Category: Colleen Balija

  • You Are Loved | by Colleen Balija

    You Are Loved | by Colleen Balija

    Hi friends, I took a short break from the blog here, and now I’m happy to be back with you, sharing the love of Birch Press Designs! With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I wanted to share a lovely card using Banner Heart dies and You Are Loved Sugar Script die and hot foil plate.…

  • Merry Christmas Wreath | by Colleen Balija

    Merry Christmas Wreath | by Colleen Balija

    Hi there friends! I’m back this month sharing another holiday card using the new Splendid Poinsettia Contour Layers! This is a lovely poinsettia that you’ll want in your stash for your holiday cards! You could say I’m getting a head start on my holiday cards! I’ll also be using Memory Box Glad Tidings Stamp and…

  • Holiday Hugs | by Colleen Balija

    Holiday Hugs | by Colleen Balija

    Hi friends, With the holidays upon us, I wanted to share a festive card using the new Holiday Hugs die and Adornment Wreath die! This layered wreath can be used all year long just by changing up the colors and foliage!!! I will also be using Memory Box RingaDings embossing folder, Jolly Holly Contour Die,…

  • Autumn Foliage Delight | by Colleen Balija

    Autumn Foliage Delight | by Colleen Balija

    Hi friends! I’m back this month with another fall card, because well….I just can’t get enough of fall! Next month will be holiday cards, but this month I just want to embrace the beauty that is fall! I live in the Midwest of the United States, and we get some breathtaking colors and scents of…

  • Warm Autumn Wishes with Adornment Pumpkin Die | by Colleen Balija

    Warm Autumn Wishes with Adornment Pumpkin Die | by Colleen Balija

    Hi friends! With fall upon us in full swing, I wanted to make a festive autumn card using Adornment Pumpkin die set! I’ll also be using Warm Wishes layering die, Hillside Branch & Contour Layers, Adornment Oak Leaf die, Splendor Bevel Plate (Layer A only), Memory Box Cream Woodgrain paper, Memory Box Vintage Pastel Mirror…

  • Fall Adornment Oak Leaves | by Colleen Balija

    Fall Adornment Oak Leaves | by Colleen Balija

    Hey friends, It’s getting to that time of year when the leaves turn on the trees and we begin to crave hot cocoa and Pumpkin Spice Lattes! Yummm! Fall time of year can be messy and yet it can also take your breath away with the sights and smells! So today’s card is a tribute…

  • Colorful Adornment Pumpkin | by Colleen Balija

    Colorful Adornment Pumpkin | by Colleen Balija

    Hi friends! As we near the end of summer and welcome fall into (most of) our lives, I wanted to share a card using the NEW Adornment Pumpkin. But…I am adding a playful twist by experimenting with color! So today I will share my version of the ideal pumpkin using Adornment Pumpkin die set, Splendor…

  • Sending a Caring Thoughts Card | by Colleen Balija

    Sending a Caring Thoughts Card | by Colleen Balija

    Hi friends! I don’t know about you, but I never seem to have enough sympathy or thinking of you cards for my friends who may be struggling in life, so I wanted to create one with you today! Colors play a huge role in the message you send in a card, and I’ll be sharing…

  • Using Neutral Colors on Flowers and Leaves | by Colleen Balija

    Using Neutral Colors on Flowers and Leaves | by Colleen Balija

    Hi friends, I like to get really playful with color palettes on my cards, and I’m always on the search for new inspiration! Recently I found a card on Instagram that used neutral colors and the end result was just so cool! So, I decided to test those colors out on my next BPD card,…

  • Christmas in July with Forest Canopy and Large Cosmos | by Colleen Balija

    Christmas in July with Forest Canopy and Large Cosmos | by Colleen Balija

    Hi there! Today I’ve got a card for you that reminds me of Christmas -only in July! This wasn’t intended to be a Christmas card, but after seeing the finished product, I will definitely be creating similar cards for the holidays using these new products! I’ll be using the new Large Cosmos Contour Layers die…

  • Gracious Florals | by Colleen Balija

    Gracious Florals | by Colleen Balija

    HI friends! Today I’m going to share an easy way to add color to your embossed images using the new Gracious Floral Embossing Folder, Stencil, Stamp, and die set by Memory Box. This set coordinates together to help you create TONS of unique cards! I’ve linked the Supply List at the end of my post…

  • Using Color Mood Boards for Inspiration Part 2 | by Colleen Balija

    Using Color Mood Boards for Inspiration Part 2 | by Colleen Balija

    Hi friends! I’m back for Part 2 of How to Use Color Mood Boards for Inspiration! If you haven’t watched my previous post, be sure to visit that one as well for more inspiration! I love to use mood boards for color, texture, and design layout for my cards. Everything is done for you, so…

  • Using Mood Boards for Inspiration | by Colleen Balija

    Using Mood Boards for Inspiration | by Colleen Balija

    Hi friends! I love to use mood boards for my card inspiration. Mood boards can provide a new and unique way to use color, texture, and design on your cards! Mood boards can be found easily, too, by googling them or by searching Instagram, which is how I found the one that I’m using for…

  • Use Your BPD Layered Dies as Stencils | by Colleen Balija

    Use Your BPD Layered Dies as Stencils | by Colleen Balija

    Hi friends! Do you ever look for creative ways to use your BPD layered dies other than their original intention? Well, today I want to show you how to use them as stencils! We’ll be using Make a Splash Sugar Script die, Pinpoint Contour Plate, and Floral Balloon Layered dies, and I’ll include links to…

  • Creative Use of White Space | by Colleen Balija

    Creative Use of White Space | by Colleen Balija

    Hi friends! Ya know, every once in awhile I love a good card with lots of white space and a small pop of color! But, I admit, it’s hard to know how to make white space not look boring! Well, I found a surefire way to add interest to white space!!! It works like a…

  • Clean and Simple Spring Florals Part 2 | by Colleen Balija

    Clean and Simple Spring Florals Part 2 | by Colleen Balija

    Hi friends! I’m back for this month sharing another Clean and Simple card, similar to my blog post on April 10th! If you haven’t seen that post yet, head over there first to get the deets before reading this post, as this is a continuation! This month I’ve been focused on Clean and Simple lines…

  • Clean and Simple Spring Florals Part 1 | by Colleen Balija

    Clean and Simple Spring Florals Part 1 | by Colleen Balija

    Hi friends! Today I want to share a Clean and Simple Spring Floral card! A good Clean and Simple card utilizes white space creatively. And it’s hard to add detail and interest without over-doing it!!! I tend to create cards that are filled from top to bottom with details, but I fall in love with…

  • Blue Willow Floral Thank You | by Colleen Balija

    Blue Willow Floral Thank You | by Colleen Balija

    Hi friends! Today I want to share a card that reminds me of my Mom’s Blue Willow dishes! I loved those dishes, and I’ve been seeing this color frequently and just fell in love with it all over again! Let me show you how I achieved the look! Since I already had my color palette…

  • Colorful Spring Hugs | by Colleen Balija

    Colorful Spring Hugs | by Colleen Balija

    Hi friends! With spring in full swing, I want to share a colorful and simple floral card to celebrate the bounty of beautiful color that’s about to descend upon us! I can’t wait! I will be using Jovial Blooms & Leaves, Pinpoint Contour Plate, and the Hugs Sugar Script die. Oh yes, and LOTS of…

  • Miss You Spring Bouquet | by Colleen Balija

    Miss You Spring Bouquet | by Colleen Balija

    Hi everyone! I’m back today sharing a Miss You Spring Bouquet featuring products from the February new release! First step, as usual, is to create the background that my focal point will sit upon. I hot foiled in gold the Gilded Petalpoint plate, trimmed it down and placed it over a piece of gold cardstock…

  • A Springtime Thank You | by Colleen Balija

    A Springtime Thank You | by Colleen Balija

    Hi friends! I’m here on the blog today sharing a pretty monochromatic Springtime Thank You card using several of the February new release products! This new release is amazing with hot foil plates and lovely spring foliage die cuts! For this monochromatic Springtime Thank You card, I created a background using Gilded Petalpoint hot foil…

  • Banner Heart Hugs | by Colleen Balija

    Banner Heart Hugs | by Colleen Balija

    Hi friends, I’m back today to share a fun and endearing card for someone who may need a hug during Valentine’s Day (or any day). This card is cheerful but comforting! I started by creating a card base of white and gold using Flora Plate Layering dies. The bottom layer is a gold card base.…

  • How to Add Texture to White Space on Your Card | by Colleen Balija

    How to Add Texture to White Space on Your Card | by Colleen Balija

    Hi friends! Today I want to talk about how to add texture to white space! I find it difficult to not fill my entire card up with design elements and color! But, when I make a card like this one today, I’m so glad that I allowed the white space to shine through! I forget…

  • How to Use Color Mood Boards for Inspiration Part 2 | by Colleen Balija

    How to Use Color Mood Boards for Inspiration Part 2 | by Colleen Balija

    Hi friends, I’m back with another post on how to use Color Mood Boards for inspiration!!! In my post earlier this month, I shared a mood board and card that was inspired by it. Today I’m going to share a completely different card using that same mood board! My hope is that you will see…

  • Using Color Mood Boards for Inspiration | by Colleen Balija

    Using Color Mood Boards for Inspiration | by Colleen Balija

    Hi friends! I hope your week is going well for you! Today I’m going to share how to find inspiration for your cards using a Color Mood Board!!! I have been using color mood boards for a few years now, and it never lets me down! It will take the most basic card and bring…

  • Bold Holiday Color Ideas / by Colleen Balija

    Bold Holiday Color Ideas / by Colleen Balija

    Hi friends, What colors do you generally resort to for your holiday cards? I like to venture out and try new colors and textures for my holiday cards, so today I want to share my idea on a bold and shimmery card that is unique for the holiday!!! For my card I’m using Birch Press…

  • Holiday Pop-Up Easel Cards / by Colleen Balija

    Holiday Pop-Up Easel Cards / by Colleen Balija

    Hi friends, I’m back on the blog today to share two Holiday Pop-up Easel cards using the new BPD Christmas Ornament Pop-Up Easel die!!! The Christmas Ornament Pop-Up Easel die is so easy to use and creates such a fun and interesting card design! I made 2 cards using Meridian Ornament and Flicker layering dies…