Birch Press Design

Author: birch press

  • You Mean The World To Me | by Crystal Komara

    You Mean The World To Me | by Crystal Komara

    Hello readers! Who else struggles with making masculine cards? I know that I sure do! Cutesy pink dancing pigs and glittery pop-up mermaids just aren’t going to cut it for my dad! With Father’s Day soon approaching I know that we are all looking for some inspiration to create cards for the special men in our lives. I have found that simply by using certain colors, it is easier to achieve a more masculine look. For today’s two cards, I used the Lumina Layering Plates (A, B & C) and a darker color palette of black, gold and green. I think this same card in navy blues and golds would also be an excellent masculine inspired combination.

    Here is the first card I created using the “leftover” cutout circle pieces from the Lumina Layering Plate. I could have added this cut-out back in to the original card design, but I like the idea of creating two cards from one die!

    Here is the second card I created using the Lumina Layering Plates:

    I have created a step-by-step YouTube video tutorial sharing how I made both of these cards. I like to keep my videos short and sweet, so it under 7 minutes long!

    Thank you for visiting and I hope you have a wonderfully creative day!

    Supplies

    56097 Lumina Layer Set

    GP1003 Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad

    CL8143 Lingo Thanks

    58143 Lingo Thanks die set

  • Friend, You Are Awesome | By Amanda Wilcox

    Friend, You Are Awesome | By Amanda Wilcox

    Thanks for stopping by today. This is Amanda from Twiddler’s Nook visiting with this fun card and a new way to look at some of your full cover plate dies.

    I started with all 3 Grace cover plates and a stack of 2 1/4 inch square pieces of cardstock in teal, gold and black. I used them to die cut just the center circle from each layer. I cut each layer out of each color one time. This gives me 3 completed circles.

    I arranged the completed circles on my card front and used the sugar script big friends die to help my decide on placement.

    I die cut the shadow from vellum and the word friend from each of the 3 colors I used on the circles.

    I glued the black word to the vellum and then followed it by the gold shifted just a bit and finally the teal on top shifted just a bit more so you can see all of the colors. I love this look! I also stamped and heat embossed a sentiment from Awesome Ticker Tape Messages and cut it out. I ran this strip through my Xyron sticker maker. Coating the back of vellum with adhesive makes so the adhesive doesn’t show because it’s all the same.

    I adhered everything to a white panel that measured 4×5.25 and added some black flat-back baubles for a little extra interest. I trimmed anything hanging off the side and popped the panel up with foam tape on a white card base.

    This fabulous card is all finished. I hope you enjoyed it and found some inspiration to look at your dies a little differently and create something beautiful.

    I appreciate you sharing your time with me. Have a fabulous day.

    Supplies

    8149 Awesome Ticker Tape Messages clear stamp and die set

    57177 Big Friend Sugar Script

    56080 Grace Plate Layer Set

  • Elegant Clip | by Jennifer Svare

    Elegant Clip | by Jennifer Svare

    Hello! Today I’m sharing how I made a magnetized clip or book mark using the gorgeous Frilly Triangle Layer Set.

    I started off with a 3-1/8″ x 3-1/8″ square piece of kraft card stock, and scored it down the middle. The extra 1/8″ accounts for the 1/8″ score line.

    I then used the die set to cut each layer. The middle layer and solid base layer (cut from outlining the triangle) was made using distress oxide inks.

    I then adhered the assembled triangle to one of the kraft base halves. Next, I put the magnets on the other side, leaving enough room to comfortably glue the magnets in, so they were not placed directly at the top. It’s easy to line up the magnets by placing them back-to-back before adhering. This way, the magnets are stuck together and so placement is perfect alignment.

    The next step was to place a blank piece of kraft triangle over the backing to hide the magnet. I cut a 3″ x 3″ piece of kraft card stock and cut it down the middle. I didn’t need the extra eighth of an inch here because I didn’t need to fold anything.

