Gratitude Junk Journal 2021

AMANDA FALL

Amanda Fall is creator and curator of The Phoenix Soul community, including free collaborative blog and 64+ published digital magazine issues. Amanda is an ink-stained, paint-splattered, hot mess of a human, forever re-learning how to love herself and the world. When she’s not spending time with her best friend/husband or chasing their kiddo, Maverick, she craves time spent splashing color in the pages of her many art journals, and creating encouraging art mail for her beloved Patreon flock. Visit her RedBubble for colorful and inspiring home goods and apparel.

GWEN LAFLEUR

Gwen Lafleur is a lifelong artist, crafter, instructor, and world traveler from Herndon, Virginia. She has been involved in arts and crafts her entire life, trying anything from drawing lessons to paper crafts and finally finding her true home as a mixed media artist. Gwen's work has been displayed in galleries and can be found in private collections around the world and has also been published in Cloth Paper Scissors, Somerset Studio, and Creative Scrapbooker magazines. Additionally, Gwen is a product designer and has stencils available through StencilGirl Products, a line of embossing powders and embellishments from Emerald Creek Craft Supplies, and rubber stamps with PaperArtsy.

NATHIFA SLIGH

Nathifa Sligh is the owner of Juicy Christians Studio; a mixed-media art company created to inspire the hearts and stories of women. She is a mail-art enthusiast and loves to create beautiful mixed-media art and envelopes to send out into the world as happy mail. A strong believer in the power of encouraging others and understanding yourself, she also coaches people in discovering and understanding their true genius as a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach. In her spare time, Nathifa loves to spend time with her family, travel, and create.

Well Hello There!

My name is Shawn Petite and I’m a full-time mixed media artist living my dream of creating every day.

I've been teaching and painting for over 30 years in many different mediums but found my art soul mate in mixed media.

I produce my own line of stencils and create soulful and informative online workshops on mixed media.

But most importantly, I try every day to encourage and inspire. To show love with my paintbrush. To leave my little corner of the world a better place.

I’m honored to be able to guide you in the love of mixed media art!

My favorite quote: I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. " Maya Angelou

BIRGIT KOOPSEN

Birgit is married to Erik and a mom of 3. She lives in a little village called Winsum in the north of the Netherlands.

Birgit started scrapbooking in 2003 but then fell in love with mixed media and art journaling. Her favorite things to do right now are art journaling, mono printing and layered collage art. She loves to get her hands dirty and experiment with paints and inks and all kinds of mediums.

Birgit’s art is mostly bright and colorful, with a lot of layers and details. She loves to combine colours that are very contrasting and works a lot with stamps, stencils, inks, acrylic paints and markers.

Birgit teaches and demonstrates in her own studio at home as well as in craft stores and at (international) mixed media events (pre-Covid) and taught a number of (collaborate) online classes. Teaching brought Birgit all over the world. She had the privilege to teach in the US, Canada, India, Australia and Israel but also closer to home in France, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Austria and the UK.

She loves to travel, see new places, meet people and explore different cultures. She considers it a huge bonus that she is able to combine that with her love of teaching and inspiring people to create art.

Since 2014 Birgit has her own product line with Carabelle Studio for whom she designs stamps, stencils and art printing plates. Birgit is a Lead Brand Ambassador for Gelli Arts® and creates monthly video tutorials for the Gelli Arts® You Tube channel and conducts regular live classes for Gelli Arts® and Michaels Stores.

KARLA ARCHER

Karla Archer is a mixed media artist and bright color enthusiast, living in Birmingham, Alabama.

Although she was nurtured and guided in art throughout her schooling, self-doubt and "practical choices" steered her away from her creative outlets for many years.

After doing a 2014 30-day personal blog series sharing her history of panic attacks and anxiety, Karla was directed towards artists who use their art to help cultivate and support their wellbeing and encourage others to do the same.

It was through that sharing community and environment that Karla learned to re-embrace, encourage, and accept the artist she’d always been.

She believes creating art heals and her art has since become an extension of her own therapy as she works through recovery from abuse and trauma. She aims to help others experience the benefits of a creative practice regardless of the level of skill they believe they have.