Author: birch press

  • Father’s Day Card | by Allison Frazier

    Father’s Day Card | by Allison Frazier

    Hello, Birch Press friends! Today, I am sharing a Father’s Day card using the predictable plaid paper but adding in some unexpected floral elements. I admit that, when it comes to making masculine cards, I almost always reach for plaid paper. In my defense, I love plaid, too! Especially when it’s part of a plaid paper pad from Memory Box. I decided to add in some non-traditional elements to this card by adding florals and a heart. After all, men like flowers, too! My husband and his father are avid gardeners. Without him, my yard would be full of plastic plants because this girl does not have a green thumb!

    I started my card by picking out my plaid paper. This particular piece is from the Woodsy Plaid paper pad, which I don’t think is available anymore. But, Memory Box always has some great plaid pads every season, so there is plenty to choose from. I trimmed that plaid paper down to 4″ x 5.25″, and then I used one of the dies from the Banner Heart Layer Set to cut the heart out. Any of the layers would work, since you’re just cutting the outline of the heart out. I then popped this plaid panel up on foam tape and attached it to a white panel before adhering it to my dark gray card base.

    Next, I went through my stash of floral dies to find the perfect ones that would frame the heart opening. I chose the Sylvan Berries and Leaves Contour Layers set. I cut the berries out of two shades of purple card stock, and I cut the leaves/stems from two shades of green card stock. I assembled all of the pieces with liquid glue.

    For my sentiment, I cut the Love Honey Script from black glossy card stock. I cut two additional layers out of white card stock to layer behind the black one in order to give it more dimension and stability. I left enough room between the outline of the heart and the foam tape so that I could tuck the ends of the stems behind the opening. I added liquid glue in some strategic spots so that I could also have some of the leaves and berries loose and dimensional. I added small pieces of foam behind various spots of the “love” sentiment and glued the rest of it to the plaid panel. I stamped the “you, dad” subsentiment from my stash and added that to the panel, as well. The original stamp says “I love you, dad” – I just masked off the beginning of it when I stamped it.

    To finish the card, I added some clear fairy drops around the floral elements. I hope this card puts a smile on your face and inspires you to perhaps start adding florals to your masculine cards, too! Thank you so much for joining us today.

    Wishing you a crafty day,
    Allison


    Supplies


    57503 Sylvan Berries and Leaves Contour Layers
    57510 Banner Heart Layer Set
    57311 Love Honey Script
    sp1003 Lush Green 6×6 pack
    sp1008 Twilight Purple 6×6 pack
    sh44004 Black Glossy Paper

    Supplies


    cld101 Clear Fairy Drops
  • Tranquil Thank You | by Toni M Maddox

    Tranquil Thank You | by Toni M Maddox

    Hello, Birch Press fans! Toni here with you today sharing a rather tranquil thank you card. Such a calming, spa-like color palette, don’t you agree? I don’t use a lot of blues but, man, this combo is one I love.

    I started the card by cutting out the BPD Dazzle Mini Frame Layer A in a sturdy white cardstock and adhering it to a linen textured card front.

    I cut the Sylvan Berries & Leaves as well as the Jovial Blooms & Leaves Contour Layers out of Memory Box Stormy Blue 6×6 Paper and kraft cardstocks.

    For the sentiment, I used the Thank You Noted Script Hot Foil Plate & Die with Spellbinders White Glimmer Hot Foil. It’s very subtle, both in coloring and nestled amongst the leaves.

    I hope you enjoyed today’s card and have a great rest of your week!

    Supplies

    57502 Jovial Blooms and Leaves Contour Layers

    57503 Sylvan Berries and Leaves Contour Layers

    57406 Dazzle Mini Frame Layer Set

    BPF511 Thank You Noted Script Hot Foil Plate and Die Set

    sp1006 Stormy Blue 6×6 pack

  • Forest Canopy Frames | by Crystal Komara

    Forest Canopy Frames | by Crystal Komara

    Hello crafty people! This is Design Team member Crystal Komara here with you today and I have made my first set of cards using the new Forest Canopy Layering dies. I am sooooo in love. These new dies are just beautiful and I think they will quickly become my new favorite.

    Now all three of today’s cards were made using Layer C of the Forest Canopy Layering dies. What makes them most stunning are the alcohol ink backgrounds. Those vibrant colors are really what makes the white leaves pop! Add a sentiment of your choice and voila, easy peasy, but oh-so-pretty cards!

    Card details:

    All three of these A2 size cards were made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using Layer C of the Forest Canopy dies I cut three white leafy frame backgrounds. I have my alcohol ink backgrounds already pre-made, so I just pulled three from my stash and layered the leafy frames over. With alcohol inks, your color options are endless, so no matter what kind of background you add, your card will always look unique and different. Add a simple sentiment of your choosing and that’s it, you’re done!

    I hope you will enjoy this new layering die set as much I do! Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

  • Thank You | by Rosemary Dennis

    Thank You | by Rosemary Dennis

    Happy Memorial Day to everyone here is the US! I hope you are having a relaxing day with your loved ones and remembering all those who gave their lives for our amazing country! Appropriately I am sharing a thank you card today. This one features the Sprouting Crocus Contour Layers dies, as well as the Thank You Noted Script hot foil plate and die set.

    I started out my card by deciding that I wanted to do a little simple watercoloring. I have several different watercolor mediums, but recently rediscovered some color burst powders that I had bought years ago. I decided to use them for the watercoloring. It is a simple process to create the panels that I used. Simply wet watercolor cardstock, tape on a small amount of the powder and then spread the color around with a wet paintbrush. Once you have the color depth you want, dry the cardstock and die cut.

    This photo shows the colors I used along with the panels after I had die cut all the part of the flowers. I assembled all the flowers using liquid adhesive and then moved onto foiling the sentiment. For this I used matte gold foil and white cardstock. I foiled several sentiments so I will have some for later use.

    Since I love using the layering dies for embossing my backgrounds I used the Cora Layer A die to emboss some watercolor cardstock. I just love the letterpress look you get from using the thicker watercolor cardstock for embossing. (Again, my sandwich is the die cutting platform, one cutting plat, the embossing mat, cardstock, the die cutting side down and a few shims.) After embossing the background I die cut the panel with a rectangle die. This will flatten the embossing a bit, but it still looks nice.

    Now it is time to arrange all my flowers. I used liquid adhesive to adhere the flowers first and then added the sentiment using a combination of thin foam squares and liquid adhesive where needed. I then added my panel to a white cardstock base using strong double sided adhesive strips.

    Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely, lovely day!

    Supplies

    D2

    BPF511 Thank You Noted Script Hot Foil Plate and Die Set

    57523 Sprouting Crocus Contour Layers

    56121 Cora Layer Set

  • A Colorful Celebration | By Natasha Vacca

    Hello Birch Press friends, it is Natasha here today and I am sharing a colorful celebration card using the beautiful Eloquent Butterfly layer dies! I had a lot of fun creating today’s card, so let’s get started!

    I started by cutting out each layer of the Eloquent Butterfly die set. I started with layer C using a piece of card stock from my scrap bin. Once the layer was die cut, I added a pink spray to the butterflies for added texture. Then I die cut layer B using the Memory Box Fresh Aqua paper pad. I chose an aqua shade of card stock from the pack. I added a blue and pink dye ink to each butterfly, spritzed with water, then added gold metallic watercolor splatters. I then die cut layer A using white card stock. I then added distress oxide ink, embossing powder, glaze, and foil to the top layer for added texture and interest.

    I then adhered each layer together using liquid glue. I then die cut the antennae for the butterfly using the Butterfly Basics die set. I die cut 2 antennae using the Memory Box Vintage Pastel Mirror pad. I then adhered these using liquid glue. I set my butterflies aside to create my background.

    For the background I chose a colorful gelli print from my background stash. I then ran this through my die cutting machine with the Memory Box Ringadings embossing folder. I added some gray dye ink to the folder as well to add texture to the dry embossed background. Next I trimmed the panel with my deckle edge trimmer, distressed the edges of the panel, and then added distress ink around the edges for more interest. I then adhered this panel to an A2 card base.

    To complete my card I adhered the butterflies to the card front, then chose a sentiment strip from my stash to complete my card. I had a lot of fun creating this colorful celebration! I hope you enjoyed it too! I will be back soon with more crafty inspiration!


    Supplies


    57426 Eloquent Butterfly Layer Set
    57403 Butterfly Basics

    Supplies


    EF1015 Ringadings 3D Embossing Folder
    sp1004 Fresh Aqua
    fp1002
  • Use Your BPD Layered Dies as Stencils | by Colleen Balija

    Use Your BPD Layered Dies as Stencils | by Colleen Balija

    Hi friends! Do you ever look for creative ways to use your BPD layered dies other than their original intention? Well, today I want to show you how to use them as stencils! We’ll be using Make a Splash Sugar Script die, Pinpoint Contour Plate, and Floral Balloon Layered dies, and I’ll include links to these supplies at the end of my post. Let’s get started!

    Creating stencils from your dies is easy! You’ll need the dies, of course, and masking paper. I use the Gina K Designs Masking Magic, but you can find masking paper just about anywhere! I recommend you buy 5×7 or 8×10 in size so you can die cut larger dies for this technique!

    First step is to create the mask by die cutting the layered dies using the masking paper.

