In the Works...

Gratitude

Gratitude is "the feeling of being thankful to someone for something" which aptly goes with the sentiments surrounding this month's upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, and hence the reason I chose it as November's smART-Word.  To me, by definition, this means gratitude goes beyond saying 'thank you'.  It's an attitude that remembers good things received. 

The trouble with attitudes, however, is that good ones don't necessarily come naturally. Most need cultivating, and gratitude is one of those.  How do I know?  All I have to do is take a look at the wandering Israelites of the Old Testament, or at the lives of my own children, or dare I admit it?  In the mirror... Too often, good things, even great things, get forgotten waaaaaaay too quickly.
 
I think that's why I've always liked the quote by Henry Ward Beecher that was rubberized awhile back, and used on this card for November's smART-Word Challenge:

"Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul."

Like a delicate flower, true gratitude is a thing of beauty, that stems from deep, abiding thankfulness... It brightens the lives of all who see it, and increases the 'happy quotient' for both receiver and giver.  Just imagine what the world would be like if we each kept a  gratitude 'bouquet' to the Lord, and to others, sitting on our heart shelves!?!

My smART-Word Challenge card  is a product-based creation -- Ranger's Distress inks (vintage photo and peeled paint) and Distress embossing powder (walnut stain).

I must tell you that I'm not a big fan of using distress techniques -- not that I don't like what I see if done by others, just that I don't like using them myself -- probably because I never feel good about the end results... Try as I will, most of the time, I just see 'messy'.

Anyhoo, this card was actually an attempt to salvage a section of file folder that I'd spritzed, rubbed randomly with the two inks, spritzed some more, then in frustration, tossed aside.  The next day, after things had dried, I decided to 'do something' with the mess vs. throw it away, so pulled out my single jar of Distress embossing powder...

Used over images stamped in Versamark ink, it gave the flowers (FL-09 Darling Duo) and saying (WD-15 Gratitude) a very unique, grainy texture, almost like sandpaper.  While I know you're really supposed to rub over the 'cooked' powder, and further distress, I opted to avoid additional frustration, and leave the powder intact.

I didn't seem to have matching brown stock for matting, so chose an off-brown instead, and tied in the vintage photo color by using it to stamp around the edges with a background image from BG-04 Mesh.

Now all I have to do is remember to 'cultivate an attitude of gratitude' on a daily basis, and I'll be all set.

Susan T.

P.S. To enter your 'gratitude' inspired card into this month's smART-Word challenge and giveaway drawing, just visit The smART-Word Challenge blog, and use Mr. Linky.

November's Here...

I'm sure it has to do with all the 'unexpected' our family had to deal with in October, but it's as if I blinked once, and October began, then blinked again, and now, November is here!

Being a new month, the smARTworks' website has been updated.  There's a new selection of 50% off stamps at Overstock Central -- all Christmas this time, and a new Spotlight Special -- a single set, 25% off, with domestic shipping included -- It's the same set used on November's monthly project, this even-a-beginner-can-do-it, "Thankful Living" card:

I'm just going to comment on the fact that I have been wanting to play with this set ever since it was released in 2005, and having the chance to finally do so, did not disappoint.  I love the poem, the little "Give Thanks" reminder, and that simple fruit bowl.  I can also envision the individual fruits being used on place cards/napkin rings on the Thanksgiving table. Detailed instructions for this card can be found, now through November 30, at the project page of the website.

More November News:

The new word for The smART-Word Challenge has been posted.  Since I'm the one who chose the word this time -- 'gratitude', a card that I made, along with a beauteous creation by Donna (this month's hostess), has also been posted.  Later this week, I'll show my card here, and give details... but right now I want to show the stamp set that's been designated as the giveaway item for November's drawing:

We'd love to have you join us in this 'gratitude' challenge, so please take time to read the challenge rules, then be inspired to create, and enter your card.

It's also time for the smART Cookie Design Team to wow us with another one of their challenge sets.  This time they were each sent Fannie Mae (shown at right), and the cards I've received so far are very vintage... I'm exercising a certain amount of faith that all Cookie cards will arrive by the due date, so am going ahead and scheduling the Fannie Mae reveal and giveaway... For your chance to see a lot of vintage creativity, and win a Fannie Mae stamp set of your very own, make sure to check back here on November 21.

Lastly, new rubber is on the way!!!  I've had my demo sets for a couple of weeks.  They're already trimmed, in CD cases, cataloged using my 'works for me' library-type organizational system, and begging to see ink... soooooo I'm hoping to have a couple of sneak peeks ready for you later this week. 

Oh, what's that?  Exactly when is the official release date?  Lord willing, November 12.  That's when the online catty pages should be loaded and linked, and the first batch of rubber ready for shipping.

Certainly a lot to be enjoying, and for which to be thankful,

Susan T.

