Blog Archives - Crystal Komara

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

Autumn Breeze Layering Plates by Birch Press Design

9/8/2021

Hello crafty readers and happy September! For those of us who love fall (ME ME ME!) then let the pumpkin spice season begin! If you're still sippin' on your summer 'ritas, no shade here, you do you! But, I'm full speed ahead to apple pies, sweater weather and all things fall. Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog sharing a fun (and mildly Halloween inspired) card using the Autumn Breeze Layering plates:

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card was made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using two out of three layers of the Autumn Breeze Layering Plates, I used a piece of garden green cardstock as the bottom layer (in lieu of Layer B). For Layer C I die cut the plate using pumpkin orange cardstock. Layer A was cut from basic black cardstock. You can see my photo below for all three layers:

I adhered all three layers together using a Tombow adhesive tape runner before gluing the three layers down to the card base. I cut a 3" circle from vellum cardstock, cutting of the right side just a bit before adhering it to the card. Using the Big Thanks Sugar Script dies, I die cut the large shadow sentiment from garden green cardstock and the thinner sentiment from gold glitter cardstock from the 6" x 6" Holiday Glitter Pad. I adhered the two layers together with Tombow adhesive before adhering the enticement sentiment strip to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

On a thin strip of white cardstock I stamped the sentiment "for your friendship" in Memento Tuxedo black ink. This sentiment is from the Lingo Thanks stamp set. I adhered this sentiment strip below the large "thanks" using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

You're going to be seeing lots of fall and Halloween themed ideas over then next couple of weeks here, so let's slowly embrace it together!

XO, Crystal

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Watercolored Sunflowers

9/6/2021

Hello friends and happy Monday! Welcome September and the refreshing beauty (tastes and smells) of fall. It truly is my favorite time of the year, especially since I live in New England! Today I am on the Joy Clair Designs blog sharing one of my first fall themed cards of the season. These watercolored jewel toned sunflowers feature the Thankful For You stamp set by Joy Clair Designs.

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made with 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using the Scalloped Stitched Rectangle Border dies from Gina Marie Designs, I die cut the frame from white cardstock. I stamped the sentiment "thankful for you" in the lower right corner of the scalloped frame in Versamark Ink. I heat embossed the sentiment with gold embossing powder. On a separate piece of Tim Holtz Distress White Heavystock I stamped three sunflowers in Versamark Ink. I heat embossed all three sunflowers with gold embossing powder. I colored each of the sunflowers using Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers. I fussy cut the flowers and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive.

Happy fall friends! I look forward to sharing many more cards with you that are inspired by my favorite time of the year over the new few weeks!

XO, Crystal

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STAMPtember

9/3/2021

Hello friends and happy Fri-YAY! I have really exciting news to share with you as Simon Says Stamp has officially begin it's annual STAMPtember event. This is a monthlong event that you do NOT want to miss!

Join in celebrating the 12th Anniversary of STAMPtember®! Today Simon Says Stamp is revealing the products they've designed to inspire and delight you in making your projects. All products are available exclusively at Simon Says Stamp.

STAMPtember® is defined by Simon Says Stamp as an event intended to inspire, educate, and celebrate the fun of rubber stamping. Simon Says Stamp was founded in 2002 selling rubber stamps. However, it didn’t take long until they became a one-stop-shop with so much more!

Now STAMPtember is so much more than stamps! You’ll see a focus on many other exciting products like NEW hot foil plates, dies, embossing folders , NEW Pawsitively Saturated Ink Pads in a beautiful RAINBOW of colors, and some other fun surprises. They hope to enhance your stamping experience! Rubber stamps remain the heart of the business, and they are celebrating by also releasing exclusive products with many of the industry’s finest brands.

Be sure to visit the Simon Says Stamp blog as the home base for the festivities! Trust me when I tell you that the excitement this year is over the TOP, and they are planning fun surprises to keep you on your toes all month long! Speaking of surprises… check out this AMAZING prize they are giving away with FIVE chances to win…..

Happy STAMPtember friends!

XO, Crystal

Joy Clair Designs September Mood Board

9/1/2021

Hello crafty readers and happy 1st of September! The Design Team at Joy Clair Designs is excited to announce that we will be starting a monthly mood board 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!

Let's take a look at the September 2021 Joy Clair Designs mood board:

This month's mood board is a slightly non-traditional take on some fall colors, but isn't it just beautiful? Think teal, mint, blush, gold and white! It's so modern and feminine.

Here is a card that I created inspired by this month's mood board palette:

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card was made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. On a separate sheet of 5 1/4" x 4" of white cardstock, I stamped the long row of leaves from the Fall Greetings stamp set in Memento Tuxedo black ink. I colored the leaves using Copic markers G000, R20 and BG75. I cut this paper in half and on the bottom half of the cardstock, I stamped the sentiment "sending love" from the Fall Greetings stamp set in Versamark ink. I heat embossed the sentiment with gold embossing powder. I then set these two stamped and colored pieces aside. I cut 1/4" strips of cardstock in the following colors:

Stampin' Up cardstock colors in: Gold Glitter, Blushing Bride, Crumb Cake, Mint Macaron, Tranquil Tide

I placed the strips at a slightly diagonal angle on the cardstock base. Using 3M adhesive I placed the two stamped image layers directly over the colored strips. I added two 1/4" strips of gold glitter paper along the top and bottom edge. Lastly, I added a couple clear rhinestone bubbles for added texture.

I am SO in love with this color palette and can't wait to design more cards using these colors! 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

XO, Crystal