Karilyn Owens
The Discernment Process

Discernment is a tool in our spiritual arsenal – one of the Holy Spirit gifts to us. It guides us to the will of God, which is to say the best possible outcome for us.

The Discernment Process
open heart, love
Karilyn Owens
Word of the Year: Blossom

This year I choose blossom as my Word because it represents my intention to grow from the roots I planted as a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5) and build back what was broken through the vehicle of relationship.

Word of the Year: Blossom
Karilyn Owens
The Power of Decisions

It was the morning of the most important interview of my career; with emotions running haywire and hormones adding a dizzying effect, I decided that I just couldn't go to my interview that afternoon. The fear shouted so loudly that I couldn't hear the voice of wisdom that knew to show up despite the very big feelings. This was my dream job, after all!

The Power of Decisions
Karilyn Owens
Drop the Baggage

God recently revealed to me that I am holding onto the weight of my past. By holding onto my past, I’m not only carrying around a weight I was never meant to carry, but I am blocking the blessings of God’s plan for me in the future. So today I ask you: What weight are you carrying that is hindering your upward momentum?

Drop the Baggage
Karilyn Owens
10 Ways to Manage Depression

Covid-19 caught nearly all of us by surprise, leaving us ripped of our routines, schedules and normal circumstances — everything we typically rely on for stability and consistency. If we weren’t already prone to or struggling with depression, COVID-19 certainly stirred up prime circumstances for depression to show up (many of us without any prior experience with mental illness or the coping skills to deal with it in healthy ways).

10 Ways to Manage Depression

typography

Kari Kards

Art is positively a lifeline for me. As a child, I bled cerulean blue (my go-to Crayola crayon). I was mesmerized by the vibrant array of color options in a 64, 96 or (dare I say) 120 count boxes. My intrigue and obsession grew as I took as many art classes as possible. I explored endless mediums at ASU's Herberger Institute for Art and Design workshops. As my perfectionist personality developed, I tediously refined every little detail of every project. I had found my calling and nothing else would come between me and my true love for art. My passion carried over into every aspect of my life. I found a way to insert art into any school project, craft or handmade card. I hauled my art supply collection to Mrs Thomas' 7th grade humanities class where I was known as the "art girl." I spruced up any mundane project to showcase my personality. At home, I especially loved making cards. I was branding my cards before I knew what branding was. I brought Kari Kards to life with a signature logo on the back of my designs.

Fast-forward to 2013 at Terralever where I created social media content for brands like Massage Envy, De-Solv-It, Fox Restaurant Concepts and Goodyear Tire Company. I loved creating typographical images full of beautiful imagery and patterns. I realized how my childhood passion for art and cards had prepared me for the career I embrace now. When Terralever merged with E.B. Lane to form LaneTerralever, I was honored to design the new website along with catchy social images for our Facebook page. I happily played with the new brand which had only been slightly developed at the time. I took a playful yet dignified approach to the social content which allowed for more flair than the website and business collateral.

Creating these type of images reinvigorated my passion for image and card making. The timing could not be more relevant to create art for myself, from my heart. I experienced a rather tumultuous start to 2015. The devastating events have tested my strength more than ever before. I have surrounded myself with positive quotes and affirmations which I have collected in my journal and the cloud. I want to share my unique perspective on the world by combining my love of inspiring words, art and photography. By unlocking the potential of this vision, I hope to inspire others going through difficult times. I wholeheartedly believe that every person you encounter is battling an inner struggle, so it's so important to spread kindness and compassion to every person you meet.

My fellow libra and dear friend, Erica Tighe, has been particularly inspiring to me. Not only is she a beautiful person, but she is a magnificent artist. She recently combined her creative soul with life experiences that molded her heart to launch a calligraphy business aptly named Be a Heart. I find many similarities between us, other than being artistic libras. We both create from our hearts and love to give back to the community. I am inspired by Erica's tenacity. It is downright scary to follow your heart, but so far, it has paid off greatly as her business expands into illustration, wedding invitations and event design. Follow her on Instagram to see more of her gorgeous work.

I am constantly yearning for an outlet from the daily grind. I want to use my passions along with new art mediums to create pieces that heal my soul and move others. Throughout this difficult period, quotes have been the positive reminder that it gets better. I want to share my collection with others in hopes that they will find peace and comfort in those words. This quote is among my favorites:

Let the beauty of what you love be what you do. -Rumi

Stay tuned for more on my future quote pieces. I plan to create prints, cards and whatever else feels appropriate. When the time comes, my desire to own a card shop will manifest. In this digital age, I can imagine my Kari Kard's shop will live on the interwebs. I am certain my seven-year-old self will approve.