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Hello readers and welcome back from the weekend! I hope you found a little time to do something crafty. Last week was my "off" shift from work, so I spent the majority of my days doing a LOT of crafting. Today I am sharing another card that I made for the Newton's Nook Inky Paws Challenge #122. This week we have a color challenge 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:  Here is the camping inspired scene I created using the challenge colors:  Card details:*A full supply list is located at the end of this post. The base of this A2 sized card is made from Basic Black cardstock. I cut a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of black plaid paper for the background. I used the Lawn Fawn Grassy Hillside pop-up die to die cut the grass from green pinstriped paper. I die cut a scalloped circle from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock and stamped the sentiment "You make me a happy camper" from the Newton's Nook "Cozy Camper" stamp set in the upper right corner in Memento Tuxedo black ink. I adhered the circle to the center of the card. I stamped the campers, patio set and flamingos in Memento Tuxedo black ink on white cardstock and colored the images with Copic markers. I die cut the images using the coordinating "Cozy Camper" dies. I adhered the images to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.     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! The deadline to enter is Friday, May 8th, at midnight CST XO, CrystalList of supplies:
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Hello readers and happy Sunday! I hope you are all having a nice weekend. It's a very rainy day here so I think there will be lots of chill time and catching up on movies, rather than crafting today! But, I have next week off from work, so there will be plenty of time to play over the next seven days. . . Today I am excited to share with you another new stamp from the "Spring Fling" release at RG Avenue. In all honesty, this new stamp set called "Succulent Terrarium" is just about the only plant that I am ever going to keep alive!   Card details:The base of this A2 sized card is made from gray cardstock. I cut a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock for the first mat. I stamped "thank you" in gray ink on the lower right corner of the white cardstock. I had a previously created piece of alcohol ink background in my scraps pile (made with orange and gold alcohol inks) that I cut to a 1 1/2" x 4 " strip and adhered to the center of the card. I printed the images from the "Succulent Terrarium" digital stamp set onto Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I colored the images with Copic markers and cut them out using my Scan & Cut 2 electronic cutting machine. I adhered the images to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added height.   Card details:The base of this A2 sized card is made from gray carsdtock. I cut a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of Neenah Solar white smooth cardstock for the mat. I had a previuosly made alcohol art piece in my "scraps" bin (made using gold and orange alcohol inks) and I die cut it with a hexagon die. I adhered the hexagon to the left side of the card. I stamped hello in the upper righthand corner in gray ink. I printed out all of the images from the "Succulent Terrarium" digital stamp set onto Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock and colored the images with Copic markers. I used my Scan & Cut 2 electronic cutting machine to cut the images out. I adhered the images to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added height. Lastly, I added a coat of Dazzling Pat to the images for added sparkle.   Enjoy the rest of your weekend, friends! XO, CrystalYou might also enjoy:
Hello friends and happy Thursday! Yay, it's actually my Friday because I'm taking off for a few days to visit a friend in LA and go to the Scrapbook Expo show in Ontario, California with her. Since I've been working so many of these shows recently, I'm so excited to be attending one FOR FUN! I'm even signed up to take two classes on watercoloring. I'm excited to learn different ways to watercolor because it's not something I'm comfortable doing at the moment. Be sure to follow along on my Instastories as I share a behind-the-scenes look at my weekend adventures!
Before I leave, I'll share a few cheerful and uplifting cards with you today featuring the Very Sweet stamp set from RG Avenue. I'll be taking a few days off while I enjoy this mini vacation and will see you back here when I return on Wednesday, October 23rd. 
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" piece of blue gingham from the Sunny Studio Classic Gingham paper pack to mount directly to the card base. Using the Gina Marie Designs Scalloped Stitched Nesting Dies, I die cut the white piece from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Because this Very Sweet stamp set was a digital stamp, I printed off the images on Solar White Smooth cardstock and colored the images using Copic alcohol ink markers. I added small highlights to the images using a white gel pen. I splattered the white paper with Sour Pineapple Sugar Drops. I adhered the images and sentiment to the card using 3M foam adhesive. Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the images for added sparkle.
A close-up photo reveals the sparkle from Wink of Stella.
