Author: birch press

  • Tropical Hibiscus Friends

    Tropical Hibiscus Friends

    Hello, Birch Press Friends! Allison here, and today I’m sharing a card featuring the new Tropical Hibiscus Contour Layers die set.

    I started by cutting all of the pieces of the flowers from white card stock. I then blended Distress Ink onto the pieces, but in a very subtle way. The most intense color is on the edges of the bottom piece, the outside edges of the top detail layer, and the center. My initial inspiration for this came from images of white hibiscus that I found online.

    To add dimension, I created duplicate layers of the bottom piece and the top detail pieces, before adhering all of the layers together with liquid glue. In order to determine the layout of my design, I first selected my sentiment and, before stamping it, arranged the flowers around it. Once I was happy with the layout, I removed the flowers and stamped the sentiment with VersaMark Ink. I heat embossed it with a platinum embossing powder and then repeated the process, which really gives the sentiment more of a rounded, smooth finish.

    I adhered the flowers to the stamped card panel with liquid glue, adding foam tape to the back of the pink and blue flowers. I then mounted that onto a warm gray A2 card base. As a finishing touch, I added matching Fairy Jewels to the centers of each flower. Even though these flowers don’t have a lot of color, the texture of all the layers really packs a punch.

    Thank you so much for joining us today. I hope this card inspires you and brings a smile to your face!

    Wishing you a crafty day,
    Allison


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  • Mixed Media Fun with Die Cutting | By Natasha Vacca

    Hello Crafty friends – it is Natasha here and I am excited to be back up on the Birch Press Blog today! Today I am sharing a fun and easy way to use your layering dies, as well as the Simple Dragonfly Contour dies to create a colorful mixed media card! So let’s get started!

    For today’s card I started with the Grace Layering die set and a gelli print background from my stash. I chose layer A and followed the directions on my die cutting machine for creating an impression on paper using your dies. This was super easy to do and created a beautiful impression on my gel print background!

    Next I used several oxide inks from my stash and ink blended around the edges of the print. The Grace layering set created a beautiful impression on my print and I used the inks to add a bit more texture to the raised sections of the background panel.

    Once my ink blending was complete I added some distressed edges to my panel. I then added a bit more texture using embossing glaze and a crayon. Once my panel was complete, I set it aside.

    I love using die cuts and embossing powder together and the Simple Dragonfly Contour Layering dies are perfect for a colorful mixed media vibe! I die cut 3 dragonflies on white cardstock. I then adhered the dragonfly wings together using liquid glue. Then I chose 3 colors of embossing powder and heat set each of the wings and antennae. I then adhered these together with liquid glue and added foam tape behind the wings. I then adhered the background panel to an A2 card base and adhered my dragonflies to the card panel. To complete my card I added a Handwritten Thanks and Outline sentiment die. I die cut the shadow layer in white and the inner script thanks using the Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad. I adhered these together and added foam tape to the back for added dimension. I added a sub sentiment from my stash to complete my card.

    Thank you so much for stopping by today! I hope this card inspires you to use your layering dies to dry emboss a panel and to create a mixed media card using your dies! I will be back soon!

  • Hope You’re Feeling Better Eucalyptus | by Crystal Komara

    Hope You’re Feeling Better Eucalyptus | by Crystal Komara

    Hello Birch Press Design readers! This is Design Team member Crystal Komara sharing a CAS (Clean and Simple) card with you today featuring the new Eucalyptus Stem and Berries Contour Layering dies. Because I intended for this card to be very simple, I wanted to create a card without using the layering part of the dies, so here is what the dies look like quite simply on their own when cut from a rainbow array of cardstock. Add a gold heat embossed sentiment (any message will do!) and you have an elegant and easy card in no time flat!

    Card details:

    The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock. I cut a 5 1/4 x 4″ piece of this same cardstock as the first layer. On that layer I stamped the sentiment “hope you’re feeling better” in Versamark ink and heat embossed it with gold embossing powder. This sentiment is from the Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp set.

    Using the Eucalyptus stems, I cut multiple stems from colored cardstock. I used the following 6″ paper packs:

    -Lush Green

    -Sunny Orange

    -Berry Red

    -Ocean Blue

    I adhered the stems directly to the center of the card and then I added a small white ribbon at the base of the stems for added texture.

