Creative Squad

Creative Squad: Time for Texture – Maura Hibbitts

Hello from my Creative Squad! Today we have a collection of ATCs from Maura Hibbitts using my ATC Mixup stencil and our theme this month: Time for Texture – Visual texture or actual texture is an element that can give dimension, depth, and touchable interest to any piece of art. Let’s play with texture in a series of ATCs and see what emerges!

This month we are combining a couple of my favorite things: Artist Trading Cards and texture, and we get to create with Nathalie’s awesome ATC Mixup stencil! I wanted to begin with some favorite colors, add fun images with stickers (a Christmas gift), and find the perfect words for a new year. It’s funny when you search for words, how most of them jump out right away, but there are one or two reluctant ones you have to drag out.

Begin your project with your ATC base (I used watercolor paper), Nat’s ATC Mixup stencil, Transparent Texture Paste and a palette knife. Add a light layer of the paste through the stencil, and be sure to clean both immediately. Set aside to thoroughly dry.

Lightly dab paint onto your ATCs with a cosmetic sponge. I began with the Cobalt Teal Hue, Cerulean Blue and Quinacridone Gold. Then, I added some green gold to a few.

Play with the paint on the ATCs until you are happy with the result. Wipe back over the texture area to reveal the pattern. Let dry.

Next, pull out a background sheet from your stash. (I’m using a watercolor print with bubble wrap.) Use an alphabet stamp set for the words or your own handwriting, cut the word strips out, and edge with black ink.

Find stickers or images to represent your words. (I received a wonderful sticker book for Christmas that I am using here.) Attach them to the ATC, using glue if needed. Pop the word strips up with foam tape.

Add more texture with Nat’s Batik stencil (one of my all time favorites) and Prussian Blue paint. Apply the paint with a light touch using a cosmetic sponge.

Outline the new stenciled design once dry, using a bronze Sharpie. Edge the ATC using black ink if desired.

The ATCs are complete and filled with layers of texture and meaning. Some textures you can actually feel, and others are more visual, but both are so much fun to play with. As you add more layers of images and words, you build a tiny work of art.

Enjoy creating your own layers of texture and meaning. Find  positive words to use that will help you journey through this year and bring you joy. Maura

Thank you Maura – these are so beautifully layered! Love the subtle play of pattern and texture that you’ve built up on each one.

Give it a try: you can find all my Stencils in my Online Shop and in addition to gelli printed papers from her stash, here are some of the supplies Maura used:

Looking for more projects? Follow the Creative Squad on Instagram here.

Nat

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Creative Squad: Creating Connections – Jordan Hill

Hello from my Creative Squad! Today we have a post from Jordan Hill who is sharing an art journal page that combines elements from her past (like an art journal page from when she was 11!) along with my LOVE foam stamp and our theme: Creating Connections – We’re playing along with the Creative JumpStart 2022 theme Creating Connections and exploring how our artwork connects us to the world around us, our community, our favorite supplies, or maybe our artmaking choices. Connections are everywhere when we create!

Hello, everyone! I’m excited to be back with my first project of 2022! When I was presented with this month’s theme of Creating Connections, I was extremely excited to get started. The word “connection” holds a lot of meaning for me personally, so I really wanted to play with a couple of different ways of incorporating that idea into my work.

I started things off by scanning and printing off some of my very first art journal pages. I believe these are from 2008, when I was around eleven years old. The “What If” page is actually the first art journal page I ever created, and the others are ones I made not too long after. I wanted to play with the idea of connecting my oldest artwork to something brand new, and this seemed like a good way to do that.

Next, using Nathalie’s CJS22 LOVE Foam Stamp, I stamped it using an ink pad re-inker over several scraps of paper. I wasn’t sure exactly which piece I was going to use, so I thought I would give myself options. Then, I cut up one of the pages I printed off in the last step, specifically focusing on cutting out the pink flower shapes.

The next step was to flip through one of my art journals until I found a page I wanted to work on. I eventually decided on one made from a manilla envelope. I then glued down one of the scraps that I stamped in the last step onto this page using a glue stick.

Next up, I tore off a piece from the scan of my first art journal page and glued it into the upper left hand corner of my page. I knew that I also wanted to focus on connecting myself to my artwork, so I used a regular graphite pencil to scribble out a stream of consciousness brain dump. I had no intentions of ever reading this again, so I made no attempts to make this part legible.

Then, I covered it all up. Using a mix of white gesso and neon pink acrylic paint, I covered the words using a large paintbrush. I overlapped the edges of my collage pieces with the paint in order to blend them into the page even further. Some of the words from the previous step bled through this layer and added further texture to my page.

