Creative Squad

Let’s Go Somewhere – Tina Walker

 

Hello Everyone! Today my Creative Squad is starting February with a new theme and some great new ideas for you. Tina Walker is sharing a really fun stamped fabric pillow using my Batik Pattern 4 foam stamp, some embroidery stitches, and this month’s theme: Let’s Go Somewhere. We’re in the depths of winter here in the Northern Hemisphere and looking for an escape! This month let’s reminisce about past vacations and plan future adventures to help us get through these gray days.

Hi! Tina Walker here today with my take on this month’s theme, ‘Let’s Go Somewhere’. What a perfect theme for the winter doldrums! During the guts of a cold, dark winter, I often dream of sitting on a warm beach, breathing in the salt air. When dreaming of ocean vacations my thoughts take me to faraway places full of color, vibrancy, and energy. Using these as inspiration for my project this month, I created a hand-made pillow using colors that remind me of beach blankets, fruity drinks, and the bright colors that are everywhere.

The base for my pillow is a rust-dyed piece of muslin. What a perfect way to represent the salt air and how it seems to oxidize everything it touches. The process of rust-dying is simple; place rusty metal pieces on-top of a piece of natural fiber fabric, spray with vinegar water and let the magic happen.

To create the bright, colorful feature of the pillow, stamp (using fabric paint) with your favorite Nathalie Kalbach ArtFoamies stamp. I used Batik Pattern 4, rotating the stamped image each time. Heat set per manufacturers directions.

For added dimension, hand-stitch over the stamped image in coordinating colors of embroidery floss. The more random, the better.

Machine stitch to ‘frame’ the stamped image. This also adds more dimension and a bit of texture.

Continuing the bright and colorful look, I made a ribbon flower for the center of the image. The ribbon flower pulls the four images together and finishes the pillow off.

Now let’s construct the pillow. Cut a piece of coordinating patterned fabric for the back of the pillow and place the front and back together, right sides facing each other. Machine stitch the entire outer edge except for a section on one side. Keep this section unstitched.

Turn the pillow right side out, using the unstitched section to pull the pillow through. Once you have the pillow right side out, iron the edges to create a crisp seam.

Stuff the pillow using your favorite stuffing. Hand stitch the open section using a blind stitch.

What vacation dreams do you have for 2017? Do they include the ocean? the mountains? or everything in between?

Thank you for taking time today to visit us today. See you next month.

Thank you Tina! I love how she combined the stamped images with embroidered touches. I am now officially dreaming of beach life! In addition to muslin fabric, patterned fabric, vintage ribbon, a vintage button, and a sewing machine, Tina used these supplies – some links are affiliate links:



Play along with us! 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 “n*Spiration From Around the Globe“.

Nat

Comments (1)

  • Michelle Rydell

    |

    Tina – this is awesome! Such a creative and beautiful use of the stamps! The embroidery really makes it pop!

    Reply

Leave a comment

Dream a New Dream – Michelle Rydell

    

Hello! Today Michelle Rydell from my Creative Squad is sharing a super happy art journal spread using my Versailles Positive and Negative Foam Stamp set, my new Star Tag Cling Rubber Stamp, and her take on this month’s theme: Dream a New Dream. This January, let’s focus on all the possibilities of a fresh start.  What are your dreams for this year?  Whether it’s art-making, family, travel, or work related, January is a great time to dream about what the future could hold.

This month’s theme is sooo perfect for me, because New Year’s Eve/Day is my favorite holiday!  I adore the fresh start and the time to “Dream a New Dream!”

I had a quote that I wanted to document in my journal, and this was the perfect opportunity…

I’m creating this spread in my 8” x 10” junque journal. For reference, here’s what the pages looked like before I started…

I started building the background with a coat of gesso, some random stamping of one of the Versailles stamps (the negative), and a thin coat of turquoise paint.

The second layer was done with paint pen doodles and a couple of paper bits.

