December 2022 Main Challenge - SPARKLE and ADD GESSO

  Hello everyone and welcome to another month of lovely challenges from More Than Words.

This month we are inviting you to add a little sparkle and to add some gesso to your page. (Note: gesso doesn't have to be white, there are many colours plus transparent gesso.)

We also are excited to share the latest issue of our new digital magazine - Artful Pages - more details below!

But first, let's look at this month's art journal challenge!

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

Helpful Tips For The Challenge

We would like you to be inspired by both parts of our challenge

- our word inspiration SPARKLE and our creative challenge - ADD GESSO.

We can't wait to see what you do and if you need more inspiration, you might find our new magazine useful!

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 challenges this month, our Design Team inspiration,Guest Designer interviews, and more!  Check it out and see for yourself - we would love your feedback!

Let's see what our lovely new Design Team have created this month...

ANN CHUANG

Ann says:  I used Black Gesso and Metallic Silver Sparkle Embossing Glitter Powder to make this Christmas Journal page. Wishing you a Merry Christmas.


Visit Ann:  BLOG - FACEBOOK - PINTEREST - INSTAGRAM

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ELLE - EOTC

Elle says:  May the festive season sparkle and shine.  I used white gesso mixed with pastels on my background to make the swirly pattern. Then on top I added some glitter paste and then the blue shiny diecut snowflakes. Then I wrote out the words with a gold pen. 

Visit Elle:  BLOG - FACEBOOK -  INSTAGRAM

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HEATHER MCMAHON

Heather says:  I found a great quote using the word SPARKLE and I added splashes of GESSO which I outlined in black. The gorgeous little girl and wings are from ArtStacks. I thought they suited the quote perfectly!

Visit Heather:  BLOG - FACEBOOK - PINTEREST - INSTAGRAM

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HEIDI MATTESSICH

Heidi says:  Hi guys! Here is my inspiration for the December Main Challenge. After pasting down my collage bits, I first applied some clear gesso to prime the surface and then whitewashed with watered down white gesso to give it a muted even tone. I painted the branches with watercolors and then again used white gesso to create to snow. My picture did not fully capture the sparkle on the branches that I added with touches of iridescent paint. Happy December!!

Visit Heidi:  BLOG - INSTAGRAM -  YOUTUBE 

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KAT PALECZNY

Visit Kat:  BLOG - FACEBOOK - INSTAGRAM - YOUTUBE

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LISA OXLEY

"The winter days passed slowly" 

Lisa says: Starting with a gesso base it is so very hard to capture the shimmer and sparkle within the layers of shimmer paints, textures and gold leaf.

Visit Lisa:  BLOG - FACEBOOK - INSTAGRAM - YOUTUBE

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MATILDE FAB

Matilde says:  The word SPARKLE inspired me to use Lindy's magical powders, which are shining and an acrylic paint to make little sparkling drops. I used the white gesso to add some texture. I also have a short video of this process

Visit Matilde:  BLOG - FACEBOOK - INSTAGRAM - YOUTUBE

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RACHEL MARTIN

Rachel says:  When using Lindy's magical powders, I always prime my page with Gesso. I also used white Gesso to make drops.

The word "SPARKLE" inspired me Lindy's magical powders, as well as fairy magic.

Visit Rachel:  INSTAGRAM - YOUTUBE

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ROX BOYCE

Rox says:  Gesso and sparkle are the basis to my textured background on this mixed media mini artwork “ Please be kind to all sentient beings”. Created in the style of Deb Weiers using her fabulous collage pack from ArtStacks.

Visit Rox: INSTAGRAM

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SARAH DORGERE

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

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SHARON FRITCHMAN

Sharon says:  When making my mixed media art journal page, I used GESSO (white and black) to liven up my background a bit. I wanted Deb Weiers' wonky bird (from ArtStacks) to SPARKLE, so I added black Stickles to her spots! She is also holding some shimmering balloons for fun!

Visit Sharon:  BLOG - FACEBOOK - PINTEREST - INSTAGRAM

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SUNILA MAHAJAN

Sunila says:  This page is all about sparkle. Sparkle and glitter layers, and in my quote. It's the vibe, it creates, ready to explode with joy. I've used gesso differently on this page, through a stencil for a different texture and dimension.

Visit Sunila:  FACEBOOK - INSTAGRAM

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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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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.  You can join the challenge using the inlinkz below 

Or in our Facebook Group, using the December Main Challenge Album!  

Or you can enter on Instagram by tagging us and using the hashtags: #mtwmainsparkle and #mtwmainchallenge. 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter