Author: birch press

  • Blending Under Layering Dies | by Justine Hovey

    Blending Under Layering Dies | by Justine Hovey


    I wanted to create a technique video today featuring ink blending, masking and layering dies. Using the Dahlia Mini Frame layering set, I created a focal point for the die by adding oxide ink to my background. I wanted my background to have a spring tone to it since I’m quite over winter at this point. I love creating bright cards with bold colour that still includes a lot of white space.

    For the Dahlia Die, I used a combination of glitter cardstock, satin cardstock and pearlescent cardstock to give a subtle elegance to the card. The sentiment was created by adding some pink ink to cardstock and die cutting the frame.

    I hope you enjoyed all of todays techniques and tips in the video. I look forward to creating my next layering card soon!

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  • Wishing Mandala Watercolor | By Dave Brethauer

    Wishing Mandala Watercolor | By Dave Brethauer

    Hello everyone! Have you heard about our item of the month?

    The February Item of the Month is the Wishing Mandala Stamp and Stencil Bundle – separately these items would come to $44, but since they are the item of the month they are at a special price of $34.99 and the customers get 100 bonus points (you must have an account to receive and redeem points – don’t worry, it’s easy to set one up).

    The Wishing Mandala stamp set has a large mandala image – perfect for coloring and creating an amazing background.

    The set also includes some word images – and the big “wishing” and “best” images can be die cut with our Big Wishing Sugar Script and Big Best Sugar Script dies (these are sold separately).

    This mandala image is begging to be colored, and to get your creative juices flowing, check out this video where we show you how to use watercolor to color in the stamped image. You’ll love how they create layers of overlapping color and brilliant blending.
  • Valentine Release Prize Winners

    Thanks so much for joining us for our Valentine Release giveaway!  Your comments mean the world to us.  We sure hope you enjoyed seeing projects with the  new release and hope you’ll come back for more inspiration.

    Congratulations to the winners from the blog posts listed here (they will be contacted via email).  Instagram winners are listed on the individual prize posts.

     

    Date Post Prize Winner
    1/21/2019 Jeanne’s Post 57244 Dahlia Heart Layer A Patricia Piper
    1/23/2019 Desiree’s Post 57235 Adora Layer A Michelle Michalski
    1/25/2019 Alicia’s Post 57238 Amour Arch Layer A Tracy Steinbach
    1/26/2019 Eloise’s Post 57231 Lingo Alphabet Cathy Lillie
    1/27/2019 Tracey’s Post 57232 Dahlia Mini Frame Layer A Arianna Barbara
  • Shining Mandala | by Alicia Havranek

    Shining Mandala | by Alicia Havranek

    Hello friends!  Today I will be creating a card using the Shining Mandala stamp set and stencils.  I was in the mood for a little ink blending and thought the stencils would be a lot of fun and I wanted to show you how you can use them with the stamp set.

    I chose three different shades of Distress Oxides in purple.  After stamping and heat embossing the mandala image on Bristol Smooth cardstock, I ink blended Victorian Velvet all over the card panel.

    I then placed one of the stencils over the panel, lining it up accordingly to the image and blended Shaded Lilac.

    Finally I placed another stencil over the panel, lining it up accordingly to the image and blended in Seedless Preserves.  I started with the lighter ink because I knew I would be taking darker shades and blending over certain areas.  What is fun about this stencil is that you can create so many looks with whatever colors you choose!  Here is the final look of the panel.

    To give the card a more dimensional look, I took a circle die and cut out a portion of the mandala which I then added foam squares to.  I adhered all the pieces to my card base.

    From the Shining Mandala stamp set I chose the sentiment, “sending love.”  I stamped the two stamps with black ink, cut them out and popped them up with foam squares before adhering them to my card.  I used some glitter paper to cut out a couple hearts from the Stitched Heart Set die, added foam tape, and adhered them to my card as well for extra sparkle.  For a final touch, I added sequins.

    I had so much fun playing with the stencil and stamp set together!  The pattern and color possibilities are really endless and the two let your creativity soar.  There is a process video below if you are interested as well as where you can find these products.

