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Art Journalling challenge blog offering one monthly challenge, fantastic Design Team inspiration, and our monthly magazine, Artful Pages.

Join us, enjoy the journey and have some creative fun! We have an amazing new sponsor for our challenge!


24 March, 2016

March 2016 Mini Challenge - HAPPY

Hello! Welcome back to our blog and to the March Mini Challenge! We 
really hope you've been enjoying the challenges so far.

Here is our new challenge board for March:

Here's how the Mini Challenge works:

The Mini Challenge runs on the last week of each month and is for
cards, tags and ATCs only. (ATCs, or Artist Trading Cards, are small works of art, about 2.5 by 3.5 inches or 64 x 89mm). This challenge requires you to use a specific word on your project. We must see the actual word. You have only one week - until the last day of the month - to enter, so be quick!

Entry for the Mini Challenge is only via our Facebook page 
under the relevant post. 

The winner will receive a $25 voucher from Dusty Attic, 
our fabulous Mini Challenge sponsor.

And just to sweeten the deal, all our prizes 
include free shipping to anywhere in the world!

You can see all our rules under the Rules tab at the top of this blog.


If you're looking for inspiration, here is what some of our Design Team created:


Lilibleu - Tag

Julia Kissel - Card

Di Garling - Card

Nicole Doiron - Card



Valia Katzaki - Card




We sure hope you can join in this month. You can enter the challenge HERE, but be quick - you only have until 11:59pm EST on Thursday the 31st of March!

Our Main Challenge closes at the same time. It isn't at all necessary to enter our 
Main Challenge as well, although you are more than welcome to!



16 March, 2016

Special Guest Spotlight on
Gayle Price


When you saw our challenge this month, some of you may have guessed
who would be our March Special Guest!  "Bliss & Gesso" just so happens
to be the name of her creative blog!!


Yes, we are very happy to introduce to you today the extremely talented  
Gayle Price!

"Hello MTW friends! My name is Gayle Price and I am so happy and very honoured to be invited to share one of my projects with you this month. I love playing, experimenting and creating with combined media. My idea of "bliss" is to surround myself with as many different mediums as I can lay my hands on, start to play with them and see where they lead me. I love all forms of art. I love colour, pattern and texture and will try to incorporate all of these elements into my work. I have had amazing opportunities in the past to create with some really wonderful Design Teams, and have had work published in a book called Art Journal Kickstarter. I am currently a Creative Team member with Finnabair.  It is a real honour to have my blog name as the inspiration for this month's Main Challenge board. Something you may not know about my blog name (a little bit of trivia)... aside from the obvious meanings of the words "bliss" and "gesso", I chose the name because of my love for Hip Hop music and in particular, an Australian band called "Bliss n Esso"."

Visit Gayle here:
BLOG  -  FACEBOOK  -  INSTAGRAM  -  FLICKR

We urge you to go see more of Gayle's creations as they are absolutely amazing!

Let's take a look at this month's challenge followed by Gayle's interpretation.



Gayle shares this about her outstanding creative process:
"My page is about my BLISS... I love to create and it makes me happy to play with different art mediums. This page is representing how I feel that my brain is sometimes wired to just one activity, all else forgotten, while the screws and nuts and bolts in my head work blissfully to create. I've worked with pattern, texture and colour using lots of different art mediums. The one medium I always use is GESSO.  I have used white, black and clear gesso on this project. Apart from being a primer and a protector of surfaces, gesso is also great for shading and for softening edges."

Gayle has provided us with some close-ups of her masterpiece:


There are no words to fully describe the beauty of this piece, but we do think that BLISS is quite accurate! As artists, we all have this one form of happiness in common, and we can all relate to Gayle's state of mind when she creates, as described above.


There are so many unique and awesome details to admire in Gayle's work... 
grungy, industrial and elegant all in one project!


Thank you so much Gayle for accepting to be our March Special Guest!

If you haven't played along with our BLISS & GESSO Main Challenge yet,
we hope that you will do so now, after being inspired by Gayle and her talent.

You have until March 31st to link up!


08 March, 2016

Announcing our February Winners!!!



We have had another fantastic response to our February challenges. 
Each was as gorgeous and inspiring as the next and our votes are in...



OUR MAIN CHALLENGE WINNER

JAYA RAGHUVANSHI (entry #100)

Congratulations Jaya!!!  You have won our February Main Challenge!
 Please contact Anna at sklep(at)lemoncraft(dot)pl
to claim your prize of a $50 USD prize package from LEMONCRAFT 
(Please indicate that you are the MAIN challenge winner.) 


