Farewell, May!

Today, we're bidding May farewell.  We have been so fortunate to have her on the design team for the past year and a half!  Her talent is so evident and she is just the sweetest person!  She put together a photo of some of her favorite creations while on the team.  Maybe you remember some of these fabulous cards?  You can see them in full over on her blog!

As a fond farewell, May is having a giveaway for all our CASology participants!  There will be two winners!  One lucky winner will win a $25 Avery Elle gift certificate!  Another lucky winner will win a $15 gift certificate for CAS-ual Fridays!  Be sure and head on over to her blog for the details!  You have until July 5 at 11:59 PST to enter!

We wish you all the best in the months ahead, May!  We will miss you, but know you are destined for great things!

Farewell, Meghan!

We really don't want to say farewell to one of our design team members, but Meghan is stepping down from the team in order to focus on life a bit more.  We all know how that is and we wish her all the best in the months ahead!  She has been a wonderful asset to the CASology team and we are going to miss her dearly!  Please be sure to leave her some well wishes!

Please Welcome...

Today is the day!  We're welcoming two new design team members!  Please give a warm welcome to Hazel Hodgkins and Kymona Tracey!  We're pretty excited and know you will be too!  Here's a little introduction to the two of them as we head on into the new year!

Hazel

Cue word: ECSTATIC! Joining CASology’s inspiring Design Team is a dream come true! I live in sunny, beachy Western Australia, with my three young energetic boys and endlessly tolerant and supportive husband. I currently work part-time in marketing; however my stock trade is health promotion / public health. I have always had a passion for paper but didn’t really know what to do with it.  It wasn't until I teamed it with rubber stamping that something clicked! This, coinciding with the discovery of card blogging in  2013, and I suddenly had an extremely satisfying and highly addictive hobby. CAS designs rapidly became my favourite style of card-making, with CASology’s evocative cue words filling my head and my blog! I am ecstatic beyond measure to be part of this amazing team! I hope that my love of the creative and (ever-evolving) process shines through in the projects I share with you. I KNOW that I will be inspired by your projects every week!

Kymona

 

 

Hello, I’m Kymona Tracey. Who am I, you ask? I am a woman who never slows down and loves it. Yes… I am the energizer bunny’s sister! I just keep going and going (which is something that I am working on, if you follow my weekly wishes on my blog). I am a single mother of two wonderful children who are 8 years apart. My 16 year old son is a true self-made jock who plays every sport you can think of ! My 7 year old daughter is a real life princess who loves anything crafty and girly and absolutely hates anything related to sports. Talk about yin and yang! …but I love it!! Besides running from one activity to another with them, I work full time at a hospital (public health background), facilitate a reading group at work, teach high school students on the weekends and have a huge love of learning new things. I’ve taken classes in photography, web design, knitting, scrapbooking and card-making. I love them all, however, my true passion is card-making. I was introduced to card making back in 2004 and haven’t turned back since. I started out as a hobbyist just making cards for family and friends. People were always ecstatic when they received a card from me. What they did not know was that it made me feel just as special to make a card for them. This passion pushed me into teaching card-making classes at work with a couple of coworkers who wanted to learn how to make projects for their families. In September 2013, I made a big leap and created my blog, Kreative Kymona. Besides being a mom, I think that this has been one of my most rewarding accomplishments. Just being able to share with my world community makes life so rewarding!


Please take some time to give them a warm welcome!  We're so happy to have them joining us and know you'll love their work in the weeks ahead!

Design Team Member: Jen Wills

For the current CELEBRATE challenge, click here.  You have until NOON (CDT) today to submit your entry!

It's the final design team feature day!  Have you been following along and commenting on the current day's featured member's blog for your chance to win their blog candy?  Remember, you have 24 hours to do so, so hop to it because this is your last chance!

Jen Wills from JENerally Speaking

Currently... 

• designing for CASology.
• using a lot of stamps, dies, tiny gems and coloured cardstock - mostly Stampin' Up.  I love patterned paper too, but I seem to collect more than I use.
• a big Paper Smooches fan, but it's tough to narrow it down to just one favorite craft company.  I also love Avery Elle, Mama Elephant, Sweet Stamp Shop, Papertrey Ink, Memory Box,  CAS-ual Fridays and Neat & Tangled.