     

     

     

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  • Dahlia Mini Frame Layer Set & Giveaway | By Tracey McNeely

    Dahlia Mini Frame Layer Set & Giveaway | By Tracey McNeely

    Hi there it’s Tracey here today and I am so excited to share a card with you that was made using the brand new Dahlia Mini Frame Layering set. We are sharing projects made with the brand new Valentines release. The card I made today is a thank you card made with this beautiful mini frame die set.
    The mini frame was going to be the star of the show so I decided to add all my colour on to the panel behind the frame. Here are the supplies that I used to make the card:
    I started off with a watercolour panel that measured 5 1/4″ x 4″ and I sponged three shades of purple Distress Oxide Inks on to it. I spritzed it with water and let the panel dry. Once it was dry I sprayed it with a generous coating of Sheer Glimmer spray to give the panel lots of sparkle. If you don’t have a sparkle spray you could add shine with some glitter, Stickles or even with a shimmer pen like Wink of Stella.
    Once the panel was dry I cut out one of each layer of the Dahlia Mini Frame set with heavy white cardstock. The three layers were glued together with a liquid adhesive. I like using liquid adhesive with the Birch Press Design layering dies because it gives you a bit of time to wiggle the layers into place.Once the frame was dry I adhered it to the watercolour panel and then set it aside to dry while I worked on my sentiment. I stamped and die cut the ‘Thanks’ from the brand new Lingo Thanks Stamp set with Copic friendly ink and I coloured the words in ombre with V01 and V15 blending them around the centre where they met. Once the colouring was done the Lingo Thanks die set was used to die cut the word. I set it aside because the main panel was dry and ready to adhere to the card base. I used foam tape to add the panel to the card base for extra dimension.
    I was originally going to adhere the panel directly to the card base with tape runner but it didn’t stand out enough. So I carefully removed it and added foam tape pieces to it instead. I was worried that the tape runner might adhere to the card base accidentally so I used my powder tool to go over all the sticky that was around the foam tape. It worked out perfectly. This was one of those moments where I wished I had made a video! I love sharing my mistakes in my posts and how they can be fixed. Before adding the coloured thanks to the frame I backed it with pieces of foam tape so that it would sit at the same height as the frame.
    To finish off the card I added a few clear silver Stickle filled sequins that were size 4mm and 6mm. If just gives the card a little more sparkle.
    The Dahlia Mini Frame Layering die set is beautiful and can be used for so many occasions–Valentine’s, Easter, spring, summer, birthdays, anniversaries and many more! Right now this die set and some of the other layering sets are on sale at the Birch Press Design store! Check it out and see the rest of this fabulous release!

    So now let’s get on to today’s giveaway!  Do you want a chance to win the Dahlia Mini FrameHeart Layer A?

    We’ll be giving prizes from the new Valentine release on posts throughout the end of the month.  To enter to win you need to leave a comment on ONLY the posts that you wish to enter. To enter ALL the posts during the January Valentine giveaway you need to leave a comment on EACH ONE. One person will be chosen at random from each of the posts during the giveaway. Only one prize per person per giveaway. We use random number generator to select winners from comments. You have until midnight US EST January 31 to leave a comment on each and every post that you want to enter. Winners will announced on this blog on February 1.

    For a SECOND chance to win this die AND ONE FOR A FRIEND…
    1. )  Visit our Instagram account and FOLLOW US!
    2.)   Like each post you want to enter
    3.)   LEAVE A COMMENT and TAG A FRIEND by 12am US EST January 31.

    One comment per post will be selected by random number generator.  The winners will be posted on each Instagram post on February 1.  The COMMENTER and the FRIEND THEY TAGGED on the post will BOTH receive the prize for that post!

    Good Luck! And don’t forget to LEAVE A COMMENT!!
    Thanks for stopping in today!