1st RUNNER UP

EWIK  (entry #120)

Ewik, please contact Vanessa at salesat2crafty(at)optusnet(dot)com(dot)au  
to claim your $25 USD value prize from 2 CRAFTY CHIPBOARD


2nd RUNNER UP

SOONJU LEE (entry #94)

Soonju Lee, please contact Alda at cs(at)flyingunicornllc(dot)com 
to claim your $25 USD gift certificate info from FLYING UNICORN


3rd RUNNER UP

CAROLINE PARENT (entry #54)

Caroline, please contact Aida at 13arts(at)wp(dot)pl 
to claim your $25 USD value prize from 13ARTS


4th RUNNER UP

TARTINE PELUCHE (entry #123)
Tartine, please contact Camilla at camilla(at)majadesign(dot)nu  
to claim your $25 USD value prize from MAJA DESIGN


RANDOM WINNER



HELENA WIKMAN (entry #111)
Helena, please contact Tracey at tracey(at)lindystampgang(dot)com 
to claim your $25 USD gift certificate info from LINDY'S STAMP GANG


MYSTERY WINNER

AISHA (entry #80)
 
We were captivated by Aisha's amazing glow-in-the-dark canvas that she created for her niece. The fairy dust on the wings and in the lantern was a stroke of geniusNot only does it SPARKLE but it glows!!  We found it truly WONDERFUL and we thought it worthy of a special mention! 
Aisha, please contact Tanya at fabrikadecoru(at)gmail(dot)com
to claim your $25 USD gift certificate info from FABRIKA DECORU


MINI CHALLENGE WINNER
Tiffany, please contact Jen at dustyattic(at)bigpond(dot)com
to claim your $25 USD store voucher from THE DUSTY ATTIC
(Please indicate that you are the MINI Challenge winner.)


LUCKY COMMENTER

BEATRIZ S B-ARTE

Beatriz, please contact Kay at kaylori77(at)yahoo(dot)com 
to claim your $25 USD gift voucher info from THE KREATIVE KORNER


And last, but certainly not least, here are some HONOURABLE MENTIONS 
from the Main Challenge who have received a high number of votes, 
but who didn't quite make it into our prize winning list:
TARTINE PELUCHE (entry #84)
KAVITHA (entry #98)
SANDERIJN DE BRUIN (entry #87)
LOUISE TURNER (entry #85)
LANETTE ERICKON (entry #102)

A huge CONGRATS to all of the above!

We encourage our merit winners, honourable mentions as well as participants who have had your project featured on our Facebook page to grab your badge from our left sidebar and proudly display it on your blog!  They were made just for you!

 Thank you so much to all who have participated!

We hope that you will play along with the March challenge 
with more awesome prizes up for grabs!!  Details are HERE.


01 March, 2016

March 2016 Main Challenge
BLISS & GESSO


Another month, another exciting challenge at More Than Words!

Our Main Challenge is based on a Word Inspiration & a Creative Challenge.
This challenge is open to layouts, canvases and art journal pages only.

Word Inspiration - BLISS
Creative Challenge - GESSO

What does the word BLISS inspire you to create?
You can choose to use the word somewhere on your project or to simply be inspired by it. Please explain in your blog post how the word inspired you
if it's not already obvious.

For our creative challenge this month, we want you to use GESSO on your project.
Chances are you have a bottle of gesso on your craft table, ready to be dipped into when it's crafty time! Be it white, clear, black or any other colour, light or thick, smooth or textured, we want to see you incorporate it in your creative process. Try it on your background, chipboard, embellishments or however you desire! If you don't have any ready-made gesso, you can even make your own!
(Google 'handmade gesso recipe' and you will find numerous alternatives!)

It's 'prime' time to get crafty!!

VERY IMPORTANT!!!  You have to incorporate both parts of the challenge, the word inspiration & the creative challenge, on your project to be eligible to win.  When we vote, we specifically look for projects that display BOTH requirements, and not just the creative challenge. Just look at our DT members' interpretation as example.

Remember that you must include our board image
and a link to our blog in your entry post.  
Please check out our RULES!  




Mona: "When I'm painting, life is bliss! I was inspired to create a 'Finnabair' type canvas featuring an upcycled paintbrush reflecting my passion along with a metal plate tag reading BLISS as the title. The entire canvas was covered with black GESSO as the base coat, then white gesso was applied at the end for a highlight." 


Di: "The word BLISS inspired me to scrap this gorgeous pic of my new grandson. I have also used GESSO to both seal my background as well as using it to stick down lots of laces and chipboard, etc. I also coated my title with gesso to tone down the colour as well as the little angel wings. I have also dabbed it on lots of other elements on my page to achieve a very soft look."


Valerie: "BLISS reminds me of the happiness that I live every day with my little family. GESSO is the first thing that I use on my pages. Clear or white, it's essential! On this layout, I used white gesso in small quantity to seal the pattern paper. I added some drops with a mixture of gesso and water."


Pamela: "When I hear the word BLISS, this photo automatically pops into my head. There is no other place on earth where I feel more at peace and happy than by the water. I used GESSO to prime my background and soften the page a bit.  I also used it to prime all my chipboard pieces."


