Altered items & home decor

StencilGirl® Column | Creating Bangles with StencilGirl® Stencils

| Marsha.

stencilgirl-columnist-marsha-valk-printmaking-with-stencils-banner

Have you seen my big news?! I’m now part of a fantastic team of StencilGirl® Columnists!!!

StencilGirl Columnists collage

Meet Debi Adams, Tina Walker, Kate Yetter, Janet Joehlin, Gwen Lafleur, Kiala Givehand, me, Anne Marie Fowler, Kristin Reese Williams, and Jennifer Armstrong!

Mary Beth Shaw created the StencilGirl® Columnist positions for professional and established artists and has paired up each selected Columnist with what she believes to be their mixed media specialty.

You can learn more about each Columnist and their speciality here on the StencilGirl® Talk blog: StencilGirl® Columnists

And whilst you are over there, you can read the first column! MY very first column!

Marsha Valk | StencilGirl® Column: Bangles

In it, I not only share how I transformed these plain wooden bangles but also my thought process and what inspired me.

Check it out here: Creating Bangles with StencilGirl® Stencils

Have a wonderful week!

n*Studio | Each Day is a New Adventure + Colours Are My Friends

| Marsha.

Marsha Valk | n*Studio: Each Day is a New Adventure // art journal page

It’s my turn on the n*Studio blog today! Which means that it’s time to share last month’s project with you here! In fact, I have two to share this time, because I seem to have missed one…

Each Day is a New Adventure

Last month the n*Studio Creative Squad was asked to try something new in our art-making.

I had just bought a brand new set of Ecoline Brush Pens, and I decided to break them in on this little journal page, using some of Nathalie’s stamps.

Read the how-to in this post on Nathalie’s blog: Each Day is a New Adventure – Marsha Valk

Colours Are My Friends

Aren’t you wondering what I was wearing whilst creating this journal page? Well… my new apron of course!

Marsha Valk | n* Studio: Colours Are My Friends // apron stamped with ArtFoamies

Read the how-to for this one in this post on Nathalie’s blog: Colors Are My Friends – Marsha Valk

Marsha Valk | n*Studio : My Fire Burns Bright // detail of art journal page

My Fire Burns Bright

Curious about my project for December? Head on over here: My Fire Burns Bright – Marsha Valk

Don’t miss it, because I talk about Creative JumpStart and how it always inspires me!

Not signed up for CJS 2018 yet? I would love it if you would join us! Go to Creative JumpStart 2018 (affiliate link) to find out more!

n*Studio | Pattern Lovers Love Patterns

| Marsha.

Marsha Valk | n*Studio: Pattern Lovers Love Patterns

It’s my turn on the n*Studio blog today! Which means that it’s time to share last month’s project with you here!

Pattern Lovers Love Patterns

Last month the n*Studio Creative Squad assignment was to play with pattern, in my case using Nathalie’s Santiago Stencil and the Embroidery Stamp Set!

And because Harold and I were redecorating the living room, I thought I’d alter a couple of plain white tiles so we can use them as coasters.

Marsha Valk | n*Studio: Pattern Lovers Love Patterns

Read the how-to in this post on Nathalie’s blog: Pattern Lovers Love Patterns – Marsha Valk.

Curious about my project for July? Head on over here: Free For All – Marsha Valk.

Materials used
n*Studio Santiago Stencil 9″x12″
n*Studio Embroidery Cling Rubber Stamp Set

White ceramic tiles
Porcelain paint
Cosmetic sponge
(Washi) tape

Please note that though some of the materials were given to me, I will not benefit from any sales generated by the links!

n*Studio | Retrospective

| Marsha.

Time flies when you’re having fun! Next month marks my one year anniversary with the n*Studio Creative Squad!

There’s a brand new project up on Nathalie Kalbach’s blog today. This time the theme is Let’s Go Somewhere and I even created a video tutorial to go along with it, so be sure to check that out here!

I haven’t shared any of the completed projects I made for the Creative Squad so far, so if you haven’t been visiting my friend Nathalie’s blog, you’re in for a treat!

Looking back on everything I created in the past year, I see some of my absolute favourites among the n*Studio projects. Nat (and her awesome assistant Kim)’s monthly prompts always seem to bring out the best in me.

Nat’s designs are of course also right up my alley, so I truly enjoy working with her stamps and stencils and I think that shows!

But you don’t have to believe my word for it… Take a look for yourself!

Click on the photo if you want to know more about the project, the materials I used and what prompted me to create it. The link will take you to the original blog post on Nathalie’s blog.

Opposites Attract
Marsha Valk | n*Studio: Opposites Attract \\ Gelli Prints

Marsha Valk | n*Studio: Opposites Attract \\ Gelli Prints

Marsha Valk | n*Studio: Opposites Attract \\ Gelli Prints

My City Speaks to Me
Marsha Valk | n*Studio: My City Speaks to Me \\ art journal page

Elephants Never Forget
Marsha Valk | n*Studio: Elephants Never Forget \\ Mixed media woodpanel

My Own Drum
Marsha Valk | n*Studio: My Own Drum \\ Mixed media cards

Letter to My Future Self
Marsha Valk | n*Studio: Letter to My Future Self \\ Mixed media art journal page A4

Say Yes to New Adventures
Marsha Valk | n*Studio: Say Yes to New Adventures \\ Gelli printed accordion booklet

Marsha Valk | n*Studio: Say Yes to New Adventures \\ Gelli printed and doodled accordion booklet

Marsha Valk | n*Studio: Say Yes to New Adventures \\ Gelli printed and doodled accordion booklet

From Small Beginnings
Marsha Valk | n*Studio: From Small Beginnings \\ Mixed media scrapbook page A4

Today is the Day
Marsha Valk | n*Studio: Today is the Day \\ DIY Mixed Media Planner Dividers

Good Things Just Keep Happening
Marsha Valk | n*Studio: Good Things Just Keep Happening \\ Mixed Media Gelli Prints

Return to the Light
Marsha Valk | n*Studio: Return to the Light \\ DIY stenciled votive candle holders

Dream a New Dream
Marsha Valk | n*Studio: Dream a New Dream \\ Mixed Media Art Journaling Page

Let’s Go Somewhere
Marsha Valk | n*Studio: Let's Go Somewhere \\ sneak peakCheck out my latest n*Studio Creative Squad project on Nat’s blog.

Enjoy your day!

n*Studio | Return to the Light

| Marsha.

cs-december-theme

The n*Studio Creative Squad can’t wait for the days to get longer again. This month’s theme is Return to the Light and today it’s my turn on the n*Studio blog!

Here’s a sneak peek at my project in progress:

Marsha Valk | n*Studio Creative Squad: Return to the Light // DIY Votive Candle Holder

Check out what I created, including the step-by-step tutorial over on Nathalie’s blog.

And whilst you are over there, you might also want to check out the Creative JumpStart page, if you haven’t yet. Only 12 more days until we start with this one-of-a-kind creative online event!

Creative JumpStart 2017

| Marsha.

Creative Jumpstart 2017

Yay! I’m sooo excited to announce that I’ll be participating as a teacher in Creative JumpStart (CJS) 2017!!!

Nathalie Kalbach is running it for the 6th time and this will be the 4th (!) time I get to be a part of this awesome, annual, one-of-a-kind online event!

It’s just the best way to start a new creative year in January. You learn techniques, discover new materials and connect with other artists and crafters.

Throughout January participants get access to 27 downloadable videos from 27 featured teachers, called ‘JumpStarters’.

See for yourself:

Click on the image below to go to Nathalie’s site to find out more and sign up!

Creative Jumpstart 2017
Note that all links in this blog post are affiliate links, so if you decide to sign up through these links it is possible that I will get a percentage of the sale.

You get 27 videos for just $40 (USD) if you sign up before November 30th.

In December the price will be $45 (USD) and once January is here it goes to its normal sale price of $50 (USD).

Sooooo… what are you waiting for? Have you seen all the amazing artists that are teaching?!!

Sign up here at: n*Studio CJS2016 – Let’s Jump!