    Supplies

     

  • Lingo Alphabet & Giveaway | By Eloise Blue

    Lingo Alphabet & Giveaway | By Eloise Blue

    Hello friends, Eloise here and today I’m back with a Valentine’s project. I’m using the Lingo Alphabet Dies, Adora Layer C Dies and Lingo Thanks Stamp Set. Today is also another day of the Blog Blitz, so at the end of the post there will be details about the die set being given away today.

    I started off with ink blending some Distress Oxide Inks onto a piece of watercolour cardstock. I created two strips to be able to cut all the letters I needed out. Once they were ink blended, I flicked on some water and dried it with a heat tool. I then die cut all the letters out needed for ‘I Love You’ from the Lingo Alphabet Die Set.

    (Distress Oxide Inks Used: Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry)

    I then white heat embossed the sentiment ‘You Mean The World To Me’ from Lingo Thanks onto a strip of black cardstock. I cleaned up my embossing with a black pen and set that off to the side with my letters.

    I wanted a super simple background, so the sentiment could be the main focus. I decided to do a grey watercolour background. I used my Mijello Misson Gold Palette and did a few stripes. I dried it with a heat tool and then cut the piece down to size.

    I then roughly laid out my layout and decided I needed an extra colour, plus something to scatter. I used the Adora Layer C Die as it cuts many little hearts out.

    I quickly ink blended some more Distress Oxide Inks onto another piece of watercolour cardstock, making sure to cover the whole background as I’ll use the rest later. I flicked on a little water, dried it and die cut the layer from it. I picked out a few hearts from it to scatter.

    (Distress Oxide Inks Used: Abandoned Coral, Candied Apple, Fired Brick)

    Lastly, it’s time to assemble. I took some twine and laid it down onto my background. I adhered my letters on top using foam tape, which also adhered down the twine. I scattered my hearts around as well to add a little extra. I added foam tape onto my additional sentiment and adhered it down into place as well. I cut off the ends of the string leaving a little showing.

    To finish up I took the same red paper I made before and adhered my panel on top using foam tape. I adhered the entire panel onto a card base and my card was complete.

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    Here are the details for the giveaway! Today we’ll be giving away the Lingo Alphabet Dies.

    We’ll be giving prizes from the new Valentine release on posts throughout the end of the month.  To enter to win you need to leave a comment on ONLY the posts that you wish to enter. To enter ALL the posts during the January Valentine giveaway you need to leave a comment on EACH ONE. One person will be chosen at random from each of the posts during the giveaway. Only one prize per person per giveaway. We use random number generator to select winners from comments. You have until midnight US EST January 31 to leave a comment on each and every post that you want to enter. Winners will announced on this blog on February 1.

    For a SECOND chance to win this die AND ONE FOR A FRIEND…
    1. )  Visit our Instagram account and FOLLOW US!
    2.)  Like each post you want to enter
    3.)  LEAVE A COMMENT and TAG A FRIEND by 12am US EST January 31.

    One comment per post will be selected by random number generator.  The winners will be posted on each Instagram post on February 1. The COMMENTER and the FRIEND THEY TAGGED on the post will BOTH receive the prize for that post!

    Good Luck! And LEAVE A COMMENT!!

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    Thank you so much for stopping by today, I hope you all enjoyed and got inspired. See you next time!

    Supplies

  • Amour Arch Layering Card & Giveaway | by Alicia Havranek

    Amour Arch Layering Card & Giveaway | by Alicia Havranek

    Hello!  Today I am featuring the new Amour Arch Layering Die Set from the recent Valentine’s Day release.  In addition to the Amour Arch Die I am using the new Stitched Heart Set and Lingo Thanks stamp set and die.  To celebrate the new release there is a giveaway as well!  You can find the details below.

    I used the three Amour Arch dies to cut out red (layer A), black (layer B), and gray (layer C) cardstock.  Once adhering them together, I attached them to a white card base.  I used the Stitched Heart Die set to cut out the two larger hearts with some glitter cardstock.  The smaller hearts are left overs from the Amour Arch die.  I attached the hearts with some foam squares to give them extra dimension.

