In the Works...

Liz's Teapot

Almost every image smARTworks carries has a story behind it. 

This is the story of Liz's Teapot:

At least two years ago, my dear stamping buddy, Elizabeth Trachtenberg, placed a "no pressure" stamp request for a plain, simple teapot.  A huge tea fan, Liz went on to explain exactly what she had in mind...

Seems all the rubber teapots on the market were just a bit too fancy, and more "special occasion" than for common, everyday fare... Liz wanted something she could decorate, dress up, and embellish in any way the whimsy took her...

Believe it of not, I got right on it, but for whatever reason,  just couldn't get it right.  Hubby and I would work awhile, shelve it for a few weeks or even months, and try again...

Then last March,  when smARTworks purchased the rubber stamp manufacturing rights to a slug of Angi-B & Company images, quite a few "tea things" were included.  An assortment of tea sayings were added, and come May, we released among others, a "Tea Theme."  None of the "pots", however, were what Elizabeth had requested, and I knew it, so as happy as I was with the release, I was still a tad disappointed.

I have to add that after Liz made her initial request, she never asked again, and I never mentioned it... I'm sure she figured I had forgotten all about it, or wasn't really interested in her idea.  Not the case at all.  The whole thing was very important to me... and I never forgot it (or gave up), not even for a moment...

Then, when Liz became really ill over the summer, I became desperately determined...  I just knew if something happened to Liz before I filled her request, I'd never forgive myself, and would carry the regret to my grave.  In fact, there was a point where I literally begged the Lord to help me get this done...

Sure enough, almost as soon as I put it in His hands, everything worked out, and Liz's Teapot "appeared." 

Of course, once I had the teapot image all set and ready to roll, I still had to wait to rubberize it until an entire release was ready... I was bursting to tell, but I didn't.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth started feeling better again, so when I finally could unveil the existence of her "little teapot, short and stout," and present her with the actual stamp set, she was not only completely surprised, but able and excited to start using it...   

Here is the card I received in the mail on Friday:

Up close and personal what one sees is white embossing on decorative print paper... Very pleasing to the eye.

Seeing Liz's creation "fills me to the brim with happy thoughts," and causes my heart to overflow with thankfulness to the Lord.  He was so good to both Liz, and me. 

Notes: 
-- Liz's Teapot includes a couple other images and a saying -- You can view the entire set here
--The saying used on Liz's card is from WD-179 Brimming

A Little Recognition

Most of the time I just do my thing, and don't worry about getting recognized.  After all, working hard, conquering something new, or a job well done, each comes with its own rewards... a sense of satisfaction and happiness, personal and professional growth, and the smile of the Master.

Okay, I'll admit, however, there are times when I read about another stamp company receiving rave reviews, and I do feel a twinge of jealousy...  Many times it's when due to work, I've been unable to stamp, am extremely overtired, or see someone else able to afford "x, y, or z" for their company while I can only plug along and add on little by little...

Those are the times I have to talk with the Lord, let Him set me back on track as to why and for Whom I am doing what I do (see About Us), and review my journey (in three years, smARTworks has come a long way, Baby!).

Then there are also times when out of the blue, someone does notice, and tells the world -- Enter Donna Coffeen (GW's Mrs. C), and her blog Ruby Slippers: "Vendor Praise" post, and Four Sister card. ~blush, blush 

Just that little bit of recognition has been so uplifting!  Makes me want to be better... do better, and continue to share the joy of stamping...

Forget the false humility of "Awwww, you shouldn't have..."  No, indeed, what I want to say is, "Thank You" --

Thank you for taking a chance on spending your money at smARTworks, thank you for using smART rubber to make others happy, and thank you for noticing how hard I try.  In doing so you've touched my heart, blessed my life, and encouraged me to continue the journey.

The moral of this post:  Encourage someone today.  It may mean far more than you will ever know.

Oh, Happy Day!

Happy Birthday to us!  Happy Birthday to us!  Happy Birthday dear, smARTworks... Happy Birthday to us!

Yes, indeed, today, smARTworks is officially 3 years old! 

In honor of our "Birthday Month" several specials are already currently running, but since this is THE big day, I think it fitting to celebrate with something extra special...

As a customer I know I always savor "free shipping," and when attending any party, have always loved leaving with a little party favor, so let's do that...

For today only, whether an order is big, small, or in between, it will receive free shipping plus a surprise "party favor."

To qualify, orders must be placed by 11:59 tonight - October 8 (EST).

Note: Today's feature card was designed by smART Cookie, Heidi Kingery, and uses smART rubber sets, Middie Messages #2 (catalog pg.12), and ABC Birdie Bitties (pg.86).  Thanks, Heidi, you captured just how I feel.

Act Of Kindness

Earlier this week, Jacki Jones of The Card Castle blogspot sent me this beautiful card full of kind words and encouragement.

