Category: Flowers - Crystal Komara

Lots of Large Cosmos

7/17/2023

Hello today I am on the Birch Press Design blog sharing three ways to use the beautiful new Large Cosmos Contour Layering dies. Initially, I had only one slimline card in mind, but I ended up die cutting soooooo many cosmo flowers that I made multiple cards to show you a variety of ways to use them. So, sit back and enjoy the inspiration!

The easiest way to begin making all of these cards, is to first create the large cosmos. For the flowers, I used a combination of purple colored cardstock. Then I just began assembling the flowers following the guided image. I ended up with almost 20 flowers by the time I was done. This truly was the hardest part of the entire process. Then I just took the flowers and designed multiple layouts.

The first card is an 8 1/2 x 3 1/2″ slimline card. It is designed to fit inside a regular #10 business sized envelope. The white base is made from 80 lb. Neenah Smooth white cardstock. I adhered four of the large cosmo flowers down the center of the card. Behind a couple of the flowers, I tucked a few leaves, die cut from the Curved Leaf die from lush green cardstock.

I heat foiled the sentiment in purple foil on white cardstock. The sentiment is from the Sugar Script Sentiments Hot Foil plates. I added the sentiment to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

My next card is an A2 sized card made from the same 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I matted the base with a piece of plaid foiled cardstock from sister company Memory Box. This plaid foiled paper is 5 1/4″ x 4″. Next, I die cut a large scalloped oval from white cardstock. I adhered this to the center of the card. I adhered one of the large cosmos to the lower right side of the oval. I also added a few leaves behind the flower. I heat foiled the sentiment in purple foil on white cardstock. Again, this sentiment is from the Sugar Script Sentiments hot foil plates.

My third card for today is also an A2 sized card made from a base of 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I heat foiled a piece of white cardstock with the String Art Frame Hot Foil Plate. Once this hot foiled background cooled, I adhered it directly to the card base as my first layer. I adhered one large cosmo to the lower right side of the card and tucked one leaf under the flower. Using the Find Joy and Outline die, I die cut the sentiment from purple and white cardstock, adhering the two layers together before adhering both to the card with 3M foam adhesive.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing a variety of cards all made in monochromatic purple and white with the new Large Cosmos die!

XO, Crystal

Supplies used:

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Hello There

9/6/2022

Well, hello there friends! Today I am on the Joy Clair Design blog sharing a bright and bold floral themed card using the Hello There digital stamp set. I am embarrassed to admit that I have no idea what kind of flower this is, but by using some bright yellow, pink and peach Copic colors, I hope that I have given it a fall feeling!

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock. I die cut a rectangular scalloped frame from white cardstock. I printed the flowers from the Hello There digital stamp set in two different sizes (one at 4" and one at 3") on Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I colored the images with Copic markers in a variety of peach, pink, yellow and orange hues. I fussy cut each flower by hand and then adhered the flowers to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I printed the sentiment "a million thanks" which is also part of the Hello There digital stamp set. I adhered the sentiment strip to the top of the card. Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the flowers for added sparkle.

I hope you have enjoyed this bold and bright card! Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

More Monochrome

8/25/2022

Hello friends, today I am back again for another monochomatic card! Apparently sticking to one color when creating seems to be "m.o." : ) If you missed any of my monochromatic posts, please check out this trio of thank you cards, the Christmas mandala trees or these monochromatic torus rings (a personal favorite of mine)!

What's great about working with monochrome colors is that if blue isn't your color, try recreating it in red, or purple or green. The options are endless!

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 and ran it through my Big Shot using the Blooming 3D embossing folder from Memory Box. This embossed cardstock is the first layer of the card. I then used alternating pieces of cardstock from the 6" x 6" Ocean Blue paper pack. These strips measure 5 1/2" x 1/4". I used the same color cardstock to create the three layer Floral Star. I also added in a piece of glitter cardstock from the Twinkling Jewel Paper pack. I die cut Layer B from this glitter cardstock. I adhered all three layers of the Floral Star layering dies together with liquid glue.

