Sunday, July 17, 2016

New DT member + more Inspiration + GIVEAWAY!

Hello crafty folks,

I guess you noticed that 3 of our Release countdown posts are missing. I had to deal with some health issues, so I wasn't able to write up the posts - so sorry!

But you seem to LOVE the release - we got so many orders in already - wow. Thank you, my friends, you rock and you make this business grow and be enjoyable for all of us!  We love you!

So, instead of a countdown we'll turn it into a post-release inspiration - and we have TONS of amazing projects for you.




First of all, it's FINALLY time to announce that we're welcoming a new Design Team member. 



We met Nicole on Instagram - she knocked our socks off with many of her fabulous creations. She has an amzing CAS style - well balanced, perfectly educated. And the best part - she is super kind and encouraging, leaving sweet comments for fellow crafters and enriches this crafty community.
She has always showed that she loves our products, and we love her projects, so having her on our team is a match made in heaven! <3 

Here are some of her recent projects (and LOTS more to find on her blog and IG feed!) 










Don't you just love her clean style and her great photos? (BTW: She takes them with her mobile and edits them with an app - maybe she can make a tutorial about this one day... anyone interested?)

Please give a warm welcome to Nicole!

It's now Nicole's time to introduce herself to you:

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Hello everyone!
So, this crazy cool thing happened! :-) Christine asked me - totally unexpected - to join her fabulous team and I’m over the moon! I can’t tell you how happy this makes me. Ever since I discovered Christines stamps, I’m a fan of Create A Smile. This is truly a dream come true.

I’m Nicole Vögeli (my last name means birdie in Swiss German), 34 years, from Switzerland. 

I always had a love for paper, pens, stamps and all the beautiful craft supplies. I remember my all time favorite christmas present as a kid was a big blue box full of crafty stuff. And that love just never ended. But crafting has become more than just a fun thing to do. It’s my happy place. Especially as a mom of an almost two year old boy, crafting during nap time really helps me to get my energy back. And sending and receiving handmade cards is just priceless for me. I call it happiness in an envelope.

I make cards for more than 15 years now but I did other crafty stuff too. When I got my Big Shot in 2012 I started to focused on cardmaking. I prefer to make clean and simple cards. I’m just most comfortable with that style but that does not mean, that all my cards are like that. I just do whatever I’m in the mood for. I also like it clean and simple on my craft desk. I’m not a very messy crafter, I clean up my desk regularly and I l-o-v-e to have my craft supplies organized :-) That just helps my creativity to develop. I love to get inspired by other cardmakers, my everyday life, nature… It’s just amazing what you can create on a little piece of paper. 

If I’m not crafting I enjoy walks with my family through Switzerlands beautiful old towns and I have a love for castles (we have a lot of beautiful ones, now museums). I also enjoy baking, reading historical novels and singing (I’m thinking about joining the gospel choir here).

I’m happier than a bird with a french fry and honored to be a part of that wonderful Create A Smile DT-family and looking forward to meet you here on the blog every Wednesday from now on.

Hugs from Switzerland
Nicole



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I would now like to show you some more projects using the newest release :) If you haven't checked out the release so far, you can take a closer look at all the products HERE

Nicole made four amazing cards using the new products:

On the first card she used the cute Koala from All Hands on deck! /Alle Mann an Bord! stamp set and created a wonderful treasure map for her background. This cards is the perfect combination of vintage/ distressing and CAS!


On the second card she created a wonderful maritime striped background on the Lovely Tag XS to add the lighthouse from Glowing Seaside/ Strahlende Küste. I love the light, soft maritime look on this one!


Yay for more Koala prates! Nicole thought outside the box and turned the Lovely Tag M into a boat for the Koalas from All Hands on deck! /Alle Mann an Bord! Ha! What a great way to use the tag!


The Lovely Tag M cut from masking paper created a perfectbackdrop for your focal point. the jellyfish from Glowing Seaside/ Strahlende Küste seems to glow on this background. And the droplets are the perfect finishing touch!



Anika made three Tags using the Lovely Tags M die :) they're all different and each one is so beautiful!

On her first Tag Anika used the Color Your Polka  Cling background stamp. And her watercolor rainbow makes this tag so eyecatching! The black birthday sentiment from the Gebrutstags-Triple die set just pops!



On her second tag she used watercolor over an embossed Mandala. I think her color choice creates an amazing oriental look! I wish I would get that tag! ;)


Tag #3 was created with the Clustered Leaves  cling stamp. the lose watercolor on top makes the white embossed leaves shine - and it looks so dreamy! <3



I am sharing three cards with you today:

On my first card I used the vampire squid from Glowing Seaside/ Strahlende Küste and made him pull some of the Lovely Tags XS across the sea. I am super pleased hor the coloring turned out - I think the squid is so much fun to color!



