Category: Friendship

  • Missing You | by Tracey McNeely

    Missing You | by Tracey McNeely

    Hi There, it’s Tracey back today with a couple of cards that are perfect to send out to someone that you have been missing throughout the pandemic!

    I began by cutting two each of the Tranquility Layers die set using white heavyweight cardstock. I usually save this cardstock for my card bases. However when I want the main die cut image or sentiment to really stand out I do use the heavier weight cardstock.

    I cut one die from the Tranquility Layers die set through a 5 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ panel of white cardstock. Then I taped the panel to another panel of the same size with low tack tape. This creates a well for the die cuts for blending colour on to them.

    I glued each layer together before I added colour to them, I usually do the gluing after but I am trying something different. Starting with Layer A, the one with the largest openings, I set the die cut into the well so that it doesn’t move around while I blend colour on to it. I kept the centre in place when blending my colours. You could do the centres in a completely different colour but for today I am treating it as a whole. I started with a very light hand blending a rainbow of pink, red, peach, yellow and green on a diagonal. I used Distress Oxide inks.

    Next I moved Layer B into the well and did the same colours this time putting more colour down but still not heavy handed.

    Finally I put Layer C into the well, this is the die cut that has the smallest size of holes. I used the same colours but I put these on with a heavy hand to really show the depth of the colours.

    This is what my stencil well looked like after blending. then after I removed the top panel! To pretty to toss away. Can you see that while I was blending over the layers that it created another image on the bottom panel under the well. We will get to that later on. I will set it aside for now.

    To finish out this card I glued the three thick layers together and the results are gorgeous. The double thick die cuts add so much more dimension. Thanks Jennifer McGuire for the tip!

    I cut a 5 1/4″ x 4 1/4″ panel using Radial Pinpoint cover die as a background for my mandala. Next I cut the Hello Honey Script die three times with heavyweight while cardstock and glued it together. I did not use the shadow, only the word. This will sit in the centre of the mandala. Before gluing everything down I stamped the sentiment “I miss seeing you’ from the Brush Sentiments clear stamp set on the bottom right corner of the Radial Pinpoint cover die. I added a few Pastel Fairy Jewels to finish it off.

    I didn’t think I was going to use the panel that underneath my well, but it was too pretty not to use. what happened next was an embossing mistake I think all of us have made at one time or another. I had my plates mixed up in my sandwich and instead of embossing over the image I cut it with the Layer A die and all the teeny tiny pieces! I was too far into it now to back out, so I put a piece of double sided adhesive paper on to the back of the die cut to pick all the pieces up together. That worked great but now the front of my die cut was surrounded by adhesive. Out came the scissors and I fussy cut around the outside of the die to get rid of it. Then I put the mandala onto a panel of cardstock that was a bit smaller than the card base, added a sentiment also from the Brush Sentiments clear stamp set and added some Bright Fairy Jewels.

    So the process yielded two beautiful and yet similar cards. Thank you so much for joining me today and crafting with me. Have a fabulous day.

    Supplies

  • Friend, I Miss You | By Amanda Wilcox

    Friend, I Miss You | By Amanda Wilcox

    Happy weekend everyone! It’s Amanda from Twiddler’s Nook with a simple missing you card that I made for a friend that I haven’t seen since before the pandemic. I hope you like it!

    I started today’s card by choosing cardstock and cutting the layers for the Mini Grandiose Bevel layers.

    Then I took the mid-tone cardstock color and trimmed it down to A2 size. I stamped and heat embossed a sentiment from the Brushed Sentiments stamp set in black.

    Next, I die cut the Big Friend Sugar Script word from black cardstock 3 times and the shadow from white cardstock once. I used liquid glue to adhere all the layers together and put an acrylic block on top while it dried.

    I took the heat embossed panel and actually decided to trim it down to strips and adhere them to a white card base with the Mini Grandiose Bevel layers.

    I trimmed the heat embossed sentiment into a 1 1/4 inch strip and then also cut another strip of that teal to 2 3/4 inches. I used liquid glue to adhere these to a white card base and then adhere the layered strip in the opening.

    Next, I added foam squares to the back of the friend die cut with the exception of the bottom of the “f” because it overlaps the layers and doesn’t need the extra lift to lay flat. I removed the release paper and placed it above the layered strip.

    To finish things off I added the smallest size of fairy drops to the center points of the layered strip and then a scattering of various sizes across the design for a little extra interest.