How did you get into card making?

A friend suggested I mount my photographs on cards.  While trying to find cardstock, envelopes and such online, I stumbled across some card blogs and was hooked.  After a few months of blog stalking, I finally dove in, started my own blog and started playing in challenges.  (The photographs have totally fallen by the wayside…) 

 

Why do you like Clean & Simple design?

I struggled initially with putting patterns and colours togethe,r so I gravitated to a more clean and simple style which let me focus on a key element instead of having to marry too many things together at once.
 

Any advice for fellow crafters when it comes to finding their own design style?

Patience and practice.  It took me ages to figure out what style I was comfortable with and what worked for me.  I look back at my early cards and am amazed at how I got from there to where I am now.  It's an ongoing learning process.  Look at cards you like and try to pinpoint what it is exactly that you like about them.  Copy designs to get the feel of how they come together.  Then, try copying but changing up an element or colour combo.  (Use these copies for learning only though - if you post them give proper credit to the original designer).  You'll be surprised at how quickly you find your own groove.  

 

Is there anything else you think we should know about you?

Aside from making cards, I work part time at a veterinary hospital where there is never a dull moment.  At home, I hang out with my hubby and our pooch, Atticus, who keeps us busy with swims, walks and endless games of fetch.  I'm also a big reader and would watch more TV, but usually Luis lays claim to it first.  :)

Design Team Member: Gillian Ross

For the current CELEBRATE challenge, click here.

Time for another design team member feature!  This time?  It's Gillian!

Gillian Ross from Made with Sparkle

Currently...

• designing for CASology & Uniko Studio.
• loving white cardstock, glossy accents, Stampin' Up ink pads, dimensional stickers, stamps, stamps and more stamps.
• creating with stamps from Uniko Studio, Clearly Besotted, WPlus9 & Avery Elle (to name a few), but if I like a stamp set, I will buy regardless of the company.  Even paying the ridiculous customs charges from the U.S!

How Did You Get Into Card Making?

One of my friends gave me a hand made card and I was touched by the sentiment and thought that went into it.  That Christmas I decided to make all my own cards, bought a card kit and the addiction started. A few years down the line, I am a card making addict with a much lighter bank balance to prove it. 

Why do you like Clean and Simple Design?

I love the impact a perfect clean and simple design can have.  Normally, one aspect takes centre stage and it has to be perfect for the design to work.  I love other styles of designs too, I just can't pull them off. 

Any advice for fellow crafters when it comes to finding their own design style?

Just try everything and anything.  Remember it is only a bit of paper, so if you don't like it, recycle and start again.  My style has changed dramatically since I started out card making!

Design Team Member: Meghan McMillan

For the current CELEBRATE challenge, click here.

We're heading into day 8 of our design team features!  Today, we're interviewing Meghan!

Meghan McMillan from Pink Bike.

 

Currently...

• designing for CASology & Scrapbooks by Design (a scrapbook store in Vancouver, BC).
• loving my Silhouette Portrait (along with my monthly subscription).
• loving my Big Shot Die Machine (along with my steel rule dies).
• creating with Lawn Fawn, Doodlebug, Paper Smooches & Paper Trey Ink.

How did you get into card making?
I've always loved making cards, but really got serious about this hobby a few years ago.  I'm an avid blog reader and love to find inspirational cards to pin on my Pinterest boards.

Why do you like clean & simple design?
When I created my first cards, I used sketches I found online.  They had all kinds of layers and I really tried hard to make them work.   Usually, they didn't.  Then I found a clean and simple and tried my hand at a very pared down card.  (I actually won my very first challenge with my first clean & simple card.)  I felt so much more comfortable with so much less on my card fronts.  I totally remember my "aha" moment when I knew I was a clean and simple card maker!  I do still like to do cards with more layers now and then like A2 Box Cards, but I usually gravitate towards a fairly clean and simple card design.

Any advice for fellow crafters when it comes to finding their own design style?
I think everyone should try out a variety of styles.  You'll just know when you find what works for you.  Experiment, try out new things and go outside your comfort zone once in a while.

