In the Works...

Going Online...

What you see here, is a cover from our 115-page, print catalog, and up until now, the only means by which smARTworks has been showcasing it's line of images.

Believe me, this choice, although at one time explained in the FAQ section of our official website, has been riddled with pros and cons, and has received both kudos and criticisms.

Lately, however, for a variety of reasons, having a print-only catalog has become more and more time consuming, complicated, and inconvenient.

Soooooooo, after many months of deliberation, this weekend I finally took a deep breath, and began organizing/creating the online version.  What a job!!!

If all continues to go well, at least a protion of the new cyber display, will debut with June's website update.

In case you're wondering, yes, the original paper catty, which includes, color samples, and idea/project pages, will remain available. 

Leaf-alicious

One of the great things about living in Maine is having four distinct seasons.  Right now we are steeped in Spring... All the deciduous trees are in the process of donning new, leafy ensembles, and the world is about a million shades of green.

Hence, the inspiration for this card, which uses smART rubber sets FL-30 Leaves #1 and WD-82 Capture/Seize/Treasure. Download may24.jpg

Working It:

Versafine Olympian Green used on all. 

Inking between impressions, stamp maple leaf several times onto white stock.  Clear emboss. Stamp and clear emboss saying. 

Color leaves with several shades of green. Here you see Radiant Pearls under-laid with Lyra watercolor crayons.

Tear along bottom edge of image panel. Ink edge.

Attach three, matching green mini brads, in a vertical row, along panel's lower right corner.

Edge-tear each short side of two, medium green, card stock strips.  Ink torn edges.

Layer strips and image panel to a side-folded, A-2, darker green card.

FYI - Although they are no longer available on the market, I remain a die hard fan of Radiant Pearls.  The comparable substitute -- Twinkling H2Os. 

Caring Thoughts

One of the most difficult kinds of cards to design and send is a sympathy card.  Even so, sooner or later, every stamper has the occasion to make and send one.  For me, such an occasion presented itself today, when a long-admired friend lost his wonderful mother to the ravages of time and illness.

The roses image selected for this task is from a smART rubber set called Caring Thoughts. Download may22.jpg "Yellow" was the color of choice because yellow roses have long symbolized friendship...

Working It:

Stamp and gold emboss roses onto white scrap. Color as desired. Here you see, Radiant Pearls over a layer of pastel marker.

Leaving a 1/2" margin at the top, stamp and gold emboss "Caring Thoughts..." onto vellum scrap.  Tear along bottom edge.

Adhere image panel to a slightly larger layer of metallic gold.

Sandwiching "margin" area of vellum between layers, adhere image panel to a slightly larger layer of soft green.

Mount all to the front of a 5-in. square, side-folded, cream yellow card.

Joys of Spring

Today, amidst the many raindrops, two joys of spring... The first, our apple trees are just beginning to blossom...  The second, a male bluebird could be seen "checking out" one of our birdhouses for his Mrs. Bluebird. 

The combination of seeing these two joys together, happily reminded me of this card I'd made using images from two sets of smART rubber --

Bird on blossomed branch from Spring #1, and "Thinking of you" from WD-18 Thinking Trio. Download may20.jpg

Working It:  Stamp image and words in black ink (Versafine) onto a white panel.  Clear emboss.  Color as desired. Here you see, markers scribbled on a plastic lid, then applied with a waterbrush.

Edge-punch striped print. Adhere to a top-folded, white card. Notice how both the positive and negative edges of the punched piece have been used.

Layer colored image to a slightly larger black panel.  Placing over print, mount to card front.

Apply yellow glitter glue to the flower centers.

Make a bow from 1/2-inch, black organza ribbon.

This card was sent to my best stamping bud who lives in "New Joisey," but spends part of her "summahs" in Maine.  As she faces a risky surgery this week, my prayers, as well as my thoughts are with her. 

Lots to Learn

Wow! There certainly is  a lot to learn in this blogging game!  The goal today was to work on my "Author's Profile" and design the "About" page.  Ta dah!  Mission accomplished.  Next up will be learning how to upload and post images.  Once I get the hang of that, the real fun can begin...