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Hello readers! Today I am sharing a simple way to create elegant backgrounds for your cards. It's nothing new or earth shattering, but may be something you have never considered before. These cards were created using a tone-on-tone, or as in these examples, black-on-black heat embossing. Simply heat embossing an image with black embossing powder onto black cardstock. It is simple, subtle and stunning.
I used the brand new RG Avenue digital stamp set called "Strong Courage" to create these cards. There is also a full supply list with clickable links at the end of this post.
Here is the step-by-step tutorial video I created showing how both of these cards were made:
If you haven't already, I hope you will try the black-on-black heat embossing. I think you will find it adds a very elegant look to your cards.
Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day! XO, CrystalList of supplies:
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Hello friends! Today I am over on the Birch Press Design blog sharing these two cards using the Thankful Mandala stamp set. I chose to work with this stamp set because it was something very different for me, and I'm so happy that I decided to challenge myself because I love how these cards came out! The very first thing I did after receiving this stamp was to actually cut it down! Yes, this was equally as scary as it sounds! I knew this could go wonderfully right, or horribly wrong really quick and that I was taking a chance at potentially ruining a $25 stamp set! But, I didn't particularly like the large square shape of the mandala, so I trimmed off the outermost layer to give more of a peacock edge shape. I regret that I did not take a picture of this process so you could see exactly what I mean. Fortunately, it worked out just fine! Phew!   Card details:The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I stamped the large mandala in Versamark ink on black cardstock and then heat embossed it with gold embossing powder. I cut the mandala in half in order to separate it on the card. I adhered each half to the top and bottom of the card base. I die cut the larger outline word "thanks" from gold foil paper and the smaller word outline from black cardstock. I mounted the two together using a Tombow tape runner and adhered both to the center of the card using foam adhesive. Lastly, I stamped the sentiment "for all you do" in the middle of the card in Memento Tuxedo black ink.    Card details:For the second card, my card base is a sheet of turquoise cardstock. I stamped the mandala in Versamark ink on another sheet of turqoise cardstock and heat embossed it with white embossing powder. I trimmed the image down to 5" x 3 3/4" and mounted this stamped mandala onto a scalloped sheet of white cardstock. I adhered both sheets to the card base. I die cut the word "hugs" from both gold foil paper and white cardstock, layering the two together using a Tombow tape runner. I stamped the words "it's your birthday" in Versamark ink on a thin strip of turquoise cardstock and heat embossed it with white embossing powder. I notched both ends before adhering it to the card below the word "hugs" using 3M foam adhesive.   Thanks for visiting and I hope today's post will encourage YOU to try using a stamp set that might be a bit out of your comfort zone! You just might find that the end results were worth it. XO, CrystalList of supplies:
I don't know if I'm more excited to share today's card with you because it's a beautiful new stamp set that I'm loving, or because of the surprisingly beautiful color combination! You might recall that last Friday I shared this Fall Foliage wreath card with you that was inspired by Davina's September Mood Board. I was very skeptical about the crushed curry, blush pink, mint and teal colors, but pleasantly surprised with the end result! So much so, in fact that I wanted to create another card using these same colors.
Here is the Butterfly Reflections, Ink Mood Board that inspired me:
Card details:
The base of this A2 sized card is made from Crumb Cake cardstock. Using the Gina Marie Scalloped Stitched Nesting Rectangle dies, I cut the largest die from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I heat embossed the sentiment in gold embossing powder on the lower left corner of this white cardstock. On a separate sheet of white cardstock, I stamped the butterflies twice in Versamark ink and heat embossed them with gold embossing powder. I colored in the butterflies using my Spectrum Noir Alcohol Ink markers and then die cut them using the coordinating Confetti Cuts dies. Lastly, I added the butterflies to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.
Here is the Butterfly Blossoms stamp set and coordinating Confetti Cuts dies from Reverse Confetti (available through Butterfly Reflections, Ink):
I hope you have enjoyed today's card. Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!
XO, Crystal
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Hello crafty friends and happy Friday! TGIF! I hope you have fun things planned for the weekend ahead. Speaking of crafty friends, and before we get to today's crafty friends cards, I would like to give a little shout out to my newly found again friend, Carla! You see Carla used to follow me on the Super Stamp Girl website and then when I transitioned, I forgot to email her about the change. Oops! Then on a random whim, Ink Road Stamps announced that Carla was their winner of a recent Instagram contest, so I reconnected with her again. I'm happy to have you following along again, Carla! And, a big thank you to all the other readers who visit my website regularly as well! I hope to continue to inspire and entertain you while you are here.
