Category: Birthdays - Crystal Komara

Patriotic Balloon Easel Card

7/4/2023

Happy 4th of July friends! Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog with this red, white and blue patriotic themed balloon easel card.

*To make the easel fold, simply look up a tutorial on YouTube, there are a wide range of ideas, but all you need is the basic cutting instructions which are super easy!

The base of this A2 sized card was made with 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.

Using all three layers (A, B, and C) of the Floral Balloon Layer Set, I die cut four of every balloon in red, light blue, dark blue, white and silver glitter cardstock. (I really didn't know how many balloon pieces I would need, so this gave me plenty to mix and match!) I really could have made two cards with all the pieces I had leftover.

I then began playing around with the balloons to see which colors I liked layered over each other, until I found an arrangement that was pleasing to my eye. I saved two balloons for the base of the card, to act as the "stopper" so the easel fold won't collapse once it is standing.

I die cut the Let's Party sentiment from both navy blue and white cardstock. I layered the two together with a fine-tip liquid glue and then adhered the sentiment to the card with 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

Thanks for visiting and enjoy your 4th festivities!

XO, Crystal

Supplies used:

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Make A Wish

6/26/2023

Hello crafty readers! Today I’m really excited to share my card with you because it’s one of my favorite new-to-me color palettes! First, let’s take a look at the inspiration for today’s birthday card:

Yes! My color inspiration came from a Pinterest photo from an architectural website. Kind of wild, right? What I liked about this photo was that these are colors I would not normally have considered ever putting together, and yet they work beautifully! Now, while I don’t want these colors in MY house (hello, neutrals girl here!) I found they worked well for a card.

Card details:

*A full list of supplies is located at the end of this post for your convenience.

The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth. I also cut a 5 1/4″ x 4″ piece of the same white cardstock to be used as the first base layer. Using all three layers (A, B, and C) of the Floral Balloon Layer Set, I die cut four of every balloon in teal green, min green, light pink, gold glitter and magenta pink cardstock. (I really didn’t know how many balloon pieces I would need, so this gave me plenty to mix and match!) I really could have made two cards with all the pieces I had leftover.

I then began to play around and see what colors I liked layered over each other. I also toyed around with the balloon placement on the card. There was no real method to my madness, I simply kept rearranging until I found a layout that was pleasing to my eye.

Using the Make a Wish Sugar Script word die, I cut the thicker shadow portion from darker pink cardstock and the thinner top portion from white cardstock. I layered the two together with a fine tip liquid glue and then used 3M foam adhesive behind to sentiment to adhere it to the card with added dimension.

I hope today’s post inspires YOU to find inspiration from the world around you! Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

Supplies used:

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Tropical Hibiscus

6/8/2022

Hello crafty readers! Today I am so excited to be sharing my first card(s) created with the beautiful new Tropical Hibiscus Contour Layering Dies from Birch Press Design. I am so in love with this spring's new release of the contour layering dies, they are just g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s! If you missed some of my previous posts using similar dies, check out this post where I used the Star Flower Contour Layering Dies, or, this one where I used the Wispy Blooms Contour Layering Dies. The options are truly endless when it comes to adding colored (and foil or glitter) cardstock with these 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 cardstock for e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g from card bases, die cutting, ink blending, Copic coloring, digital stamps and so much more. It is the only white cardstock (aside from watercolor paper) that I used. For the first layer, I cut a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of white cardstock and used the Blooming 3D Embossing Folder from Birch Press Designs' sister company, Memory Box. To create the flowers, I die cut the Tropical Hibiscus Contour Layering dies from various shades of pink cardstock found in the Berry Red 6" paper pack.

I die cut the pistils or stigma of the flowers from yellow cardstock in the Sunny Orange 6" paper pack. Lastly, I cut the leaves (also from the Tropical Hibiscus Contour Layering dies) from two different colored green cardstock found in the Lush Green 6" paper pack. I assembled the layers of each flower and leaf together using a fine-tip glue. Then I adhered all of the flowers to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I stamped the sentiment "sending birthday hugs" in pink ink. This sentiment is from the Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp set. I used a 2" circle punch to punch out the circle before adhering to the card.

Because I had die cut so many flowers and leaves, I created a second card, only this time I used black cardstock as the base for the flowers (in lieu of white). I love a black background with floral cards, it really allows the colors to pop! I also swapped out the sentiment and used "celebrate today" from the same Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp set.