    I hope you enjoyed today’s project and found inspiration to create something wonderful and share it with someone!

    I appreciate you sharing your time with me. Have a fabulous day!

    Supplies

  • No Cardstock? Create your own with a Gel Press | by Tracey McNeely

    No Cardstock? Create your own with a Gel Press | by Tracey McNeely

    Hi there crafty friends, it’s Tracey here today and I have the pleasure of sharing a card I made using the new Arista Layer die set!

    I created my own paper to use on my project using a gel press.

    After making my card I realized that a lot of people are unfamiliar with what a gel press is? It is literally a clear piece of gel that you can put ink on, then lay your paper down on it and when you lift it up it transfers the ink to the paper in unique ways! I made a quick little video to show you the process I used for my background.

    I used using Kitsch Flamingo and Salvaged Patina Distress Oxide inks to create the background panel. The fun with using the gel press is that every single print you make will be 100% unique. I set the panel aside to work on the focal die cut.

    I had already made a panel using pink and yellow Distress Oxide inks–Kitsch Flamingo and Scattered Straw . I cut the Arista medallion, using only Layer B to showcase the amazing embossed detail on the die. I die cut it once from the pink/yellow panel and then two more times in white. I glued the three layers together to give it a bit of dimension.

    The background was trimmed down to 5 1/4″ x 4″ and adhered to a white top folding card base for foam tape for even more dimension. Trimming the panel down leaves a nice 1/8″ border around it. A simple detail that really steps up your overall clean and simple card design.

    A sentiment from the new Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp set was stamped on the front of the card, leaving room above for the Arista medallion.

    The medallion was attached using foam tape which gives it even more fabulous dimension. I added a few of the pink Open Studio Fairy Jewels to the medallion for just a bit of sparkle! These self adhesive jewels are a great addition to your craft supplies.

    Thank you so much for crafting with me today and I hope I’ve inspired you to make something pretty!

    Supplies

  • Rainbow Wishes | by Tracey McNeely

    Rainbow Wishes | by Tracey McNeely

    Hi there and Happy Mother’s Day to all the mother’s visiting here today. It’s Tracey and I am very excited to share a project using a couple of newly released products from Birch Press Design!

    The new Rainbow Days Lingo Notes stamp set was starting point for my card. I stamped the rainbow off the card on the left side with embossing ink and white heat embossed it.

    I stamped the rainbow on to a full adhesive Post-it Note and trimmed it use as a mask. I masked off the rainbow and then ink blended a sky with Broken China and Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide inks. Once the blend was done I splattered some diluted white acrylic paint on to the panel. When that was dry I smooshed some Broken China Distress Oxide ink on to an acrylic block with a bit of water and then splattered that on to the panel.

    Once the mask was removed I coloured the bands of the rainbow using my ZIG Clean Color Real Brush watercolor markers blending the colours out with a water brush and set aside to dry.

    I blended a panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock about the size of the butterfly in the Eloquent Butterly Layer die set. I blended on an angle a rainbow of Festive Berries, Spiced Marmalade, Wild Honey, Mowed Lawn and Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide inks. I cut Layer C of the Elequent Butterfly from the ink blended panel. Then I cut Layer A of the Eloquent Butterfly from Vellum. Layer A has beautiful embossed details on it that look stunning on the vellum. It was glued to the centre of the Layer C ink blended butterfly and set aside.

    Now that all the pieces were completed I white embossed a sentiment from the Rainbow Days Lingo Notes stamp set on the top centre of the sky. Then the butterfly was attached to the end of the rainbow on a slight angle.

    The panel was attached to a white top folding card base with foam tape for some life and the final touch was to add to pearls to the body of the butterfly.

    This was such a fun card to make, a few different techniques with such a pretty end result.

    Thank you so much for crafting with me today and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

    Supplies

  • Hello Friend | By Dilay Nacar

    Hello Friend | By Dilay Nacar

    Welcome, friends! Dee (@dilaynacar) here and today I will be sharing a clean and simple card with pops of color, perfect for any occasion!

    To get started, I cut multiple shades of colored and silver glitter cardstock (you can use any color for this step) into thin strips. I then used tape runner to adhere the strips onto a piece of white cardstock to create a background design to later die cut. I then set this aside to dry and started on the next step.

