Blog: Space Oddity

Imagine – Art Journal

“… You may say I’m a dreamer but I’m not the only one…” – John Lennon

After watching a netflix documentary on John Lennon and Yoko Ono I was inspired to do this page. I sketched John’s face using a Monolith 8B pencil and stamped with my Space Oddity stamp from both the Hex Set Large and Hex Set Small.

I used some left over stripes of my Suminagashi paper that I couldn’t bear throwing away- LOL. And I stamped my Groovy and part of my Gnarly foam stamp over them.

Here are some of the supplies I used:


Comments (2)

  • Sue Clarke

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    Love your sketch of John and the page as well.
    I read a biography about him and I was surprised at some of the not so nice things that he may have done.
    I still love his music and vision for peace.

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Hi Sue, thank you! Yeah the documentary I saw about him also showed a pretty tough person to be around with – so many facets a person can have.
      I agree on the love for his music and vision for peace

      Reply

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Warm Wishes – Jennifer Gallagher

  

Tis the season for some Warm Wishes from my Creative Squad. Today we have a holiday art journal spread from Jennifer Gallagher that transforms my Clam Hex and Space Oddity stamps into a non-traditional wreath design. Jennifer was inspired by our theme: Warm Wishes – For many cultures around the world, December is a holiday season filled with celebrations and good cheer. The Creative Squad is taking this month to send Warm Wishes to all our readers!


This month the creative squad is creating projects that celebrate this festive time of year. We are sending you all our warmest wishes! I love to think outside of the box with our creative squad prompts. So, when I sat down to contemplate warm wishes and holidays, I was immediately transported to somewhere tropical for some literal “warm” holiday wishes. I hope you enjoy my non-traditional and somewhat tropical take on a holiday wreath for a spread in my art journal.

I began in my canson mixed-media journal. I placed a small pencil mark in the center of my page as a guide. Then I inked my space oddity foam stamp with vibrant fuchsia archival ink. Next, I pressed the foam stamp into the center of my page, pressing with even pressure. This striped design mimics a fun candy cane pattern. Here is where we begin with a non-traditional use of color. Instead of the normal red and white, this pink and white will feel a lot more modern and tropical.

I used the mini clam hex foam to create my faux tropical leaves around the center of my wreath. I inked up the foam stamp with vivid chartreuse archival ink and pressed the stamp down in an exact pattern that I repeated all the way around.

Next, I wanted to add some ornament balls all around the wreath. Nat’s Small Circle Jumble rubber stamp set was the perfect thing. I chose the circle drive negative stamp and inked it up with garden patina archival ink. I stamped the ornaments all over the wreath.

I used my tombow mono drawing pens to add a little detail around each ornament and leaf.

Lastly, in pencil I sketched out a little fun hand-lettered sentiment. Once I settled on the design, I drew over it with my drawing pens and erased the pencil marks.

It has been another wonderful year working with Nat, Kim, and the gals from the Creative Squad. I hope you have enjoyed my work this year and have been inspired. I am sending you warm wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year.


Thank you Jennifer and we thank you for a great year of inspiring projects and of course we wish you a restful holiday season and happy new year too :) Here are some of the supplies that Jennifer 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“.

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Raiders of the Lost Stash – Jennifer Gallagher

  

Welcome to a post from my wonderful Creative Squad! Today we have a project from Jennifer Gallagher who is using my Space Oddity and Mini Santa Fe foam stamps in a unique subtractive way to create some gorgeous cards. She was inspired by this month’s theme: Raiders of the Lost Stash – It’s time to raid your stash of art making stuff. Pick a few things you’ve tucked away for later and use them NOW. Maybe you have some leftover scraps or deli papers that you couldn’t bear to part with. Maybe you’ve squirreled away a new product that you’ve been meaning to try. The time is now! Raid your stash and try it :)


We are raiding our stashes this week. What good artist or crafter worth their salt doesn’t have a considerable stash of supplies just waiting for inspiration? In my stash I found a few sets of Sizzix thinlits dies by Tim Holtz that I haven’t used in ages. These dies, along side a few of my go-to supplies, were the inspiration for these beautiful note cards.

I adore my n*Studio artfoamies and wanted to show you a new way to use them. Begin by spraying a few colors of Dylusions Ink Spray onto a watercolor note card. Don’t be stingy with the spray! You will want a nice base of color to work with.

Next, spritz some water onto your artfoamie (I’m using Nat’s Space Oddity and Mini Santa Fe ArtFoamies) making sure the entire design is wet. Gently press the artfoamie onto the note card. After a few seconds, remove the artfoamie and dab a paper towel onto the card to pick up the excess moisture. (Dab – don’t wipe!) Because the ink sprays are water reactive, we will be pulling ink off of the card leaving the design of the artfoamie behind. Repeat until you have a design you like.

Choose a few sentiments from the die set and run them on black cardstock through your die cutting machine. Fix your sentiment onto your note card with a liquid glue like Tombow Mono.

This is a fun way to use your artfoamies so be sure to try this at home and share your creations with us! Get into that supply stash and get creative.


Wow these are beautiful Jennifer!!! Love the subtle variations in color and love this exciting way to use foam stamps – almost like a sponge. You can find all of my foam stamps and more in my online shop and if you’d like to try this technique, here are some of the supplies that Jennifer used:



Be sure to check out all the Creative Squad projects on the Creative Squad webpage and if you feel inspired, share your projects with us! We love to see what you’re working on. I post projects almost every month in my Inspiration From Around the Globe posts!

Comments (2)

  • lynda

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    Love this idea Jennifer! Question…….do you let the Dylusions spray dry before stamping with the foam stamp? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Jennifer Gallagher

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      Hi Lynda! I did let the layers dry. You can let them air dry or use a heat tool to speed it up a bit. Thanks for checking out my project.

      Reply

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Space Oddity – Art Journal

Yes.. I did crank up Space Oddity by David Bowie while making this spread. Music – such an important part of my life – I love playing music while painting.

I used some off white Acrylic paint with the new ArtFoamies Space Oddity stamp – gosh I love it.

I painted over an magazine image which I do a lot as it is easy peasy and also helps practicing drawing faces and figures.

Do you listen to music when you do something creative or do you need a super quiet environment?

Here are some of the additional supplies I used besides acrylic paint for this spread


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