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Hello friends! Thanks for visiting my website today! If you are new here, welcome! I hope you will find inspiration and creativity while you are here. I'd highly recommend starting with my photo gallery to see images of the variety of cards I've made over the years. You can also view my videos if you are looking for a step-by-step tutorial in seeing how the magic of cardmaking happens! Today I am sharing two colorful and fun rainbow themed cards using products from Whimsy Stamps. Perhaps you might recall that last year I was on the Design Team for Whimsy and I'm always happy to help promote their products, because they were such a wonderful and cohesive team to work with. Let's take a further look at these cards:   Card details:This first card is a slimline card. My slimline card measures 8 1/2' x 3 1/2" and fits inside a regular #10 business sized mailing envelop requiring no additional postage. And did you know that Whimsy Stamps is the innovator of slimline cards! Best. Creative. Invention. Ever. The base of this slimline card was made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using the Whimsy Stamps Slimline Marquee Die, I cut the frame also from the same white cardstock. I placed pieces of the 6" x 6" Rainbow Paper Pack and placed it behind the windows of the frame.  I stamped a variety of images from the Artist's Toolkit stamp set in Tuxedo Memento Black ink on white cardstock. I colored the images in rainbow colors using Copic Markers. I die cut the images using my Brother Scan and Cut 2 e-cutting machine. I adhered the images to the card using 3M foam adhesive. I stamped the sentiment "listen to your art" in Memento Tuxedo black ink on a thin strip of white cardstock and I adhered that to the center of the card also using 3M foam adhesive. Lastly, I added a coat of Clear Wink of Stella to the images for added sparkle.  Here is the second card I made using similar products:  Card details:For this A2 sized card I use 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock (linked above) for the base of the card. I used a 5 1/4" x 4 " piece of the same white cardstock and die cut a partial circle out of the center. I lined the back of the hole with paper from the the 6" x 6" Rainbow Paper Pack. I stamped a variety of images from the Artist's Toolkit stamp set in Tuxedo Memento Black ink on white cardstock. I colored the images in rainbow colors using Copic Markers. I die cut the images using my Brother Scan and Cut 2 e-cutting machine. I adhered the images to the card using 3M foam adhesive.  Using the Thanks Word die and shadow set, I die cut the bottom shadow layer of the sentiment from white cardstock and I die cut the thinner top portion from paper in the 6" x 6" Rainbow Paper Pack. I adhered the two layers together with a fine-tip liquid adhesive and then mounted both to the card using 3M foam adhesive. Lastly, I added a coat of Clear Wink of Stella to the images for added sparkle.   Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day! XO, Crystal |
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Hello readers! I have been very remiss with my holiday themed cards this year. I didn't make one single card for Easter, Father's Day, Mother's Day and the 4th of July! But YAY, here's to being consistent at least! There's still a good month of summer left, so not all is a loss with today's good vibes themed card.
Card details:
The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. On a 5" x 3 3/4" piece of Yupo paper, I created the alcohol ink background with Magenta and Flamingo alcohol inks. Once the alcohol inks dried, I mounted the Yupo paper to a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of black cardstock. I die cut the words "Good Vibes" using the Simon Says Stamps shadow die. I die cut the larger shadow layer from magenta cardstock and the thinner top layer using black cardstock. I mounted the sentiment to the lower right corner of the card using 3M foam adhesive.
The sunglasses are from the Good Vibes stamp set by Joy Clair Designs. I stamped the palm trees (also from the same stamp set) in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on the lenses of the sunglasses and then fussy cut the sunglasses out. I adhered the sunglasses to the card. Lastly, using a white Uniball gel pen, I added highlights to the words "good vibes" for added dimension.
I hope you like today's fun and summery card. Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!
XO, Crystal
Other alcohol ink cards you might enjoy:
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Hello friends and happy Monday! Welcome back from the weekend. Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog and I'm excited to be sharing STAMPED projects with you today and not the usual beautiful layering dies that Birch Press Design is most known for. Do you even know that Birch Press Design also sells stamps?! Surprise, they do!
Card details:
The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. This is my go-to white cardstock for everything. Using the Delfina Layer A die, I die cut the lattice background from white cardstock. I adhered this directly to the card base. I stamped the flowers from the All the Happiness stamp set in Versamark ink on Distress Watercolor cardstock and heat embossed the image with gold embossing powder. I then watercolored the flowers using Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers in Scarlett Red, Bright Yellow, Persian Blue, Pale Green and Light Green.
Once the watercolor was dry, I die cut the image using the coordinating All the Happiness dies. I adhered the flowers in the lower right corner of the card using 3M foam adhesive. I stamped the sentiment "celebrate today" from the Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp set. I punched the sentiment out using a label punch and adhered it to the card with 3M foam adhesive.
