Author: birch press

  • Fiori Egg Layering Dies | By Desiree Kuemmerle

    Fiori Egg Layering Dies | By Desiree Kuemmerle

    Hello Everyone!

    I am here today still coloring and cutting eggs for the holiday, but the best part about these egg designs is they have no calories! LOL… So, I pulled out my Fiori Egg Layering Die Set and Just Because Clear Stamp and Die!

    I started my project off by die cutting all my pieces I will need. From each layer I chose a color card stock and then from Layer B, I cut 5 pieces in white.

    I pulled a design panel that measures 4 ¼ inches x 5 ½ inches and will use this as my focal base to start layering my die cut pieces.

    I make sure my panel is lined up on my grid mat so I can find the center to set one of my white die cuts, then I will place one on either side, making sure to trim the edges once secured.

    I just love the look of tone on tone sometimes – and you could even stop right here and have a beautiful panel for your card design, but we know we have many more die cuts to glue together….

    Next, we want to adhere our color die cuts together, this is where we get to see the magic of the layering dies come together!

    Now we still have two white die cuts left! We want to glue them to the back of our focal point… By doing this, they will not be seen on the back but they will create dimension between the layers of our egg!

    I stamped my sentiment from the Just Because Clear Stamp Set onto white card stock using my Black Versafine Ink and added black embossing powder and heat set until melted. I used the matching die to cut out my sentiment and adhered it to the inside of our card base.

    We don’t always have to put our sentiment on the outside, LOL…

    For our final step I used my sparkle pen to add just a touch of shimmer to my egg!

    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!


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  • Using Dies with Alcohol Ink Panels

    Using Dies with Alcohol Ink Panels

    Hello, there! It’s Ashlea and I’m thrilled to be back again sharing some inspiration with you. I don’t know about you, but I have recently be re-obsessed with alcohol inks. They’re so fun to play with and I love the looks I get when playing around with different colors. I always end up with tons of alcohol ink panels and try to brainstorm ways that I can use them on my cards and projects. I’ve shared a few ideas in this video on my Youtube channel. Check it out here:

    For my first card in the video I used alcohol ink on a die cut piece of card stock. I used the Peony Blooms layer A die and created a floral texture with the alcohol ink by using my darkest color (Cranberry)in the center of the flower shadows, then the lighter color (Pink Sherbet) and using my “air puffer” while rotating the card stock. This technique gives a great feathery texture that lends itself really well to alcohol inks, in my opinion.

    For my next couple of cards, I used pre-made alcohol ink panels and used word dies on one of them while I used the other as a card front. In this first one I cut out both the shadow die portion of the Big Friend Sugar Script die and the word die. I used these inversely with white card stock cut outs of the opposite dies (white shadow die for alcohol ink word cut out and white card stock word cut out for the alcohol ink shadow cut out) and created clean and simple cards with them using also the Aurora dies.

    And finally, my alcohol ink card front consisted of a pretty clean and simple alcohol ink art panel using just the color Eggplant and the gold mixative. I trimmed the card stock down to 3 3/4″ by 5″ and paired it with the inside dies of the Aurora layers A and B. For my sentiment I used the “smile” die and the “so glad we’re friends” sentiment from the Lingo Thanks clear stamp set.

    Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope that you’ve gotten some ideas on how you can use those alcohol ink panels that you’ve created! I’ll see you again very soon!


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  • Transparent Spring Card | by Jennifer Svare

    Transparent Spring Card | by Jennifer Svare

    Hello! Isn’t it great to see signs of spring finally arriving? Today, I wanted to make a card that was light, bright, fun, and would be great for a quick Easter card, or just springtime greetings.

    The card base is made out of clear acetate. The front is the beautiful Fiori Egg layering die set. There are four layers to the egg including the Stitched Egg background.

    The top two layers are both white, the third layer is gold, and the background layer is a holographic pink. I love how the top two layers of the white give it dimension with the stitching showing through, while the gold and background offer such colorful, beautiful elegance to the card while still keeping it clean and simple.

