Crystal Komara
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Butterfly Basics

5/18/2022

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Hello readers! Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog sharing a slimline card made using the Butterfly Basics die set. I have owned this beautiful die set for a while and for as much as I love butterflies, I can't believe I hadn't used it yet! So, while there is a whole new gorgeous release of products (to include foils!) from Birch Press Design, today I'm going back to the (butterfly) basics. 
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Card details: 

The base of this slimline card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock. This slimline card measures 8 1/2' x 3 1/2' and will fit inside a regular #10 business sized envelope and, as such, requires no additional postage. I used a slimline die to create the first matted background.  ​Using the Butterfly Basics die, I cut the large open base frame from solid cardstock. I used four primary colors (pink, blue, yellow and green). I used the following pads of cardstock: Lush Green, Berry Red, Sunny Orange, Fresh Aqua.  I die cut the middle portion of the butterfly from glitter cardstock. I used the Glitzy Glitter 6 x 6" pad. ​
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​I adhered the butterfly basic together with LineCo ph neutral bookbinding glue. This is my favorite liquid adhesive and it works well when holding glitter cardstock to other paper. I die cut the butterfly bodies from black cardstock. After adhering all the individual butterflies together, I adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. 
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​I really like the bold and bright colors of these butterflies. Due to their slightly larger dimension size, I felt like putting them on a slimline card would showcase more colors. I hope you like today's fun card! Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!
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XO, Crystal 

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Rainbow Star Flowers

4/18/2022

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​Hello crafty readers! Thanks for taking the time to be here as the Design Team shares inspiration ideas, tips and tricks for creating beautiful cards using Birch Press Design products. This is Crystal Komara here with you today sharing an amazingly detailed slimline rainbow card using the Star Flowers, part of the all-NEW Contour Layering dies. Last week I shared another rainbow themed card using the Wispy Blooms Contour Layering dies, so if you missed that post, please click here to be WOW'd!
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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. I always use 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock for my bases. Then I used the Star Flower Contour dies and cut it in every color cardstock. I cut the flowers in two shades of red, orange, yellow, green blue and purple. I adhered the two layers of flowers together and added the round center piece to each flower. 
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​I adhered the star flowers in a ROYGBIV pattern up the length of the card. I also die cut a couple green stems from the Fuddled Leaf Branches Contour Layering Dies and green cardstock. I stamped the sentiment "hello" using the Contempo Greetings stamp set. I stamped the sentiment in Versamark ink on black cardstock. I heat embossed the sentiment with white embossing powder and then I used the coordinating Contempo Greetings die to cut the sentiment out. I adhered the sentiment to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  
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​Wow! Yes, that was a LOT of die cutting and piecing together flowers but the end result was totally worth it. This card came out beautiful, if I do say so myself! Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!
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XO, Crystal 

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Let's Party

2/7/2022

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​Let's paarrrrtayyyyyyy, Birch Press Design friends! Today's I am on the Birch Press Design blog with this slimline card that is a rainbow of fun! This colorful card features the new Let's Party Sugar Script dies and the Floral Balloon Layer Set.
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Card details: 

​This slimline card measures 8 1/2" x 3 1/2". Slimline cards are designed to fit inside a regular business envelope and require no additional postage. The base of this card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I also cut a 8 1/4" x 3 1/4" piece of the same white cardstock for the first matted layer.  

To create the balloons:
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From white cardstock, I die cut 5 balloons using Layer Plate B of the Floral Balloons Layer Set. Then I die cut one each of Layer A in red, orange, yellow, green and blue cardstock. I layered the two together and adhered them vertically down the card in a ROYGBIV rainbow pattern.  
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​To create all the "party" sentiments, I die cut the thicker shadow layer of "party" in red, orange, yellow, green and blue cardstock. I die cut the thinner top layer from rainbow patterned paper and adhered the two layers together with a fine-tip glue. I adhered the words vertically down the card (over the balloons) using 3M foam adhesive. Lastly, I added the word "let's" created from layering black and white cardstock together and adhered this sentiment to the bottom third of the card.
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​I hope you are enjoying may of the many F-U-N new products from Birch Press Design! Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!
​

XO, Crystal 

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It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

12/13/2021

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Hello crafty readers!  I know that we have only 12 days left until Christmas, so I hope that your holiday cards are in the mail by now, or at least on the kitchen counter ready to go, stat!  But, I'm here to offer a little more Christmas card inspiration should you still need to create a few last minute cards. . .
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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 this card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  I used a slimline die cut from red cardstock in order to create the frame.  Behind the frame I placed a 7 1/2" x 3" piece of black and white music patterned paper.  I printed the two envelopes from the Extraordinary digital stamp set.  I colored the envelopes with Copic markers in reds and greens.  I fussy cut the envelopes and adhered them to each corner of the card using 3M foam adhesive.  I die cut the word "Merry" from red glitter paper and created my own shadow die from vellum cardstock.  I printed the "it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" sentiment from the Love Santa digital stamp set in green ink on white cardstock.  I trimmed the sentiment down to a small size and adhered it above and below the word "Merry."  Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the flowers in the envelopes for added sparkle.  
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​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 

