Welcome! I’m Smitha Katti, an Engineer, a self-taught Artist, a Creative Professional, and a Blogger. I was born in Nashville, grew up in Bangalore and live in Minnesota now with my husband and two daughters.
Today, my blog is filled with easy to follow Art Craft tutorials that span across a multitude of topics like watercoloring, hand lettering, Knitting and Crochet and even crafts for kids. I hope you to pull out your art supplies, get messy, and find your creativity.
How it Started:
In the Sanskrit language, Smitha means “Smile”. Smiling Colors was created in 2010, as my personal blog. I grew up watching my mom crochet, and always loving to play with glue and paper. So when I moved to Minnesota, I started sharing all of my crafting adventures on this blog.
In the early years of this blog, I had two kids under the age of 2. My husband, an amazing photographer, began teaching me how to take better photos with this “fancy” camera. I enjoyed capturing our life through the viewfinder and took that camera everywhere. One day I started photographing my crafts and shared simple step by step photos to share with friends and that is when this blog took off!
How it’s Going:
By sharing my DIY Craft Tutorials, I slowly found a community of like minded artists and crafters and my blog grew from there. I started creating content for Fiskars and in the following years my designs got published in numerous magazines like Somerset Memories, Creating Keepsakes, Cards, etc.
Today, Smiling Colors has over 500+ tutorials, and I personally, photograph, film, color correct, edit, SEO optimize all of my tutorials.
My hope with this blog is to make art easy, doable and approaching for you.
It’s not about painting something perfect, the joy is actually in the process of making something. It’s about actually using those art supplies we buy and trying new techniques. I hope you enjoy my tutorials and create something yourselves today!
Where I have contributed content to
Find my tutorials and articles on these websites!
- ABCMOUSE.COM: Creating crafts for the alphabets- Letter B Crafts, Letter C Crafts, Letter D Crafts, Letter E Crafts, Letter F Crafts, Letter G Crafts, Letter H Crafts, Letter I Crafts with more coming!
- TOMBOW USA: You will find more than 120+ tutorials written by me (and still contributing!) https://blog.tombowusa.com/author/smitha/
- FISKARS AMERICA: I have 100+ craft tutorials like these Easy DIY Wedding Invitations and many more!
- GLUE DOTS: Check out my favorite Pumpkin Patch Artwork
- FABER CASTELL: Guest Blog Post tutorial Colored Rainbow using Gelatos
Alongside, I have also been in design teams for Jessica Sprague, Glitz, Glue Dots, Design Memory Crafts, Tombow USA, and Tonic Studios.
Collaborations:
- Fairfield World: Plushie Reel
- Michaels Stores: Diya Card Reel, Pumpkin Wreath Reel, Ice Shirt Reel, Fabric Tote Reel, Spring Wreath Reel, Tulip Reel, Floral Reel, Gnome Reel, Pumpkin Reel, Sketch Reel, and Diwali Diya Reel
- Mimeo Photos: Photobook Reel
- Crafter’s Edge: Die Machine Post
- Deco Art: Neon Acrylic Paints
- Hostess With The Mostess: Custom Printable Labels
- Staedtler: Pumpkin Class
Teaching:
- Michaels Community Classrooms
- Pinners Conferences
- Big Picture Classes
- Skillshare
- Pigeon Letters Summer Creative Workshop
- Crochet Blanket Summit
Design Work:
Designed Flamingo Stamp for PinkFresh Studios and Created art work for Tombow Dual Brush Pen packaging
GET IN TOUCH
say Hi!
Feel free to drop me a line or inquire about collaborating
Thank you for being here and for coming along my creative journey.
Share with me on social media @smithakatti #smilingcolors
OMG!!!
U r a different SMITA!!!
lol!!!
Anyway it is a good good sign!
I know an other Smita who lives in India!!!
Big hugs my lady!
So nice to meet you via my blog and now yours, and great to read about you too! Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment.
Welcome to the world of scrapbooking (and motherhood!) Your cards and projects are lovely, looking forward to visiting your blog again soon!
Ranjini
I love your website and love for scrapbooking!!! Thanks to digital scrapbooking, I can continue to preserve memories with my family! Very impressed that you and your hubby made this site!!! Looking forward to more inspiration from you that will only inspire me too!
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Hi Smitha, I too am on the JS creative team..
I follow your work – it is great! I have some questions about how you set up your blog. Love that too! Is it a blogger blog or wordpress? I VERY much want to have sections in my blog – to categorize my project Life, my photo of the day and my scrapping layouts. Can you help me with this? I am so inspired by your blog! It is beautiful! Thanks in advance.
Really Grt u have done a great job. For all like craft lovers. Dnt you think that.
Smitha, WELCOME to Frog Dog!! I really LOVE your site! Fresh, clean, simple…easy to read and so versatile! I am excited to share the creative experience with you! I know you will add so much to our team and I am eager to learn from you:)
Sue Carroll
Waoh It was nice to find you, Loved ur work very inspiring :)!
Hi Smitha, I just watched your YouTube tutorial on the Fiskars Fuse and it was very helpful! Thank you!
Hi Smith a
I have a question about the half knit blanket. On the pattern rows (starting with row 3)do you start of with 2 k’s or one?
thanks
Nancy
Its a k2!
what a bright delight to find you here Smitha. I am a beginner in acrylics and was looking for something inspirational. That was you ! with your light filled art stylThank you for sharing with the world.
Nyima
Just came across your website & am already enjoying it! Thanks for all the lettering practice sheets & helpful information (I’m just learning)! Looking forward to exploring the DIY section of your website!
Thanks Again!!!
Leslie