Join The October Challenge and Draw Your Memories

Draw Your Memories, a 30-day drawing class is now open! Sign up here for just $30 and join me in drawing a different memory every day of October!

October is right around the corner and that means a new issue of Color Your Soul and a new daily challenge on Instagram!

Before we talk about the details of the upcoming challenge, I wanted to give you a sneak peek of the October issue of Color Your Soul. Rich, bold color and unexpected pops of brights have me feeling cheeky yet STRONG. Which leads me to this month's theme...

This October, I want you to Color Your Soul with CONFIDENCE.

"We always tend to think of confidence as something that is delivered TO US from the outside world. If others would just give us positive feedback or validation, THEN we’ll feel confident, right?

"But confidence is not something that comes to us; it comes FROM us. It is planted within us first through BELIEF and is cultivated and tended to through experience and practice."

To read more, become a Color Your Soul Subscriber and get the Confidence issue in your inbox starting October 1st!

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Okay, enough with the secrets! Now onto this month's creative challenge...

Since the goal is to cultivate confidence this month, I knew I wanted to offer up some type of creative challenge every day of October.

Enter... Draw Your Memories, my newest online class!

Many of you have requested an online class for line drawing and illustration so that's exactly what I've created! 

Not only do I go over the basics of simple line drawing and how I approach my own illustration style, but I talk about how to discover and hone your own style. Drawing does NOT have to feel technical and intimidating and restrictive. It can feel fun and playful and full of personality!

You can join the class NOW by clicking here! 

To cultivate CONFIDENCE with your creativity, this month's #MVcoloryoursoul companion challenge is to post your illustrated memories on Instagram using the daily prompts below!

October Giveaway Details

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how to play

Step 1: Enroll in the Draw Your Memories online class right now for just $30! (or get access for free with a Color Your Soul Subscription!)

Step 2: Use the daily prompts to draw an object that represents a past memory every day of October. 

Step 3: Post your work on Instagram using the hashtag #MVcoloryoursoul and #DrawYourMemories (This is how I'm able to see your post. You can also tag me @ckelso if you want so I see it!)

The more days you post, the greater your chances to win!

Step 4: Celebrate on October 31st by being a complete rockstar and experience the boost in creative confidence that comes with doing something intentionally for a whole month! 

On November 4th, I'll be choosing one winner to get this creative prize pack worth over $100! (**Remember, you must be a student of #DrawYourMemories to be eligible to WIN but not to participate!**)

What's included:

1. Year of the Doodle: 365 Drawing, Collaging, and Mark-Making Adventures (aff link)
2. 20 Ways to Draw a Doodle (aff link)
3. Pattern Play Coloring Book (aff link)
4. The 52 Lists Project: A Year of Weekly Journaling Inspiration (aff link)
5. Canson Artist Series Universal Sketch Pad, 5.5"X8.5" (aff link)
6. Blue Q Reusable Zipper Pouch (aff link)
7. Staedtler Ergosoft Colored Pencils, Set of 24 Colors (aff link)
8. Semi-Hex Graphite Drawing Pencils 4/Pkg-HB, 2B, 4B, & 6B (aff link)
9. Crayola Broad Line Ultra-Clean Washable Markers (40 Count) (aff link)
10. Black Sharpie 5 pack (aff link)
    
    This prize pack is worth over $100 in creative goodies!

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Ready to get started? Access the class and all 30 drawing videos now! 

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want to play with friends?
INVITE them OVER ON TWITTER and instagram!

“Join me in @ckelso’s #MVcoloryoursoul Challenge for October! Let’s draw our memories & gain creative confidence! ”

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What do you say? Are you in? I sure hope so! 

Join the challenge by itself or become a Color Your Soul Subscriber and get Draw Your Memories free, plus the latest digital issue straight to your inbox today! 

Can't wait to see some of you in class and check out everyone's work over on Instagram all month long. 

Confidence will come with experience and practice, so take the month of October to become more confident in your creative voice!

#ColorYourSoulDaily September Challenge Details

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Monthly challenges are BACK with a whole new twist! 

