Category: Craft Dies

  • Hello Sweet Friend | By Natasha Vacca

    Hello Birch Press Friends! I am excited to be up on the blog today sharing the gorgeous Eloquent Butterfly layering die set! I absolutely love this set and decided to use this set today with a mixed media vibe! I hope you enjoy it, let’s get started!

    I started with the beautiful Eloquent Butterfly layering die set. I die cut all 3 layers. First I die cut layer C using white card stock, layer B using white and an inked background from my stash, and then layer A using an inked background from my stash. The inked backgrounds were made using sprays. Once all the layers were die cut, I added dye ink to layer B and layer A. I feel this adds a bit more texture and definition to the layer. On layer A I also added a bit of embossing glaze for added texture. I then adhered all layers together and added foam tape. I then die cut the antennae for the butterfly from the Butterfly Basics die set using a piece of card stock from the Vintage Pastel Mirror pad and adhered this with liquid glue to the butterfly.

    Next I chose a gelli print from my stash and embossed the panel using the Flora Plate die set. I used Layer C from the set and followed the instructions in my die cutting machine to emboss the panel onto my gelli print. Next I distressed the edges of the panel using a paper trimmer, distress tool, and then inked up the edges with distress ink.

    I then added a bit more texture to the panel using metallic paint by adding splatters with my paintbrush. Next I added a bit more distress ink to the raised areas of my background panel using a blending tool.

    To complete my card I adhered the panel to an A2 card base. Next I added two strips of paper, one from an old book and another piece of gelli print. Both pieces were distressed using a combination of distress inks and embossing glaze. I added the Hugs Honey Script sentiment to my card. I die cut the shadow layer using white card stock and ink blended the shadow with distress oxide. I die cut the hugs sentiment 3 times using kraft card stock and adhered them together with liquid glue. I then ink blended the sentiment with distress inks. I added a sub sentiment from my stash. Both sentiments were adhered using liquid glue.

    Thanks so much for stopping by today! I had so much fun creating today’s card! I will be back soon!


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  • Love and Hugs | by Crystal Komara

    Love and Hugs | by Crystal Komara

    Hello friends! This is Design Team member Crystal Komara here with you today sharing some inspiration for Valentine’s Day which will be coming up soon in February.

    Details:

    The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using the Flora Player Layer A, I die cut the first layer from white cardstock . As you can see from the image below, I had to do a fair amount of “poking” to get all the little pieces out! I adhered this piece directly onto my card base.

    Next I die cut Layer A of the Kinsley Heart Layering Plate from white cardstock. I adhered this over a sheet of red cardstock. Then I fussy cut the little hearts out.

    I adhered the small hearts down the center of the card, only using four of the five I had cut out. Then, using the Big Lingo Type Hugs, I die cut the shadow background from black cardstock and the thin outline layer from white cardstock.

    I adhered the two layers together with a fine tip liquid adhesive. Then I stamped the sentiment “love and” in red ink on white cardstock. This sentiment is from the Lingo Thanks Sentiment stamp set. I adhered the sentiment to the card with 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

    I wish you all love and hugs! Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

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  • Hugs | By Rosemary Dennis

    Hugs | By Rosemary Dennis

    Hello everyone! Rosemary here with my first post as a member of the Birch Press Design team. I’m so excited to be a part of this talented team. My style tends to lean towards clean and simple, but I like to mix it up and create in other styles as well. Today’s project is a clean and simple Valentine.

    For my card I used the sweet Banner Heart layering die set. I die cut layers A and C from pink glitter paper from the Delicate Pastel Glitter pad and layer B from the Glitzy Glitter pad from Memory Box. I saved all the fall out pieces and will be sharing the cards that I made with them in another post. I adhered all the layers with liquid adhesive and set the heart aside to dry. I took a piece of off white paper from the Vintage Pastel Mirror pad by Memory Box and die cut it with the Pinpoint Contour Plate.

    I adhered the Pinpoint Contour panel to a cardstock base using a strong tape adhesive. The Pinpoint Contour panel covers the entire card front and a little tip I have to making sure it goes on straight is to use something like a MISTI tool (I use a scoring board) to help with alignment. Simply place your card base in to one corner of your MISTI or scoring board so that it is securely up against two sides of the tool. Then take your Pinpoint Contour panel and carefully place it on top using the corner to help you keep things aligned. Once your panel is secured add the banner heart using liquid adhesive. Now it was time to decide on a sentiment. I decided to go with the Hugs Sugar Script hot foil plate and die set. I just love foiling. I used a scrap of the off white mirror cardstock and dark pink foil for the sentiment. I just love how well the foiling worked with the mirror cardstock. Definitely will be doing that in the future.

    I die cut the foiled sentiment and then adhered it to the card front. I used a combination of liquid adhesive and foam adhesive. The liquid adhesive was placed behind the part of the sentiment that rests on the heart and the foam adhesive on the other half. I decided to add a few dark pink Fairy Jewels as a little finishing touch.

    I hope you enjoyed my project today and that you are inspired to make a clean and simple Valentine for someone you love!

