Crystal Komara
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Rainbow Dahlia Hearts

2/11/2021

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Hello crafty friends!  Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog again sharing another fun idea for a Valentine's Day card using the Dahlia Heart Layering set. I am so in love with ALL the love themed products from Birch Press Design that I just can't stop finding ways to use them!
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This colorful rainbow themed slimline card just makes me so happy!
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For a step-by-step process to see how this card was made, please visit the Birch Press Design blog.  Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!
​

XO, Crystal 

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Rainbow Tux

1/15/2021

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On Wednesday I shared my first card using this fun tuxedo stamp from Brutus Monroe.  Today I am sharing another very unique way to use this same stamp set!  Now, this card is a bit on the wild and colorful side, so it really needs to be mailed to a very wild and colorful kinda guy!
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Card details: 

The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  On a 5" x 3 3/4" piece of Yupo paper, I created a background using alcohol inks in a variety of rainbow colors in a diagonal pattern.  I then added splatters of alcohol to create the white dots.  Once this background dried, I then used a bowtie stencil overlay and smooshed Versamark ink through the stencil.  I heat embossed the bowties using black embossing powder.  Once this cooled, I adhered the Yupo paper directly to a black cardstock mat before adhering both pieces to the white card base.  I stamped the tuxedo and sentiment in Versamark ink on black cardstock and heat embossed it with white embossing powder.  I fussy cut both the tuxedo and sentiment out and adhered each to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  
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I love that this card is so out of the box for me!  In fact, I have a tiger stripe stencil and I think I just might need to create the same background with tiger stripes in lieu of bowties for an even wilder look! 

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative weekend!

XO, Crystal 

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Be Kind & Grateful

10/27/2020

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Hello readers!  If this is your first time here, welcome!  I hope you find creativity and inspiration as you look around.  If you are a regular reader or follower of mine, thank you for your continued support and I'm happy and grateful you return so often to visit.  I do try and blog 5 days a week (and YES, I work full-time outside of this too!), so I hope that you will always find something new here.

Today I am sharing a colorful rainbow themed card using a new digital stamp set from 88 and Clear (formerly Richard Garay Designs and RG Avenue) called  "Be Grateful".  By pairing these bright colors with a black background it offers a stark contrast to make the colors really pop!
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Card details: 

*A full list of supplies is located at the end of this post. 

This A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  Using a piece of Black Taffy sugar stock, I die cut the background layer from a scalloped rectangle die.  Because the "Be Grateful" stamp set I had is a digital stamp, I printed out the image on Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock and then colored it using Copic markers before fussy cutting the leaves out.  I stamped the sentiment "Be Kind and Grateful" in Black Taffy ink on white cardstock and die cut it using a circle die.  I adhered the circular sentiment to the left side of the card and then adhered the rainbow leaves to the right of the circle using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  To add a little sparkle, I die cut a few silver glitter leaves and tucked them in among the rainbow leaves.  Lastly, I added a coat of Dazzling Pat for even more sparkle, because you can NEVER have enough sparkle!  : )
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 May we all remember this simple message to be kind and grateful today and always. . . 

XO, Crystal 

List of supplies: 

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Rainbow Foliage

9/29/2020

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Hello friends!  If you are new here, welcome!  I hope you find creativity and inspiration while you are here.  Please check out my gallery, for the largest compilation of all my work.  If you are a regular visitor to my website, then I thank you for your continued support.  

Today I am sharing a card that required NO stamping at all!  Today's card was made completely from a variety of dies from Whimsy Stamps.  
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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 80 lb. Neenah White Solar Smooth cardstock.  Using the Lattice die, I die cut the first layer from white cardstock.  I adhered the lattice directly to the card base.  Using one of the leaves from the Leaf Foliage 2 die set, I cut the leaf in rainbow colors from pink, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple.  I placed them down the left side of the card in that ROYGBIV pattern.  I then placed a thin strip of black cardstock over the left side of the card where all the leaf stems met, to make it seem more clean.  Using the "thanks" die, I die cut the bottom shadow layer from black glitter cardstock and the top layer from white cardstock.  I adhered both layers together using liquid glue and then adhered the entire sentiment to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. 
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I think that adding rainbow colors on a card with a lot of white space really make those colors pop.  I hope you have enjoyed this cheerful design.  Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal 

List of supplies: 

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1 Comment

You Are

8/20/2020

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Today I'd like to share a simple rainbow themed card that carries a positive message.  Given the current state of the world between a pandemic, political chaos and civil unrest, I think we could all use more love, peace and understanding. I don't know who needs to hear (or see) these words today, but perhaps you could use a reminder that you are enough.  You are unique.  And, you are loved.
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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 Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  Using a piece of rainbow paper from the Whimsy Stamps rainbow paper pack, I cut a 5 1/4" x 4" piece for the background.  I die cut the large heart from white cardstock and heat embossed the sentiment "You Are" with black embossing powder.  I adhered the large heart to the center of the card using 3M foam adhesive.  I stamped a variety of words in Versamark ink on red, orange, yellow, green and blue and heat embossed them with white embossing powder.  I die cut the words using the Speech Bubbles dies from Whimsy Stamps.  I adhered each word bubble to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  Lastly, I added a couple of rhinestones to the card for added sparkle. 
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I hope today's card will inspire you to share and speak nothing but kind and positive words.  Always.  
​Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day! 