On my second card I created a super subtile background using the Starry Night cling background and one of the Double Stitched Rectangles to make my little Hippo pop :)



My last card for today has a completly different style. I added a whole lot of Dylusions Ink to some Mixed Media Paper - this is super intense and highly reactive with water. I spritzed the Mandala cling stamp with water and stamped that onto my colored panel. You could intensify the look by dabbing the reactivated ink off with a dry cloth, but I loved the tone on tone look.



So many projects - so much inspiration. I hope you're not completely overwhelmed :)

Now for the giveaway!

We're giving away a 15€ gift code to the store for one lucky winner. 

To play along:

  • Leave a comment, telling us what you love about summer
  • Let us know which product of the new release you love most and WHY.
  • Optional:  tell us what kind of stamp or die you would love to see in the future.
  • We'll draw a winner from the comment that hit the guidelines on wednesday, July 20th 2016.

Thanks for stopping by and encouraging our designers! 

Love and hugs




33 comments:

  1. I love the long sumer nights... here in Denmark it actually doesn't get properly dark until midnight ! :)
    I love the tag dies a LOT. I have quite a few tag dies but none as small as yours. I would love to use the smallest as a tea bag in the "Coffee First" stamp set :)
    I would love to see a firefly stamp set...

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  2. Welcome Nicole ,loved your cards do clean n well balanced designed and not missing g the fun :) Awedome ,bright n colorful cards n tags :) Summer in India is equivalent to mangoes ,as we get them during summer.

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    1. I loved all the stamps in the release n most fav Mandala stamp ,it goes beautifully with traditional Indian motif and will suit almost all occasions.

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    2. I loved all the stamps in the release n most fav Mandala stamp ,it goes beautifully with traditional Indian motif and will suit almost all occasions.

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  3. Welcome Nicole ,loved your cards do clean n well balanced designed and not missing g the fun :) Awedome ,bright n colorful cards n tags :) Summer in India is equivalent to mangoes ,as we get them during summer.

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  4. I love the cards made by the DT members. All are simply fantastic. I love summers because I find myself being more productive :D
    I LOVE that Mandala stamp. I love the intricacy in the design. For future, I would love to see more floral stamps from you.

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  5. I'm not that huge a fan of summer, I love winter. But I do love long summer evenings and not having to wear socks. I'd say about outdoor things and going to the beach, but we are in the middle of our second rainy summer :-( I'd also say ice cream, but I eat that all year. Love love love the designs here, Nicole is awesome x

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  6. ^ love the designs, and Nicole is awesome. Grammar awry there.

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  7. ^ love the designs, and Nicole is awesome. Grammar awry there.

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  8. I'm not that huge a fan of summer, I love winter. But I do love long summer evenings and not having to wear socks. I'd say about outdoor things and going to the beach, but we are in the middle of our second rainy summer :-( I'd also say ice cream, but I eat that all year. Love love love the designs here, Nicole is awesome x

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  9. Great release! I like the stamp set Glowing Seaside a lot, because I have a thing for lighthouses:-) As for the summer, not so hot days are perfect for hiking!
    Have a great weekend.

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  10. Spectacular cards and tags. Loved those cute sea creatures and that koala is simply adorable. And for summer it means lots of ice-creams, lollies :)

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  11. I'm not that huge a fan of summer, I love winter. But I do love long summer evenings and not having to wear socks. I'd say about outdoor things and going to the beach, but we are in the middle of our second rainy summer :-( I'd also say ice cream, but I eat that all year. Love love love the designs here, Nicole is awesome x

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  12. Whew....warm summer nights with friends and smores. Fun chats and laughter. I live connecting with old friends and making new ones. So far my FAV new set would be the Glowng Seaside. Soooo many under water possibilities. As far as new-I'd love to see more western scene dies. I think with all the antique browns(light & dark) there would be endless cards for me to make. Thank you for sharing your art. God Bless

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  13. Welcome Nicole. Your cards are awesome !!!

    I love the warm summer weather, to wear flip flops and watermelons, jummy...
    My favorite is Alle Mann an Bord. So cute these little Koalas.
    I would love to see Racoons or Owls. Love all cute critters.

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  14. Wow, Wow, Wow! What a fabulous new release! First, a warm welcome to your new team member Nicole - her cards are gorgeous! Your new release looks amazing - so many cute stamps! So hard to choose, but there is one that caught my eye right away! Those adorable koala pirates are my favourite because they are so unique and I think they would be great for boy's cards, which I struggle with. What I love about summer is the warm temperatures and taking day-trips with my hubby - he has been taking some time off in the summer. What I would like to see in the future are a set of cat pun sentiments, either in stamps or dies. Thanks so much and congratulations on this awesome release!