    For the sentiment I stamped the love and hug on black cardstock and heat embossed with white embossing powder, then die cut them with the coordinating dies.  I used dimensionals as well to pop up the sentiment.  There is a video process of this card if you want to check it out.  It will be at the bottom of this post.

    Now for the giveaway!  The giveaway is for LAYER A OF THE AMOUR ARCH DIE.

    We’ll be giving prizes from the new Valentine release on posts throughout the end of the month.  To enter to win you need to leave a comment on ONLY the posts that you wish to enter. To enter ALL the posts during the January Valentine giveaway you need to leave a comment on EACH ONE. One person will be chosen at random from each of the posts during the giveaway. Only one prize per person per giveaway. We use random number generator to select winners from comments. You have until midnight US EST January 31 to leave a comment on each and every post that you want to enter. Winners will announced on this blog on February 1.

    For a SECOND chance to win this die AND ONE FOR A FRIEND…
    1.)   Visit our Instagram account and FOLLOW US!
    2.)   Like each post you want to enter
    3.)   LEAVE A COMMENT and TAG A FRIEND by 12am US EST January 31.

    One comment per post will be selected by random number generator.  The winners will be posted on each Instagram post on February 1.  The COMMENTER and the FRIEND THEY TAGGED on the post will BOTH receive the prize for that post!

    Good Luck! And LEAVE A COMMENT!!

     

     

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  • Adora Hearts and GIVEAWAY! | By Desiree Kuemmerle

    Adora Hearts and GIVEAWAY! | By Desiree Kuemmerle

    Hello Everyone!

    I am back with another project and a giveaway! How exciting! Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and we have a great release to celebrate!
    The Adora Layering Die set is perfect to show someone how special they are with all the hearts to go around!


    I knew I wanted to create a distress oxide background, so I grabbed three of my favorite colors and had fun ink smooshing onto my bristol cardstock! I started with my worn lipstick and then used my aged mahogany. For some final touches I added some ground espresso splatters… because when does a background not need those right?

    Once that was completed I set it aside so it could dry.


    Now to all the die cutting! I used my white card stock and cut each of the Adora layers and three sets of my sentiment, we will get to that shortly!
    Once all my die cuts were completed I layered then all together starting with layer B onto layer C and finally layer A onto B and C. I then used one of the dies to create a cut out in my background.


    For my sentiment I used the Big Lingo Type HUGS die. What I love about this die set is you have options… You get three ways to give HUGS! An outline, solid, or just the letters, what could be better!

    I layered three of the solid of the sentiments together and then added two of the outlines to the top of the base. I love this look and the possibilities are endless on how you could dress this sentiment up!

    I grabbed my liquid adhesive and adhered my background panel to my standard A2 size card base and then set my Adora Mandela in the cut out. I love this look… These dies create an illusion to the eye, is the focal point going into the card or coming out of the card?…
    I then adhered my sentiment to the bottom right hand corner.

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

    Now don’t think I forgot here are the details for the giveaway!!! Here is your chance to win Layer A of the Adora set!

    We’ll be giving prizes from the new Valentine release on posts throughout the end of the month. To enter to win you need to leave a comment on ONLY the posts that you wish to enter. To enter ALL the posts during the January Valentine giveaway you need to leave a comment on EACH ONE. One person will be chosen at random from each of the posts during the giveaway. Only one prize per person per giveaway. We use random number generator to select winners from comments. You have until midnight US EST January 31 to leave a comment on each and every post that you want to enter. Winners will be announced on this blog on February 1.

    Need more????
    For a SECOND chance to win this die AND ONE FOR A FRIEND…
    1. ) Visit our Instagram account and FOLLOW US!
    2.) Like each post you want to enter
    3.) LEAVE A COMMENT and TAG A FRIEND by 12am US EST January 31.

    One comment per post will be selected by random number generator. The winners will be posted on each Instagram post on February 1. The COMMENTER and the FRIEND THEY TAGGED on the post will BOTH receive the prize for that post!

    Now don’t forget to LEAVE A COMMENT!!