    I die cut the Layer A from the Avalon Frame out of white vellum, and used the negative spaces to glue onto the inside of the acetate that will show to the front of the card. Using a hole punch, I added little centers to the negative spaces of the flowers.

    Using vellum allows for color to show through from the back panel, and adds to the light, springy feel of the card. Glue dots are a wonderful adhesive for the vellum. It doesn’t show through the vellum or the acetate!

    The inside backing to the Fiori Egg is a background cut out of pink, with the Spring Blessings sentiment from the Spring Blessings stamp set. Room for a personal note is on the inside, hidden by the egg when closed.

    Thanks so much for stopping by today, and Happy Spring to you!


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  • Butterfly Thanks  by Jeanne Jachna

    Butterfly Thanks
    by Jeanne Jachna

    I hope you’re having a great day! I’m loving all the bulbs that are blooming in the garden! It’s a feast for the eyes! Spring is here!

    But what I’d really love to see are some pretty butterflies flitting around the garden. Since I can’t have them yet I’ll make due with some in my craft room, and let me tell you.. these Birch Press Design layered Sparkler Butterflies are just as beautiful!

    My card starts with a distress ink panel in Spun Sugar, Dried Marigold and Squeezed Lemonade. I’ve just discovered these cosmetic brushes for distress ink and they’re truly amazing! Mine are by Yoseng and I got them on Amazon. It takes much less effort to make a distress ink background with these than with the stencil brushes I’ve used in the past. I splattered the panel with water and then some Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White ink.

    Next I selected four colors of complimentary card stock for the butterflies. They’re easy to stack and look great in different colors. The detailed design is elegant and so beautiful!

    I added one layered butterfly to the top and bottom of the card, sandwiching the Lingo Thanks sentiment in the center .

    Orange, pink and yellow always remind me of sherbet! So yummy!

    Told you! Yummy right? You can find the Sparkler Butterfly Die set on sale in the store here. Have a great day!

    Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5″

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  • 4 Cards, 2 Dies by Ashlea Cornell

    4 Cards, 2 Dies by Ashlea Cornell

    Hello all! I’m glad to be back here with you today trying a new type of video for me. I love watching videos that show how many cards you can make with a limited number of techniques so, I put together one of my own today! I hope that you enjoy it and get some ideas on ways to stretch your own supplies.

    For my first set of cards I’m using the Butterfly Garden layer set. I have a confession here: there is technically a third die in this step, infinity circle dies. But they’re basic and this step could technically be done with scissors or a craft knife if you wanted. I love the way these two came out and that they’re both any occasion cards so that I can use them whenever I find myself needing a card.

    For my next set, I used the Big Friend Sugar Script die and created this one with some patterned paper and also some embellishment hearts from the Amour Arch layer A. To create this colorful stacked look, I used the word die on four pieces of different colored light weight card stock and adhered them all together slightly off center from each other. This way, all the colors peek out and create a wonderfully simple yet impactful piece.

    Finally, I created the card you see above on the far left. It’s a a very simple card using the negative pieces of card stock from the “friend” word die. I love this as a masculine card and I often have trouble creating those, so this technique will definitely be one I use again and again!

    Thank you so much for stopping by today! I’ll see you again very soon!


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  • Time Out Challenge by Jeanne Jachna

    Time Out Challenge
    by Jeanne Jachna

    I love to craft and have been doing it for as long as I can remember. Even as a child I was delighted with a brand new box of crayons and a pad of paper.

    That’s evolved into making scrapbook layouts to commemorate special events and card making for every day. I started my blog so I could play along with challenges. They’re a great way to find friends in who enjoy making (just like me) and lots of times there are prizes up for grabs!

    Birch Press Design is Sponsoring the Time Out Challenges theme challenge this week! That means if you play along that you’re automatically entered to win a $20 gift certificate from the store! The theme this time is Embellishments. You’re asked to play along using two or more, and if you’re feeling clever there is an optional twist … keep it a one layer card.

