1st Prize

Sarah Stainback has been a faithful entrant of the smART Card Stamping Contest ever since she first read about its existence in RubberStampMadness magazine over a year ago.  She is also living proof that persistence pays off -- including this round, one of Sarah's cards has "placed" in each of the last four quarters.

This time Sarah captured 1st Prize with her entry entitled, "Friends" -- Here's why:

Created by combining two unrelated sets of rubber, DK-05 Friends, and BV-18 Ps.121:1-2, Sarah's composition is certainly original.  She used no words, yet her scene speaks volumes, and has the ability to transport the viewer to the place depicted.  One of the judges remarked, "I can look at this card, and feel summer..."

"Friends" is also unique in another way -- Sarah thought outside the box, and changed the lake in the BV-18 image into a field.  This ability to look at a stamp and expand its possibilities is always impressive.  Personally, I now keep asking myself, why I never thought of that?!?

Sarah's techniques of choice, stamping & watercolors on watercolor paper, and layering, are basic, but so well done that the element of stamping practically disappears... Friends actually looks sketched/painted. 

Additionally, Sarah strengthened the scene's sense of realism, and added depth by stamping the background image in gray, and the foreground image in black... She also stamped, colored, and cut out the girls image separately, then glued it (flat) onto the scene... Another nice, yet subtle, dimensional "booster shot."   

As for general appeal of presentation, I can't think of any friend who wouldn't be happy to open this card and feel the preview message before reading whatever has actually been written inside... Personally, I consider "Friends" to be not just a card, but frame-worthy stamped art.

Thank you, Sarah, and congratulations!

"Friends" has earned Sarah a $20.00 gift certificate good for more smART rubber, and 2 any size (even custom) The Clear Thing handcrafted, acrylic mounting blocks.