Week 408: COZY

Dear CASology friends,

Since it began in July of 2012, CASology has been a big part of my life and the lives of all the wonderful design team members and participants who have supported this challenge over the years.  Today, we're beginning CASology Challenge #408, the final challenge.

I can honestly say the decision to discontinue CASology was not an easy one and I found myself going back and forth, struggling with the thought of not taking it into another new year.  While it makes me a bit sad thinking of all the wonderful years we've shared here at CASology, my heart is telling me it's time to let it go and lean more fully into other parts of my life.  As we all know, our lives evolve and change with time and experiences along life's journey and the last couple of years, especially, have brought a lot of change into my own.  We all have a personal plate filled with responsibilities and things we choose to take on.  Lately, I have loved the quote that says, "You can do it all, just not all at once." and it has been a guide to many of my personal decisions as of late.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the years spent here at CASology and feel those years were not wasted.  Here, I have had the privilege of forming friendships with fellow card makers, watched clean and simple creativity flourish and felt honored to be a part of a community of such supportive, caring individuals.  Please know that I will forever be thankful to you for taking the time to play along with us and support CASology over the last ten years.  Who knew a little idea would take off and turn into such a fun experience?!

I hope you will all continue to connect and support fellow card makers and card making challenges.  Clean and simple design will continue to be my go-to style as I focus more of my time, energy and effort into new responsibilities and building a dream of mine over at Inked Regards.

I hope you'll join us for one last challenge this month to help us celebrate the last 10 amazing years!  The design team would love to hear from you as we all say farewell.  If you have time, please be sure and stop by their blogs and leave a little farewell love!

With gratitude,

Melissa

For our final cue word, we're focusing on all things associated with cozy.  Autumn has arrived here and winter will follow.  All the cooler day things are slowly being reintroduced and we'd love to fill the gallery with that cozy feeling too!

As always, remember the following CAS guidelines when creating your design:

1. One main image
2. Lots of open space, uncluttered
3. Limited layers & embellishments
4. Quick & easy to recreate (Note:  It may take a while to create a design you like, but once you have that design, making more should be a piece of cake!)

Let's take a look at what the design team and our guest designers created for inspiration!

Guest Designer:  Arlene

design defined:

No matter the image, you can make it warm & cozy with the right colors.

Guest Designer:  Christine

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Subtle texture and plentiful white space are perfect for a CAS design!

 Åsa

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Center your image and keep much white space is always a good idea creating CAS. 

Jacquie

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White space doesn't have to be white.

Nancy

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A thin matted frame draws your eye in to the focal point of your card.

Sandie

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Stamping off the edge allows you to use larger stamps on CAS cards.

Go have fun creating your very own CAS design and don't forget to link up here on the CASology blog by Monday, October 31, at 9:00 a.m. (CST)!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Week 407: HAPPY

Seasons are changing again and it feels like fall's arrival always brings on a happy feeling!  As summer fades into rich, autumn colors, let's share all the happiness we can in the gallery this month!

As always, remember the following CAS guidelines when creating your design:

1. One main image
2. Lots of open space, uncluttered
3. Limited layers & embellishments
4. Quick & easy to recreate (Note:  It may take a while to create a design you like, but once you have that design, making more should be a piece of cake!)

Let's take a look at what the design team and our guest designer created for inspiration!

Guest Designer: Arlene

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Keeping the image and sentiment in one little corner makes for lots of clean, white space!

 Åsa

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One main image and LOTS of white space keeps your card clean.

Jacquie

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Layering white elements helps preserve white space.

Nancy

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Lots of colours can be overwhelming in a CAS card, but not if you only use them in little bits.

Sandie

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You can use large dies and layers in CAS cards, but keep the colours simple.

Go have fun creating your very own CAS design and don't forget to link up here on the CASology blog by Monday, October 3, at 9:00 a.m. (CDT)!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Week 406: Sand

 

Sand is such a part of summer that it's only appropriate to make it a cue word!  Let's see what it makes you think of!

As always, remember the following CAS guidelines when creating your design:

1. One main image
2. Lots of open space, uncluttered
3. Limited layers & embellishments
4. Quick & easy to recreate (Note:  It may take a while to create a design you like, but once you have that design, making more should be a piece of cake!)

Let's take a look at what the design team and our guest designer created for inspiration!

Guest Designer:  Hannelie

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Dimension is an effective way to add interest to a CAS design.

 Åsa

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Make a small scene with much white space to keep it CAS. 

Jacquie

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White die cuts can add interest and preserve white space.

Nancy

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Sometimes you need to think outside the box...

Sandie

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Try to balance out your card with the placement of the sentiment.

Go have fun creating your own CAS design and don't forget to link up here on the CASology blog by Monday, September 5, at 9:00 a.m. (CDT)!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Week 405: WINDY

 

Wind is part of life.  Sometimes we just have to hold on and ride it out.  Other times, it pushes us forward and it's smoother sailing.  This week, let's see what this cue word brings to mind for you!

