PLEASE reach out to the inactive members that you personally know or chat with sometimes and ask them to participate at least once or twice this year! You don’t have to participate every month. And members if all you can manage is one or two cards that is fine, still mail them in. We’d rather you get to participate then miss out completely!
- January – OPEN THEME
Draw whatever you’d like! Mailing in older cards that you completed last year or within the past few years is acceptable ONLY IF those were honest effort cards that you really believe someone might be happy to receive back in their envelopes. Please don’t send in something that you tried to trade and no one ever wanted. Folks participating in this month’s theme understand that what you get back might be anything. I will try to swap cards around based on composition, detail, amount of effort etc. to the best of my ability.
- February – Funky February Challenge
A daily art challenge with a different fun prompt each day. (Daily prompt list will be posted and pinned soon) We don’t expect you to actually create 28 ATC!! But we hope you’ll make at lease 3 to mail in for the swap. If you sketch each day I hope you’ll share in the channel and get active in the community! We all love seeing sketches! If you are very motivated and do happen to create 28 then send in some cards and maybe have fun trading the others on our discord #available-for-trade channel!?
FUNKY FEBRUARY CHALLENGE LIST will be added here once the printable photo graphic is made! The list is something easy that you can use to help mix in with the rest of the year’s themes as a subtheme if you want, but of course always go in whatever direction you’d like with each monthly theme as long as you manage the theme requirement.
- March – Cats in Clothes
This is pretty obvious, please draw cats in clothes.
- April – Comic Panels
EACH CARD must have at least 2 (or more) comic panels on it and a character/creature. One card is NOT ONE panel, each CARD is at least 2 or more panels (yes you can fit at least 2 on there! I believe in you!) You can make your panels any shapes you want. It does not have to have text bubbles but the viewer must be able to see that it has some story or sequence from looking at the card. All of your cards do NOT have to feature the same characters or story.
- May – Everyday Scenes
Scenes from yours or a character’s daily life. Reading, cooking, shopping, hobbies etc. Show us your character going about their life. If you want to make it even more interesting throw in something unexpected in your scene.
- June – Spell book Pages
You can design your card as spell book pages or grimoire!
- July – Other world Adventures
You know what to do! Sci-fi or Fantasy adventures, or reality based adventure. Just lots of adventure! 
Be sure to include a character!
- August – Monsters
Monsters, and more monsters! Whatever kind of monster you’d like!
- September – Endangered or Exotic Animals
Real animals are preferred but if you want to invent a fantasy, scifi or whimsical one it MUST resemble, definitely look like and be based on a real endangered or exotic animal. Such that the viewer looks at it and immediately goes “oh yeah that’s a…”
- October – Black and White Spooky
Example of materials: Pen, Ink, acrylic, watercolor, Graphite, Chalk pastel, Markers. Yes grey scale is ok! Please spray seal if you choose graphite or any materials that can smear or fade. No colors outside of black, white or greyscale. If your black ink naturally has a tone to it that is OK because I know some sumi or black inks have a natural hint of an underlying color. As long as it’s labeled as black ink and you aren’t ADDING or mixing in color to your inks or paints.
- November – Land & Cityscapes
Land or city as long as its a view of a bigger area, not a close up. Cards can be Vertical or Horizontal format, your choice. I hope that you’ll include at least one Land and one City to challenge yourself but it is NOT REQUIRED to do one of each. Ultimately create whatever scapes appeal to you. YES, They can be fantasy or sci-fi views. Seascapes are also acceptable but ONLY IF your card also includes a lot of land, boats, etc. not just a horizon view of an open sea as that is not very challenging. You can include small characters but CHARACTERS ARE NOT REQUIRED and SHOULDN’T BE THE MAIN FOCUS of the card. (For example if a character is included it shouldn’t take up more then a quarter of the card).
- December – MMH Game!
During the month of December I ask that everyone please play the Make Me Happy game on the discord in the channele – at least one time. That way we can all still receive some happy mail in Deccember. You DO NOT MAIL to Pabkins, you message the person from the game and get their mailing address and mail directly to them. Anyone who has an aqua display name in the discord can participate. If you haven’t participated in ATCitup for years you might be in “sleepy” status – just reach out to me and I’ll update your server status so you can participate but please please at least try to do one of the other themes during the 2026 year.
If ever in doubt just shoot me an email to ask a question, or you can DM me directly on discord or instagram.
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These monthly themes are intended as a CHALLENGE as well as a way to trade fabulous original art and bond our little art community. Please rise to the challenge and treat your fellow artists with respect by putting in your best efforts. If you are unwilling to put forth true effort then please do not apply to join!