Blog: Challenge

Join Nat & Sarah’s April ArtFoamies Challenge – April 1

Come and join Sarah Matthews and me in our April ArtFoamies Challenge throughout the month of April, 2021. Beginning April 1st, we will explore using our ArtFoamies foam stamps each day with color and pattern and so much more. Sarah and I have been collaborating on several projects this past year and also do a monthly Zoomcast called ArtCollab. We are loving this chance to work together, throw ideas around, and to find inspiration in this new adventure. 

Follow me on Instagram HERE and Sarah on Instagram HERE for the daily April ArtFoamies Challenge prompts and to see how we interpret them and let our inspiration flow. 

Here is the Prompt List:

Each day beginning April 1 on my Instagram page and on Sarah’s Instagram HERE we will post our take on the prompts along with some little videos too. You can either try the same things or just try and do your own approaches following along with the prompts. I so hope you will share what you do and if you post on instagram, use the hashtags #artcollabChallengeAccepted and #Sarah&NatsChallengeAccepted

I’ll also be posting my take on the prompts right here on the blog too, so you can keep up with us :)

Nat

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My 5am Challenge – Vote Flag Book

I am continuing with my 5am challenge – For a few weeks now I am challenging myself to get up at 5am each morning and working on a book binding or folding technique to learn something new. 

This time I created my Vote Flag Book using old flat rate envelopes, some leftover watercolor paper, and of course my Ballot Box stamp from my #keepyouposted rubber stamp set.

It’s an interesting book form – the pages like flags standing in the wind. You can see another example I made in this blog post.

Pretty cool looking and lots of surfaces for stamping :)

Here I alternated between my LOVE stamp and my Neither Rain Nor Sleet stamp (that nice usps truck) from my #keepyouposted set. For ink I used Moonlight Duos.

And of course the message here is simple: VOTE!

Here are some of the supplies I used:

Nat

Comments (1)

  • Jean Goza

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    Loving this!

    Reply

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My 5am Challenge – Small Flag Book

For a two weeks now I am challenging myself to get up at 5am and each morning I follow and work on a book binding or folding technique I have never done before – just to learn something new. 

This is a so called flag book and boy it was so much fun to make – I made a little sample book out of it with some of my stamps.

You can see in here my Fan-fare, Triangle Love, Fan-tastic Small, Hex Set Small, Floral Tile Small, Circle Jumble Small, and my Mini Motifs rubber stamp sets. And I just used normal paper and lots of different color inkpads.

The book makes a fun noise when you open it up – like flags in the wind and I loved just the sculptural aspect of it when standing upright

or laying flat.

Now you might ask if that is worth it to get up at 5 am for? YEAHHH – LOL – because it makes me so happy when I make a book like this almost first thing in the morning before I even have breakfast – and I feel like I already accomplished and learned something new and fun. But now excuse me …. I need to take a nap – LOL ;)

Here are some of the supplies I used:

Nat

Comments (6)

  • Mary Cheng

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    Love your book. I never made one, so will give it a try!
    I get up at 5.30am, yoga at 6.15am online on FB with my local class.
    Occasionally, I may do a tiny bit of crafting before yoga starts, to finish off a project.
    Love your Mail stamps.

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      It is actually a real easy book and so much fun! You are an early riser as well !!! Wow!

      Reply

  • Tracie

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    This book looks so fun. I’m fascinated by the 5am thing. What prompted it? Do you have to go to bed a 9pm? Loved to hear more about the experiment

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Hi Tracie- there is a book called the 5am club- I don*t like the book and the story that much but the idea made sense to me to spend the first and very early hour of the day by learning something new and journaling . There is also a workout included …that I have to say is really to early for me hahaha. No – you do not have to be in bed by 9pm but naturally I am falling asleep around 10.30 pm LOL.

      Reply

  • Theresa Carroll

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    So inspiring, I have to make one! Thank you Natalie.

    Reply

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Deck of Cards Challenge – Prompts 28, 29 & 30

Today I am recapping the final days of my Deck of Cards Challenge that has run all month long on Instagram. I hope you played along with us and created your own deck of greeting cards for all sorts of occasions. These are the last few prompts, one from the funny friendship cards/words genre and two that deal with boosting yourself. Enjoy this card making fun.

Here is a recap of Prompts 28, 29 and 30:

Day 28 – You Sparkle

Let someone in your life know how brilliantly they shine with this card.

I used my Millie stamp with embossing and then to really amp up the sparkle I added in my Star Fish stamp with gold embossing powder. Nice empowering card.

Day 29 – Note to Self – Get Over It

For these last two days of the challenge we are focusing on some personal pep talks.

I used my Chicago stencil and blending tool with Distress Inks, taping off one part of the pattern for one color and then moving on to another area and color.

Next I went in with a fine liner to emphasize the pattern and add my Note to Self!

Day 30 – Note to Self – Relax

With how busy life is, who doesn’t need a little reminder to relax? And I think a great way to do it is to create!

So today I grabbed my Far Out and Funky foam stamps and some archival ink. I stamped and rotated a couple times and ta-da!

An easy and fun card that now I guess I can put under my pillow or something. Ha!

Here are some of the supplies that I used in these cards:

I hope you enjoyed the challenge and tried some of the different card making ideas I shared :)

One last thing: Don’t forget about my Five Day Frenzy Sale that is happening through tomorrow – December 2. You can save 25% off ALL physical products (even sale items) by using the coupon code FRENZYFIVE when you check out. Enjoy the savings!!!

