Friday, October 12, 2012

5 Things


What makes me unique?
1. I have a degree in graphic design but spend 40+ hours a week at a hospital doing Medicare billing.
2. I drive a 2001 four door Malibu that is in dire need of new tires before the inch of ice, gallons of sleet and feet of snow arrive.
3. I desperately want a new puppy so that the house isn't so eerily quiet when the boys and I arrive home after a long day.
4. My favorite soft drink is Diet Dr. Pepper and it is best served with a slice of cold pizza.
5. I secretly aspire to achieve the shabby chic/vintage look while keeping things slightly clean and simple.

I probably say this every month, but the October Card Kit from Artful Delight has got to be my most favorite yet.  I simply adore that the papers and embellishments lend themselves to an easy shabby/vintage look, yet, you can also go bold and graphic! The top card features all items from the kit (except for the May Arts Linen Burlap String) and was inspired by the latest card featured over at CASE Study Challenge. I was inspired by the way the strips of paper fell to the bottom of the card and the design was punctuated by a large flower as a focal point.



This next card features all items from the kit, accentuated with dies from my stash. The design was inspired by the new CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge. I'm entering this into the current Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Use Dies too!

So to sum things up, the Artful Delight Card Kit is very versatile, no matter what kind of card style you fancy. There are elements in there for everyone! You can check them out here. Also, link up to the Artful Delight Scrapbook or Card Sketch Challenge for your chance to win a free kit. Details are here!

48 comments:

  1. Karen I LOVE your list . . . especially the part about you being a Graphic Designer but working in a billing department. Let's just say I can relate! LOL!

    Both cards are amazing! The CAS card is so bold and yet very pretty. The pop of red in the center of the flower is so striking!!! I'm so glad you joined us in our first challenge over at CAS(E) this Sketch!

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  2. great cards! You nailed the shabby chic in the first one. Love those layers!

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  3. girl you make any card style look fabulous. Love the papers that you have used.

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  4. I loved that you used your gorgeous, unique card to spin off your list! I am a fountain diet coke drinker...nothing better than it with a bag of Cheez-Its :) And oh our I hope that sweet little puppy arrives at your house sometime soon. Christmas? :)

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  5. Such gorgeous cards! I really love that first one!

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  6. Karen you are unique and awesome! I love learning more about you and find a couple of your points funny. My SIL loooves Diet Dr Pepper and drinks a six pack a day. When she visits we always make sure to have the fridge stocked. LOL! My hubby used to have a 2001 Malibu too. We had to trade it in a couple years ago because he ran it into the ground. A couple of times he stalled out and we called a tow truck, only to find out he ran out of gas. LOL! His gas indicator was broken!

    Your cards are so cute! Hugs!!!

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  7. Both of these are gorgoeus Karen. Love the pretty papers you used... the flower on the first one is lovely!

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  8. Awesome cards! I love them both! That flower with the pop of red just jumps out at you! Thanks for playing at CAS(E) this Sketch!

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  9. your cards are so awesome...I love your list and your style...

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  10. These are fabulous, Karen! Love the paper strips you've used on your CASE Study card!

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  11. fabulous card, Karen. Hope your puppy will arrive soon and your car is ready before snow comes :)

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  12. Fun list; hope you get to fulfill some of the things on your list soon. I think you have already achieved the shabby CAS look - beautiful design!

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  13. get yourself some new tires!!! that scares me!!!
    Fabulous cards!!!! I adore both so much!!!!!

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  14. I secretly aspire to be shabby chic, but I think I missed that chromosome whey they were handing them out. Your first card definitely has a gorgeous shabby look and I LOVE the boldness and colours in your second card!
    Thanks so much for joining us in our first challenge at CAS(E) this Sketch!

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  15. Oh I hear ya on #5 on your list for sure!
    As soon as I saw that first card I knew it was a beauty for CASE Study! Thanks for playing along with us!
    Hugs!
    x

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  16. Wow!!! Both cards are AMAZING!! You ROCK!!!!! That is all.

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  17. and you are also uniquely talented! i love how you add touches of shabbiness in your work and sometimes they are so clean and simple. both cards are beautiful and wonderfully portrait both styles! fabulous work as always, Karen! hope you have a lovely weekend! =)

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  18. Oh, I love the die you use. Very fun and striking CAS card.
    Hugs and smiles

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  19. Karen using the border die for your CAS(E) is brilliant--loved reading your post too!

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  20. I love both of your cards. Each is perfect in its own way. I love how the colors in the first one just work-and that flower makes it even more beautiful! The second one is so simple, yet dramatic. But I think the dotted flower does so much for it.
    I so get you, I also drive a 2001 car, but it has new tires, only because they were a gift from my amazing parents.
    Thanks for doing your job because without you billing, I could not do my job as an RN and continue to get paid.