    For the background of the card, I cut a piece of heavyweight white cardstock to an A2 size base as the panel. Next, I die cut only the ‘Kinsley Layer A’ die 3 times in white cardstock and adhered the 3 onto the panel in a design that I liked, trimming off any extra.

    Next, I die cut hello and friend Big Sugar Script dies from the striped cardstock and the shadow dies in white, then adhered them together. I then mounted the word dies onto the card with foam squares. 

    To finish, I added a few silver sequins for extra sparkle! I hope you you enjoyed my post today and found some inspiration! 

    Thank you so much for stopping by!

  • String Art Circle Collage | By Dilay Nacar

    String Art Circle Collage | By Dilay Nacar

    Welcome, Crafters! Dee (@DilayNacar) here and today I am sharing a clean and sparkly encouragement card that features the new String Art Circle Collage die combined with two favorites of mine! Let’s get started and go over how to make this simple yet elegant card!

    I began by die cutting the background out of white cardstock using with the Pinpoint Radial die, then die cut directly through the circle using the String Art die. Next, I die cut the String Art die twice more using two different shades from the Memory Box Graceful Garden glitter pad and used the negative pieces to fill in the circle on the background panel. 

    For the sentiment, I die cut the Big Sending Sugar Script die twice in white and once in black cardstock, stacked them for extra dimension, and adhered it to the card. To finish, I chose a sub sentiment from my stash to add underneath and added some clear sequins as an extra touch!  

    I hope that you enjoyed my card today! Be sure to check back for more inspiration, and visit us on Instagram @BirchPressDesign and me @DilayNacar for more inspiration. Thanks so much for stopping by today!

  • Spread Kindness this Easter | by Tracey McNeely

    Spread Kindness this Easter | by Tracey McNeely

    Hi there crafty friends, I’m back today with a landscape slimline card showcasing the fabulous Crystal Lingo stamp set and the beautiful Petal Egg Layer die set.

    The faceted rectangle from the Crystal Lingo stamp set was white heat embossed on to a 8 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ panel of Bristol Smooth cardstock. I ink blended over the panel in a rainbow using Distress Oxide inks. The colours are Kitsch Flamingo, Carved Pumpkin, and Twisted Citron Distress Oxide inks and Mustard Seed, Tumbled Glass and Shaded Lilac Distress ink.

    The panel was trimmed down to 8 1/4″ x 3 1/4″ and it was attached to an 8 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ white card base with foam tape to add a bit of dimension.

    I wanted to use the pretty background along with the Petal Layers die set in a way that one wouldn’t overpower the other. I cut all three layers from heavyweight white cardstock. I adhered the layers together with liquid adhesive and once dry.

    I decided to use pinks and oranges as my egg colour from the background. You can place your egg anywhere on the card depending on the colours that appeal to you or your recipient. I chose to place the dimensional egg on a angle. I placed small pieces of foam tape behind the egg to pop it off the background.

    The sentiment from the Blooming Spring clear stamp set was heat embossed and trimmed down and added to he panel with foam tape.

    I love the idea of sending someone a landscape, slimline card. So easy to be displayed without tipping over.

    Thank you so much for creating with me today. Wishing you a happy and safe Easter.

    Supplies

  • Do the Slimline with Crystal Lingo | by Tracey McNeely

    Do the Slimline with Crystal Lingo | by Tracey McNeely

    Happy Spring crafty friends! Today I’m creating two slimline cards using the Crystal Lingo Stamps and dies.

    The faceted rectangle stamp in the Crystal Lingo clear stamp set is the perfect size for 8 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ slimline cards.

    For both of the my cards today I started off by white heat embossing the faceted rectangle from Crystal Lingo on to two panels of watercolour cardstock cut to 8 1/2″ x 3 1/2″.

    TIP: When embossing on watercolour cardstock I always make sure I prep the paper well with my embossing buddy and I always double stamp my embossing ink.

    I laid down a combination of Distress Ink and Distress Oxide inks on to my craft mat in a staggered rainbow. I used Kitsch Flamingo, Carved Pumpkin, and Twisted Citron Distress Oxide inks and Mustard Seed, Tumbled Glass and Shaded Lilac Distress ink.

    I spritzed some water onto the mat and then put my panel facedown into the ink and picked it up right away. I did not smoosh the ink, just straight on and off. I dried the panel thoroughly and then went back to the mat and tapped the panel around putting on a second layer. I spritzed a bit of water on my panel where the Distress Inks were to disperse them a bit more.

