Birch Press Design

Category: Crystal Komara

  • Christmas Roundabout Wreaths | by Crystal Komara

    Christmas Roundabout Wreaths | by Crystal Komara

    Hello crafty readers! This is Crystal here with you today sharing two holiday cards made using the Roundabout Layer Set. When I first received this beautiful 3-piece layering die set, my first thought was “I see wreaths!” And then that was ALL I could see! So wreaths it is. . . I kept a more traditional color combination of green and red for the wreaths and berries and added elegance with a gold foil background on one and a top layer of gold glitter cardstock on the other wreath.

    For this first A2 sized card, I used a garden green cardstock for the base. I die cut a scalloped rectangle from 80 lb. Neenah Solar Smooth white cardstock for the first mat.

    Using the Roundabout Die set, I die cut Layer C (the bottom layer) from a cactus green cardstock. Layer B was cut from a garden green cardstock and Layer A (the top layer) was cut from gold glitter cardstock. I adhered all three layers together using LineCo ph bookbinding glue. This is my go-to liquid adhesive. Using an off brand circle punch, I punched out red berries from red glitter cardstock and grouped them in clusters of three. I also added red rhinestones to the top of the berry clusters for added sparkle. Lastly, I tied a small white bow from cotton ribbon and adhered it to the bottom of the wreath using glue dots.

    For this second card, I used 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock as the base. I cut a 5″ x 3/4″ piece of gold foil paper that I ran through my Big Shot machine using a distressed embossing folder to give it some texture.

    Using the same Roundabout Die set, I die cut Layer C (the bottom layer) from green glitter cardstock. Layer B from garden green cardstock and Layer A from cactus green cardstock. To mimic the look of the first card, I also punched out more red berries and added rhinestones and a white ribbon to this wreath as well.

    Personally I LOVE how these Roundabout wreaths turned out. I think they have made simple, classic and elegant Christmas cards. I hope you will enjoy them too!

    Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

    Supplies

    56124 Roundabout Layer Set

    GP1005 Holiday Glitter Pad

    GP1003 Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad

  • Fall Peacock | by Crystal Komara

    Fall Peacock | by Crystal Komara

    Happy Thursday readers! This is Crystal here with you today. I know that you have been seeing lots of beautiful Christmas inspiration here on the Birch Press Design blog recently, but admittedly I’m kind of a Grinch, so I don’t “do” Christmas until December 1! : ) I will stretch out fall (MY favorite season) for as long as I possibly can. Today’s card is a great example, because I’m not even sure that “fall peacock’s” are a thing, but I’m starting the movement. (I’m also side-Googling if any other peacock colors exist other than the blue-green hues we traditionally see). . . And if not, they do now!

    The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah White Solar Smooth cardstock. This is my go-to white cardstock that I use for everything from card bases, die cutting, stamping and Copic coloring. The first 5 1/4″ x 4″ mat is a piece of miscellaneous woodgrain foil paper. I die cut a large white oval from white cardstock and adhered it to the center of the card using a Tombow Permanent Dot Runner.

    Using the Regal Peacock Layering dies, I die cut the bottom layer (Layer D) from gold glitter cardstock. I die cut Layer C from cherry cardstock. I die cut Layer B from rust cardstock and finally Layer A was also cut from gold glitter cardstock. I also cut the body of the peacock from cherry cardstock.

    I adhered all four layers of the Regal Peacock together using LineCo ph bookbinding glue. This glue is my preferred liquid glue and holds glitter paper together much better than a dot runner. I adhered the completed peacock to the center of the oval using foam adhesive for added dimension. Lastly, I stamped the sentiment on white cardstock (using the Christmas Ornament Labels stamp set) in cherry ink and die cut it using the coordinating die. I adhered the sentiment to the lower right side of the card using foam adhesive.

    Hopefully I’ve convinced you that with a little imagination, peacocks can look beautiful in any color – even if it’s not “real.”

    Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

    Supplies

    56099 Regal Peacock Layer Set

    CL8154 Christmas Ornament and Labels clear stamp set

    GP1003 Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad

  • Colorful Thanks | by Crystal Komara

    Colorful Thanks | by Crystal Komara

    Hello readers! This is Crystal here with you today sharing some colorful thank you cards made just using one layer of a multi-layering die.

    Fall is my favorite time of year and I simply can’t get enough of the beautiful Autumn Breeze Layering plates. They are simply gorgeous, whether layered using all three plates, or by just using Layer Plate A as a standalone die. The real bells and whistles on today’s cards come from the bold, colorful glitter paper BEHIND the die cut image itself!