Is there anything else you think we should know about you?
Creativity is a large part of my life both personally and in my job as a high school teacher.  I kind of like to fly under the radar and am not much into Facebook, but I do love Pinterest!

Design Team Member: Judy Marino

For the current CELEBRATE challenge, click here.

Time for another design team feature!  Let's learn some more about Judy!

Judy Marino from Judy's Card Corner

Currently...

• designing for CASology
• retired from the Sweet Stamp Shop design team.
• loving being a past guest designer for Precious Remembrance Shop and 12 Kits of Occasions.

Do you have any favorite products &/or craft companies right now?

My favorite products are all of my stamps, patterned papers, embossing folders, dies, and my Wink of Stella brush glitter.  I also reach for my Glossy Accents every time I make a card!  I am a life-long fan of Hero Arts!  I have also grown to love Simon Says Stamp, Sweet Stamp Shop and Precious Remembrance Shop stamps.  I am also fond of Jane's Doodles, WPlus9, and Papertrey Ink.  (I own stamps from many other companies, too.  Basically, if I like the stamps, I will buy them!)

 

How did you get into card making?

My best girlfriend sent me a handmade, stamped Christmas card over ten years ago, and I was intrigued.  She suggested I buy a book on rubber stamping, and I did.  The rest is history!     

 

Why do you like Clean and Simple design?

I like clean and simple design because that is pretty much how I live my life!  I like to keep things clean, uncluttered, organized and simple.  (Of course, that rarely happens anymore -- but that is what I like!)  When it comes to cards, I don't like bulk -- mainly because I mail most of my cards and it is easier to mail a flat card!    

 

Do you have any advice for fellow crafters trying to find their own style?

Do what makes you happy and you will find your style!  Don't be afraid to CASE ideas, look to your surroundings for inspiration, check out Pinterest (I find TONS of inspiration there) and consider participating at challenge blogs.  I find that my style emerges when I'm given some structure -- whether a sketch or a color scheme or a cue word.  At this stage of my life, I don't make cards in order to win things -- I make them because it makes me happy! 

 

Is there anything else you think we should know about you?

When I am not making cards, I am enjoying my busy life with my husband and our four kids (ages 15, 14, 12 and 9).  I work part time as a school psychologist and I am actively involved in my kids' school activities and extracurriculars (and trust me, there are many of them!).  I also sing and can play a few instruments (guitar, ukulele, banjo).  I love gardening and reading, too!  I am also VERY proud to say that I have not missed a cue word at CASology since the challenge started!

Design Team Member: Ardyth Percy-Robb

For the current CELEBRATE challenge, click here.

Ready for another daily feature and 24 hours to comment for some blog candy?!  Let's see what Ardyth has to say!

Ardyth Percy-Robb from MASKerade

Currently...

• designing for CASology, The Card Concept, CAS-ual Fridays, Festive Friday, Muse, One Layer Simplicity (wow, I'm busy!)
• at home with my growing kids (15 and 11), but was previously an accountant and VP Communications for a life insurance company.
• a piano accompanist for 2 children's choirs, School Council Chair at my daughter's school, Treasurer of our school's nutrition program and Treasurer for our in-school child care.

Do you have any favourite products?

I'm really liking my dies right now - inlaying them not only creates a wow! factor, it gives me the satisfaction of putting a complicated puzzle together. Most of the time.

I love wooden and clear stamps. Not so much the unmounted rubber ones. I buy wood blocks to glue them on.

Stickles - seriously - all that sparkle and no glitter in my eyelashes for the rest of the day!

How did you get into card making?

It started at a Stampin' Up party early in 2006, so SU! was my first love. I still use them most for ink and paper - love the matchy-matchy system of their alliteratively named colours. I stalked Splitcoaststampers and various blogs for years before starting MASKerade in January 2012. Now there are so many great companies offering so many fun products, it would be impossible to choose one - I have stuff from just about every one!

Why do you like CAS design?

Two projects stand out in my mind from my working career - one was ringing the bell on the NYSE on the day we listed in the US (hopefully the only time I'll ever be on CNN!). The other was launching a new visual identity for our company. I absolutely loved spending so much time with the designers (they were so cool!) and that's where I first heard the words that I have come to love so much: "white space". This experience was probably the biggest influence on my design style now.  I love clean, graphic design, often using just shapes, colours and text to get my message across. Having said that, I love almost all kinds of well-executed design. I really admire cardmakers who are able to go from CAS to Shabby-chic, to super-elegant and back again. 

