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Announcing Creative JumpStart 2019: On sale today!!!

I’m excited today to announce Creative JumpStart (CJS) 2019! Do you know CJS? It’s a one-of-a-kind online mixed media workshop, now in it’s 8th year, designed to kick your creativity into high gear throughout January 2019. And it goes on sale TODAY!!!

Learn techniques, discover new materials, and connect with other artists and crafters. Learn more HERE.

Throughout January participants get access to 31 downloadable videos from 31 featured artists. Over 5 hours of video content will be available to you. You can also participate in our online classroom with the other “Jumpers” and even share your creations in our classroom gallery. There will be product giveaways from our sponsors too. So much fun!

And today only, you can get CJS19 for just $40USD. You better hurry though, this Cyber Monday Sale ends November 26, 2018 at 11:59pmEST.

The Theme this year is “My Home is My Castle”. We’re taking Creative JumpStart into the home this year and creating mixed media projects that celebrate what Home means to us. Do you feel at home wherever there is something cozy and homemade? Does your home decor and home style tell your story? Is it where you are from or where you spent your childhood? Are you a part of a unique local community that is special to you? Whether it is the objects, a place, or the people that surround you, there is no wrong answer or approach here. These projects are a little celebration of our own personal definition of Home. Enjoy step-by-step instruction from our artists as they share with you their notion of Home through their signature art making style. There will be lots of projects that are art journal pages, and also some really cool home decor ideas and other unique projects that our artists have dreamed up. It’s time to make Your Home YOUR Castle :)

I’m proud to be the founder of Creative JumpStart and one of those artists, called “JumpStarters.” See for yourself what it’s all about:

Find out all the details and sign up TODAY:

n*Studio CJS2019 – Let’s Jump!

You get 31 videos – over 5 hours worth of video content –  for just $40 (USD) if you sign up by November 26 11:59 pm EST, 2018. Afterwards it will be $45USD until November 30 11:59pmEST, and $50USD until December 31 11:59pmEST, before it goes to its normal sale price of $60USD.

So what are you waiting for? SIGN UP HERE

So can this Cyber Monday get any better????

Yes! Of course :) I’m having a Cyber Monday SALE in my Online Shop and there is definitely still time to shop the BIGGEST sale of the season. Just use the coupon code BIG25OFF when you check out for a 25% discount on all physical products: stamps, stencils, books, mugs, original paintings, prints, cards, DVDs and more. This is your last chance to get 25% off and buy for everyone on your list – maybe even yourself ;) – the sale ends at 11:59pm EST TONIGHT November 26th, 2018.

Here is my Online Shop.

And I hope to see you soon in the Creative JumpStart 2019 Classroom!

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Nat

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Cards Galore

I am a card making machine ;) For the Birthday Card above I used the Grove St. rubberstamp from the Large Circle Jumble Stamp set for the middle. Then I used the toper stamp from the same set and its smaller sibling from the Small Circle Jumble Set to create a border. I really love those toper stamps, I used them all the time for pattern and mark making as well as for borders.

Some easy note cards – with the Small Circle Jumble Set.

And I really love the black and white – kinda grungy but yet elegant …well …Nat Elegance ;)

Here are the supplies I used for making this cards


Nat

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Biggest SALE of the Year: 25% off in Nat’s Online Shop

Time to shop and SAVE my friends!

I am getting into the Holiday Spirit and running my BIGGEST sale of the year in my Online Shop: 25% off ALL physical products from now through Monday November 26th. We’re doing Black Friday, Small Business Saturday (support the little guys this holiday season woohoo!), Sunday, and Cyber Monday!!!

Just use the coupon code BIG25OFF when you check out to save.

This is a great time to buy some gifts for those creative folks on your list. Maybe a rubber stamp set like my Actually I Can set for that daughter or niece to empower her in her crafts?

How about my Artful Adventures book for that adventurous friend who is always searching the globe for new artistic inspiration?

My foam stamps are perfect for stamping on fabric and make great gifts for fiber artists and DIY crafters.

My stencils are ideal for anyone on your list who is crazy about pattern. Here are some of my personal favorites:

Flower Maze
Manhattan 9×12
Broadway 4×4
Santiago 4×4

 

Or tell your hubby or special friend about the sale so they can pick out for you one of my original paintings or prints that you’ve been dying to hang on your walls!

2016

It’s also the time to buy some items that you’ve been wanting. Why not treat yourself :) Now is the time. Sale ends at 11:59pm EST on November 26th, 2018.

Shop for everything HERE in the Online Shop.

Nat

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Stroll Through the Hood – November 2018

Happy Thanksgiving my Friends in the U.S. What a better day for a Stroll Through the Hood post :) . Strolls through my hood get me out of my studio, they help me unstuck and often I get inspired by what I see and to get new ideas to create something. It is part of my philosophy about Artful Adventures in Mixed Media – which is the subject of my book. Here are some photos that I gathered in the last couple weeks.