XO, Crystal 

List of supplies: 

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1 Comment

Rainbow Bizzy Bee

7/17/2020

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Happy Fri-Yay!  I hope you are looking forward to the weekend ahead.  My parents are coming down for a visit from Maine and I haven't seen them since February, pre-travel quarantine, so I am beyond excited to hug them!
Today I'm happy to to be sharing this fun rainbow themed slimline card featuring a new stamp set called
"Bizzy Bees" from the July release at Whimsy Stamps.   This month's kit sold out in record time, so this is going to BEEEEeee a popular set!  
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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 card is made from Basic Black cardstock.  Using the Slimline Card Builder Die, I cut the background from white cardstock (you can see it has a thin stitching line around the edges). Using the Hexagon Builder Dies, I cut small hexagons from pink, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple cardstock and adhered them to the card.  I printed the digital "Bizzy Bees" stamp set onto Neeanah Solar White smooth cardstock and colored the bees using Copic markers.  I used my Brother Scan and Cut 2 Electronic Cutting machine to cut the images out (rather than fussy cutting them).  I adhered the bees over each hexagon using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  I cut the sentiments into little strips and adhered a sentiment beside each bee.  Lastly, I added a coat of Clear Wink of Stella to the bees for added sparkle.  
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Whimsy Stamps has this Bizzy Bees stamp set and so many other cute and fun designs to chose from.
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal 

List of supplies: 

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1 Comment

Whimsy Stamps July Release

7/1/2020

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It's another exciting new release day today at Whimsy Stamps and today I am featuring the new "Sweet Succulents" stamp set.   Succulents, like cacti, are my kind of plant because they are low maintenance and practically impossible to kill.  I'll admit to being quite neglectful when it comes to watering things. . .  I'm more of a rock garden kind of girl!  
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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" inches.  Slimline cards are designed to fit inside a regular #10 business sized envelope and do not require additional postage.  The base of this card is made from kraft cardstock.  I cut a 8" x 3" piece of Lawn Fawn Rainbow paper and adhered it to the kraft background.  Using the Whimsy Stamps Filmstrip die, I cut the frame from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  I stamped all of the succulent images in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on white cardstock and colored the images using Copic markers.  I used my Scan and Cut 2 machine to cut the images out in lieu of fussy cutting.  I then stamped the various words, "Hope, Laugh, Love, Dream" etc. in Memento Black ink on the plant pots.  I adhered the succulents to the card in rainbow (ROYGBIV) pattern using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  Lastly, I added a coat of Clear Wink of Stella to the succulents for added sparkle.  
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There are so many other fun new release products available at Whimsy Stamps, so be sure to check them out and start your shopping wish list today!

Thanks for visiting and happy crafting!

XO, Crystal 

List of supplies: 

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0 Comments

Bubbly Feels

6/12/2020

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Hello and TGIF, friends!  In keeping up with yesterday's coffee themed card, today's slimline card is all about bubble tea!  Also called boba tea or pearl milk tea, bubble tea is a Taiwanese tea-based drink invented in the 1980s, which is shaken with ice to create the "bubbles", a foamy layer on top of the drink and chewy tapioca balls are added that typically fall to the bottom.  I've got to admit, while I've only had one, I think bubble tea looks better than it tastes!  It's a weird texture thing for me.  Have YOU ever tried bubble tea?
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Card details: 

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

This slimline card measures 8 1/2" x 3 1/2".  A slimline card is designed to fit inside a regular #10 business sized mailing envelope with no extra postage needed.  The base of this slimline card is made from Coastal Cabana cardstock.  Using the Whimsy Stamps Slimline Scallop die, I cut the frame from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  I lined the back of each oval window with pieces of rainbow paper from the Lawn Fawn Really Rainbow paper pack.  I printed out the "Bubbly Feels" digital stamp set onto Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock and colored in the images with Copic markers.  I added a few highlights using a white gel pen.  I fussy cut the tea cups out and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive.  I printed the sentiment strip also onto Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  I notched the left end before adhering it to the card.  Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the bubble teas for added sparkle.  
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Here is the "Bubbly Feels" stamp set by Graciellie Design that I used to create today's card:
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Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a wonderfully creative weekend!