Here is the Very Sweet stamp set from RG Avenue that I used to create these cards:
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" piece of yellow gingham from the Sunny Studio Classic Gingham paper pack to mount directly to the card base. Using the Gina Marie Designs Scalloped Stitched Nesting Circle Dies, I die cut the white piece from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Because this Very Sweet stamp set was a digital stamp, I printed off the images on Solar White Smooth cardstock and colored the images using Copic alcohol ink markers. I added small highlights to the images using a white gel pen. I stamped the "hello" sentiment (from the "Yay Greetings" stamp set) in Black Taffy ink. I adhered the images and sentiment to the card using 3M foam adhesive. Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the images for added sparkle.
Thank you for visiting and see you next week!
XO, Crystal
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 friends and happy Monday! I hope you all had a nice weekend. Ours was fairly quiet due to all the rain, so after stamp camp on Saturday, we did a whole lot of nothing. I didn't even have the energy to craft! Shocking, I know! I tried. I went into my craft room and sat there waiting for the creativeness to take over, but nothing. Nada. The three cards I made went in the trash, I spilled an ink refill bottle and jabbed my index finger with the paper piercer. I muttered under my breath a few times and called it quits. It's okay, it happens. These are the times when I know it's better to just walk away.
Today's card was actually one of the cards I made on Saturday and plucked out of the trash Sunday night thinking it wasn't really all that bad. I neither particularly love it, nor hate it, but in an effort of full transparency on this blog, I'm going to begin sharing more of that process with you. Tomorrow I'll be discussing more about my creative struggles. 
Card details:
The base of this slimline ( 8 1/2" x 3 1/2") card is made from Crumb Cake cardstock. The first 8 1/4" x 3 1/4" layer is a sheet of gold foil woodgrain pattern paper I pulled from my scrap pile. Next I stamped each acorn in a series of colors - Crushed Curry, Pool Party, Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie and Rich Razzleberry. I die cut the acorns using the coordinating Happy Harvest acorn die. I cut an acorn top for each from Crumb Cake cardstock. I assembled the acorns onto the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.
Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great week!
XO, Crystal
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Hello friends and happy Monday! Welcome back from the weekend and cheers to a new cardmaking season! Last Friday, I announced the "end of my summer cards" and today we are kicking off all things fall. Fall truly is my favorite time of the year because of all the gorgeous colors and yes, all things pumpkin spice!
I'm excited to begin using lots of golden hues, burnt oranges and rich earthy browns in my color palette. I'm also itching to start playing with my Halloween products too! 
Card details:
The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I cut a piece of Lawn Fawn Knock on Wood paper measuring 5' x 3 3/4" and mounted it to a sheet of Soft Suede cardstock. I heat embossed the sentiment in the lower right corner using white embossing powder. I die cut a large circle in the middle of these papers to create a shaker card with. I adhered a piece of clear acetate film behind the circular hole and lined the card base with some fall leaf paper (source unknown, sorry!) I die cut two birch trees from the Lawn Fawn Birch Tree Lawn Cuts and adhered them over the fall leaf paper. I filled the shaker frame with amber sequins. On a separate sheet of white cardstock, I stamped the Color Layering Fawn in Sahara Sand, Soft Suede and Early Espresso inks. I die cut the fawn and adhered it to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I stamped the leaves in Versamark ink on both Pumpkin Pie cardstock and Crushed Curry cardstock and die cut the leaves with the coordinating die. I adhered the leaves around the deer using 3M foam adhesive.
Here is the Color Layering Fawn set from Hero Arts that I used to create today's cards:
Additionally, I used the leaves and sentiment from the Second Spring stamp set by A Muse Studio to help complete these cards:
I hope you have enjoyed today's first seasonal cards and are as excited as I am about the holiday projects
to come. Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day! XO, Crystal
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 readers and thanks for taking the time to visit today! I hope you find inspiration and creativity as you look around. Today I am sharing two new-to-me stamp sets by Hero Arts called "Color Layering Waves" and "Color Layering Sea and Sky." I think you will agree how beautifully these two sets pair together when creating a stamped scene. These stamps were part of Hero Arts "My Monthly Hero" cardmaking kits last summer and they were so popular that they sold out! I was so happy when Hero Arts brought them back for individual purchase after high demand. I really enjoy color layering stamp sets because they offer so much depth and dimension. You can see a variety of other cards I have made featuring other color layering stamp sets here, here and here.
