Crystal Komara
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Rainbow Floral Star

7/25/2022

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Hello readers and happy Monday! Welcome back from the weekend! Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog today sharing a cheerful rainbow themed card made using just layer plate B of the Floral Star Layering dies.  
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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 the same white cardstock and ran it through my Big Shot using the Memory Box Blooming 3D embossing folder. This is one of my favorite embossing folders as the detail is impeccable and the result is always gorgeous.  
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I cut 5 1/2" x 1/4" strips of cardstock in a rainbow array of colors. ​I adhered the strips of cardstock down the center of the card. I die cut Layer B of the Floral Star Layering dies from white cardstock. I then fussy cut small pieces of the colored cardstock and adhered it behind sections of the flora star to continue the rainbow theme. I adhered the floral star to the center of the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. 
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Lastly, using the Lingo Thanks stamp set, I stamped the "you mean the world to me" sentiment in Versamark ink on black cardstock. I heat embossed the words with white embossing powder. I adhered this thin sentiment strip across the center of the card.  

I love creating rainbow themed cards, I just find them so colorful and uplifting. 
​Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!
​

XO, Crystal 

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My Succulents

7/20/2022

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Hello friends and happy summet!  I hope you are enjoying some extra sunshine, ice cream (or margaritas - no judgement here) and maybe a little vacation time!  Today I am on the Joy Clair Designs blog sharing a card that I created using the My Succulents digital stamp set.  To be honest, I did not inherit my mother's green thumb and I don't even attempt to keep cacti alive, so paper succulents are perfect for me! : )
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Card details: 

​The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock.  I cut a piece 4 1/4" x 3" piece of earth colored patterned paper and adhere it to the bottom of the card front.  I cut a 4 1/4" x 3" piece of white cardstock and ran it through my Big Shot with a scalloped oval die to give it that rounded edge.  I stamped the sentiment "Grateful for You" in Memento Tuxedo black ink on the lower portion of the white cardstock.  This sentiment is from the Fall Greetings stamp set.  I printed out a variety of the succulents from the My Succulents digital stamp set onto 80 lb. Neenah Solar White cardstock.  I colored the images with Copic markers and then fussy cut the images out.  I adhered the images to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the images for added sparkle.
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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.



Follow UsBe sure to sign up for Joy Clair Designs newsletters. You will receive notifications of new releases, sales and exclusive offers to subscribers.  You can also follow the team’s creations from Joy Clair Designs on Facebook Page, Joy Clair Stamp Projects Facebook Group, Instagram , Twitter, Pinterest and  YouTube!
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Just Butterflies

7/13/2022

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Hello friends and happy H-O-T summer!  Well, at least it is getting that way here in New England!  There is no better time to be in my air-conditioned basement craft room than come mid-July.   Today I am on the Joy Clair Designs blog sharing a simple butterfly card featuring the Just Butterflies digital stamp set.  Flower themed cards are one of my all-time favorites to make, but butterflies come in at a very close second.
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Card details: 

​The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  I cut a 4" x 3" piece of black and white gingham printed paper and cut it at an angle to adhere to the base of the card.  I also put a thin strip of peach cardstock behind the gingham for more contrast.  I printed out the "thank you" sentiment from the Just Butterflies digital stamp set and notched both ends before adhering it using 3M foam adhesive on a diagonal slant.  I printed out two of the butterflies from the Just Butterflies digital stamp set to 2 1/2" each.  I colored the butterflies using Copic markers.  I fussy cut the images out and then adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the butterflies for added sparkle.
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Happy summer everyone!  I hope you find equal time to craft and relax!
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!  For more inspiration, you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook and on my YouTube channel.

XO, Crystal 

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A Simple Slimline

7/6/2022

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Hello crafty readers!  Today I am on the Joy Clair Designs blog sharing a simple way to use your digital stamps.  Admittedly, I am not the best colorer (in my own opinion anyway) and also there are just some days when I simply don't feel like coloring.  So, I wanted to test my creativity and see if it was possible to use a digital stamp (with very minimal coloring), yet still create a beautiful card. . .  
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​I'm quite pleased with how this slimline card turned out!  I used the Spring Bouquet slimline stamp set and I only colored the center of the flower and the leaves with a Y04 Copic marker.  One marker! No shading required!   Super simple!  Most of the color comes from the yellow gingham printed background paper. 
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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 my cardstock was made with 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  I used a slimline three-framed die to cut the background.  I lined the back of the frame with a yellow gingham printed paper.  I printed the flowers from the Spring Bouquet slimline digital stamp set.  I fussy cut the slimline flower and adhered it to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  I printed the sentiment and adhered it to the card also using 3M foam adhesive.  That's it!  Easy peasy!
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So, yes!  I do think is possible to create a simple card with little coloring required for a digital stamp!  Give it a try and see for yourself!