Today's second card is also made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using Layer A from the Delfina Layering Dies, I die cut the lattice background from white cardstock. I adhered the lattice background directly to the card. I stamped the flowers from the All the Happiness stamp set in Versamark ink on Distress Watercolor cardstock. I heat embossed the image with gold embossing powder and then I watercolored the image using Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers (the same colors are listed above).
I die cut the flowers using the coordinating die and adhered the flowers to the card using 3M foam adhesive. I stamped the sentiment "celebrate today" from the Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp set in blue ink on white cardstock. I punched the sentiment out with a 2" circle punch. I also adhered the punch to the card using 3M foam adhesive.
I am so in love with this beautiful flower stamp set and I'll be using more stamps from Birch Press Design in the future! Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!
XO, Crystal
Welcome to the second edition of Feature Friday! If you missed last week's initial Feature Friday with the talented Tatiana Trafimovich, please click here. This new weekly series will feature fellow cardmakers and paper artists whose work I admire. When I'm not physically in my craft room creating, you can often find me on Pinterest or Instagram just oohing and aahing over the works and talents of other artists in this industry. I can sit for hours "pinning" and "liking" images and daydreaming about all the cards they have inspired ME to create. I have formed friendships with many of these wonderful people and it's their constant support, encouragement and sharing that reminds me of how much I love this hobby. I hope by starting this new series that you will appreciate the wide variety of talent in this field and that I can introduce you to some of the designers that I continuously fangirl over.
Today's Feature Friday artist is Samantha Mann. What initially attracted me about Samantha's cards were her vibrant backgrounds using oxide/distress oxide inks and stencils. But, the second thing I noticed about her cards was that she regularly combines those colorful backgrounds with a lot of white space. This white space helps to ground the card and provide for a lot of visual interest from stark clean white to colorful artsy works!
Today's Feature Friday artist is Samantha Mann. What initially attracted me about Samantha's cards were her vibrant backgrounds using oxide/distress oxide inks and stencils. But, the second thing I noticed about her cards was that she regularly combines those colorful backgrounds with a lot of white space. This white space helps to ground the card and provide for a lot of visual interest from stark clean white to colorful artsy works!
Here are some examples of Sam's work with stencils and distress/oxide inks that I admire:
And here are some great examples of how Sam uses color combined with a lot of white space on her cards:
All photos from Samantha Mann
If you love a lot of white space, you will enjoy next week's Feature Friday artist!
Samantha is just one of the many artists whom I admire and with this new weekly series, I look forward to sharing more of the people who inspire ME and why. Please click on the images above for more details or visit Samantha on her blog, Facebook and Instagram.
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative weekend!
Samantha is just one of the many artists whom I admire and with this new weekly series, I look forward to sharing more of the people who inspire ME and why. Please click on the images above for more details or visit Samantha on her blog, Facebook and Instagram.
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative weekend!
XO, Crystal
Hello readers! Last week I shared with you that I began teaching classes at the Butterfly Reflections Ink store in Kingston, New Hampshire. Today I am sharing one of the cards we made at the "Watercolor Wonder" class. For this class I taught a couple different ways that you can watercolor because I have found that with any new technique you learn, you have to find what works for you. Maybe you don't like the freedom of watercolor palettes, but you like more precise watercolor pens instead. Or maybe, you find that you don't even like to watercolor at all, which is perfectly okay too! At least by investing a little money in a class then you will save yourself money in the long run by not investing in products that won't be used! That's the great thing about taking a class in person, you can try a variety of different techniques and see what you like and even what you don't! In this class we experimented with Distress Oxide Inks, Zig Clean Real Color Brush Markers, Kuretaki Ganzai Tambei watercolor palettes and Spectrum Noir Sparkle Brushes.
Card details:
The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using the Altenew Watercolor Stripes Card Panel die, I created the striped frame also from white cardstock. Underneath the frame I placed a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of Orange Woodgrain paper from Lawn Fawn. I die cut a diamond from gold glitter paper. I stamped the orange blossoms from the Reverse Confetti Orange Blossoms stamp set in Versamark ink and heat embossed the orange blossoms outline with gold embossing powder. I colored the oranges and leaves with watercolor using the Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers. I die cut the orange blossoms using the coordinating die and adhered the image to the card. Lastly, I stamped the sentiment "hi friend" in Memento Tuxedo black ink on a thin strip of white cardstock and added it to the card.
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!
