In the Works...

'Christmas'

'Christmas' isn't just around the corner, it's also the word chosen by design team member, Giovana, for December's smART-Word Challenge. 

My challenge card, which posted earlier in the week at the challenge blog, uses images from the two, newest, smART, Christmas-themed, stamp sets, CMS-27 Merry Mix and CMS-28 Ornaments...
 
The inks used:  For the layered pine branch, and sponging around the rounded edges of the foreground panel - Memories Hunter Green, Memories Grass, and Versafine Smokey Grey.  For the saying - the Versafine grey.  For the ornament - Versamagic Sea Breeze (base layer), Memories Aqua, (middle layer), and Versamark with Jeweled Gold embossing powder (top layer).

The trio ornament was stamped twice, once on the foreground panel, and once on scrap for cutting out.  The cut out was then slightly 'popped' using thin chipboard, and adhered over the panel image.

Embellishments for the ornament included (3)8-petal daisy punchies, matching rhinestones, and gold glitter glue.

To hang the ornament from the branches, gold thread was 'sewn' in a single long stitch through the stamped panel, then tied off and taped to the panel's reverse side.

The stamped panel was then mounted to a slightly larger, square-edged layer, and adhered to the card front.  This card measures 4.25" x 5.5".

The bling-bling of the ornament (IRL it's super sparkly) against the somewhat muted background turned out to be a winning combination, and yet didn''t detract from what I consider the most important part of the card -- the saying...

As ornaments of grace, may we reflect God's love not only at Christmas, but every day of the year.

After all, 'Christmas' is about remembering the demonstration of God's great love to us, and in turn, being reminded to pass it on...

Susan T. 

Something From Peggy

In my last post I ended by letting you know that that Peggy Lamb's smART Cookie gallery was due for an update... Well, Saturday I buckled down, and made that 'to do' a priority... I then used the rest of the weekend debating over which card/s to choose and highlight here...

Peggy worked with two stamp sets this time - SBO-Happy Silhouettes, and HSD-Duck Paddle, so I thought I'd share one card from each set.

Since I'm a total sucker for silhouette images, choosing just one example from Peggy's six, fabulous Happy Silhouettes cards was beyond difficult.  I'd pick up each card in turn and say, "Oh, I love this one!"  Turns out there wasn't one I didn't 'love', so in the end, I had to use some other criteria for displaying one over the others...

My decision -- Wise Words.  Why?  Because it was so completely unexpected. At first glance I thought 'pretty', but was a little disappointed that it was just a saying from the set stamped in an oval frame.  I did note the background 'print', and wondered where Peggy had found it.  Then, a couple of minutes later, while I was looking at another card, something registered, and I scrambled around to grab Wise Words again... That wasn't 'print!  The background had been created by stamping and embossing one of the silhouettes!  That's when Wise Words went from a really 'pretty' card to 'WOW' creation!  Also notice that Peggy punched the flower embellishment from the same stamped and embossed stock... Summed up, this card is elegant, clever, balanced, beautifully executed, and really shows how versatile Happy Silhouettes can be.  I also like the meaningful title.

Peggy's second card, Simply Ducky, is simply pleasing.  The shape, created from a Nestabilities Labels 8 die was what initially caught my eye, but then I noticed how naturally the color scheme and embellishments tie in with the image, how the subtlety of the embossed, decorative print does the same, and how that print was carried from the background into the foreground by incorporating it into the punched leaves.  I also appreciate the gender versatility of this card  -- unless completely 'duck phobic', anyone, male or female, would enjoy being the recipient.  Lastly, beyond being great for a greeting, Simply Ducky would also be a super 'display' card -- mount it in a wooden frame (glass removed) , and voila!   
  
Peggy's entire batch of cards from both sets was awesome, so make sure to pop by her updated gallery to see the others... I guarantee you'll enjoy the visit.  You'll also have a chance to see Wise Words, and Simply Ducky in larger sizes, and with more detail.

Until next time,

The 'To Do' List

I can never understand anyone who says she's 'bored' because I always have something to do.  In fact, my physical and mental lists of things I need to do, or want to do, or hope get to 'someday' are endless...

Such is the case with sharing this recently sent in, as in several weeks ago, card by smART Cookie, Giovana.  It was made using the CMS-06 Wreath Kit stamp set, and sharing it has been on my main 'to do' list since before Thanksgiving.

Giovana sent in Merry & Bright Holiday Door with a packet of cards, so of course, that meant 'time to update her gallery'.  I actually completed the gallery update quite promptly, but due to a myriad of the unanticipated, and time out for the holiday, I seemingly never managed squeezing in a post to mention it.  Sorry, Giovana. 

It wasn't easy to choose a single card for highlighting Giovana's work because her packet contained some really beautiful cards... so this time my choice was made by virtue of two things: 

1.  Simplicity at it's finest, and
2.  Cleverness in using the stamp set.

Giovana's execution of the door card -- 
Four rectangular pieces were cut from white stock and their edges were inked in gold. Using foam squares, these panels were then adhered to the front of a top-folded card base (edges also gold-inked).  The wreath was stamped and embossed in gold, cut out, and again, using foam squares, adhered to the card.  A red bow was added to the top of the wreath, and a cabochon was added as a doorknob.

The inside of the card looks like this, and ties in the 'merry & bright' of the title.  I think it also ties in nicely with the wreath because to me a wreath on any front door speaks of 'merry & bright' inside the house. (Stamp from CMS-16 Merry & Bright)

Next on that 'to do' list???  A packet of cards from Peggy.  I'm waaaaaay behind on that one too!

Susan T.