Hello September! It’s the 10th already, so I’ve got a new instalment of Inspired by for you!

Inspired by is a monthly challenge that my friend Riikka and I started 3 years ago. We decide on a theme (and that theme can be anything from a film, a book, a painting, to an item, colour scheme or material) and then we create something with that theme or thing in mind.

We keep what we’re making a secret until reveal day on the 10th, when we show you and each other our creations.

This month’s theme is all about our sweet friends, amazing teachers and huge inspirations Nathalie Kalbach and Birgit Koopsen!

I think this month’s theme emerged in June, right after Riikka and I each individually took classes from Birgit and Nathalie. Riikka went to their joined retreat in Finland and I went to the same retreat held right here in the Netherlands.

Both ladies not only teach classes and create stunning art work, but they also have their own product lines.

Nathalie has released stamps with Stampendous and stencils with Stencil Girl.

Birgit products are produced by Carabelle Studio and she’s getting ready to release a set of brand new designs as we speak!

During the retreats, there was one class they taught together and in that class all of their products were available for us to use. So for this Inspired by, the briefing was to use Birgit and Nat’s stamps on one (or more) project(s), just like we did in class.

I started out by rummaging through the gelli prints I did during the retreat. I worked on some of them to warm up, but in the end I decided to create this page in one of my art journals:

The background is created with modelling paste and one of Nathalie’s stamps. On top of that there are layers upon layers upon layers of spray ink, stamped images, black Stabilo All pencil, Liquitex paint and markers, Derwent Graphik Line Painters, some green Neocolor II and a white Sharpie.

I should also add that the page wasn’t blank when I started. There already were some remnants there of a glitter paste I made from gel medium and Elizabeth Craft Designs Silk Microfine Glitter.

The hearts and leaves images are Birgit’s stamps, stamped on one of the gelli prints from the retreat, cut out and adhered to the page.

I’m pretty sure I was taught all techniques used on this page by either Nathalie or Birgit at some point in my crafty career and I love that the page (at least to me) even looks like a Birgalie or a Nathit!

Thank you so much Birgit and Nat!

And now please visit equally awesome Riikka to check out her Nathalie and Birgit inspired project!

Cling rubber stamp sets used:
Carabelle Studio by Birgit Koopsen: Follow your heart, Bloom and Punchanella Background
Stampedous by Nathalie Kalbach: NK Studio Marks, NK Studio Kaffee Klatsch
and NK Studio Fiesta