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  • Make a Wish | By Allison Frazier

    Make a Wish | By Allison Frazier

    Hello, Birch Press friends! January is always a great time to take stock of what cards you have in your stash. I always seem to have a shortage of birthday cards, so now is a great time to start building up that stash. My card today features the “Make a Wish Sugar Script” die set.

    The inspiration for this card started with a panel of watercolor paper that I had inked up with some shimmer powders. I wasn’t happy with how it was turning out, and I almost threw it away. But, as I was picking it up, I saw that some of the color had gotten onto the back of the panel. And that is what became the background for this card. That is what I call a happy accident! I used the new Pinpoint Contour Plate to give it a little bit more texture and adhered it to an A2 card base.

    For the main focal point of the card, I cut the detail words out of a champagne pearl card stock. I cut the shadow pieces out of the same watercolor paper that I had used for the background. I stacked the shadow pieces three times and the detail pieces two times in order to create dimension. I stamped the sub-sentiment on the same watercolor paper and heat embossed it with a platinum color embossing powder. The sentiment comes from the Happy Lingo stamp set.

    To add more visual interest and movement, I die cut some small dragonflies and a butterfly using the same combination of papers that were already on the card – plain watercolor paper for the base layer of the wings, shimmer powder background remnants for the top layer of the wings, and champagne pearl card stock for the bodies. I glued these together only at the centers, so that the wings could pop up and create dimension.

    To finish the card, I added some Fairy Jewels and Fairy Crystals in complementary colors.

    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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  • Sending Love | By Natasha Vacca

    Hello Birch Press friends, it is Natasha here today and I am excited to share a fun card idea with you today using the Banner Heart Layering die set! So let’s get started!

    I started by choosing a colorful background from my stash for today’s card! I love to use pre-made backgrounds! It is a fun and easy way to create, as well as saving you time! The background inspired my color choices today!

    Next I started by die cutting each layer of the Banner Heart Layering die set. I used a combination of red, pink, and white card stock for the 3 layers. The pink and red card stock are from the Berry Red Memory Box paper pad collection. I die cut layer C 1 time, layer B 2 times, and layer A 1 time.

    After each layer was die cut, I added a bit of ink using a finger dauber to layer C and B. I love to add ink to color card stock. I feel it adds a bit of dimension and texture. Once these were complete, I adhered Layer C and B together using liquid glue. Next I chose an embossing powder from my stash. I embossed Layer A for each heart. On one heart the top layer has a pink card stock and the other has a white card stock. Using a different color card stock changes up the embossing powder effect!

    Once Layer A was heat embossed, I adhered Layer A to the top of each heart using liquid glue. Next I trimmed the background panel to 4 inches by 5.5 inches. I used the extra 1/4 inch strip and adhered this to the left side of the card panel. It added a bit more interest and texture.

    To complete my card I chose the You Are Loved Noted Script Hot Foil Plate and die set. I used my hot foil machine and followed the instructions for my machine. Once the sentiment was complete, I die cut 2 more shadow layers and adhered them behind my foiled sentiment for added dimension.

    I completed the card by adhering the card panel to an A2 card base, adhered the hearts using liquid and foam adhesive and completed my card with my sentiment.

    I had a lot of fun creating today’s card and I hope this inspires you to share a handmade Valentine with a family member or a dear friend!

    I will be back soon!


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  • Foil and More Foil | by Toni M Maddox

    Foil and More Foil | by Toni M Maddox

    Hello, Birch Press fans! Toni here with you today sharing a (hot) foil project that could be used for about any occasion: G/Valentines, friendship, encouragement, or just to say hello.

    This is my favorite type of card to make for my stash because I can just grab it and go, so to speak. I’m not sure I’ll be able to send this one away though!

    I started the card by hot foiling the Birch Press Design String Art Frame Hot Foil Plate with one of the new Spellbinders satin pastels hot foils. These are translucent so very subtle, especially on the foiled cardstock front.

    In this case I used the salmon color which coordinated perfectly with the Memory Box Vintage Pastel Mirror cardstock used for the Birch Press Design Morning Rose and Triple Buds.

    I cut out the Birch Press Design Fuddled Leaf from Memory Box Rainbow Reflections Rainbow Mirror cardstock. The Birch Press Design Sugar Script Big Hugs is cut from the pastel pad in a pearly color.

    I love the soft combination of colors, don’t you?

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

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  • Star Flower Thanks | by April Antonio

    Star Flower Thanks | by April Antonio

    Happy Friday Birch Press friends, and Happy New Year!

    It’s a new year so I figures it’s time to try some new things. Anyone struggle with a certain color? Have a complicated relationship with it? Well, that’s me and the color purple..no not the movie at all, the actual color. Me and purple just never seem to connect —- so, I decided to try it for today’s project.

    I grabbed the new Pinpoint Contour cover plate which I am personally in love with, and cut it out three times: twice from heavy weight cardstock, and once from the creamy purple found in the Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad. (Flashes of Prince are dancing in my head!).