    I then flipped the clip over to reveal the inside. The magnet showing in the photo below is on the backside of the decorated piece. The magnets I have are very thin, which is what I wanted for a bookmark-type clip. Because of this, the strength of the magnet would not work through all the layers. The magnet will be shown from the inside when opened up so I was careful to only glue the center to adhere it. Once I glued it, I closed the clip to let it all dry in place. The second magnet is hidden in the plain kraft layer and both magnets are stuck to each other through the sheet of paper in the photo below.

    I made sure to let the glue dry completely before opening the clip. This is such an easy, beautiful gift that would be great for Father’s Day! Have a wonderful day and thank you for stopping by the blog today!


    Supplies


    56109 Frilly Triangle Layer Set
  • 6 card ideas for Epiphany Layered Dies set | by Ardyth Percy-Robb

    6 card ideas for Epiphany Layered Dies set | by Ardyth Percy-Robb

    Let’s face it. Big layered die sets like Epiphany are an investment in your craft room. And when you make an investment, you want to be sure to get value, right?

    Each plate is really 3 in 1 – you get a circle, a ‘wreath’ and the rectangle outline. Multiply that by 3 plates and that’s like getting 9 dies. You can mix and match, stack or use single layers.

    Start adding in different colours and specialty cardstocks like glitter or mirror and the possibilities are really endless.

    Sometimes, you don’t have to have the die cuts on your card at all! I used die cuts as stencils to create a layered look on a flat piece of cardstock. Check out that ‘dimension’!

    And by inkblending over the die cuts, I ended up with more pieces to use on cards:

    Using black instead of white gives an intense, dramatic contrast!

    For a completely different look I used the top layer of the smallest piece to create the look of stained glass.

    Here’s a video showing how I used Epiphany to make 6 different cards.

    I hope you’re inspired to try some of these, or find other looks of your own!

    Supplies

    56098 Epiphany Plate Layer Set

    57250 Epiphany Plate Layer A

    57251 Epiphany Plate Layer B

    57252 Epiphany Plate Layer C

    CL8151 You Are Awesome clear stamp set

    57201 Big Hello Sugar Script

  • Dimension and Texture – String Art Frame Die! | By Desiree Kuemmerle

    Dimension and Texture – String Art Frame Die! | By Desiree Kuemmerle

    Hello Everyone and Welcome Back!

    For today’s project, I used the String Art Frame Die to add dimension and texture to our card’s backgrounds!

    As before we start out by getting our die cuts ready and cutting our pattern paper down to the size of our card front which is 4 ¼ in x 5 ½ in!

    We will then trace a line from the center of the die cut to our pattern paper and use a slightly larger circle die to cut out our shape from our pattern paper.

    Let the gluing begin, using our liquid adhesive we will attached out die cut front to our pattern paper. By the way we cut our circle shapes from our paper we will create different focal areas for our sentiments!

    Our sentiment is stamped on the center cut out from our die plate and then placed onto our circle cut out from the pattern paper earlier!

    As always, I hope you enjoyed today’s project… and if you want to see more details just click on the video below and see how these projects come together step by step!

    Make sure you stay tuned for more wonderful projects coming soon! Have a great day and always remember… Be Creative!


    Supplies


    57327 String Art Frame
    CL492 Friendship and Kindness
  • Masculine Encouragement Card

    Masculine Encouragement Card

    Hello everyone. Creative Team Member Amanda with you today sharing a fun card that’s got a bit of a masculine feel. Those cards can be very difficult to create so I am excited to share this with you.

    I started with an A2 size panel and my bold stripes stencil. I used peacock feathers distress oxide ink and a blending brush and spritzed it with water.

    After not falling in love with the stripes for this design, I turned my stencil and tried adding scattered straw distress ink of a plaid look. Not a good combo…so I added stormy sky over the top of the scattered straw and loved the look it gave. (Lesson here…if you don’t like something at first, keep trying and definitely walk away for a while before you trash it. This has saved me many a time!)

