Author: birch press

  • Fun Clean and Simple Cards | Ashlea Cornell

    Fun Clean and Simple Cards | Ashlea Cornell

    Hello, there crafters! Ashlea here. I’m thrilled to be on the blog today sharing some of my favorite tips for jazzing up a clean and simple card. I love creating CAS cards, but I often find myself wishing there was something I could add to help it be a little more elevated. Check out my YouTube video below to see how I created this fun yet clean and simple card:

    Before adhering my Kaleidoscope Heart layers A, B and C, I created score lines into my card front cut at 4″ x 5 1/4″. This is one of my favorite tricks for adding interest to a clean and simple card. It brings such detail without adding too much texture or any color at all. I then adhered my layers, C first, then B, and finally A to my card front. I used the sentiment “You Mean The World To Me” from the Lingo Thanks stamp set and embossed it in white embossing powder on a black piece of card stock.

    This is another great way to add some interest and contrast to a CAS card. Finally, after adhering my card front to my A2 sized base (4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″) I used iridescent gems on each of the small circle cut outs in the center portion of the heart. I love the sparkle this added to the card and love that it adds a small amount of color based upon how the light hits the card.

    I hope that you’ve enjoyed learning a bit about how I created this card and my favorite tips for elevating a CAS style. Thank you so much for stopping by today and I’ll see you again very soon!




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  • Rainbow Triangles  by Jeanne Jachna

    Rainbow Triangles
    by Jeanne Jachna

    Hi and thanks for stopping by! Today I’m sharing a card I made for my son. He is 23 and loves bold graphic designs. I knew the Prismatic Triangle set would be perfect!

    Whenever I use a layered die set I like to cut the first layer into the card base. This makes it easier to line up the die cuts because the first layer is going to fit right inside the die cut opening.

    I inlaid all the colored die cut pieces in the bottom layer. Where the color intersect I added a color that was a combination of the two. Just as an example, between the green and yellow triangle (where they overlap) I inserted a touch of lime.

    The Prismatic Layer B is cut from gold glitter paper, and I’ve added a gold matt to frame the cover panel. The Big Lingo Type Hugs is cut from white and purple card stock colors. The letters are removable so you can insert whatever colors you like.

    The Prismatic Triangles are beautiful and look amazing in any color combination you can imagine!

    Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5″

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  • Dahlia Mini Frame | Creating Shaker Cards with Thin Dies | by Alicia Havranek

    Dahlia Mini Frame | Creating Shaker Cards with Thin Dies | by Alicia Havranek

    Hello!  Today I will be featuring the lovely Dahlia Mini Frame Layering Die.  This is a thin delicate die that looks great on its own, but I wanted to create a shaker card with this die.  Thin dies can sometimes be difficult or impossible to create shaker cards with, but I will show you how with this die.

    I first cut out each layer with 3 coordinating pieces of cardstock.  Layer A is to the far right, layer B is in the middle and layer C is to the far left.

    I then glued each layer together.  Next, I took my card panel and traced the dahlia frame onto my card panel.  I carefully cut out the center of the card panel.  After cutting the center piece out, I added acetate to my card panel, then adhered my dahlia layers onto the acetate.

    By doing this, I now have the space to add my foam adhesive to my card panel.  Add your favorite sequins.

    For the back of my panel, or what will be showing through the shaker piece I ink blended some Spun Sugar Distress Oxide Ink.  I peeled off my foam backing and adhered the backing to my panel.  I then glued my panel to my white card base.

    I used the Big Hello Sugar Script Die for my sentiment.  I seriously can’t get enough of these Big Sugar Script dies!  They are awesome and make mass producing so easy!

    I hope you enjoyed this card and it got the wheels turning on how you can create shaker cards using these gorgeous thin dies.

     

     

     

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  • Line Fade Day vs. Night! | By Desiree Kuemmerle

    Line Fade Day vs. Night! | By Desiree Kuemmerle


    Hello Everyone!

    I am back with another project!  This one will play tricks on your eyes…  For today’s project we will be using the Line Fade Stamp and Die Set.