    As a lot of us in this post-holiday season, I have a lot of thank you cards to send to friends and family, so I thought I could make two cards today from one cover sheet. I took the coversheet I cut from the purple cardstock and chose a point about 3/4 down the sheet and cut right along one of the pinpoint perforations — which helped it cut very easily.

    I then lined these two halves up on top of my white cover sheets to exactly the spot where I had cut it. You’ll notice on one panel I have the purple at the top, and the other it’s on the bottom.

    Next, I saved some time by cutting the all of my flowers using the Star Flowers die from white cardstock, and assembled the flowers, making sure to leave the center (or the stamen) piece untouched for later.

    I also need a title and I really like using the chunky, Thanks Honey Script word and shadow die set. I cut this from white cardstock a few times, and then once from the creamy purple and once from the shiny, metallic purple that is in the same mirror pad.

    For my assembly, I placed the ‘thanks’ along the seam where the white and purple met, and arranged my flowers around this section. Lastly, I can’t resist some level of bling, so I used the Autumn Fairy Crystals to add centers to each flower.

    Thank you for joining me today! I hope you enjoyed this exercise in color exploration with me and that you are encouraged to carve some time from your weekend to get crafty!

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  • Rainbow Adornment Dove | By Allison Frazier

    Rainbow Adornment Dove | By Allison Frazier

    Hello, Birch Press friends! Today, I am showing how you can stretch the use out of your products that are typically only thought of as winter or holiday products. My card features the beautiful Adornment Dove die set.

    I love the cutouts in the wing of the detail layer in the Adornment Dove set, and I thought it would be fun to color them instead of discard them. I could have die cut all different colors of paper, but it’s much easier (and less wasteful) to color with markers. I die cut the layer out of white card stock and left the cutouts intact. To make sure they didn’t come loose, I just taped them in place on the back with scotch tape. I then colored each cutout piece with a different color Copic marker. This does look messy, as the colors bleed onto the white border between each cutout, but that’s okay because it will get covered by a clean detailed layer.

    When I was finished coloring the separate cutouts, I glued that layer onto a solid background layer that I had die cut from white card stock. I then glued a clean white detailed layer over the colored layer. For the solid wing and tail feather cutouts, I colored these white pieces by blending some pink, yellow, and light blue markers. After glueing those pieces in place, I added a final detail layer that I die cut from a Champaign colored mirror card stock.

    For my card base, I took a dark teal panel of card stock, embossed it with Layer A of the now-retired Fiori Plate Layer Set, and then splattered it with a light gold paint. I mounted that onto the same color A2 card base. For the sentiment, I cut the Handwritten Thanks Outline die out of the same teal card stock and the detail Thanks die out of the Champaign card stock that I used for the dove. I adhered the sentiment and the dove to the card base. Notice how I purposefully did not glue all of the layers of the tail feathers together. This creates some really great dimension. To finish the card, I added a small jewel as an eye.

    I think this card design can be used all year round, don’t you? Thank you so much for joining us today. I hope this card inspires you and brings a smile to your face! 


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  • Make Your Patterned Paper Shine

    Make Your Patterned Paper Shine

    Hello, Birch Press friends! This card has been in my head for awhile now, and I finally made it. I love plaid for the holidays, so I really wanted to incorporate some of this beautiful paper from the Christmas Jolly paper pad.

    I started by choosing which paper from the Christmas Jolly pad to use. I knew that I wanted to angle the paper on my card base, so I found a pattern that worked perfectly for that. I made sure to carefully trim it at the top so that it was even with the angled lines in the design. I then adhered it to a white A2 card base and added a thin strip of glossy black card stock to divide it from the white space.

    Next, I die cut the layers for the Meridian Ornament. I used white card stock for Layer C, black glossy card stock for Layer B, and Gold for Layer A. I also traced the shape of the ornament onto a piece of red card stock, fussy cut that out, and adhered it to the back of the ornament so that it showed through the cutouts in the white layer. I love how the gold layer enhances and pulls your eye to the thin, shiny lines of gold foil in the plaid paper.

    For the ornament topper, I used the die from Set A of the Radiant Ornament Layer Set. For the sentiment, I used the “joy” from the Find Joy and Outline set. The words are connected in this die set, but I simply cut them apart and made the “j” into a lower case j. I used a tiny round die from my stash for the “tittle” (dot) over the j. Don’t be afraid to alter your die cuts to fit your designs!

    To finish my card, I added some flat gold discs to the centers of the red floral design in the ornament and then added black gems on top of those. I also added some gold thread through the ornament topper.

    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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  • You Have My Hearts | by Toni M Maddox

    You Have My Hearts | by Toni M Maddox

    Hello, Birch Press fans! Toni here with you today sharing a trio of sparkly Valentines using the new Banner Heart Layering Dies and You Are Loved Hot Foil Plate & Die.

    Let’s start with the last card I made which is my personal favorite. I love those pastels with the gold so so much!

    But, I actually started with the black and red card below. As you can see from the layers, you end up with perfectly useable diecut negatives which I absolutely could not let go to waste so the next thing you know I’m using those bits for more cards.

    The combinations of the glitter, mirror and regular cardstock are truly endless. Pair that up with using the hot foil negative and it just goes on and on.

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

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