Crystal Komara
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Poppy Birthday

5/22/2020

1 Comment

 
Earlier this month on one of my "off" weeks from work, I decided to begin assembling some cardmaking kits for my friends, family and local stampers.  Since the beginning of March, when the Covid-19 pandemic began, I have not been able to hold classes in my home studio, or in the community.  I keep receiving emails and text messages from my regular attendees who state how much they miss coming to classes, which just warms my heart as I miss hosting and teaching too!  So, I have been creating a variety of kits and making doorstop deliveries so that my class comes to them!  And WOW, are they are a hit!  With each and every new card kit I create, they are selling out within two days!  I am so happy that I can help my friends and family from a little boredom at home.  Here is one of the poppy themed birthday card kits I put together using the beautiful "Painted Poppies" stamp set by Stampin' UP!
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Here is the Painted Poppies stamp set by Stampin' UP! that was the focal point of this card kit: 
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Ladies, I hear your requests and I promise, there ARE more kits coming, I just need to replenish some supplies!
​Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative weekend friends!

XO, Crystal 

1 Comment

Pretty Pavilion

3/25/2020

1 Comment

 
I honestly cannot remember the last wedding I attended, it's been that long. . . But, I always try and keep a few extra wedding cards on hand, you know, just in case someone opts for Elvis and Vegas on a Friday night whim!  I also do not even remember the last wedding card I actually made, so clearly that has been a while too!  Recently, as I was organizing and re-labeling my shoe boxes of cards, I realized that I am out of wedding cards.  So, today I have used the "Pretty Pavilion" stamp set from Stampin' UP! to create a few wedding themed cards to have on hand.  
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Card details: 

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

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  Using the Scalloped Stitched Nesting Rectangle dies from Gina Marie Designs, I cut the scalloped background from Melon Mambo paper.  I cut a 3" x 2" piece of floral patterned paper and adhered it to the bottom of the scalloped rectangle. I cut a 3" x 3" piece of white cardstock to place above the floral paper.  I stamped "always and forever" in the upper left corner in Melon Mambo ink.  I stamped the pavilion in Versamark ink on Crumb Cake cardstock.  i heat embossed the pavilion with white embossing powder and then die cut it using the coordinating die.  
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I stamped the pavilion banner in Versamark ink on Melon Mambo cardstock and heat embossed it with white embossing powder.  I used the coordinating die to cut the banner out.  I stamped the two trees and the presents in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on white cardstock and colored them with Copic markers.  I then adhered the entire scene to the card using 3M foam adhesive.  Lastly, I tied a piece of green twine around the card before adhering it all together.  
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Here is the second card I created also using the Pretty Pavilion stamp set: 
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Card details: 

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  I placed a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of mint plaid paper directly on the card base.  Using the Scalloped Stitched Nesting Rectangle dies by Gina Marie Designs, I cut a piece of Mint Macaron cardstock.  I lined the Mint Macaron cardstock with a piece of white cardstock.  On this white cardstock, I stamped the sentiment "Always and Forever" in Blushing Bride ink.  I stamped the pavilion in Early Espresso ink and die cut it using the coordinating dies.  I stamped the trees in Tuxedo Memento Black ink and colored them using Copic markers.  I stamped the pavilion banner in Versamark ink on Blushing Bride cardstock and heat embossed it with white embossing powder.  I die cut it using the coordinating dies.  I stamped the pavilion greenery in Versamark ink on Mint Macaron cardstock and heat embossed in with white embossing powder.  I die cut the greenery using the coordinating dies.  I assembled the entire scene together using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. 
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I hope these cards will inspire you to create some wedding cards to have on hand too.  
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal 

List of supplies: 

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1 Comment

Bloom & Grow (In Every Color)

2/18/2020

3 Comments

 
Hello readers and happy Wednesday to you! Today I am beginning to share the first of many cards I created during our annual craft retreat on the Cape two weeks ago.  I finally was able to find the time to unpack my bags from vacation, reorganize my craft room, and photograph the 55+ cards I made throughout that week.  Yes, that IS a lot of cards!  But, considering I made many of them in multiples of varying colors, like those I'm sharing here with you today, there actually weren't that many different cards. 
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Card details: 

*All A2 cards were made in the same manner, I simply changed out the color combinations.  A full supply list is located at the end of this post. 

