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Stroll Through the Hood – October 2020

Strolls through my hood get me out of my studio, they help me get unstuck and often I get inspired by what I see and 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.

hehehe what can I say? Mingus is the worst thief ever- here he is after we caught him stealing frothed milk ….but he is pretty funny no?

I loved this picture at the Secret Beach – the Family was running around in the sun and I thought it was cute how they had lined up their shoes on those tiny horseshoe crab shells.

this view from the beach to Lady Liberty gets never old for me.

Funny flying critters :) I love how all construction plywood is always instantly turned into something colorful in this city.

Weird orange car- I wonder what this was …like a little electric car or so? I feel this car could be a model for a comic and should speak :)

We got a mini portable fire pit and have been enjoying it in our little garden on the cooler nights already.

A new bakery opened in my neighborhood and I love their decoration and the baked goods are also very good :)

I voted. And I am not actually giving you a stink eye (not sure what is going on there) but if you haven’t voted yet I might ;) This is my first presidential election as a U.S. citizen.

This house looks like it should be in some Bavarian forest LOL.

These are the judging faces of cats when you left the house for a long period and they are not used to you being outside for a long time anymore. I wonder how they look if we travel some day again.

Still enjoying the weekend jam sessions – and this little guy is the cutest. He was so fascinated by the drums and could not stop looking at them. I think he will ask for a drum set. I saw him again two weekends later and he is still as entranced.

I must have walked past this little window on the side of a corner a couple times but never noticed it until now- I also love the brick inlay – so cool!

We got a new handrail and I am so excited about the little rosettes we picked out as they are very similar to the ones that are in our banister

Nat

Comments (4)

  • ruthart

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    ah, I know how that little boy feels about the drums. I’ve always had rhythm and even played the middle eastern Dumbec for a few years (during my Belly Dance years). When I met a guy who played guitar, I knew I wanted to play rock and roll drums, so one day I got out the pots and pans and started playing them. When he came home and heard what I was doing, he said ‘you need a drum set’. Sure enough, we went out and bought a set; I was thrilled. (I was in my 40’s) Now I’m 75 and need a hip replacement, but I bet I could still play a mean beat if I still had the drums!!
    Love your walks around the hood….my neighborhood isn’t so interesting! Keep up the good work. (oh, are you doing Creative Jumpstart for 2021? I really enjoy those workshops)

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Love that you played drums!!! maybe you need a small set? and yes…watch this place soon for CJS :)

      Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    Is Mingus AKA Bobby Pretzel or is that a different cat?
    Love the pic of the shoes at the beach.
    Gorgeous view of Lady Liberty from your beach.

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Sue, that is a different cat- Mingus came to us in December and is Bobby Pretzel’s little nightmare and playmate LOL

      Reply

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Best of Creative JumpStart Vol. 5 – Online Workshop Bundle

I’m releasing another Best of CJS bundle today!!! 

Best of Creative JumpStart Vol. 5 is now on sale! This is the fifth bundle of mixed media lessons by some of our super talented CJS artist teachers, this bundle includes videos from Creative JumpStart 2019. The CJS 2019 theme was: My Home is My Castle and our artist teachers were asked to create a lesson inspired by what home means to them.

For only $9.99 you will receive access to download links for 12 inspiring Creative JumpStart lessons from 2019. Here are the amazing teachers and lessons in this bundle:

  • Marsha Valk 2019 : Building Blocks of Home
  • Gwen Lafleur 2019 : Home Gratitude Journal
  • Aaron and Jenny Holiday 2019 : The Family Flag
  • Andrea Gomoll 2019 : Home is a State of Mind
  • Birgit Koopsen 2019: King of the Castle
  • Julie Fei-Fan Balzer 2019 : Home Sweet Home
  • Andrea Chebeleu 2019: A Home for Your ATCs
  • Sandra Evertson 2019: Wood Burning for the Home
  • Jen Crossley 2019 : Tiny House Jewelry
  • Mary Beth Shaw 2019 : Stenciled Home Decor
  • Mystele Kirkeeng 2019 : Assemblage Home
  • Nat Kalbach 2019 : My Home is My Stamp

You can learn more and sign up HERE. Take a peek at the lessons below:

If you’re looking for more videos, be sure to check out some of my other CJS workshop bundles: Best of CJS Vol.1 from 2014/2015, Best of CJS Vol. 2 from 2016, Best of CJS Vol. 3 from 2017, and Best of CJS Vol. 4 from 2018. Each year had a different theme, a unique variety of artists, and an inspiring mix of lessons. Jump with us!

Nat

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A Look Back – Cool Stuff You May Have Missed 21 – Fall Play Dates

A Look Back – This time I’m looking at some fun fall play dates that Kim and I had back when we could get together in person and play with my stamps and stencils. Some of these are very seasonal (pumpkins) and others are just nice ideas for when you need an indoor activity to do. Read on and I hope you try some of these project ideas too!

A Look Back is a blog series to show you some projects and posts that you may have missed – sometimes going WAY back in the archive. I think it will be fun to revisit a few ideas that we haven’t seen for a while. I’m excited to see how a little look back might inspire something new in the future :)

This project was a great way to decorate pumpkins without getting out the carving knife and spreading gourd guts all over your kitchen LOL. We used my stencils and acrylic paint and came away with some very cool decor. Check it out here.

 

Here is a project that you can pull together with all those collage papers and deli papers you have in your stash. We gussied some of ours up with my foam stamps and acrylic paint and then cut out simple leaf shapes for a wall hanging. This is an easy fall project for all ages and abilities. Check it out here.

 

Has colder weather and shorter days got you thinking about indoor activities, curled up in front of a fireplace? Embroidery is an ideal activity if you just want to relax and chill. We used my Stroll Around the Block and Stroll Through the Hood 1 and 2 rubber stamps as a guide for our colorful stitched projects seen here in this post.

 

Thinking about sprucing up your decor while spending more time at home? We used my foam stamps and fabric ink to create modern pillow covers for our living rooms here in this play date post.

 

Your Thanksgiving table may be a little smaller this year but it doesn’t have to be any less Instagram worthy – check out these napkin rings we created using my stencils and pan pastels for a one-of-a-kind holiday tablescape.

I hope you enjoyed this look back and are inspired to try a few of these craft ideas.

Here are some of the supplies we used:

Nat

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Creative Squad: A New Day – Robin Seiz

Hello from my Creative Squad! Today we have a post (and video!!!) from new member Robin Seiz – sharing her mixed media panel painting using my Midtown Minis and Central Ave foam stamps and this month’s theme: A New Day – Let’s try something new today :) Although these are tumultuous times and we never know what each new day will bring, it also seems like the perfect time to throw caution to the wind and just jump into something new with both feet. Try a new material or technique or approach. Why not? Today is a new day… and tomorrow is too!

I am very excited to be one the newest members of Nat’s Creative Squad. When I thought about the theme for the month, A New Day, I immediately thought about the morning. (even the song in my video is called “Morning Mood”), but as often happens in my artwork, as I worked on this little scene, I felt more of an evening mood. But really, don’t we each have the “promise of a new day” every evening as the sun sets? Whether out day was wonderful and we look forward to a repeat for the next day or our day wasn’t so good and we look forward to tomorrow —— that is promise of A New Day.

In this project, I worked with new paints (as my New Day theme) and I have to say that I absolutely love them. They are paints by Art Alchemy and they come in both a variety of finishes and a variety of yummy rich colors. I also hadn’t worked with Nat’s Central Ave Artfoamies and I see so many uses for them for the future.

I started this project with my gel plate, the Art Alchemy Spark paints, (colors Butterfly Spells and Magical Pond) and a 3” x 4” Art Bite Panel. I often use my gel plate to put paint on a substrate whether it’s a piece of paper, canvas or something like what I used here, an Art Bite. I do this because I like the organic look which always includes lots of texture.

Once I was happy with the finish on the Art Bite, I used VersaFine Clair permanent Nocturne ink to stamp the Midtown Minis Artfoamies on the substrate.

The next step was to stamp and cut out a mask of the Midtown Mini Artfoamie buildings so I could apply it to the buildings. This allows for the buildings to be in the foreground and the Central Avenue Artfoamie to be in the background.

To apply the Central Ave Artfoamie, I used Art Alchemy’s Metallique Paint in Deep Waters blue.

Since I was seeing more of a evening, sunset sky, I applied the Butterfly Spells paint I used in the background with a #2 rounded brush for the detail and a #6 flat brush for the larger windows and spaces giving the piece and evening glow.

The finishing touch was to apply a Posca White Paint Pen .7mm to outline the piece.

This piece could be framed or used as is to sit on a shelf.

It’s an easy project and, all told, it probably took me about 60 minutes to complete from start to finish.

Thank you Robin for this gorgeous panel – love the color palette and your making technique!

Give it a try: you can find all my Foam Stamps in my Online Shop and here are some of the other supplies Robin 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

Comments (2)

  • Mary Cheng

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    Love the demo. Must see if I can get the building stamps in Australia. I do miss going to the craft shows this year, but with COVID, no shows to go to. However, I may have missed out on an online show!

    Reply

  • Rebecca

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    Wonderfully done and the directions are great!

    Reply

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We Got the Power – Art Journal

“Somewhere inside of all of us is the power to change the world.” Roald Dahl

And now is the perfect time to use this power… and VOTE.

I created my scene using acrylic paints and gouache and acrylic markers. A lot of hot colors here to give this one some power ;)

For my quote I chose a calligraphy pen.

And then that all important Ballot Box stamp from my #keepyouposted rubber stamp set. 

Here are some of the supplies I used:

Nat

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Keeping You Posted – Cards

I was playing around with my new #keepyouposted rubber stamp set and found myself making cards. For the one shown above I used a masking technique to create a layered look.