Advice for fellow crafters who are trying to find their own style?

There's no short cut. They say it takes 2 years to become as good as you want to be at anything new. You just have to keep trying and making and throwing out and trying again. Don't get discouraged, look everywhere for inspiration and, when you find something you like, force yourself to really analyze what you like about it.  Don't be afraid to copy someone else's ideas (giving proper credit of course) and then take it to the next step to make it your own. 

Design Team Member: Joyce Mehrberg

Are you still following along for your chance to win the daily blog candy?  Today you have 24 hours to comment on Joyce's blog!

Joyce Mehrberg from Cards by the Sea

Currently...

• designing for CASology.
• have guest designed for Top Dog Dies.
• could not live without my Big Shot, my dies and impression plates.  And, my Wink of Stella and water brush have been getting a good workout lately!
• loving Paper Trey Ink, Hero Arts, WPlus9, Lawn Fawn and Avery Elle.

How did you get into card making?

I held my 14 year old's 11th birthday party at our local Paper Source, and was hooked at once.  It took me a while to discover clear stamps, internet shopping, challenges and blogging.  Once I started making card-making friends online, I was in it for life.

Why do you like Clean & Simple design?

I am drawn to clean and simple designs.  I find them most visually appealing.  I like the lack of clutter and the clean lines.  As I look around at my home, I see some of those same elements in the style of our furnishings.  Clutter in my house drives me nuts, so I guess it is not surprising that I like an uncluttered card.

Any advice for fellow crafters when it comes to finding their own design style?

Do what makes you happy and what looks good to you.  Look for designers to emulate whose style speaks to you.  Don't worry too much about how to label what you do and don't worry if every single card you make has a different style!  Enjoy card-making as a hobby and just see where each card takes you.

Is there anything else you think we should know about you?

Hmmm....are you sure you want to know more?!  My long-suffering blog readers know this, but I get most of my good card ideas when I am working out, especially in spin class.  Shocking, I know!  I think it is something about all that blood pumping around my body and into my brain & the need to find a mental happy place amid the torture of the task at hand.  I daydream on my bike about the cards I am going to make when I get home!  Some of them actually turn out just like I planned.  Others, not so much. 
I live in a small beach town just north of San Diego with my husband, two teenaged daughters, a puppy and a pet rat.  I spend a lot of time in the car driving my girls around town and watching them play sports.  When I am not doing the 'mom thing' I like to craft, read, exercise and just enjoy the outdoors.

Design Team Member: May Park

Are you following along each day for your chance to win some rather wonderful blog candy?  Remember to comment on today's featured design team member's blog to be eligible to win!

May Park from Mayholic in Crafts

Currently...

• Designing for Waffle Flower Crafts, CASology, Catered Crop.
• Top 5 of the Paper Crafts Magazine’s Gallery Idol 2014 card contest.
• Writing a card making book which will be published in South Korea at the end of this year.
• Live in beautiful Southern California with my wonderful husband and two adorable cats.
• loving Papertrey Ink, Hero Arts, Simon Says Stamp and Waffle Flower Crafts.
• using Hero Arts shadow inks, white embossing powder, glossy accents.
• enjoying heat embossing and masking.

How did you get into card making?

I had not enjoyed any arts and crafts until my friend showed me her amazing scrapbook album in May 2010. I honestly didn’t know there was a paper-crafting world before. A month later, I made my first scrapbook page when I went to the Crop Night at Michael’s. Then I started scrapbooking with the encouragement of my hubby, and slowly moved into making cards. Crafting is my passion since then. Sometimes I’m surprised to see myself passionate about paper crafting because I had never thought of myself related to creativity back in Korea.

How do you describe your style?

Mostly clean and simple! Here is why I stick to the CAS style. I discovered the Kristina Werner blog in June 2011, and she’s been my idol card maker since then. I had been following her card designs for practice for a year. I also try not to rely on stamps, patterned papers, and dies. That’s why I love to make my own embellishments as focal points using Silhouette Design Studio. The creativity is the most important element in my card. I like to be as creative as possible on the cards that I make.

