Author: birch press

  • Eloquent Alcohol Ink Butterflies | by Crystal Komara

    Eloquent Alcohol Ink Butterflies | by Crystal Komara

    Hello Birch Press Design readers! This is DT Member Crystal Komara here today and I’m so excited at how today’s card turned out. I’m going to kind of toot my own horn here, for just a second, but it currently is my absolute favorite card! I know, I know, this changes over time and with each new card that I make, but for today, I’m gonna let this card have its moment and shine as my “favorite!”

    I have long used alcohol inks in my card making. I think they make for beautiful background and accent pieces. If you’d like to see more examples, please click on any of the following descriptive links:

    ~Alcohol Ink Leaves

    ~ Alcohol Ink Easter Eggs

    ~Alcohol Ink Birthday Balloons

    ~Alcohol Inks Hearts and Butterflies

    ~Alcohol Ink String Art

    When I have the time, I sit down and make a ton of alcohol ink art pieces, I’m talking like anywhere between 50-100 pieces at a time and then I put them in a bin and tuck them away. When I need to make a “quick card,” I simply pull from the pre-made bin and finish my card. Many of the alcohol ink backgrounds I create often feature rainbow colors, similar to today’s.

    Card details:

    The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I then cut one of the pre-made alcohol ink pieces down to 5 1/4″ x 4″ and adhered it directly to the card base. Next I created two butterflies using the Eloquent Butterfly Layering set. The first butterfly was made from pink cardstock and the second butterfly was made from orange/peach cardstock. For both of the butterflies, I die cut Layer A (the top layer) from white cardstock. I adhered the butterflies to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. Lastly I added a couple clear rhinestones on the body of the butterfly for even more sparkle.

    I hope you will enjoy this card as much as I do! Now excuse me while I go make twenty more of this one to send to friends!! Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day.

    Supplies

    57426 Eloquent Butterfly Layer Set

  • Gladiolus Greetings | By Sandhya Iyer

    Gladiolus Greetings | By Sandhya Iyer

    Hello, friends! Design Team member, Sandhya here with a fresh pair of cards to share. The gorgeous new Vintage Sentiment dies pair beautifully with the foiled pattern papers. I chose to pair the two and added some vellum foliage for added dimension.

    I started with the gorgeous foiled pattern papers from the Glimmering Gladiola 6X6 paper pack. I picked the peach and purple colored papers and trimmed them down to make smaller panels. Next, I cut out mats for these panels with coordinating cardstock from my stash. I die-cut the Vintage sentiment words out of the center area of these panels before attaching the pattern paper to them.

    Then I went on to die cut the shadow layer for the sentiment dies out of white cardstock and assembled the sentiments. I used plenty of foam tape to attach the matted panels to white card bases. Before attaching the sentiment, I decided to add more dimension and movement. So I die cut some vellum leaves using the Lush Leaves Contour Layers Die set and the Oval Leaf Branches Die set.

    Finally, I attached the foliage and sentiment die-cuts to the cards and finished off with a few clear drop embellishments.

    Supplies:

    57547 Big Hugs Vintage Sentiment
    57549 Big Hello Vintage Sentiment
    57525 Oval Leaf Branches Contour Layers
    57521 Lush Leaves Contour Layers
    PP1028 Glimmering Gladiola 6×6 pack

  • Vintage Hugs | by Allison Frazier

    Vintage Hugs | by Allison Frazier

    Hello, Birch Press friends. I am excited to be back on the blog today sharing this bold card featuring some new products! There are some great new word dies that just came out, and I chose one of my favorite sentiments of all time – hugs.

    I really was in the mood for a different and bold color palette, and the new Glimmering Gladiola paper pack from Memory Box was just what I needed as a jumping-off point. I chose some purple paper with a gold foil leaf design as my background. I took some darker purple ink and blended that around the edges of the panel before glueing it onto an A2 card base.

    Next, I used the new Sunrise Cardstock pack to pick four different colors of orange/yellow to create the layers for the Perky Bloom. This flower is so easy to assemble, and I love it in these colors! Instead of choosing large leaves to complement the flower, I chose some smaller leaves from the Tiny Tuft Flowers and Leaves die set. I cut these out of purple card stock and adhered them to the card base underneath the flower.

    The Big Hugs Vintage Sentiment is fun because you can assemble it in different ways. For my card today, I used the base layer die to cut purple card stock. I then took that base layer and die cut it with the detail layer die in order to create the purple outline. Finally, I glued that outline onto a white base layer. I stamped the subsentiment “sending” with VersaMark ink onto purple cardstock and then heat embossed it with white embossing powder. I splattered the card with white paint before adhering both of the sentiments with liquid glue.