    I made two shaker cards with two embellishments.. the sequins on the inside, and the metallic button in the center of the Dahlia Mini Frame. There’s lots of ways to make a shaker, here’s how I made mine.

    I selected four shades of coordinating card stock colors. I cut the darkest shade with the Dahlia Mini Frame Layer C, and the lightest with the Memory Box Open Studio Wrapped Stitch Frame.

    I taped the Dahlia Mini Frame Layer C to the Wrapped Stitch Frame on the reverse side, topped it with a piece of acetate clear plastic, and then added strips of adhesive foam along the edges. It took me a long time to figure out that I could make my own double sided adhesive foam strips. All you need to do is add double sided adhesive to sheets of craft foam. Then just cut the foam into strips with a paper trimmer. This is so much easier than trying to trim down rolls of sticky adhesive foam tape.

    I pulled off the strips protecting the adhesive around the frame, filled the center with sequins and then topped it with a piece of card stock, to seal the shaker, before adhering it to the card base.

    I added the Dahlia Mini Frame Layers B and A to the front of the card, and added a Hugs Sugar Script die cut sentiment to the front of the card.

    I loved how this card turned out so I made one in blue too!

    I hope you have a great day and find time time to play along at Time Out Challenges! I can’t wait to see what you make!

    Finished Size 4 6/8 x 3 1/2″

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  • Prismatic Triangle Layering Dies | By Desiree Kuemmerle

    Prismatic Triangle Layering Dies | By Desiree Kuemmerle

    Hello Everyone!

    I am here today featuring the Prismatic Triangle Layering Dies! These are perfect for those tough masculine cards we always struggle to make!

    We can always add interest to any of our cards by dogging into our stash and all those backgrounds we made at one point with our inks!

    I found a panel for each of my dies and started die cutting!

    Once my panels were die cut and I layered my pieces together I wanted to fill in with some bold and metallic card stock!

    I decided on a copper and black. I thought these were perfect for those open centers within each of my triangles.

    But then a dilemma came in, I had extra prismatic triangles cut and I could not let go to waste!

    So, I cut one more using only one of the layers. We will make another card using these die cuts as well! But let’s get back to our original card, we will circle back, LOL!

    I layered my die cuts together using my liquid adhesive and it created a great marble stone effect. Once it was secured onto my standard A2 size card base I started inserting my copper and black card stock into the open areas like a puzzle!

    I stamped my sentiment from the Just Because Clear Stamp Set into a shimmer piece of card stock and set in place across the front of triangles!

    Now back to our happy addition!

    I layered all those extra die cuts but offset set them on an angle from each other and adhered them the same as out first card right onto our standard A2 size card base.

    I also cut a strip as wide as my die cut, and used that same die to cut into the strip. After I placed my triangles in place, I then placed my strips on either side to create the illusion that the triangles are coming out of the panel.

    I die cut the Big Shine Sugar Script out three times to give my sentiment some dimension and adhered it to the center of my triangles and added some shimmer and shine using my shimmer pen and glaze.

    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


  • Alcohol Inked Shining Mandala

    Alcohol Inked Shining Mandala

    Hi there it’s Tracey here today with some more inspiration for using beautiful Birch Press Design products. I have a card and a video for you to show you how I made this pretty background. My card features the Shining Mandala stamp set that will be heat embossed with white embossing powder. Then I will show you how to add colour to this design using alcohol inks. Here are the supplies that I will be using…

    To start off with we will stamp the Shining Mandala stamp set in Versamark ink and then heat emboss it with white embossing powder onto a 5″ x 7″ piece of Yupo paper. Yupo paper is a synthetic paper that is waterproof and commonly used with alcohol inks.

    Below is a video of my process so that you can see how I worked with the ink.

