CASology #80: PURPLE

Hello, friends!  It's Tuesday, and you know what that means?  Yep!  A new CASology cue, and this one is a colorful one!

This week we are sponsored by Prickly Pear Rubber Stamps.  Be sure to check out all the details at the CASology blog!  (There is a free grab bag of unmounted rubber stamps offered as a prize!)

I believe that the Pantone Color of the Year for 2014 is a variation of purple ("Radiant Orchid" to be exact)...you can find more information about this in THIS post. 

I remember when I heard that news I was actually disappointed...I can't even remember the last time I reached for purple when making a card.  I'm sure it was for a color challenge somewhere a few years ago.  Or maybe for a card I made for my daughter who ADORES the color purple. 

Well, no matter, I had to play along with PURPLE this week and here is how it went!


I was so happy to be able to finally play with some more Christmas presents...my Memory Box bow dies!  I paired them up with some purple papers and a Paper Smooches sentiment and voila!  Instant birthday card!

While I was at it, I made a second card using another new die ("Leanna" butterfly by Simon Says Stamp).  I'm not sure if this card is considered CAS, but definitely clean and layered!  I'm thinking if I had stamped the PTI sentiment and medallion images directly onto the card base and added the butterfly, that would have been much more CAS.

Now it's your turn!  I look forward to your purple creations this week...you have until 4PM on Sunday to upload your purple goodies!  In the meantime, be sure to stop by the Design Team and Guest Designer blogs for more inspiration.

Melissa Chipperfield
Judy Marino --> that's me!

Meghan McMillan

Tracey McNeely
Joyce Mehrberg

Maureen Merritt
May Sukyong Park

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Gillian Ross

Kimberly Wiener

Jen Wills

Guest Designer: Toni

Have a good one...and thanks for visiting!
Judy

"Cards from the Heart" Card Drive

Hello, friends!  I'm just stopping by today with the final few Valentine's Day cards I am submitting for Winter's Fifth Annual "Cards from the Heart" Valentine's Day Card Drive.  Cards are due by the end of January, so I am getting them in under the wire!  Check out all the details HERE.  Not only is it for a great cause, but there are also prizes to be won!

My first card uses a digital image from Jellypark that is absolutely precious.  I paired it with my Lil' Inker's Stitched Rectangles and an old Valentine's Day sentiment for a clean and simple card!

My next card uses a digital image from Torico (it used to be available at her Birdie Brown blog) paired with some patterned papers.  Fun!    NOTE:  After taking the photo, I did remove the pearls from the hearts so they don't pose a choking hazard for the child recipient.

My final card uses a digital image from Hero Arts.  My first version included a ribbon and button, but I revised it so that a paper heart took its place.  Here are both versions.

Here it is without the ribbon/buttons:

I hope you will get a chance to make a few Valentine's Day cards for a good cause.  I'm thrilled to be able to participate!

Have a great day,
Judy

What Does the Fox Say?

Hello, friends!  I am here today with my final two Valentine's Day cards to mail off to Winter Sims for the "Cards from the Heart" card drive.  I have to put them in the mail so she gets them all by January 31st!  Check out the details HERE (or click on the link at my sidebar).

I have been anxious to play with a new stamp set I purchased during the January release at the Sweet Stamp Shop called "Foxy."  I knew exactly what I wanted to do!  I made two while I was at it.

So, you may ask...what DOES the fox say?
Look inside...

Here they are together...

Isn't that fox the CUTEST little fella?  So fun to color...and it would be so easy to cut out to paper-piece, too.  I love that!

OK, that does it for me today...off to shovel the snow (again...yes, it is snowing yet again) so the kids can get to their respective activities today!  (Never a dull moment!)

Thanks for stopping by!
Judy

Edited to add:
Silly me!  Upon reading the instructions regarding the card drive, we are not to use buttons or gems that could be pulled off and become a choking hazard!  (Doh!)  So... I have revised my cards, removed the buttons and added paper hearts...much safer!

 

Muse #51: Happy Valentine's Day

Hello, friends!  I'm back again with another Valentine's Day card for Winter's "Cards from the Heart" card drive.  I can't stop looking at the clean design of Jackie Rockwell's first (of two) Muse cards at the current Muse Challenge #51.  It's their first anniversary...you should go check it out!