From the Wife

Were you wondering if I got hubby's birthday card made?  I did!  I did!  And it was all dry and in an envelope before he got home. ~ Excuse me while I stop to pat myself on the back...

All kidding aside, God was good, and the card in my head translated rather easily to paper:

As much as I wanted to add something more by way of embellishment, I had to keep things tame because hubby prefers 'no frills' cards, so instead, I chose to show my effort/love by way of composition...

Stamp sets used:  WD-230 Frog Hoppin', WD-202 Cake Time, Little Say, and Spotlight Solids.

I didn't really use any fancy techniques -- basic stamping, some clear embossing, coloring (mix of markers & pencils w/ OMS), and cutting(the frog is an 'un popped' cut out) were really about it...

Other than that, a bit of chalking - yellow chalking around the candles, and blue around the frog and cake, and my all-time favorites of glitter glue and dimensional glaze. 

Also, the shadow effect, which appears darker in person, was created with a Spotlight Solid stamp, by inking the stamp with Memories Soft Grey ink, stamping off once onto scrap, then without re-inking, stamping on the project.  I might should add that using my Stamp-a-ma-jig positioner was a must for this card.

Inside I used the "Hope your day is hoppin' spectacular" saying from the Frog Hoppin' set.

All for this week,

Susan T.

Highlights Of Another Busy Week

My birthday on Monday, hubby's birthday today, and three busy days in between... Among the highlights -- the first smART-Word Challenge drawing/winner, thank you cards, P/T conferences, and a school project for Eli...

I'll spare you the details because to most, many of them might seem a little boring, but I had a wonderful b-day!  I do feel a little guilty about spending the day blissfully unaware that the Cookies had planned on surprising me with cards/blog posts, but only a couple of their cards had physically arrived, so I never even suspected a group effort.  At least the next day, when I discovered the Dina-coordinated plan, it really was a surprise!  And may I add, that the cards which I've had the pleasure of holding in my hot, little hands, are even prettier in person than on the computer screen.  Thanks, ladies!

A couple of cards that actually found me in person, didn't post on-line, so I'd like to share those now.  The first is by Cookie, Peggy Lamb (pleasing outside and in), and the other by Sarah Stainback, who took a full-sized smART image, and 'inchie-fied' it.  Again, thank you, ladies!

As for The smART-Word Challenge, we've discovered a few kinks need working out (and we'll be doing that with November's word launch), but with the first month now behind us, the first giveaway prize (a set of seasonal quote stamps) already on its way to drawing winner, Mary Dinucci, and the first challenge smART Bucks credited to Mary D., Sarah S., and Lou K., things seem off to a good start.  A hearty thank you to everyone who played!  I personally visited each link, and in doing so discovered new blogs I enjoyed, and great stamping talent.

Now today is hubby's day... somehow, in seeing him sputter through several morning set-backs, I don't think he's going to have the same kind of wonderful day that I did, but he has a couple of surprises in his lunch box, a special supper and dessert to look forward to tonight, and maybe even a card from the wife -- I say 'maybe' because I mentally reserved last evening for making his card (it's all designed in my head), and used my earlier stamping time this week for 'thank yous'.  Then as things would have it, last evening got dedicated to Eli who needed help with his 'Yes, Mom, I have it all under control' project which was not 'under control', and due today...

So, what am I doing here???  Gotta get baking and stamping...

Susan T.

'M' is for Maple

Has it really been almost two weeks since I told you I had a few more maple leaf cards to share?!?  Well, I finally got them all prepped and ready, so here we go...

First, a photo of the tree which the rubberized leaf image from the FL-30 Leaves #1 stamp set once called 'home'.  Isn't it beautiful this time of year?!?  It's also located right outside our back door, and can be viewed from a picture window, so I have lots of occasion to admire it, and be inspired.  Additionally, it always causes me to reflect on the awesomeness of God's handiwork, and thank Him for the gift of my eyes.  I really am so blessed, and when I look at this tree in all its glory, I feel extremely privileged.

Now for the cards.  The first three came about because I decided to see how much of a difference simply changing ink color when stamping the image would make.  I chose Versafine's toffee, habanero, and olympia green inks.  Why these three?  Because the toffee and habanero colors were new, but had been sitting, unopened, on my shelf for months, and the green, although opened and used, was right there with the others... Besides, aren't leaves usually green???

This is the toffee-inked leaf which was stamped on ivory cardstock.  The color was daubered on using Memories (apple & honey) and Adirondack cranberry inks.  The image was then cut out with the stem removed, and adhered over a second leaf which had been stamped directly on the card front.  The toffee stamped, clear embossed saying is from the WD-51 Lovely Smile stamp set.  Hmmmmm, how curious, the author has initials identical to mine! And the accents are by way of an end-rounded paper strip and three mini brads.

