Crystal Komara
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Quilted Cards

4/7/2020

1 Comment

 
Hello friends and happy Tuesday!  I'm very exited to share today's cards and video with you because these were completed at the special request of a dear reader, Monica.  I met Monica a couple years ago at a library class I taught in northern Connecticut.  Soon after our initial introduction, she moved to Florida, yet we have remained in contact and I'm delighted that she reads my blog regularly and even put in this special request!   
I hope you will all enjoy today's "quilted" cards and step-by-step YouTube
​video (located at the end of this post).   
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These cards may seem very challenging, but I promise they are really not that difficult!  Yes, there is a lot of time and die cutting involved, as well as a lot of "putting the pieces of the puzzle together" but, the good news is you get to create four cards at one time!  And, if you like to create designs and patterns, you just might find this rather peaceful. 
*Be sure to follow the dryer sheet tip in the video below, because that will save you from undue headaches and hair pulling!
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Here is a step-by-step tutorial video that I created showing you how to make "quilted" cards using some of the various quilt shape dies by Gina Marie Designs.  

It gives me great pleasure to be able to create something that a reader specifically requested, so if there is something YOU would like to see, please send me an email at ckomara@comcast.net and I will do my best to accommodate your request.  To view other videos I have created,  please click here, or subscribe to my YouTube Channel below:
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XO, Crystal 

List of supplies:

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1 Comment

Take It Easy

3/13/2020

1 Comment

 
Hello friends and TGIF!  I hope you have fun things planned for the weekend ahead!  I am super excited because I am getting out of work early this afternoon to go to The Inspiration Station in Stafford Springs, Connecticut, for an afternoon of classes with my friends and Lawn Fawn's own Jenn Shurkus!  If you are lucky enough to have Jenn come teach at a store near you, I highly encourage you to sign up for a class.  Her classes are filled with tons of inspiration, helpful tips and tricks, and all around crafty fun.  I can't wait to see and use (and mostly likely buy) all the new Lawn Fawn spring release products! : ) 
​Be sure to follow along for some behind-the-scenes action here on my Instastories.  

Now, on to today's get well cards, which were entirely unplanned for today's post, yet somehow seem appropriate given the current state of the world.  No one ever wants to have to send get well cards, but if you do, the "Take It Easy" stamp set and "Cozy Bed" dies from Papertrey Ink are perfect!
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Card details: 

 *A full list of supplies is available at the end of this post. Both cards were made the same way, I simply used a different color combination for each. 

The base of each A2 sized card was either made from Balmy Blue or Pineapple Punch cardstock.  I cut a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock as the first matted layer. In the upper left corner of each card I stamped the sentiment in the corresponding ink color.  Using the Cozy Bed dies from Papertrey Ink, I die cut each bed scene from either yellow or blue cardstock.  The patterned paper on the bedding is all from the Lawn Fawn Spring Fling 6" x 6" paper pack.  I stamped the cute images (pajamas, hot water bottle, tissues box, newspaer, etc) in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on a separate sheet of white cardstock.  I colored the images before adhering them to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  The fun thing about this "Take it Easy" stamp set is that you can customize your newspaper greetings with a whole array of fun sentiments or news headlines!
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Thank you for taking the time to visit and I hope you have a wonderfully creative weekend!

XO, Crystal 

List of supplies:

