In the Works...

Exactly Three

Just so anyone new will know that there's a giveaway in progress, I'll start by asking again, "Have you entered to win this Mother Lode of stamping goodies?" Entry deadline: May 31

Now for this week's card: 
The criteria came from Less Is More, and seemed tailor made for my exceptionally busy week -- Use exactly 3 stamps on a single layer card.  My three stamps all came from the Swirly-gigs set, and the only difficult part was choosing a color for the butterfly.  Seriously, this was so easy -- black ink, yellow alcohol markers, and a little rhinestone -- that I'm not even going to "grid" the details.  

Month of May

News for the month, and information for the "Mother Lode" Giveaway is located on the smART News page. 

May's Easy-To-Do Card Project -- Tulip Hope using Tulips 'n Such, and Bookmarkables.

Click on grid to enlarge

 

April Arrives...

April's Easy-To-Do Card Project -- Pansy Pot using Tulips 'n Such, and Mumsy Daisy.

Click on grid to enlarge.

February Fun

News for the month is located on the smART News page.

February's Easy-To-Do Card Project -- With Love Card Duo using Take Flight

Hello to 2012!

January's Easy-To-Do Card Project -- Winter Thank You

Materials
Stamps:  by smARTworks from Tree-mendous (tree), Winter Holiday (words)
Paper:  Cryogen White 4" x 5.25" top-folded card, 3.75" x 5" panel
Inks:  Brilliance - Peacock (a pearlescent rainbow pad), Graphite Black
Other:  Diamond glitter glue, appropriate adhesives, heat tool (optional)

How To
-- Using the Peacock ink pad, and 1st and 2nd gernerational images*, stamp the medium pine tree several times across the cardstock panel.  Allow to dry.                                               Note: Brilliance inks typically take 3-5 minutes to dry thoroughly. Heat setting will speed things up.
-- Using Graphite Black ink, stamp tree image and words as shown.  Allow to dry.
-- Apply diamond glitter glue over black image.  Allow to dry.
-- Mount stamped panel to card.

*For 1st generational images, ink the rubber then stamp on paper.
  For 2nd generational images, stamp image again without reinking.

Variations
Use a different rainbow pad, or even a solid color for the background trees.

December Begins...

December's Easy-To-Do Card Project -- Christmas Light

Materials
Stamps:  by smARTworks from Christmas Light
Card:  Black, 4.25" x 5.5" cut the long way & top-folded
Paper:  Cryogen White 3.75" x 5" and scrap
Inks:  Black - Versafine
Note: Versafine ink will not fully dry on Cryogen cardstock, so must be embossed. If choosing not to emboss, a different, coloring media compatible, black ink should be used.
Coloring: As desired -- Alcohol-based markers were used on sample.
Other:  Anti-static pad*, Clear embossing powder (Transcendence)*, Chalk (yellow) & applicator, Flower stamens (Wilton), thin foam tape, yellow glitter glue, scissors, appropriate adhesives.

*If choosing not to emboss, these items are optional.

How To
The heat embossing done on this card provides elegance and adds dimension. It is, however, optional. If choosing not to emboss, disregard related instructions.
-- Rub anti-static pad over both pieces of white stock.
-- Stamp, and clear emboss image and words onto 3.75" x 5" panel as shown. Color.  Mount panel to card.  Set aside.
-- Stamp and clear emboss poinsettia portion onto scrap.  Color. Cut out.
-- Using foam tape, and slightly off-centering the cut-out, adhere piece over corresponding area on card.
-- Create candle "glow" by applying chalk to background area around each flame.
-- Embellish by adhering several stamen tips to center of poinsettia, and lightly applying glitter glue to centers of flames, and stamens.
-- Allow to dry.

Variations
-- For an even easier-to-do, flat version of this card, omit creating the cut-out.
-- Don't have commercially made flower stamens? Use glitter glue alone, dimensional glaze, or even mini rhinestones.

Something New

smARTworks has just released new images!  More information and other news for the month is located on the smART News page.

November's Easy-To-Do Card Project -- ...and Be Ye Thankful!

Materials
Stamps:  by smARTworks from Fruitful
Card:  White, 4.25" x 5.5" top-folded
Paper:  White scrap, and print scrap
Inks:  Black (make sure it's compatible with your coloring media)
Coloring: Markers, colored pencils
Other: Thin chipboard (i.e. cereal box), glitter glue - light green & pinkish purple, dimensional glaze

How To
-- Stamp saying and cornucopia image onto card as shown. If desired, add a shadow along bottom edges of the image.  Color fruit.
-- Stamp cornucopia onto print. Removing fruit, cut out. Adhere over corresponding area on card.
-- Stamp cornucopia onto white scrap. Color foreground grapes, cut out. Using chipboard for "popping" adhere over corresponding area on card.
-- (optional) Accent grapes with glitter glue, and apples with dimensional glaze. Allow to dry.