    To finish the card, I added some purple and orange fairy jewels around the design. I hope this card brings a smile to your face! Thank you so much for joining us today.


    Supplies


    57531 Perky Bloom Contour Layers
    57547 Big Hugs Vintage Sentiment
    57501 Tiny Tuft Flowers and Leaves Contour Layers
    CL8143 Lingo Thanks clear stamp set
    SP1008 Twilight Purple 6×6 pack

    Supplies


    PP1028 Glimmering Gladiola 6×6 pack
    sp1013 Sunrise 6×6 pack
    jwl004 Autumn Fairy Jewels
  • Lush Leaves with a Gelli Print | By, Natasha Vacca

    Lush Leaves with a Gelli Print | By, Natasha Vacca

    Hello Birch Press Friends, it is Natasha here and I am excited to be back on the blog today! Today’s card was inspired by a fellow design team member, Seeka! She shared a creative way to use embossing folders on a gelli plate and I had so much fun giving this a try! So let’s get started!

    For today’s card I started with the beautiful Lush Leaves Contour Layers die set! I die cut 2 leaves using an alcohol ink background from my stash. Once the leaves were die cut, I added Distress Ink to the edges and then adhered foam tape on the back of each leaf and set them aside. Next I die cut 2 more leaves using the Twilight Purple paper pack from Memory Box.

    Next I created a gelli print background using the Geometric Crystals embossing folder. I added paint to my gelli plate and then added a piece of paper with a dry embossed background using the embossing folder. I pressed the paper lightly onto my gelli plate, then I removed the background. My gelli plate now had small squares from the folder. I added a bit more paint, then pressed a new piece of paper onto my gelli plate. This was such a cool background and such a fun way to use my gelli plate!

    Next I trimmed the gelli plate panel using my deckle trimmer. I distressed the edges, then applied Distress Ink to each of the sides. I then adhered this onto a green panel and then added this to an A2 card base. Next I adhered the purple leaves, as well as my alcohol ink printed leaves to the card front. I used both liquid glue and foam tape.

    Next I die cut the new Big Hugs Vintage Sentiment using white card stock. I die cut this 2 times, then adhered each letter together with liquid glue. I then heat embossed a piece of white cardstock with a green/gold embossing powder. Once this was dry I die cut the hugs sentiment one more time. I then adhered the embossed letters on the top with liquid glue. On the shadow layer I added distress oxides, as well as distress ink to the edges. I adhered my sentiment, as well as a few gems from the Treasure Chest Fairy Gemstones collection.

    I had a lot of fun creating today’s card! I will be back soon with more inspiration!


    Supplies


    57547 Big Hugs Vintage Sentiment
    57521 Lush Leaves Contour Layers

    Supplies


    EF1016 Geometric Crystals 3D Embossing Folder
    GEM101 Treasure Chest Fairy Gemstones
  • Spring Cheer | April Antonio

    Spring Cheer | April Antonio

    Happy Saturday! I was feeling the need to bring some spring, brightness into my life when I created today’s card, and with a busy Spring travel schedule, desired something beautiful, yet simple to pull together. Read on to find out which supplies I used to create this lovely card.

    I was inspired by the Memory Box Glimmering Gladiola 6×6 patterned paper pack. Each of the pages has a foiled side and a printed non-foiled side. I took one of the yellow pages and cut it down to a mat size for an A2 card front, leaving a 1/8 border all around. I glued this down, non-foiled side, to my white A2 card front.

    Next I took the geometric outline die from the Gilded Petalpoint hot foil set, and cut a piece of the yellow cardstock from it, foiled side up. I also cut leaves from the foiled paper using the Wiegela Leaf Contour Layers die set. The inside of the leaves I cut using a light yellow from the Memory Box Sunrise solid core cardstock pack.

    Next, I glued the contour leaves together, and glued the geometric piece and leaves all to the upper left of the card base.

    To finish off the card, I chose one of the beautiful Happy Birthday sentiments from the Open Studio Circle Foil Greeting Tabs, and glued it to the center of the geometric piece creating a sort of flower.

    This card was super simple to pull together, and using the greeting tabs and pre-printed paper really helped. I hope you are inspired to get in your craft stash and play this weekend!

    Supplies

    57515 Wiegela Leaf Contour Layers

    BPF516 Gilded Petalpoint Hot Foil Plate and Die Set

    Supplies

    SP1013 Sunrise 6×6 pack

    pp1028 Glimmering Gladiola 6×6 pack

    st010 Happy Birthday Foil Greetings White Circle Tabs

  • Birthday Balloons | by Rosemary Dennis

    Birthday Balloons | by Rosemary Dennis

    Hello everyone! Rosemary here on the blog today sharing three birthday cards that I created with the Floral Balloon Layering die set, the new Happy Birthday Vintage Sentiment die set and pretty patterned papers.