Third layer includes more scraps of paper – purple to bring out the underlying stamped images, and lime green for contrast…

One of the cool things about the Versailles stamps, is that, when I look at them I see designs within designs! Here, I wanted to bring out the circular part of the stamp, so I cut a circle in some deli paper – just the size of the part of the stamp I wanted to capture; then painted up the positive stamp and stamped thru the hole in the deli paper.  (You could actually do this without the deli paper, if you were a little more careful than I was with the paint application)…

I outlined the circle patterns with a white paint pen…

Then I turned the spread sideways, stamped the negative stamp with black paint along the left edge, and added some flow paint along the bottom. Lifted the page so it dripped randomly down the page.  These drips would work as journaling lines for my quote…

To finish the page, I filled in the spaces on the border and added the quote with a paint pen, used a Faber Castell Pitt Brush Pen to darken the background in places, and added some embossed white stars, using Nat’s new Star Tag stamp.

Thank you Michelle! I love Michelle’s uplifting quote and how she used the drips as journaling lines! In addition to some collage paper, Michelle used these supplies – some links are affiliate links:




Play along with us! 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 “n*Spiration From Around the Globe“.

Nat

Comments (3)

  • Sharon Fritchman

    |

    Michelle, your style is absolutely amazing. I love everything about your art journal spread and your take on the theme.

    Reply

  • Jessica Sporn

    |

    What a gorgeous page and a great tutorial. I love that quote, the stamps, and Michelle’s exuberant style!

    Reply

Leave a comment

Dream a New Dream – Marsha Valk

 

Happy Creative Squad Tuesday! Today Marsha Valk is sharing a beautiful and bright art journal spread using my Santa Fe Positive and Negative Foam Stamp set, my Batik Stencil, and her unique take on this month’s theme: Dream a New Dream. This January, let’s focus on all the possibilities of a fresh start.  What are your dreams for this year?  Whether it’s art-making, family, travel, or work related, January is a great time to dream about what the future could hold.

I am not a dreamer. I mean: I definitely am a dreamer… but the zone-out, lost-in-thoughts kind, not a big-plans-for-the-future one!

 

I do plan for the year ahead, but I do that at the end of December and I’m usually all set and ready to go in January. This year I’m not quite that organised, but… January is already well on the way now and whilst I was creating my journal page, I kept thinking ‘dream’, but… my gut kept saying ‘no’. So even though I wanted the page to be about dreaming, it ended up about ‘not dreaming’.

 

 

 

 

 

I am excited about what the new year holds though and I chose to work with greens, because I’m super stoked about the Pantone colour for 2017: Greenery!

 

 

 

 

Thank you Marsha! I love Marsha’s honest take on our theme and wow those are some great colors! Marsha used these supplies – some links are affiliate links:




Play along with us! 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 “n*Spiration From Around the Globe“.

 

Nat

Comments (4)

  • susan debourguignon

    |

    Marsha,
    i, too, am a daydreamer as opposed to a goal setter. the future is too much for my head to wrap itself around. i am not a fan of green, but your page really speaks to me. thank you for sharing!!!

    Reply

    • marshavalk

      |

      Thanks so much Susan! Glad to hear I’m not the only one! ;-)

      Reply

  • nathalie-kalbach

    |

    Such a wonderful take on the theme Marsha, and I love how you mixed the patterns of the Batik Stencil with the Santa Fe Foam Stamp – so gorgeous. Now I just want to move on to Spring ;)

    Reply

Leave a comment

Dream a New Dream – Cheiron Brandon

 

Hello friends! Today Cheiron Brandon from my Creative Squad is sharing a very happy art journal spread using my Manhattan Positive and Negative Foam Stamp set and this month’s theme: Dream a New Dream. This January, let’s focus on all the possibilities of a fresh start.  What are your dreams for this year?  Whether it’s art-making, family, travel, or work related, January is a great time to dream about what the future could hold.

Hi there! It’s Cheiron here with my January post, and this month is all about Dreaming a New Dream. I always love the start of a new year and the chance to set goals and recharge.

For my project today, I created an art journal page with some of my dreams and goals for the coming year. I used Nathalie’s Manhattan Positive and Negative ArtFoamies stamps to create some printed deli papers to use as part of my journal page. I love making black and white papers to use with really bright paints.

