2-3 diced jalapenos
2-3 cloves garlic

If you’d like some added heat, use a couple of canned chipotles in adobe sauce (scrape out the

seeds).
Brown 1 lb ground turkey add that into the veggie mix along with:
2 tsp dijon mustard

2 tbsp. chi li powder
1 1/2 tsp each: oregano, basil, cumin
1 (or so) tsp each ground chipotle and ground ancho chili powder
1 healthy pinch of cinnamon
1 can black beans
1 can cannelloni beans
1 can vegetarian baked beans (These are the beans I use. Use whatever beans are your favorites)
1 large can crushed or diced tomatoes (I like the fire roasted)
Couple tablespoons of tomato paste

Simmer the works for about 1 hour Just before serving add:
juice from 1 lime
1/4 c. grated bittersweet chocolate
a healthy dose of fresh cilantro (1/2 c or so, to taste)

You can download Diana’s recipe here: CJS18 Recipes Diana Trout

Sweet Noodle Kugel
Serves 10-15
1 cup raisins (optional) – you may substitute other fruits like dried chopped, apricots, or pineapple
12 oz wide egg noodles
6 large eggs
1 lb sour cream (2 cups)
8 oz cottage cheese (1 cup)
8 oz cream cheese, softened – OR farmer’s cheese, crumbled (1 cup)
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/4 tsp salt
Cinnamon and sugar for dusting
Nonstick cooking oil spray
large pot, 9×13 baking dish
optional: food processor or blender

Place a rack in the middle of your oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Cover the raisins with hot water and let them soak to plump while you prepare the other ingredients.Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the noodles to the pot, bring back to a boil, and let them cook until tender (not overly soft), about 5 minutes. Drain and return the cooked noodles to the pot. In a food processor or blender, blend together the eggs, sour cream, cottage cheese, cream cheese, sugar, melted butter, and salt. Drain the raisins. Stir them into the noodles. Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking oil. Pour the noodle mixture into the dish. Top the kugel by sprinkling generously with sugar and lightly with cinnamon. Alternatively, you can use your favorite kugel topping (streusel, crushed graham crackers, cornflakes, etc.). Bake the kugel for about 60 minutes, turning once halfway through cooking, till the center of the kugel is set and the tips of the noodles turn golden brown. Remove from the oven. Let the kugel rest for 15-20 minutes before slicing. Kugel can be served warm or cold.

You can download Jessica’s Recipe here: CJS18 Recipes Jessica Sporn

Buttery Pecan Tarts
Coat a 24 count mini cupcake pan with non stick spray

CRUST:
1/2 cup soft margarine
3 oz. soft cream cheese
1 cup all purpose flour

FILLING:
1 egg
3/4 packed cup brown sugar
1 Tablespoon melted margarine
1/2 cup chopped pecans

PREPARE:
1.Mix margarine and cream cheese until combined. Stir in flour. Press a rounded teaspoon of dough into the bottom and sides of each
of the 24 cupcake openings to fully line each opening with dough. (use more or less dough per cup as needed)
2. In a small bowl, combine eggs, sugar, and margarine. Stir in nuts.
3. Fill each cup of dough with one rounded teaspoon of filling.
Bake for 30 minutes at 350*. Cool on wire rack.

You can download Rae’s recipe here: CJS18 Recipes Rae Missigman

Gwen’s Christmas Butter Cookies
Yield: about 2 1/2 dozen
Pre-heat oven to 325 F
Cream together:
1 C softened butter (no margarine or shortening)
3/4 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract (if you don’t like almond, just use 1 tsp vanilla and no almond extract)
6 Tbsp powdered sugar
2 Tbsp honey
Add
2 C flour
1 Tbsp milk
Mix just until no trace is left of the flour, then add in 1/4 to 1/2 C finely crushed pecans or walnuts and mix. (Larger nut pieces will make the cookies crumble, so make sure you get them chopped pretty finely.) Roll dough into 1” balls and place about 2” apart – I use a baking stone and cook for about 16-17 minutes, or you can cook on ungreased cookie sheet for about 14 minutes or until very light brown. While warm, roll the cookies in powdered sugar and then set on a cooling rack. Once almost completely cool, roll the cookies in powdered sugar again until thoroughly coated.

You can do download Gwen’s recipe here: CJS18 Recipes Gwen Lafleur

 

I hope you liked those recipes – see- you cannot make good art with an empty stomach …lol- or so I think ;) See you in the Classroom of Creative JumpStart 2018!

Comments (6)

  • Clavell

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    Thanks for the recipes, Nathalie! I can’t wait to try the Buttery Pecan Tarts in my NEW mini tart pan! Perfect timing! :D

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      oh that sounds like perfect timing indeed :) Happy Holidays Clavell!

      Reply

  • Maura Hibbitts

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    These all look YUMMY!!! I will have to try some! Love this recipe idea, Nat. Looking forward to CJS2018! Merry Christmas! Maura

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      yeah- hope you will try some of them – let us know how they worked out :) Happy New Years, Maura!

      Reply

  • Alisa Barott

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    Wonderful recipes! Thanks for sharing

    Reply

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