    I have been wanting to make a card (or cards) with the Floral Balloon Layer dies for along time. When the new Birch Press Word dies landed in my mailbox and one of them was the Happy Birthday Vintage Sentiment die I knew that time had finally arrived! Along with the dies I also received the new Memory Box Gladiola Plaid 6×6 pad. The papers in that pad are just gorgeous and so I used them for two of the cards. For the third card I used the Anemone Plaid 6×6 pad.

    My mom is the proud great gramma of three great granddaughters and one great grand son and about 2 years ago I started making the birthday cards that my mom gives the little ones. So, these cards will be going to three of the four. I will be making something a little bit different for the oldest great granddaughter. For the card for the great grandson, I omitted the balloon layer that cuts out the flowers to create a balloon with little dots. I pulled colors from the plaid for the background cardstock as well as the back layer of the balloon. All three cards are mini slimline in size.

    For the cards for the great granddaughters the bottom layer was die cut from glitter cardstock that coordinated with the patterned paper and cardstock used for the balloons. You don’t see alot of the glitter cardstock, but I think it adds a fun touch. All the balloons were adhered together using liquid adhesive.

    To finish off the cards I die cut the Happy Birthday Vintage Sentiment die from gold mirror cardstock for the top layer and then the same cardstock I used for the middle layer (or in the case of the first card, the bottom layer) for the bottom layer. Liquid adhesive was used to adhere everything together. Coordinating baker’s twine was tied around the bottom of each balloon, gathered together and tied in a knot so I could glue them to the card front once the balloons were attached using liquid adhesive.

    That’s it for me today. I hope you enjoyed my idea for using the Floral Balloon Layers dies and patterned paper. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

    Supplies

    57551 Happy Birthday Vintage Sentiment

    57433 Floral Balloon Layer Set

    Supplies

    pp1025 Anemone Plaid 6×6 pack

    pp1027 Gladiola Plaid 6×6 pack

  • Butterfly Mixed Media Journal | By, Natasha Vacca

    Butterfly Mixed Media Journal | By, Natasha Vacca

    Hello Birch Press friends, it is Natasha here today on the blog! Today I am sharing a mixed media page in my journal! I love using dies in my journal! Today I am using 2 die sets from Birch Press Designs: Butterfly Basics and Rose Leaves Contour Layers die sets! Let’s get started!

    I started by die cutting the Butterfly using the Butterfly Basics die set. I die cut the background using a premade panel from my stash. Next I die cut the top layer using the Memory Box Rainbow Reflections paper pad. Once the top layer was die cut I added embossing ink to the top layer, then added embossing powder. Once the embossing powder was completely dry, I added a paper glaze to sections of the butterfly. I allowed this to dry a bit, then added foil to sections for added texture. I die cut the antennae for the butterfly using the same background panel. I then adhered the layers together using liquid glue.

    Next I created a background panel using a gelli print from my stash. On the gelli print I added a few pieces of handmade tissue in various sections. I applied this with glue. Once this was dry, I ran the gelli print background through my die cutting machine using the Memory Box Ringadings embossing folder. I then added dye ink to some sections of the dry embossed background. Next I die cut the panel using the Rose Leaves Contour Layers die set. Once the leaves were die cut, I distressed the edges using Distress Ink. I allowed this to dry, then added embossing powder to sections of the leaves. I then added additional texture using paper glaze and foil again.

    Next I started to work on my background in my journal. I used Lindy’s Magical Powders to create a colorful background. You can create a colorful background using inks, watercolors, distress inks, as well as pigment powders! I encourage you to look through your stash! I work in layers when creating a background. I allow each layer to dry (I also use my heat tool to speed up the process), spritz the panel with water, pick up color with a paper towel, then I repeat the process until I have the color and texture I am looking for.

    I completed my journal page by adhering the leaves with foam tape. I added a piece of cheesecloth, then adhered the butterfly with liquid glue. I added a sentiment from my stash, as well as gems from the Pastel Jewels collection.

    I had a lot of fun creating today’s project! I will be back soon with more inspiration!


    Supplies


    57403 Butterfly Basics
    57522 Rose Leaves Contour Layers

    Supplies


    fp1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad
    ef1015 Ringadings 3D Embossing Folder
    JWL002 Pastel Jewels
  • Vibrant and Perky Bloom | by Crystal Komara

    Vibrant and Perky Bloom | by Crystal Komara

    Hello friends! Today I have a very bold and vibrant card to share with you using the new Perky Bloom Contour dies. I love mixing the Birch Press Design products with alcohol inks and I have frequently done so in the past. For other unique alcohol ink ideas, please check out my posts here, here and here. And, today, I have another one to add to my ever growing list!

