And the final touch was layering on top a stamp from my nice little Fanfare set. I used Gouache by Holbein for the stencil- the rest was Moonlight duo ink.
It’s fun to see how the stamps and stencils can work so nicely together.
The final touch was the girl, I drew her using Holbein black ink and their refillable marker. Love the density of their ink and that marker is perfect for all kinds of sketching.
Here are the supplies I used for this page:
Also I am teaching again in Wanderlust 2020! Please check out the promo video and learn all about this awesome program here on the Wanderlust website. Early Bird pricing is for the first 2000 signups and is only $99USD – hurry up and get ready to make 2020 a year of artistic adventures!
Hello from the Creative Squad! Today we have a post from Josefine Fouarge to show us a great way to use my Toledo and Ornament Wallpaper stencils, along with my Stroll Around the Block stamps, in a cute art journal page that shows how creativity can take your ideas on a journey! Josefine’s inspiration began with this month’s theme: Inside Outside – Inside can be cozy and warm. Outside is about fresh air and freedom. Are you a homebody or do you suffer from cabin fever? We’re creating with these opposites in mind.
Hi everyone! This month’s theme took me on a journey. At the beginning, I wanted to create something around Winter vs Summer or a similar contrasting theme, but then I started working in my art journal and it moved into a different direction.
Basically, I created a page about myself and the contrast of me at work and me at the craft table. But more on that later ;)
I started with a page that already had a few “clean up” marks on it from a Gel Press session that I had. I decided to use the round Gel Press marks and work with those circles. I used the Toledo stencil and placed three of the stars around the two circles.
I didn’t use the alignment of the stencil and created my own pattern with them. Next up, I used the same stencil and positioned it slightly off. As you can see, I didn’t cover the entire page, just a few areas that I blended out and into each other.
Now I added the circles on top using a round Gel Press. I thought that the bright yellow looks like spotlights. But I didn’t like the brightness, so I added the Ornament Wallpaper pattern inside and then, while I was at it, to the left border.
Coincidentally I found this girl in a magazine. Even though she’s struggling with her hair, I thought that she fits perfectly onto my page – just switch the hairdryer with a heat gun :)
And onto the contrast part. I work at a job where a business casual is preferred. Not that I have a problem with that, but it’s very different to how I usually am when I’m at home. Let’s just say I love to craft in my jammies…
That’s why I picked the Craftsman stamp from the Stroll Around the Block set and stamped it onto a grey piece of paper. I kept the house very clean and colored it lightly with Prismacolor pencils.
At the end, I ripped the edges of the grey paper, adhered it onto my art journal page, added some black watercolor around the edges and sealed the entire page with Earl Lube paste.
Now we have a clean, successful looking outside with a chaotic me in the inside :)
On a side note, I love how the white pencil adds contrast to the Craftsman house.
Thanks for stopping by! Don’t forget to come back every Tuesday for more Creative Team inspiration.
Thank you Josefine! I love hearing about your evolution of ideas – sometimes we just need a little spark to get inspired and then our creativity takes it from there :) In addition to Earl Lube Paste (gel medium), here are some of the supplies that Josefine 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“.
Hello again from the Creative Squad! Today we have a gorgeous gift wrapping project from Marsha Valk that is sure to send you running to your kitchen for some coffee filters :) Marsha used a whole slew of my stencils on this one (so be sure to check the materials list at the bottom) to rock the theme: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – Let’s do Mother Earth a favor this month and use what we already have. Maybe we’ll dip into our stash of leftovers from other creative projects or maybe we’ll repurpose something unexpected. This month we’re thinking about how artmaking can impact the environment and we’re trying to make our footprint just a little bit smaller.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – that’s a topic that has been on my mind a lot lately. I have a lot of different craft supplies. I like to donate any excess supplies I have, but I still have plenty left that I’m reluctant to get rid of because I don’t want to waste it and it may come in handy someday…
The upside to this is that I’m never short on stuff when it comes to gift wrapping!
Paper flowers make fun and easy gift toppers, so I for this month’s prompt I decided to make coffee filter flowers.