I then glued down the flowers that I had cut out previously. Despite the fact that I had primarily been focusing on the left hand side of this spread, I also incorporated a few of the flowers onto the right hand side. This will tie the pages together when I eventually decide to expand on the right hand page.

Since I was already playing with the idea of connecting my old artwork to my new artwork, I decided to reach for a supply that was a go-to in a lot of my old journal pages- Portfolio oil pastels. I used the Pink to make marks across various parts of my background.

It was then time to add the focal point. To further expand on the idea of connecting myself to my artwork, I printed off a photo of myself, cut it out and glued it down. I then glued another small drawing onto the page, slightly overlapping with my face. I added some line work with a black pen to the photograph, in order to make it appear more illustrated, and then glued down a small phrase that I had typed out with my typewriter.

Finally, to finish off the page and fill up some of the remaining space, I scraped some neon yellow paint across a piece of book text and cut out some ray shapes to place around the top part of my photo!

In the end, the style of this page turned out quite different to what I usually tend towards, but I really like the way it turned out, and I love the way that the theme of Creating Connections manifested in this work!

Thank you for sharing Jordan – love how you wove together so many elements in your composition to connect past and present!

Give it a try: you can find all my Foam Stamps in my Online Shop and in addition to collage bits, here are some of the supplies Jordan used:

Looking for more inspiration from the Creative Squad? Follow them on Instagram here.

Nat

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LOVE Cards from my Creative Squad

Today we have card making inspiration (Valentine’s Day is coming up….) from Creative Squad member Judi Kauffman who is using my LOVE foam stamp and some collaged paper bits to create cards and fun sleeved tags too. Check it out:

I glued torn paper leftover from doing some spray painting onto 8.5×11 red cardstock…

…then I stamped onto one of the sheets with the same metallic blue acrylic paint that I used on the envelopes (seen here).

I intentionally brushed the LOVE stamp with a thick layer of paint instead of using a brayer so I’d get nice thick shadowy textured edges on the letters. I used the tail end of that paint from the stamp on tan cardstock before washing the stamp.

Here is what I made with the cardstock:

Thanks for sharing Judi! I hope that gives our readers some nice ideas for Valentine’s Day wishes or just everyday reminders of LOVE.

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

Nat

Comments (1)

  • Jean Marmo

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    Hi Judi, these are so colorful and fun. Love that LOVE stamp..

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Creative Squad: Creating Connections – Robin Seiz

Hello from my Creative Squad! Today we have a post from Robin Seiz who is sharing a mixed media piece using my LOVE foam stamp, Running rubber stamp, Crackle stencil and our theme: Creating Connections – We’re playing along with the Creative JumpStart 2022 theme Creating Connections and exploring how our artwork connects us to the world around us, our community, our favorite supplies, or maybe our artmaking choices. Connections are everywhere when we create!

Happy New Year Friends. I hope your New Year has started out full of possibilities. Like many of you I have been following along with Creative Jump Start 2022 and it’s been wonderful. There are so many talented artists and I always learn something. In keeping with the theme of CJS our January blog focuses on Creating Connections. 

This project I created uses Nathalie’s LOVE stamp,  Crackle stencil, and Running Rubber Stamp. When I started out in mixed media several years ago, the first projects I created were made by machine stitching on paper. I always left the strings hanging; the pieces had a messy organic look to them. Today, I often incorporate sewing in my mixed media projects. 

I have recently started slow-stitching; it has the magical power of connecting me to myself. It’s a mediative process which slows me down and allows me to be in the present with every stitch. It has had the added benefit of connecting me to a whole new on-line community of artists. This project has brought me back to where I started using some new skills I have learned along the way.  

I began with a piece of 5’ x 7” watercolor paper. I spread watercolor grounds on the paper because I wanted more texture on the paper and I wanted a grungy look. Once it was dry, I used Nathalie’s crackle stencil and applied Golden’s fluid Iridescent Stainless Steel with a make-up sponge. 

Next I used Derwent Intense Sticks, wet them, and applied them to the LOVE Stamp. I gave the stamp a little spritz and laid down the stamp.  I wanted the crackle pattern to show through the stamped image and I wanted a mottled uneven image. Often a less perfect image is more appealing to me. I love how the watercolor pools and makes a pattern of its own. If you are more precise than I am, you could move the watercolors with a brush while they are still wet. 

I continued to stamp with three more colors.

Once the watercolor was dry, I used a Derwent Intense Stick, in a complementary color, to stamp Nathalie’s Running stamp so that it was compositionally pleasing to my eye.