    Card details:

    The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. For the background of this card, I used a pre-created piece of alcohol ink art that I keep stored in a bin for easy pull-out and use to create “quick cards” with. This background was mostly a gold honey color, but I did splatter it with black ink for extra interest.

    I used the new Perky Bloom Layering dies to create the two flowers. I cut each layer of the die from pink, peach and yellow cardstock and then continued to layer them together until I had a color combination that appealed to my eye and seemingly worked with the busy background and well! I adhered the flowers to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

    Lastly, I added one of the new foil greeting black tabs from Memory Box Company (a sister company to Birch Press Design). These new foiled tabs are beautifully made and are made of a nice thick chipboard. What a quick way to add an elegant sentiment!

    Sure, today’s card is very bold and vibrant, but doesn’t it also make you so happy and cheerful!? I hope you have enjoyed this card. Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

    Supplies

    57531 Perky Bloom Contour Layers

  • Patterned Wiegela Leaves | by Allison Frazier

    Patterned Wiegela Leaves | by Allison Frazier

    Hello, Birch Press friends! I am excited to be back on the blog today sharing the new Wiegela Leaf Contour Layers set. My card also features some new goodies from Memory Box!

    I started my card by choosing some dark green paper for my card panel. I blended some black ink around the edges and corners of the panel and glued it to an A2 card base. I used the same color paper for the top layer of the Wiegela leaves. For the bottom layer of the leaves, I used a patterned paper from the new Anemone Grove paper pack from Memory Box. I cut the leaves out twice, assembled them and adhered them to the card with liquid glue. I cut the excess off of the leaves on the right side of the card.

    I pulled the Simple Dragonfly Contour Layers set from my stash and created two dragonflies, one in pink and one in yellow. I used glitter paper for the top layer of each dragonfly. I also used black glitter paper for the bodies.

    For the sentiment I used one of the new greeting tabs from Memory Box. These are so fun, and you won’t find an easier and faster way to add a sentiment to your cards! These are gold foiled and they’re rather thick, kind of like chip board.

    To finish the card, I added some fairy drops around the design. I hope this card brings a smile to your face! Thank you so much for joining us today.


    Supplies


    57515 Wiegela Leaf Contour Layers
    57487 Simple Dragonfly Contour Layers
    gp1001 Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad

    Supplies


    pp1026 Anemone Grove 6×6 pack
    sp1012 Blush 6×6 pack
    sp1013 Sunrise 6×6 pack
    sp1011 Leafy 6×6 pack
    drp101 Fairy Drops
    st011 Happy Birthday Foil Greetings Black Circle Tabs
  • Hello | by Rosemary Dennis

    Hello | by Rosemary Dennis

    Hello everyone! Rosemary here on the blog today. Hope your April is off to a great start. It is a little bit of a cold start to April here in the Pacific Northwest, but that is the PNW for you, lol! Today I’m sharing a card created using the sweet Prime Peony Duo Contour Layers dies and a foiled sentiment from the new Sugar Script Sentiments 2 set. Let’s have a look at what I created.

    I started off my card by deciding that I wanted to use some pretty patterned papers and do a little bit of inking on the papers once I had them die cut. I pulled out the lovely Memory Box Anemone Plaid and Anemone Grove 6×6 pads and went with a purply-blue plaid for the flowers and a dark green plaid for the stems. I die cut all the pieces and then added some distress ink in Milled Lavendar to some of the pieces.

    I didn’t add any additional color to the stems as they were dark enough already. I then adhered all the pieces together. For the flowers I used a combination of liquid adhesive and thin foam squares to provide lift to some of the petals. Liquid adhesive was used soley on the leaves. I also decided to use the green flower centers that were die cut when I die cut the stems as I liked the look. In the close up photo above you can see the shading on flowers that was added with the distress ink.

    After the glue had set on the flower for a little bit I adhered the stems with additional liquid adhesive. I die cut a piece of the Anemone Grove paper with a rectangle die and adhered that to a white cardstock base. I then die cut Memory Box white woodgrain cardstock with a Curved Capped Pinpoint Layers die and added some Milled Lavendar distress ink to the top portion of the die cut and then lightly around the edges. I adhered that piece with thin foam squares.

    The flowers were then adhered to the panel using liquid adhesive. I finished the card with the sentiment that I foiled in matte gold and a few purply blue fairy gems.

    I hope you enjoyed today’s project. Thank you for stopping by and have a lovely day!

    Supplies

    57504 Prime Peony Duo Contour Layers

    BPF505 Sugar Script Sentiments 2 Hot Foil Plate and Die Sets

    Supplies

    94646 Curved Cap Pinpoint Layers

    pp1026 Anemone Grove 6×6 pack

    pp1025 Anemone Plaid 6×6 pack