Category: Craft Dies

  • Hot Foil Background Using Sprays | By Natasha Vacca

    Hello Birch Press Design friends, I am excited to be back up on the blog today! For today’s card I am sharing ideas on how to use a foil background die with sprays in your collection! Today I am using 2 new dies from the latest Birch Press release, Gilded Petalpoint Hot Foil Plate and die set, as well as the Thank you Noted Script Hot Foil Plate and die set. Let’s get started!

    I started my card today using 5 colors of sprays and mixed media card stock. I added each color to mixed media card stock. I allowed the layer of color to dry, then spritzed the panel with water droplets. I picked up the color with a paper towel, then repeated the process again using the 5 colors. Once the panel was dry it was time to hot foil!

    I love the new Gilded Petalpoint hot foil plate and die set. I started with the large background foil plate and my glimmer machine. I chose a matte gold foil for the background. I foiled the background panel and then trimmed the panel using a die in my collection.

    Next I used the same matte gold foil for the center of the Gilded Petalpoint hot foil plate set. I foiled the center and then die cut the center using the included die. I added foam tape to the center die cut and set it aside.

    Next I hot foiled the Thank You Noted Script hot foil plate and die set. Once the thank you was foiled, I die cut the shadow layer of the thank you die 3 times, then adhered all the layers together. To complete my card I adhered the panel onto an A2 card base. I then adhered the center of the panel using foam tape, then adhered the thank you sentiment using liquid glue.

    I had so much fun creating today’s card! I hope it gives you some ideas on how to use your foil dies using sprays! I love the sparkle and texture these 2 products give you!

    I will be back soon with more crafty inspiration!


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  • Hello, Plaid | By Allison Frazier

    Hello, Plaid | By Allison Frazier

    Hello, Birch Press friends! Today, I am sharing a card featuring the new Sprouting Crocus Contour Layers set. But, I did something unconventional. I used patterned paper for all of my die cuts! It’s a really fun way to add texture and color variation.

    I started by cutting my flowers. I used the Madras Plaid Blue and Violet paper pad from Memory Box, which I believe is now retired. I chose a darker plaid pattern for the layers that go in front and a lighter pattern for the layers in back. I blended all the edges of each layer with a dark purple ink. I adhered all of the layers of my flowers together with glue.

    I then took a similar pad of paper, the Madras Plaid Coral and Green pad, and I cut the stems from two different green plaid patterns. I only adhered one stem to each of my flowers, but I kept some extra ones to fill in later.

    After completing my flowers, it was time to set the scene. First, I took a panel of white card stock and cut it with the Pinpoint Contour Plate. I blended some light blue ink onto the panel. I then used a rectangle die to cut an opening into a second panel of white card stock, slightly offsetting it into the upper left corner. I added foam tape to the back of this panel and attached it to the ink blended panel. Before attaching them together, I made sure that I had cut them both down to be slightly smaller than an A2 card base.

    I cut a few clouds from white card stock using dies from the Rainbow Days Lingo Notes set. I inked up the edges of the clouds with light blue ink, and then I added them to the sky background. I tucked two of them under the edges of the framed opening. I then took my five flowers and tucked those into the bottom edges of the frame. I had left enough room between the edge of the framed opening and my foam tape so that I could achieve this look for the clouds and flowers. I used the extra stems/leaves that I had cut and filled in some of the gaps. I adhered this card panel to a dark purple A2 card base.

    I used some more of the green plaid paper to cut the main layer of the Big Hello Sugar Script Die. I adhered this to two layers that I had cut from plain white card stock. I then adhered that stack to the shadow layer, which I also made from three layers of white card stock. I adhered that to the card, and then I finished everything off with a few green fairy jewels.

    Thank you so much for joining us today. I hope this card inspires you and brings a smile to your face! 

    Wishing you a crafty day,
    Allison


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  • Holiday Rainbow Joy | by Toni M Maddox

    Holiday Rainbow Joy | by Toni M Maddox

    Hello, Birch Press fans! Toni here with you today sharing a colorful holiday card with a really cool rainbow look.

    I started the card by using the Gilded Petalpoint Hot Foil Plate & Die with Spellbinders Glimmer Rainbow Confetti Hot Foil. It was my first time using this foil which has the colors in random splotches rather than ombre rainbow style. What fantastic results!