As you all know, for almost two years now I've been hosting a monthly Instagram lettering challenge for the #BetterLetteringCourse to practice lettering skills daily, and it's been a big hit. 

BUT, earlier this year I started thinking about how to reimagine this monthly challenge thing into something EVERYONE in the Made Vibrant community could enjoy, not just the lettering lovers. 

So, the monthly lettering challenge has now been replaced by the #ColorYourSoulDaily Challenge -- a daily Instagram challenge for soulful creatives! 

Each challenge acts as a companion to the Color Your Soul monthly theme, and the daily prompts include creative activities and self-reflection exercises that you can complete in just 15 minutes a day! The idea is to help you integrate the monthly theme into your life through ACTION. 

This month, the goal is to use the challenge to bring more FREEDOM into your life.

I created a free printable #ColorYourSoulDaily coloring/activity workbook to keep you excited about the daily prompts (and to give you something to photos of for your Instagram posts!)

How you use the workbook is totally up to you! Add photos, drawings, lettering, writing... whatever your soulful creative heart desires!

Just post your daily work on Instagram using the #ColorYourSoulDaily tag and see what insights emerge throughout the month!

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Win prizes for participating!

Sorry, this challenge is now over!

Now because I LOVE sending happy mail to people, I'll randomly select three challenge participants every month to get a small-but-VIBRANT care package from me! 

**Keep in mind that while anyone can join the monthly challenge and use the free workbook, only Color Your Soul Subscribers are eligible to win prizes!** 
 

***

Here's how to enter:
 

+ Step 1: Download the FREE workbook above.

I created a printable PDF workbook as a tangible, visible way to keep you committed to the challenge all month long. Use the pages to interpret the prompts with your own creativity and flare. Use stickers, lettering, photos -- get creative! 

While the workbook is meant to be a fun way to enjoy the challenge, it's totally optional! You can still post your photos without the workbook and you're entered to win! 

+ Step 2: Post a photo of your daily exercises on Instagram with the tag #ColorYourSoulDaily.

I'll be picking posts to feature each week on my Instagram account. Each day you post, that counts as one entry into the random drawing!

+ Step 3: Win a surprise package from me! 

Three winners will be randomly selected from the entries to get a VIBRANT surprise from me in the mail. Some examples of mystery items in your happy package: my favorite art supplies, free Abstract Affirmations prints, stationery, stickers, and more!

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#BetterLetteringCourse March Challenge: #LetterYourGrowthMarch

Psst..This challenge has already finished from March 2016. Feel free to use the prompt list below but prizes are no longer available! For the latest challenge details, click here.

Spring is upon us, my friends!

March is right around the corner and I don't know about where you are in the world, but here in California I'm starting to notice all those amazing Spring things.... warmer days, green everywhere, flowers in bloom!

Spring historically is a time for growth, rejuvenation and transformation, which really got me thinking about all the ways we're constantly transforming in our own lives. That's what this month's challenge is all about! 

Each prompt is designed to have you contemplate a different way in which you have changed, grown or transformed in your life. What did that feel like? How are things different? 

I hope #LetterYourGrowthMarch becomes your opportunity to take advantage of this season of transformation and really find gratitude in the many evolutions you've already undergone. 

Now, ready to make it happen? Read up on the rules below and invite your friends using the tweet below! 

“Join me in @ckelso’s #BetterLetteringCourse challenge for #LetterYourGrowthMarch! 3 prize winners chosen! http://madevibrant.com/challenge”

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March Prize Pack Giveaway Details

WHAT'S UP FOR GRABS?

This month we're giving away THREE PEN-demonium prize packs with all my favorite pens worth over $50 each! Check out what's up for grabs below:

1. Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pens 2 pack - $9 (aff link)

2. Sakura 6-Piece Gelly Roll Classic White - $9 (aff link)

3. Micron 6-piece Pens Set - $9 (aff link)

4. Paper Mate Felt Tip Pen, 8-Pack, Core Colors - $9 (aff link)

5. Stabilo Pen Set of 10 - $8 (aff link)

6. StaedtlerTriplus Neon Coloring Pens 6 pack - $10 (aff link)

 

HERE'S HOW THE CHALLENGE WORKS:

Every day of March, post a photo of your lettering practice on Instagram using the prompt list below as your daily subject. Interpret each prompt in any way you like.