    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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  • Dahlia Heart & Giveaway by Jeanne Jachna

    Dahlia Heart & Giveaway
    by Jeanne Jachna

    Are you checking out the new Valentine’s release in the store?  Today I’m showing two projects made with the Dahlia Heart layered set.   You’re going to love these intricate heart designs not just for Valentine’s projects, but for wedding and anniversary’s too!   We all want to know that we’re loved!
    I made two cards from the same inked up distress panel.

    I inked a white card stock panel with Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick and Candied Apple distress ink to achieve an ombre shades of red. The panel was splatered with water, some Picked Raspberry, and finally some white ink.  Next I cut the largest Stitched Heart die from the panel.  If you look close you can see it leaves a stitched outline along the outer edge of the die cut.
    I adhered the panel to a card base, cut the Stitched Heart a second time from gold and inserted it inside the window cut on the panel.  I cut and adhered the Dahlia Heart Layers one at a time over the gold heart.  I used an acrylic block to hold them in place as they dried.

    The Big Lingo Type Thanks die is also new.  It comes with an outline die with removable letters as well as a solid background die so there are lots of possibilities.
    I reserved the die cut heart for my second card.   This one started with a white panel of card stock that was debossed using the Amour Layer C background die.   I cut the Dahlia Heart Layer A from gold glitter paper and adhered it over the distress ink heart.
    You’ll create lots of stunning projects with these beautiful intricate hearts.

    And now the part you’ve been waiting for.. the giveaway!  Want a chance to win the Dahlia Heart Layer A?

    We’ll be giving prizes from the new Valentine release on posts throughout the end of the month.  To enter to win you need to leave a comment on ONLY the posts that you wish to enter. To enter ALL the posts during the January Valentine giveaway you need to leave a comment on EACH ONE. One person will be chosen at random from each of the posts during the giveaway. Only one prize per person per giveaway. We use random number generator to select winners from comments. You have until midnight US EST January 31 to leave a comment on each and every post that you want to enter. Winners will announced on this blog on February 1.

    For a SECOND chance to win this die AND ONE FOR A FRIEND…
    1. )   Visit our Instagram account and FOLLOW US!
    2.)   Like each post you want to enter
    3.)   LEAVE A COMMENT and TAG A FRIEND by 12am US EST January 31.

    One comment per post will be selected by random number generator.  The winners will be posted on each Instagram post on February 1.  The COMMENTER and the FRIEND THEY TAGGED on the post will BOTH receive the prize for that post!

    Good Luck! And LEAVE A COMMENT!!

     

     

    Finished Size 4.25 x 5.5″

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  • Shining Mandala Hugs – January 2019 Stamp of the Month

    Shining Mandala Hugs – January 2019 Stamp of the Month

    Hi it’s Tracey here today and I am so excited to be sharing a project with you today using the new Shining Mandala Stamp Set and the matching Shining Mandala Stencil Set! I created my card using both set and I have made a video for you to share my process with you and so you can see how easy it is to line these sets up together to make a stunning card.
    To create this card I started out by stamping and white embossing the main image from the Shining Mandala stamp set onto a piece of Bristol Smooth cardstock.  I chose Bristol Smooth because I am going to be ink blending with the stencil set. The colours I chose for the ink blending were all Distress Oxide inks–Broken China, Wilted Violet and Picked Raspberry. The way the stencils are cut out each layer exposes different sections of the overall stamp and also cover other areas allowing you to blend colours together in some places but also allowing other colours to shine on their own too! Here is the video I created to show you my process…

    These colours really blended together beautifully and the stencils lined up over the white embossed linees perfectly giving a lovely texture to the front of the card!
    If you look a little closer you can see the clean white embossed lines and also how the colours blended together in some areas creating beautiful new hues.
    With this stencil set you could create a mandala completely independently from the stamp and still get all of the clean lines and blending depending on the overall look that you are trying to achieve.
    I used the Big Script Hugs die for my sentiment and I added it to the card front with foam tape to really make it pop off the card.
    Thanks for stopping in today to create with me and I hope you are inspired to give stenciling mandalas a try! We will see you next time!

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