I’ve shared how to create similar flowers on the Gelli Arts® blog before:
Using brand new (bleached) coffee filters for a craft project probably isn’t the greenest choice you can make. If you are looking for an environmentally friendlier option, you can recycle used coffee filters.
Unfortunately I don’t have access to a coffee maker that uses filters like these, so I haven’t tested it for you, but I believe you can rinse and dry them. They will be stained, but that will actually add interest to the paper (and the flowers).
Step 1: Monoprint a couple of coffee filters with your Gelli Arts® printing plate using stencils and (white) acrylic paint. Here I’m using Nat’s Buenos Aires stencil.
Step 2: Stain the monoprinted coffee filters with spray inks.
Wet the coffee filter with a spray bottle of water before you spray on the spray ink. The water will help the spray ink spread across the coffee filter, this one has Nat’s Toledo stencil pattern on it.
You can stack the coffee filters you want to have the same colour while spraying. Each new filter will absorb the excess ink from the already sprayed ones!
Leave the coffee filters to dry completely.
Step 3: Cut two smaller circles out of each coffee filter. I folded each coffee filter in half and used a jar to trace a circle shape onto them to get a uniform size.
Step 4: Fold the circles into eighths (or more) and cut leaf shapes. Make sure to cut some larger and some smaller.
Step 5: Unfold the coffee filter flowers and stack two or three on top of each other. Secure them by sewing one or two buttons in the middle of each stacked flower.
Fluff the petals until you are happy with the result.
Step 6: Use a glue dot or double-sided tape to adhere the flowers to your gifts!
I love this Marsha – such a great way to dress up a gift! In addition to buttons and ribbon, Marsha used the following supplies (some are affiliate links):
Play along with us too: 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“.
Hello and welcome to a blog feature I call Nice to Meet You! From time to time I learn about some amazing artists out there who are working with my stamps and stencils and are creating some pretty fun and exciting projects. It’s always inspiring to see what others do with my designs. Sometimes they even introduce me to a new way of seeing the pattern or a new technique to try on my own. Today I’d like to introduce to you Mary Thoma:
Please introduce yourself to our readers:
My name is Mary Thoma. I am a native Oklahoman, making art in my own home in the small rural and diverse community of Spencer, Oklahoma. I am a recreational activities director at an adult day center and I am called on daily to use my creative energy. I consider myself an artist serving other artists living with dementia or other cognitive disorders. Many times, the artists I serve just don’t know they are artists until they are engaged in creative opportunities.
How do you make time to be creative?
I am an early riser, before the phone, TV, food or even coffee some mornings. 4AM many days I can usually get 3 good hours of standalone art time even on work days. There are mornings I barely have time to get my hands washed up before it’s time to run out the door. I get lost in “artistic flow” and the time just rockets by. Recently a Facebook follower asked me to illustrate a children’s book she had written so I will be adding illustration to my creative time as well.
What are some of your favorite n*Studio stamps / stencils?
Urban Scribble Foam Stamp Set
Buenos Aires 4×4 Stencil
Ornament Stencil
Art Deco Stencil
How do you love to use them?
I usually stamp with acrylic paint, not ink so Nathalie’s foam stamp designs hold up well in that application. I love using the stencil designs with my abstract work and with texture paste for incorporation into collage work. The structure of n*Studio Designs are beautifully and perfectly repeated so I don’t have to reinvent or recreate these dynamic elements to add to my own work.
What is your favorite medium to work in?
Mixed Media, graphite, pastel pencils, markers, color pencils, acrylic paint, Marabu Art Sprays, Ink and spray inks, texture pastes, watercolors, and collage. My art combines representational work with abstraction and Nathalie’s designs add a structured accent to my compositions.
What inspires you to be creative?
I will say it’s hard to beat Creative Jump Start. I also start running through emails and social media, I listen to audio books about great artists, I watch You Tube documentary videos on art and artists, and also manufacturers’ and retailers’ demonstration videos. I am very blessed to have a job that calls on my creativity. I take art tools like stencils and stamps to work with me to help my Adult Day Center Participants create artwork.
Do you have a favorite artist?
Presently, I am studying the work of Francis Picabia. It’s likely I am just too fickle to name just one favorite artist. I find the mid-century modern artists awe inspiring and continue to be highly motivated to study them and their work.