Is there anything else you think we should know about you?

I’m in the Paper Crafts Magazine’s Gallery Idol 2014 card contest, and I created a Cinderella Themed card for the final round. Please check out my blog HERE and vote for your favorite HERE.

Design Team Member: Tracey McNeely

For the current challenge, click here!

Ready to learn more about another one of CASology's creative team?  Remember, you have 24 hours to go leave a comment on her blog for a chance to win her blog candy!  Ready?  Set.  Go!

Tracey McNeely from In My Creative Opinion

 

Currently...

• guest designing for Reverse Confetti 
• designing for CASology, colourQ, Curtain Call, Girl Friday CAS-ual Fridays, The Card Concept and The 12 kits of Occasions
• coming to grips with the fact that I have a 19 year old going into his second year of Architecture and that my baby girl is going into her last year of high school and has a driver’s license 
• spending way too much money shopping online
• love die cuts and getting inky 
• trying to find the perfect house for DH and I to enter the next phase of our life in

How did you get into card making?

In high school I fell in love with scrapbooking by saving memorabilia and documenting important things in my life—like bus transfers, candy wrappers, notes passed in class--LOL When I was a poor University student I began making my own cards to save money and that is when I bought my first woodblock stamps.  My obsession was born.

Why do you like Clean & Simple design?

I like Clean & Simple Design because that is what feels comfortable for me. I love white space that is really ‘white’ and I love the feel of airiness in my designs. Clutter makes me uncomfortable in my card making and in my real world.  I am attracted and inspired by designers who are not CAS, but my translation of their designs is to simplify and create breathing room.

Any advice for fellow crafters when it comes to finding their own design style?

What took me a long time to figure out was my own design style.  I was always and still am attracted to designs that are colourful and full of layers and texture. I tried to copy that style with my own designs, but it didn’t feel right.  Try to add more to your design and also try to take some things away until you feel comfortable that you have made something that you like. Trust your feelings and don’t try to design like someone else, but design for yourself.  Design what makes you happy and your finished product will reflect that.

Is there anything else you think we should know about you?

I am working very hard at regaining control of my life. I have never made it a secret that I have MS. Just recently I have begun physiotherapy to regain and retain muscle strength so that I can fight the progression of this disease that is slowly and steadily robbing me of my mobility. I am hoping this will also alleviate some of the debilitating pain I struggle with daily.

Tomorrow's the big 100!  Are you ready?

Design Team Member: Kimberly Wiener

Did you get a chance to guess what our 100th cue word is going to be?  You have until Tuesday morning at 7:59 a.m. (CDT) to put your guess in the comments here on the CASology blog for your chance to win a guest designer spot for the month of July!

Today, we're featuring another one of our fantastic design team members and, after reading this post, you'll want to head right on over to her blog to leave a comment for your chance to win her blog candy!  Remember, you only have 24 hours to do this!  Better hurry!

Kimberly Wiener from Wienerhoneymooners

Currently...

• designing for CASology.
• designing for FUSION.
• designing for The Challenge over at Always Playing with Paper (by Lesley Croghan).
• a Featured Guest at Merry Mondays for the month of June.
• a Featured Guest at STAMPlorations for the month of July.

What are your favorite products?

My favorite products would have to be distress inks and stencils, dot accents, GOLD ink...  I  LOVE stamping and usually always have at least a stamped sentiment.

Do you have any favorite companies?

Some favorite companies are Clearly Besotted, Mama Elephant, Lawn Fawn, wow..there are too many, the NEW Stampin' Up! Catalog will impress you, IMPRESS, Impress Obsession..Art Impression. I LOVE all stamps really....

How did you get into card making?

I have been crafting forever it seems. In 2008, I started online Scrapblogging, and for me,  it was one of the first interactive digital scrapping online creative services with networking. I loved being able to interact with other crafters, meeting them too. For the last 4 years, I have been meeting in a card club every 4-6 weeks and make card kits.  Creating cards has now evolved to card challenges as I just get so inspired by this crafting community!

I LOVE following my fave designers around to challenges.

Why do you like Clean & Simple design?

