One good idea often spawns another and that is surely what happened this time (delaying the release of this issue!). While putting the previous sections of this article together, it occurred to us that there is another problem an artist faces when trying to successfully combine stamp (and/or clip art) images. The images are rarely sized to go together and the artistic “styles” are very different because they come from different sources and different artists.

What if there were images intended specifically for combining - for tracing? How exciting would that be?

So, we went to the drawing board and “Tracers™” Art Starters were born. The two shown above are the very first to ever exist! Ta-Da! (we need a little fanfare, right?)

We started showing friends in the business and the reaction was unanimous: What a great idea! We want to get involved! Artists, illustrators, and stamp company owners of our acquaintance hurried off to start producing all the ideas that were popping into their heads. (If you are any of the above, and you are interested, just email us for guidelines, a Tracers logo to put on your sheets, and other info at no charge. The more, the merrier, in our opinion). In fact, we will be hosting a Tracers Gallery, Clubhouse, and Yahoo Group which will be announced in the October Issue.

So, by the time our next issue comes out, there will be lots of this type of art to chose from, and we will be letting you know where it is. The two sheets above are available right now from Cre8it, so you can get started right away if you like. Rubber stampers, do not panic! Rejoice instead - this is something great to add to your stamping, not a replacement!

The format is simple - a laminated page that you can keep in a binder. This will allow you to collect Tracers from many sources and keep them neatly together in a ring binder of your choice. It will allow stamping, paper arts, and scrapbooking stores to display them easily - in binders you can peruse - like patterns in a sewing store. The lamination allows taping over and over without surface destruction - so these sheets are “keepers”. Only the front is printed so they can be used on a light table with papers that may not be as transparent as vellums and Sheer Heaven. Best of all, they will be affordable. You will be purchasing the tracing “rights” to use all the art on a Tracers page for only $4.50/sheet - the price of a small stamp. And volume purchases will probably be discounted by the manufacturers.

To demonstrate the mileage you can get out of Tracer sheets, turn the page for an article on “possibilities”.
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