I hope you have enjoyed these very detailed beautiful new Contour Layering dies from Birch Press Design. Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

Birthday Peony

3/7/2022

Hello readers! Today I am sharing another way to use the Adornment Peony dies from Birch Press Design. Last week on Valentine's Day, I shared this very traditional card and today I chose to create a very different look using alcohol inks as the focal point behind the outline dies.

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using Layer Plate B of the Flora Layering set, I die cut this layer from white cardstock and adhered it to the base of the card.

For the alcohol ink peony: On a 4" x 6" piece of Yupo Paper, I added drops of raspberry and sherbet alcohol inks and blew the ink around. Then I added drops of lime and citrus alcohol ink. Once this dried, I used the base shadow layer of the Adornment Peony dies to die cut the base out. On white cardstock, I die cut the top layer of the Adornment Peony (notice the white shadow outline around the flowers). I adhered this thin outline die using a fine tip liquid glue.

I adhered the peonies to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. Lastly I stamped the sentiment "happy birthday" in pink ink on white cardstock. This sentiment is from the Contempo Greetings stamp set. I die cut the sentiment using the coordinating Contempo Greetings dies. I adhered the sentiment to the lower left corner also using 3M foam adhesive for added height.

I hope you have enjoyed today's card! Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

Let's Party

2/7/2022

Let's paarrrrtayyyyyyy, Birch Press Design friends! Today's I am on the Birch Press Design blog with this slimline card that is a rainbow of fun! This colorful card features the new Let's Party Sugar Script dies and the Floral Balloon Layer Set.

Card details:

This slimline card measures 8 1/2" x 3 1/2". Slimline cards are designed to fit inside a regular business envelope and require no additional postage. The base of this card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I also cut a 8 1/4" x 3 1/4" piece of the same white cardstock for the first matted layer.

To create the balloons:

From white cardstock, I die cut 5 balloons using Layer Plate B of the Floral Balloons Layer Set. Then I die cut one each of Layer A in red, orange, yellow, green and blue cardstock. I layered the two together and adhered them vertically down the card in a ROYGBIV rainbow pattern.

To create all the "party" sentiments, I die cut the thicker shadow layer of "party" in red, orange, yellow, green and blue cardstock. I die cut the thinner top layer from rainbow patterned paper and adhered the two layers together with a fine-tip glue. I adhered the words vertically down the card (over the balloons) using 3M foam adhesive. Lastly, I added the word "let's" created from layering black and white cardstock together and adhered this sentiment to the bottom third of the card.

I hope you are enjoying may of the many F-U-N new products from Birch Press Design! Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

Make A Wish

1/24/2022

Hello readers and happy Saturday! I hope your weekend is off to a great start. The weekends are one of the few times I have to craft, so you’ll most likely find me in my craft room today. I’m so excited to be sharing some of the brand new dies that Birch Press Design has to offer in January! Many of these newly released products focus on birthdays, so my first card using the new Floral Balloon Layer Set and the Make a Wish Sugar Script dies is a fun shaker card. Nothing says let’s celebrate like sparkle and sequins!

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using the Pinpoint Radial Plate, I cut my first layer from white cardstock. This pinpoint die is what you see behind the balloons. I adhered this pinpoint embossed cardstock directly to the card base. I placed approximately 1 tablespoon each of black and raspberry sequins on the pinpoint embossed cardstock. I created a shaker frame using a scalloped rectangle die and a smaller scalloped rectangle die. I lined the back of the frame with clear acetate. I lined the back of the frame with thin strips of 3M foam adhesive, ensuring that every send and seal was covered so no sequins would fall out. I placed the frame directly over the sequins and pressed firmly sealing the edges.

I die cut the words “make a wish” from black cardstock and white cardstock and layered the two together with a fine-tip glue. I put the sentiment aside to save for the final layer.
Creating the balloons:
For the first (black and white balloon) I used the Floral Balloon Layer Set. I die cut Layer B from black cardstock and layered it over a piece of white cardstock that I trimmed by hand to the same shape. I adhered this balloon directly to the acetate on the front of the card.
For the second balloon (black/pink and white), I also used the Floral Balloon Layer Set. I die cut Layer A from pink glitter cardstock, Layer B from Black cardstock and then again, I layered the balloons over white cardstock and trimmed the white cardstock by hand to form the balloon shape. I adhered this second balloon over the first balloon using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

Lastly, I added the “make a wish” sentiment to the card also using 3M foam adhesive.
I hope you like today’s shaker card using some of the NEW Birch Press Design products! Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

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On Your Special Day

1/13/2022

Hello friends! Today I'm sharing this pretty in pink card using the beautiful floral bouquet from the On Your Special Day 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 4" piece of black cardstock for the first layer. I stamped a burlap background stamp in Versamark ink on the black cardstock and then heat embossed it with black embossing powder for a black-on-black or tone-on-tone look. I LOVE creating black backgrounds like this, especially for bright floral images, it really makes them POP!