    I have created a step-by-step YouTube video showing how I created these cards. I hope you will find it helpful:

    I hope you were inspired by today’s cards. Thank you for visiting and happy cardmaking!

     

    Supplies

     

     

    GP1002 Graceful Garden Glitter Pad

     

     

     

    56130 Autumn Breeze Plate Layer Set

     

     

     

    57354 Jumbo Lingo Thanks

     

     

  • String Art Sunflowers | by Crystal Komara

    String Art Sunflowers | by Crystal Komara

    Hello and happy September, friends! This is Crystal here with you today. I can’t believe the summer is over and fall is upon us. Though, between you and me, fall is MY favorite season! The change of season even impacts my crafting as I find myself reaching for rich, earth tone colors, patterns and textures, as you’ll see I’ve used on today’s sunflower card made using the new String Art Circle die by Birch Press Design.

    Usually, I’m not one of those people who can take a shape and make it into something else. For instance, when I initially saw this String Art Circle, all I could see was an abstract design. But, then it came to me, I can see slightly abstract flowers!

    The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth 80 lb. cardstock. Using this same white cardstock, I also ran a sheet through my Big Shot using a Scallop Rectangle die and a polka dot embossing folder for the base frame.

    I ran the String Art Circle die through my Big Shot, once in a mustard yellow cardstock and once in a cajun rust cardstock. Then I placed a piece of gold glitter behind the String Art Circle die and fussy cut the glitter paper into the same shape, so that you could see the gold glitter paper through the String Art Circle. I then punched a 1 1/2″ circle from espresso cardstock and ran it through a polka dot embossing folder before adhering it to the center of the “sunflower.” I used an off-brand leaf die to cut out two green leaves to put behind the sunflowers to ground them on the card. I adhered the sunflowers on top of the leaves using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

    Using the Honey Scrips Thanks die, I die cut the thick shadow layer from gold foil cardstock and the thinner top “thanks” sentiment layer from white cardstock. I adhered both layers together using a fine-tip glue before adhering the entire sentiment to the card using 3M foam adhesive.

    I hope you have enjoyed seeing a unique way to use the String Art Circle die. Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

  • Slimline Pumpkin Lacework | by Crystal Komara

    Slimline Pumpkin Lacework | by Crystal Komara

    Hello readers! This is Crystal here with you today sharing another design using the beautiful new Pumpkin Lacework stamp set and coordinating dies. If you missed my first post featuring this same stamp set, please click here. I just loooooove this new stamp set so much that I keep finding more ways to use it!

    This slimline card measures 8 1/2″ x 3 1/2″. Slimline cards are designed to fit inside a regular #10 business sized envelope and require no additional postage. The slimline trend is becoming increasingly popular and many companies are now making envelopes specifically for these cards, so we have more colors to choose from other than just plain ol’ boring business white!

    The base of my slimline card is made from 80 lb. kraft cardstock. I like a nice thick cardstock for the base of all my cards. Using a slimline scallop frame die, I cut the frame out of 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth Crest cardstock. This is the ONLY white cardstock I use and I buy it in bulk.

    I stamped each pumpkin in Versamark ink and heat embossed it with white embossing powder. I stamped one pumpkin on a rich eggplant cardstock, one on pumpkin orange cardstock and one on a cabana blue cardstock. I die cut the pumpkins using the coordinating Pumpkin Lacework die. I adhered the three pumpkins directly to the card base using 3M foam adhesive. I stamped three pumpkin stems in Versamark ink on espresso cardstock and heat embossed them with white embossing powder.

    I stamped multiple leaves in Versamark ink on eggplant, orange and cabana cardstock and heat embossed those too white embossing powder. Yes, everything on this card was embossed with white powder! I used the coordinating Pumpkin Lacework dies to die cut the leaves and stems and I adhered these to the large pumpkins in an array that was pleasing to the eye.

    For the sentiment, I used the Blessed Honey Script die. I cut the larger shadow portion from gold glitter cardstock and the thinner script portion from white cardstock. I adhered both layers together using a fine tip glue and then adhered the entire sentiment to the center of the card using 3M foam adhesive.

    I hope you have enjoyed this slimline card using the beautiful new Pumpkin Lacework stamp set combined with some rich and modern fall colors. Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

    Supplies

    57309 Blessed Honey Script

    8153 Pumpkin Lacework clear stamp and die set

  • Pumpkin Lacework | by Crystal Komara

    Pumpkin Lacework | by Crystal Komara

    Hello readers! This is Crystal Komara here with you today sharing two cards using the beautiful new “Autumn Breeze” layering plates and “Pumpkin Lacework” stamp set and coordinating dies. Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year and I couldn’t be more excited about these new products!