    We want to start our project off by creating to blended backgrounds. I chose to use my distress oxides on white card stock. Using a blending tool, I created two rainbow pattern panels. You do not need to go for a perfect blend but you just want to make sure there are no white spaces between the colors you chose.

    After your panels are blended you need to make sure they are dry before our next step. Now remember if you use Distress Oxides these are a pigment/ dye mix so they take time. I used my heat gun and time to allow them to dry completely. You can use your embossing powder to make sure they are ready.

    Chose your stamps for your panel and grab your ink you use for your embossing. When you stamp your images you want to stagger the placement so you get all spectrums of the blended background.

    After they are stamped you are ready to apply your embossing powder, I started with my white and then my other panel I used my black. A fine detail powder will work best for these because these lines are pretty detailed on the stamp set! Heat set your images.

    Once they are all set, now we get to die cut our images. Grab the dies that coordinate with your image and run them through your die cutting machine. You see the visible differences between the to sets even though we used the same blended background! It’s the embossing powder that is creating this illusion! Cool right?

    With our pieces die cut we can now set them up on our Standard A2 size card bases.

    I used liquid adhesive and double-sided foam tape to give my strips dimension. I also made sure that the colors showing were flipped around from each other.

    Now there is always a space you have after you design your card, so we can just add that to the inside of the card!

    For my sentiment I chose the Big Lingo Type Thanks Die. I cut one in white and the other in black but only using the background piece. Our white sentiment was applied on the outside of our card.

    The black sentiment I placed inside the card to add to the dramatic look and feel of this card.

    It will be great surprise when the card is open and they see that bold pop of color!

    If you want to see more details just click on the video below and see our project come together step by step!

    As always, I hope you enjoyed today’s project… Make sure you stay tuned for more wonderful projects coming soon! Have a great day and always remember… Be Creative!

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  • Wishing Mandala Texture Paste  By Dave Brethauer

    Wishing Mandala Texture Paste
    By Dave Brethauer

    Hello crafters! Our Wishing Mandala Stencils can be used to create some remarkable backgrounds – from simple to complex, they can be used individually or layered to create really unique images.I created a simple background using a single stencil to highlight a word image at the center of the card – some clear glittery embossing paste created a raised textured burst effect that is eye catching!

    You can use any type of embossing paste with these stencils – and during the month of February they are on sale as our Item of the Month! In fact they are bundled with the Wishing Mandala Stamp Set at a special price!

    Check it out today!

  • Versatile Adora Layer Set
    by Jeanne Jachna

    Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you’re having a great day!  Today I’m playing with the new Adora Layer set!  I love the versatility and many different looks you can achieve with this die set.
    You can change the look by stacking the colors of the layers, but you can also remove the center circle design too!
    I started by cutting a colored card stock panel slightly smaller than my card base.  Next I die cut the Adora die from the panel before adhering it to the card base.  This creates a clean window to insert the die into.
    I adhered the layer C die into the open negative space and then adhered the Layers B and A over it creating a neat stack.  Make sure you insert the center circle as you go – don’t save them for last.  The dies are easier to assemble one layer at a time, vs. inserting the assembled circle stack in the center later.
    I added a Big Lingo Type Thanks and a few gold glitter hearts as accents.  I cut the hearts with the Adora dies.
    I cut each die layer twice with a total of 6 different colors of card stock and then just swapped the centers to add more interest.  Who doesn’t love a rainbow of color?
    The new Lingo Type word dies are easy to work with.. each set includes a background die as well as an outline word die.  The center of the letters on the outline die are removeable so you can use them on other projects or to create personalized messages if you like.
    You’re going to love the many ways and fun different looks you’ll achieve with these beautiful stackable dies!
    Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5″

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  • Thanks Thanks Thanks | By Eloise Blue

    Thanks Thanks Thanks | By Eloise Blue

    Hello friends, Eloise here and today I have a rainbow watercolour thanks card to share with you all. I used the Lingo Thanks Stamp Set as well as it’s coordinating dies to create this look.