As for my weekend plans. . . I have a stamp camp to teach on Saturday and then on Sunday I've got lots of designing to do for my upcoming fall classes. LOTS! But, I'm excited because that means I can finally start to play with all the fun Halloween products! 
Card details:
The base of this A2 sized card is made from Crumb Cake cardstock. Using the Gina Marie Stitched Rectangle dies, I die cut a sheet of Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Next I heat embossed a whole bunch of the crafty sentiments onto a variety of cardstock using white embossing powder. From top to bottom, the cardstock colors are: Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz, Marina Mist (retired), Pool Party, Blushing Bride and Highland Heather. I trimmed each sentiment into a small strip and notched both ends. I adhered all the sentiment strips to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.
Both of today's cards were created used the Crafty Friends stamp set from Altenew:
Card details:
The base of this A2 sized card is made from Basic Black cardstock. Using the Gina Marie Stitched Rectangle dies, I die cut a piece of Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock for the first layer. I stamped the sentiment in Memento Tuxedo black ink. I heat embossed the Lawn Fawn Mailbox (retired) on Real Red cardstock in white embossing powder and cut it using the coordinating die. I adhered the mailbox to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. Next I stamped each small envelope in Lovely Lipstick ink, Pumpkin Pie ink, Daffodil Delight ink, Pear Pizzazz ink, Tempting Turquoise ink (retired) and Highland Heather ink. I fussy cut each stamped envelope and adhered it to the card using 3M foam adhesive.
Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a crafty fun weekend too!
XO, Crystal
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Hi readers and TGIF! I hope you have fun things planned for the weekend ahead! Today I am sharing the last in a series of slimline cards this week. I hope by sharing a few designs like this that maybe I've convinced YOU to try creating one of these cards, especially if you feel like you could use a larger canvas to create on! It's simple enough to cut - it's just an 8 1/2" x 7" piece of cardstock that you fold in half to give you the 8 1/2" x 3 1/2" dimensions.
I have owned these two stamp sets from Sunny Studio called "Happy Home" and "City Streets" for a while now, but I've always been a bit intimidated to use them because of their fine lines and my less-than-stellar coloring skills! I mean it's good enough, but there's always room for improvement! So, I decided to heat emboss the different images on a variety of sherbet colored cardstocks. I think the end result looks like a happy little pastel village that the Care Bears or the Easter bunny might live in! 
Card details:
The base of this card is made from Crumb Cake cardstock. I cut a 8 1/4" x 3 1/4" sheet of yellow paper from the Lawn Fawn Really Rainbow Scalloped paper pack for the first layer. I stamped each of the images in Versamark ink on Highland Heather, Pool Party, Daffodil Delight, Crisp Cantelope (retired), Crumb Cake and Pistachio Pudding (retired) cardstock. I heat embossed each image with white embossing powder. I die cut the images with the coordinating die and layered them onto the card with 3M foam adhesive for added height. I cut some of the grass using green scrap paper and the Lawn Fawn Meadow Borders Lawn Cuts. Before I adhered the grass down, I heat embossed the sentiment in the lower left corner in white embossing powder.
Here are the Happy Home and City Streets stamp sets by Sunny Studio Stamps that I used to create today's card:
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful weekend!
XO, Crystal
Hello friends and happy August! It wasn't my intention at the beginning of the week to create ALL slimline cards to share with you over the past few days, but, after enjoying having so much more space to create with, I've been loving these longer cards! Now, I just need to buy some elegant #10 envelopes because the ones I send my checks in to the water and electric company just isn't going to cut it! : )
Today's slimline card features the elegant Marvelous Perfume stamp set from The Ton Stamps. My next goal for this stamp is to create a functional "scratch-n-sniff" card or a scented card, so if you have any ideas, talk to me! 
Card details:
The base of this A2 card is made from Basic Black cardstock. I cut a sheet of Gold Foil paper measuring 8 1/4" x 3 1/4" as the first layer. Next I cut a piece of Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock measuring 8" x 3". At the top center of this white cardstock, I stamped the sentiment in Memento Tuxedo black ink. Next I stamped all of the perfume bottles multiple times on black and white cardstock using Versamark ink. I heat embossed all of the images in gold embossing powder. Because I do not own the dies for the Marvelous Perfume stamps (ugh, all sold out!) I fussy cut each of these bottles. One. By. One! Then I adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. Relatively easy and elegant! It would be super easy if you had those coordinating dies!
Here is the Marvelous Perfume stamp set from The Ton Stamps that I used to create today's card:
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!
XO, Crystal
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Hi friends and happy Fri-YAY! I hope you have fun (and cool) plans for the weekend ahead considering it will be 10,000 degrees outside here in Massachusetts! Okay, maybe I added two extra zero's on that temperature, but you get it, it's gonna be H-O-T hot! I have a craft room with central air calling my name!
Yesterday I shared with you how to create a beach scene with two different color layering stamp sets from Hero Arts. Today we are going to focus on just those beautiful color layering clouds from the Color Layering Sea and Sky stamp set that I used to create a sympathy card. 
Card details:
The base of this A2 sized card is made from Basic Gray cardstock. Using the Gina Marie Designs Scalloped Stitches Nesting Rectangles, I cut the largest rectangle from Balmy Blue cardstock. I cut a 5" x 3 3/4" piece of Neenah Solar White cardstock and stamped the sentiment in Basic Gray ink. I stamped the raindrops in Balmy Blue ink using the Sunny Studio Stamp called rain showers. On a separate sheet of white cardstock, I stamped the layering clouds in Balmy Blue ink and Basic Gray ink. I die cut the clouds and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive. Lastly, I added a coat of Clear Wink of Stella to the clouds for added sparkle.
Here is the Color Layering Sea and Sky stamp set and coordinating dies from Hero Arts that I used for today's cards:
Hero Arts Color Layering Sea & Sky
Here is the second card I created using the color layering clouds:
Card details:
The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock. On a 5 " x 3 3/4" sheet of Basic Black cardstock. I stamped the sentiment and burst of stars in Versamark ink and heat embossed it with gold embossing powder. I mounted this stamped image onto a piece of Goil Foil paper before adhering it to the card front. On a separate sheet of Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock, I stamped the layering clouds in both Smoky Slate ink and Basic Gray ink. I die cut the clouds and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive. Lastly, I added a coat of Clear Wink of Stella to the clouds for added sparkle.
I hope you have enjoyed seeing different ways to use this stamp set, both to create a serene beach scene and a peaceful sympathy card. Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!
XO, Crystal
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Hi friends, today I'm sharing a card with you that we made in my last stamp camp. It was only the second time I had used the Sketchy Landmarks stamp set from Altenew and the Westminster Abbey stamp made for a beautiful wedding card. It's very simple and elegant in black and gold. I love that this set also comes with a variety of greetings that would work well as a sympathy or more religious card too.
Card details:
Full list of supplies at end of post.
The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I cut a 5 1/4x 4" sheet of Gold Foil paper for the first mat. I cut a 5" x 3 3/4" sheet of Basic Black cardstock and ran it through my Big Shot using a now-retired star embossing folder from Stampin' UP! I stamped the church on a scrap piece of Basic Black cardstock and heat embossed it in gold embossing powder. 
I hope you have enjoyed today's card. Thanks for visiting! XO, Crystal
List of supplies:
Hello readers! I'm excited to share with you my first ever easel card today, and, now that I know how EASY it was to assemble, be ready for lots more easel cards to come! One of my creative goals has always been to design more interactive cards and I've been slowly focusing on one new fold at a time. I think interactive cards really have such an impressive WOW effect and leave the recipient in awe of your paper crafting talents! I was pleasantly surprised by the simplicity of the easel card, yet you could take the design in so many different directions.
Card details:
*Full supply list is located at the end of this post.
The base of this A2 sized card is made from Early Espresso cardstock. I cut a 5 1/4" x 4" sheet of Very Vanilla cardstock to place on the base of the card (where the cat, pen and eyeglasses are). I stamped the book twice in Versamark ink and heat embossed the book with gold embossing powder. I fussy cut the books out and layered them on top of each other with a thin strip of 3M foam tape down the middle binding. I stamped the cat and bookmark in Versamark ink on Early Espresso cardstock and heat embossed them in gold before fussy cutting. The pen was heat embossed in gold on Very Vanilla cardstock. I stamped the single flower and sentiment in Memento Tuxedo black ink.
I found these wonderful easel card measurements on Pinterest and I would like to give Beth McAlexander a shout out for diagramming them - they were super helpful and easy to follow!
Here is the Open Book stamp set by Gina K Designs that I used to create this card:
Come join me on Wednesday, June 5th for my Easel Cards class and you will make this sweet card and three others too!
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day! XO, Crystal
List of supplies:
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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.
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