Every day you complete your practice counts as ONE ENTRY to win the prize packs up for grabs that you see above. (Max one entry per day for all 31 days of March.)

The more days you practice, the more chances you have to win!

Three winners will be randomly selected and announced on Instagram in early April.

THREE SIMPLE RULES FOR ELIGIBILITY:

1. You can letter any word, phrase, lyric, sentence, etc., but it must be at least one word and the word(s) or phrases must be different every day of the challenge. The March prompt list below is encouraged, but it's not required. You can choose whatever subject you like!

2. You MUST include #BetterLetteringCourse in your caption.  (Also feel free to include #LetterYourGrowthMarch, but it's not required.)

Please don't post photos of work you've already completed -- the point is to show up that day and create for the sake of practice! I do my best to check out everyone's work, but feel free to tag me in your caption so I can see your daily pieces - I'm @ckelso!

3. You must be a student of the #BetterLetteringCourse to enter. If you haven't joined us yet, it's only $20 for lifetime access to all 15 videos, teaching you the basics of hand-lettering!

Get Access To The Course - $20

Here's your handy prompt list. I recommend pinning to your Pinterest account, or saving it to your phone/desktop for quick access!

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#BetterLetteringCourse February Challenge: #SelfLoveFebruary

Psst..This challenge has already finished from February 2016. Feel free to use the prompt list below but prizes are no longer available! For the latest challenge details, click here.

Hello, hand-lettering lovers!

February, the Month O' LOOOOVE, is upon us, but instead of stressing out over whether we have valentines, what we want to give our valentines, how much chocolate is too much chocolate to consume (answer: there's no such thing), I thought we could use this monthly challenge to focus on the most important recipient of our love -- ourselves.

This month's prompts are designed to not only help you think positively about yourself, but to also challenge you to feel confident putting those positive feelings out into the world. 

It's not always comfortable to say we love ourselves out loud. Many of us are taught from a young age that doing so might come off arrogant or overly confident. But I believe vocalizing our self-confidence in a sincere way can really help us improve our self-esteem and remind us why we're worth taking care of in the first place. 

When we love ourselves, that's when we're in the best place to love and give to others. 

So, enjoy these self-love prompts all month long and let's encourage each other this month! (Scroll down for the full list of daily prompts!)

Ready to join me? Let's do it! Read up on the rules below and invite your friends using the tweet below! 

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“Join me in celebrating #SelfLoveFebruary for @ckelso’s #BetterLetteringCourse challenge! 3 prize winners chosen! bit.ly/FebLettering”

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February Prize Pack Giveaway Details

WHAT'S UP FOR GRABS?

This month we're giving away THREE mega prizes worth over $50 each! When I was a kid, it was my DREAM to get one of those huge multipacks of Crayola markers, so this month I thought it would be fun to give one away!  Check out what's up for grabs below:

1. Hand-Lettering Ledger - $11 (aff link)

2. Crayola Washable Marker Variety Pack (64 Count) - $21 (aff link)

3. Strathmore Tracing Paper Pad, 9 by 12-Inch - $8 (aff link)

4. Micron 8-Piece Pen Set - $14 (aff link)

HERE'S HOW THE CHALLENGE WORKS:

Every day of February, post a photo of your lettering practice on Instagram using the prompt list below as your daily subject. Interpret each prompt in any way you like.

Every day you complete your practice counts as ONE ENTRY to win the MEGA prize pack up for grabs that you see above. (Max one entry per day for all 29 days of February.)

The more days you practice, the more chances you have to win!

Three winners will be randomly selected.

THREE SIMPLE RULES FOR ELIGIBILITY:

1. You can letter any word, phrase, lyric, sentence, etc., but it must be at least one word and the word(s) or phrases must be different every day of the challenge. The February prompt list below is encouraged, but it's not required. You can choose whatever subject you like!

2. You MUST include #BetterLetteringCourse in your caption.  (Also feel free to include #SelfLoveFebruary, but it's not required.)

Please don't post photos of work you've already completed -- the point is to show up that day and create for the sake of practice! I do my best to check out everyone's work, but feel free to tag me in your caption so I can see your daily pieces - I'm @ckelso!

3. You must be a student of the #BetterLetteringCourse to enter. If you haven't joined us yet, it's only $20 for lifetime access to all 15 videos, teaching you the basics of hand-lettering!

GET ACCESS TO THE COURSE NOW - $20
 

Here's your handy prompt list. I recommend pinning to your Pinterest account, or saving it to your phone/desktop for quick access!

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#BetterLetteringCourse January Challenge: #In2016WhatIfI

Psst..This challenge has already finished from January 2016. Feel free to use the prompt list below but prizes are no longer available! For the latest challenge details, click here.

New year, new possibilities my gorgeous friends!

To kick off the dawning of another amazing revolution around the sun, I wanted to use this artistic community to meditate on the idea of possibilities this month. 

Each and every one of our lives has unlimited potential; our ability to unleash that potential, however, depends on whether we first take the time to imagine the unseen places our paths could lead us and then take action in our daily lives to get there. 

That's why, for this month's lettering challenge, I want us all to explore the possibilities that this new year could bring. Each day in January I want you to fill in the following sentence using the prompt list below, and I want you to really allow yourself to imagine where your life could take you in 2016 if you take action on just a few of these ideas: 

"In 2016, what if I..."

(Scroll down for the full list of daily prompts!)

Ready to join me? Let's do it! Read up on the rules below and invite your friends using the tweet below! 

“Share your #In2016WhatIfI this month for @ckelso’s #BetterLetteringCourse challenge! 3 prize winners chosen! bit.ly/JanLettering”

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January Prize Pack Giveaway Details

 

WHAT'S UP FOR GRABS?

This month we're giving away THREE mega prizes!  Check out what's up for grabs below:

1. More Creative Lettering - $13 (aff link)

2. A custom "paint smear" lettering piece by me! You give me your phrase or quote, I'll design an 8 x 10 hand-lettered piece with your custom colors!

3. Sharpie 24-Pack Colored Markers - $13 (aff link)

4. Canson Multi Media Paper Pad - $10 (aff link)

5. 6-pack Black Micron Pens - $11 (aff link)

 

HERE'S HOW THE CHALLENGE WORKS:

Every day of January, post a photo of your lettering practice on Instagram using the prompt list below as your daily subject. Interpret each prompt in any way you like.

Every day you complete your practice counts as ONE ENTRY to win the MEGA prize pack up for grabs that you see above. (Max one entry per day for all 31 days of January.) 

The more days you practice, the more chances you have to win!

Two winners will be randomly selected and one winner will be voted on by the Instagram community

 

THREE SIMPLE RULES FOR ELIGIBILITY:

1. You can letter any word, phrase, lyric, sentence, etc., but it must be at least one word and the word(s) or phrases must be different every day of the challenge. The January prompt list below is encouraged, but it's not required. You can choose whatever subject you like! 

2. You MUST include #BetterLetteringCourse in your caption.  (Also feel free to include #In2016WhatIfI, but it's not required.) 

Please don't post photos of work you've already completed -- the point is to show up that day and create for the sake of practice! I do my best to check out everyone's work, but feel free to tag me in your caption so I can see your daily pieces - I'm @ckelso!

3. You must be a student of the #BetterLetteringCourse to enter. If you haven't joined us yet, it's only $20 for lifetime access to all 15 videos, teaching you the basics of hand-lettering! 

Get Access To The course Now - $20 | Learn More

Here's your handy prompt list. I recommend pinning to your Pinterest account, or saving it to your phone/desktop for quick access!

Let's kick 2016 off right and imagine all the fantastic opportunities in store!

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#BetterLetteringCourse December Challenge: #LetteredReflections

Psst..This challenge has already finished from December 2015. Feel free to use the prompt list below but prizes are no longer available! For the latest challenge details, click here.

It's hard to believe it but the holiday season is already upon us!

