Special Guest Spotlight on ADITI MAHAJAN February 2023

 Hello everyone!

This month, we are very pleased to welcome Aditi Mahajan, who was one of our fabulous July 2022 winners. 

We hope you enjoy her take on our February Challenge and do please visit her Instagram which is linked below, and also our social media channels to watch the Guest Designer video! 

Artist Bio

My name is Aditi, and by profession I work as a Psychologist and Healing Professional. Over the years, I've taken to art as a form of therapy, and am working towards a more holistic approach of healing. I've been creating Mixed Media Art for about 8-9 Years now. My Artsy name is Dots to Lines, and both my mom and I had created it for our artistic pursuits.

When it comes to my style, I'm always attracted to deeper meaning of life and emotions and I connect that to my art and my creations. Therefore, every project has a story to tell. I use vibrant colours and splatter that denotes freedom and spreads radiance. I enjoy paper crafting, creating layouts, journal spread, tags, canvases, albums and altered art. I enjoy art journaling, and I intend to create journal kits and run workshops in the near future. I want to make art journaling accessible to everyone as a form of mindfulness activity, without having to worry about being an artist. According to me, art journaling is a great tool for self-expression and I want to share that with people around me.

Social Media links:

INSTAGRAM

Q & A with Aditi

What is your favourite February memory?

My favourite memory goes back a couple years when my mom and I visited USA, attended creativation and explored several cities together. 

How long have you been art journalling?

I've been art journaling for years. About a decade to be precise.

What is your favourite colour palette to use?

I love purple, blues and teal.

Are you inspired by a particular artist or artists, if so who?

My mom, Sunila inspires me. Apart from her several Mixed Media Artists (the list is never ending) like Nuneka, Asia, Martina, and my Design Teammates

What is your favourite supply or product?

After my watercolour journals, are Lindy's Magical. I love the freedom they give me to play with colour.

Why do you enter art challenges?

Art challenges are a way to feel inspired. They help me churn ideas and get the juices flowing, since they provide something challenging to think about, conceptualise and create. When I began mixed media, it was art challenges that helped me meet fellow crafters, get to know about brands and above all grow. 

And finally, In my art journal, I have always wanted to try...?

I've always wanted to use  watercolours and create an astral self-portrait.

Aditi's Interpretation of our February Challenge

Aditi says:  Love Letters inspired me to create a romantic page in my journal. This is more like a teenage diary entry, fresh in love documenting the beautiful moments. 

I've added elements like flower clusters, tags, a planner card to mark the first meeting, first date, first kiss, etc., and sentiments to go with the vibe.

 I used my favourite shades of purple and a collection from Craft O'Clock Collection- A Little Inspiration since I felt it had the perfect colours and elements I needed for this page.

Thank you Aditi for sharing your romantic journal page with us. We really loved exploring all the elements on your fabulous page.  

 We hope Aditi's fantastic take on our challenge theme inspires you to enter the February challenge!

Here's a reminder of our current Challenge:

Don't forget that you can find all of our challenge details and extra information, as well as Aditi's published interview in our magazine Artful Pages.  Enter the challenge on the blog, Instagram or our Facebook group.  All links are on the sidebar!

Love Letters - February 2023 Art Journal Challenge

 

Hello everyone, and welcome to our February challenge! This month our challenge is all about LOVE... LETTERS. You can find our challenge details below as well as links to the latest issue of our digital magazine - Artful Pages - more details below.

Quick Links

February Art Journal Challenge

Artful Pages February Issue

DT Inspiration Prizes

Love Letters

Let's take a look at this month's art journal challenge! We have simplified the challenges this year and the challenge no longer has two parts. Instead we have one main theme to inspire you and this month it's all about LOVE LETTERS.

#MTWartjournalchallenge

We can't wait to see what you do with our challenge prompt this month and if you need more inspiration, you might find our new magazine useful.   Inside there are weekly prompts if you need them.  

Please note that we have made the decision to drop the Mini Challenge from our schedule, due in part to the decline in entries.  Are you sad about the demise of the Mini Challenge? We'd love to hear from you! If there is enough interest we may consider bring it back.

Artful Pages February 2023

As mentioned at the top of the post, we are excited to share the latest issue of our new digital magazine - Artful Pages - which is a new way of looking at our challenges and inspiration, as well as being able to add more value for our readers which we are not able to do in our current formats.  So here's a look at our latest issue which is available to flick through online just like a real magazine.  The magazine contains more about our challenge this month, our Design Team inspiration,Guest Designer interviews, free printables and more!  Check it out and see for yourself - we would love your feedback! 

Design Team Inspiration

Let's see what our lovely Design Team have created this month. If you love their projects this month, please visit their social links and let them know, and follow them on your favourite social media.

ANN CHUANG

When I saw this theme, I imagined the mood of writing a love letter. For the background, I used Collage Paper Typography to cover the entire page and then used stamps to stamp many envelopes and postcard images on blank old book pages, then cut them out and collaged them. I used a feather and a pen nib to make a quill because I think the quill is a romantic element of this theme.