I love CAS designs as they really can appeal to all crafters.  The simple beauty that can be recreated easily. For me it is a building block of great design. Once you add your flair, you will achieve your own personal style. 

Any advice for fellow crafters when it comes to finding their own design style?

Use what you love.  I think my best work is when I love all aspects of what I am working with.  When I find something and think  "I might use that," and make an impulse purchase, I find that I really have added to an ongoing pile that I may not use for awhile... However,  I find that if I immediately have a strong feeling about a product, I really gravitate to give it love and end up making something pretty awesome.

Is there anything else you think we should know about you?

I am fiercely crazy about my family and crafting!   I do work full time and have been at my career for 23 years as the Claims Administrator and Rate Analyst for a Produce Import/Export company.  When I am not shuttling my boy to hours of Karate 4 days a week, or taking care of my mom who lives with us, I craft as much as I can fit in. (my boy gets promoted and awarded a RED belt in Karate this Wednesday!!!)   

And YES,  I really do get this excited about card making!  (I have been hinted at that I have a lot of exclamation points on my blog!.... I know... I know...LOL...

Thanks for taking the time to join us, and I really do LOVE all of your creations, keep 'em coming!

Hugs Kimberly.

CASology Creator: Melissa Chipperfield

With our 100th challenge fast approaching, we thought it might be interesting for you to learn more about the CASology team!  What exactly makes us all tick, anyway?  Admit it, you have wondered...haven't you?!  We're making Melissa go first since she created this whole thing back in July of 2012!

Since we're not going to reveal the 100th cue word until Tuesday (June 17), we thought we'd give you a chance to win a guest designer spot for the the entire month of July!  The first person to guess what our 100th cue word will get to join the team as a guest designer for the five challenges in the month of July, our anniversary month!  Just leave a comment at the bottom of this post if you have a guess!  Remember, you have until Tuesday (June 17) at 7:59 a.m. (CDT) to get your guesses in!  Want to know what we've already used for cue words?  Here's a list for you:

And

Anniversary

Apple

Arrow

Autumn

Bee

Bell

Bird

Black

Bloom

Blue

Blush

Bold

Book

Brown

Bubbly

Bunny

Camp

Care

Carnival

Circle

Contrast

Cool

Country

Crisp

Dessert

Dot

Drink

Electric

Extraterrestrial

Fairytale

Family

Fireworks

Fish

Flame

Flower

Free

Fruit

Furry

Game

Garden

Giggle

Gift

Gobble

Gold

Green

Happy

Harvest

Hexagon

Hope

Joke

Jump

Leaf

Lucky

Knit

Metal

Neon

New

Night

Note

Orange

Paint

Paper

Party

Picnic

Pond

Pumpkin

Purple

Red

Relax

Ribbon

Roots

Royal

School

Shine

Shoe

Shop

Silhouette

Sky

Snowflake

Song

Sparkle

Splash

Star

Sugar

Sun

Thanks

Time

Travel

Triangle

Up

Wet

Wheels

White

Wild

Winter

Word

Yellow

Zoo

Also, you will want to comment on each featured designer's personal blog during the 24 hours they are featured because there is blog candy involved!  Who doesn't like that stuff?!  Just be sure you head right over and comment on the currently featured member's blog as soon as you find out who it is!  We plan to feature one design team member here on the challenge blog at 10:00 a.m. each morning for the next 10 days!  Are you ready?

Melissa Chipperfield from Oh, Smudge!

How did you ever come up with the idea for CASology, anyway?
It was just one of those ideas that I wasn't sure was necessarily a good idea, but when it kept bugging me, I had to give it a go!  I wanted a challenge that used simplicity as its key element.  A single cue word seemed simple enough and I knew my own creative inspiration often comes from simple things like words & themes.  I hadn't seen a challenge that consistently used cue words for challenges, so figured it was different enough from what was already out there to have a chance at taking off.  Never did I dream that it would take off the way it did!  THANK YOU to everyone, both challenge participants and the design team, for that surprise!

Currently...

