Art of the Possible

What is C.A.S.E? What Can You Copy and Why?

I was asked a very interesting question recently which has had me thinking.  To what degree does the design of a card, a scrapbook page or any other crafted item belong to the person who designed it?

As rubber stampers, we use the copyright protected artwork of others to create expressions of our own artistic vision.  I may not own the rights to the leaf stamp that I'm using.  The layout that I'm creating is going to be arranged in a way that is similar to someone else's--there are  only so may ways to arrange photos and elements on a page.  But the page, with its photos of my family, is going to be mine.  Unless, of course, I copied it straight from somewhere else.

Did Andy Warhol think about this as he painted his soup cans?  They weren't really his soup cans, were they?  There's a debate for a lazy Sunday afternoon, eh?

For me, the motivation that animates my attempts to protect my designs and the designs of others is a sense of fair play and a desire to nurture our hobby.   When I sit down and design a card, I have the enjoyment of making that card, of smooshing the elements around until they are arranged in a way that is pleasing to me.  When I share the card, I have the joy of knowing that I am expressing myself and that in doing so, I may be instructing or inspiring some one else.  When I first became enamored of stamping, one of the elements that drew me was the big-hearted, open sharing that happens in this hobby.  The way to preserve and nurture this openness is to feed it with fair play and honest attribution of credit.

So C.A.S.E away.  By Copying and Stealing Everything, we stretch our own design library, learn new techniques, discover new color combinations and even work through stampers block.  But the only way to ensure that other stampers will continue to share is to make sure that credit, thanks and kudos are given where they are due.  If you are inspired by my website, I am satisfied.  If you are moved to copy some of my work, I am flattered.  If you take my ideas and use them to inspire your own, I am joyous.  Please share your work with me.  I love to see how ideas expand and grow.  I'd love to share your work with others as well--with proper credit, of course.

Teeny Tiny Turtle

I was spying and I saw the instructions for this little turtle.  I'm not sure who designed it, but I'm very grateful.

The shell is stamped with a pattern from Ecclectic Backgrounds stamp set.  I stamped in Versamark on certainly celery cardstock and embossed with clear.  Then I punched it out with the 1 1/4" circle punch.  The next layer of the shell was punched from always artichoke cardstock with the 1 3/8" circle.

Now for the really clever part of this design--the turtle body is the FLOWER from Love Without End stamp set!  I stamped it with Versamark ink on always artichoke carstock and then cut it out.  They eyes were drawn in with marker.

I can't stand how cute this is.  And both of these stamp sets are on the retiring list, so if you feel a pressing need to make armies of adorable turtles, you'll need to nab those sets before they are gone.

Speaking of Rainbows

Who wouldn't love to have a sample of all 48 of Stampin' Up!'s delicious colors at their fingertips all the time?  You could have this beautiful, convenient pin sample set.

I love to make these to give to my Workshop Hostesses.  And I love wearing my own.  At one birthday party that I did, the girls had a great time playing with it.  They flipped through and picked their favorite colors.  It makes me so happy to see children enjoying color and spreading their creative wings--now it's time for the adults to stop freaking out and enjoy their own creativity!

Holiday Gift Ideas- Sweet Little Somethings

There are many people in our life who deserve a small token at least once a year--they deserve more, really. But it's a start. Here are some ideas to help with your Holiday planning.

Teachers appreciate gift cards (ask my Dear Husband!). So why not dress up a gift card with a special package. A movie rental card packed up with a bag of microwave popcorn is thoughtful. A book mark makes the perfect partner for a bookstore card. You get the idea. Themed packaging with a bonus.

Or you could try giving them something to use in the classroom. A special door sign, personalized notes to send home to parents, sheets of hand stamped stickers for grading papers. A pocket calendar with a hand stamped cover is pretty and useful. Covered notebooks, post it note holders or other personalized accessories are a cheerful addition to the teacher's desk.

What about the other gift recipients in your life? Try a hand stamped tin of cookies for the mailman. Give the newspaper carrier her tip in a hand stamped card.

Gift certificates are more personal when they are wrapped in hand stamped love. Any small gift is that much better when you add your custom stamping.

Please e-mail me your ideas and I'll post them on my website. I'd love to hear how you are stamping for the Holidays.