Crystal Komara - Blog

Honey Script Holiday Sentiments

11/14/2021

Hello readers! Happy Monday! I know it's been a while since my last post, but life got busy for a while this fall and I'm hoping today begins a return to more regular posting!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and hopefully found the time to do something crafty. Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog with these two cards using the Honey Script Holiday sentiments “Jolly” and “Believe” and the Linear Triangle Die in festive red and green glittery colors!

As much as I like using non-traditional colors for my holiday cards, you can never go wrong with red and green, especially when it is red and green glitter cardstock! Glitter adds so much extra sparkle and cheer!

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card was made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using Layer C of the Delfina Layering die, I cut this from white cardstock and adhered it to the card as my “background.” I die cut the word “Jolly” from the Jolly Honey Script sentiment die. I die cut the larger shadow from red glitter cardstock and the thinner sentiment from white cardstock. I layered the two words together using a fine tip liquid adhesive and then adhered the sentiment to the card using 3M foam adhesive. I die cut the Linear Triangle die from white cardstock and placed strips of alternating red and green glitter paper behind each stripe. The glitter cardstock was from the Frosted 6 x 6″ paper pack. I then adhered the triangle to the lower right corner of the card. Lastly, I stamped the “ho ho ho” sentiment from the Contempo Christmas Greetings clear stamp set in red ink on white cardstock. I used the coordinating Contempo Christmas Greetings die to cut the sentiment out and adhered it to the card with 3M foam adhesive.

For this second A2 sized card, I followed all the same card instructions as those shown above, I simply swapped out the “jolly” sentiment for a different sentiment “believe” from the Believe Honey Script die.

I hope you have enjoyed these extra sparkly cards. Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

List of products used:

Scrapbook.com - Cardstock - 8.5 x 11 - Neenah Solar White - 25 Pack

Tombow - Mono Adhesive Dots Roller - Permanent - Refillable

Hero Arts - Dye Ink Pad - Shadow Ink - Mid-Tone - Red Royal

Tsukineko - VersaFine Clair - Ink Pad - Green Oasis

Scrapbook.com - Double Sided Adhesive Foam Roll - 1 Inch x 32 Feet - 1 Roll

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Pumpkins in Every Color

10/15/2021

Hello crafty readers! Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog sharing a couple cards made using the beautiful Pumpkin Lacework stamp set and coordinating dies. This is probably my favorite stamp set from Birch Press Design, so just like the old expression "if the shoe fits, buy it in every color", I decided to stamp it in every color! Now the question is, do YOU prefer the more traditional orange/brown pumpkin, or do you like the blues and purples?

So, let's take a look at the most conventional card first. It's beautiful and elegant heat embossed with gold embossing powder and then colored using Copic markers in brown, oranges and yellows. It is very traditional, warm and earthy.

But, now let's step outside-of-the-box and try the same exact card simply using a different color pattern. Does it still emit fall vibes? I think so!

Each of these A2 cards were made using all the same dimensions and products, I simply alternated some colors. The base of each card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I matted a 5" x 3 3/" piece of white woodgrain cardstock with a coordinating piece of blue, purple or brown cardstock from the Ocean Blue, Vibrant Violet and Earth Neutral 6 x 6" paper packs. I cut 5" x 1/4" strips of ombre colors from these same paper packs and diagonally lined them up along the card alternating with 1/4" strips of gold glitter cardstock from the Twinkling Jewel Glitter 6 x 6" pad.

I stamped the pumpkins and stems using the Pumpkin Lacework stamp set. I stamped the image in Versamark ink on white cardstock and heat embossed it with gold embossing powder. I used the coordinating dies to cut the pumpkin and stem out. I colored the pumpkins with Copic markers and then adhered the colored pumpkins to the card with 3M foam adhesive. I stamped the tag in coordinating colored cardstock in Versamark ink and heat embossed it with white embossing powder. I adhered the tag to each pumpkin and added linen thread for extra dimension. Lastly, I cut the sentiment "thanks" and "hello" from white cardstock using the Thanks Sugar Script and Hello Sugar Script.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing these cards in a variety of colors and that you'll feel encouraged to try adding more color to your fall cards. Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

Warm Christmas Wishes

10/13/2021

Hello readers and happy Wednesday! Today I am on the Joy Clair Designs blog sharing a couple of cards that I created using the Christmas Joy stamp set, which is part of the new Wonderfully release. I know it's only October and everyone might not be ready for Christmas just yet, but for those of us who make a LOT of holiday cards it is never too early to start!