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1 Comment

Inky Paws Challenge #116

2/3/2020

0 Comments

 
Hello friends and happy Monday!  I am excited to be sharing my card for the Newton's Nook Inky Paws Challenge today.  I frequently hear from friends and fellow stampers that they aren't creative enough to design something on their own, or that they don't know what colors to use.  They feel frustrated before they even begin because they don't know where to begin.  I understand!  Yes, I've been there too!  That's the concept behind a card challenge.  It can help to inspire you and get the creative juices flowing by giving you a place to start.  Challenge #116 by Newton's Nook is a color challenge.  Let the image below be your inspiration for creating a card (or scrapbook page) and see where this challenge takes you!  
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Here is the Nurse Newton get well card I created using these colors and the "Newton's Sick Day" stamp set by Newton's Nook:
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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 white cardstock.  Using the Gina Marie Scalloped Stitched Nesting Rectangle dies, I cut a piece of Coastal Cabana cardstock to mat to the card base.  I then cut a 3" x 3" piece of Lawn Fawn plaid paper for the background.  I cut a 3" x 2" strip of white cardstock as the "floor.  I adhered a thin strip of white cardstock as the baseboard dividing the plaid and white cardstock.  I stamped the sentiment in Memento Tuxedo black ink on the lower right corner of the white cardstock.  I created two small floating shelves by using thin strips of white cardstock.  I stamped all of the images (cats, pill bottles, tissues, bandaids, etc. ) in Memento Tuxedo black ink on white cardstock and colored them using Copic markers.  I cut the images using the coordinating die cuts.  I adhered all of the images to the card with 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.
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Will these colors inspire YOU to create?  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, February 14, at midnight CST.

Thanks for visiting and I hope to see your creations there!

*Also, I will be on vacation this week and taking a break from regularly scheduled posting.  Thank you for your patience and understanding as I take a much needed break!
I will see you when I return on Monday, February 10th!

XO, Crystal 

List of supplies: 

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0 Comments

Get Well With Whimsy Stamps

1/23/2020

2 Comments

 
I don't know about you, but I need a break from all things Valentine's Day!  I feel as though I have been sharing a lot of ideas lately that have incorporated love, hearts, roses and more, but enough already!  Today we are going to talk about another popular ailment this time of year - the dreaded flu!  Knock on wood, I haven't been sick yet this winter, but it's coming, this I know!  Until then, I will keep sanitizing e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g in sight and prepare some get well cards in advance.
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Card details:

*A full list of supplies (with shopping links) is located at the end of this post.

This slimline card measures 8 1/2" x 3 1/2".  The base of this card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I lined the card base with a 8 1/4" x 3 1/4" piece of pale pink cardstock.  I then lined this pale pink cardstock with a sheet of gray gingham paper from the Lawn Fawn Gotta Have Gingham paper pack.  Using the Whimsy Stamps Slimline Scallop Die, I cut the frame from gray cardstock.  Using gray ink, I stamped various sentiments like "germs" and "got soup" around the gray frame.   These sentiments are available with the Whimsy Stamps Get Well stamp set.  I stamped the three animals (pig, chicken and cat) in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on Neenah Solar White Smooth paper.  I used my Scan & Cut 2 electronic cutting machine to cut the images out instead of fussy cutting them.  
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I colored the images with Copic markers and added a few highlights to each image using a white Uniball gel pen.  I added the images to the card using foam adhesive for added height and dimension.  Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to all three images for added sparkle. 
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Now that I've been sharing a lot of these slimline cards, I'm curious if YOU have tried to make one yet?!
Thanks for visiting and happy creating!

XO, Crystal

List of supplies:

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Doodlebug Design - 12 x 12 Textured Cardstock - Stone Gray

Bazzill Basics - 12 x 12 Cardstock - Smoothies - Pink Icing

Scrapbook.com - Cardstock - 8.5 x 11 - Neenah Solar White - 25 Pack

Tsukineko - Memento - Fade Resistant Dye Ink Pad - Tuxedo Black

Too Corporation - Copic Ciao - Dual Tip Markers - 36 Piece Set

Tombow - Mono Adhesive Dots Roller - Permanent - Refillable

Sizzix - Limited Edition - Big Shot Machine Only - Sky Blue

Tsukineko - Memento - Fade Resistant Dye Ink Pad - Gray Flannel

Scrapbook.com - Double Sided Adhesive Foam Roll - 1/4 Inch x 32 Feet - 1 Roll

ZIG - Memory System - Wink Of Stella - Glitter Brush Marker - Glitter Clear
2 Comments

Sending Bunches

10/24/2019

2 Comments

 
Hello friends! Today I'm delighted to share with you a new RG Avenue release called Sending Bunches.  I am SOOOooo in love with the beauty of this stamp set!  First, I think hot air balloons in and of themselves are a sight to behold, and then you add a bouquet of flowers in lieu of a basket and oh my pretty!
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Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Rich Cherry cardstock.  Using the Gina Marie Scalloped Stitched Nesting Rectangle dies, I die cut a piece of Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock for the first matted layer.  As the Sending Bunches stamp set is a digital stamp, I printed out the images on Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock and colored them with my Copic markers.  As always, I add highlights to the colored images with a white gel pen.  I used my Scan & Cut machine to cut the images and began adhering them to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  I also popped up the sentiment.  Lastly, I added a double coat of clear Wink of Stella to the flowers and balloons for added sparkle. 
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Thank you for visiting!  I hope you have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

2 Comments

Cheerful & Uplifting

6/7/2019

0 Comments

 
Hello friends and TGIF!  I hope you have fun things planned for the weekend ahead!  I am very excited because it's the first weekend in a long time in which we have NO plans.  The weather is supposed to be beautiful, but my goal is to craft for as much of the weekend as I can, because I am running dangerously low on birthday cards.  I've also got to get that Father's Day card made this weekend too - no pressure! 

I hope you enjoy today's cheerful yellow rose get well card.  The brightness is sure to uplift someone's spirit.
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Card details:

Full supply list at end of post.

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  For the first matted layer, I cut a sheet of white cardstock to 5 1/4" x 4" and ran it through my Big Shot using the Garden Trellis Embossing folder.  Using the Gina Marie Nesting Stitched Scalloped rectangles, I die cut a large rectangle from Daffodil Delight cardstock.  I cut a 4" x 3" sheet of white cardstock and stamped "sorry you're sick" in Going Gray ink in the lower righthand corner.
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I stamped two large yellow roses in Going Gray ink on Daffodil Delight cardstock and the leaves were stamped in Going Gray ink on white cardstock.  All images were die cut with the coordinating dies and adhered to the center of the card using 3M foam adhesive.  Lastly, I added a heavy coat of clear Wink of Stella to the roses and leaves for added sparkle.
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Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative weekend!

XO, Crystal

You might also enjoy:

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List of supplies:

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0 Comments

Spellbinders & FSJ

5/10/2019

0 Comments

 
TGIF!  Who is ready for the weekend!? I'm taking a break from house painting this weekend and hoping to get in my craft room finally!  When I bought the stamp set called "Dear Rose" that I made today's card with, it was by a company called Fun Stamper's Journey.  My dear friend, Donna, was a consultant with FSJ and I have always tried so support her small business adventure, as she did mine.  However, last November Fun Stamper's Journey merged with SpellbindersPaper Arts and WOW talk about a creative boom!  They have been killing it lately with so many great stamp and die products, plus their monthly kits are AH-mazing!  I even love the look and layout of their new website, it is so colorful, fresh and inspiring that it makes me want to create (and buy) all the things!  But, we've been so busy re-doing our house that all creative purchases have
been put on hold. . . for now. . .
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Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock.  I cut a 5 1/4" x 4" sheet of white cardstock and ran it through my Big Shot using the Garden Trellis Texturized Embossing folder.  I adhered this embossed sheet directly to the cad front.  Using the Gina Marie Stitched Scalloped Rectangle Nesting dies, I die cut a piece of Calypso Coral cardstock and then mounted a sheet of white cardstock on it.  Using Calypso Coral ink, I stamped the sentiment "Get Well Soon" in the lower right corner.  I stamped two roses on Calypso Coral cardstock in Basic Gray ink and die cut the roses using the coordinating Dear Rose die.  I adhered them to the center of the card using 3M foam adhesive.  I stamped two leaves in Basic Gray ink on white cardstock and adhered them underneath the roses using 3M foam adhesive.  Lastly, I added a coat of Clear Wink of Stella to the roses and leaves for added sparkle. 
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Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative weekend!

XO, Crystal

0 Comments

    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 ©


    Disclosure:

    • I participate in several affiliate programs.  This means I earn a small commission when products are purchased using my links (at no additional cost to you). 
    • 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!

    ​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. 
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