• guest designing for i{heart}papers.
• creating with Mama Elephant, Sweet Stamp Shop, Lawn Fawn, Uniko Studio, Prickley Pear & Paper Trey.
• addicted to white cardstock, gemstones, glitter and my Wink of Stella markers.
• raising four children (ages 9, 7, 3 & 10 months).
• working part time as a dental hygienist.
• consuming my fair share of chocolate and coffee.
• struggling to get a long, relaxing run in on a regular basis.
• doing more laundry than she ever thought possible.
• helping her DH figure out how to create a new craft room.
• loving this challenge, its participants and the design team!

How did you get into card making?
Back in college (a long, long time ago...), some friends of mine decided to get together every now and then to make cards to save money.  It was a way to get together regularly and none of us were that serious about it.  We shared whatever we happened to have for supplies.
After college, DH & I moved for his career and I met a gal that was pretty serious about card making.  She introduced me to Stampin Up! and the rest is history.  It quickly became my hobby.

Why do you like Clean and Simple design?
I'm the type of person that likes things to be in order and I suppose that spills over into how I design.  While clean & simple design seems simple to the casual onlooker, it takes some thought along with trial & error to get a design to flow.  I love the challenge of it!  My ideal CAS design is one that is simple, but conveys the message clearly.  The simpler the better for me!  Of course, if there is a little humor I can inject, I'll do it.  Smiles are my job, after all!

Any advice to fellow crafters when it comes to finding their own design style?
Don't stress about it!  It will come with time and practice.  You should see some of my first cards!  CAS design was not what I started out with, believe me!  I still have a good sized stash of decorative paper and fancy embellishments that I don't know if I'll ever put to use!  Take a look at the work of designers you admire and consider what it is about their work that you love.  Maybe it's the color palettes they use or maybe it's the style of images they work with on a regular basis.  There are many elements that go into a card design and sometimes it takes a little time to find out which elements combine to define your personal style.

Is there anything else you think we should know about you?
I have a thing for photography, especially black & white photography and children's photography.  You'll find some of my photos on my creative blog as well as my fairly new photography website, Pixel Moments.
I love to help people.  If you ever have a question you think I might know the answer to, just email me.  I'm here to help if I can!  I sincerely hope you have found CASology to be a warm and welcoming challenge where you can find inspiration, support and friendship.

Don't forget to head on over to Oh, Smudge! & leave a comment for your chance to win her blog candy!  You have just 24 hours, so you'd better get going!

Stop back here tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. (CDT) to see which design team member will be featured next!

A Fond Farewell

Today we are bidding one of our fabulous design team members farewell!  Maureen is resigning from the CASology team!  She has been a fantastic CAS designer for us for well over a year now and we're going to miss her immensely!  Her design style rocks the creative world and it has been such a privilege to have her designing with us each week!  She is heading off to new & exciting creative adventures, so be sure and stay tuned to her blog in the months ahead!  For now, please give her a fond farewell here at CASology!

Thank you so much, Maureen, for being a wonderful inspiration to so many!

Goodbye and Hello!

Happy New Year, everyone!  We have some news to share with you here at CASology!

 

First, we are bidding farewell to one of our very first design team members!  Rosemary is resigning from the team.  We are sad to see her go, but also understand life changes and it's good to follow its lead!  Please be sure and bid her a fond farewell!  Don't forget to continue to visit her blog, though, as she really has a beautiful design style and you won't want to miss out on her future creations!

Second, we are excited to welcome, not one, but TWO new design team members as we head on into 2014!  Please give a warm welcome to Joyce Mehrberg and May Sukyong Park!

Joyce Mehrberg

I am so happy to be joining the CASology design team.  This is my first design team and I am in awe of the company I am keeping.  I started stamping in the summer of 2010, when I had my youngest daughter's birthday party at Paper Source.  Once I discovered clear stamps and the on-line blogging community, I was hooked.  I live in a small beach town in San Diego County with my husband, two teenage daughters, our new puppy and a sweet little pet rat.  I worked in the corporate world for many years before retiring to spend more time with my family.  My other interests include spinning, reading and playing with our puppy.

May Sukyong Park

Hi there! I was born and brought up in South Korea, and moved to the US in 2009. I now live near the coast in beautiful Southern California with my wonderful husband and two adorable cats. I had not enjoyed any arts and crafts until I was first introduced to stamping by my friend in 2010. Then I started scrapbooking, and slowly moved in to making cards which became my passion. I love clean and simple design based on creativity. Other than card making, I enjoy making hair accessories, sewing, making mini albums, and repurposing projects. I'm so thrilled and honored to be part of the CASology design team. I look forward to working with all these talented ladies on the DT and seeing your creations too. 