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card was made with 80 lb. Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock. This is my go-to white cardstock for everything! I use it for card bases, card layers, die cutting, Copic coloring and so much more. I cut a 5 1/4" x 4 piece of plaid paper as my first base. Using the Gina Marie Designs Scalloped Stitched Rectangle dies, I die cut a frame from red houndstooth paper. I placed this frame in the center of the card. I printed the wreath image from the digital Christmas Joy stamp set on Neenah white cardstock. I colored the image with Copic markers and then fussy cut the wreath by hand. I stamped the sentiment "Warm Christmas Wishes" in red ink and I adhered the wreath to the center of the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the wreath for added sparkle.

Here is the second card I created using the same wreath from the Christmas Joy digital stamp set:

Card details:

This slimline card measures 8 1/2" x 3 1/2". Slimline cards are designed to fit inside a regular #10 business sized envelope and require no additional postage. The base of this card was made using 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I cut a 7" x 3 1/4" piece of royal blue cardstock for my first base. I used a fancy border die along the bottom edge of the royal blue cardstock. On top of the royal blue cardstock is a 6 3/4" x 2 3/4' piece of watercolored blue and white cardstock. I splattered some royal blue ink on top of that cardstock before edging the bottom border with the same fancy die. I cut a 6" x 1" piece of gold foil paper and ran it through a diamond embossing folder before adhering it to the center of the card. I printed the wreath from the Christmas Joy digital stamp set and colored it using Copic markers. I stamped the sentiment "Warm Christmas Wishes" in royal blue ink and then I fussy cut the wreath by hand and adhered it to the center of the card using 3M foam adhesive. Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the wreath for added sparkle.

Have you started YOUR holiday cards yet?
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

These Boots Are Made For. . . Flowers

10/6/2021

Hello crafty readers and happy Wednesday! I'm so sorry but I couldn't resist a little pun in the title of today's post! : ) Today I'm sharing another card from the "Wonderfully" digital stamp release at Joy Clair Designs. This beautiful boot and floral stamp is from the Extraordinary digital stamp set.

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using the Large Diamond Cover Panel from Reverse Confetti, I created the frame from Neenah white cardstock. Behind the diamond frame I placed a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of royal blue foil cardstock (retired). I enlarged the floral boot image to 130% and printed it onto Neenah white cardstock. I colored the image with Copic markers and then fussy cut the image out by hand. I adhered the image to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I printed the sentiment on a thin strip of Neenah white cardstock and adhered it to the card also using 3M foam adhesive. Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the image for added sparkle.

Now don't be surprised if you end up seeing this floral boot again in the very near future in another color pattern! Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

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October 2021 Mood Board

10/4/2021

Hello crafty readers and happy 1st of October! The Design Team at Joy Clair Designs is excited to share the October 2021 mood board designed to help inspire YOU to create. Mood boards (also commonly called “inspiration” boards) are a combination of colors, images, textures and patterns that can offer guidance or direction.

If you feel like you don’t know where to begin a project, try looking at a mood board and let the creative juices flow. You might just be surprised by the end result!

This month’s mood board is inspired by the colors and images of Halloween. But you are welcome to create for any season, holiday or occasion, as long as your project incorporates these colors. We’d love to see you use Joy Clair Designs stamp set too, if you have them. If you don’t have any, you can start shopping NOW!

Here is a card that I created using this month's mood board colors combined with the boots stamp from the Extraordinary digital stamp set:

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card was made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. First, I cut the first matted layer from the same white cardstock using a scalloped rectangle frame. Then, I cut a 4 1/4″ x 3 1/4″ piece of black cardstock. Additionally, I adhered a 4 1/8″ x 3 1/8″ piece of white cardstock directly on the top of the black cardstock.

I printed out the boots from the Extraordinary digital stamp set on white cardstock. I increased the size to 75%. Then, I colored the boots using Copic markers in G03, Y13, Y17, YR09, YR68, YR02, C4, C7 and YG41. Additionally, I fussy cut around the boots and adhered the boots to the card using 3M foam adhesive.

I wanted this card to look more fall themed, so I stamped some of the leaves from the Love Endures stamp set in Memento Tuxedo black ink and colored them using the same Copic markers. Also, I fussy cut the leaves and adhered them to the card. Then, I printed the sentiment from the Extraordinary digital stamp set on white cardstock and adhered it to the card. Lastly, I added a coat of Clear Wink of Stella to the entire image for added sparkle.

We would love to see YOU create using this mood board as inspiration too! Feel free to use similar colors in whatever brand of cardstock you have readily available. We’d love for you to use your Joy Clair Designs stamps if you have them! And if you don’t have any yet CLICK HERE TO START SHOPPING TODAY!