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  15. Love all that warm
    light in summer.
    Longer days to have
    fun! Loving the cute
    Pirates items.
    Carla from Utah

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  16. Oh what a great release and gorgeous cards form everyone. :o) Congratulations to Nicole for becoming a part of this amazing DT. :o)
    Summer is my favorite season of the year. I love everything about it, but most swimming in the sea. :o)
    I love all products in this new release, but most of all Mandala. Gorgeous!!! I love to draw them also... so calming. :o)
    Stamps I would like to see in the future: science/school themed, pandas, baby animals and insects. :o)
    Once again congratulations on this awesome release and thank you for the opportunity to win the awesome prize. :o)

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  17. I live the long daylight,which allows more hours of crafting in the evening the most!☺
    my favourite product is the tag set of the dies!
    the variety and the lovely shapes are wonderful!

    i would love to see New releases,with matching stamps and dies!

    overwhelming input of the team!fantastic job!

    xoxo silvi

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  18. I live the long daylight,which allows more hours of crafting in the evening the most!☺
    my favourite product is the tag set of the dies!
    the variety and the lovely shapes are wonderful!

    i would love to see New releases,with matching stamps and dies!

    overwhelming input of the team!fantastic job!

    xoxo silvi

    ReplyDelete
  19. I live the long daylight,which allows more hours of crafting in the evening the most!☺
    my favourite product is the tag set of the dies!
    the variety and the lovely shapes are wonderful!

    i would love to see New releases,with matching stamps and dies!

    overwhelming input of the team!fantastic job!

    xoxo silvi

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi CAS-Team. What I love about summer is my garden. Gardening is so much fun. Since I will move into our house at the end of this month, I am really looking forwaed sitting in my garden crafting. I love the little pirates coalas in the new big big release. It inspired me having a pirates birthday party for my little daughter. sweet little naughty pirates :) :)

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  21. I love the bright evenings and pottering in my garden. Though our summers in Northern Ireland don't necessarily mean sunshine or dry weather!
    Fab new release and welcome to Nicole :)

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  22. I love the color your polka stamp. I love all things polka dot!! And my most favorite thing about summer is the return of my hummingbirds!!! I love to watch them while I am at my computer.
    I would love to see more background dies please.

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  23. Awesome cards! My favorite thing about summer is tending my plants on the deck! And my favorite part of the release is the Mandala stamp. Love the beautiful design and so many possibilities how to use it!

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  24. Wow! So many awesome cards!!! Congrats to your new designer! Love her style!

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  25. I love how light it stays. My favorite set is the ocean one. love the ocean.

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  26. Welcome Nicole! what a great inspiration!! From the release is so hard to pick a fav since I love all, but I thing I am the most excited for the tags since till now I don't have a die tag in my stash i'm so glad you released them 😍
    What I enjoy about summer? Everything :) the sun, the lovely weather, that I can go in park with my kids and they are spending their energy there and not at home :)) ,going to the beach and relax , ice cream :))
    What I would like to see in future release? more dies, words and shapes , more background stamps.

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  27. Some of the things I love about summer are:the clear sky, the nice long walks in the countryside and the cool drinks with loads of ice cubes :)
    From the new products I mostly like "All hands on deck" coz these little coalas are super cute and fun to color.
    In the future I would like to see products with cute animals or/and weather elements.
    Last but not least I would like to welcome Nicole and congratulate & thank all designers for sharing their awesome creations! xx

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  28. I love being able to garden in the summer. My favorite product in the release is Glowing Seaside. I have always like the sea and lighthouses. I also like the cool Treasure chest--fun for the grandchildren. For the future I would like to see farm/garden, musical, fishing/boating themes and more cool dies like the treasure chest.

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  29. I love summer evenings, the heat gone, the warm, soft air on my skin. Also that I don't have to wear hundreds of layers to stay warm.
    My favorite product in this fabulous release is the Mandala! Followed by the Color your Polka and the Clustered Leaves.
    Warm welcome to Nicole, her style is awesome!

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  30. I love the extra time I get to spend with my boys during the summer. My favorite from the release is the Tag Die with the extra floral die elements. I love crafting with dies because they are so versatile and fun!

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  31. Love the sunshine of summer and the warmer weather. My favorite from the release is the tag die and floral leaf combo. Love the CAS style and the mandala on the green blue background is so beautiful.

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