The 10th Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge

I was lucky enough to help host one of Kathy Racoosin's 30 Day Coloring Challenge event road trips this spring in New Braunfels.

It was an amazing event, and pretty unique in terms of the format. Instead of teaching the whole group each day - these were large groups - Kathy had the brilliant idea to call groups of about 5 people up to the two tables where we were and give those five intensive lessons for about an hour. This allowed every person to ask their own questions about mediums, tools, processes and was so much more valuable. The student:teacher ratio was perfect for every group and so we really got to spend quality learning time with each other.

That was the first weekend I had used the InkOn3 Fadeout Ink for no-line watercolor, and so the event changed my life in so many ways, but mostly just getting a lot of fun, one-on-one time with Kathy, whom I adore. Here's my favorite photo of her from the trip - we were at Uncommon Objects.

So, I wanted to take the opportunity today to say "Thank Mew" to Kathy for changing the crafty world with your coloring challenge.

Her idea behind the challenge is based on the research that shows that coloring is actually therapeutic. Even coloring for 10 minutes a day can lower your blood pressure, reduce anxiety and more. You can read about those benefits here.

Crafters put a lot of pressure on themselves to create a masterpiece every time they sit down at their desks. The most important message of Kathy's challenge is STOP THAT! Enjoy the PROCESS, approach the opportunity as one with no pressure, not even that of completion. Just color. I wrote about this idea of non-precious art here, in the lead-up to Art Journal Summer School, which is starting again soon.

If you are just starting the coloring challenge, I encourage you to do your challenge works in a sketchbook - for me, they relieve all the pressure, because it's not a card, and I don't have to show it to anyone. Art journaling is the most stress-free creative process I know.

For today's project, though - I have a card.

I posted a picture on Facebook of just the little kitty feet on my desk because it was sort of macabredorable, if I can make up a word. I had colored the kitty with Copics, but I wanted him to be hanging across the sentiment inside the stitched frame, so to make that work I had to cut off all his paws - EEK - and then re-attach them over the little banner. I also added shadows under them to enhance the 3D effect.

For the background, I just used ink blending tools and ink (listed below) and rotated them to get little brightly colored circles. I had a piece of DSP that matted the whole thing perfectly. The kitty is from InkOn3 as well - and this was the first card I tried her black ink on, and I love it. It's very crisp and inky black, and works with watercolor and alcohol markers.

The die I used is this AMAZING, varied stitched die set from Reverse Confetti. This one is always on my desk.

The adorable cat cracks me up - reminds me of the "hang in there" posters from my childhood.

Purr-ific Kitty Cats 4x6 Clear Stamp Set [ INK ] All Framed Up Confetti Cuts –... [ RVR ] Bundle Special 3 Essential Inks [ INK ] Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Pad... [ SUP ] Tsukineko VersaFine Clair SUMMERTIME... [ SSS ] Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad... [ SUP ] Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad... [ SUP ] Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin'... [ SUP ] Copic? Sketch Cool Gray No. 5 Marker:... [ ART ] Copic Sketch Marker YR65 ATOLL Peach... [ SSS | MFT | ELH ] Copic? Sketch Atoll Marker: Orange,... [ ART ] Copic Sketch Marker YR68 ORANGE... [ SSS | MFT | ELH | ART ] Ranger Ink Blending Tool, 1 Inch Round [ ELH ] Ranger Ink Blending Tool Replacement... [ ELH ] Whisper White Cardstock - Thick [ SUP ] MISTI Stamping Tool [ MSW | HA | SSS | ELH | SBC | MFT ] Absorber - Synthetic Cleaning Cloth [ AMZUS ] Rotatrim Professional Series Cutter -... [ BLIC ] Mudder 10 Pack White Buffer Sanding... [ AMZUS ] Xyron ADHESIVE ERASER 23675 [ SSS | ART | AMZUS ] Bone Folder by Stampin' Up! [ SUP ] Multipurpose Liquid Glue by Stampin' Up! [ SUP ] Sizzix BIG SHOT EXPRESS Gray and... [ SSS | CST | BMS | ART ]

So today, all the people involved in Kathy's road trips for the 30 Day Coloring challenge are coming together for a blog hop to celebrate the kickoff of her TENTH challenge. Please see all the info on this amazing challenge below and join us! You will have such an amazing month if you do, and you will see so many pretty things along the way if you follow the hashtags, and you will have the opportunity to win tons of prizes.

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Questions & Answers plus more info on The Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge can be found here. If you are more visual here is a video. To see DAY 1 of the coloring challenge click here.

If you are new to the challenge …. The premise of “The Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge” is to color something everyday even if it’s for five minutes. (However feel free to  jump in or out as time permits). Any coloring medium is welcomed. Click here for DAY 1. TO UPLOAD YOUR COLORING  or here on Instagram or here on Facebook (FB is a closed group). Please remember to use the hashtag #thedailymarker30day  and tag @kathyrac . For kids & young adults #thedailymarker30daykids

If you have any questions about “The Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge” you can refer to this post.  If you want more info on The Coloring Challenge Road Trip click here.

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Here are all the amazing humans hopping today!

The Daily Marker

Altenew

Concord & 9th

Creative Chick

Gina K Designs

Hero Arts

Honey Bee Stamps

Jennifer McGuire

Kristina Werner

Lawn Fawn

Lime Doodle Design

Mama Elephant

Neat & Tangled  

Paper Smooches

Power Poppy

Simon says Stamp  

Stamping Bella

Stampin Libby

You are here >> Understand Blue<< You are here  

Waffle Flower

Wplus9 

Have fun hopping.

Loveyameanitgocolorsomethingbye.