Be sure to tag us on social media using the following hashtags so we can see your cards or other papercraft projects:
#joyclairdesignsmoodboard
#joyclairmoodboard

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day! For more inspiration, you can follow me on my website, Instagram, Facebook and on my YouTube channel.

XO, Crystal

Hello Autumn

9/29/2021

Hello friends, it's almost the last day of September and we are officially in the midst of PSL season! That's Pumpkin Spice Latte for anyone unfamiliar with the popular influencer inspired lingo. Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog inspiring you to embrace fall (while dreading winter) and I'm sharing a simple, yet elegant card made using my favorite Birch Press Design stamp set called Pumpkin Lacework.

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock. Using Layer B of the Autumn Breeze Layering Plates, I cut the background from white cardstock. I adhered this leafy imprinted background directly to the card base.

Using the Pumpkin Lacework stamp set, I stamped the large pumpkin in Versamark ink on orange cardstock. I heat embossed the pumpkin with white embossing powder. I used the coordinating Pumpkin Lacework die to cut the pumpkin out. I adhered the pumpkin to the lower right side of the card using 3M foam adhesive. I stamped the pumpkin stem in Versamark ink on brown cardstock and heat embossed it with white embossing powder. I also stamped a variety of the leaves in Versamark ink on white cardstock and heat embossed the leaves with gold embossing powder. I used the Pumpkin Lacework dies to cut all the small images out before adhering them to the pumpkin using a Tombow adhesive runner.

I stamped the "hello autumn" sentiment from the same Pumpkin Lacework stamp set in Versamark ink on white cardstock. I heat embossed the sentiment with gold embossing powder and used the coordinating die to cut the sentiment out. I adhered the sentiment to the left side of the pumpkin using 3M foam adhesive.

I hope today's card will inspire YOU to create some beautiful fall things! Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day.

XO, Crystal

Whimsy Stamps Special Guest

9/22/2021

Hello friends! Today I am excited to be a special guest on the Whimsy Stamps blog and I'm thrilled that the ladies behind Whimsy Stamps invited me back to be a guest for all things Halloween, because it my my favorite time of the year to make cards! Whimsy Stamps has some of the best Halloween themed products around from zombies and aliens to gravestones and haunted houses. Today I am sharing a card made using the oh-so-spooky-cute stamp set, Candy Corn Dress Up.

I just love these cute little candy corns and I wanted to color them in non-traditional colors, hence the addition of pink. But wait, there's more - it's a shaker card too! Because cards are just infinitely more fun when they move and shake!

Card details:
The base of this A2 sized card was made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using the Wonky Window 4 die, I die cut the frame from the same white cardstock.

I lined the back of frame with a piece of acetate:

I then made sure to line over the the acetate with foam adhesive, end-to-end so that no sequins could fall out:

On a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of Bristol White Smooth cardstock, I ink blended Distress Oxide inks in Spiced Marmalade and Picked Raspberry:

I placed color sequins in the coordinating color section of the background (so that they would remain separated when I added my shaker frame). I stamped the Candy Corn Dress Up images in Memento Tuxedo black ink on Neenah Solar White cardstock and colored the images using Copic markers. I used my Brother Scan and Cut 2 e-cutting machine to cut the images, in lieu of fussy cutting.

Using a piece of black glitter cardstock, I cut the haunted house using the Slimline Hill House die. I only wanted the haunted house portion, so I cut it down to size. I adhered the haunted house to the card using a Tombow adhesive runner.

I adhered the candy corn characters to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. Lastly, I stamped the sentiment "Hauntingly Sweet" in Versamark ink on black cardstock. This sentiment is also included the Candy Corn Dress Up stamp set. I heat embossed the sentiment in white embossing powder and adhered it to the top left side of the card using 3M foam adhesive.

I hope you have enjoyed this fun Halloween inspired shaker card. Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal
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P.S. - Are YOU ready for Whimsy Stamps annual 31 Nights of Halloween?!

Get ready for Whimsy's creepy Creative Team and spooky Special Guests sharing 31 haunted Halloween projects and inspiration all month long! It's seriously spooktacular!

You Are My Inspiration

9/20/2021

Hello friends! Today I am excited to be sharing two cards made using the Extraordinary digital stamp set from the August release at Joy Clair Designs called "Wonderfully." This digital stamp set features beautiful floral inspired images that would be perfect for many all-occasion cards.