    The inside of the Gilded Petalpoint Hot Foil Plate leaves a blank area so I cut out the center using a 3″ circle die and added a couple of layers of the Piped Icing Star done in leftover pink and Glitzy Glitter 6×6 cardstock.

    I didn’t want to waste the leftover foil from the background so covered a piece of cardstock with Scor-Tape then pressed the foil onto it. This is an alternative to using the hot method. When I ran the piece through my diecut machine with the Find Joy die, it created this amazing textured look. LOVE it.

    I hope you enjoyed today’s card and have a great rest of your week!

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  • Green and Gold Wishes | by April Antonio

    Green and Gold Wishes | by April Antonio

    Happy Friday! Today I’m sharing a St. Patricks’ Day inspired card using the beautiful Herbarium Plate Layer die set. Scroll down to find detailed instructions on how I pulled this card together.

    To obtain the beautiful layers of green and gold, I grabbed the Lush Green and Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad 6×6 cardstock packs.

    First, I took the lime green from the mirror pad, cut it to A2 size and glued it to my A2 card base. Next I cut Layers A, B, and C using the Herbarium Layer set as follows:

    Layer A – light green cardstock

    Layer B – gold mirror cardstock

    Layer C – medium green cardstock

    I glued all three layers together using liquid glue, then put small foam squares on the back. I then took the backing off the squares and placed the entire layer onto the A2 card base.

    Adding the foam squares before putting the layers onto the card base is what helped the card to have extra dimension and highlight the lime green mirror cardstock I glued in the very back.

    For my sentiment I used the Your Are Loved Hot Foil plate. I used a gold foil on 100lb Hammermill Cardstock for the sentiment. I used the coordinating die to cut out the sentiment, adding a second cutout and foam squares behind it for extra strength and dimension.

    Lastly I added a few green dots from the Christmas Fairy Crystals set.

    That’s it! I hope this green and gold project made your day and has inspired you to take some time to create this weekend.

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  • Spring Green Wreath | by Rosemary Dennis

    Spring Green Wreath | by Rosemary Dennis

    Hello everyone! St. Patrick’s day is tomorrow and with that in mind I decided to create a wreath using the new Phlox Blooms and Leaves Contour Layers dies in multiple shades of green with some gold thrown in for good measure! As I began to create my card I decided that I also wanted to provide some interest in the background so I die cut my cardstock with the Pinpoint Contour plate die. I also knew that I wanted to have a shaker element in card so to create that I used the Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp and die set for that element.

    I die cut the panel with the Pinpoint Contour die and then positioned the wreath die from the Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp and die set in the top center of the panel and die cut the wreath. I then added low tack tape to the back of the panel to keep the wreath in place. As you can see, I then stamped the solid wreath image in a light green ink, die cut it and then layered it on top to form the base for my wreath. I then started building the shaker element.

    I had previously foiled the center medallion from the Gilded Petalpoint hot foil plate in gold so I decided to use that as my backer behind the opening. I added a piece of acetate to the back of the panel and then added foam strips to the back to create the well for the sequin mix. I added the mix and because I’m a little particular about how my sequins look I did actually flip the majority of the sequins over so they are facing in the “right” direction, lol! You can just see the foiled medallion peeking out through the sequins. Then I die cut the smaller phlox flower die from two shades of green cardstock and layered everything alternating the colors. I did originally die cut the leaves from the set in another shade of green and mirror gold cardstock, but the ended up opting to us a smaller leaf from the Dainty Rose and Leaves Contour Layers dies.

    Once all the flowers and leaves were layered and dry I set about creating the wreath. I alternated the flowers for interest and then tucked the leaves in where they best fit. I finished off the wreath with pretty green/gold crystals from the Christmas Fairy Crystals pack. Here in the close up you can see more of the foiled medallion in the background.

    I finished off the card with the sentiment from the Contempo Greetings stamp and die set. I really like this stamp and die set. There are so many great sentiments and dies to cut them out! I stamped the sentiment in watermark ink, applied gold embossing powder, heat set and then die cut. I thought about trying to place the sentiment on the wreath, but ultimately ended up tucking up underneath the wreath.