I don't think there is any way Jacki could have known how partial I am to violets, but I am, so needless to say, I love the image she used...

In the language of flowers, violets stand for "faithfulness," which means even without reading and re-reading her supportive message inside, I can simply look at the card, and be reminded of God's faithfulness to me...

Thanks Jacki, your act of kindness has meant so much!

Note:  Images on this card are not by smARTworks, but if you'd like to know the sources, please contact Jacki... She's really nice, and I'm sure she'd be happy to oblige.   

How It's Going

To all of you who have been praying for me and my family, I thank you. 

My father is back home, and for the moment things are status quo. He appears completely out of the woods heartwise, but due to other complications, has a long way to go before things return to "normal."  In fact, there is the real possibility things never really will...

Voicing that possibility is scary, because it means certain lifestyle changes (for all of us) are permanent, and huge decisions are looming...

Right now I can't take very big bites of the whole situation, only small nibbles of the immediate, chewed upon until I can swallow.  I ask for strength and wisdom to attend to the day at hand, and then get through that day... In my heart I know God will prepare the way.

I do have one bright spot to share, however, something that may seem insignificant to you, but which God has used to encourage my heart --

This morning, following a link on the Gingerwood Bulletin Board, I connected to a blog called Encouraging Impressions, and quite unexpectedly, came across this card which the blogger had created using smART rubber from the WD-141 Horizon set (catalog pg. 71). 

Complete Thrillsville!  Other than the wonderful work of the smART Cookies, and a couple smART Cookie applicants, this is the very first time any thing like this has ever happened to me. 

Just goes to show, in the midst of difficulty, God is always so very good, and happy things still happen! 

Thank you Sarosa, your goal may have been to minister to some soldier serving in Iraq, but you also ministered to me.

No Tip?!?

I apologize, but there is no tip today.  In it's place, however, a brief summary of what's been going on in my life...

I received a phone call around 1 a.m. Sunday morning from my crying mother who could only manage to get out that my dad had had a heart attack, and was en route via ambulance from the local hospital to a major medical facility an hour and a half away... Click!  End of conversation. (BTW, ironically, it was also my dad's 79th birthday.) 

I'll skip the million details and move ahead to right now...  My dad is out of intensive care, and holding his own, but will be having further "heart work" done tomorrow (something they couldn't do earlier for fear of instigating a second attack).  I am unsure of the prognosis.  Hopefully, he may come home over weekend, or early next week, and then it's any body's guess???

Meanwhile, I have been traveling back and forth (that's 3 hours in the car each time), and am trying to figure out what all of this is going to mean once the man is back home...

I can't imagine dad ever returning to his job (yes at 79, he has still been working for the State of Maine as a technical draftsman 2-1/2 days every week, and is just a month shy of having kept this same job for 47 years!), and for awhile at least, no driving (a problem because my mother is blind, so can't drive at all, plus they live way out in the country with no neighbors, etc.), and my only sibling, brother John, lives 3000 miles way in Nevada... 

I guess you could say I'm a little stressed, but it's funny, because now I know why God allowed me to have that "bad" day on Friday -- So Ps. 31 : 14-15 (see card from previous post) would be really fresh in my thoughts... It is literally what ran through my mind as I was I hanging up the phone Sunday morning, and has continued on instant replay ever since... "My times are in His hands."

A Note To Anyone Trying To Contact smARTworks or Placing An Order:
Due to these current circumstances, e-mails are still being answered, and orders are still being invoiced and filled, but only once each day -- usually during the evening (EST).  Thank you so much for understanding.   

A Reminder

Just a reminder that smARTworks' official website is updated monthly -- usually on the first day of the month... Hey! That's today!

There is always a NEWS update, a monthly project, and a "Spotlight Special" (special discount on smART rubber used in the monthly project).

Sometimes new products are introduced, the customer gallery is updated, and/or a tutorial is added...

This month there's a new place to visit called the "The Cookie Jar" --  It's a showcase for the smART Cookie Design Team.  Delicious!

To further heighten your curiosity, here is the outside view of this month's project card.

Note: If you should have trouble viewing the updated site each month, it may be your browser needs refreshing.  To do this go to the site then hit the refresh button on your tool bar, or press CTRL+F5.

Have a super weekend, and Happy September!

Lessons Learned

Last week was what I'd call snackin' perfection!  We got to meet each of the smART Cookies -- Lots and lots of 'tasty' with zero the calories.  Mmmm...Mmmm...Mmmm!

Today I'd like to cap off those introductions with a few musings on how God used organizing the smART Cookie Design Team as a teaching tool in my life.  Even as a veteran stamper, I learned a lot about stamping... I also learned a lot about life. Lessons learned include:

How important developing one's own unique stamping style is... IMHO, inspirational resources are now so readily available, that it's much easier to "challenge chase," and CASE (to me it means "Copy And Steal, Etc." -- a term I totally dislike) than to spend one's stamping time actually developing a style... A unique stamping style stands out, and like a fingerprint, identifies the stamper!