    I hope you have enjoyed today’s CAS card. Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

    Supplies

  • Tropical Hibiscus Hello by Jeanne Jachna

    Tropical Hibiscus Hello
    by Jeanne Jachna

    Hi and thanks for stopping by! Today I’m sharing a colorful card that just screams SUMMER. Living in the Midwest the only time I see beautiful hibiscus in shades of red, pink and apricot is when they arrive at the garden center this time of year.

    These pretties were really easy to assemble. The flower base is just three layers and an embossed line shows you exactly where to place each die cut piece.

    To save time on future projects I cut all the flower layers from each of the shades of cardstock and alternated the layers when I assembled them. So some have the darkest color shade on the bottom, while others have the lightest color shade on bottom. No matter what order you arrange the colors the flowers look beautiful and I have lots of flowers for other projects.

    Did you notice the pretty foil background? It was made using the new String Art Foil die along with the Glimmer Hot Foil Machine and a Matt Gold Foil. Foil dies are also fantastic for embossing backgrounds.

    Making with these florals was a sweet escape to a tropical paradise! I hope you find some time to make too!

    Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5″

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  • A Hidden Panel for your Sentiment! | By Desiree Kuemmerle

    A Hidden Panel for your Sentiment! | By Desiree Kuemmerle

    Hello Everyone and Welcome Back!

    It is simple to create a decorative panel to hide our sentiments inside of our cards for that little surprise!

    I got all my die cutting out of the way and layered my mini frame together to have ready.

    To create your panel on the front of your card you want to layout your rectangle dies to create your cut out. I went with nesting rectangle dies just a little larger than the size of the Dazzle Mini Frame Layering Die set to give me a border around using vellum. You could also use clear acetate if that is what you have in your stash!

    I then cut a piece of vellum slightly small that my border frame and layered it in between my card base and panel base for my card and placed my focal point in the center. I cut a piece of black card stock the same size and placed it on the inside of my card base to hide the underside of my focal point!

    I lined up my sentiment under the panel so when the card is open, the recipient can see the hidden message!

    Added a few pearl embellishments to give a little sparkle to the front of our card!

    Hope you enjoyed today’s project!

    Make sure you stay tuned for more wonderful projects coming soon!


    Supplies


  • Heart to Heart Thanks | by April Antonio

    Heart to Heart Thanks | by April Antonio

    Happy Friday! April here sharing an elegant, easy to pull together thank you card.

    To start this card I grabbed on of my favorites, the Kinsley Heart Plate Layering set. I cut out all three layers with Layer A and C cut from white cardstock, and Layer I glued all three layers together using liquid glue.

    I created an A2 card base from a piece of red cardstock, and glued the Kinsley Heart layer onto the card front. This is why the inside of the heart is red — the base is shining through.

    Next, I took the Pimpernel Contour layering set to cut the flowers from red, foil cardstock and the leaves from green, glitter cardstock. I adhered them to the lower right of the card front, ensuring I glued the center of the flowers only, to leave the petals free to bend up a little bit.

    For the sentiment, I used the Kind Hearts Clear Stamp set to heat emboss ‘thank you’ with black pigment ink and clear embossing powder. I cut this out and glued it to the center of the card front.

    Lastly, I added a couple of clear dots from the Christmas Fairy Crystals set to the center of the flowers

    That is it! The layering sets make it super easy and fun to pull together cards. I hope this inspires you to go create and have fun

    Supplies

  • Summer Hugs | by Toni M Maddox

    Summer Hugs | by Toni M Maddox

    Hello, everyone! Toni here with you today sharing a card using one of my favorite color combo of blues and reds. It’s fab all the time but especially with summer nearly upon us.

    I cut out the Floral Star Layering Dies using MB Sunny Orange & Berry Red 6×6 paper to create a large floral focal point for the card.

    Notice how I used a portion of what I had trimmed off to form the tip of another blossom on the card front.

    I then foiled and cut out the Hugs Sugar Scripts Hot Foil Plate & Die using a leftover piece of Spellbinders Glimmer Polished Brass Hot Foil. Swoon!

    I cut out the Simple Dragonfly Contour Layers using MB Stormy Blue 6×6 Paper to coordinate with the background checks (talk about a summery pattern!).

    I was going to sponge the Eucalyptus Stem & Berries Contour Layers but decided I liked them in white.

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

    Supplies

  • Tropical Hibiscus | by Crystal Komara

    Tropical Hibiscus | by Crystal Komara

    Hello crafty readers! This is Design Team member Crystal Komara here with you today and I’m so excited to be sharing my first card(s) created with the beautiful new Tropical Hibiscus Contour Layering Dies! I am so in love with this spring’s new release of the contour layering dies, they are just g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s! If you missed some of my previous posts using similar dies, check out this post where I used the Star Flower Contour Layering Dies, or, this one where I used the Wispy Blooms Contour Layering Dies. The options are truly endless when it comes to adding colored (and foil or glitter) cardstock with these dies.

    Card details:

    The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. This is my go-to cardstock for e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g from card bases, die cutting, ink blending, Copic coloring, digital stamps and so much more. It is the only white cardstock (aside from watercolor paper) that I used. For the first layer, I cut a 5 1/4″ x 4″ piece of white cardstock and used the Blooming 3D Embossing Folder from Birch Press Designs’ sister company, Memory Box. To create the flowers, I die cut the Tropical Hibiscus Contour Layering dies from various shades of pink cardstock found in the Berry Red 6″ paper pack.

    I die cut the pistils or stigma of the flowers from yellow cardstock in the Sunny Orange 6″ paper pack. Lastly, I cut the leaves (also from the Tropical Hibiscus Contour Layering dies) from two different colored green cardstock found in the Lush Green 6″ paper pack. I assembled the layers of each flower and leaf together using a fine-tip glue. Then I adhered all of the flowers to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I stamped the sentiment “sending birthday hugs” in pink ink. This sentiment is from the Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp set. I used a 2″ circle punch to punch out the circle before adhering to the card.

    Because I had die cut so many flowers and leaves, I created a second card, only this time I used black cardstock as the base for the flowers (in lieu of white). I love a black background with floral cards, it really allows the colors to pop! I also swapped out the sentiment and used “celebrate today” from the same Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp set.

    I hope you have enjoyed these very details cards. Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

    Supplies

  • Dragonfly Hugs

    Dragonfly Hugs

    Hello, Birch Press friends! Allison here, and today I’m sharing a card featuring some of my favorite products from the latest release.

    I started by embossing a navy panel of card stock with the Ringadings 3D embossing folder. I love the texture this embossing folder gives! I then die cut a bunch of kelly green leaves from the Tiny Tuft Flowers and Leaves Contour Layers set. I also cut the same leaves from a darker green card stock. I layered those by glueing only the thinnest part of the leaves together, while also slightly offsetting them. I glued the bottom, darker leaf to the card panel. The top layer lifts up off the card and gives great dimension.

    Next, I used white and dark pink card stock to cut the wings from the new Simple Dragonfly Contour Layers set. I am in love with these dragonflies! I cut the bodies from gold metallic card stock. I adhered the layers together, only glueing them in the centers. I glued only the body to the card panel. This allows the wings to lift up off of the card, similar to the leaves.

    I added some gems to the dragonflies to give them a bit more detail. I also added some gold gems around the panel. The small, white die-cut embellishments are the centers of the flowers from the Pimpernel Contour Layers die set.

    The sentiment is the Hugs Sugar Script Hot Foil Plate. I foiled it with a brassy gold color and then cut it out with the matching die.

    Thank you so much for joining us today. I hope this card inspires you and brings a smile to your face!

    Wishing you a crafty day,
    Allison


    Supplies


  • Simple Dragonfly Hello | By Dilay Nacar

    Simple Dragonfly Hello | By Dilay Nacar

    Hello and welcome, crafty friends! Dee here today with another clean and simple card that I created using scraps and a few dies! To begin, I cut the Arista Layer die, A, B, and C and adhered them onto the center of a base made by cutting a piece of white cardstock with the Pinpoint Radial Plate die.

    Next, I hot foiled the Big Sugar Script Hello foil plate in matte gold and cut it with the coordinating die, then cut it twice more in white to stack and add dimension. I then adhered it to the center of the Arista layers. 

    To finish, I cut the Simple Dragonfly Contour Layers in gold, pink, orange, green, and teal, then assembled and adhered them to the card.

    I hope you enjoyed today’s card and are inspired to create something new! Thank you so much for stopping by, friends!