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Warm Christmas Wishes

10/13/2021

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Hello readers and happy Wednesday!  Today I am on the Joy Clair Designs blog  sharing a couple of cards that I created using the Christmas Joy stamp set, which is part of the new Wonderfully release.  I know it's only October and everyone might not be ready for Christmas just yet, but for those of us who make a LOT of holiday cards it is never too early to start!
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Card details: 

The base of this A2 sized card was made with 80 lb. Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock.  This is my go-to white cardstock for everything!  I use it for card bases, card layers, die cutting, Copic coloring and so much more.  I cut a 5 1/4" x 4 piece of plaid paper as my first base.  Using the Gina Marie Designs Scalloped Stitched Rectangle dies, I die cut a frame from red houndstooth paper.  I placed this frame in the center of the card.  I printed the wreath image from the digital Christmas Joy stamp set on Neenah white cardstock.  I colored the image with Copic markers and then fussy cut the wreath by hand.  I stamped the sentiment "Warm Christmas Wishes" in red ink and I adhered the wreath to the center of the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the wreath for added sparkle.  ​
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​Here is the second card I created using the same wreath from the Christmas Joy digital stamp set:
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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 this card was made using 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  I cut a 7" x 3 1/4" piece of royal blue cardstock for my first base.  I used a fancy border die along the bottom edge of the royal blue cardstock.  On top of the royal blue cardstock is a  6 3/4" x 2 3/4' piece of watercolored blue and white cardstock.  I splattered some royal blue ink on top of that cardstock before edging the bottom border with the same fancy die.  I cut a 6" x 1" piece of gold foil paper and ran it through a diamond embossing folder before adhering it to the center of the card.  I printed the wreath from the Christmas Joy digital stamp set and colored it using Copic markers.  I stamped the sentiment "Warm Christmas Wishes" in royal blue ink and then I fussy cut the wreath by hand and adhered it to the center of the card using 3M foam adhesive.  Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the wreath for added sparkle.
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Have you started YOUR holiday cards yet?  
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!
​

XO, Crystal 

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MFT Color Challenge #166

6/5/2021

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Hello friends and happy Saturday!  I hope you are all enjoying a nice weekend so far.  It is 93* and insanely hot and humid here in Massachusetts today, so I'm happy to be inside crafting with my friend Donna, who is here from L.A. visiting for a long weekend. 

Today I am linking up with the My Favorite Things Color Challenge #166, which is a fun blend of purples, teals and gray.  I haven't played along with any card challenges in quite a while, but Donna participates in them frequently and has inspired me to begin creating again using challenges as my guide.  
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Card details: 

This slimline card measures 8 1/2" x 3 1/2" inches.  The base of the card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  Using a piece of teal houndstooth paper (source unknown) I cut an 8 1/4" x 3 1/4" piece for the first layered mat.  I used the Whimsy Stamps Slimline Postage die for the white frame background.  Using the Whimsy Stamps Slimline Bunting Border dies, I die cut the banners from teal and purple glitter cardstock.  I stamped the images from MFT Stamps Sending Sweet Celebration Wishes in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on white cardstock.  I colored the images, using the required challenge colors, with Copic markers.  I die cut the images using the coordinating MFT Stamps Sending Sweet Celebration Wishes dies.  I adhered the images to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  I stamped the sentiment Memento Tuxedo Black ink on white cardstock and adhered it to the card using 3M foam adhesive.  Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the images for added sparkle.  
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Here is the color challenge from My Favorite Things that inspired today's card: 
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Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative weekend!
​

XO, Crystal 

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Be Courageous by Pinkfresh Studio

2/5/2021

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Hello friends and happy Friday!  I hope you have fun things planned for the weekend ahead.  Today I am sharing another Valentine's Day slimline card using the Be Courageous stamp set and coordinating dies from Pinkfresh Studio.  I have combined this stamp with some large letter framelit dies spelling out the world L-O-V-E in red glitter paper since the stamp set itself wasn't designed with love themed sentiments.  
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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 this slimline card was made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White cardstock.  On a 8 1/4" x 3 1/4" piece of the same white cardstock, I stamped the large floral background (Be Courageous by Pinkfresh Studio) in Memento Tuxedo black ink.  Once the ink drink, I colored the flowers with Copic markers.  I used the coordinating dies to die cut teh image out and adhere it to the front of the card.  I die cut the large letters L-O-V-E from red glitter cardstock and adhered the letters to the center of the card using strips of 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  Lastly, I stamped the sentiment "Happy Valentine's Day" in Versamark ink on a thin strip of vellum cardstock.  I heat embossed the sentiment with gold embossing powder.  I notched both ends and adhered it to the center of the card over the words "love." 
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Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative weekend!
​

XO, Crystal 

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Boho Frames

2/3/2021

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Hello friends! As I type this blogpost (it's Monday evening) and we are in the midst of a true New England blizzard.  With somewhere between 8-14" of snow on it's way, I have a feeling that tomorrow will be a snow day for me - which means I get to spend the day crafting!  I think I have a few more Valentine's Day themed cards I'd like to to create based upon some ideas floating around in my mind.    