I took a chance and cut the finished Floral Star in half hoping to make it the focal point of the card. I stamped "hello" in turquoise ink on a thin white strip of cardstock and placed it between the two halves of the Floral Star. I think it pulled the two halves together more cohesively.

I really like how this card came out, in fact, I think I'll try it in a few other colors too!
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

Purple Wispy Blooms

8/5/2022

Hello friends! Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog sharing my passion for the color purple! I used the Wispy Blooms Contour Layering Dies to create these two monochromatic cards, however, you could re-create them in any color imaginable and have a rainbow assortment to choose from.

For this first card, I used a piece of 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock as the base of my card. I also cut a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of the same white cardstock for the first layer. I ran this sheet of cardstock though my Big Shot using the Blooming 3D embossing folder (from Memory Box). I die cut one large white oval circle and adhered it to the center of the card.

Using the Wispy Blooms Contour Layering dies, I cut multiple flowers from three different purple colors of cardstock in the 6" x 6" Twilight paper pack. I die cut the stems from two shades of green cardstock found in the 6" x 6" Lush Green paper pack. I adhered all the flowers together with a fine-tip liquid glue. I adhered the flowers to the center of the scalloped circle to create one giant bouquet. Lastly, I stamped the sentiment "thinking of you" in purple ink on a thin strip of white cardstock. This sentiment is from the Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp set.

Because I had so many flowers leftover, I decided to create a second card using them, rather than waste them:

The base of this A2 sized card is also made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I embossed a 5 1/4" x 3" piece of the same white cardstock using the Blooming 3D embossing folder (from Memory Box) and used a 5 1/4" x 2" piece of purple plaid paper for the other side. This paper is from the Spring Plaid slim paper from Memory Box. I die cut a large scalloped oval from Twilight cardstock and a smaller white oval for the center. I stamped the sentiment "hoping today is as wonderful as you are" in purple ink on the white oval. This sentiment is from the Kind Hearts clear stamp set. I adhered some of the leftover flowers into this white oval frame. I found that more than three flowers was too much, so I limited it to just the three.

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

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A Simple Slimline

7/6/2022

Hello crafty readers! Today I am on the Joy Clair Designs blog sharing a simple way to use your digital stamps. Admittedly, I am not the best colorer (in my own opinion anyway) and also there are just some days when I simply don't feel like coloring. So, I wanted to test my creativity and see if it was possible to use a digital stamp (with very minimal coloring), yet still create a beautiful card. . .

I'm quite pleased with how this slimline card turned out! I used the Spring Bouquet slimline stamp set and I only colored the center of the flower and the leaves with a Y04 Copic marker. One marker! No shading required! Super simple! Most of the color comes from the yellow gingham printed background paper.

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 my cardstock was made with 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I used a slimline three-framed die to cut the background. I lined the back of the frame with a yellow gingham printed paper. I printed the flowers from the Spring Bouquet slimline digital stamp set. I fussy cut the slimline flower and adhered it to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I printed the sentiment and adhered it to the card also using 3M foam adhesive. That's it! Easy peasy!

So, yes! I do think is possible to create a simple card with little coloring required for a digital stamp! Give it a try and see for yourself!

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

Be 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!

Watercolor Meets Heat Foil

7/5/2022

Hello crafty readers! I'm excited to be sharing the first two cards I created using the new String Art Frame Hot Foil plate from Birch Press Design. Now, if I'm being completely honest, these are actually the first two cards I have ever made using hot foil!! Heat foiling is very on-trend right now in the craft industry, so I succumbed to the peer pressure and bought the Gemini Foil Press (because it works with my Gemini, Jr. die cutting machine). Heat foiling is a magical process where heat and pressure are applied to a special foil to imprint on paper. Unlike heat embossing where the image is raised when Versamark ink and embossing powder are heated with an embossing gun, in heat foiling, the image is imprinted or pressed into the paper when heat and pressure are applied.