Visit Ann:  BLOG - FACEBOOK - PINTEREST - INSTAGRAM

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ELLE - EOTC

Who hasn't received a love letter or two from a secret or not so secret admirer in the past.  It might be less romantic now with technology though!  I used lots of correspondence on this page, including a telegram to a sweetheart, a hand addressed envelope to my dearest love using a dip pen and ink, stamps, and postcards that are tucked into the envelope, letter tissue paper and lots of ink splatters and blots.

Visit Elle:  BLOG - FACEBOOK -  INSTAGRAM

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HEATHER MCMAHON

Sadly, I had no records of love letters in our family so I elected to create about the LOVE option instead. Different songs about love kept running through my head (there are so many!) but I settled on this one from the 60's by Jackie DeShannon in support of our Ukrainian friends.

Visit Heather:  BLOG - FACEBOOK - PINTEREST - INSTAGRAM

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HEIDI MATTESSICH

This was a fun page to create. I had so many ideas when I saw the word inspiration of Love Letters. But this month another song won out during my creative brainstorming. L.O.V.E. (Nat King Cole or Michael Buble, you can't go wrong either way).

Visit Heidi:  BLOG - INSTAGRAM -  YOUTUBE 

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KAT PALECZNY

Visit Kat:  BLOG - FACEBOOK - INSTAGRAM - YOUTUBE

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KOUNELI

For this theme I used a background made with the letters of the word love

I used magical powders for a festive background and glitter on all my hearts colored with oil pastels

Visit Kouneli:   FACEBOOK - INSTAGRAM

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LENA BLANKENSTEIN HOLMSTROM

Last summer, my friends got married. I made a hand-tied book for them as a gift where I also wrote them a poem about love. I wrote it in Finnish which appears on the left page and now translated it into English which is on the right page. Flowers and butterfly is a digital from ArtStacks.

Visit Lena:   BLOG - FACEBOOK - INSTAGRAM - PINTEREST - YOUTUBE

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LISA OXLEY

Love Letters.

When I play with this concept I go back to those romantic times of carving ones initials into a tree for longevity. 30 years together for my partner and I this May.

Visit Lisa:  BLOG - FACEBOOK - INSTAGRAM - YOUTUBE

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MATILDE FAB

My page about LOVE is red and pink (how obvious!) with some hearts. I used a stencil for it. I used some die cuts connecting with love and letters - my favourite is this jam jar having the letter in it <3 And the post scriptum "I love you" - it is the best ending of a letter to a beloved person, isn't it?  I'll have a short video available as well.

Visit Matilde:  BLOG - FACEBOOK - INSTAGRAM - YOUTUBE

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RACHEL MARTIN

Love letters... what an inspiring theme! I played with text stamps in the background and highlighted this pair of birds using Dina Wakley's gloss sprays.

Visit Rachel:  INSTAGRAM - YOUTUBE

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SHARON FRITCHMAN

When I saw that the theme is love, I just had to use a photo of my wedding day. We met on a blind date 33 years ago and were married 2 months later. I guess when you know it's love, you know! LOL. And I used the lyrics from Elvis Presley's beautiful song "Can't Help Falling In Love."

Visit Sharon:  BLOG - FACEBOOK - PINTEREST - INSTAGRAM

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SUNILA MAHAJAN

This month's challenge inspired me to create a layered journal page. This page is all about treasuring moments with a lover, the little tags and love notes, that we all end up saving from our earlier days. These become memories for a lifetime. I've captured this on my page.

Visit Sunila:  FACEBOOK - INSTAGRAM

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Prizes & Special Guest Designers

This year we are very happy to welcome ArtStacks Designs as our prize sponsor. 

 ArtStacks will be donating one of their fabulous DigiStacks to the overall winner of each of our challenges this year.  This will be a digital prize of one DigiStack to be downloaded from their online shop. 
(This prize is not transferable or exchangeable for non-digital products.)  

In addition, one or more participants, handpicked by our team, may be invited to be our Special Guest Designers, to be featured on our blog and promoted in our magazine and social media.

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Engage with us!

Tell us what you think in the comments below!  Please leave your comments at the end of this post.  

Are you entering the challenge?  
Do you feel inspired by our fabulous DT this month?
Did you enjoy our new magazine?

Challenge closes on the last day of the month at 11:59 pm EST.  

Enter in our Facebook Group, using the February Art Journal Challenge Album!  

Enter on Instagram by tagging us and using the hashtag: #MTWartjournalchallenge

 Or enter below...
     

February 2022 Main Challenge - FLORALS and STENCILLING

 Hello everyone, and welcome to our February Main Challenge!   

As you have probably noticed from our recent challenges, all our Main Challenges are now ART JOURNAL Challenges!  

Our challenge has two parts, please use both prompts to inspire you:

Word Inspiration:  FLORALS
Creative Challenge:  ADD SOME STENCILLING

Helpful Tips For The Challenge

We would like you to be inspired by both parts of our challenge - our word inspiration FLORALS and our creative challenge - ADD STENCILLING. February is a month that is commonly associated with love and romance because of St Valentine's Day and what could be more romantic than florals? If you don't want to go down the Valentine's route, then think of other ways to be inspired by florals, perhaps a beautiful garden, or your own garden, quotes about florals or floral arrangements. Then add some stencilling to your page, any kind of stencil, it does not have to be a flower stencil. We can't wait to see what you do!

 

 

SHARON FRITCHMAN

Sharon says:  I truly love flowers! I love to give and receive them at any time, not just on special occasions. That's why the word FLORALS made me think of this John Lennon quote, which is one of my favorites! I used different STENCILS from my stash to help make my painted, stamped, and fussy cut flowers and my background.

Visit Sharon:  BLOG - FACEBOOK - PINTEREST - INSTAGRAM

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AGA MIRKOWSKA

Aga says:  I am calling for spring with this art journal page! I used FLORAL theme as a STENCIL with a modeling paste on the background. I put some FLORAL elements cut out from scrapbooking Paper sheet. I added some white splashes finally on the top of whole page.

This will be Aga's last month with us as she is leaving to concentrate on her family life and we wish her all the best!

Visit Aga:  FACEBOOK - INSTAGRAM - YOUTUBE


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HEATHER MCMAHON

Heather says:  The word FLORALS made we want to use a quote about flowers. I had this idea about combining bright red poppies with a vivid blue background, so I created the background then added a quote and poppies from @ArtStacks. I love this colour combo!  For my stenciling, I used part of a stencil to add the leaves in black then finished with white stencilled butterflies.  I hope you'll join us this month!

Visit Heather:  BLOG - FACEBOOK - PINTEREST - INSTAGRAM


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LISA OXLEY

Lisa says:  Taking things quite literally with this challenge.  I have a bit of a floral fetish and just love creating arrangements in this colourful style. 3 stencils played a part in helping this piece come together.

Visit Lisa:  BLOG - FACEBOOK - INSTAGRAM - YOUTUBE


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YULIA POPKOVA

Yulia is having a break this month and will be back for our next challenge.

Visit Yulia:  BLOG - FACEBOOK - PINTEREST - INSTAGRAM


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ELLE - EOTC

Elle says:  It's so grey outside at the moment that I wanted to make a really vibrant floral page to remind me of summer.  I used some of my favourite fabrics on this page with some very bright pinks and turquoise, and then used some Paperartsy Grunge Paste through a stencil to make the textured dandelions on top.  The quote I used is one of my favourites from Claude Monet as I always have to have flowers too.  There's more journalling and a few more techniques in the background, please visit my blog to see more photos and details.  

Visit Elle:  BLOG - FACEBOOK -  INSTAGRAM


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KAT PALECZNY

 Kat says:  Flowers are the hero of my journal, they create its atmosphere. I placed fairy characters and an important message in their surroundings.  I used part of a template to create an interesting background.  I hope I have inspired you this month!

Visit Kat:  BLOG - FACEBOOK - INSTAGRAM - YOUTUBE


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SARAH DORGERE

 Sarah says:  I have always loved FLOWERS. For me they are a source of inspiration. by their colors, shapes, textures or smell. For this page here I was inspired with colors that assemble that of a flower. Yellow for the pistil and pink purple for the petals. I used a round STENCIL that I accentuated with Léa colors and outlined with black pencils.

Visit Sarah:  BLOG - FACEBOOK - PINTEREST - INSTAGRAM - YOUTUBE


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This year we are continuing with a Regional Prize structure, whereby there will be multiple Main Challenge Winners, one or more for each Region.  The number of Winners/Prizes for each Region is dependent on the number of Sponsors for that Region.  Some of our Sponsors remain as International Sponsors but many are now Region specific. It is now more important than ever that you add your NAME and COUNTRY to your Inlinkz and Art Cafe group entries!  

Our Fabulous Sponsors this year include:

Special Guest Designer

One or more participants, handpicked by our Admin team, may be invited to be our Special Guest Designers.

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Google has made the decision to retire this feature, and so the Feedburner subscribe by email option is going away.  If you are already subscribing to our blog updates by email, don't worry as we have moved everything to a new service, so you won't miss any updates!  If you are not currently receiving our blog updates by email and you would like to, please click on the link below, to make that happen.   

To follow us on other social media, please visit the links at the top right of the page.

Engage with us!

Tell us what you think in the comments below!  Please leave your comments at the end of this post.  

Are you entering the challenge?  

Challenge closes on the last day of the month at 11:59 pm EST.  You can join the challenge using the inlinkz below OR in our Facebook Group, using the February Main Challenge Album!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter