Welcome to the Art with Heart Challenge and the debut of the Eileen Hull Inspiration Team!  Each month this talented group of designers will be showcasing their creative style and inspiring you to create!  Our theme this month is “New Beginnings” and I am so happy to have you join us as we embark on a new creative adventure!

Wow, I look at the collage above and think, “How did I get so lucky?”

First of all, I want to thank Amy Bowerman of Plucking Daisies, my fabulous Inspiration Team Coordinator. In addition to being an amazing designer (this girl never runs out of ideas!), she is articulate, tech savvy and fun. I am having such a great time working with her and just want to thank her from the bottom of my heart for all she has done to get this team up and running. Amy also came up with the concept for Artist Trading Blocks and has been busily posting, pinning, blogging and spreading #theATB love everywhere she goes.

As for the Inspiration Team- they are going to knock your socks off! What a fantastic group of designers- they come from all over the world and offer so many beautiful styles of art. I am in awe of the different talents each person brings to the table. I hope you will check back here often to see the new ideas that they will have to show us.

I would also like to thank everyone who applied for the team. It was so hard to choose- we wanted to pick every one!  Please know that we appreciate you.  I am looking forward to the Guest Bloggers we have already lined up! We would love to see what you are up to so please continue to share your creations with us in the Art with Heart challenges each month

The Art with Heart Challenge is a monthly celebration of creativity!  Each month the Inspiration Team will be showcasing their Art with Heart created with Eileen Hull’s innovative Sizzix dies. They will be following a broad theme left entirely open to creative interpretation.  We invite you to play along with us and share YOUR art with heart!

We want this to be a place for everyone to create, inspire and share.  We would love to see what you can do with Eileen Hull’s fabulous products but this is not a requirement.  Use what ever products your artful “heart” desires.  Art is for everyone so come along and share your Art with Heart! 

And now, let’s meet the Inspiration Team!

     Amy Bowerman is a talented designer, teacher and blogger. She crafts all day and writes Google Docs in her sleep. She is the organized mind behind the Inspiration Team and just loves to get inky. Visit her blog at Plucking Daisies

Evgenia Petzer lives in South Africa (but is originally from Russia) and creates beautiful projects which she shares on her blog Evgenia Petzer, along with how-to videos. She also has a great accent!

Shelly Hickox  Shelly gives new meaning to 3D. Give her a die and she will build a cabinet with it! She lives in Missouri and you can see her work at Stamptramp.

Melissa Phillips has an eye for color and beauty and the knack of adding just the right touch on everything she makes. Her feminine shabby-chic style may be seen at Lily Bean Paperie as well as on the Sizzix blog.

Anna-Karin Evaldsson  Anna-Karin is always thinking outside the box and loves to create mixed media art using her favorite stamps, inks, 3D elements and  photos. She lives in Johannesburg, South Africa and is also a member of the Sizzix Design Team. Her blog is called Layers of Ink.

Michelle Zerull  Her style is full of technique, whimsy and fun.  Michelle’s delightful designs are just as clever and cute as her blog name.  She will inspire you to use your supplies in ways you would never have thought of.  For your daily dose of creativity stop by Michelle’s blog Pinch Your Chic

Donna Budzynski   Anything you put into Donna’s hands she will create magic with it.   Her eclectic style and can do attitude to creating has born countless inspiring creations.   There isn’t a style Donna hasn’t touched on and she has a knack for making beautiful art out of everything she touches.  Stop by and see for yourself on Donna’s blog Meme’s Art Place

Rina Gonzales:     The world knows her as the “Mothership Scrapbook Gal”.  Rina Gonzales, the owner of Mothership Scrapbook Gal is a craft events guru and scrapbooking extraordinare. She chronicles her scrapbook projects and crafty ideas on her “Mothership Scrapbook Gal” blog at mothershipscrapbookgal.com

Pam Keravuori  is an well published artist, doodler and photographer living in Northern Virginia. A beautiful sunlit studio where she will be teaching classes and hosting art events is currently under construction on her property. For photos, visit her blog Pamela Jane’s Studio

Beth Watson  Although Beth holds a full time job, she always finds time to create! She makes fresh, clean and pretty art and is always up on the latest and greatest new products. She lives in Florida and you can find her at Beth Watson Design Studio

Tracy Evans   Hails from the UK.  A former shop owner turned full time creator, Tracy is never short on artistic style.  From Mixed-Media grunge pieces to shabby chic collage Tracy’s unique style is sure to inspire you.  Visit her blog Tracy Evans

Beatriz Jennings     Beatriz’s love for paper has blossomed into countless lovely creations from cards and mini-albums to altered art.  Her use of ribbon, buttons, and flowers on her creations is sure to delight and inspire you.  You can see all of the beautiful things Beatriz creates with paper on her blog Iralamija

The Inspiration team is sharing some of their favorite projects for our “New Beginnings” theme.  Stop by and visit each of their blogs , get to know the team.  You are sure to leave inspired!

We would like to invite you to follow along with the Inspiration Teams lead and share your favorite projects (new or old) for the Art with Heart Kick -off challenge “New Beginnings”.   You have till April 3, 2014 to link up your projects  and be entered into the drawing for a fun prize.  Winners will be announced on Friday April 4, 2014.

We want you all to create freely there are no rules here, just a few simple guidelines…

Art with Heart Challenge Guidelines

1. Create a new project following the Art with Heart Challenge Theme (however you interpret the theme) OR if you have created something that fits the theme previously create a new post with a photo and link to the original post.

           *This a great way to expose older projects to fresh eyes!

2. Include a link to the current Art with Heart Challenge in your post so others can play along too!

          *Buttons and graphics are available for you to display in your sidebar if you would like to help us spread the word 🙂

3. When linking up your project please include a direct link to your post.

4. You are not required to use Eileen Hull Products in your projects.  However, those who do use Eileen Hull products will be given two entries into the prize draw.

The Inspiration Team will be back with their first projects for our April Art with Heart Challenge on  Tuesday April 8, 2014.

Be sure to come back each week on Tuesday to see more creative project ideas from the Inspiration Team and check out the latest entries in the challenge.  There is no shortage of inspiring ideas here so kick back and enjoy a healthy dose of creative inspiration!

*Art with Heart Challenge Winners will be announced the last Friday of the month. (Challenges will begin the first Tuesday of the month beginning in May)

That’s it!  So get going, get creative and share your Art with Heart!

Eileen