    I stuck with a traditional fall color palette of white, orange, olive green and gold for these A2 sized cards.

    Just look at that beautiful stitching from the Autumn Breeze Layer Plate A!

    Here is the second card I created using the “Pumpkin Lacework” stamp set and coordinating dies:

    I have created a step-by-step YouTube video tutorial showing how both of today’s cards were made. I hope you will enjoy it!

    I still look forward to creating even more cards using these beautiful new fall products! Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

    Supplies

    8153 Pumpkin Lacework clear stamp and die set

    56130 Autumn Breeze Plate Layer Set

    GP1003 Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad

  • Easel Card w/ Viola Layering Plates | by Crystal Komara

    Easel Card w/ Viola Layering Plates | by Crystal Komara

    Hello and happy Thursday readers! This is Crystal Komara here with you today. I hope you have been enjoying some of the beautiful new release products that the Design Team has been sharing. I am always amazed by what each artist brings to the team and how we all create such unique and diverse cards using the same products. In full disclosure, I also look at something another team member has created and I say, “Well, duh, why didn’t I think of that!?” : )

    Today I will be sharing this A2 sized easel card made using all three layers of the Viola Layering Plates and lots of purple jewel toned glitter cardstock. All supplies for today’s card will be listed at the end of this post.

    The card base is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. It is the only white cardstock I use and I love it’s quality both for card bases and for coloring with my Copic markers.

    Here is a close-up of the card to show you the beautiful intricate layering dimensions and the various shades of glitter cardstock.

    I always find things easier to understand when I can see the step-by-step creative process, so I have created this video for you showing how this card was made:

    I hope you have enjoyed my card. Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

    Supplies

    56128 Viola Plate Layer Set

    GP1003 Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad

    57354 Jumbo Lingo Thanks

  • Frilly Triangles | by Crystal Komara

    Frilly Triangles | by Crystal Komara

    Hello friends! This is Crystal here with you today and I have made a few cards to share using the Frilly Triangle Layering dies. I love to make my cards in multiple colors, because every card truly does look different, yet perhaps one color is more appealing to your eye than another.

    The first A2 sized card was made using a rich blueberry blue and a light baby blue cardstock. To keep things simple, I stayed with a monochromatic color palette for each of these cards. And, surprisingly for me, I did not use any glitter cardstock when creating any of these cards. That’s a first for me. I’m a glitter girl!

    The second card uses an earthy moss green cardstock paired with a lime green cardstock. I’ll be the first to admit, I don’t love this color combo, but I bet someone else will!

    For the last card today, my color palette is a rich raspberry cardstock and a sweet sugarplum (pinkish) cardstock. This one is my favorite!

    I hope you have enjoyed seeing a variety of ways to use the Layering Triangle dies. Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

  • Inspired by Pinterest | by Crystal Komara

    Inspired by Pinterest | by Crystal Komara

    Hello readers! This is Crystal here with you today and before we get to today’s cards, I’m going to share with you the Pinterest photo I found that became my source of inspiration! Never in a million years would I have paired these colors together, yet when I saw this image, I was captivated by how stunning these colors were. Now, granted, I would not choose these colors for any room in my house, but I was determined to bring these colors to life on paper, and I couldn’t be more in love with the results!

    I have created a step-by-step YouTube video tutorial showing how both of these cards were made. I hope you will find this helpful!

    We can find inspiration in so many places. Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

    Supplies

    56097 Lumina Layer Set

    GP1003 Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad

    57201 Big Hello Sugar Script

    Thanks Sugar Script

  • Red, White & Blue | by Crystal Komara

    Red, White & Blue | by Crystal Komara

    Hello readers! This is Crystal here with you today sharing a patriotic inspired card. I don’t know if anyone actually sends 4th of July cards or not, but this idea would also work well for members of the military or law enforcement. The first time I saw the Mini Dazzle Bevel Layering Plates, I knew immediately that I wanted to create a flag in strips of red, white and blue.

    In order to fit all three strips of the Mini Dazzle Bevel Layering Plates on this card, I had to size the card’s dimensions to 5 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ square.

    Here is a step-by-step YouTube video tutorial showing how I created this card:

    I hope you have enjoyed seeing a patriotic spin on this card! Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day.

    Supplies

    56105 Mini Dazzle Bevel Plate Layer Set

    GP1003 Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad