In the Works...

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.

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.

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.

Inchie Delight

Okay, so while I still don't feel 'great', the aspirin has kicked in, and I can now hold my head up long enough to share a little something with you...

A new batch of card samples recently arrived from smART Cookie, Donna Duquette.  All samples have been added to Donna's smART gallery, and each features at least one inchie, so with nine new cards, there are inchies and inches of fun to be seen!

The thing that really stood out to me in this batch, was the superb job Donna did in utilizing a variety of techniques, styles, and mediums... These cards aren't just variations of one another, but distinctive entities.  That fact alone, made it difficult to choose just one teaser card to show you, but I finally settled on this card which Donna titled, Nature's Sketchbook.

The images on the Inchie Squares are from the Little Bits #1 stamp set. 

Donna created graduated, Copic marker backgrounds on each square, overstamped them with the images in black, then turned each square into a tile using VersaMark Dazzle ink and UTEE.

The rest of the card is pretty much self explanatory -- Cuttlebug embossing, button accents, and a border-punched base panel for the inchies.  (Notice how the chosen border ties into Donna's title... Very clever!)

Donna's samples have also been featured in her different blog posts, so if you see something in the gallery that needs further explanation, try visiting Dees' Studio, and read about it there.

Extra Tip:  Little Bits images make great envelope/label accents for return addresses.

Lord willing, I'll see you next week,

Susan T.

Piggy Dreams

I hope you're ready for a bit of whimsy because today we're going to to see what the smART Cookie Design Team did with the Piggy Dreams stamp set. 

I must say I love 'this little piggy', and I appreciate each of the three sayings... Let's face it, if a dream has any chance of becoming reality, someone must dare to dream it, be unafraid to go for it, and go for it with gusto...

These are just snippets, but you can see all the projects together, HERE, or individually, in each Cookie's smART gallery (Dina, Donna, Trish, Peggy, Donelda, & Giovana), or at each Cookie's blog (links in sidebar).  If you want specific 'how tos,' the blog option is the way to go. 

Now for the giveaway --

If you want a chance to win your very own set of Piggy Dreams, please leave a comment which answers this question: What is one 'when pigs fly' dream that you have?  You know, something you'd secretly love to be able to do or have which seems pretty much impossible...

On Friday, one name will be chosen at random from the participant list, and announced in my pre-weekend post.

See you then, and a BIG thank you to the Cookies for a challenge well done.  Your projects put a smile on my face, and joy in my heart.

'Wee, wee, wee,' all the way home,

Susan T.

Revisiting August

Last month, one customer card was added to the smART customer gallery and exchanged for smART Bucks:

It was sent in by Lou Kersenbrock, and features the DK-22 Together stamp set.  Additionally, it sports a nifty, die cut panel which doubles as the card front.  

Since all the techniques Lou used in making this card are pretty basic, it's also a perfect reference piece for inspiration... and just in case you don't have the same die, I'm thinking almost any hinged shape (one that's cut on a fold) would work.

Also arriving in August was a batch of card samples from Cookie Trish D'Antonio.  You may already have seen them on her blog,Tah Dah!  or at the Cookie Jar blog, but now they've been added to Trish's smART gallery.  Why have them posted in so many places???  Because the formats used in presentation are different:

-- On the design team member's own blog, you'll see a photo of the project, and have the chance to read the most detailed information about the designer's techniques and creative process.

-- At the Cookie Jar blog, you'll just see a photo, but have the opportunity to search the stamp set(s) used, and thus see all the other projects made with those sets. 

-- In the Cookie's smART gallery, you will see a full-frontal scan of the project, plus have access to all the cards/projects created by that particular designer.

So, from Trish's latest send-ins, which card stood out for me to share as her gallery 'sneak peek'??? 

Weeeell, not an easy choice because several cards had 'something' really clever about them...wings... a sparkler... the shape, etc.  But in the end I narrowed it down to 'Be Joyful Always' which uses the DK-18 Buttoned Up stamp set.  Here's why:

-- Trish's color choices, and mix of patterned papers are really easy on the eyes, and truly compliment the stamped images vs. detracting from them...

-- The visual balance -- stamping Button Girl inside a circular shape, combined with the Bible verse stamped in an oval, and placing the ribbon's 'knot' just so, keeps the eye interested, and happily moving in a triangular pattern...

-- The sweet, little flower with matching rhinestone center -- by itself it's likable, but here, it's also perfectly coordinated to keep the eye darting down to the similarly colored florals in the lower right of the print and back again -- more eye 'happy'...

-- The paper-pieced dress -- Since I always study cards before reading any enclosed directions, I was sure Trish had bleached the dress then re-colored it with 'something'.  I kept trying figure out what she'd used, but was stumped, so finally had to touch the dress.  Big surprise!  Made me love the card even more!

-- The way this card could easily be framed, and turned into desk or wall decor creating a full-time morale booster/reminder.

Eight other 'Trish' cards were added to her gallery, so why not take a few, and visit...

I believe that ties up all the loose ends for August.  Enjoy the holiday weekend,

Susan T.

From One Chick To Another...

smART Cookie design team member, Peggy Lamb, has been taking a summer break from card making to pursue one of her other passions -- gardening.  Now, with summer coming quickly to a close, she's ready to start stamping again...

Just take a look at the lead off, 'just because' card I received from her a couple of days ago:

Isn't it super!?!  The color palette, buttons, twine, and cork paper compliment the image choices perfectly, and the sum total of Peggy's design truly reminds me of chickens (like the ones we have free-ranging the lawn), late summer, and an old-fashioned, farmhouse kitchen.  Why, bring on the cornbread, baked beans, & coleslaw, and the experience would be complete. ~smile

Card Details --
Stamps: ABC-Chicken Scratch, BG-19 Cooped Up, and Mini Messages #1, black ink clear embossed, rust ink for edging, coordinating print papers, scalloped edging (can be achieved via di cut or decorative scissors) Other: Foreground hen is 'popped', and ground accents are hand drawn. 

Thank's Peggy, I've thoroughly been enjoying my 'hello', and was really excited to mail out your new batch of smART rubber.  Can't wait to see what you're gonna do with it!

A cluckin' weekend to all,

Susan T.

A Bright and Bold Summer Hello

Well, 'summer' is officially here!  Not so warm and sunny in Maine quite yet (lots and lots of rain), but the kiddos are finally finished with school, and the days are 'full' and lazy all at the same time... It's wonderful!

Equally wonderful is the latest batch of Cookie samples I received from Donna Duquette.  Donna has terrific color sense, and does the most meticulous work you'll ever see!  Her execution never ceases to wow me, and nowadays she's doing a lot with Copic markers, and her cards are beautifully vibrant...

All this made choosing just one 'teaser' card to show you super difficult, but I kept coming back to this one, which Donna titled, Bright and Bold Hello: 

For this card, Donna used six out of thirty-two images from the FS-03 Swirly-Gigs  stamp set. 

Her background?  Copics scribbled in circles on white cardstock, after which Copic blending solution was dripped over the scribbles until the colors mingled.  So summery, I forgot about the rain!

To view five more Swirly-Gig cards by Donna, please visit her updated Cookie Gallery. 

Hope your summer is off to a great start,

Susan T.

Noah's Ark a la Giovana

Today it's raining, and the forecast says this precipitation will continue for several days... Makes it just perfect for presenting these recent send-ins from smART Cookie, Giovana.

"3-D Noah's Ark"is very dimensional with glitter highlights, and check out the 'buttonized' corner...

"Noah's Ark In Brights" is stitched to perfection, and the color palette reinforces the youthful edge of the image...

Finally, there's "Noah's Ark (for a baby girl)", so pretty in pink and white, and again, the stitching is beautiful!

While all the cards newly added to Giovana's gallery are pleasing to look at, in person, these three are truly exquisite... and as you can see, each card is different, yet each one still beautifully captures the essence of the image.

The ABC-Noah's Ark stamp set, by the way, is one of the rare, single image sets smARTworks carries.

Yup, still raining,

Susan T.