Nat

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Deck of Cards Challenge – Prompts 26 & 27

Only a few more days left in my Deck of Cards Challenge that has run all month long on Instagram. This week we are focusing on funny friendship cards and words. I hope you have been joining us for some card making fun.

Here is a recap of Prompts 26 and 27:

Day 26 – Stay Weird

I like to keep company with the weird ones because well, they are so much more interesting! So today for the Deck of Cards Challenge I made a card to hopefully encourage someone to stay unique and awesome and interesting.

I stamped a background with my Neato and Far Out foam stamps with Moonglo dye inks and wrote my sentiment.

Day 27 – Always

Here’s a card for that someone who you just can’t do without.

I started out with a black fine line pen and a lettering stencil for my sentiment.

Then I went in with my Adirondack Chairs stamp to really push the idea that 2 are better than 1:)

Here are some of the supplies I used:

Nat

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Deck of Cards Challenge – Prompts 24 & 25

Today I am recapping Days 24 and 25 of my Deck of Cards Challenge that is running all month long on Instagram. This week we are focusing on funny friendship cards and words. 

Here is a recap of Prompts 24 and 25:

Day 24 – You and I

How about a classic love sentiment for today’s Deck of Cards Challenge? Oh the memories of cinema history here with this one. Haha!

I started with my Jewett Fan foam stamp set and stamped them with Lindy’s Starburst Spray. I love the watercolor like effect it gives with foam stamps.

Then I added some color and You Complete Me with Graphik Line Painters. Don’t worry, this one is already in the mail to Jerry Maguire :)

Day 25 – I Love You

Three little words that can change your life JToday’s Deck of Cards Challenge is a card with a bit of collage to it and some pencil… and that’s it. Because when you say “I Love You” there is really not much more you need to do.

Oh and that cool collage paper is from my experiments with cyanotype printing and I used my Buenos Aires and Versailles stencils.

Here are some of the supplies I used:

Join us for thefinal days of the Deck of Cards Challenge on Instagram and share your work with #docchallenge. Here are the prompts:

Nat

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Deck of Cards Challenge – Prompts 22 & 23

Today I am recapping Days 22 and 23 of my Deck of Cards Challenge that is running all month long on Instagram. This week we are focusing on funny friendship cards and words. 

Here is a recap of Prompts 22 and 23:

Day 22 – You are my Sunshine

I love that nice lyric “You are my sunshine” and thought hey my Broadway Fan Large rubber stamp kinda looks like a sunrise – perfect.

I stamped it in gold and then added some color with Liquitex paint markers in warm hues. I tucked my sentiment right in the pattern.

Day 23 – You Got This

Time for some encouragement in my Deck of Cards Challenge!

I created a background using Lindy’s Starburst Spray in two colors.

Then I stamped my Millie and my sentiment from the Actually I Can rubber stamp set. This card is just the thing for someone who needs a bit of a boost in motivation.

Here are some of the supplies I used for these cards:

Join us for the Challenge on Instagram and share your work with #docchallenge. Here are the prompts:

Nat

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Deck of Cards Challenge – Prompts 19, 20, & 21

Today I am recapping Days 19, 20, and 21 of my Deck of Cards Challenge that is running all month long on Instagram. This week we are focusing on just because cards and dots and lines. 

Here is an over view of Prompts 19, 20, and 21:

Day 19 – Miss You

My card today is Miss You – sniff sniff! For that person who has been gone too long.

I used my Love Knots and Running stamps from my Embroidery rubber stamp set and an ombre ink pad from Hero Arts.

I almost feel like the Running stamp could be rain or even some serious tears. Either way, this card gets the feeling across.

Day 20 – Thinking of You

We’re on Prompt 20 of my Deck of Cards Challenge and today we’re making a card just to let someone know they are in our thoughts.

I started with my Circuit stencil and black spray paint and then I oomphed it up a bit by going back in with Graphik Line Painters.

Day 21 – What’s Up

This is the final day for my Just Because cards, focusing on Lines and Dots.

I used an ombre ink pad to ink up a round gelli plate.

Then I stamped my Pie Top rubber stamp into it to remove ink.

When you press the gelli plate on a card the stamp pattern gives a nice effect.

I added some eraser dots and then my sentiment. This is definitely a light hearted card.

Here are some of the supplies I used for these cards:

Join us for the Challenge on Instagram and share your work with #docchallenge. Here are the prompts:

Nat

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Deck of Cards Challenge – Prompts 17 & 18

Today I am recapping Days 17 and 18 of my Deck of Cards Challenge that is running all month long on Instagram. This week we are focusing on just because cards and dots and lines. 

Here is an overview of Prompts 17 and 18:

Day 17 – See You Soon

For my Deck of Cards challenge today I am making a card for that special someone who maybe you are going to visit, or who is coming home soon.

I used water based spray paint and my Manhattan stencil because spray paint and stencils are an excellent duo! I love how the colors blend back and forth. 

And yum it makes a pattern look good! Super easy way to make some beautiful cards.

Day 18 – You are a Star

Today my Deck of Cards Challenge is a card for someone that has been rockin’ it in your life.

I started off with using an old hotel key card and laying out a bit of pink paint. Then I came in with my Beacon foam stamp and blue.

Finally I finished the background off with yellow marks all over and my sentiment: You are a Star!

Here are some of the supplies I used:

Nat

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