For the last monthly lettering challenge of 2015, I thought it would be fun to reflect back on the year and stay mindful of all the wonderful memories, challenges, lessons, revelations, etc. that it brought.

That's why December's theme for the Better Lettering Course Instagram Challenge is #LetteredReflections! 

Every day of the month, use the prompt list in this post to reflect back on a different aspect of 2015. Not only will it be a fun way to soak in the final days of the year, but there are also some fantastic lettering prizes up for grabs -- with more winners than ever before!

Ready to join me? I hope so! Read up on the rules below and invite your friends using the tweet below! 

“Share your #letteredreflections this month for @ckelso’s #BetterLetteringCourse challenge! 13 prize winners chosen! bit.ly/DecLettering”

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December Prize Pack Giveaway Details

Two ways to win! WHAT'S UP FOR GRABS?

This month we're giving away more prizes than EVER before!! Not only will we be giving away ONEPRIZE A DAY for the first 12 days of December, but we'll also be giving away one MEGA prize pack at the end of the month as well! Check out what's up for grabs below:

 

-- 12 Days of Giving --

For the first 12 days of December, I'll be picking one student/entry each day to win one of the awesome lettering goodies below. I'll be selecting them at random so you won't know what you get until you receive it in the mail! 

1. In Progress (Hardback) - $19 (aff link)

2. Creative Lettering (Paperback) - $16 (aff link)

3. More Creative Lettering - $13 (aff link)

4. 6-Pack Black Micron Pens - $11 (aff link)

5. Tombow Dual Art Brush Pens & Tombow Blending Kit Palette - $31 (aff links - pens / palette)

6. Pentel Arts Aquash Water Brush Assorted Tips - $15 (aff link)

7. Prisma Colored Pencils, set of 24 - $20 (aff link)

8. Sakura 6-Piece Gelly Roll Classic Pens - $9 (aff link)

9. 2 Canson Multi Media Paper Pads & Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen - $29 (aff links - paper / pen)

10. A custom "paint smear" lettering piece by me! You give me your phrase or quote, I'll design an 8 x 10 hand-lettered piece with your custom colors!

11. Liquitex Acrylic Paints - $21 (aff link)

12. Loew-Cornell Brush Set & Simply Art Assorted Palettes - $17 (aff links - brushes / palettes
 

-- Mega Prize Pack --

But the fun doesn't stop there! As a reward for posting ALL MONTH LONG, I'll also be selecting one winner at the end of December to receive this MEGA prize pack, listed at over $100! 

1. A custom "paint smear" lettering piece by me! You give me your phrase or quote, I'll design an 8 x 10 hand-lettered piece with your custom colors!

2. 2 Canson Multi Media Paper Pads - $16 (aff link)

3. Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen - $6 (aff link)

4. Simply Art Assorted Palettes - $6 (aff link)

5. 6-Pack Black Micron Pens - $11 (aff link)

6. Liquitex Acrylic Paints - $21 (aff link)

7. Tombow Dual Art Brush Pens - $20 (aff link)

8. Tombow Blending Kit Palette - $7 (aff link)

9. Sakura 6-Piece Gelly Roll Classic Pens - $9 (aff link)

10. Loew-Cornell Brush Set - $11 (aff link)

HERE'S HOW THE CHALLENGE WORKS:

Every day of December, post a photo of your lettering practice on Instagram using the prompt list below as your daily subject. Interpret each prompt in any way you like.

Every day you complete your practice counts as ONE ENTRY to win the MEGA prize pack up for grabs that you see above. (Max one entry per day for all 31 days of December.) 

Also, December 1 - 12 only, one entry per day will be chosen to receive one of the 12 Days of Giving prizes! 

The more days you practice, the more chances you have to win!

 

THREE SIMPLE RULES FOR ELIGIBILITY:

1. You can letter any word, phrase, lyric, sentence, etc., but it must be at least one word and the word(s) or phrases must be different every day of the challenge. The December prompt list below is encouraged, but it's not required. You can choose whatever subject you like! 

2. You MUST include #BetterLetteringCourse in your caption.  (Also feel free to include #LetteredReflections but it's not required.) 