How did you get into art-making?
I think it might be the same way I started breathing. I must make art, it is sustenance for my soul. My parents encouraged my talent. Around 1959, I watched an advertisement for a mail order art course and drew the subjects demonstrated from memory. My father said, “You didn’t do this, you traced it” I reacted viscerally to his accusation. He finally concluded I did the work. He and my mother provided me with art supplies. My mother was quick to take me to art exhibits. I saw Jackson Pollock’s work in person on a national tour in the 1960’s. Western art by Catlin, Remington and Russel were introduced via the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center right here in my home town. I was a smart kid, but, not a very good student. My public-school arts education kept me engaged academically sufficient to get me to graduation and into college with a major in fine arts. Otherwise you would be interviewing a high school dropout. I do not suffer “artist’s block” everything blank looks like a canvas to me. I am looking forward to working full time as an artist and teaching artist. I have my very understanding family to thank for my artistic encouragement, now that my parents are gone, I have my husband, siblings, children and friends to cheer me along on my artistic journey.
In three words, how does art-making make you feel?
Art-making, makes me feel like an “artistic living fountain” flowing deep and wide.
Thank you Mary for sharing your art and story with us! Stay tuned for more Nice to Meet You! posts to learn about other artists!
….how the poor thing got carried through a snowy cold day through the city…and then up the fifth floor and then left out for a night in the dark and cold hallway
….how the next day it was brought in and all kinds of shiny boxes started to appear next to it
…how Babushka said “don’t you worry….I came all the way from New York , my home was Anthropologie and I have a good home here for many years now” and then clonked down and weighs heavy on the branch ever since
…how Bazooka Guy made a scary appearance but then said…”hey…I am just a good guy representing childhood games of the guy called “hubs” – I will take care of you!”
…how this thing with a funny accent said “No worries, I am new here too, eh?” and then said something about coming all the way from Canada and being a present from Barbara
…how Felti from Maine made by Cat, said “Dude, at least you have it warm here!”
…how the shiny dented ball said “uhhh it is nice and airy here, I haven’t been out of aunt Margot’s basement for many many years- I like it – I will shine!”
…how the Santa Dude in the Balloon said “We made it to the big ten, RU RU Rutgers” and is waving his big foam finger ever since
…how Santa Mouse from New Jersey, made by Karen sighed and said “oh no…not again…” dangling from a lower branch and being attacked once in a while by a hairy monster called Niles
…how the Standup Bass constantly pouts because it’s bigger brother in the next room is so much louder
…how cozy and warm and beautiful sparkly it all looks in the evening and how much the tree is enjoyed by the peeps living in this household.
What stories would your tree tell? (go ahead if you want- grab the logo and share your tree’s story!)
Love all your ornaments — such a beautiful tree! I have heard from many people that I have given Felti Snowmen too that they have to keep them up HIGH because their cats like to eat them. Just sayin. Merry Christmas sweet friend! Xo
Nat, I LOVE this post and this idea!! Our tree and it’s ornaments are a collection of tales and stories. Thank you for the inspiration, sharing your tree and special ornaments, and for the logo, too! My to-do list is getting shuffled so I can participate! Fingers crossed!
Such a lovely post! Our tree could tell a story how little hands decorated it and how part of the decorations were moved a bit higher by mom, because those little hands just didn’t reach very high… <3
LOVE IT! Our tree would tell of places we have been and memories of each yea of my children’s lives. I have bought them a dated ornament each year. We fondly ooh and ahh each year as we get them out. But it is the handmade ones from school that tug at the heart the most!
How wonderful a post for me to read on this very rainy Tuesday in NH.
Isn’t it wonderful how ornaments remind of us of the wonderful places that we’ve been or the special people that they’ve come from? My tree would wonder why there are more ornaments on the top than the bottom and then see the brown dog and realize it’s all about their safety.
Nat, it is beautiful! My palm tree is festooned with lights. Sunny Florida sends you best wishes for a Merry Christmas. Thanks for my early Christmas present. Your class was a blast!
What a fun page Josefine…thanks for sharing.
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