The second card uses the habanero-inked leaf.  The results of using this color was a huge surprise, and it created an extremely brilliant, realistic leaf!  All the other other how-tos minus the accents are the same as for the previous card. The Emerson quote is from the WD-54 Tennyson/Emerson/Keats stamp set.

Now for the green-inked leaf... At first I completely disliked it, but after all the stamping, embossing, coloring and cutting, couldn't bear to throw it away.  Turns out, all it really needed was the right card.  The basics of construction remain the same as for the previous two cards.  Additionally, the Bible verse panel was spritzed with Memories Mists margarita (the only color I own), and edge-inked with the Versafine.  Psalm 90:12 is from the BV-20 Ps.90:12stamp set, and the 'brads' are faux.  Would I choose to use this particular green ink for leaf images again?  Probably not (way too dark), but even so, I ended up liking the card.

The last card is the wild card so to speak. ~ha ha  A utilization of leftovers from designing October's web project... Since it pretty much explains itself, all I'll add is that the colored ink is Kaleidacolor Riviera, and the embossed saying is from the WD-31 Remembering stamp set.  All basic techniques, very easy construction, but still nice to look at.  A great card for sending.

Hope your week is off to a good start. Mine's beginning with me being another year older...

Susan T.

Five Little Candles

Here is the card I sent off to granddaughter, Isabelle, who enjoyed a birthday this week.  I wanted it representative of her age, hence the five candles, but once finished, I happily decided it would be suitable for anyone at any age...

Size:  A-2 (4.25 x 5.5)
Stamps:  ABC-Birthday Time, and WD-183 Great B-day
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, clear embossed
Coloring:  Alcohol-based Markers
Ribbon:  1/4" satin, and except for the yellow, all other colors were created from white ribbon, colored with permanent marker.
Other:
* Candle flames were re-stamped, colored, cut out, and slightly 'popped'.
* A generous amount of yellow glitter glue was applied to flames.
* Dimensional glaze was applied to all candle stripes.
* Candle 'glow' was created via chalk.
* A slit was punched on either side of the saying, so a band of yellow ribbon could go around the card without covering the words.
* Ribbon lengths were knotted around the yellow 'band', and tacked with glue to prevent untying.

Inside Isabelle's card was this personalized, computer generated poem:

Five little candles dancing in a row...
'Cause Isabelle's turning '5'.
So make a wish, and B-L-O-W!

It was a fun card to make,

Susan T.

More Cookie Sharing...

Following hot on the heels of Dina's package, came a card sample package from Donelda.  Of course, you may have already seen many of these cards featured at Wiggy's World, but now they can also be viewed in Donelda's smART gallery...

As a preview to the update, I'm choosing to share this card:

Donelda titled it Oriental Joy, and created it using the Inchie Blocks-Set 3  stamp set. 

Don't you just love the color?!?  I do.  Sort of a rich, burnt orange which really captures that oriental flair. 

I also like the inchie layout... a variation of Donelda's self-professed 'three in a row' favorite.  Using only two inchies, and adding the coin in between is a real eye-pleaser.

Donelda also softened the print paper background by sponging Ranger's Distressed Tea Dye ink around all the edges.  Her execution was so smooth and seamless that at first, I thought the coloration was part of the paper.

For the finishing touches, Donelda added the border/frame line around the solid focal panel by hand (please tell me she used a ruler!), and stamped the saying.  It's a great card to brighten anyone's day!

By the way, besides being easy to work with, fast to create with, and lots of fun, the smART Inchie Blocks (pgs. 174-176 of the online catalog) sets are a great value!  Individual sets are priced at $14.95, and three of the four sets contain 24 Inchie Blocks plus 3-5 one line sayings.  The fourth set contains 12 Inchie Blocks with images, 3 with backgrounds, a blank (for turning any artwork into an inchie), a postage frame, 6 sayings, and a nifty border... AND if you purchase more than one set at a time, some additional savings:

• (2) different sets @ $13.50 each,
• (3) different sets @ $12.00 each, or
• All 4 sets @ $10.50 each  A total savings of $17.80, or better than one set FREE!

So, why not use Donelda's card as inspiration, and with or without a set of Inchie Blocks, create an inchie card today?!?

It's lots of fun,

Susan T.

P.S.  More inchie inspiration can be found at the Inchie Arts blog, and in the July 2009 issue of CardMaker magazine.

Something From Dina...

A couple of weeks ago, a package of card samples arrived from Dina.  As always, it was difficult to choose just one card as a 'teaser' to invite you to visit her updated smART gallery, but after a bit of debate, this is the card I selected:

Dina titled this card Miracle Kitty, and it actually utilizes quite a handful of stamp sets --
Kitty:  Do You See What I See?
Saying:  HSD-Hummer
Background Script: WD-127 One Smile
Kitty Backdrop: BG-07 Palette (shown further on in post)
Background Swirls: FS-02 Frames

Now for the things I noticed and liked:

The Color -- You don't really see many gray cards, and it's too bad because regardless of subject matter, a gray card can so easily be 'masculine'.  Gray can also be a very pleasing and soothing color.

