Crystal Komara
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Sweet As Pie

11/20/2019

1 Comment

 
Hi friends!  Today I am sharing this card on the Butterfly Reflections, Ink blog.  The new "Sweet as Pie" stamp set by SugarPea Designs has my name written all over it.  "Sweet" and "pie" in the same sentence?  Yes, please!  It's no secret that I L-O-V-E sweets and with Thanksgiving coming up next week, I'm thinking all things pumpkin and apple right now using this yummy set.
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Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Kraft cardstock.  I cut a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of plaid paper similar to that of the Echo Park My Favorite Fall paper pack and adhered this to the card base. Using the Hello Bluebird Gallery Frame #2 die, I cut the frame from orange cardstock. I lined the back of the frame with a piece of Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  I stamped the sentiment "You're as sweet as pie" in a brown ink directly onto the white base lining.  Next, I stamped the images from the "Sweet as Pie" stamp set in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  I colored the images using my Copic Markers. Then I die cut the images using the coordinating Sweet as Pie Sugar Cuts. I adhered the die cut images to the card using foam adhesive.  Lastly, I added a coat of clear Wink of Stella to the pies for added sparkle (and also because I completely forgot to stamp and die cut the matching whip cream in the stamp set)!
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So, maybe you've noticed that the bottom edge of that left side pie plate is a little darker than the rest?  Well, sure we can blame it on my coloring skills (truth), or we can just agree to say that it's a well loved pie plate that's seen a few family Thanksgiving's!  Works either way!

Here is the Sweet As Pie stamp set by SugarPea Designs that I used to create today's card:
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I hope you have enjoyed today's card!   Thanks for visiting, you're all sweet as pie!

XO, Crystal

1 Comment

Conquering Your Creative Fears

9/18/2019

4 Comments

 
Hello friends!  Cheers to Wednesday, you've made it halfway through the week!  Today I am sharing over on the Butterfly Reflections Ink website.  Would you believe that I own ALL the Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks, but am too afraid to use them!?  It's true!  I see the beautiful backgrounds and unique watercolor designs that other artists create with these water reactive inks, but when I try to do it, the end result looks like I let an unattended 5-year-old loose in my craft room!  I struggle with uniform blending, too much/too little water and the root of all evil - comparison.  Theodore Roosevelt said, "Comparison is the thief of joy" and I remind myself of this every time I'm scrolling Instagram and Pinterest.  Today, I'm here to conquer one of my own creative fears and hopefully I can encourage you to do the same!
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Today's card uses the new Fall Fox stamp set by Sugar Pea Designs.  This is a "slimline" card that measures 8 1/2" long by 3 1/2" inches high.  You've probably been seeing a lot of these similar style cards on social media and they are growing in popularity.  The great thing about these slimline cards is that they will fit into a #10 business sized envelope without having to pay additional postage.  
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The base of my card is Cajun Craze cardstock.  I was asking all of my crafty friends what paper to use when I want to blend the Distress Oxide inks and the universal answer was Bristol Smooth!  So, I cut a sheet of Bristol Smooth paper to 8 1/4" by 3 1/4".  I grabbed my Picket Fences Blender Brushes and began to rub the ink along the paper in a circular motion.  The top color is Fossilized Amber, the middle color is Spiced Marmalade and the darkest (bottom) color is Aged Mahogony.   I kept rubbing the blender brush through the colors until the lines faded and the colors seemed to blend more seamlessly.  Honestly, this was a lot less scary than I though it would be!  I also die cut the grass from the same blended cardstock using the Tucked In Turf die and adhere it to the bottom of the scene.
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Using the lightest piece of brown paper from the Lawn Fawn Knock on Wood paper pack, I die cut the birch trees using the  Lawn Fawn Birch Tree Lawn Cuts and adhered them to the blended background with my tape runner.  Then I added the background to the card base.   I stamped all of the images in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  I colored each image with my alcohol ink markers.  I added highlights to each colored image with a White Gelly Roll Pen.  Then I die cut the images out with the coordinating Sugar Pea Designs Fall Fox Sugar Cuts.  I stamped the sentiment at the top of the card in a medium brown ink.  I began to add the images to the card using foam adhesive for added dimension.
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Woohoo!  I can now say that I have actually used the over $300 worth of Distress Oxide inks sitting in my craft room.  And, it wasn't nearly as scary as the image I had conjured up in my mind!  I hope today's post will encourage YOU to face your own creative fears, whatever they might be.  Go ahead and give it a try.  After all, it IS only paper!  : )
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

4 Comments

Pucker Up Some More

7/24/2019

1 Comment

 
Hi friends and happy Wednesday!  Yesterday I shared this fun lemon waterfall card made using the Pucker Up stamp set by SugarPea Designs and today I am sharing two more ways to use this stamp set.  I have been trying to share a lot more samples and ideas on the blog lately - have you noticed?!  For instance, I've been using one stamp set multiple ways, so that if one card or idea doesn't appeal to you, then perhaps another option with a different variation in color or layout will.  And, as an added bonus, it's helping me re-build my own card supply stash too!
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Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.  The first matted layer is a 5 1/4 x 4" piece of Granny Apple Green cardstock.  Layered on top of the Granny Apple Green cardstock is a piece of green scalloped paper from the Lawn Fawn Simply Scalloped paper pack.  I die cut a semi-circle in the scalloped sheet to line with clear acetate film to create a shaker card. I stamped the sentiment inside of the shaker card using Granny Apple Green ink.   I stamped all of the images in Memento Tuxedo black ink and colored them with Spectrum Noir Alcohol ink makers.  I added a few highlights to the colored images using a Uniball white gel pen.  I adhered the images to the card using 3M foam adhesive and lastly put a coat of Clear Wink of Stella on the images for added sparkle.
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Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day! 
Also, consider yourself warned, tomorrow begins Christmas in July! 

XO, Crystal

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1 Comment

Pucker Up by Sugarpea Designs

7/23/2019

0 Comments

 
Okay, so my "Shark Week" inspiration only lasted one day. . . I did create another shark themed card to share with you today, but when I looked at the images on the computer I was not satisfied with the quality of photography on that particular card. So, I deleted my original post and decided to share this lemon waterfall card instead.   I am actually hosting a waterfall cards technique class this evening at my house and this is one of four cards the ladies will be creating.  To see my list of scheduled events and upcoming classes, please click here.  I'd love for you to join one of my classes too!  
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Card details: 

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Daffodil Delight cardstock.  The first matted layer is a  5 /14" x 4" sheet of scrap paper with lemons on it (sorry, company unknown!).  I followed this tutorial on YouTube in order to assemble the "waterfall" portion of the card.  Additional supplies used are:  Pear Pizzazz cardstock, Tuxedo Memento Black ink, Pear Pizzazz ink, Daffodil Delight ink, Uniball White Gel Pen, 3M foam adhesive, Spectrum Noir Alcohol ink markers (for coloring the images) and Clear Wink of Stella for added sparkle. 

Here is a brief video to show you how the card "waterfalls" or opens:
Here are the two stamps sets I used to create today's card:
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I hope you will try creating a waterfall card!  Just look up any one of the great tutorials on YouTube and I think you will be pleasantly surprised with how easy they are to make! 

Tomorrow I will be sharing two other ideas for how to use both of these fun stamp sets in both lime and pink color combinations.  Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

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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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