Here is Jackie's card:

How was I inspired?  I was drawn to the grid background (I made mine gingham) and the linear arrangement of hearts (although I went vertical versus horizontal).  I also liked her dotty hearts, so one of mine used dotty paper!

I do hope you'll stop by the first anniversary Muse Challenge and play along!

And while you're at it, if you have any Valentine's Day cards you can send to Winter Sims for the fifth annual "Cards from the Heart" card drive, you can find details HERE.  Such a great cause!  She needs all cards by January 31st, so don't wait!

Thanks for stopping by!
Judy

Dynamic Duos #86: Little Miss Mia

Hello, friends!  I'm back today with a card I made for a sweet color combination at Dynamic Duos.  It is my first time playing (even though I have been a stalker for some time now)!  Look at these sweet colors...who could resist?

I recently purchased a sweet digi image from Jane's Doodles called "Little Miss Mia" and I knew she would look precious dressed in these colors.  I think this card is headed for my niece...it reminds me of her!

I'm not sure why the blue looks so bright, it is much softer in person...it must be the snow-glare from outside my window!  (We got a foot of snow overnight!)


I'm so inspired by the beautiful cards made by the Design Team this week...be sure to check them out HERE.  The gallery of cards for this challenge is also quite impressive...I'm hoping to spend my snow day off from work/school visiting some blogs (if my kids let me)!

Thanks for visiting, I do appreciate it!
Judy 

Muse #51: Be My Valentine

Hello, friends!  This is my second post for the day...for my CASology post, scroll down or go HERE.

It is the first anniversary at the Muse challenge blog, and there are two sweet cards by Jackie Rockwell, the creator of Muse, as inspiration this week.

Here is the card that inspired me...

Here is my interpretation of Jackie's card.  I was most inspired by her row of three colorful hearts, her swirly three-word sentiment, and the lovely open space in the background.

I will be sending this Valentine to Winter Sims for her 5th Annual "Cards from the Heart" card drive (see details HERE).

I am also entering this into the current CAS on Sunday Challenge #25 with the theme of "Lovey Dovey" since this is a clean and simple Valentine's Day card!

We were dismissed early today from school (and work, since I work at a school) due to a snow storm...it is coming down fast and furious out there and it is expected to continue through the night.  Temps will not get above 12 degrees tomorrow...not much chance of it melting!  (Maybe I'll find some time to make more Valentine's Day cards!)

So, happy anniversary to the Muse challenge blog...best wishes for many more happy challenges!

Thanks for stopping by, I do appreciate your visits!
Judy

CASology #79: CONTRAST

Hello, friends!  Just stopping by with a new CASology cue and this week it brings with it a little twist.  Are you ready?

This week the CASology Design Team will be presenting you with two card options, contrasting CAS and not-so-CAS.  (Hence the cue: CONTRAST.)

We are sponsored by My Creative Classroom; I invite you to check out the details at the CASology blog....the prize offering this week is a free seat to any of their online workshop classes!

So, here are my cards.  I played with a free digi image from The Alley Way Stamps in my quest to make Valentine's Day cards for Winter's "Caring Hearts Card Drive."  (You can find the image HERE and the card drive details HERE.)  

First up -- the not-so-CAS version. 

Notice this not-so-CAS version has lots of layers of paper and several embellishments (button, jute, rhinestone, Glossy Accents)?

Here is my revised card in a CAS style -- lots of white space, minimal layers and embellishments.

Can you tell the difference?  Here they are together...

I prefer the CAS card myself...definitely more within my comfort zone!

Note that you are not required to make two cards for the challenge this week.  Maybe you'd like to CAS-ify a card you previously made that wasn't so CAS?  I look forward to seeing where you take this cue!

Here is a reminder of how we define Clean And Simple at the CASology blog:

Keep these things in mind when creating a CAS design:
1.  One main image
2.  Lots of open space (uncluttered)
3.  Limited layers & embellishments
4.  Quick & easy to recreate

Check out the Design Team and our amazingly talented Guest Designer for some ideas along the way; you have until 4PM on Sunday to link up for this challenge.  I hope you get a chance to play along!

Melissa Chipperfield
Judy Marino --> that's me!

Meghan McMillan

Tracey McNeely
Joyce Mehrberg

Maureen Merritt
May Sukyong Park

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Gillian Ross

Kimberly Wiener

Jen Wills

Guest Designer: Amy

Thanks for visiting...I do appreciate it!
Judy