I then layered on some paints in bright fluorescent colors…don’t they make you happy?

I finished up my layers by adding more paints, some dripped fluid paints and some splatter.

I topped off the page with cut out hearts in black and added some word stickers to the hearts. I applies Distress crayons in various colors around the hearts and blended them in with my fingers, then added another layer of white splatter to the whole page using a splatter brush. Fun, easy page and a great way to think about what I want to accomplish for 2017!

Here’s a closer look at all the yummy color:

Thank you Cheiron! I always love the fun colors she uses and this one really makes me feel happy! In addition to a die cutting machine, Cheiron used these supplies – some links are affiliate links:




Play along with us! 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 “n*Spiration From Around the Globe“.

Nat

Leave a comment

Dream a New Dream – Tina Walker

Happy first Tuesday of 2017! My Creative Squad is starting the New Year with a new theme and a fresh batch of inspiring projects. Today Tina Walker is sharing 2 uplifting art journal spreads using my Chicago Positive and Negative Foam Stamp set and this month’s theme: Dream a New Dream. Let’s start the New Year with a focus on all the possibilities of a fresh start.  What are your dreams for this year?  Whether it’s art-making, family, travel, or work related, January is a great time to dream about what the future could hold.

Hi! Tina Walker here today with my take on this month’s theme, ‘Dream a New Dream’. There is something about the freshness of each new year that kicks my mind into overdrive. I think of all of the possibilities, dreams, and wishes for the next 365 days and what I can/will accomplish. 2016 left us with uncertainty and sadness, so my dream for 2017 is for everyone to live a healthy, happy, and joyous year. May all your wishes and dreams come true and that you plant the seeds of kindness and hope for many years to come.

I created two art journal spreads that includes words to remember for 2017.

For spread #1, I used ‘Chicago’, positive/negative Art Foamies for a fun and colorful background. This is about as simple as it gets as a starting point. I alternated the color for more interest.

I hand-drew three body silhouettes and painted around the shapes so that they were highlighted on the page. Yes, I painted over the super cool background I stamped, but it’s all about layers. Layers make art journal pages special.

I painted each shape with white paint then added my journaling inside. Done! How’s that for quick?

For my second spread, I randomly painted blocks of color. Over the blocks of color, I painted 2 girls who would be the highlight of my page. I embellished the girls with a quick stamp of the ‘Chicago’ stamp. In addition, I wanted to ‘frame’ the girls and journaling, so I stenciled over the color blocks, using the ‘Crackle’ stencil. It adds the perfect punch of black.

Do you have creative dreams for 2017? If yes, I wish that all your dreams come true!

Thank you for taking time today to visit us today. See you next month.

Thank you Tina! I love the subtlety of the backgrounds she created and the figures! In addition to semigloss Art-C paints in Blue, Bright Red, Yellow, Lime, Orange, and Black, Tina used these supplies – some links are affiliate links:

 


Play along with us! 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 “n*Spiration From Around the Globe“.

Nat

Leave a comment

Return to the Light – Michelle Rydell

Today, Michelle Rydell from my Creative Squad is sharing an uplifting art journal page using my Toledo stencil for this month’s theme: “Return to the Light.” As we pass through the Winter Solstice here in the Northern Hemisphere, the ever lengthening nights turn to ever lengthening days. This ancient marker in the calendar has always been a celebration of light and the promise of a new day. Let’s Return to the Light with some bright and luminous mixed media projects!


 
There’s something very magical about the winter solstice for me.  It’s our darkest day, but it’s also a time of hope – a time where we acknowledge our slow return to the lightness of spring.
 
I decided I wanted to play with the Toledo stencil for this project…
 
First, I sprayed a myriad of colored ink thru the Toledo stencil …
 

 
Then, so as to not waste any of that beautiful spray, I turned the stencil over onto a blank page, and cleaned it with a baby wipe…
 

 

 
I looked at the result, and it reminded me of a sunset! I envisioned a raven looking up to the sun, acknowledging the returning light. So I went about making that happen.
 
First, I sketched a basic raven shape with pencil.
 

 
I went over the raven with a Sakura Glaze pen. I then filled in the design on the bottom part of the page with tombow markers, to differentiate the ground from the sky. I used a lid from some gesso as a template to draw a circle in the sky; and colored in the white areas with a gold marker to represent the sun.
 

 
The raven got a coat of black paint, and the ground got some turquoise, magenta and purple marker added.
 

 
I blended the ground area with water. When dry, a thin coat of matte medium was added to make it waterproof.  I knew I wanted to add a white title, and the matte medium barrier would allow the white to stay white.
 

 
And here is the finished page. The black words around the sun were added with Pitt Pen, and the white on the bottom with a Sharpie Poster Paint Marker.
 

I love how Michelle always creates a scene and story in her work!  This one is a beautiful reminder that Spring will return. Michelle used these supplies – some links are affiliate links:




Play along with us! 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 “n*Spiration From Around the Globe“.

Nat

Comments (2)

  • Rosie Grey

    |

    This is amazing!

    Reply

Leave a comment

Return to the Light – Marsha Valk

cs-december-theme

Today, Marsha Valk from my Creative Squad is sharing a wonderful and illuminating project using my small Santiago, Toledo, and Buenos Aires stencils for this month’s theme: “Return to the Light.” As we pass through the Winter Solstice here in the Northern Hemisphere, the ever lengthening nights turn to ever lengthening days. This ancient marker in the calendar has always been a celebration of light and the promise of a new day. Let’s Return to the Light with some bright and luminous mixed media projects!

marsha-dec-headshot

I do not like the dark days of December. I mean: it’s OK when the sun comes out for a couple of hours, but here in the Netherlands December weather is mostly gloomy and grey… Candles and fairy lights are a must, because they make even the greyest days a bit brighter.

marshavalk_nstudio_light-4

These votives do not take long to make and chances are that you already have everything you need to make them. They look cute on a festive table, but they will also keep until after the holidays!

marshavalk_nstudio_light-step-1

Choose two colours of StazOn ink that when blended will make a third colour. In my sample I chose teal and pink and those two colours together make a purple shade. Darker shades will ensure that your stenciled pattern is still visible once a tealight is lighted inside the jar.

marshavalk_nstudio_light-step-2

Use a cosmetic sponge to apply StazOn ink through your stencil onto a sheet of vellum. I used Nathalie’s Buenos Aires, Santiago, and Toledo stencils.  Just dab the cosmetic sponge onto the ink pad and then lightly dab the ink onto the vellum.
Tip: Use rubbing alcohol to clean your stencils afterwards.

marshavalk_nstudio_light-step-3

Find three small jars and cut the vellum to size so you can wrap the vellum around the jars.

marshavalk_nstudio_light-step-4

Add a strip of double-sided adhesive to one side of the vellum, remove the backing and then place the vellum around the jar.

marshavalk_nstudio_light-step-5

Add LED tealights and enjoy the lights!

marshavalk_nstudio_light-1

marshavalk_nstudio_light-3

Thank you Marsha for brightening these dark winter days!  I love this idea – it is simple and yet so beautiful.  It’s definitely something I’m going to make. In addition to some small jars, Marsha used these supplies – some links are affiliate links:

supplies


Play along with us! 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 “n*Spiration From Around the Globe“.
Nat

Comments (6)

Leave a comment

Return to the Light – Cheiron Brandon

cs-december-theme

Today, Cheiron Brandon from my Creative Squad is sharing a beautiful art journal spread using my Buenos Aires stencil and this month’s theme: “Return to the Light.” As we pass through the Winter Solstice here in the Northern Hemisphere, the ever lengthening nights turn to ever lengthening days. This ancient marker in the calendar has always been a celebration of light and the promise of a new day. Let’s Return to the Light with some bright and luminous mixed media projects!

cheiron-dec-headshot

Hi there, Cheiron here with my December post on the Return to the Light theme. I am not a big fan of winter at all, and the only thing that gets me through is waiting for summer! I don’t look forward to the sky growing dark before I even leave work, and I look forward to any sunshine I get. I certainly don’t mind bundling up in some warn winter clothes and heading out for a walk in the snow just to get a little sun. My journal page this month reflects just that…a bundled up gal enjoying some sun while the ground is covered with snow.