    Next, I put it in my splatter box and flicked some watered down black acrylic paint all over it.

    Next, I pulled out the hello topper set and die cut it from black and the words from a gray-ish blue that matches the inks I blended with. I did not like how dark the bottom of the card was so I tried switching it out for white.

    Ahhh, much better. Next, I die cut 3 more hellos and glued them all together. I pushed them into my embossing ink pad, covered the whole word with clear embossing powder and heated it up. I added 3 layers of that for a rounded glossy look and glued the words in place.

    Last, I stamped a small sentiment from the lovely butterflies stamp set below the hello die cuts.

    I think this card has great texture and awesome colors. It would be great for anyone and you could easily change the whole look with different colors of ink.

    I hope you found some inspiration to try create something wonderful. I appreciate you sharing your time with me. Have a fabulous day.

    Supplies

    57313 Helllo Topper

    42029 Bold Stripes Stencil

    CL8150 Lovely Butterflies clear stamp set

  • Birch Press Designs Stitched Dahlia Heart Cards | By Leigh Houston

    Birch Press Designs Stitched Dahlia Heart Cards | By Leigh Houston

    Hello, crafty friends! I am so happy to be here today sharing two stitched cards I created with Birch Press Designs’s Dahlia Heart die. I had so much fun making these cards!

    I created these cards using Dahlia Heart Layer A. I started my first card by die cutting the heart with a scrap piece of cardstock. I then used this scrap piece as a stencil, coloring in the segments with alcohol markers. I then cut a fresh piece of the heart shape with clean cardstock and affixed it over the colored base with strong liquid adhesive. After the glue dried, it was time to stitch! I poked holes along the inner edges of each segment then used a simple backstitch in coordinating thread.

    After the stitching was complete, I trimmed around the perimeter of the heart. I affixed it to a cardstock base I made with Birch Press’s Amour Layer A die. I die cut my sentiment from gold foil cardstock using Birch Press’s Hugs Sugar Script die.

    My second card takes the stitching to another level. I started my card in the exact same way as the first, coloring in the segments using the stencil then affixing a clean heart over top. I then filled in the flower segments using a brick stitch. This stitch is another simple backstitch in rows, with each row staggered. This was the perfect project for a night of watching bad TV! LOL To finish this card, I embossed a white cardstock base using Birch Press’s Ring Tile Stencil and added a stitched coral cardstock strip behind the heart. The gold Sugar Script Smile sentiment finished the card off perfectly!

    I hope you enjoyed these projects as much as I loved making them! Links to the products I used are below. I’ll see you soon with more card projects!


    Supplies


    57244 Dahlia Heart Layer A
    57042 Amour Layer A
    42030 Ring Tike Stencil
    Hugs Sugar Script
    Smile Sugar Script
  • Using Thick Embossing Plates | by Tracey McNeely

    Using Thick Embossing Plates | by Tracey McNeely

    Hi there, it’s Tracey back this week with another post using fabulous Birch Press Design along with the fun 3D Embossing Folders from Memory Box Open Source.

    I started off by embossing a piece of Bristol Smooth cardstock using the Memory Box Open Source Crysanthemum Fields Embossing Folder. I have never used these thick embossing folders before and I was a big perplexed as to what sandwich to use in my Gemini Jr. die cutting machine. Through a bit of Internet research and a bit of trial and error I found a sandwich that worked in both my Gemini Jr. and my Big Shot! These amazing 3D Embossing Folders work with the same sandwich! Today I used the panel embossed with the Gemini Jr. die cutting machine using this sandwich:
    1. Bottom plate
    2. Magnetic sheet
    3. Embossing folder with paper inside (no top plate!)

    I ran it through the machine and got a gorgeous embossed/debossed impression.