I created two cards that are nearly identical, I simply swapped out the color combination and sentiment to achieve two unique looks. Keep reading for all the details:

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card was made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I cut a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of purple cardstock from the 6" x 6" Twilight cardstock pack. On a 5" x 3 3/4" sheet of white cardstock, I heat foiled the String Art Frame hot foil plate on my Gemini Foilpress machine with purple Foilpress foil.

On a separate sheet of watercolor cardstock, I stamped the large floral image from the Memory Box (a sister company to BPD) All the Happiness stamp set in Versamark ink and heat embossed it with gold embossing powder. I colored the image using Zig Real Color Watercolor Brush markers. Once the image dried, I used the coordinating All the Happiness dies to cut the image out. I adhered the flowers to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I stamped the sentiment in Versamark ink and heat embossed it with gold embossing powder. This sentiment is from the Kind Hearts clear stamp set. I adhered the sentiment to the card also using 3M foam adhesive tape. Lastly, I added a light coat of clear Wink of Stella to the flowers for added sparkle. *Be careful with Wink of Stella on watercolor though, because it will bleed as it is water-on-water based.

For this second card, I used identical products as the first card, I simply swapped out the purple foil for a teal foil and I colored the flowers with teal or turquoise hued Zig Real Color Brush markers.

Alright, so since I admitted this was my first go-round with hot foiling, I'll also admit that I did my initial foiling wrong and ended up heat foiling the plate itself and not the paper. Note to self, read the instructions first! They do exist for a reason!! : ) But, all-in-all I was quite pleased with how my first heat foiled cards turned out and I look forward to experimenting more!

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

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Rainbow Thank You

6/20/2022

Hello friends! Today I am on the Joy Clair Designs blog sharing this rainbow of floral happiness! What is it about rainbow colors that always just seem so vibrant and cheerful!? I mean, how can you not look at this card and smile?

I have used the beautiful Spring Bouquet Slimline digital stamp set to create this card. I also pulled an alcohol ink background from my "stash." There is a lot going on with bold colors in this card, so I mimicked the color of the flower to coordinate with the background color for a more cohesive effect.

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock. On a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of Yupo paper, I "blew" Ranger Adirondack alcohol ink in the colors Raspberry, Valencia, Lemonade, Lime and Amethyst. While this alcohol ink background was drying, I printed out the flowers from the Spring Bouquet Slimline digital stamp set onto the Neenah white cardstock. I colored the flowers in rainbow colors using Copic markers. I trimmed the edges of the slimline digital stamp so it would fit an A2 sized card. I adhered the flowers directly to the center of the card (once the alcohol ink dried) and then added the sentiment strip. I printed the "thank you" onto Neenah White cardstock and also colored the sentiment in rainbow colors. I adhered the sentiment to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the flowers for even more sparkle!

I just LOOOOOOve how this card came out! I hope that it adds a little brightness and color to your day too!
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

Be 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!

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

Sending Sunflower Love

6/6/2022

Hello crafty friends! Today I am on the Joy Clair Design blog sharing this beautiful card. I know you've been seeing a lot of cards in honor, support and solidarity with Ukraine, and I'm here to share another variation featuring the blue and yellow colors we've all come to recognize from the Ukrainian national flag. I have also used the beautiful sunflower image from Joy Clair Designs called Thankful for You. If you would like to see more cards like this, simply follow the #cardsforukraine hashtag on social media and you will be amazed by the outpouring of love for an entire country shown in the form of handmade cards.

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using a lattice die, I cut the background from white cardstock. I stamped the sunflower from the Thankful for You stamp set twice in Versamark ink on watercolor paper and heat embossed the image with gold embossing powder. I colored in the sunflowers using Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers. I fussy cut the sunflowers and adhered them to the card using foam adhesive for added dimension. I stamped the word "sending" in navy ink on a strip of thin white cardstock. I used a two-layer die to cut the word "love." I cut the bottom shadow portion from navy cardstock and the top thinner outline portion from white cardstock. Using a fine-tip glue, I adhered the two layers together and then used foam adhesive to adhere both layers to the card.

To the people of Ukraine, know that the world stands with you in support of unity, of love and of peace.
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.

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