Once all of this was dry, I began hand stitching with Perle Cotton thread; I used the running stitches as a guide. I added a second complementary color and even sewed where there were not stamped running stitches. This again was based on what I felt was compositionally pleasing. One note about hand stitching this project — it’s tough going through thick watercolor paper. I would recommend two things. 1) A thin needle, and 2) a thimble to protect your thumb and finger. I didn’t use this and my thumb is still sore! 

When I stepped back from this project, it reminded me of the days when my children would sew on sewing cards;  another pleasant connection. I plan to frame this small piece and hang it in my studio. 

I hope you enjoyed this project. Please let me know if you try it. Post your project and tag me on social media. I can be found on both Instagram and facebook. 

Thanks for sharing Robin and so cool how you used the Running stamp as a guide for your own real stitching!

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

Looking for more projects? Follow the Creative Squad on Instagram here.

Nat

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Wearable Art from Judi Kauffman – Creative Squad

So excited to share this project with you today because, well, I definitely want to give it a try too! We’ve got a sweatshirt re-do from Creative Squad member Judi Kauffman who is using my ATC Mixup, Amsterdam, and Hamilton stencils to completely give new life to an old sweatshirt. Check it out and then time to dig through your own closets for some contenders :)

Nothing beats a comfy baggy sweatshirt, but when it gets a few stains it’s time for the rag bag OR my preferred option: a facelift! I cut off the ribbing at neck, sleeves and hem, delineated an asymmetrical section of the front with masking tape and used green and turquoise metallic paint to fill the section, and green paint to create ‘fringe’ around the edges of the tape. 

Then I stenciled with black paint within the center section using two 9×12 stencils before I removed the tape and continued. I used Nathalie’s ATC Mixup to create smaller patterns. I extended onto the sleeves a bit, too. If it were the 80s I’d now be adding beads and dimensional paint. (I’m mighty tempted…maybe I could revive the trend!)

Thanks for sharing Judi! I love this transformation and what a fantastic idea for updating some clothing that maybe hasn’t been worn in a while.

You can find all of my stencils in my Online Store. In addition to a comfy old sweatshirt, here are some of the supplies that Judi used:

Looking for more projects and inspiration from the Creative Squad? Check them out HERE on Instagram.

Nat

Comments (1)

  • Denise M. Krueger

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    Judi Kauffman this sweatshirt is amazing!!! Love, love, love what you did with it.

    Denise Krueger

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Creative Squad – Bookmarks for Bookworms

Hello from my Creative Squad! Today we have a post for all you bookworms out there – a collection of bookmark projects from the Squad to hold your spot and make you smile every time you crack open that tome. Enjoy!

First up is a throwback from 2018 and Maura Hibbitts rocking my Maiko rubber stamp and Buenos Aires Tile foam stamp in these stunning bookmarks. I love the rich colors and the gorgeous sari ribbons at the top. You can check out the original post HERE to see how Maura layered these lovelies up.

Next we have Judi Kauffman and her upcycled manila file folder bookmarks using my  FANtastic Large and Solid Fan rubber stamps to create bold patterns that offset a beautiful muted palette. See her process in the original post here.

Squad alum Jennifer Gallagher turned fabulous ATCs into bookmarks in this project. Her expertly layered creations used my Broadway and Toledo stencils and my Fantastic Small, Small Circle Jumble, and Fanfare rubber stamps to create mini masterpieces.

Finally we have one more project from Judi Kauffman with a set of unique bookmarks, made from upcycled envelopes!

Judi describes her clever idea:

“When I was a kid we used to keep the corners of envelopes to use as bookmarks, choosing the ‘best’ ones that had pretty postage stamps. I revisited that idea this morning, but this time I chose a plain corner instead. The envelopes were white so I sponged on some pale ink before doing some random stenciling (ATC Mixup stencil) and smudging. I really love how they turned out. When I send them to a friend I’m going to include a page from an old, damaged book (as shown in the photos) so they get the concept. Without the page I think it might look more like a silly little party hat…”

I hope you enjoyed this roundup of bookmark projects and try making some of your own.

Here are some of the supplies the Squad used:

Nat

Comments (1)

  • Denise M. Krueger

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    Loved Judi Kauffman’s bookmarks. Using manilla folders is a great idea and I remember making corner bookmarks when I was a kid. Great ideas

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Stenciled Card Design from the Creative Squad

Today we have a little card making inspiration from Creative Squad member Judi Kauffman who is using my ATC Mixup stencil and some collaged paper bits to create a stunning layered design.

This is what I did this morning: I glued torn paper leftover from doing some spray painting onto 8.5×11 red cardstock.

Then I stenciled onto the sheet with metallic blue acrylic paint and the ATC Mixup stencil. I turned the sheet into cards.

Thanks for sharing Judi – love this method of starting with a little random collage. It’s a great way to use up some of those painted papers and clean up sheets.