Dramatic fall backdrop for this cute Pretzel :)

And a dramatic sun set with our city and Manhattan as a backdrop

House Hunting is a fun way to explore a wider range of hoods in my city- and I came across this amazing church – wow. I love the wood facade and the little tower!

See we have nature in our city …and apparently Mario Bros fans :)

A beautiful bathroom window in an open house we saw – love the pattern!

Brownstone galore n the rain – I love the little bits and pieces of orange on the stoops

One of my favorite floors in an open house – gosh – looooveeee!

A Lord of the Rings deck with a mural underneath – also big love!!! It is really fun to see all those backyards- it is a hidden world in the hood.

A very cute and for this area cheap house …but then upon entering you know it is totally overpriced. Totally dangerous inside as it falls apart. But it must have been gorgeous in his hay-days .

Fun wall paper in that house in the kitchen …I bet there were more fun details but I was like “get me out of here” – I am adventurous but not THAT adventurous LOL.

Hope you have a wonderful day and for those of you who are celebrating Thanksgiving today- I wish you beautiful day- filled with family, friends and good food. Thank you for being part of my Artful Adventures – lots of love

Nat

Comments (7)

  • Donna Davis

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    I grew up in Jersey City! on Nevins street around the corner from Bergen and Montgomery! My college was St.Peters…

    Reply

  • Donna DiCorcia

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    Is that Jersey City ???? I grew up in JC. I went to college at Saint Peters!!! Small world!!!!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Hi Donna, yes it is :) How fun!!! I live in the old Dixon Mills factory :)

      Reply

  • ARHuelsenbeck

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    I forgot that Bobby Pretzel is YOUR cat. Thanks for sharing your photos–a pleasure, as always. I love your strolls through the ‘hood.

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    That sunset, that background for Pretzel, those brownstones…WOW, just gorgeous photos Nat!
    That house look like it needs a ton of work for sure and that wall paper is just scary.
    Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family and I am thankful for the inspiration which you deliver to my inbox on a daily basis.

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Hi Sue, hope you had a great Thanksgiving! Oh man yeah that house was really hoarder-squatted-scary …I am not brave enough to take on that work LOL

      Reply

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Doin’ My Thing -Jennifer Gallagher

  

Hello from my Creative Squad! Today we have a post from Jennifer Gallagher to inspire you this holiday season with some creative gift wrapping ideas. Jennifer is using my Mini Clam Hex foam stamp and my Small Circle Jumble stamp set, along with this month’s theme: Doin’ My Thing – We all have a unique artistic style and way of working with supplies. This is the time to rock it! Be yourself. Do your thing.

This month we are doin’ our thing over on the n*Studio blog. So, what is my thing? That is hard to nail down because I love so many products and techniques. Then I realized that using my supplies to create useful items that others will enjoy is definitely ‘my thing’.

Often when we think of seasonal gift wrapping our minds go straight to decorated trees and snowmen. But who says that you can’t create beautiful, nontraditional holiday wrapping using some of your favorite n*Studio art supplies? Let’s break out our artfoamies and stamps and create some one of a kind paper!

Start with an inexpensive roll of kraft paper. I found mine at a local dollar store. Lay the paper down on a flat surface and tape down the corners and edges with painters tape. This will help keep the paper from rolling up as you work. Brayer out some paint onto your gel plate and press your artfoamie into the paint. I am using Nat’s mini clam hex foam stamp. Now firmly press the stamp onto your kraft paper.

Repeat this process creating whatever design you wish.

Add some pizzazz and additional interest with metallic markers. I have added dashed lines with my silver Letter It Metallic Marker by Ranger.

What would a beautifully wrapped package be without a gift tag? Start with a #8 mixed media tag. Apply the same emerald green paint onto the tag in a haphazard fashion using a mini blending tool.

Thinly apply platinum modeling paste with a dry coarse bristled brush in some areas of your tag. You can continue to layer the green acrylic and platinum modeling paste until you achieve an affect you like.

Add black soot distress ink around the edges and throughout the tag to add additional interest.

Next, stamp a few of the negative circle drive small stamps from the Small Circle Jumble Stamp Set – don’t forget to add the ornament topper. Draw a few strings from the ornaments and add a little silver highlights.

Thanks for joining us. We would love to see what unique and creative gift wrapping you can come up with using your favorite n*Studio products. And be sure to stop by each Tuesday to see what the Creative Squad is up to.

Thank you Jennifer! We can’t wait to try some papers of our own this year. You can find all of my foam stamps and rubber stamps in my online store and here are some of the other supplies that Jennifer used:



Feel inspired? Working on something yourself that you’d like to share?  I love to see how you interpret our monthly themes. Email me how you used my stencils and stamps with the theme and email me an image – I would love to share your projects in my next  “n*Spiration From Around the Globe“.