As always, remember the following CAS guidelines when creating your design:

1. One main image
2. Lots of open space, uncluttered
3. Limited layers & embellishments
4. Quick & easy to recreate (Note:  It may take a while to create a design you like, but once you have that design, making more should be a piece of cake!)

Let's take a look at what the design team and our guest designer created for inspiration!

Guest Designer:  Chrissie

design defined:

Use simple monochrome stamping amid white space.

 Åsa

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Cluster three small images for a clean look. 

Jacquie

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White die cuts help preserve white space.

Nancy

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A small amount of patterned paper can be used and still achieve a clean and simple look

Sandie

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Twine and ribbon can be used on CAS card if kept to a minimum.

Go have fun creating your own CAS design and don't forget to link up here on the CASology blog by Monday, August 1, at 9:00 a.m. (CDT)!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Week 404: RIDE

June.  How is it already June?!  This ride called life keeps right on moving along, doesn't it?  It's time for a brand new cue word and this one could produce a rather fun gallery this month!  We can't wait to see what it inspires you to create!

**One important announcement before we continue today!

Joyce is stepping down from the design team after 8 years!!!  Please give her a fond farewell by visiting her blog and leaving a comment there!  We have loved having her as a part of the team and sharing her talent with us!  She will be very missed!

Now on to this month's challenge inspiration!

As always, remember the following CAS guidelines when creating your design:

1. One main image
2. Lots of open space, uncluttered
3. Limited layers & embellishments
4. Quick & easy to recreate (Note:  It may take a while to create a design you like, but once you have that design, making more should be a piece of cake!)

Let's take a look at what the design team and our guest designer created for inspiration!

Guest Designer:  Marieke

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Try using the paper piecing technique to add some extra interest to your project.

Åsa

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Cluster your images and sentiment in the middle. 

Jacquie

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Repeating a small image three times is a classic CAS technique.

Joyce

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One main image keeps your card CAS.

Nancy

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An ink blended background add interest without being too busy

Sandie

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Stamp a sentiment over an image to allow for more white space.

Go have fun creating your CAS design and don't forget to link up here on the CASology blog by Monday, July 4, at 9:00 a.m. (CDT)!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Week 402: FLUFFY

 

Spring has sprung in some parts of the world.  This time of year often brings with it new life and new growth.  For some reason, this cue word came to mind for April.  Anyone else thinking of Peeps candy?!  We can't wait to see your fluffy creations in the gallery!

As always, remember the following CAS guidelines when creating your design:

1. One main image
2. Lots of open space, uncluttered
3. Limited layers & embellishments
4. Quick & easy to recreate (Note:  It may take a while to create a design you like, but once you have that design, making more should be a piece of cake!)

Let's take a look at what the design team and our guest designer created for inspiration!

Guest Designer:  Ishani

design defined:

Place white on white and limit the use of color to keep your design CAS.

Åsa

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 "Along the edge" is a great way to create CAS cards.

Jacquie

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Outline images help preserve white space.

Joyce

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Cluster your images and sentiment in one corner.

Nancy

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Use only the edges of the card to create a clean and simple look

Sandie

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Keep embellishments to a minimum when making CAS cards.

Go have fun creating your CAS design and don't forget to link up here on the CASology blog by Monday, May 2, at 9:00 a.m. (CDT)!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Week 401: HAT

Hats off to a new month!  March is here and, with it, spring arrives on the calendar!  For those of us who are coming out of the winter season, we can't wait to get rid of our cold weather hats, boots and mittens.  Let's fill the gallery this month with designs inspired by this little word!

As always, remember the following CAS guidelines when creating your design:

1. One main image
2. Lots of open space, uncluttered
3. Limited layers & embellishments
4. Quick & easy to recreate (Note:  It may take a while to create a design you like, but once you have that design, making more should be a piece of cake!)

Let's take a look at what the design team and our guest designer created for inspiration!

Guest Designer:  Tracy

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Don't be afraid to doodle or draw on your cards.

Åsa

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Cluster your image together with the sentiment for a clean look.

Jacquie

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White sentiments help preserve white space.

Joyce

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Use the rule of threes for a focal point.

Nancy

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Keep your design confined to one side of the card to leave lots of white space.

Sandie

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Monochrome always works well for CAS cards.

Go have fun creating your CAS design and don't forget to link up here on the CASology blog by Monday, April 4, at 9:00 a.m. (CDT)!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Are You Playing?

 

There is still time to play along with the current challenge! You have until Monday at 9:00 a.m. (CST) to submit your creation and we'd love to have you join us!

Take a look at this pretty design Jacquie created!

design defined:

Small images are perfect for CAS designs.