XO, Crystal
You might also enjoy:
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Hello friends and happy Monday! I hope you had a pleasant weekend. We finally had some decent weather here in New England after weeks of relentless rain and humidity, so it was nice to see the sun! Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog sharing a card using the beautiful new Tranquility Layering 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 Bermuda Bay cardstock as the first mat. I used the Pinpoint Radial Plate to die cut a piece of white cardstock that I adhered directly to that Bermuda Bay cardstock. I die cut the three layers of the beautiful Tranquility Layering Set using the Fresh Aqua 6 x 6" paper pack. The top layer, Layer A was die cut from a light blue-green color. Layer B, the middle layer, was cut from a turquoise piece of cardstock from the Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad. Layer C, the bottom layer, was also cut from the Fresh Aqua paper pack.
I adhered the three layers of the die together using Lineco Neutral ph bookbinding glue ,my go-to liquid adhesive. I adhered the three layers to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I die cut the word "hugs" using the Hugs Honey Script dies. I die cut the bottom shadow layer from black cardstock and the top layer from white cardstock. I adhered both layers together before adhering them to the card. Lastly I stamped the sentiment "you are awesome" in Bermuda Bay ink from the Ticker Tape stamp set. I cut out the sentiment and adhered it just below the word "hugs."
I hope you have enjoyed today's card. I simply love using the layering dies from Birch Press Design because they are so unique! Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day.
XO, Crystal
You might also enjoy:
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Hello readers and happy Friday! Today I am beginning a new series on my blog called "Feature Friday." This weekly series will feature fellow cardmakers and paper artists whose work I admire. Let's talk card eye candy! When I'm not physically in my craft room creating, you can often find me on Pinterest or Instagram just oohing and aahing over the works and talents of other artists in this industry. I can sit for hours "pinning" and "liking" images and daydreaming about all the cards they have inspired ME to create. I have formed friendships with many of these wonderful people and it's their constant support, encouragement and sharing that reminds me of how much I love this hobby. I hope by starting this new series that you will appreciate the wide variety of talent in this field and that I can introduce you to some of the designers that I continuously fangirl over.
Today's Feature Friday artist is Tatiana Trafimovich. I have long followed Tatiana on her blog, Facebook and Instagram and am always completely blown away by her creations. What I like particularly about Tatiana's style is her use of pastel colors, her innovative layouts and her creativity with stencils. These are all techniques that often intimidate me, yet I aspire to incorporate on some of my cards.
Today's Feature Friday artist is Tatiana Trafimovich. I have long followed Tatiana on her blog, Facebook and Instagram and am always completely blown away by her creations. What I like particularly about Tatiana's style is her use of pastel colors, her innovative layouts and her creativity with stencils. These are all techniques that often intimidate me, yet I aspire to incorporate on some of my cards.
When I first "discovered" Tatiana, I was amazed by how she colored all the adorable kitties from Newton's Nook. And even though I have tried to mimic a similar look as hers, it's seemingly impossible to achieve (unless you are Tatiana). I tried to create Siamese cats a la Tatiana, but mine resulted in looking like my cats had entered a mud wresting competition! Just trust me, it was nowhere near this kind of sweet adorable kitty face perfection:
These dreamy cards show Tatiana's skill at using soft pastel colors in her color palette. It is cards like these that inspire me to use softer hues more often in my own work.
Tatiana also creates elegant floral cards, such as these which are among some of my favorites:
Tatiana is a master of stencils and textured products that result in fun and vibrant backgrounds that really add dimension to her cards:
All photos from Tatiana Trafimovich
If you really like the latter few photos using stenciled backgrounds and oxide inks, you are going to LOVE next week's Featured Friday artist!
Tatiana is just one of the many artists whom I admire and with this new weekly series, I look forward to sharing more of the people who inspire ME and why. Please click on the images above for more details or visit Tatiana on her blog, Facebook and Instagram.
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative weekend!
Tatiana is just one of the many artists whom I admire and with this new weekly series, I look forward to sharing more of the people who inspire ME and why. Please click on the images above for more details or visit Tatiana on her blog, Facebook and Instagram.
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative weekend!
XO, Crystal
In April of this year, I began teaching in-person classes at the Butterfly Reflections Ink store in Kingston, New Hampshire. Kingston is just under a 2 1/2 hour drive from my house, so while it's a longer drive, it is doable over a weekend, or maybe a fun overnight road trip. But, let me just tell you, it is worth every single minute of the drive because when you see the amazing inventory, samples and stock that owner Vanessa Middleton has in store, you will be amazed! You can spend an entire day in the store and still not see everything! The shop itself is light and bright, clean and fresh and practically begs for you to spend all your money.
Yes, there really is a heaven on Earth and you will find it here at Butterfly Reflections Ink!