I printed out the bouquet twice from the On Your Special Day digital stamp set. I colored the image with Copic markers and then spent a lot of time fussy cutting! I adhered the flowers to the front of the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I printed out the sentiment on white cardstock and adhered it over the flowers. I added a couple clear drops that resemble water drops. Lastly, I added a layer of clear Wink of Stella to the flowers for added sparkle.

I hope you have enjoyed today's card! Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

Pop It

8/20/2021

Hello friends and happy Thursday! Yesterday I shared a beautiful watercolored butterfly card with you that was inspired by the monthly mood board colors at 88 and Clear. Today I have created two more cards using different products from 88 and Clear, but I still continued using that same color palette.

Here is the August mood board that I used as my color inspiration:

Card details:

*Please note that both of these cards were made using the same materials, however one card was designed to be held vertically and the other horizontally.

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 Black Taffy sugar stock as my first mat and then cut a 5" x 3 3/4" piece of white cardstock to layer on top. On that top layer of white cardstock, I used an ink splatter grunge stamp to stamp ink in Sour Lime, Sour Mist and Tangy Berry (all from 88 and Clear). I printed out the balloon animals from the Pop It digital stamp set by 88 and Clear. I colored the balloon animals with Copic markers and used my Brother Scan and Cut 2 e-cutting machine to cut the images out, in lieu of fussy cutting. I adhered three of the balloons to each card using 3M foam adhesive. I placed three short pieces of knotted lime green twine underneath each balloon. I printed out the coordinating sentiments from the Pop It digital stamp set and adhered a sentiment to the lower right side of each card using 3M foam adhesive.

I hope you have enjoyed these fun birthday cards! Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

MFT Color Challenge #166

6/5/2021

Hello friends and happy Saturday! I hope you are all enjoying a nice weekend so far. It is 93* and insanely hot and humid here in Massachusetts today, so I'm happy to be inside crafting with my friend Donna, who is here from L.A. visiting for a long weekend.

Today I am linking up with the My Favorite Things Color Challenge #166, which is a fun blend of purples, teals and gray. I haven't played along with any card challenges in quite a while, but Donna participates in them frequently and has inspired me to begin creating again using challenges as my guide.

Card details:

This slimline card measures 8 1/2" x 3 1/2" inches. The base of the card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using a piece of teal houndstooth paper (source unknown) I cut an 8 1/4" x 3 1/4" piece for the first layered mat. I used the Whimsy Stamps Slimline Postage die for the white frame background. Using the Whimsy Stamps Slimline Bunting Border dies, I die cut the banners from teal and purple glitter cardstock. I stamped the images from MFT Stamps Sending Sweet Celebration Wishes in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on white cardstock. I colored the images, using the required challenge colors, with Copic markers. I die cut the images using the coordinating MFT Stamps Sending Sweet Celebration Wishes dies. I adhered the images to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I stamped the sentiment Memento Tuxedo Black ink on white cardstock and adhered it to the card using 3M foam adhesive. Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the images for added sparkle.

Here is the color challenge from My Favorite Things that inspired today's card:

Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative weekend!

XO, Crystal

#manuary Birthdays

1/7/2021

Birthday cards are probably one of the cards I make and send most. But, how do you make a card for a grown man look classy and elegant? I found that it's really quite easy with a simple black, gold and white color combination. Add some balloons and champagne (wine or beer works too) and cheers to the years! Today's cards will be the first of many cards I share this month using a similar color palette.

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from black cardstock. Using the Stitched Scalloped Rectangles from Gina Marie Designs, I die cut the background from Neenah Solar White crest cardstock. I die cut a half circle in the center of this white cardstock and lined the back with clear acetate in order to make a shaker card. I lined the back of the hole with a gold foil striped paper. I added black, gold and white sequins to the shaker. I heat embossed the word "cheers" in gold embossing powder on the front lower right corner of the card. I stamped the champagne bottle and two wine classes in Versamark ink on black cardstock before heat embossing them with gold embossing powder. I fussy cut the images out and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive.

*I used the "Cheers" (retired) stamp set from 88 and Clear to create both of these cards.

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal