|
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, CrystalYou might also enjoy:
0 Comments
Hello readers! Today I have a cute slimline card to share with you featuring a new digital stamp from 88 and Clear (formerly known as Richard Garay Designs and RG Avenue)! I combined practically ALL of the pumpkins from the new "Pumpkin Patch" digital stamp with the scarecrow from the "Halloween Treat" stamp set to achieve this final result:  Card details:*A full list of supplies is located at the end of this post. This slimline card measures 8 1/2" x 3 1/2". Slimline cards are designed to fit into a regular #10 business sized envelope and require no additional postage. The base of this slimline card is made from Sweet Cane sugar stock. Using a scalloped rectangled slimline line, I cut the first mat from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I printed the digital "Pumpkin Patch" stamp set onto the same Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock and colored the images using Copic markers. I then used my Brother Scan and Cut 2 e-cutting machine to cut out the pumpkins, in lieu of fussy cutting. Using Black Taffy ink, I stamped the scarecrow onto a piece of Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock and also colored it with Copic markers. I fussy cut the scarecrow and adhered him behind the row of pumpkins. I printed out the digital sentiment, fussy cut around it and adhered it to the left side of the card using foam adhesive for added dimension. Lastly, I added a coat of Dazzling Pat to the pumpkins for added sparkle.  If you would like to learn more about working with digital images, please click here to read this informative post I wrote to gain a better understanding.    I love how this card turned out by adding a variety of blue, orange and white pumpkins. It made the card less spooky and more cutesy. What do you think? Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day! XO, CrystalList of supplies:
Hello friends and happy Thursday! Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog sharing some fall inspiration. I'm not even sure that "fall peacock's" are a thing, but I'm starting the movement. (I'm also side-Googling if any other peacock colors exist other than the blue-green hues we traditionally see). . . And if not, well, they do now! Hey, it's 2020, stranger things have happened. . .  Card details:The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah White Solar Smooth cardstock. This is my go-to white cardstock that I use for everything from card bases, die cutting, stamping and Copic coloring. The first 5 1/4" x 4" mat is a piece of miscellaneous woodgrain foil paper. I die cut a large white oval from white cardstock and adhered it to the center of the card using a Tombow Permanent Dot Runner. Using the Regal Peacock Layering dies, I die cut the bottom layer (Layer D) from gold glitter cardstock. I die cut Layer C from cherry cardstock. I die cut Layer B from rust cardstock and finally Layer A was also cut from gold glitter cardstock. I also cut the body of the peacock from cherry cardstock.  I adhered all four layers of the Regal Peacock together using LineCo pH bookbinding glue. This glue is my preferred liquid glue and holds glitter paper together much better than a dot runner. I adhered the completed peacock to the center of the oval using foam adhesive for added dimension. Lastly, I stamped the sentiment on white cardstock (using the Christmas Ornament Labels stamp set) in cherry ink and die cut it using the coordinating die. I adhered the sentiment to the lower right side of the card using foam adhesive.    Hopefully I've convinced you that with a little imagination, peacocks can look beautiful in any color - even if it's not "real." Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day! XO, Crystal
It's the time of year when I begin bouncing around a bit with my card themes. Last week I shared some Halloween cards, yesterday was a winter themed card and today it's all about fall. So basically, ya never know what you're gonna get! Personally, I like it that way. If every day was the same, it would be a pretty boring world we live in. Variety IS the spice of life (or so they say). . .
Today's slimline card features a Distress Oxide ink background in an ombre pattern with leaves from the new Leaf Layers stamp set by Whimsy Stamps. To see another way I used this same stamp set, please click here. 
Card details:
*A full list of supplies is located at the end of this post.
This slimline card measures 8 1/2" x 3 1/2". Slimline cards are designed to fit into a regular #10 business sized envelope and require no additional postage. To create the background, I cut a 8 1/4" x 3 1/4" piece of Bristol Smooth cardstock. This is the cardstock I use to do all of my ink-blending on. I ink blended Distress Oxide inks in Scattered Straw, Squeezed Lemonade, Carved Pumpkin and Barn Door. I then ink splattered the Barn Door ink over the entire card. Once this background was dry, I adhered it to the card base using a Tombow dot runner. I die cut the frame from white cardstock and also splattered it with Barn Door Distress Oxide ink. I adhered the postage frame to the center of the card. I stamped the leaves in yellow, orange and red ink and fussy cut EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM! Yikes, there was no corresponding die set for this stamp! I adhered the leaves to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. Lastly, I stamped the sentiment in Versamark ink on black cardstock and heat embossed it with white embossing powder. I notched the left side of the sentiment and adhered it to the top 1/3 of the card. 
I am really enjoying creating backgrounds using Distress Oxide inks. They really make quite a statement. Initially, I was hesitant to use these inks because I thought they were too "messy." But now I think the mess is totally worth it!
XO, CrystalList of supplies:
Hello readers and welcome back from the weekend! I hope you found a little time to do something crafty. I spent a good portion of it in my craft room on Saturday celebrating World Cardmaking Day. And by celebrating, I mean tackling my mile-long card deadline! So really, my Saturday was more in honor of World Cardmaking Day considering there were no celebratory drinks or cupcakes involved! And, because of Covid, I had to celebrate virtually with my friends on Instagram rather that our traditional in-person gathering. Every Monday means it's time for another Inky Paws Challenge! Our challenges run for two weeks, thus giving you more time to create. So this week we are continuing along with our theme for Challenge #133. I have designed a second card to share with you that was still inspired by the same image seen below:  Here is the slimline card I created inspired by the autumn theme challenge:  Card details:*A full list of supplies is located at the end of this post. This slimline card measures 8 1/2" x 3 1/2." Slimline cards are designed to fit into a regular #10 business sized envelope and require no additional postage. You can even now by slimline envelopes in a variety of colors to coordinate perfectly with your cards! The base of this card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock. Using a miscellaneous piece of woodgrain paper, I cut the mat to 8 1/4" x 3 1/4". Using the Slimline Frames and Windows die set, I cut the frame out of white cardstock. I lined the back of the frame with miscellaneous plaid/gingham papers.  I stamped the images from the Autumn Mice stamp set in Memento Black ink on Neenah white cardstock. I colored the images with Copic markers and then die cut them using the coordinating Autumn Mice dies. I always add some highlights to my colored images with a Uniball white gel pen. I adhered the images to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I stamped the sentiment in orange ink on a thin strip of white cardstock, notched the left edge and adhered it to the top right of the card. Lastly, I added a coat of Clear Wink of Stella to the images for added sparkle.     Are you ready to get your paws inky with us and play along for a chance to win?! We will randomly select one linked entry to receive a $20 store credit to the Newton's Nook Designs online shop! We will also highlight our favorites from each challenge the following Monday, so that all entries have a chance to be featured on the Newton's Nook Designs blog. Please make sure you review the challenge rules page before you link up your project! Deadline to enter is Friday, October 9th, 2020, at midnight CST. XO, CrystalList of supplies:
Hello friends and happy Thursday! Today is another exciting new release day at Whimsy Stamps and I'm happy to be sharing lots of fun new products with you over the coming days and weeks. I particularly loved this new release because it was a well balanced combination of fall and Christmas themed stamp sets. Today's card feature the beautiful new "Leaf Layers" stamp set. Fall is my favorite time of the year, so I began by making a fall themed card (in oranges and browns) using this new stamp set, but, I was also inspired to create the same card in other colors too in order to show you endless possibilities with this one set.   Card details:*A full list of supplies is located at the end of this post. All of these A2 sized cards were made the same way, I simply used different color combinations on each card. The base of each card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using the A2 Lattice die, I die cut the lattice background from white cardstock. I adhered the lattice directly to the card base. I cut a piece of polka dotted vellum and die cut it with a 3" circle, snipping off the left hand side and adhering it to card with vellum adhesive. I stamped the leaves in a variety of ink colors and fussy cut ALL of them out. I adhered 5 leaf sets to each card. I then used the "thanks" die to die cut the sentiment. The base shadow outline layer was cut from one color cardstock and the thinner outline on the top was cut from another piece of cardstock.     Do you have a favorite color from today's cards? You can check out all the awesome new release products from Whimsy Stamps HERE and have fun creating! XO, CrystalList of supplies:
Yesterday I shared a rainbow themed card with you that was made using all dies and no stamping. Today I am using that same die (Leaf Foliage 2 from Whimsy Stamps) and have created two more cards with it to show you the versatility of these products. In fact, I could think of countless more ways to use these beautiful leafy dies and have no doubt you'll be seeing them here again this fall.  Card details:*A full list of supplies is located at the end of this post. *Both of these cards were made the same way, simply using a different color combination on each card. Both A2 size cards begin with an 80 lb. base of Neenah Solar Smooth white cardstock. I lined each card base with a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of the same white cardstock than I ran through a linear embossing folder to give it a subtle pattern. Using the Leaf Foliage 2 dies, I cut a variety of leaves out in either purples, pinks and gold, or green, blues and golds. I adhered the leaves to each card in a circular pattern using a Tombow permanent dot runner. I die cut a large scalloped circle from gold glitter paper and a small circle from white cardstock. On the small circle, I stamped the sentiment in either pink or green ink. I adhered the sentiment circle to the gold glitter circle and adhered both circles to the center of the card.       This card could easily be made in any color combinations you prefer! I think by adding some elements of gold (or silver, if you so choose) it really adds a touch of elegance. Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day! XO, CrystalList of supplies:
Hello readers and welcome back from the weekend! I hope you found a little time to do something crafty. Today I am sharing another card that I made for the Newton's Nook Inky Paws Challenge. Week number two of Challenge #131 is continuing on with this color challenge designed to inspire you. Our challenges run for two weeks, thereby giving you more time to create, so I have designed a second card to share with you this week that was still inspired by the same image seen below. *I will be taking my first official "vacation" of 2020, and, as such, will also be taking a much needed break from blogging. I will return to regular posting on Monday, September 21st. Be well friends and I'll see you when I return.  Here is my slimline card using the Autumn Mice stamp set by Newton's Nook:  Card details:*A full list of supplies is located at the end of this post. 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. Newton's Nook is now selling slimline envelopes in a variety of colors, so scoop them up now to send your cards out! The base of this card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using the Slimline Portholes frames, I die cut the frame from Blackberry Bliss cardstock. I then cut an 8" x 3" piece of white cardstock for the background to the mice. Using the Land Border dies, I die cut the grassline from the same Blackberry Bliss cardstock. I stamped the sentiment in the middle of the card in Blackberry Bliss ink. I stamped the images from the Autumn Mice stamp set in Memento Tuxedo black ink on white cardstock and colored them with Copic markers. I used the coordinating Autumn Mice dies to die 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.     Are you ready to get your paws inky with us and play along for a chance to win?! We will randomly select one linked entry to receive a $20 store credit to the Newton's Nook Designs online shop! We will also highlight our favorites from each challenge the following Monday, so that all entries have a chance to be featured on the Newton's Nook Designs blog. Please make sure you review the challenge rules page before you link up your project! Deadline to enter is Friday, September 11, 2020, at midnight CST. Thanks for visiting and I hope to see your creations there! XO, CrystalList of supplies:
Hello readers! Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog sharing another design using the beautiful new Pumpkin Lacework stamp set and coordinating dies. If you missed my first post featuring this same stamp set, please click here. I just love this new stamp set so much that I keep finding more ways to use it! 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 slimline trend is becoming increasingly popular and many companies are now making envelopes specifically for these cards, so we have more colors to choose from other than just plain ol' boring business white!  he base of my slimline card is made from 80 lb. kraft cardstock. I like a nice thick cardstock for the base of all my cards. Using a slimline scallop frame die, I cut the frame out of 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth Crest cardstock. This is the ONLY white cardstock I use and I buy it in bulk. I stamped each pumpkin in Versamark ink and heat embossed it with white embossing powder. I stamped one pumpkin on a rich eggplant cardstock, one on pumpkin orange cardstock and one on a cabana blue cardstock. I die cut the pumpkins using the coordinating Pumpkin Lacework die. I adhered the three pumpkins directly to the card base using 3M foam adhesive. I stamped three pumpkin stems in Versamark ink on espresso cardstock and heat embossed them with white embossing powder.  I stamped multiple leaves in Versamark ink on eggplant, orange and cabana cardstock and heat embossed them all white white embossing powder. Yes, everything on this card was embossed with white powder! I used the coordinating dies to die cut the leaves and stems and I adhered these to the large pumpkins in an array that was pleasing to the eye. For the sentiment, I used the Blessed Honey Script die. I cut the larger shadow portion from gold glitter cardstock and the thinner script portion from white cardstock. I adhered both layers together using a fine tip glue and then adhered the full sentiment to the card using 3M foam adhesive.     I hope you have enjoyed this slimline card using the beautiful new Pumpkin Lacework stamp set combined with some rich and modern fall colors. Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day! XO, CrystalList of supplies:
Hello readers and welcome back from the weekend! I hope you found a little time to do something crafty. Lately, the weekends have been my only time to craft, so I get it all in just two short days! Today we have a new challenge to share with you at Newton's Nook Inky Paws Challenge. Challenge #131 is a color challenge. Using the colors shown in the image below, share with us YOUR creations! At first, I was a little skeptical about these colors, but, after I began to design this card (and my card for next week), I now love this combination and will be incorporating these colors into more of my fall designs!  Card details:*A full list of supplies is located at the end of this post. The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using a scrap piece of eggplant paper, I cut a 5 1/4" x 4" piece for the first mat. Using the Frames & Flags die set I cut the scalloped rectangle frame from Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock. I stamped the sentiment in the upper right corner in Blackberry Bliss ink. I die cut the fence from Pool Party cardstock. I stamped the images from the Pumpkin Latte stamp set in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored the images using Copic markers. I die cut the images using the coordinating Pumpkin Latte dies and began to adhere them 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.     Are you ready to get your paws inky with us and play along to win a prize? We will chose a RANDOM entry to win a $20 store credit to our Newton's Nook Designs online shop! We will also highlight our favorites from each challenge the following Monday so all entries have a chance to be featured on this blog! You have TWO WEEKS to play along - Deadline to enter is Friday, September 11, 2020 at Midnight CST. The winners will be announced on the Newton's Nook blog the following Monday. Are you ready to play along and get your paws inky? Make sure you check the challenge rules page before you link up your project. XO, CrystalList of supplies:
|
Hi, I'm Crystal!
Click the photo to learn more about me!
Archives:
November 2023
Categories:
All
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: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. |