Please don't post photos of work you've already completed -- the point is to show up that day and create for the sake of practice! I do my best to check out everyone's work, but feel free to tag me in your caption so I can see your daily pieces - I'm @ckelso!

3. You must be a student of the #BetterLetteringCourse to enter. If you haven't joined us yet, it's only $20 for lifetime access to all 15 videos, teaching you the basics of hand-lettering! 

Get Access To The course Now - $20 | Learn More

Here's your handy prompt list. I recommend pinning to your Pinterest account, or saving it to your phone/desktop for quick access!

I'm looking forward to using this challenge to reflect back on all this year has brought us and begin to look toward 2016. 

Wishing you a happy and mindful holiday season!

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#BetterLetteringCourse November Challenge: #LetterYourGratitude

Psst..This challenge has already finished from November 2015. Feel free to use the prompt list below but prizes are no longer available! For the latest challenge details, click here.

Holy (pumpkin-spiced) guacamole, y'all, it is almost NOVEMBER!

That means Thanksgiving is just around the corner -- one of my favorite holidays of the year! Food, family, warm and coziness.... did I mention food? :)

Even more than all that though, this time of the year inevitably leaves me with my mind centered on gratitude. And that's what I want to focus on with this month's challenge.

You guys know I love the challenge of cultivating a daily art practice, but you know what's even cooler than that? When I can also turn that into a daily mindfulness practice. And that's the goal here: allow your art to help you bring attention each and every day to one thing you could be grateful for. 

So... November's theme for the Better Lettering Course Instagram Challenge is #LetterYourGratitude! 

Every day of the month, use the prompt list below to zero in on one unique aspect of your life and turn that into a lettering piece so you can sit with a moment or two of gratitude each day. 

Ready to join me? I hope so! Read up on the rules below and invite your friends using the tweet below! 

“Join me and #letteryourgratitude this month for @ckelso’s #BetterLetteringCourse challenge! Win 1 of 5 prize packs! bit.ly/NovLettering”

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November Prize Pack Giveaway Details

WHAT'S UP FOR GRABS?

The prize pack listed below is worth over $60 and this month again, FIVE winners will receive this full prize pack:

1. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert (Hardcover) - $13 (aff link)

2. Sharpie Pine Point Assorted 24-Pack - $13 (aff link)

3. Just Add Color: Geometric Patterns by Lisa Congdon - $11 (aff link)

4. Sanford Prismacolor Watercolor Pencil Set, 12 pack - $12 (aff link)

5. A custom hand-lettered “Sharpie” lettering piece by me! You give me your phrase or quote, I'll design an 8 x 10 hand-lettered piece with your custom colors!
 

HERE'S HOW THE CHALLENGE WORKS:

Every day of November, post a photo of your lettering practice on Instagram using the prompt list below as your daily subject. Interpret each word in any way you like (or just letter the word itself!)

Every day you complete your practice counts as ONE ENTRY to win one of the five prize packs up for grabs that you see above. (Max one entry per day for all 30 days of November.) 

The more days you practice, the more chances you have to win!
 

THREE SIMPLE RULES FOR ELIGIBILITY:

1. You can letter any word, phrase, lyric, sentence, etc., but it must be at least one word and the word(s) or phrases must be different every day of the challenge. The November prompt list below is encouraged, but it's not required. You can choose whatever subject you like! 

2. You MUST include #BetterLetteringCourse in your caption.  (Also feel free to include #LetterYourGratitude but it's not required.) 

Please don't post photos of work you've already completed -- the point is to show up that day and create for the sake of practice! I do my best to check out everyone's work, but feel free to tag me in your caption so I can see your daily pieces - I'm @ckelso!

3. You must be a student of the #BetterLetteringCourse to enter. If you haven't joined us yet, it's only $20 for lifetime access to all 15 videos, teaching you the basics of hand-lettering! 

Get Access to the course now $20 | Learn More

Here's your handy prompt list. I recommend pinning to your Pinterest account, or saving it to your phone/desktop for quick access!

Let's use this month's challenge to stay mindful of the all the positive things that touch our daily lives! 