    You need to be careful as you will see the Yupo paper warps very easily. I was not too worried because I would be trimming my paper down to 5 1/4″ x 4″. Once the mandala was heat set and trimmed down I added colour to it with Alcohol Inks using the dip method. I started off by filling a plastic container with about 1″ of water. I randomly added a few drops of Wild Plum and Purple Twilight alcohol ink. Then I added a drop of the Silver Mixative to the water. With a plastic straw I moved the mixative around a bit so it wasn’t all sitting in one corner. I took the trimmed down mandala panel and I swept in through the water once and the alcohol ink grabbed on to the paper. The result was a panel that was swirled with pink, purple and silver that was set down onto paper towel to dry completely.

    Don’t be afraid of alcohol inks! They are fun, addictive and very forgiving. The dip method of applying the alcohol ink is very easy and a great way to get started with using these inks. If you are not happy with your results you can use regular rubbing alcohol along with a paper towel to remove the colour and then you can start again. No two results are ever the same, just work with colours you like and you never know, you might end up finding colour combinations that look amazing together.

    I used the Big Sending Sugar Script die set, cutting the word in a darker purple and the shadow in white. The second line of the sentiment ‘handmade hugs’ was stamped and embossed in white. The sentiment if from the Sending Love stamp set. Both of the sentiments were adhered to the mandala centre.
    The results are just beautiful.

    Thank you so much for stopping in today to create this card with my and I hope that you give this method of adding colour a chance. You can add to embossed panels or you can create you own panels and cut out your own designs using any of the gorgeous Birch Press Design craft dies! Be sure to stop back in on Friday for more creative inspiration here on the blog. Have a wonderful day!

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  • Happy Peach Cobbler Day! | by Jennifer Svare

    Kessa Arch Layers make beautiful muffin and cupcake wrappers

    Hello! It’s so great to be back at Birchpress Design, and just in time for Peach Cobbler Day, April 13th. It’s a great excuse to make and take delicious treats to friends and family, and today I’ll offer some ideas of how Birchpress Design has us covered!

    With a slight modification to the Kessa Arch layers, gorgeous muffin wrappers can be made, the kind that can be used again and again. They simply slip on kind of like a napkin ring and are very sturdy. I’ll show how easy they are to make in the video.

    The Waves Plate set make a gorgeous “peaches and cream” card – so simple and so elegant. Simply choose the colors, die cut the layers, and attach to a card base. Love those easy cards that only look like they took a long time to make. This one’s FAST.

    Muffins can be delivered in disposable pan, wrapped with Birch Press Design’s Lavender Metallic Ribbon

    I also got brave and made a modification to an apple from An Apple a Day die set to make a peach instead. I always feel intimidated when thinking about coloring, so my challenge today if you feel the same is just to do it, and don’t overthink yourself out of trying it. Distress inks make it easy, and it’s a very forgiving shape to color. I’ll help by offering color suggestions as well as some how-to’s in the video.

    In addition to the peach tag, a card could be made instead. Here I used one of my all-time favorite die sets, the Maxwell layers. The Mango Gingham made a wonderful layer, too!

    This project is all about connecting with friends, family, or neighbors. Grab your apple dies if you don’t have peaches, whip up the easiest peach cobbler muffin recipe you can find on the internet, and go make someone’s day! It’s the thought that counts, and it will be so appreciated ~ fun, too!

    Have a wonderful day, and I can’t wait to see you again soon!


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  • 5 Backgrounds 1 Stamp | by Justine Hovey

    5 Backgrounds 1 Stamp | by Justine Hovey

    It’s Justine again here on the Birch Press Blog with a fun idea on how to use the Hex Fade Frame Stamp/Die set to create 5 backgrounds. These are my favourite types of stamps because the possibilities, colours and layout are endless!

    I think this one is my favourite with the woven look of stamped images and die cut stamped images. It’s so simple yet looks dimensional and complex. You can watch the creation of these cards in my video!

    I think when creating bulk cards it’s either for creating a bunch of cards to give to different people OR you can create a set to use as a gift. I do this often and had that in mind which is why I chose the same colour palette to go with the card bundle.


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