The base of each card is made from Whisper White cardstock.  Using the Scalloped Stitched Nesting Rectangle dies from Gina Marie Designs, I cut the scalloped piece of cardstock from a bold color.  I lined that bold color with a 5" x 3 3/4" piece of white cardstock.  In the center of the cardstock, I stamped my sympathy sentiment.  On a separate sheet of white cardstock, I stamped two of the floral bouquets (one for the top and one for the bottom) in Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  I used the coordinating dies to cut the bouquets out.  I then colored each bouquet with Copic markers.  I adhered the bouquet to the card above and below the sentiment using foam adhesive for added dimension.  Lastly, I added a couple randomly placed clear rhinestones for added sparkle.  ​
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I hope you have enjoyed seeing this very colorful assortment of sympathy cards.  Do YOU have a favorite color or one card that really catches your eye? 

​Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal 

List of supplies: 

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Bloom and Grow Bundle by Stampin' UP!
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Gorgeous Grape cardstock
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Real Red cardstock
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So Saffron cardstock
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Peekaboo Peach cardstock
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Tombow Permanent Tape Runner
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Melon Mambo cardstock
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Whisper White cardstock
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Memento Tuxedo Black ink
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Clear Rhinestones
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Stampin' Dimensionals
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3 Comments

So Long Summer

8/16/2019

2 Comments

 
Hi friends!  I know it's only August 16th, but let's consider today's card my official cardmaking end of summer.  I know, I know. . . Collective groans from the interwebs! : )  But, you can't be too sad because today's card IS filled with butterflies and rainbows and both of those just exude happiness.  I say "end of summer" because I need to begin creating cards for my fall classes, so I'll begin using a new color palette and switching out to more seasonal and holiday products.  I'm excited, so you have no choice but to embrace it too!  Hmmmm, now doesn't that kind of leave you excited for what next week's posts might be?!
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Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  I cut a sheet of Lawn Fawn Really Rainbow paper for the first mat.  Using Memento Tuxedo Black ink, I stamped the sentiment on a sheet of white cardstock and die cut it using the Gina Marie Designs Stitched Oval Nesting dies.  On a separate sheet of white cardstock, I stamped the butterflies in a rainbow of colors using Lovely Lipstick ink, Pumpkin Pie ink, Daffodil Delight ink, Pear Pizzazz ink, Marina Mist ink (retired) and Gorgeous Grape ink.  I punched the butterflies using the coordinating punch and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  Lastly, I put a coat of Clear Wink of Stella on each butterfly for added sparkle.
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Here is the Butterfly Gala stamp set and coordinating punch from Stampin' UP! that I used to make today's card:
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Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend!

XO, Crystal

You might also enjoy:

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2 Comments

An Experiment in Color

7/15/2019

1 Comment

 
Hello friends and happy Monday!  I hope you all had a nice weekend.  Monday's are always so tough to bounce back from. . . Today's post is a bit of an experimentation in color.  What if I told you that you could make the same exact card for two entirely different people, just by changing up something as simple as the colors?  Case in point:  Happy Birthday in primary colors (ROYGBIV) are great for 5-year-olds.  Happy Birthday in gold and black works for 85-year-olds!  Last weekend I made the first birthday card in
ROYGB (no IV) colors and it didn't really appeal to me because I don't necessarily love traditional primary colors.  But, I decide to try it again and I LOVED how it came out in black and gold.  It really made the card look so much more elegant and classy.  Hmmm, I guess gold can do that to anything!
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Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock.  Using the Gina Marie Designs Scalloped Stitched Nesting Rectangle dies, I cut the first layer from Basic Black cardstock.  On top of that scalloped layer, I cut a piece of 5" x 3 3/4" white cardstock.  I die cut the letters from Real Red cardstock, Pumpkin Pie cardstock, Pineapple Punch cardstock, Garden Green cardstock and Blueberry Bushel cardstock.  I used the Large Letter Framelit Dies (retired) by Stampin' UP! On a thin strip of Basic Black cardstock I stamped the "happy birthday" sentiment inVersamark ink and heat embossed it in white embossing powder.  I notched both ends and added it to the center of the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.
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Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock.  Using the Gina Marie Designs Scalloped Stitched Nesting Rectangle dies, I cut the first layer from Basic Black cardstock.  On top of that scalloped layer, I cut a piece of 5" x 3 3/4" white cardstock.  I die cut the letters fromGold Glimmer paper using the Large Letter Framelit Dies (retired) by Stampin' UP! On a thin strip of Basic Black cardstock I stamped the "happy birthday" sentiment in Versamark ink and heat embossed it in gold embossing powder.  I notched both ends and added it to the center of the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.
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Here are two more samples using this same "experiment in color:"
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What do you think of this little experiment?  Have I convinced you?   Are you ready to try creating the same card in color AND in black/gold?!

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

You might also enjoy:

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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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