Happy lettering! So grateful for you all!

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#BetterLetteringCourse October Challenge: #InspiredbyInstaOctober

Psst..This challenge has already finished from October 2015. Feel free to use the prompt list below but prizes are no longer available! For the latest challenge details, click here.

I'm especially excited about October's lettering challenge, because this month we are switching it up, my friends!

Not only are we changing up the prizes, we've got a fun new theme that should stretch your creativity and get you excited to keep creating on a regular basis!

As most of you know, for the past few months I've been giving away one MEGA prize pack to a lucky, randomly selected winner who participates in the monthly challenge.

And while it's been awesome to see the excitement generated by that, I have to be honest, every month I find myself thinking, I want more people to win! (What can I say, I'm a sucker for giving away fun prizes!)

So... this month I've decided to up the ante and give away 5 (yes, 5!) total creativity prize packs, each with lettering and creativity goodies that will leave you inspired, plus a custom hand-lettered piece by me! (You can check out what's in each prize pack below!)

Now, what about the new theme?

Introducing... #InspiredByInstaOctober! I wanted a way to bring a fresh perspective to the daily prompt list, plus encourage more interaction in the fantastic #BetterLetteringCourse community that has developed, and that's where the "Inspired by Insta" idea came from. 

The idea is to look through your Instagram feed and find photos that inspire you. Then, every day of the month, use the prompt list below to create a lettering piece based on the word of the day and created with your inspiration photo in mind! Tag the user who inspired you in your caption, and share your photo so we can see your beautiful work AND see how you interpreted a unique piece of inspiration! Here's an idea of how that might work so you can visualize it: 

**Keep in mind you DO NOT have to include the "inspired by" tag actually on your image like I did, just be sure to include it in your caption.** 

So... what do you say? Are you in?

If so, I hope you'll click this tweet and invite some of your friends/followers to play along! The more people in the community, the more we can encourage each other with our art. 

Join me in the #BetterLetteringCourse October Challenge by @ckelso! 5 prize packs are up for grabs!

“Join me in the #BetterLetteringCourse October Challenge by @ckelso! 5 prize packs are up for grabs!”

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October Prize Pack Giveaway Details

WHAT'S UP FOR GRABS?

The prize pack listed below is worth over $60 and this month, FIVE winners will receive this full prize pack:

1. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert (Hardcover) - $13 (aff link)

2. Sharpie Pine Point Assorted 24-Pack - $13 (aff link)

3. Just Add Color: Geometric Patterns by Lisa Congdon - $11 (aff link)

4. Sanford Prismacolor Watercolor Pencil Set, 12 pack - $12 (aff link)

5. A custom hand-lettered “Sharpie” lettering piece by me! You give me your phrase or quote, I'll design an 8 x 10 hand-lettered piece with your custom colors!

HERE'S HOW THE CHALLENGE WORKS:

Every day of October, post a photo of your lettering practice on Instagram using the prompt list below as your daily subject. Interpret each word in any way you like (or just letter the word itself!)

As for the style of your lettering piece, select a photo on Instagram to serve as your inspiration and be sure to tag the user who inspired you in your post caption.

Every day you complete your practice counts as ONE ENTRY to win one of the five prize packs up for grabs that you see above. (Max one entry per day for all 31 days of October.) 

The more days you practice, the more chances you have to win!

THREE SIMPLE RULES FOR ELIGIBILITY:

1. You can letter any word, phrase, lyric, sentence, etc., but it must be at least one word and the word(s) or phrases must be different every day of the challenge. The October prompt list below is encouraged, but it's not required. You can choose whatever subject you like! 

2. You MUST include #BetterLetteringCourse in your caption AND tag an Instagram user whose photo served as your inspiration in order for your entry to be counted. 

(Also feel free to include #InspiredByInstaOctober but it's not required.) Please don't post photos of work you've already completed -- the point is to show up that day and create for the sake of practice! I do my best to check out everyone's work, but feel free to tag me in your caption so I can see your daily pieces - I'm @ckelso!