    I chose to use the embossed side of the panel and used blending brushes to lightly add colour over the raised images. I set the panel aside while I worked on the other elements for my card. Using another piece of Bristol Smooth cardstock and I ink blended the Distress Oxide inks a little more heavily to create a solid panel to co-ordinate for the bottom of my card. I flicked some white gold pigment watercolor onto the bottom panel.

    I trimmed the embossed panel down to 5 1/4″ x 4″ and then adhered it to a white card base using tape runner. Once the other ink blended panel was dry I used the Hello Topper die to cut across the top. Then I cut the word die ‘hello’ from white cardstock and added in into place with liquid glue.

    The sentiment ‘crafty friend’ from the Just Because stamp set was white embossed direct to the panel underneath the word hello. The whole ink blended panel was trimmed down to 1 1/2″ high, not including the bump up for the word hello. I was added to the bottom of the card with with foam tape for dimension.

    Thank you so much for stopping in today to craft along with me. I hope you are staying well and that I have inspired you to make something beautiful today.

    Supplies

    57313 Helllo Topper

    CL8124 Just Because clear stamp set

    EF1001 Chrysanthemum Field

  • A Rainbow of Mandalas | by Crystal Komara

    A Rainbow of Mandalas | by Crystal Komara

    Hello crafty readers! This is Crystal here with you and today’s post is all about coloring the beautiful Thankful Mandala stamp set. If you love to color, then these cards will be perfect for you to try. And, well, if you don’t love to color so much then you can simply admire the beauty of someone else’s coloring!

    I will be the first to admit that I have a love/hate relationship with coloring. There are times when I find it peaceful and soothing, yet there are also days when I find it can be simply dreadful! So, listen to how YOU feel. If you feel like coloring today, then go for it! If you’d rather sit back and eat a hot fudge sundae, you certainly won’t find me judging you! : )

    For this yellow mandala I used Copic marker numbers V17, R27, Y02 and YR68.

    For the green mandala I used Copic markers numbers YG06, G21, G05 and BG13.

    For the purple mandala I used Copic markers number RV19, RV55, RV66, V9 and BV02.

    Each of these cards begins the same way. I stamped the large Thankful Mandala on a 5 1/2″ x 3 1/4″ piece of Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock in Memento Tuxedo black ink. Then I selected 3-4 colors of Copic markers in complimentary hues and color away. There is no rhyme or reason to my madness! In all honesty, each mandala took me about half an hour to color and then I adhered various colored rhinestones for added sparkle.

    I found a complimentary colored cardstock base for each color and added two strips of die cut glitter paper down each side of the mandala.

    For the blue mandala I used Copic marker numbers B02, B24, B52 and B12.

    I hope you have enjoyed these cards and will maybe try coloring some too! Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day.

    Supplies

    CL8142 Thankful Mandala

  • Triple Hello | By Seeka

    Triple Hello | By Seeka

    Hi there, Seeka here and today I’m sharing a card that combines an ink-blended background with a stenciled overlay.

    I started with a 4.25″ x 5.5″ piece of Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock. Using Post-It tape, I masked off the borders and then used foam blending tools to blend Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin, and Abandoned Coral Distress Inks over the exposed area.

    I let the panel dry for a few minutes and then removed the Post-It tape and replaced it with fresh tape. Next, I placed the Midnight Mandala stencil over the panel and used washi tape to hold it in place. Using a clean foam blending tool and tamping motion, I applied Hero Arts Unicorn white pigment ink over the stencil and onto the background. To keep my white ink pad pristine, I smooshed some ink onto my glass work surface and then picked it up from there with the blending tool.

    I removed the stencil and the Post-it tape and set the panel aside to dry.

    Next I used the Big Hello Sugar Script die set to die cut “hello” six times from white cardstock. I stacked two and adhered two layers together to end up with three sentiments. I adhered each to the shadow layer of the sentiment which I cut from vellum.

    To assemble the card, I adhered the three hellos to the background with foam tape, and then adhered the card front to a card base.

    Thank you so much for visiting!


    Supplies