Author: birch press

What a great day for a visit!  We’ve got a brand new craft die release to share and we’re celebrating with a blog blitz!   What’s a blog blitz?  We set aside a few days on the blog to show you projects created with the new release and have a prize for you on each post.

You’ve seen our layered background dies – part of this release is a set of layered heart dies.  These three CAPRICE dies are available individually or as a set.  You can use them individually or they can be stacked for a completely elegant look.

The new PERFECT HEARTS layers coordinate with several of the other dies in the new release – the largest one (show cut here) can be used as a backer for each of the CAPRICE HEART Layers.

Here’s what they look like stacked.

There’s also a new set of layered heart background dies called AMOUR.  I used Layer C to add some color to this simple design.

I made another version by embossing the AMOUR Layer C (run the die thorough your cutting machine with an embossing matt) and then adding some distress ink to bring out the beautiful lace detail.

Stamped sentiments on both cards are from our sister company Poppystamps.  The set is called GRATEFUL HEARTS and you can find it here. 

Ok here’s the part you’ve been waiting for… Want a chance to win the CAPRICE HEART LAYER B?

All you have to do is leave me a comment!  Here’s the details…

Our blog blitz runs  from January 10-13, 2017.  We’ll be giving  away a prize on every post during this time.

To enter to win you need to leave a comment on EACH of the posts that you wish to enter.   One person will be chosen at random from each of the posts during the blog blitz.

Only one prize per person per blog blitz. We use random number generator to select winners from comments.

You have until midnight US EST January 15 to leave a comment on each and every post that you want to enter.  Winners will announced on this blog on January 16.  Visit our sister company Poppystamps who is also having a Blog Blitz!  I think you’ll be glad you did!!

Thanks for stopping by and Good Luck!

Perfect Hearts Caprice Heart Layer A Caprice Heart Layer B Caprice Heart Layer C Amour Layer C

Now that the holidays are over we are back to creating everyday cards. Today we have a colourful birthday card to share with you. The Birch Press Design Stackable craft dies make it so easy to create colourful designs that are full of depth and dimension.

To recreate today’s card are using the Tilter Stackable craft dies. Start by choosing shades of cardstock that compliment each other. When using the Stackable dies the card base will be the colour that you see the least amount of, in the case of this card the teal blue is the base.

Prepare your card base, then cut one of each of the other cardstock colours in the order you want them to appear using the Tilter Stackable Layers A, B and C. The colour you want to see the most of is your top layer, or Tilter Stackable Layer A.

Adhere the layers to the card base. To create the sentiment on this card start by embossing the stamped ‘Wishing You A’ from Brushed Christmas Greetings on the base colour cardstock and trimming down with a paper trimmer. Then stamp the words ‘Happy’ and ‘Birthday’ from Brushed Birthday Greetings on white cardstock using an ink that is closest in colour to the base layer. Die cut those words using the co-ordinating dies.

Splatter the front of the card with white spray ink or white acrylic paint.

Once dry adhere the embossed strip and the Brushed Birthday Greetings stamped words with foam tape in the bottom left of the card front.


Thank you for joining us again this week! We hope to see you again next Tuesday for more crafting inspiration!

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It’s Tuesday again, and that means it time to share something crafty with you!  Usually this time of year, after all of the festivities of Christmas is over, I am very ready to create with some bright, fun colors again!  I keep a stash of pre-made cards and I noticed that my birthday section is dismally sparse.  Since I will be needing several birthday cards in the coming weeks, I wanted to create a card that was easy to duplicate but was still eye catching.

I started by die cutting the Maxwell – a die to create a textured looking background.  To add a little color to the background, I stamped the smallest leaf images from the Bushed Birthday Greetings stamp set into some of the squares.

For the focal images and sentiment, I stamped the images using the Brushed Birthday Greetings stamp set and then die cut them out using the coordinating Brushed Birthday Greetings die set.  With this particular set, I have found that you don’t really need to line up the detail image with the bolder image too carefully.  I stamped each of these flowers a little bit differently and was happy with the results each time.  I did the same thing with the leaves, just eyeing them to line them up.

For the sentiment, I stamped it first onto white cardstock using black ink.  I then lined the die up over the image and used some prepositional tape to secure it before running it through my die cutting machine.  For a little more added detail, I used a white gel pen to add a couple of dots in some of the squares.

Thanks so much for joining me here today!  I hope you enjoy the last week of 2016!

Maxwell A craft die Brushed Birthday Greetings clear stamp set Brushed Birthday Greetings die set

Christmas is creeping up fast!  If you’ve got a few more cards to make like me you better hurry!  For this one I used the Beaded Ornaments Clear Stamp Set.  These stamped ornaments are exquisite!  They’ve got lots of detail and shading that you can only find with multi stamp images.  I used Memento Ink for the stamped ornaments.

There’s two size ornaments in the set that you can customize with the different layers and embellishment beading stamps in the set.   Both size ornaments can be cut with the the Classic Ornament die set.  This die also doubles as a background for the other ornaments in the Birch Press Collection like Berwickshire, Stowe, Rousham and Stewart Ornaments.

What’s so clever about the Birch Press products is that they are perfectly coordinated.  I used the ornament toppers from the Berwickshire and Stowe Ornaments to make pretty gold foil hangers for the stamped Beaded Ornaments.

The snowy background die is the Chalet Snowflake Frame.  I added color to both the frame and the “merry” die cuts with distress ink.  This is really simple to do.  Just cut the die as you normally would.  Leave the paper die cut inside the metal die and daub ink through the open areas of the die.