3 x 4 + 3 = A Whole Lot of Happy

What on earth does the title of this post have to do with stamping?  Well, let's start out with the 3 x 4 part...

It's a formula I've been using for revving up a tired mojo, utilizing paper scraps, and/or  completing some do-ahead card starters which are really nice to have on hand for those occasions when a card is needed, but time is short.  In essence, you create an ATC on steroids.
 
-- Begin by sizing colored or printed cardstock to create a 3" x 4" base.
-- Add a smaller-sized layer in white or ivory.
-- Stamp the neutral layer with a sentiment, saying, or Bible verse.
-- Embellish with coordinating punches.

A few examples:

As you can see, you aren't limited to just stamping words, and you don't have to use punches, but the basic, words only, punch embellished formula makes a perfect start. You can also round all or some of the corners, make the neutral layer any shape, etc.  BUT the greatest thing about these quick make pieces is how incredibly easy it is to turn them into full blown cards -- simply mount flat, or "popped" onto the front of a coordinating A-2 (4.25" x 5.5") card!

... and the + 3 part of the title?

Our anniversary giveaway!  This year it's a chance for 3 individuals to win the choice a full-sheet set of smART rubber!  To be eligible, please leave a comment stating  exactly which full-sheet set you wish to call yours... That's it.  The three winners, to be randomly chosen from comments left via this post, will be announced at noon, next Thursday, October 27.  smARTworks' online, rubber stamp catalog can be accessed HERE.

So there you have it, a great idea combined with the chance to win free rubber.  In other words, a whole lot of happy!

This Makes 7

October 2011 marks our 7th anniversary!  More information and other news for the month is located on the smART News page.

October's Easy-To-Do Card Project -- Falling Leaves

 
Materials
Stamps:  by smARTworks from Autumn Leaves
Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5" top-folded (this means, cut the paper the long way)
Paper:  White - since this is a one-layer card, it is advisable to use a heavier stock.
Inks:  Black - Versafine, Rainbow pad (Kaleidacolor-Autumn Leaves used on project)

How To
-- Using black ink, stamp poem toward the bottom, center of the card as shown.
-- Using rainbow pad, and re-inking between impressions, stamp medium maple leaf (3) times as shown.
Note: If using the Autumn Leaves ink pad you can eliminate the "brown" by following the inking method described in the previous post. 

Variation
--  Add a 3-D effect by popping one or all of the leaves.  Do this by: Stamping additional leaves on scrap paper -- Cutting them out (remove stems) -- Using foam tape, adhere cut-outs over leaves on card -- Trim overhanging portions of leaves flush with edges of card.

 

Double Threes

News for the month is located on the smART News page.

September's Easy-To-Do Card Project -- Butterfly Memories

  
Materials
Stamps:  smARTworks from Pansy Smiles, Butterfly Wonder, and Together
Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5" top-folded
Paper:  White - half sheet for card, and scrap
Inks:  Black - Versafine and Memento, Memories Apple*
Coloring:  Alcohol markers
Other:  Dimensional glaze, Spica markers (optional)
*Note:  Two black inks are mentioned because while Versafine is my favorite, and was used to stamp directly on the card, it is not compatible for use with alcohol markers, so Memento was used to stamp the images to be colored.

How To
-- Using green ink, stamp background circles once in the middle of the card front.  Re-inking between impressions, stamp partial background image on each side of first impression.
-- Using black ink, stamp words in lower, left corner, and butteflies as shown. 
-- Color b-fly bodies brown.  Apply dimensional glaze over coloring.  Allow to dry.
-- Using black ink, stamp each butterfly a second time onto scrap.  Color.  Removing antennae, head, and "tail" of body, cut out. 
--  Adhere cut-outs over butterflies on card.
--  (optional) -- Using Spica markers, add sparkle to the wings.

Variations
-- For a one layer card: Instead of stamping a second set of butterflies on scrap, stamp and mask butterflies on card, then stamp background. 
-- Use a different color of ink for the background and/or the butterflies.

Wondering about the title of the post?  Well, this card happens to be multi-functional... 1. It was designed specifically as a b-day card for someone who loves butterflies,   2. It serves as September's ETD project, and 3. It meets the requirements for this week's Less Is More challenge which was to look back over the first thirty challenges, pick any three, and combine them on a single card... My challenge combo came from: 1. week #12 - Off Center,  2. week #16 - Butterflies, and 3. week #24 - Circles.  As you can see, two sets of "three," or double threes!