 

cheiron-photo-1

 

I started this page by creating texture and warmth with a lot of stamps and stencils in bright colors.

 

cheiron-photo-2

 

I added a coat of snow to my page by adding white matte paint mixed with a bit of pearl and mica flakes to create a snowy scene.

 

cheiron-photo-3

 

I hope this page gives you a bit of warm for the winter if it is cold where you are!

Thank you Cheiron for reminding us that winter is tolerable – as long as the sun is shining ;)  And I just love those bright colors all layered up using some of my stencils!  In addition to her art journal, a magazine cut out, and some alphabet stickers from her stash, Cheiron also used these supplies – some links are affiliate links:

supplies


Play along with us! 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 “n*Spiration From Around the Globe“.
Nat

Comments (2)

  • shelley-rydellie

    |

    I love how you used the stamps and stencils to create such beautiful color and texture! It makes me feel warmer just to look at it!

    Reply

  • Gerrie Johnnic

    |

    Ohhhh, luv this spread! Color, texture and such a great feeling! Thanks for posting!!

    Reply

Leave a comment

Return to the Light – Tina Walker

cs-december-theme

Today, Tina Walker from my Creative Squad is sharing a very creative clay project using my Toledo stencil and this month’s theme: “Return to the Light.” As we pass through the Winter Solstice here in the Northern Hemisphere, the ever lengthening nights turn to ever lengthening days. This ancient marker in the calendar has always been a celebration of light and the promise of a new day. Let’s Return to the Light with some bright and luminous mixed media projects!

tina-dec-headshot

Hi! Tina Walker here today to kick off the new month with a new Theme. This month, our theme is ‘Return to the Light’. I thought long and hard about how I wanted to interpret the theme and searched deep within myself for meaning. As part of my creative ritual, I cleanse my art space and remove negative energies from my creative aura by burning sage and pinion resin. The ‘lightening’ of these ancient plants allows me to connect with my inner soul and celebrate a new day.

If you have a creative ritual and use smudge pots in your cleansing, love to create with clay, or are just looking to try a new technique, today’s project is just what you’ve been looking for.

dec-tw1

Using any brand of air-dry clay, condition a small portion of clay, per manufacturer’s instructions. (Clay portion depends on the size of bowl you will make.)

dec-tw2

Flatten clay using a rolling pin or piece of PVC pipe. Flatten to approx. ¼ inch thick. As you flatten, continually flip clay over to ensure even thickness.

dec-tw4

Using your favorite Nathalie Kalbach StencilGirl stencil such as Toledo as seen here, place stencil on clay and press into clay using a brayer.

dec-tw5

Place the stenciled clay over the bottom of a used yogurt container or other small round shape. Gently form clay around container to desired shape.

Allow to dry per instructions. (It took approx. 3 days for my bowls to completely dry).

Note: My bowls cracked on the bottom, so I’m not sure if I didn’t condition my clay properly, stretched the clay over the container too much, or just user error. Since my bowls were not containing liquid, I was okay with the cracks.

dec-tw6

Dry brush acrylic paint over bowl, allowing the stencil design to ‘appear’. I would brush and remove layers of paint to create a worn, aged look.

dec-tw7

You can use the same technique with any stencil and create any size of clay bowl. I would love to create an entire collection of handmade bowls. How cool would that be?

I now have three handmade smudge bowls that are just perfect for smudging.

dec-tw11

dec-tw12

Thank you for taking time to visit us today. See you next month.

Thank you Tina for such a cool and unique project to do with my stencils!  I love how the dry brushing and cracking gives these smudge pots an almost ancient feel.  In addition to a PVC pipe or rolling pin and some empty yogurt containers, Tina also used these supplies – some links are affiliate links:

supplies



Play along with us! 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 “n*Spiration From Around the Globe“.

Nat

Comments (1)

  • shelley-rydellie

    |

    Wow! What an awesome project! Tina, you are so creative!

    Reply

Leave a comment