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using the Altenew Watercolor Stripes Coverplate die, I die cut the frame from white cardstock. Underneath the frame I die cut a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of rainbow printed paper to allow it to peek through the frame. I printed multiple envelopes from the Extraordinary digital stamp set onto Neenah White cardstock. I colored the envelopes with Copic markers and fussy cut the envelopes by hand. I adhered the envelopes to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I printed the sentiment on Neenah white cardstock and used a 2" oval punch to punch out the sentiment. I adhered the sentiment to the center of the card using 3M foam adhesive. Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the envelopes for added sparkle.

Here is the second card I created using the same elements from the Extraordinary digital stamp set:

Card details:

This slimline card measures 8 1/2" x 3 1/2". Slimline cards are designed to fit inside a regular #10 business sized envelope and require no additional postage. The base of this slimline card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I cut a 8 1/4" x 3 1/4" piece of magenta pink cardstock for the first matted layer. I cut a 8" x 3" piece of black cardstock and cut three square frames out of it to form the shaker frame of this card. I lined the back of the frame with acetate. I cut a 8" x 3" piece of black and white striped paper and placed it directly over the magenta pink cardstock. I sprinkled approximately two tablespoons of black sequins on top of the striped paper and placed my shaker frame on top of the sequins. I printed the envelopes from the Extraordinary digital stamp set at 115% - so they are slightly larger in size. I colored the envelopes and bee image with Copic markers and fussy cut them by hand. I adhered the images to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I printed the digital sentiment on a thin strip of Neenah White cardstock. I notched the right edge before adhering the sentiment strip to the card. Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the images for added sparkle.

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

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Leaf Wreath w/ Birch Press Design

9/15/2021

Hello friends! Happy Wednesday, I hope your week is going good so far. Friday is coming! Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog sharing a fun way to use Layering Plate B of the Autumn Breeze Layering Plates.

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using a separate sheet of this same white cardstock I die cut Layer Plate C of the Delfina Layering Plates (retired) which became the background. I cut this twice (because I was making two cards):

Next I die cut Layer B of the Autumn Breeze Layering Plate four times, one each in red, orange, yellow and green cardstock. This would give me all the leaves I needed to complete these two cards. (*Note, I actually had enough leaves to create a third card).

I created a circular frame to act as a guide to adhere all the leaves to. I did this by placing a smaller circle die inside of a larger one:

Then I began to adhere the leaves to the frame in a circular pattern using a Tombow adhesive runner:

Using the Thanks Honey Script dies and the Blessed Honey Script dies, I die cut the larger shadow sentiment from white cardstock and the thinner sentiment from gold glitter cardstock using the 6" x 6" Holiday Glitter pad.

I hope you have enjoyed this different way to use the Birch Press Design layering plates.
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

Hey Pumpkin

9/13/2021

Happy Monday and welcome back from the weekend! We spent a long weekend in Maine visiting my parents and it was our first real glimpse of fall with some cooler evening/morning temperatures and apple cider waffles with my family's own maple syrup! I just can't get enough of all things fall. Today I'm sharing two cards on the Joy Clair Designs blog featuring the Hey Pumpkin stamp set.

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made with 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using the Diagonal Stripes Window die from Pinkfresh Studio, I diecut the frame from white cardstock. Behind the frame I placed a piece of Light Brown Woodgrain paper from Lawn Fawn. I stamped the pumpkins from the Hey Pumpkin stamp set in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored them with Copic markers. I fussy cut the image out and adhered it to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I stamped the sentiment "thanks" in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and fussy cut the sentiment out. I placed the cut sentiment over a piece of orange cardstock and created my own shadow die by fussy cutting the second layer. I adhered the sentiment to the card using 3M foam adhesive.

Here is the second card I created also using the Hey Pumpkin stamp set:

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I cut a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of pumpkin orange cardstock as the first mat for this card. I cut a 5" x 3 3/4" piece of Light Brown Lawn Fawn Woodgrain cardstock to adhere to the orange mat. I die cut the picture frame from white cardstock. I stamped the pumpkins from the Hey Pumpkin stamp set in Memento Tuxedo black ink on white cardstock. I colored the pumpkins with Copic markers and fussy cut the image out. I adhered the pumpkins to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. Using a leaf punch, I punched a couple gold glitter leaves out and tucked them behind the pumpkins to add some glitter and dimension. I stamped the sentiment "hey pumpkin" in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on white cardstock. I cut the sentiment out and adhered it to the bottom of the picture frame using 3M foam adhesive. Lastly, I added a coat of Clear Wink of Stella to the pumpkins for more sparkle.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great week!

XO, Crystal