All Categories - Crystal Komara

Classic Sentimental Wreath

5/23/2022

Hello readers! Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog and while I know there is a beautiful new release of the hot foils in the shop right now, I always love to use some of the "oldies but goodies." Everyone seems to always get caught up in what's the newest or latest and greatest product, but SOooo many of us haven't even used what we already own, so that's what I've been working on this month. Today's card features the beautiful Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp set and coordinating dies.

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 e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. On a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of white cardstock, I embossed it using the Blooming 3D embossing folder from Memory Box (a sister company to BPD). You guys, this folder is absolutely gorgeous! I cut a scalloped rectangle from white cardstock.

On a piece of lush green cardstock, I stamped the wreath first in pale green ink and then the leaf layers in lime green ink. I used the coordinating die to cut the wreath out. I adhered the wreath to the scalloped rectangle using 3M foam adhesive. I stamped two of the flower sprigs in purple ink and used the die to cut them out as well. I adhered the two floral sprigs to the wreath and then I tied a small bow with lilac ribbon and adhered the bow to the card using a glue dot. I stamped the sentiment "thank for everything" in Memento Tuxedo black ink. This sentiment is also part of the Classic Sentiment Wreath stamp set.

This is one of those cards that I say can be used for every type of occasion. I could easily swap out the sentiment for a sympathy, birthday or get well expression and create a variety of quick and elegant cards. I hope you have enjoyed the simplicity of today's card. Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

Hello My Friend

5/20/2022

Hello friends and happy Fri-YAY! I hope you have fun things planned for the weekend ahead. Today I am on the Joy Clair Designs blog sharing a bright and colorful rainbow themed card that is actually very simple to make! I love it when a card comes together so easily. I initially thought of making all the leaves varying shades of green and having it be a sympathy card, but I like the fun rainbow colors instead, which could work for a variety of occasions.

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 for the first mat. I printed off the leaves from the Modern Duets digital stamp set. It is all the exact same leaf, I simply printed it five times at 3 1/2" x 1 1/4". I colored each leaf in a ROYGBIV (minus the indigo) color palette and then I fussy cut each leaf out. Okay, so yes, this was the stinky part of the entire card (particularly if you loathe fussy cutting), but fortunately I don't mind it at all. In fact, I find it quite cathartic! I adhered the leaves to the bottom of the card.

I stamped the sentiment "hello my friend" using the Thankful For You stamp set. I stamped the sentiment in Versamark ink on a thin strip of black cardstock. I heat embossed the sentiment with white embossing powder and then I adhered it to the top center of the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the leaves for added sparkle. *Pro Tip - ALWAYS add sparkle! : )

As always, thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative weekend!

XO, Crystal

Butterfly Basics

5/18/2022

Hello readers! Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog sharing a slimline card made using the Butterfly Basics die set. I have owned this beautiful die set for a while and for as much as I love butterflies, I can't believe I hadn't used it yet! So, while there is a whole new gorgeous release of products (to include foils!) from Birch Press Design, today I'm going back to the (butterfly) basics.

Card details:

The base of this slimline card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock. This slimline card measures 8 1/2' x 3 1/2' and will fit inside a regular #10 business sized envelope and, as such, requires no additional postage. I used a slimline die to create the first matted background. Using the Butterfly Basics die, I cut the large open base frame from solid cardstock. I used four primary colors (pink, blue, yellow and green). I used the following pads of cardstock: Lush Green, Berry Red, Sunny Orange, Fresh Aqua. I die cut the middle portion of the butterfly from glitter cardstock. I used the Glitzy Glitter 6 x 6" pad.

I adhered the butterfly basic together with LineCo ph neutral bookbinding glue. This is my favorite liquid adhesive and it works well when holding glitter cardstock to other paper. I die cut the butterfly bodies from black cardstock. After adhering all the individual butterflies together, I adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

I really like the bold and bright colors of these butterflies. Due to their slightly larger dimension size, I felt like putting them on a slimline card would showcase more colors. I hope you like today's fun card! Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

Mood Board Boots

5/13/2022

Hello readers! I hope you are all having a wonderful week so far. Cheers to the weekend coming soon! Today I am on the Joy Clair Designs blog sharing a card that was inspired by this month's mood board. In case you missed the post on the first of May, here is a look at this month's mood board:

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!

