Creativity on Index Cards or in a Sketchbook
Happy summer with links to three creative challenges that are free online events for everyone - including ICAD
In today’s newsletter: the creative challenge of creating on index cards all summer long (ICAD), the free video binge fest of Sketchbook Revival, 1000 words of writing this summer - and new blog posts of interest.
Index Card A Day Summer Challenge
The free and much loved creative challenge ICAD, index card a day, is hosted as always by my friend
of DaisyYellow blog and fame. All you need to do to join is make sure you have a stack of index card at the ready (order your stack of white or colored index cards today so you’re ready on June first) and then fill one each day during the upcoming summer months. Yes, it’s that easy to participate. It’s a daily, free-form, fun and easy going art challenge that, if you haven’t done it, is a must this year - at least once in your life jump in and give it a try.Read about ICAD here - make sure you follow the official accounts on BlueSky and Instagram, use the correct hashtags and like, comment and share other’s works as well so we can all see them
Also note: If you are feeling lost on where to start, Tammy provides weekly themes and daily prompts to those that need them. But please remember that you do need index cards. Cutting down watercolor or cardstock papers to size, as many do, is not really following the one and only rule: create art on an index card. If you don’t want to create on index card this challenge is not for you. ICAD is all about this cheep office supply, trying stuff out, experimenting, playing with art materials, and doing something quick, daily and fun for yourself. Doesn’t it sound like a glorious time?
But maybe you’d rather fill a sketchbook?
Sketchbook Revival Binge Fest 2025
Karen Abend hosts a wonderful creative event where artists from all over the world demonstrate to us many different ways to work inside a sketchbook (or art journal). It’s a free online event with daily videos being shared throughout about two weeks. This year there is no new content added, instead it’s a binge fest of many years of old videos. Each video is a sketchbook prompt, exercise, idea or concept to play with and if you’ve never signed up, now is the time. It starts May 27th and is open until June 9th, so sign up today.
Sign up for Sketchbook Revival Binge Fest here - It’s totally free and open to everyone - but you have to sign up to receive the video links.
Writing: 1000 words of Summer
hosts a writing challenge open to everyone on her blog, and it is related to her book born out of the challenge, called 1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round. It’s next on my reading list (after I finish her memoir I Came All This Way to Meet You: Writing Myself Home, a book that I am reading to get myself in the mood for writing) and I hope to review it on the blog before June is up. But anyway, she is a writer and she wants to encourage more people to write. Hence the #1000 words of Summer challenge! Starting on June 17 and two weeks forward you will (try to) write about a thousand words each day. Sign up for Jami’s newsletter to get daily encouragements during that period - for free.1000 Words of Summer with Jami Attenberg - sign up for her newsletter Craft Talk to get daily encouragement for two weeks, until June 30.
What kind of summer are you longing and wishing for? Will you do ICAD, sign up for Sketchbook revival or try to write with me and many others in June for #1000wordsofSummer? Let me know in the comments if you’ll do one, two, or all of the above creative challenges.
Studio iHanna Blog News
Here’s what I’ve been up to on the blog lately, click on each headline to read the rest and leave a comment on the blog:
New today: Postal Update & Link Love
All address lists have been sent out to participants in the DIY Postcard Swap…
Leftover Scraps Art Journaling
I want to share a page in my Art Journal, but not only that: the whole process…
Spotted Photo Theme: Repeating patterns
When ever I am out on a photo walk or out on any excursion where I’m bringing my camera…
Think pink baby doll | Collage week 10
It’s been over a month since I shared any collages and week 9: visiting the continent…
Welcome Cherry Blossom Season
Art Journal Prep: a color explosion
Book review: Freestyle Color Collage Quilting
Thanks for reading, sharing, hearting, quoting, commenting and being your generally awesome self. Take care and stay creative,
Wishing you a lovely summer,
/Hanna
Thank you for sharing! Already signed up for Sketchbook Revival but the index card things sounds like the perfect way for me to fill up my vintage roladex.
Thanks for the shout-out 🥰 and I know it’s crazy but might do 1000 words of summer too because I’ve been wanting to for awhile!