How important the basics are.  Meticulous execution of stamping mechanics is paramount! All the talent in the world won't cover up crooked layers, misstamped images, excess glue, uneven corners, damaged paper, etc. Conversely, meticulous execution can give fairly ordinary work, extraordinary appeal.

How "un-personal" and "un-qualifying" (my own words) rejection is.  At least in the stamping world, a rejected submission means very little.  If the basic execution of work is well done, all the underlying reasons for hearing "No thank you," simply boil down to "It's just not right for this particular situation... layout... grouping... color scheme, etc."  It is in no way synonymous with lack of talent.

How to 'lose' like a winner.  For this, I have 'Chipper' Cookie, Trish D'Antonio , to thank... By not allowing human pride to stand in the way, Trish, amid the personal disappointment of initially not being chosen for the team, accepted a resident Guest Designer spot, and in doing so, was in the right place at the right time to fill an unexpected 'hole'. 

Like a bullet between the eyes, God used this little scenario to wake me up! How many wonderful opportunities have passed me by because of a pride-filled heart??? Indeed, as the rubber says, "Attitude is everything!" (WD-14 Glory, catalog pg.5).

How, when you trust Him, God really will work all things out for the best... For me, praying about something, and really letting it go into God's hands is very difficult.  I tend to pray, then pick the burden back up, and tote it along everywhere I go.  This time the 'pack' was just too weighty, and I was too busy not to drop it... I chose to trust Him, and with that, chose to trust the wise counsel of my design team leader, Dina Kowal, whom I know God sent my way... How amazing! How easy! And the bonus? Peace! Can it be, then, that "trust" is a matter of conscious choice?!?

How much I truly LOVE having other people use my smART rubber!  Even now, every time I sit and look through the pile of Stage #2 submission cards, I am absolutely thrilled! The same is true when I see a card using smART rubber displayed on a blog or in a gallery... My heart is filled with joy! Dear me, when something using smART rubber finds its way into publication, I don't know what I'll do?!?  Probably have to buy lead shoes to keep me on the ground!

Triple Happiness

My son, Eli, age ten, has been stamping again... This time a birthday card using images from WD-102 Be Happy (catalog pg.53).

To him this creation is 100% perfect.  He even had mom print out a copy so he could record his "recipe" of marker colors, etc. 

Then came a question, "Hey Mom, do you ever make a card you like so much you don't want to give it away?" 

I had to be honest and say, "Yes," but then we had a very interesting discussion as to what one's motivation for card-making really is... personal pleasure vs. the pleasure of others... what pleases God more... what is ministry... etc.

In the end, the two of us came to the conclusion that when one makes a card and keeps it, one gets to be happy once, but when one makes a card and gives it away, one gets to be happy twice, plus another person also gets to be happy... That's three times the "happy!"

I now have a personal goal for the week:  To raid my extra-special card "stash box," and mail out some triple happiness.  Thanks, Eli!  By the time you're an adult, maybe I will be too.

A bell is no bell 'til you ring it,
A song is no song 'til you sing it,
And love in your heart
Wasn't put there to stay...
Love isn't love
'Til you give it away.
You are Sixteen (Reprise)
~Sound Of Music~ 

Hoppy Here... Hoppy There...

Yesterday, my ten year old made his dad's Father's Day card.  Unlike his mother, Eli was very decisive.  As he leafed through the smART catalog, it went something like this:

Let's use this (pg. 94)... Got anything that says "Have a hoppy day?"

No, but there's a word bubble (pg.63) so you could write it in.

Okay.  Got a lily pad?

No. Sorry, but someone could always draw me one. (hint ~hint)

Can we make one with that thing you do when you cover up one picture and stamp around it? (Hint obviously ignored...)

You mean masking?

Yup. Can we?

I guess so... We could use a leaf?

Nope.  I don't see any I like (Now, there's one for the old ego)... What about the flower you've already got on that block? (pg.52)

Well, I  don't think it will look like a lily pad.

I don't care.  Can we try it?

Okay...

So a bit of ink, some paper, one mom-cut mask, and a few markers later:

Couldn't get permission to show the whole card, "cuz it's private," but still, I was pretty impressed... Never, ever would I have thought of doing this, yet I like it so, so much!  "Out of the mouths, make that minds, of babes..."

Now for a "funny" coincidence -- Immediately after Eli finished his card, I popped onto the computer with all the good intentions of "working," but got side-tracked on a pleasure detour to Mama Dini's Stamperia... Surprise!  Surprise!  More "hoppy" wishes!  I wonder?  Could it be that really clever minds think alike?