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  21. Love the list... we'll have to work on your beverage of choice though. You always do wonders with the Artful Delight goodies!

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  22. Love your cards Karen and I truly enjoyed reading the five facts about you~

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  23. Two fabulous cards Karen! Love the first which is, I think more shabby chic than CAS so you've got that covered! Your second card for the new CAS challenge is perfection....Love the base card colour with your die cut and pretty flower....genious! Fun post to read too!

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  24. Love this post:)

    Both of your cards are wonderful! That's a whole lotta patterned paper on the first card..and that bloom? gorgeous!!!

    The second card...I love all things yellow....awesome card!

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  25. Look at Nokian tires, made in Finland, where they are experts in winter weather, LOL! They stop on ice. I've had them ever since the great snowfall of 2004 (or was it 2005?). Anyway, they are expensive but worth it and absolutely the only tires I will ever own.

    Your cards are stunning!

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  26. oh i love your list!!! cold pizza with a diet coke for me :) lol

    your first card is stunning!!! love the papers that all work together.
    your second card: WOW!!!! love the brightness and CAS perfection :)

    have a great weekend girlfriend :)

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  27. I so so so love that first card, karen!! What a fabulous design and stunning colors.
    Love your list ;)

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  28. What a great showcase of the kit. Both cards are stunning--especially the first! Love all that texture! Loved reading your list, too. We are waiting for the perfect puppy to join our home as well....

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  29. love the bold, yet simple, thanks card!

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  30. I love your list of 5! It's so great to get to know crafters better! I have always though when you do shabby chic/vintage that you still keep a leveled un-cluttered look. I try for the same thing, I love all the textures & layers but I'm not good at making an over the top embellished/layered design. Both cards are gorgeous!

    Here's 5 things about me:
    1) all I really need is a/c, Chapstick & diet Pepsi
    2) I've been skydiving
    3) I like cold spaghetti
    4) if I an online job I'd probably never leave my comfy house
    5) driving makes me nervous

    Have a great weekend!

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  31. Both the card are Fab, Karen! Love the mustard colour with black and that flower on the second card. So vibrant and eye catching.Thanks so much for playing along with us @ CAS(E) this Sketch:)

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  32. Karen!!! I truly enjoy reading your post!!! One thing about you I adore... any card you made... something about it made me " OOO WOW!!! SHes Amazing!!!"

    the 1st card is so my fave of yours!!! and the second one just love the yellow!!!

    You are simply amazing!!! You rock!!! hugs...xoxo

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  33. LOVE your list and this just shows how UNIQUE you are! I have done my share of medical billing and I can soooo relate to that!! I also hope that you will get a little puppy that you long for....and lastly, I think you definitely can do shabby chic! No need to secretly wish so. Your CAS card for the sketch is absolutely gorgeous! Love it!

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  34. Karen I love these...and I love your list! Both are beautiful cards :)

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  35. Very cool stuff! love reading about you. Love all the frills and cuts on the card!!!!

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  36. Two great cards!!!! Love your take on the CASE study card! Just gorgeous!

    And then the simplicity of the 2nd - love those circles!!!

    HOpe you had a great weekend!

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  37. Awesome card, Karen! I LOVE Diet Dr. Pepper too! Does your local shelter have a Facebook page? Mine does, so I see all the new dogs that come in when they post pictures. That's how I found our Zadie this summer. :o) Makes it super easy.

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  38. Oh, I love, love, love that first card. LOVE!! Your second card is pretty cool too!

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  39. WOW Karen I am seriously swooning over your first card!!

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  40. I think you nailed the shabby chic on the first one, Karen, and I love your CAS second one! Wouldn't that be adorable with a "Hello" sentiment? I see an old-fashioned rotary phone dial, but I'm probably the only one who remembers those!!

    (Thank you for the anni congrats!)

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  41. Fabulous cards, love the gorgeous flower on the first, great layers too! Thanks for joining us at CASE Study!

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  42. Absolutely gorgeous, Karen...those colors are delightful together and the hemp bow is perfect! Thanks for playing along with us this week at CASE Study!

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  43. I had to chuckle at your last point on the list... 'cause you're rocking it big time already! Just look at that first card... WOW! I'm so in love with it :) Thanks for playing with us at CASE Study!

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  44. You rocked both these styles!! In fact, you rock everything you try! :)

    Hope that puppy comes along soon. And I love cold pizza too (but I take mine with a Pepsi)!

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  45. Great cards and great colors. Thanks for playing along with the Dies and/or Punches challenge over at the Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog!

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  46. Lovely card! Congrats on your win. ;-)

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  47. Ok, I'll start here to tell you how much I like both of these (very different) cards. Both WOW in their own ways.

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