3. You must be a student of the #BetterLetteringCourse to enter. If you haven't joined us yet, it's only $20 for lifetime access to all 15 videos, teaching you the basics of hand-lettering! 

GET ACCESS TO THE COURSE NOW - $20 | Learn More

Excited to see what all of you create this month. Let's stretch our creative legs and push our own boundaries! 

Happy making! Looking forward to it!

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#BetterLetteringCourse August Challenge

Psst..This challenge has already finished from August 2015. Feel free to use the prompt list below but prizes are no longer available! For the latest challenge details, click here.

August is almost here and that means yet another monthly lettering challenge on Instagram!

The Mega Prize Pack seemed to be a big hit last month so I'm going to give another one away in August. Check out the image below for everything that's included. 

I haven't decided what kind of lettering I'll be doing for the month, though I really enjoyed my "Sharpie frames" from this month: 

So, will you be joining us? 

Check out the details below and feel free to tweet and recruit some friends! I love seeing everyone's work -- and I especially love seeing the progress over the course of the month. Can't wait! 

“Join me in the #BetterLetteringCourse August Challenge by @ckelso! $150 prize up for grabs! bit.ly/AugustLettering”

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August Prize Pack Giveaway Details

 

WHAT'S UP FOR GRABS?

This MEGA prize pack, valued at over $150, is filled with art goodies galore! Some hand-lettering books, watercolor and ink lettering supplies, and some of my favorite classic pens for lettering. Plus a mystery item from my favorite shop in San Diego! 

1. Whatever You Are Be A Good One (book of hand-lettered quotes) by Lisa Congdon - $11 (aff link)

2. Hand-Lettering Ledger: A Practical Guide to Creating Serif, Script, Illustrated, Ornate, and Other Totally Original Hand-Drawn Styles by Mary Kate McDevitt - $15 (aff link)

3. Little Book of Lettering by Emily Gregory  - $13 (aff link)

4. Mystery item from my favorite local paper shop! - $20

5. Fw Fluorescent Acrylic Ink Neon 6 Set - $20 (aff link)

6. Pentel Aqua Water Brush Assorted Tips, 3 pack - $16 (aff link)

7. Loew Cornell Simply Art Watercolor Cakes $4 (aff link)

8. Creative Letterer Watercolor and Beyond Brush Set - $8 (aff link)

9.Tombow Dual Brush Pen Art Markers, Bright, 10-Pack - $22 (aff link)

10. Pentel Slicci Metallic 0.8 mm Gel Pen, Assorted Metallic 3 Pack - $10 (aff link)

11. Sakura 6-Piece Micron Ink Pen Set, Black - $9 (aff link)

 

HERE’S HOW THE CHALLENGE WORKS: 

Every day of August, post a photo of your lettering practice on Instagram using the prompt list below. Interpret each word in any way you like (or just letter the word itself!)

Every day that you complete your practice counts as ONE ENTRY to win one MEGA prize pack that you see above with some of my favorite lettering goodies. (Max one entry per day for all 31 days of August.) The more days you practice, the more chances you have to win! In addition to the prize pack, I'll be giving away 5 gift certificates to the #BetterLetteringCourse so you could win the chance to give the gift of lettering to a friend! 

 

THREE SIMPLE RULES FOR ELIGIBILITY: 

1. You can letter any word, phrase, lyric, sentence, etc., but it must be at least one word and the word(s) or phrases must be different every day of the challenge. The August prompt list below is encouraged, but it's not required. You can choose whatever subject you like! 

2. You MUST include #BetterLetteringCourse in your caption (so I can keep track of who's participating the in the challenge!) Please don't post photos of work you've already completed - the point is to show up that day and create for the sake of practice! I do my best to check out everyone's work, but feel free to tag me in your caption so I can see your daily pieces - I'm @ckelso!

3. You must be a student of the #BetterLetteringCourse to enter. If you haven't joined us yet, it's only $20 for lifetime access to all 15 videos, teaching you the basics of hand-lettering! 

Get Access To The Course Now - $20 | Learn More

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Here's your handy prompt list. I recommend pinning to your Pinterest account, or saving it to your phone/desktop for quick access!

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