Susan R. Opel
I’m all about style. Dressing up and accessorizing are two of my very favorite things! I love high heels, sparkly jewelry and bold colors, and I’ll admit that I like to shop for clothes. A lot.
Over the years I’ve gained a pretty good idea of what I like when it comes to my wardrobe. My go-to look is a tank top with an interesting and colorful cardigan or jacket, long and dark boot cut jeans with a heel and bold jewelry that complements the entire look. It’s what I like and who I am. It totally works for me.
I can pull off a bohemian look from time to time, and I’m not afraid to go sporty when the situation calls for it, but I generally stick to the look that most suits me.
My closet! A source of colorful inspiration!
So what’s your style? Can you put your finger on it? We’re hoping that with the help of Card Style, you can at least begin to define your card making style (for fashion advice, you should probably look to Stacy & Clinton). Just like your wardrobe, your card making style is a work in progress. You’ve got to experiment a little before you get to what feels right. By trying OTHER styles, you get the chance to more specifically figure out your own.
I started out as a scrapbooker, and my style was pretty much like me – regimented (in a very good way!), bold and maybe a little loud. I used simple fonts (Century Gothic is my super fave!) and cardstock in a variety of colors. My design sensibility was all about clean lines and minimal embellishment. I kept it simple as a clean & graphic scrapbooker.
Three of my very favorite layouts exemplifying my clean & graphic style.
With card making, you really get an opportunity to play, though! The smaller canvas allows you to spread your wings and give another style a try–just for the sake of trying and getting out of your comfort zone. Yep, I can make a clean & graphic card.
Clean lines, simple text, and bare-boned – this card was perfect to send to my brother.
But what about giving those other categories a chance? In the process of working on this issue, I definitely came to know more and more what I liked. So I began to experiment…
Scootin’ By to Say Hi Card
First I made a fun & cute card. Complementary colors, a cutie pie sentiment and scooter, polka dots, a jaunty bow and a whimsical font were all it took to create this little square card of cuteness.
Baby Girl Card
My attempt at a shabby chic & vintage card was a foray into waters unknown. Shabby cards are not regimented, bold or loud. On the contrary, I had to force myself to choose pastels, pearls and soft lace. I added inking, too, which is very shabby, but so not me!
You Mean the World to Me Card
Now the classy & elegant card wasn’t too difficult! I could still have my clean lines, but with the additions of elegant ribbon, a sophisticated font and a little bit of bling, I achieved a look I liked a whole lot. This may be one of my very favorite cards yet!
So what did I learn? It’s fun to try different styles, and it made me appreciate what I see out there, but it also allowed me to understand what I love. And that makes me happy! I think I may have turned into a classy & elegant card maker. Who knew?
As you look at this issue, I’m wagering a guess that there will be certain sections that speak to you. Listen to those voices. They’re most likely telling you something!
Okay – now let’s hear from you. Tell me which of the four cards speaks to you. That might give you an indication of what YOUR style is. One winner will receive all of the fun stuff pictured from the Safari Desk Organization collection by DCWV, Ink., plus a copy of Card Style! Leave your comment by midnight (MDT) on Friday, July 16, and you might just win!
Super stylish organization stuff from DCWV, Ink.!
I think I’ve found my style – YOUR TURN!
Susan
P.S. It’s time to announce the five winners from Kelly’s Inspired Style post!
1. Debra Patton (July 13, 6:13 a.m.)
2. Jeanne (July 13, 10:32 a.m.)
3. Angela H. (July 13, 7:10 a.m.)
4. Rachel S. (July 13, 8:47 a.m.)
5. Wendy Crowe (July 13, 5:23 p.m.)
Congrats, winners! You’ve each won a copy of Card Style! Kelly will be contacting you shortly to get your mailing addresses. Thanks to all who left comments!
I love Shabby, Vintage; Classy & Elegant cards
, but I am trying more Clean & Simple, cards without embellishments are hard to make for me, LOL.
Love the ‘you mean the world to me’ card. I am classy and elegant.
It’s horrible that I can’t pick a style! I love the clean and graphic and adore the shabby chic. The classy and elegant makes me smile. They all speak to my creative heart! I looked through my cards and the ones I have kept because I love them tend to be clean and graphic! Okay, so I chose a style without knowing it! Thanks! Patty
even though MY fave style is the vintage/shabby one, of your cards I am just lovin’ the scooter one! it is so bright and cheery! plus I so long to have a vespa of my own one day…… sigh…
I love your You Mean the World to Me card! Absolutely perfect.
All your cards are inspirational & great examples of the different styles. If I have to choose “a” favorite it would be the shappy-chic one with the scooter card a close second. Thanks for the great prize chance.
I like the shabby chic & vintage card – I am liking this style all the way!
The thanks card speaks to me the most!
I actually think all of the cards are beautiful in different ways….but the one that spoke to me the most was the last one. I envision using a vintage map for this one!
I bounce all over the style board….I guess I try for classic and elegant most of the time. On this post though, the Thanks card drew me the most. thanks
The shabby chic and vintage card speaks to me – I love the subdued colors and embellishing with laces and ribbons, etc.
carol b
I really liked the fun and cute card (the scooter). I pretty much knew that was my style, but I’m also simple. I don’t really differ a whole lot. I do try things once in a while like you did, but only once in a blue moon do I really like how they turn out. I guess I should stick to what I know, like, and am good at.
The cards are all so different and creative. I find, tho, that there can be too much embellishment on a card and I gravitate toward the clean and simple. I also like homespun and steampunk.
The card that speaks to me and my style was classy and elegant – You mean the world to me.I’m drawn towards clean and simple but want to add that elemant of “chic”. Thanks for a chance to win. Such a great prize package.
The “You Mean the World to Me” card spoke to me the most… I love corresponding sentiments/paper and this card is definitely a classic!
I think I like the clean and graphic style the most—but I can relate to all of them!
I like all the cards that you show, but the card that spoke to me the most is the “Scootin’ by to say Hi” card. I like the bold colors that you used on this card. Thanks for the chance to win the DCWV Ink desk organization items.
The card that spoke to me is ”You mean the world to me”. I was raised by my grandmother since I was 18 months old. Even though she passed away more than ten years ago, I still hear her talking to me when I am in an antique store( I guess being raised by someone that grew up in the Depression is the reason I know what a lot of those antiques are huh?) . I hear her when I am cooking telling me to “just put a little bit of this or that” , I see her in my art work, and I use her as inspiration for a lot of my cards as well( or at least try to make them so that I know she would have liked them..:) . She most certainly meant and means the world to me.
Which card spoke to me most? Classy & elegant! (Although the shabby chic & vintage was a close second) But I truly love all of the samples
All the cards are very good, but the Scootin’ By to Say Hi Card stands out to me the most:) The complimentary colors really make work!
I really like your “You mean the world to me”. I like the clean lines with the little extra something to soften it up a bit. Great post, thanks!
Love your ‘you mean the world to me’ card!! Having used maps myself I was drawn to it immediately. Thank you for your beautiful inspiration.
Oh I love all of these really, bit my mood usually determines which one I go for!
classy and elegant
I like the camera thanks card the best.
Surprisingly, I like the shabby chic card best. I’m not very good at this style, but I’m learning.
love Scootin by to say Hi. So very cute
I think I’m more of a “clean and graphic” but I loved the shabby chic and vintage “baby girl” card. It has given me inspiration for a baby shower I’ll be needing to make a card for in the next week or so.
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