We think these two are a fantastic addition to the CASology team and you'll think so too once you see their design work!  Their very first challenge as design team members will be next week, so stay tuned!

In the meantime, don't forget to join in the PARTY challenge that ends this weekend!

Introducing...

Today is the day!  We'd like to introduce our two newest design team members!

Please help us give a warm welcome to...

 Gillian Ross

I am so excited and honoured to be joining the super talented CASology Design Team and I would like to thank Melissa for this wonderful opportunity.  I live in Aberdeen, Scotland with my wonderful husband and work full time as a Quantity Surveyor.  Since my job is very technical, cardmaking is the creative part of my life, which I didn't know existed until a couple of years ago.  I started blogging about 18 months ago and have developed my skills as I have blogged.  My style has certainly evolved to the Clean and Simple that I use now.  I am so happy to be part of this fabulous CASology blog and can't wait to see what you all come up with each week.

Kimberly Wiener

Hello!  I am just smitten with CAS and am so excited to be a part of the CASology team!   I have always loved paper crafting and have been making cards for as long as I can remember. I am very happily "honeymooning" with my husband as we raise a wonderful boy that we are crazy about. We love living in Washington State surrounded by all of the wonderful greenery.  I love color, paper, being bold and thinking outside of the box.  I have a huge passion to experiment every day using new and interesting products. I look forward to being inspired and sharing my inspiration with you!

 

We think you're going to love their work and we can't wait to see what they come up with for weekly creative inspiration!

Introducing...

First of all, a GREAT BIG THANK YOU to everyone who joined in for Favorites Week!  It was fun to go back and look at past entries and see what your favorites were!  I think we could all say it wasn't easy to narrow our selections down to just a few and that just shows that there has been an overwhelming amount of fantastic CAS cards showing up in the weekly challenges over the last six months!  Just the thought of the upcoming months has us excited as we anticipate even more CAS creativity!

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It's time to move on into a new year of CASology challenges and we're starting things off with some new members on our design team!  The inaugural team is staying, but we decided it's time to add some more creative minds and inspiration for you each week, so today we're introducing three new members!

Introducing...

Judy Marino

Hello, friends!  I am so excited to be joining the CASology Design Team!  I am married to my high school sweetheart, mom to four awesome kids (ages, 13, 12, 11 and 8), and am employed as a school psychologist.  My other hobbies include singing, gardening, reading, and occasional scrapbooking.  Life here in New Jersey is very busy and very fun!  I was introduced to rubber stamping over ten years ago when my best friend sent me a hand-made Christmas card, and I have been hooked ever since.  I love clean and simple cards, and am thrilled to be part of the CASology team!

    

Maureen Merritt

I am so honored to be a part of the amazingly talented team here at CASology!   I am a Mom to Conner & Ethan and wife to Douglas.  We live in Northeastern Pennsylvania with our three Siberian cats;  Izzy, Sawyer & Chester.  I grew up in NJ and will always be a Jersey girl at heart.  I truly found my passion when I discovered stamping over 7 years ago.   Clean and simple stamping isn't only my style, it's how I like to live my life.  Though my first love is stamping, I also enjoy photography, reading, Tae Kwon Do and hiking.  I can't wait to share my love of CAS stamping with all of you!

Meghan McMillan

I’m so excited to be a part of the CASology Design Team!  I am a part-time high school teacher, and full-time wife, mother and daughter in beautiful Victoria, BC Canada.  When my busy life gets too crazy, I retreat to my little studio and create.  In my spare time I knit, read and enjoy traveling.  I hope I can provide some clean and simple inspiration each week as a member of the incredibly talented design team here at CASology.


We can't wait to start the new year with these wonderfully creative individuals!  We know they will be a wonderful addition to the team and you're going to love their inspiration and CAS ideas in the months ahead!  Be sure and give them a warm welcome and leave them some blog love when you have time!

See you tomorrow morning for the first challenge of 2013!