Nat

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Let it Flow – Art Journal Spread

“Fall in Love with the pieces and the results will come. Let it flow!” – my creative mantra :)

Sketched and painted with some acrylic paints and acrylic inks – I just wanted to see how I liked painting with some thinner paints and acrylic inks- it is a bit challenging and I do like parts of it -the way it makes the colors really pop due to the translucency – but I do miss my texture.

Love how the Clam Hex Stamp provides a nice pattern – All in all I like the flow of this page :)

Here are some of the supplies I used:


Nat

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Inspired by: The New Cathedral in Coventry

At the beginning of the month I was teaching with my friend Julie in Coventry. I came in on Thursday morning and Thursday afternoon was the only time for some sightseeing – so off we went.

Coventry was devastatingly destroyed during the German Blitz in 1940 during World War II and many people died during the attacks and many lost their homes. Coventry Cathedral was destroyed as well and remains as a ruin in the middle of the city. I posted about the ruins last year – you can find the post here. This year I went also into the New Cathedral – wow!

What a beautiful building.

Above is the Baptistery window which you will see right after you go in. The New Cathedral was built next to the remains of the old cathedral. “Spence the architect insisted that instead of re-building the old cathedral it should be kept in ruins as a garden of remembrance and that the new cathedral should be built alongside, the two buildings together effectively forming one church.” The cathedral was consecrated on 25 May 1962.

The Christ in Glory tapestry by Graham Sutherland, which is maybe one of the worlds largest, is breath taking!

There were also hundreds of seat cushions- little pieces of art!

Below is the Chapel of Christ the Servant (also known as the Chapel of Industry). A giant glass building with  a cross and crown of thorns above the altar

Next to the Chapel of Christ the Servant is the Chapel of Christ in Gethsemane.

A mosaic of the angel who offers the cup of suffering to Christ as he prayed.

I am so glad I went back to see the New Cathedral as well. I think last year when I was there with Birgit it was closed.

St Michael’s Victory over the Devil, a sculpture by Jacob Epstein outside the Chapel.

 

I am glad I could share this little trip with Julie – although- boy was I tired after the red eye flight over the pond ;)

And I leave this post with this plague on the wall of the old cathedral.

Hope this little trip was inspiring for you!

 

Nat

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Stenciled Napkin Rings for Thanksgiving – DIY Play Date

This week my friend Kim and I got together to have a little pre-Thanksgiving play date :) Our project idea was to make something new for the table for entertaining and we decided to make stenciled napkin rings. It was a fun and pretty simple technique and a new way to use stencils – with clay and pan pastels!

We got some air dry clay (this box was just right to make 4 napkin rings), Pan Pastels, a bunch of my stencils to choose from, a non stick craft mat, a small polymer clay rolling pin, and a paper towel tube for a mold.

First we flattened out the clay into a rectangle with our fingers and then smoothed the surface with the rolling pin. The rectangle needs to be big enough to cut into 4 long strips and to wrap around the tube, so we made ours about 6″ x 8″.

Time to choose a stencil. A small intricate pattern works best to fit the scale of the rings. I am using the Hamilton stencil.

And I decided to use warm, autumnal Pan Pastel colors. Pan Pastels are so lovely to work with, just take a cosmetic sponge and start dabbing on the pigment.

You can blend in other colors too.

Kim choose my Downtown stencil and some blue colors to match her dinnerware.

The big reveal! I love how the navy blue pattern pops.

Mine will look great with my ivory and gold china.

We used a polymer clay knife to cut the clay into strips and trim the uneven edges. Maybe use a ruler to make them equal… we didn’t… Oops! Also maybe smooth the edges as much as possible – it will look better in the end with smooth clean edges.

Prepare the mold by covering the tube with waxed paper.

And wrap the strips around, squishing the ends together. Be careful not to rub the pigment design too much – it will smear.

Let them dry overnight.

We dried them resting on the seam, just to encourage it to stay stuck.

The next day they were firm and ready to go.

 

You can spray them now with fixative to set the Pan Pastel pigment.

My table set with those pretty new stenciled napkin rings.

You can match them to your decor or go holiday-specific with your color choices.

The Pan Pastels I chose were metallic and look very festive.

Kim’s table in ivory and blues with a bold pattern napkin ring. So unique and a nice touch when you want your table to be memorable for Thanksgiving or any occasion.

We had fun making these – it was pretty quick and you don’t need a lot of supplies. And the Pan Pastels really made the stencil patterns crisp and clean. Give it a try for your tablescape this season!

You can find my stencils in my online shop. Here are some of the supplies that we used:


Nat

Comments (2)

  • Sue Clarke

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    Love that bold navy and the candle on the table made with one of your stamps as well.
    Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving Nat and Kim!

    Reply

    • kimnstudio

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      Happy Thanksgiving Sue! Good eye spotting that candle – that was back from a previous play date with Nat and another project that I loved :)

      Reply

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