Card details:
The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I cut a piece of Pacific Point cardstock measuring 5 1/2" x 3 3/4" as my mat. On a sheet of white cardstock I began to stamp my scene starting with the waves. The first base layer was stamped in Soft Sky blue. The second layer was in Marina Mist ink (sorry, both retired from Stampin' UP!) and the third was in Pacific point ink. I added a touch of watercolor in pale pinks and blues to the sky above the water. Next I stamped the seagulls in Tuxedo Memento Black ink. I stamped two sailboats in Soft Sky ink and Mango Medley ink on scrap white cardstock and cut them out using the coordinating dies. I adhered the sailboats to the ocean using 3M foam adhesive. I stamped the color layering clouds on white cardstock first using Soft Sky ink and then the second layer was in Pacific Point ink. I die cut the clouds and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. Lastly I created the sand by cutting a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock and heat embossing the word 'Hello" in gold embossing powder. Using a distressed dot stamp, I added dots to the paper as though to resemble sand in Crumb Cake ink. I added footprints in Early Espresso ink. I ran this sheet of Crumb Cake cardstock through my Big Shot using the Heffy Doodle Stitched Slopey Joes border dies. Lastly I stamped the Adirondack chair in Pacific Point ink on white cardstock, die cut it and adhered it to the card using 3M foam adhesive.
Here are the two Hero Arts color layering stamp sets I used to create this card:
Color Layering Sea and Sky
Color Layering Waves
Tomorrow I will be sharing another way of using those beautiful color layering clouds to achieve an entirely different look for a sympathy card. I hope you will come back to see other ways this set can be used.
Thanks again for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day! XO, Crystal
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Yes! Yes! Yes! Amen to Taylored Expressions for creating this beautiful Be A Mermaid stamp set with a killer empowering, "strong women make waves" sentiment! Yes! Yes! Yes! Also because it's Friday! Who's ready for the weekend!? My parents are coming down from Maine for a visit and I look forward to seeing them. I also have a full class on Saturday in my home studio with 14 people attending and I can't wait for my mom to participate and meet many new crafty friends. Live in Western Mass and want to come to a class? See my class calendar here.  Because I am not currently creating technique video content on my website, I highly recommend checking out this Easy Alcohol Ink Background Tutorial by Jennifer McGuire. She has created a very simple introduction to working with alcohol inks to create some basic backgrounds. This was the first video I watched after purchasing my alcohol inks and then I just spent time playing around with them! The great thing is there is no right or wrong when it comes to art. You just have fun (and usually make a mess) with it! *My only tip would be that you don't need to spend your money purchasing polysynthetic Yupo Paper at nearly $1.00 per sheet. You can use the reverse side of any high quality photo paper (like this one by Kirkland) and achieve the same results! I used this same Kirkland photo paper to create today's alcohol ink backgrounds.  I am, however, s-l-o-w-l-y beginning to dabble in some video content. Essentially still photos with animated displays and music. I haven't attempted audio voiceover or video while creating cards yet, but it's a slow work in progress. I hope you enjoy this short 1-minute clips of the mermaid cards I have created this week:  Card details: The base of this A2 sized card is made from Tempting Turquoise cardstock (sorry, it's retired Stampin' UP!) Using the Gina Marie Designs Scalloped Stitched Nesting Rectangles, I die cut the scalloped background on Kirkland photo paper. To create the background I used Ranger Alcohol inks in Sailboat Blue, Turquoise and Pool. I stamped the sentiment in the upper left corner in Versamark ink and heat embossed it in silver embossing powder. I stamped one mermaid tail in Tempting Turquoise ink (retired) on Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock and one in Granny Apple Green ink on the same paper. I stamped the third mermaid tail in Versamark ink on Tempting Turquoise paper and heat embossed it in white embossing powder. I die cut the tails and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive.   Here is the Be A Mermaid stamp set and coordinating die from Taylored Expressions:   Card details: The base of this second A2 sized card is also made from Tempting Turquoise cardstock (retired, Stampin' UP!). I used a scrap sheet of 5 1/4 x 4" paper with tiny light clouds on it for the background. Sorry, I do not recall who made this paper! I cut two pieces of a previously colored alcohol ink background with the Lawn Fawn Stitched Waves Border Die and adhered those to the center of the card. On a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock, I stamped "Let's Shellebrate" in Versamark ink and heat embossed it in white embossing powder. Then I used a Heffy Doodle Stitched Slopey Joes die to create a stitched border on the "sand." I tapped a small eraser into Crumb Cake ink and stamped the background of this Crumb Cake border. I stamped one Mermaid Tail on Temping Turquoise cardstock and heat embossed it in white embossing powder. I die cut another mermaid tail from Granny Apple Green cardstock and backed it with a piece of Turquoise Glitter paper. Lastly I stamped the seashells on Neenah Solar white cardstock, Granny Apple Green cardstock and Tempting Turqoise cardstock and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive.   I hope you have enjoyed these vibrant cards and, even more, their powerful message. Strong women make waves! Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend! XO, Crystal You might also enjoy:
Hello readers and Happy Wednesday! Today I'm sharing the first two cards I created using the July Bee Yourself card kit from Simon Says Stamp. I have really enjoying receiving these card kits once per month, because I feel like it's forcing me to use them, instead of just letting the cute oversized boxes pile up in my craft room! Don't get me wrong, the boxes (albeit, empty) are still piling up in my craft room because I re-use them for storing other kits! Unfortunately, this particular kit is now currently sold out, but if you love it, keep checking the SSS website, because it should be restocked after the initial rush. Yup, we stampers sure are crazy buying things up overnight as though there will ever be a stamp drought in the foreseeable future!
Let's take a closer look at the Bee Yourself card kit:
This kit includes a wide variety of hand selected coordinating supplies, enough to keep you creating for hours! Included in the box is an inspiration sheet with 6 ideas using the kit. You'll also receive inspiration via email newsletter with even more project ideas and video links using the kit.
Included in this kit: Simon Says Stamp Bee Yourself 6 x 8 clear stamp set Honey Bee The Bee's Knees exclusive 6 x 6 paper pad Simon Says Stamp custom foilable cards Rainbow Shattered Glass 5 Foil Transfer Sheets Simon Says Stamp White envelope Simon Says Stamp Small Hexagon Cluster wafer thin die Black and Yellow custom sequin pack Simon Says Stamp Sunshine cardstock Simon Says Stamp White 120# cardstock Simon Says Stamp Black cardstock Simon Says Stamp Seaglass cardstock 1 new Glue Sponge $34.99/kit Here is a video created by Simon Says Stamp showcasing the July Bee Yourself card kit:
Here are the first two cards I created using this kit:
Card details:
The base of this A2 sized card is made from Crumb Cake cardstock. I adhered a piece of the yellow hexagon paper directly to the card base. I stamped two of the bee hive trails on this paper using Early Espresso ink. I created a honeycomb shaker component using the Stitched Hexagon Dies from Gina Marie Designs. I stamped "Just Because" on Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock in Early Espresso ink to place behind the shaker frame. I stamped the bees on Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock and colored them using Spectrum Noir alcohol ink markers. I added some highlights to my coloring with the Sigma Uniball white gel pen. I added Lawn Fawn Prisma Glitter to the bee's wings using a Sakura Quickie glue pen. I adhered the bees to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.
Card details:
The second A2 card is made from Basic Black cardstock. I adhered the patterned hexagon paper directly to the card base. I stamped the sentiment in the lower right corner using Early Espresso ink. I stamped the bee trails also in Early Espresso ink. I stamped the beehive in Tuxedo Memento Black ink on one of the patterned pieces of paper included in the kit. The beehive is from HoneyBee Stamps - called Bee Hive. It has a coordinating die too. I stamped the bees in Tuxedo Memento Black ink on Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock and colored them with Spectrum Noir alcohol ink markers. I added extra details to the coloring using a Uniball White Gel pen. I added Lawn Fawn Prisma Glitter to the bee's wings. Lastly, I adhered the bees to the card front using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.
I hope you have enjoyed today's cards. Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!
XO, Crystal
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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.
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. |
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