    I started off with a piece of watercolour paper and ink blended a ton of Distress Oxide Inks onto the background in rainbow order. I did this very roughly and messy since it doesn’t matter how it looks.

    (Distress Oxide Inks Used: Squeezed Lemonade, Fossilised Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Abandoned Coral, Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet, Salty Ocean, Twisted Citron)

    I then took a piece of acetate, sprayed it with water and laid it overtop of the ink blended panel. This blended all the colours together seamlessly. I then die cut the coordinating die of ‘Thanks’ from the Lingo Thanks Set from the panel seven times, die cutting them straight down.

    Once all the thanks were die cut, I stamped the coordinating stamp on top and white heat embossed each of them. While I had my supplies out I also white heat embossed a couple of additional sentiments onto black strips.

    I added foam tape to the backs of each of them and adhered them into place on top of each other onto a natural white card base. I then added more foam tape to the additional sentiments and adhered them into place as well.

    The video is linked down below.

    Thanks so much for stopping by today and I’ll see you next time.

    Supplies

  • Wishing Mandala Colored Pencil  By Dave Brethauer

    Wishing Mandala Colored Pencil
    By Dave Brethauer

    Hello everyone! If you love coloring then the Wishing Mandala stamp set is just for you!
    During the month of February, this stamp set is on sale as our February Item of the Month for $34.99 and includes a set of matching layering stencils!

    This is a super fun image to color in with Prismacolor pencils – there are plenty of opportunitues to shade and blend color. I couldn’t stop coloring and adding different shades! Watch the video to get inspired!

  • Sending Thanks | by Tracey McNeely

    Sending Thanks | by Tracey McNeely

    Hi there, it’s Tracey here today and I have a bright and cheery thank you card to share with you using the fabulous Hex Fade stamp set and dies. This co-ordinating stamp and die set is on sale right now in the Birch Press Design store. These unique stamps are designed to give your creations an ombre look even if you only use one colour of ink.
    To recreate this card start out by stamping the longest of the rectangle stamps on to Bristol Smooth cardstock using VersaFine or other watermark ink. Emboss the images using white embossing powder and then cut the rectangles out with the co-ordinating Hex Fade dies.
    Using Distress Oxide inks or any other inks that you have, sponge a different colour ink on to the cut out rectangles. For this card colour was added to the images using Distress Oxide inks in Spiced Marmalade, Candied Apple, Mowed Lawn, Mermaid Lagoon and Wilted Violet.
    The rectangle strips were adhered directly onto a white card base in rainbow order. HINT–start by placing the one strip in the centre of the card front, then add one strip to each outer edge. Finally place the other two strips in between. This is an easy way to get your spacing correct.
    The bright colours over the white embossed rectangles really highlight the ombre effect of this stamp set. Just imagine what it would look like if you were to blend two shades of the same colour on each rectangle.
    The ‘Thanks’ sentiment was cut using the Big Lingo Type Thanks die. For this card the background was cut from white and the outline was cut from black. The word ‘sending’ is from the Lingo Thanks Clear Stamp and die set. It was stamped and white embossed from black cardstock, trimmed and then adhered right above the word thanks.
    The finished card looks so good in the bright colours and the shine from the embossed images adds extra elegance to the overall design.
    Thank you for stopping by to create with me today. The Hex Fade stamp set has endless possibilities. It can be used for almost any occasion and just by switching up the colour scheme or the method in which you stamp the images you can get totally different looks! See you next time here on the Birch Press Design blog!

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  • Wishing Mandala Sponges  By Dave Brethauer

    Wishing Mandala Sponges
    By Dave Brethauer

    The February Item of the Month includes four layering stencils – you won’t believe how quickly you can create gorgeous shading and fill in the mandala image!Check out this video – you’ll see how using each stencil, one at a time to add color upon color, helps you make a masterpiece in no time!

    You’ll get a new look every time simply by changing color schemes and varying where color is applied – this is definitely a favorite!