You can find all of my stencils in my Online Store. Here are some of the supplies that Judi used:

Nat

Comments (1)

  • rebekah meier

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    I love Judi’s work. You always get inspiration from anything she creates!

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Creative Squad: Creating Connections – Riikka Kovasin

Hello from my Creative Squad! Today we have a post and video from Riikka Kovasin who has created a beautiful art journal page using my new LOVE foam stamp and inspired by our theme: Creating Connections – We’re playing along with the Creative JumpStart 2022 theme Creating Connections and exploring how our artwork connects us to the world around us, our community, our favorite supplies, or maybe our artmaking choices. Connections are everywhere when we create!

Evolve

Hello! It’s Riikka here today with the first Nathalie’s Creative Squad project of 2022! So exciting – a brand new year to unfold and inspire! As you probably know already, this month we’re drawing inspiration from Creative JumpStart topic “Creating Connections”.

I’m super honored to say that I’m one of the teachers in the CJS22. When Nathalie held the announcement live, I threw an idea about being inspired by your culture, creating a connection to that. Naturally, your culture is a part of you and probably everything you do is connected to you. You see the world though your eyes, your perspective, so your cultural heritage is bound to shine through one way or the other. But for this project I decided to use my culture more clearly, drawing inspiration from the national epic, Kalevala. 

The first thing I did was to see the LOVE stamp with a new pair of eyes, though. I didn’t want to use it as such, to have the title be “Love”. Instead, I thought what other words I could make using the same letters. I pondered both English and Finnish words and finally settled to “evolve” as I could use that so many ways. When I then had the theme word, it was easy to decide which Kalevala part to use. I chose to go with the creation of the world, the primordial sea and Ilmatar, the air maiden.

In the Kalevala the world is created when a spirit of the air, Ilmatar, descends from the skies to the sea to bathe as she’s bored. She becomes pregnant from the wind. She spends quite some time in the ocean and a water bird, a scaup makes a nest on her knee. When Ilmatar then goes into labor, she moves her knee and the eggs fall to the sea. The broken eggs make up the earth, sky and rest of the world. The baby of Ilmatar on the other hand is Väinämöinen. He’s the hero of Kalevala, a skilled sorcerer and one of the main characters of the epic. I find it intriguing that the epic puts the start of the world to the ocean like the scientists nowadays think life started, in the primordial sea. With this on my mind as well, I set out to make a sea.

I used a gel printing plate to make myself a stash of blue papers first. For those I used the stamp as it is, spelling “love”. I also patterned the prints with a packaging from glue sticks. I’ve come across of the piece previously and it stayed in my mind as I then failed to gather it to my stash. But now that I happened to run into it again, I took it home. The pattern is really nice and you can use the part two ways, either leaving dots or rings to the plate. I then tore the printed papers in strips and layered them partly on top of each other making a sea with foam on top of the waves. If you want to see yourself how I made it, please see the video underneath.

As you could see from the video, I patterned the letters by using paint markers. I chose patterns that I connect to Kalevala, like the joined stylized hands, a pattern a little reminiscent of running dog pattern. It’s another connection created!

Thank you for stopping by today! Wishing you a splendid 2022! Xoxo Riikka

Thank you Riikka – loved learning this legend and seeing how that inspired your page, and seeing how you reconfigured the letters in the foam stamp to create something different!

Give it a try: you can find all my Foam Stamps in my Online Shop and in addition to some packaging material, here are some of the supplies Riikka used:

Nat

Comments (2)

  • Robin Seiz

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    Rikka,

    It’s so awesome that you saw the word love in a totally different way! It’s a beautiful page, I love the colors too.

    Robin

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  • jjhere

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    Gorgeous! I love those colors and what a beautiful story of how you are inspired to create this.

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New Year, New Envelopes with the Creative Squad

Are you sending out New Years or Thank You cards in the coming days? Don’t forget to give those envelopes some love too! Here is a nice idea from Creative Squad member Judi Kauffman who is using my ATC Mixup stencil to give plain white envelopes a little bit of pizzaz!

Here are some super fast envelopes for you. These are 6×9 envelopes for oversized cards, plenty of room for stenciling. 

I’m crazy about the ATC Mixup stencil patterns. By not going to the straight side of any of the stencil patterns the soft edges make it nice to overlap the designs, I think!

Blue metallic paint shines only where it’s applied in the darkest areas – the rest of the time it mutes out and just looks blue.

Thanks for sharing Judi – love seeing how the patterns work together and it shows how handy the stencil is with 9 patterns on one sheet to choose from.

You can find all of my stencils in my Online Store. Here are some of the supplies that Judi used:

Nat

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