Remove the paper die cut and see the beautiful results.  Remember to wipe the die with a soft cloth to remove the excess ink from the metal to be sure your next project doesn’t have a surprise of unexpected color!

I added a scatter of blue die cut Mini Poinsettias with gem centers, and gold sequins for some holiday sparkle.

I love the clean look of the powder blue background.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season!

Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5″

Beaded Ornament clear stamp set Classic Ornament Set Chalet Snowflake Frame Snowfall Merry Christmas Mini Poinsettia Set Berwickshire Ornament Stowe Ornament

Hi and thanks for stopping by!  Today I’m sharing a card I made with the Flourish Ornament set.  I’m also sharing it at CASology‘s Challenge. A challenge is a great way to spark your creativity.  CASology gives you a “CUE” word and you make something inspired by that word.  This week’s CUE word is BOW.  You can spin that in any direction you like.  I immediately got thinking about holiday related “bows”… bows on packages, bows on wreathes… you get the picture.  The reason I’m sharing this is that Birch Press Design is the sponsor this week at CASology.   One lucky player at CASology will receive a gift certificate to the store!  So maybe it’s time to try a challenge!

I started this card by creating a stencil with the Delfina Layer A die.  I cut the die from a piece of scrap paper and the laid it over a panel of white card stock.  I taped all the edges down to make sure that it stayed secure while I applied distress ink.  I used washi so the tape would be easy to remove.  Painters tape would be great for this too.

I applied two colors of ink (Scattered Straw and Mustard Seed).  To add more interest I watered down a little Scattered Straw and splashed it over the design.  I also splattered some white ink.  When all the ink was dry I removed the stencil.  Here’s what the panel looks like…

I wanted the Flourish Ornament to look like it was hanging from a string so I adhered a gold tread with a glue dot in a place where it would be hidden by the die cut ornament.  The other end of the string is secured on the back of the colored panel.

The ornament is a triple stamped image and was easy to cut with the coordinating die set.   I thought a blue ornament would look great next to the yellow background.  I adhered the ornament with adhesive foam tape.  The leaves are secured with glue dots to the base of the card.

I made a bow from 1/4″ gold mesh ribbon and adhered it to the card with a glue dot.

The ornament cap is from the Berwickshire Ornament die.  I cut it in gold to coordinate with the pretty bow.  I embellished the little flowers from the Flourish Ornament set with pearls. The holidays deserve a little sparkle and shine!

I sure hope you’ll join us at CASology this week!  I’d love to see what you’ve made!

Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5″

Delfina A craft die Flourish Ornament clear stamp set Flourish Ornament die set Berwickshire Ornament Classic Ornament Set

There is nothing is more beautiful than the look and dimension of layered stamping. The Birch Press Design Let It Snow layered snowy tree looks so real it is hard to believe that there isn’t actually snow on it. As beautiful as layered stamps are sometimes they are not the easiest to stamp. Today’s tutorial is to help you to achieve the perfect layered result easily time after time. Once you master the technique you are set to mass produce the trees for holiday tags or to put on to your holiday cards.

The tree is three separate stamps, for today’s tutorial we are using two shades of green and a soft blue. We begin by stamping the first layer in the lightest shade of green.

Using the darkest shade of green we are going to add depth and dimension to the greenery on the tree. The following photo shows you where you will want to place the stamp for the second layer on the tree. You will notice there is an obvious notch at the bottom of the tree that the stamp fits right over.

See all the gorgeous dimension?

Now this is where the magic happens. For the third layer we are using the soft blue or a soft grey would be lovely too. There is a little swoosh that sits of top of that notch we were using when we stamped the second layer, that is where you line up the final stamp.

See how the layers have all come together.

Once you have all your trees stamped, use the matching die to cut them all out. Doing the trees four at a time you can stamp them all out in virtually no time at all. Add a small hole it the top of the tree and add some twine and you are done.

Thanks for joining us again this week! We hope to see you again next Tuesday for more crafting inspiration!

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Thanks for stopping by!  I’m sharing a card today featuring the Birch Press Design Watercolor Wildflowers!  They’re three layer stamps – so they have lots of dimension.  Always start with the lightest color first and then add darker colors for each layer.  The leaves and stems are clean and simple and there are coordinating die cuts for all the images in the set.

I started by watercoloring a panel with Peerless Watercolors.  I splashed some white over the panel for a splotchy effect.  Next I adhered the Delfina Layer B die over the watercolor panel.   I knew I wanted to use the Delfina Layer die, but which one?  I didn’t want the flowers to compete with the bold blue watercolor background, but I didn’t want to cover it up either.   I had to find some balance.  The Layer B was perfect – enough white to create a base for the flowers, and enough opening to let the watercolor background show through.

I usually lay a sheet of clear transparency over the base of my card and play around with arranging the different die cuts.  When I’m happy with the arrangement I adhere them in placed.  You’ll notice some of the dies are adhered to the base (stems and one leaf), while others are adhered with adhesive foam tape (the flowers and leaves) adding dimension.
This photo gives a better view at how the dies are applied.

The finishing touch is a few clear sparkling sequins that look like water drops.  I love the contrast of the orange and blue!

What will you make today?

Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5″

Delfina B craft die Watercolor Wildflowers clear stamp set Watercolor Wildflowers die set Peerless Watercolor Sheet Pack