XO, Crystal 

List of supplies: 

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0 Comments

Lovely (Vellum) Butterflies

5/19/2020

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Hello readers! Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog sharing these rainbow cards featuring the Lovely Butterflies stamp set. I've been creating a lot of rainbow themed cards lately, because I find them very cheerful and uplifting and I think we could all use more sunshine (and rainbows) in our lives right now!
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Card details: 

To create the first card, I die cut the Butterfly Garden Layer Plate C from white cardstock. I adhered this over a piece of rainbow patterned paper. I stamped one butterfly on each of five different colored cardstocks (red, orange, yellow, green and blue) and heat embossed the butterflies with white embossing powder. I used the coordinating Lovely Butterflies dies to die cut the butterflies out. ​I die cut a circle of vellum cardstock and stamped the sentiment in the middle of the circle in Versamark ink. I heat embossed the sentiment with white embossing powder and adhered it to the center of the card. I adhered the die cut butterflies down the left side of the card in a rainbow ROYGBIV pattern. I adhered the butterflies using small pieces of 3M foam adhesive.
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Card details: 

*A full list of supplies is located at the end of this post.

The base of this second card was made using 80 lb. Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock. Using the Delfina Layering Plate A, I die cut the lattice from white cardstock. I adhered a piece of rainbow paper behind the lattice using a Tombow dot runner before adhering both to the card base. I stamped the sentiment "make a wish" in Memento Tuxedo black ink on a piece of scrap paper and notched the bottom end. I adhered thin pieces of orange, red and blue ribbon behind the sentiment and stapled it together. Yes, stapled! Why not?!  It's art!
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I stamped a variety of butterflies from the Lovely Butterflies stamp set on vellum cardstock in Versamark ink and heat embossed them with white embossing powder. I die cut the butterflies using the coordinating Lovely Butterflies dies and adhered them to the card small pieces of 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.
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I have created a YouTube video tutorial for you to watch and learn how both cards were created!

I hope these rainbow cards will bring some sunshine to your day!

XO, Crystal 

List of supplies: 

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0 Comments

Making It

5/16/2020

2 Comments

 
Hello readers and happy Saturday!  Today I am sharing a new digital stamp set called "Making It" from the RG  Avenue Monthly Card Club.  I'll be the first to admit that when I saw this geometic shaped stamp set, I was quite hesitant that it wasn't necessarily "my style."  But, part of being a designer and artist, means being unafraid to take chances and experiment with things outside of your comfort zone.  I was very pleasantly surprised with how these cards turned out using a rainbow theme of colors!  
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Card details:  

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock.  Using the Altenew Watercolor Stripes Cover Die, I cut the background from Black Taffy sugar stock.  I printed the butterflies from the "Making It' stamp set on Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock and colored them with Copic Markers.  I cut the butterflies out using my Brother Scan and Cut 2 machine.  I adhered the butterflies to the card using 3M foam adhesive.  I adhered some black baker's twine under the sentiment.  Lastly, I coated the butterflies with a layer of Dazzling Pat for added sparkle.  
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Card details: 

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock.  Using the Altenew Watercolor Stripes Cover Die, I cut the background frame from white cardstock.  I lined the frame with green gingham paper.  I printed the roses from the "Making It' stamp set on Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock and colored them with Copic Markers.  I cut the roses using my Brother Scan and Cut 2 machine.  I adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive.  I adhered the sentiment in the upper left corner also with foam adhesive.  Lastly, I coated the roses with a layer of Dazzling Pat for added sparkle.  
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Here is the "Making It' digital stamp set that I used to create today's set of cards:
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Monthly Card Club:

Subscribe, Receive and Create! It’s that simple!

Be the first to play and craft with trends before they’re launched!! Live Virtual Class with step-by-step instruction. Classes will stay recorded so if you can’t make the Live class, not a problem you can access it anytime. Come and play when you want!

*Live class is held every 2nd Wednesday of each month*  Receive your Exclusive Download instantly after checkout and start creating! Exclusive Digital Download included with files in 5 formats; Regular PDF, Digital Die Cut Machine Outlined PDF, Mini PDF, SVG & JPEG. You will also receive an exclusive new stamp set each month to create your projects (Stamp Set available for by mail kits only).

Here’s what you receive in each Monthly Kit!– Create 4 gorgeous projects!
– Exclusive Digital Downloads in 4 formats! (Regular PDF, Digital Die Cut Machine Outlined PDF, SVG File, and JPEG File)
– Exclusive new stamp set 6″ x 8″ (three months ahead of its launched date)
– One on one education! Live virtual education class. The recording will always be available!
– Learn Design Trends First!
– Tips, Techniques, and methods!
– Design and composition!
Subscription:* In the mail kit Option (U.S. Purchases only) 6-month subscription at – $29.99 + Tax & Shipping each month.

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I hope you have enjoyed this colorful array of cards!  Thanks for visiting. 

XO, 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 do not participate in affiliate programs.
    • 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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