Julia: "This photo inspired me to create this project. These are my husband's parents during their young courtship years. They seem so BLISS and adorable on this picture. I made the canvas myself by gluing fabric to thick cardstock and covering it with GESSO."


Nicole: "The word BLISS immediately made me think of these pictures of my nieces who had the time of their lives at Walt Disney World a few years back. They are seen happily riding the Magical Kingdom carousel.  I used white GESSO with a stencil to create some swirly textures on the background. I also covered my chipboard carousel horse with a thick coat of gesso, used my heatgun to make it bubble and crackle, before covering it with gold paint and glitter. Gesso was also dabbed on all embellishments and paper edges to give the layout my usual whitewash touch."


Elena: "My layout is about me and my husband - this is my most favourite recent picture of us. BLISS to me is our gentle and true relationship!  I have used clear and white GESSO on my background."


Arantzazu: "When I rediscovered this picture, I just knew I had to use it for this challenge.  It is of my dear dog Koki enjoying his first day at the beach. The word BLISS is not just for that day. My 'little brother' Koki makes me one of the happiest people because I have him by my side every day. I used GESSO on the background and to create those white splashes."


Valia: "My little boy is the epitomy of joy, laughter and mischief, always on the run and always happy. He really made a difference in our lives, bringing us so much joy and BLISS! I have used GESSO everywhere on my layout, clear gesso to protect my paper, white gesso to make random patterns on my paper and black 
and white gesso for splatters."


Rachael: "I have chosen to use the word BLISS in my title. I have used GESSO on my background. I have also added a coat of gesso to some of my chipboard pieces."


Heather: "My most recent blissful event was a fabulous Summer beach holiday. I really was tremendously happy enjoying the sun and surf and sharing them with family and friends. It was sheer BLISS! I used GESSO under my photo and on cardstock as a base for my watercolour work. It also helped separate the photo from the busy background paper."


Lilibleu: "I love this picture of my son taken after a long day dream at Disney Land Paris. Though asleep, he opens his eyes right when I take the photo. It shows perfectly the feeling of well-being, the feeling of BLISS, of my laddie at this moment! I used white GESSO on my page background, on flowers and as droplets, and black gesso on the gears and as droplets."


KAREEN BH
Kareen: "The word BLISS inspired me one quote which fits perfectly with the picture I've used. It's me, hiking the Vesuve, in Italy! As you can see, I've put GESSO everywhere! The papers, the flowers, the chipboard... everything has gesso on it. It was easy because I love doing mixed media layouts, but sometimes I am too lazy to start and clean after. This challenge was a great incentive!"


Helen: "The word BLISS inspired me to create this project because I think that there are some special places that make us feel serenity and bliss. I used a lot of white GESSO on my background and added some more
to highlight the details of my canvas."


We hope that you are inspired by all these beautiful creations from our DT!



All our prizes include international postage!


MAIN CHALLENGE WINNER
a $50 USD prize package from COLOUR BLAST
(exactly as shown below)

Here is more information about our 1st place sponsor this month:


"Colour Blast is an Australian based manufacturing company that produces a range of mixed media products for the paper craft industry. Our products have been developed with lots of colour and shimmer in mind - because we believe that is what all paper crafters love! Our products are sold wholesale to scrapbooking and paper craft shops throughout Australia and New Zealand."


Next, 4 runners up will each be awarded a prize as follows:

1st RUNNER UP
a $25 USD prize package from COUTURE CREATIONS


2nd RUNNER UP
a $25 USD gift certificate from THE SCRAPBOOK DIARIES


3rd RUNNER UP
a $25 USD prize package from 7 DOTS STUDIO
(image below is for illustration purposes only)


4th RUNNER UP
a $25 USD prize package from STUDIO 75


In addition, we will draw 1 random winner from all eligible entries!

RANDOM WINNER
a $25 USD store credit from THE DUSTY ATTIC


Each month, we hand pick a winner from all participants who have not made it to our TOP 5, but who has captured our attention someway, somehow. We might pick a project due to its original use of a certain product, the cleverest title, most beautiful photo, etc.  Who knows what we will be looking for?  
That's why we call it our mystery winner!

MYSTERY WINNER
a $25 USD prize package from FABRIKA DECORU


And last, but certainly not least, we will randomly award a prize to 1 lucky blog follower who has commented on any of our March BLOG posts.

LUCKY COMMENTER
a $25 USD store voucher from FLUTTERBY DESIGNS


To learn more about all our generous sponsors, click on the SPONSORS tab above.


We cannot wait to see your interpretation of our 
March BLISS & GESSO challenge!

Link up your project using the LinkyTool in the right sidebar
by March 31st at 11:59 pm EST.

(Please note that you need to share your entry for our main challenge 
via a blog post to be eligible! We unfortunately cannot accept entries 
via Facebook, Tumblr, Flickr or other.)