Today's slimline card used the Boho Frames digital stamp set from 88 and Clear.  
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Card details: 

This slimline card measures 8 1/2" x 3 1/2".  The base of the card was made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock.  I cut a 8 1/4" x 3 1/4" piece of Black Taffy cardstock for the first matted layer.  Using the Slimline Frames & Portholes dies from Newton's Nook Designs, I cut the scalloped layer from Rich Cherry cardstock.  I printed the Boho Frames digital stamp set three times on 80 lb. Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock.  I used the same frame three times on this card.  I colored the frame with Copic markers and fussy cut the frame.  I adhered all three frames to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  On a 4" x 1" strip of Black Taffy cardstock, I stamped the "with love" sentiment in Versamark ink and heat embossed it with white embossing powder.  I notched both ends before adhering the sentiment to the center of the card. 
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Here is the Boho Frames stamp set from 88 and Clear that I used to create today's card:
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I hope you have enjoyed today's card.  Thank you for visiting and happy crafting!
​

XO, Crystal 

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More Elegant Ornaments

11/5/2020

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Hello and happy Thursday readers!  Thank you for coming by to visit.  Today is Day 3 of showcasing new release products from Whimsy Stamps and I am sharing another card using the Elegant Ornaments stamp set and coordinating die.  If you missed Tuesday's whimsical slimline card, please click here.  You can also see yesterday's elegant black and gold card here.  All three cards can also be viewed at the end of this post.  

I really enjoy sharing different ways to use the same stamp set.  I have found that by creating a variety of cards, the stamp set appeals to a larger audience.  I also feel like I'm getting "more bang for my buck" by using the stamp set multiple times rather than using it for just one card and then moving on to something else!  
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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 inside a regular #10 business envelope and require no additional postage.  The base of this slimline card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  I cut a 8 1/4" x 3 1/4" piece of Melon Mambo cardstock for the first layer.  Using the Slimline Scenic Window, I die cut the frame from Pool Party cardstock. 
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I stamped pne of the ornaments in Pool Party Ink and one in Melon Mambo ink.  Then I heat embossed two of the ornaments with white embossing powder on Melon Mambo cardstock.  I heat embossed one ornament with white embossign powder on Pool Party cardstock.  I used the coordinating die to die cut all the ornaments out.  I adhered the ornaments to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  Lastly, I stamped the sentiment "Merry Christmas" in Melon Mambo ink on two separate thin strips of white cardstock and adhered them to each side of the card.  
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Here are the other two cards I made using the Elegant Ornaments stamp set and coordinating die:
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The November release from Whimsy Stamps is filled with lots of wintery goodness!  Be sure to visit the website to see other new products available.  

​Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal 

List of supplies: 

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Whimsy Stamps November Release

11/3/2020

1 Comment

 
Hello friends and happy Tuesday!  November 1 was a new release day with Whimsy Stamps and for the next three days, I will be sharing one of my favorite new stamp sets and coordinating dies from this latest release!  I will be showing you different ways to use the new Elegant Ornaments stamp set and coordinating die to achieve a variety of unique looks for your handmade cards. 
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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" by 3 1/2".  Slimline cards are designed to fit inside a regular #10 business sized envelope and require no additional postage.  The base of this slimline card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  On an 8 1/4" x 3 1/4" piece of Bristol Smooth cardstock, I ink blended Distress Oxide inks in Mowed Lawn, Barn Door, Picked Raspberry and Twisted Citron.  I think splattered white acrylic paint over the distress inks.  
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I used the Slimline Postage Die to create a frame from white cardstock.  I stamped the ornaments from the new Elegant Ornaments stamp set in red, green, pink and lime ink.  Then I heat embossed the ornaments on red cardstock, lime green and pink cardstock in white embossing powder.  I die cut all the ornaments out and adhered them down the left side of the card panel using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  I stamped the sentiment "Christmas" in red ink on a thin strip of white cardstock and adhered it to the lower right side of the card.  Lastly, I heat embossed the sentiment "wishes" with white embossing powder on red cardstock and fussy cut the sentiment out adhering it below the "Christmas" sentiment. 
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I hope you have enjoyed today's card and will come back tomorrow to see another way to use this new stamp set.

To see more of the November release from Whimsy Stamps, please click here.  

​Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal 

List of supplies: 

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    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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