Here is my card that was inspired by the colors of yellow, gray, black and white:

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 yellow gingham paper as my first layer. I die cut a scalloped oval from white cardstock (the same Neenah as used above) and adhered it to the center of the card. I printed out the boots and flower image from the Extraordinary digital stamp set. I colored the image with Copic markers and then I fussy cut the image out. I adhere the image to the card using 3m foam adhesive for added dimension. I printed out the sentiment "you are simply the best" on a thin strip of white cardstock. I adhered the sentiment also using 3M foam adhesive. Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the flowers for added sparkle.

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

Coffee Bloghop

5/6/2022

Hello friends and happy Fri-Yay! Today I'm taking part of the Coffee Loving Cardmakers blog hop being sponsored by Joy Clair Designs. On this hop you will see lots of coffee/tea/beverage inspired cards, plus have the chance to win some great prizes. Continue reading below for all the details and to see my card.

Here is the card I created using the Coffee Mood digital stamp set from Joy Clair Designs:

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 2 1/4" piece of black and white polka dot paper and adhered this to the bottom of the card front. I printed out 6 coffee cups from the Coffee Mood digital stamp set onto Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock. I colored the coffee cups in a ROYGBIV rainbow pattern and then fussy cut each coffee cup out. I adhered the cups to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I die cut the letter C-O-F-F-E-E from cardstock in a rainbow of colors and adhered the letter to the card. Lastly, I printed out the digital sentiment "you've been on my mind" and adhered it to the card also using 3M adhesive for added dimension. This sentiment is from the Spring Bouquet Slimline digital stamp set.

Here is the Coffee Mood digital stamp set by Joy Clair Designs that I used to create today's card:

GIVEAWAY
Just leave a comment here on this post and on each designer's blog post and you will have the opportunity to win a Surprise Stamp Package from Joy Clair Designs with a value over $25 dollars! Comments must be made between today and May 13, 2022 at midnight!

Winner will be announced on the Joy Clair Designs blog on or about May 19, 2022.

Let's get hopping!

Joy Clair Designs
Leah Tees
Martha Lucia Gomez
Crystal Komara (You are here!)
Betsy Birge
Anila Dikay
Joy Wilson

Truly Inspired May Mood Board

5/6/2022

Hello readers! Today I am on the Joy Clair Designs blog sharing another card that was inspired by this month's beautiful mood board. In case you missed it, on the first of every single month, we share a mood board that is designed to 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.

Here is the May mood board:

Here is the card I created using the Truly Inspire digital stamp set:

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock. For the first matted layer I cut a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of black cardstock and heat embossed it in black with a woodgrain stamp. I love heat embossing black-on-black for my floral backgrounds. It really allows the colors to pop. I printed out the same two flowers from the Truly Inspire digital stamp set onto the same 80 lb. Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock. I increased the flowers to 3" x 3 1/4". I colored the flowers with Copic markers in the Y family. I used Y000, Y02, Y04 and Y06. I fussy cut eat flower and adhered it to the card using 3M foam adhesive. I printed the sentiment from the Bunch of Love digital stamp set. I used an oval punch to punch out the sentiment and then I adhered it over the flowers also using 3M foam adhesive. Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the flowers for added sparkle.

I hope you have enjoyed this bright card inspired by this month's mood board palette. 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!

XO, Crystal

May 2022 Mood Board

5/1/2022

Hello crafty readers and happy May! 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!

Let's take a look at the May 2022 Joy Clair Designs mood board:

This month's mood board is inspired by lots of moody monochromatic black and white images with a bright fun pop of color. These colors and images are classic and timeless.

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

Happy Mother's Day

4/20/2022

Hello friends and happy Wednesday! I hope your week is off to a good start! My mother is THE single most important woman in my life and I'm honored to call her my very best friend. I hope you are all as lucky as I feel to have a special woman like this in your life - be it a mother, a grandmother, an aunt, niece or even an older mentor you admire.

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 e-v-e-r-yt-h-i-n-g from die cutting, to Copic coloring, ink blending and yes, for printing my digital stamps too! I used a piece of this Neenah paper to die cut the butterfly background. I printed the two roses from the Spring Rose digital stamp set from Joy Clair Designs onto the Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock. I also printed the butterfly from the Just Butterflies digital stamp set. I colored the rose and butterfly using a lot of colors in the purple family of Copic markers. I fussy cut the butterfly and roses and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

I printed the sentiment "Happy Mother's Day" onto white cardstock and used a large oval punch to punch the sentiment out before adhering it to the card also using 3M adhesive. Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the roses and the butterfly for extra sparkle. You can never have enough sparkle!!

I hope you have enjoyed today's card and that it inspired you to think about the special woman in your life. Mother's Day is coming up on May 8th this year.
"Here's to strong women. May we know then. May we be them. May we raise them."

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!

Rainbow Star Flowers

4/18/2022

Hello crafty readers! Thanks for taking the time to be here as the Design Team shares inspiration ideas, tips and tricks for creating beautiful cards using Birch Press Design products. This is Crystal Komara here with you today sharing an amazingly detailed slimline rainbow card using the Star Flowers, part of the all-NEW Contour Layering dies. Last week I shared another rainbow themed card using the Wispy Blooms Contour Layering dies, so if you missed that post, please click here to be WOW'd!

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. I always use 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock for my bases. Then I used the Star Flower Contour dies and cut it in every color cardstock. I cut the flowers in two shades of red, orange, yellow, green blue and purple. I adhered the two layers of flowers together and added the round center piece to each flower.

I adhered the star flowers in a ROYGBIV pattern up the length of the card. I also die cut a couple green stems from the Fuddled Leaf Branches Contour Layering Dies and green cardstock. I stamped the sentiment "hello" using the Contempo Greetings stamp set. I stamped the sentiment in Versamark ink on black cardstock. I heat embossed the sentiment with white embossing powder and then I used the coordinating Contempo Greetings die to cut the sentiment out. I adhered the sentiment to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

Wow! Yes, that was a LOT of die cutting and piecing together flowers but the end result was totally worth it. This card came out beautiful, if I do say so myself! Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

Truly Inspired Mood Board

4/13/2022

Hello readers! Today I am on the Joy Clair Designs blog sharing another card that was inspired by this month's beautiful mood board. In case you missed it, on the first of every single month, we share a mood board that is designed to 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.

Here is the April mood board:

Here is the card I created using the Spring Rose digital stamp set from Joy Clair Designs:

Ironically, when I created this alcohol ink background, I didn't initially love the ink colors. When I work with alcohol inks, I typically create a whole bunch of backgrounds at one time (maybe 40-60 pieces) and I save them. Then I can pull from these pieces to create "quick cards." Well, this piece was one that I almost threw away because I just "wasn't feeling it." After coloring the flowers, I searched through the bin of pre-made alcohol ink pieces and wouldn't you know, the one I didn't like was nearly a perfect fit! It's funny how that works out sometimes.

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. The alcohol ink background was created on a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of Yupo paper using purple and pink alcohol inks. I printed out the two flowers from the Spring Rose digital stamp set onto Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I colored the flowers with Copic markers and then fussy cut each flower out. I adhered the two flowers to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I printed the sentiment from the You Are Loved digital stamp set. I used an oval punch to punch out the sentiment before adhering it to the card. Lastly, I added a coat of Clear Wink of Stella to the flowers for added sparkle.

This month’s mood board is inspired by the fresh, fun and bright colors of spring! For some of us, March does mean the start of spring, while for other geographic locales, they’re not quite there yet! Either way, let these colors start to put a little spring in your crafty step! 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