I wanted to have my mail truck stamp over some of the word stamps, without collaging. It’s easy – here’s how:

First I stamped my cute truck (I just adore these distinctive US mail trucks – so unique looking!) where I wanted it on my card. Next I stamped the truck onto some scrap paper and fussy cut it out. Then I put some repositionable adhesive on the back – I like E-Z Dots. This is my mask.

With the mask stuck onto my card on top of the truck image I stamped my background and overlapping the masked area with with my “You are my No.1 Priority” stamp.

Then I removed my mask  – clean and easy peasy. I also added some color using a very nice new set of EMOTT Mitsubishi pens in the links below – love how they work for fine detail and intense color.

Here are a couple others I made, all with stamps from the #keepyouposted set: 

Are you sending cards through the mail these days too? I definitely had a ton of fun with those. 

Here are some of the supplies I used:

Nat

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Triangle Love Holiday Cards

handmade card with triangle shaped trees with toppers, besides the card some triangle shaped and patterned rubberstamps that were used to create the card.

It seems so early to start making holiday cards but I am determined to not get caught in my usual December panic “waahhhhh I didn’t even start yet” LOL. Because quite frankly – I looooovee to get holiday cards, but of course …you gotta spread the love yourself, no? So, I wanted to share with you some holiday cards I put together using my Triangle Love and Fan-fare rubber stamp sets. These are just a few ideas that I was playing around with. Both of these sets are super versatile so I can even imagine a bunch more ideas will come once you start creating.

Let’s get started!

Using my Tulip Triangle, I started lining up the pattern to build a larger triangle shape on my card.

Triangle shaped Rubber stamp used on a blank card to create a big triangle shape

I stamped my Solid Triangle off to either side, in the same manner, building larger triangles. 

three hand stamped triangle shapes in a row with a triangle rubber stamp

Then I added another pattern on top in a darker green ink. I chose my Empire Triangle and Stained Glass Triangle. I think you can see where this is going ;) I also used the Small Solid Triangle to create the tree trunk because, you guessed it, these are nice little Christmas trees.

And then I used one of the small stamps from my Fan-fare stamp set as a tree topper.

Next just add your message and there you go – easy card idea #1 for you.

How about a card that features an ornament for the holiday season? I began by stamping the Sunburst Triangle from the Triangle Love set onto a card, flipping the stamp around to double it up.

I added another pair to the left and right, and then below to create a larger diamond shape.

This reminds me of a vintage glass ornament. I then added one of the Fan-fare stamps here and there to give the scene a little sparkle.

Then you can add your hangers and tinsel and a nice message to finish it off. There you have it – card idea #2!

Finally another ornament idea, this time layering the Star Triangle over the Solid Triangle.

One of the stamps from Fan-fare makes a very nice ornament topper.

Then tie it all together with some sketchy lines and your sentiment. Voilà! Card idea #3 and hopefully you are on your way to a stress free holiday season (lol) now that you are ahead of the game with cards. I am not sure that holds true for me in regards of making holiday cards, but now that the first ones are done – my ideas keep on flowing :)

Nat

Comments (2)

  • Sue Clarke

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    Very cute cards and I really like the shade of green and purple which you used.
    December will be here before we know it, so it’s not too early to make cards!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Thank you so much Sue! So true about making cards maybe this year I will be getting there :)

      Reply

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Holiday Card Making Bundle – Special Product Kit

Are you ready to get your Holiday Card Making Game on??? I’ve put together this special product bundle to help you create tons of unique holiday cards for everyone on your list this year.

My Holiday Card Making Bundle includes a selection of foam stamps, rubber stamps, and a stencil, as well as some inspiring card making ideas from our archives to help you on your way.

The bundle is just $45, a big savings off the $71.60 regular price, and supplies are limited so hurry in to get your bundle before they run out for good. This offer expires October 20th at 11:59pm EDT.

Special 20% Off Deal: Also, during this offer, if you purchase the Holiday Card Making Bundle you may receive an additional 20% off any other physical products (foam stamps, rubber stamps, stencils, ink pads) that you order at the same time. Just use the coupon code holidaycard20 when you check out. Artwork is not included in this offer.

Here are the stamps and stencils that are included in the set:

  • Valley Road Positive Negative Foam Stamp Set
  • Broadway Positive Negative Foam Stamp Set
  • Triangle Love Cling Rubber Stamp Set
  • Fan-Fare Cling Rubber Stamp Set
  • Toledo 9×12 Stencil

In total you will receive 4 foam stamps, 11 cling rubber stamps, and a 9×12 stencil. 

Once you purchase, you will receive an email with links to project ideas from the archives to get you started on your holiday card making.

Here are some of the tutorials from our archives that will come with the Holiday Card Making Bundle once purchased:

This bundle offer is only available through October 20th at 11:50pm EDT.  And don’t forget to use the coupon code holidaycard20 to receive 20% off any additional physical items in your order.

Happy Card Making!

Nat

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