    Using both the positive (the image) and negative (the outline) pieces of the mask, I placed them over the white card panel to protect the panel from getting ink where I didn’t want it. Then I ink blended just like I would with a regular stencil! I used shades of blue and went from light to dark as I built the layers of the balloons with my handmade stencil. If you’re not sure how to build the layers, think about how the die would look if you adhered the layers of the die together and use it the same way as a stencil. You can see in the photo above how I created the stencil and then inked up the white card panel (stencil is on the left and inked up panel on the right)!

    Once the background was finished, I added another element of detail to it by die cutting the Pinpoint Contour Plate over the entire panel. I like this cover plate because it adds interest without stealing the show from the focal point!

    Then, I trimmed down the panel with a rectangle nesting die, along with a black card panel that was slightly larger. I adhered them together and placed them over a yellow card base, sized 5.5×4.25

    Next up, the sentiment!

    I chose the Make A Wish Sugar Script sentiment, which is 2 layers. I die cut each layer and then inked them up using 2 shades of yellow. To help the top layer pop even more, I heat embossed over it with a clear embossing powder. That adds shine and makes the color even more bold! Then I adhered the sentiment over the balloon background!

    Below is a closer image of the entire card when finished!

    To summarize, grab any of your BPD layered dies and masking paper of choice, create a stencil by die cutting onto the masking paper, and then use it as a stencil! You can keep the stencil for future use by storing it with your dies, too!!!

    YThanks for stopping by!

    Supplies

    57434 Make a Wish Sugar Script

    57511 Pinpoint Contour Plate

    57433 Floral Balloon Layer Set

  • Patriotic Birthday | by Toni M Maddox

    Patriotic Birthday | by Toni M Maddox

    Hello, Birch Press fans! Toni here with you today sharing a card suitable for a patriotic birthday (in the US), congratulations, retirement or even an invitation to a Memorial Day BBQ.

    This card was so easy and fun to make. Who doesn’t like spattering and shiny things?

    I started the card by cutting out the Piped Icing Star from a blue cardstock which I had embossed with a simple linen-type pattern. I then spattered the surface with Copic Opaque White (for stars or confetti).

    Next I cut out a Linear Triangle in white which I positioned so that it created a striped background for the red foil cardstock beneath to peek through.

    My final touches included adding the Let’s Party Sugar Script sentiment and a sprinkling of shiny star sequins.

    I hope you enjoyed today’s card and have a great rest of your week!

    Supplies

    57454 Piped Icing Star

    57430 Let’s Party Sugar Script

    57393 Linear Triangle

  • Creative Use of White Space | by Colleen Balija

    Creative Use of White Space | by Colleen Balija

    Hi friends! Ya know, every once in awhile I love a good card with lots of white space and a small pop of color! But, I admit, it’s hard to know how to make white space not look boring! Well, I found a surefire way to add interest to white space!!! It works like a charm every single time for me! Let me share how it’s done!

    For my card today, I’ll be using Butterfly Basics die, Pinpoint Contour Plate, Splendor Bevel Layered Plates, Kind Hearts stamp (sentiment only), and Memory Box Fairy Crystals.

    The first step is to create interest to a white background, and the best way to do this is by adding texture and layers with die cuts I die cut the Splendor Bevel Layered Plates, all on white cardstock, and adhered the layers together. These dies are made to be smaller than an A2 sized card, which is perfect for layering! Next, I die cut the Pinpoint Contour Plate onto a piece of 5.5×4.25 white cardstock. This added even more interest and texture to the background! I adhered the Splendor Bevel Layers over the Pinpoint Contour Plate and then adhered both onto a white 5.5×4.25 white card base. If you look at the photo above, you can see all the details in that background!

    TIP: Consider mixing vintage elements with modern geo elements! They work beautifully together!

    Next step was to work on a colorful focal point – the Butterfly! Using the larger of the 2 butterflies that comes with this set, I die cut the base layer with gold vellum and the top layer with an alcohol card panel that I had on hand. I only glued the center of the top layer of the butterfly and fluffed the wings out a bit to give it some movement.

    The final step was to add a sentiment from Kind Hearts stamp and adhere the butterfly and sentiment to the white card panel. I kept the butterfly in the lower corner of the card panel so that you can still see lots of that luxurious white detail!

    TIP: You could also die cut the butterfly in white and have the entire card be white. It works beautifully! Consider embossing the butterfly with clear powder to add glossy shine!

    To summarize, create interest to a white background by:

    1. Adding texture with die cuts
    2. Adding layers with die cuts
    3. Use clear embossing powder to create a clear glossy shine onto one of the layers
    4. Limit the size of the focal point so the background is the star of the show!

    I’m so glad you stopped by today!

     

    Supplies:

     

     

    57403 Butterfly Basics

     

     

    57511 Pinpoint Contour Plate

     

     

    CL8163 Kind Hearts clear stamp set

     

     

    56111 Splendor Bevel Plate Layer Set

     

     

     

    CRY101 Autumn Fairy Crystals

     

  • Make a Wish | by Crystal Komara

    Make a Wish | by Crystal Komara

    Hello crafty readers! This is Design Team member Crystal Komara here with you today and I’m really excited to share my card with you because it’s one of my favorite color palettes! First, let’s take a look at the inspiration for today’s birthday card:

    Yes! My color inspiration came from a Pinterest photo from an architectural website. Kind of wild, right? What I liked about this photo was that these are colors I would not normally have considered ever putting together, and yet they work beautifully! Now, while I don’t want these colors in MY house (hello, neutrals girl here!) I found they worked well for a card.

    Card details:

    The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth. I also cut a 5 1/4″ x 4″ piece of the same white cardstock to be used as the first base layer. Using all three layers (A, B, and C) of the Floral Balloon Layer Set, I die cut four of every balloon in teal green, min green, light pink, gold glitter and magenta pink cardstock. (I really didn’t know how many balloon pieces I would need, so this gave me plenty to mix and match!) I really could have made two cards with all the pieces I had leftover.

    I then began to play around and see what colors I liked layered over each other. I also toyed around with the balloon placement on the card. There was no real method to my madness, I simply kept rearranging until I found a layout that was pleasing to my eye.

    Using the Make a Wish Sugar Script word die, I cut the thicker shadow portion from darker pink cardstock and the thinner top portion from white cardstock. I layered the two together with a fine tip liquid glue and then used 3M foam adhesive behind to sentiment to adhere it to the card with added dimension.

    I hope today’s post inspires YOU to find inspiration from the world around you! Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

    Supplies

    57433 Floral Balloon Layer Set

    57434 Make a Wish Sugar Script

    GP1003 Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad

    SP1001 Berry Red 6×6 pack

    SP1003 Lush Green 6×6 pack

  • Stretch Your Dies | by Allison Frazier

    Stretch Your Dies | by Allison Frazier

    Hello, Birch Press friends! Today, I am sharing a couple different methods that will enable you to stretch the use of your dies. You can use each method separately, or you can do what I did, and use them both on the same card. The best part is that it results in a bonus card! You can’t beat a 2 for 1 technique, right? All you need to get started is a background die. My cards feature the Flora Plate Layer Set.

    The first thing that I did was to use Plate C from the Flora Plate Layer set to emboss a piece of lavender card stock. It’s really easy to emboss your card stock with a die instead of cut it – you just need the rubber embossing mat and embossing plate for your die cutting machine. You place your card stock on top of the rubber mat and then place your die on top, cutting side down. It’s a really fun way of creating texture on your card stock.

    Embossing with a die is the first way I stretched the use of my Flora plate. The next method is just as easy. Simply cut a piece of white card stock using the die in the traditional way and then use it as a stencil! Specifically, I used it as a stencil to color the embossed panel that I created with the first method. I just put the white die cut panel on top of the lavender embossed panel and secured it with tape in a couple places so it wouldn’t move. It’s really easy to line up the die cut pattern with the embossed pattern, since they’re the exact same. I used two shades of purple to ink blend over my “stencil,” going from a lighter color in one corner to a darker color in the other corner. Once I was finished, I used a purple alcohol marker to color the center of each embossed flower on the panel. I also added a dot of white gel pen to enhance the dotted pattern around each flower

    To decorate the front of this card, I created three flowers using the Phlox Blooms and Leaves Contour Layers set and the same lavender card stock that I created my panel with. I inked up the edges of the flowers and the flower interiors with the same two colors of ink that I used to stencil the background. For my sentiment, I foiled the “You Are Loved” hot foil plate with purple foil. I added a clear fairy drop to the center of each flower.

    Instead of discarding the panel that I had used as a stencil, I used it to make a bonus card. I used my purple inks to smooth out the ink blending that I had already done when I used it as a stencil. I adhered the panel to a white card base and then hot foiled another sentiment. This time, I used the Hello Sugar Script hot foil plate and die, along with silver hot foil. Once I hot foiled the sentiment onto white card stock, I then took the foil remnant and hot foiled that using a solid hot foil plate. That is why the silver foil is on the outside, and the word itself is white. I added a sub-sentiment from my stash.

    To finish my bonus card, I added a clear fairy jewel to the center of each flower on the panel. Just to recap – the purple die cut panel on the top card in the image above was used to stencil the embossed panel on the card pictured behind it. I love how these turned out, and I hope they put a smile on your face. Thank you so much for joining us today!

    Wishing you a crafty day,
    Allison


    Supplies


    57437 Flora Plate Layer Set
    57507 Phlox Blooms and Leaves Contour Layers
    bpf509 You Are Loved Noted Script Hot Foil Plate and Die Set
    bpf501 Hello Sugar Script Hot Foil Plate and Die Set
    sp1007 Vibrant Violet 6×6 pack

    Supplies


    jwl001 Clear Jewels