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
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Be sure to sign up for Joy Clair Designs newsletters. You will receive notifications of new releases, sales and exclusive offers to subscribers.  You can also follow the team’s creations from Joy Clair Designs on Facebook Page, Joy Clair Stamp Projects Facebook Group, Instagram , Twitter, Pinterest and  YouTube!
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Watercolor Meets Heat Foil

7/5/2022

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Hello crafty readers!  I'm excited to be sharing the first two cards I created using the new String Art Frame Hot Foil plate from Birch Press Design.  Now, if I'm being completely honest, these are actually the first two cards I have ever made using hot foil!! Heat foiling is very on-trend right now in the craft industry, so I succumbed to the peer pressure and bought the Gemini Foil Press (because it works with my Gemini, Jr. die cutting machine). Heat foiling is a magical process where heat and pressure are applied to a special foil to imprint on paper. Unlike heat embossing where the image is raised when Versamark ink and embossing powder are heated with an embossing gun, in heat foiling, the image is imprinted or pressed into the paper when heat and pressure are applied.  
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​I created two cards that are nearly identical, I simply swapped out the color combination and sentiment to achieve two unique looks. Keep reading for all the details:
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Card details: 

​The base of this A2 sized card was made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I cut a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of purple cardstock from the 6" x 6" Twilight cardstock pack. On a 5" x 3 3/4" sheet of white cardstock, I heat foiled the String Art Frame hot foil plate on my Gemini Foilpress machine with purple Foilpress foil. 
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On a separate sheet of watercolor cardstock, I stamped the large floral image from the Memory Box (a sister company to BPD) All the Happiness stamp set in Versamark ink and heat embossed it with gold embossing powder. I colored the image using Zig Real Color Watercolor Brush markers. Once the image dried, I used the coordinating All the Happiness dies to cut the image out. I adhered the flowers to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I stamped the sentiment in Versamark ink and heat embossed it with gold embossing powder. This sentiment is from the Kind Hearts clear stamp set. I adhered the sentiment to the card also using 3M foam adhesive tape. Lastly, I added a light coat of clear Wink of Stella to the flowers for added sparkle. *Be careful with Wink of Stella on watercolor though, because it will bleed as it is water-on-water based.  ​
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​For this second card, I used identical products as the first card, I simply swapped out the purple foil for a teal foil and I colored the flowers with teal or turquoise hued Zig Real Color Brush markers. 
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Alright, so since I admitted this was my first go-round with hot foiling, I'll also admit that I did my initial foiling wrong and ended up heat foiling the plate itself and not the paper. Note to self, read the instructions first! They do exist for a reason!! : ) But, all-in-all I was quite pleased with how my first heat foiled cards turned out and I look forward to experimenting more!

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!
​

XO, Crystal 

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July 2022 Mood Board

7/1/2022

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​Hello friends and happy July!  We hope your summer is off to a fabulous start!  The Design Team at Joy Clair Designs is excited to share the mood board for this month.  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!
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Let's take a look at the July 2022 Joy Clair Designs mood board:
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his month mood board celebrates all things 4th of July - summer fun in the form of BBQ's , popsicles, gingham and American flags!
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Here is a card that I created inspired by this month's mood board colors:

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Card details: 

The base of this A2 sized card was made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  I cut a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of the same white cardstock and ran it through my big shot with a stitched leaf embossing folder.  I printed out the butterfly from the new You Fill My Day digital stamp set.  I printed the butterfly at 65%.  I colored the butterfly with Copic markers in various shades of red and blue.  I fussy cut the butterfly and adhered it to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I printed the sentiment "you fill my day" from the same digital stamp set.  I notched both ends of the sentiment strip and adhered it to the card.  I added a couple clear rhinestone drops placed randomly and lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the butterfly for added sparkle. 

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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

Be sure to sign up for Joy Clair Designs newsletters. You will receive notifications of new releases, sales and exclusive offers to subscribers.  You can also follow the team’s creations from Joy Clair Designs on Facebook Page, Joy Clair Stamp Projects Facebook Group, Instagram , Twitter, Pinterest and  YouTube!
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    Hi, I'm Crystal!

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    Disclaimer:

    I, Crystal Komara, am solely responsible for this blog and all of its content, including, but not limited to designs, concepts, text, images and photographs. This website is for your personal enjoyment, inspiration and to help stimulate your own creativity.  

    If you use one of my posts, images, classes or designs please be sure to give credit where it is due.  Thank you!
    2019 ©


    Disclosure:

    • I participate in several affiliate programs.  This means I earn a small commission when products are purchased using my links (at no additional cost to you). 
    • I do not work for any companies. 
    • I buy all of my own supplies, unless where mentioned in a post that a product has been gifted, or if I am supplied products in exchange for being on a company's Design Team.
    • I do not do sponsored posts (where a company pays me to talk about a product).
    • I do not place ads on my blog.  Ever. I hate them and I know you do too!

    ​Whether gifted, or from my own supply, all of my recommendations are based on items that I use and truly love, and I think you will too. 
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