Yes, there really is a heaven on Earth and you will find it here at Butterfly Reflections Ink!
Butterfly Reflections Ink store exterior
Butterfly Reflections Ink store interior
Owner Vanessa Middleton inside the store, 2021
It was on my first visit to the store in 2019 when I spoke with Vanessa about the opportunity to teach classes. I have been teaching in my own home studio for the past 8 years and she had mentioned wanting to offer her customers the ability to take in-store classes, but she didn't have the time to both run a store AND teach. It was a match made in stamp heaven!
Meeting Vanessa in 2019
So, in April of 2021, I held my first two classes at the store - "Fabulous Florals" and "Springtime with Newton's Nook." In June, I held two additional classes - "Interactive Lawn Fawn" and "Watercolor Wonder."
Here are some photos taken from the two classes we held at the store in June:
Here are some photos taken from the two classes we held at the store in June:
I couldn't be more grateful and thankful to Vanessa for allowing me the opportunity to teach classes in her store! She has allowed me the freedom to design my classes using a variety of products that she carries. While we've struggled a bit with attendance for the first two classes, we are hoping for the word to spread, and as COVID vaccinations increase, that people will begin venturing out for fun events such as these in the future.
You can visit the Butterfly Reflections Ink store at:
53 Church Street, Kingston, New Hampshire
Follow Vanessa for the latest information on upcoming classes and you can always support her small business by shopping online anytime HERE.
53 Church Street, Kingston, New Hampshire
Follow Vanessa for the latest information on upcoming classes and you can always support her small business by shopping online anytime HERE.
XO, Crystal
Did you know that each month 88 and Clear offers a "5 for $5" workshop? For just $5.00 you can watch a Facebook Live cardmaking workshop with 88 and Clear owner and designer extraordinaire Richard Garay, aka "RG." You receive step-by-step instructions and a link to create five projects along with RG and the team. This months' "5 for $5" workshop features the digital stamp set "Best Day."
Details:
- With this workshop you will create 5 projects - 3 cards and 2 tags. (See images above and below).
- You will receive an email with instructions and a direct link to view the class.
- The class will go live on Facebook on July 19. However, you can watch the class on replay at any time convenient to you!
Other available online classes:
Farmhouse Christmas
88 and Clear is also offering the "Farmhouse Christmas" workshop live on Facebook on July 24th!
In this class you will receive:
This workshop will be held live on Facebook on Saturday, July 24, 2021 at 10am PST. However, don't worry, if you can't attend the "live event," you can always catch a replay on the 88 and Clear Facebook page!
So sign up for this fabulous offer today! Click HERE to register.
In this class you will receive:
- One pack of 12 x 12 printed paper and ephemera
- Kits to create 4 mini slim cards and a mini book using the build-an-album kit by PhotoPlay
- You will also receive an email to download a digital pack of 6×6 prints and sentiments
This workshop will be held live on Facebook on Saturday, July 24, 2021 at 10am PST. However, don't worry, if you can't attend the "live event," you can always catch a replay on the 88 and Clear Facebook page!
So sign up for this fabulous offer today! Click HERE to register.
Hello readers and happy Friday! Today I am on the Joy Clair Designs blog sharing another card using the beautiful Spring Rose digital stamp set. I really wanted to title this post “Purple Rain” because since I’ve been coloring all evening with purple Copics, I can’t get Prince out of my head! I just love, love, love this stamp set and simply can’t get enough of it! I love that I’m able to adjust the dimensions and size of the flowers because it is a digital stamp. Digital stamps afford even more creative options.
Card details:
*A full list of supplies is located at the end of this post.
For the base of this A2 sized card, I used 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. It is my go-to white cardstock for e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g! I used the Whimsy Stamps Lattice A2 die for the first layer and die cut the lattice from white cardstock. I increased the image size of the flowers by 30% for nice large flowers and then I colored the images with Copic markers.
For the base of this A2 sized card, I used 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. It is my go-to white cardstock for e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g! I used the Whimsy Stamps Lattice A2 die for the first layer and die cut the lattice from white cardstock. I increased the image size of the flowers by 30% for nice large flowers and then I colored the images with Copic markers.
I adhered the flowers to the card using 3M foam adhesive. I stamped the sentiment in purple ink on a thin strip of white cardstock and notched the left edge before adhering it to the card as well. Lastly I added a coat of Clear Wink of Stella to the flowers for added sparkle.
Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend! For more inspiration, you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook and on my YouTube channel.
XO, Crystal
List of supplies:
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- I do not participate in affiliate programs.
- 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!
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 ©
If you use one of my posts, images, classes or designs please be sure to give credit where it is due. Thank you!
2019 ©