    Once again I dried the panel thoroughly and went back to the mat one more time but before tapping down I spritzed the craft mat a bit more to reactivate the ink and did one final layer by tapping the panel on the craft mat. I stamped and die cut the Big Lingo Type Thanks die in white and black and attached it to the card with foam adhesive!

    The second panel was actually the first panel but a little bit of Frayed Burlap was all it took to muddy up my rainbow.

    Rather than toss it away I kind of liked the masculine vibe that the brown gave to the card. So I did the same as I did for the other card.

    I dried it and added more ink until I had three layers! I die cut the Big Lingo Type Thanks using only the detailed die three times for the sentiment. I adhered the three layers together to give the die cut some stability. Trust me this takes some patience–lol! I adhered the die cut directly to the card front.

    It’s so much fun to take an image like this, emboss it and then have some fun with your inks. This technique can be done with most inks and of course a little bit of water.

    Thanks so much for joining me today and we’ll see you next time!

    Supplies

  • Any Time Layered Hearts

    Any Time Layered Hearts

    Hi there, it’s Tracey here today with a couple square cards using the Layered Hearts dies. These began as cards for Valentines, but time got away from me. So they were finished after the 14th as cards that you can send any time of the year. Both of today’s cards are 4 1/4″ x 4 1/4″ square and although the cards are different, they both use the same process.

    The Kinsley Heart and the Petal Heart layer sets are beautiful whether you use all three layers together or just the top for a delicate look! I love this die set because even with all three layers you can still see the amazing stitched lines on the bottom layer!

    To make the pink heart using all three layers of the Kinsley Heart layers dies. I began by blending a panel with Distress Oxide Inks–Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry and Seedless Preserves. This will be the background for the layered heart and the bottom layer of the letter dies. It was cut with the largest heart in the Perfect Hearts die set. The layers of the Kinsley heart were cut from white cardstock and glued together. The ‘xoxo’ was cut using the Mod Alphabet die set. The bottom layer from the ink blended panel and the top from white cardstock.

    Before attaching the layered heart and ‘xoxo’ to the card base it was spritzed with Distress Oxide Spray in Picked Raspberry. I sponged a bit a pink ink on the centre of the heart for interest.

    The green card used the Petal Layers die set, but only Layer A for a more delicate design.

    Just like with the pink card I blended a panel with Distress Oxide Inks, this time I used Tumble Glass, Cracked Pistachio and Peacock Feathers. I used the panel once again for the layered heart and the bottom layer of the letter dies. Layer A of the Petal Heart layer set was cut from white cardstock. The ‘xoxo’ was cut using the Mod Alphabet die set. The bottom layer from the ink blended panel and the top from white cardstock.

    This time before attaching the heart and ‘xoxo’ to the card base it was spritzed with Cracked Pistachio and Peacock Feathers Distress Oxide Spray.

    So quick and so fun to use similar supplies and the same basic techniques to make two cards to you can use to Share Handmade Kindness!

    Thank you so much for stopping in to craft with me, see you next time.

    Supplies

  • Linear Triangle Paper Weaving | By Dilay Nacar

    Linear Triangle Paper Weaving | By Dilay Nacar

    Hello, friends!

    Dilay here and today, I’m sharing an unconventional (but super fun) way to use the brand new Linear Triangle die! The moment I saw this die, I envisioned a card that incorporated it with paper weaving, and this is what I created!

    To begin, I picked out a few of my favorite cardstock colors and die cut them using the Linear Triangle die. I did the same with white cardstock, then using a simple paper weaving technique, I weaved the colored cardstock strips through the white triangle.

    While weaving, I made sure to keep the strips evenly spaced and straight and once completely woven, I used glue to secure the ends of the strip to the white triangle.

    After allowing it to dry, I trimmed off the overhang then adhered the triangles onto an A2-sized panel using thin foam adhesive.

    For the sentiment, I die cut the Big Friend Sugar Script Die, twice in white cardstock and once in gold then die cut the shadow die in heavyweight vellum. I stacked all of the layers together then adhered them to the center of the panel with liquid glue. 

    For the sub-sentiment, I used the ‘I miss your face’ stamp from the new Crystal Lingo clear stamp set, heat embossing it in gold then adhering it under the main sentiment with a foam square. 

    I hope that you enjoyed my card today! I love using dies in different ways, and this die was just perfect to use with paper weaving. I hope you’re inspired to try it out too! Wishing everyone a wonderful day!