    Have a fun St. Patrick’s day!

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  • You Are Loved Easter Egg | by Crystal Komara

    You Are Loved Easter Egg | by Crystal Komara

    Hello readers and happy Tuesday! This is Design Team member Crystal Komara here with you today sharing a beautiful Easter card for the upcoming holiday using the Petal Egg Layer Set and a few other products from Birch Press Design.

    Card details:

    The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. For the first 5 1/4″ x 4″ layer, I ran a piece of the same Neenah white cardstock through the Blooming 3D embossing folder by Memory Box Co (a sister company of Birch Press Design).

    Next, I created the layers of the Easter egg from the Petal Egg Layer set:

    Layer A – the top layer was die cut from white cardstock.
    Layer B – the middle layer was die cut from yellow glitter cardstock.
    Layer C – the bottom layer was die cut from a darker yellow cardstock.
    I fussy cut the base or bottom layer of the egg in yellow cardstock, so that it would help the egg standout against the white background.

    I adhered all four layers of the egg together using a fine-tip liquid glue. Once this was dried, I placed the egg in the center of the card. Then I used the Tiny Tuft Flowers and Leaves Contour dies. I cut the leaves from two different colored green cardstock and the flowers from both yellow cardstock and yellow glitter cardstock.

    I adhered the leaves and flowers to the lower right side of the egg using a fine-tip liquid glue.

    Using the You Are Loved Noted Script heat foil plate and die, I heat foiled the sentiment in gold foil on black cardstock. I used the coordinating die to die cut the sentiment out and adhered it over the egg using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

    I hope you have enjoyed today’s card! Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

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  • Blooming crocus buds | by April Antonio

    Blooming crocus buds | by April Antonio

    Happy Monday! I am happy to be back on the Birch Press blog today sharing a new project using the newly released Sprouting Crocus layering die set.

    I began this card wanting to show a beautiful row of of the crocuses, and so started by die cutting the flowers and stems multiple times from white cardstock.

    I used mini blender brushes and pigment ink in a couple of shades of purple and green to ink blend each piece. I started with the darker color towards the bottom, and then blended in the lighter color towards the top of the flower. I then assembled the flowers by gluing together the different sprouts, buds and stems.

    To be able to show the longest line of flowers I chose a slimline card design, using a white colored base. I used a cloud stencil to lightly add some clouds to the background.

    Assembly
    I assembled this card by adding one row of crocuses across the card. I then went back and added another row, filling in the blank spots to try and add some depth. I then went back a third time and filled in a few remaining spots to add even more depth.

    Pro Tip: When gluing flowers, to give them more dimension, only glue part of the flower from the bottom moving up, and leave some of the top off the page. Once dry, go back and carefully curl out the flower petals so they ‘jump off the page’ and look more lifelike.

    To create the look of ‘dirt’ I used some fake polymer clay ‘chocolate’ chunks I had on hand. They made perfect ‘dirt’ to cover the bottom of my flowers. I used liquid glue to add a layer, let it dry, then added some additional layers.

    Lastly, I stamped the happy Birthday using the Contempo Greetings clear stamp set and added a few purple jewels from the Bright Jewels pack.

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  • So Glad We’re Friends | By Allison Frazier

    So Glad We’re Friends | By Allison Frazier

    Hello, Birch Press friends! Today, I am sharing this beautiful muted card with a pop of sunshine yellow as the focal point. It’s like when the sun comes out after a dreary winter day! It features the new Morning Rose Contour Layers die and the Delicate Floral Buds Contour Layers die set. I also used the new Gilded Petalpoint Stencil Set.

    I started by stenciling the front of a light gray A2 card base. For the first stencil (with the largest openings), I used a light gray ink, just slightly darker than the card stock itself. For the second stencil, I used a medium shade of gray ink. And for the third stencil, I used clear Nuvo Glimmer Paste. I really love the tone on tone effect, but that Glimmer Paste really makes it special. This stencil actually matches up with the new Gilded Petalpoint Hot Foil Plate, but as you can see here, it looks great on its own, too!

    Next, I started making my die cuts. I used three shades of yellow card stock from the Memory Box “Sunny Orange” paper pack for the flowers. For the main flower, I cut two layers of each part of the flower so that I could stack them for dimension. I used two shades of gray for the leaves. By the way, the leaves come from the Tropical Hibiscus Contour Layers set. I love mixing florals and leaves from all of the different Contour Layers sets!

    And speaking of mixing up florals, I used the Delicate Floral Buds for my little flowers, again making two layers of each part of the flower. The Morning Rose actually comes with the “Triple Buds” dies, but I just wanted to mix things up today. I cut the stems/leaves for the Delicate Floral Buds from the darker shade of gray paper.

    Once I had all of my elements cut and the layers stacked, it was time to assemble the arrangement. This is probably the part that took the most time! Once I was happy with an arrangement, I started with the bottom by glueing the Delicate Buds first. Then I popped the main flower up on foam tape. This allowed me to then tuck the leaves in under that flower and still continue to make some last minute changes to the leaf arrangement. I finished the card by heat embossing a sentiment from the Lingo Thanks stamp set. I also added three fairy jewels to the center of the rose, just to tie in the shine from the stenciled background.

    Thank you so much for joining us today. I hope this card inspires you and brings a smile to your face! 

    Wishing you a crafty day,
    Allison


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  • Cotoneaster Greetings | by Toni M Maddox

    Cotoneaster Greetings | by Toni M Maddox

    Hello, Birch Press fans! Toni here with you today sharing a floral card that reminds me of my cotoneaster bush.

    The blooms of my cotoneaster aren’t very exciting but the resulting berries are prolific and gorgeous.

    I cut the Sylvan Berries Contour Layers from Memory Box Glitzy Glitter 6×6 cardstock and leftover cardstock I had used Brushos on once upon a time. I cut the Sylvan Leaves from Memory Box Lush Green 6×6 cardstock.

    I used the negative of the leaves diecut as a stencil with Distress Oxide Rustic Wilderness. What an easy way to add additional depth!

    I spattered a bit of Copics Opaque White and Distress Oxide Spray Vintage Photo before adding the sentiment.

    For that I used one of the Spellbinders Glimmer Satin Pastel hot foils with the Hugs Sugar Script Hot Foil Plate & Die. I wanted a smaller outline so cut the sentiment with the Sugar Script Big Hugs die. Cool shadow, right?!

    I hope you enjoyed today’s card and have a great rest of your week!

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  • Find Joy Prime Peonies | by Crystal Komara

    Find Joy Prime Peonies | by Crystal Komara

    Hello readers and happy Friday to you! I hope you have fun (and creative) things planned for the weekend ahead. This is Design Team member Crystal Komara here with you today sharing this card using the Prime Peony Duo Contour Layers.

    Now, before I get into the details of how I made this card, I want to take a minute to appreciate the intricate WORK and time commitment involved with contour layering dies! If you think you’re just going to throw a card like this together and also juggle cooking dinner, doing a load of towels, tending to a puking cat and watching Friends reruns, oh no, no, no, my friend, that ain’t gonna happen! Contour layering dies take an extreme amount of concentration, patience and precision. I lack all three. At best, I’m spastic in thought, I have the patience of a 5-year old and I’m of the philosophy that “done is better than perfect!!” So, for me, while contour layering dies (when completed) are absolutely gorgeous, the journey getting there is kinda sheer torture.

    But, look at this card, ain’t she a beaut?!

    But, I learned a few helpful tips while making this card I want to share with you to help make your contour layering dies journey less painful. First, we are going to make the peonies using a variety of pink cardstocks.

    1. Don’t be in a rush – contour layering dies take time and if you know this ahead of time, it’s half the battle

    2. Organization – when you die cut the Prime Peony flowers, keep them in organized rows

    2. Follow the Directions (or the provided image) – they really do make sense in how you put the peony layers together!

    *Use a fine tip glue to adhere these intricate tiny layers together.
    *Tip – use a fine tip liquid glue for adhering tiny layers together.
    Die cut the larger word shadow from pink cardstock and the thinner word outline from white cardstock.
    Die cut the Linear Triangle from white cardstock.

    Because I had fully committed myself to making this one card (and not being interrupted by anything else) I found the process went much more smoothly. I love the end result SO much that I now intend to work more with the contour layering dies!

    Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

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