The Kitty's Backdrop -- Dina clear embossed this BG-07 Palette background stamp over print, sponged around it with color, then ironed out the embossing. This technique gives a rather 'mysterious' effect because the shine of the embossing disappears, and unless you already know how's it done, there are no clues.  I was also impressed with the idea of using the 'negative' of a background image as opposed to the usual 'positive'.

The Saying Banner-- Instead of flatly adhered to the card, Dina's banner is dimensionalized by being tacked down in only a couple of spots.  The un adhered portions have been manipulated/shaped to remain 'floating'... There's a real sense that the words are flying off with the butterfly.

The Kitty-- This image has been dimensionalized by adding a shadow under the kitty, layering the bow, and 'popping' kitty's head.  Lots of depth without a lot of thickness.

The Brads -- Dina used two flat headed brads, and one round... It's a little thing that adds big interest.

The Gold Accents - At first I didn't see a tie-in to the gold brad used on the chipboard butterfly, but knowing Dina, I also knew it had to be there... Then I moved the card, and yes, indeed!  Subtle, glitzy swirls, stamped in the same corner as, and beneath the butterfly, and golden highlights on the kitty's bow caught my eye.  Very nice touches indeed!

On a purely personal note, given the experiences we've faced during the last couple of weeks, I also think "Every moment is a miracle" really stands out with meaning for me.  Life is so fragile, and every moment of it truly is a miracle.

Thanks for a great card, Dina!

Susan T.

'Fall'

This is my 'Fall' card which aired at The smART-Word Challenge blog this week.  It was designed using smARTworks' stamp set WD-55 Acorn Dreams. 

I didn't add any words to the front of the card because it was made specifically for my friend, Liz, who loves acorn images, and I wanted the acorn to take center stage.  Figured I would stamp a saying, or write a note on the inside.

Speaking of sayings, I really like the ones included in the set -- A little humorous... A little encouraging... A lot true.

But back to the card which measures 3.75" x 5": 
Nothing terribly complicated -- A stitched panel on a raised, scalloped square of print (Marvy Giga punch), and a second panel with inked edges adhered to the center.  The image was stamped in brown (Versafine Vintage Sepia), clear embossed, colored with a marker base overlaid with Niji Pearlescent Watercolors, then cut out... Steps were repeated for a second acorn, but for this one, only the cap was used.  Confession: The center layer actually covers up a big boo boo, but I just couldn't bear to discard the stitched panel.  A 'happy' mistake because I ended up liking it much better this way.

Now about the smART-Word Challenge... Why don't YOU play?!?  After all, I bet a lot of you have already whipped up at least one Fall related card this season... If so, then all you need to do you is use the Mr. Linky feature located at the challenge blog, and submit a link to your card's photo/scan... If you haven't, you still have until October 27 to get one created and linked.  Remember, there's a rubber prize surprise at stake, but you can't win the prize unless you post a link to enter the drawing.

Sure hope you'll decide to play,

Susan T.

A Time For Every Purpose

My goal is two posts per week, but for several weeks that hasn't been happening...

First was all the hustle and bustle of getting The smART-Word Challenge up and running, then updating the website for October, then a substantial, wholesale block order, then Eli broke a finger, then we had to have our dearly beloved, 11 year old, little, black poodle euthanized, then a four-day weekend with everyone home (and my simultaneously deciding to implement a new system for organizing my stamping embellishments), and more recently, as in over the weekend and yesterday, two human deaths -- Mark's last uncle on his father's side, and Mark's weekend employer... All this amid life in general, and the daily responsibilities of family and business...

Right now, I'm tired, and sad, and very mindful of the third chapter of Ecclesiastes -- 'a time for every purpose under heaven'.  Amazing how poignant various passages of God's Word become during different experiences in one's life... One can read the same thing numerous times, and suddenly, it zeroes in, and speaks specifically to you... truly, the 'Living' Word.

Also sort of funny in a non-ha ha sort of way that the last card I made before all this unforeseen took place was this one using none other than BV-09 Eccl.3:1.

It's a card that came together out of wanting to use up a scrap of print paper left over from my dad's b-day card, wanting to christen a new ink pad (Versafine Toffee), and having the large maple leaf image (FL-30 Leaves #1) still on the acrylic block from an earlier card... The small accent leaf is from WD-51 Lovely Smile.

I actually have several additional maple leaf cards to show you, but as yet, haven't had a chance to photograph/scan.  Will do so when time permits.

With much to do today,

Susan T.