Birch Press Design

Category: Seeka

  • Love And Hugs Dahlia | By Seeka

    Love And Hugs Dahlia | By Seeka

    Hi there, it’s Seeka here and today I’m sharing a card featuring one of my favorite Birch Press Designs layer die sets: Dahlia Mini Frame.

    I started off but cutting the three layers of the frame in three shades of violet, with the bottom layer cut out of the darkest shade.

    Next, I began creating a background by masking off half-inch borders of a 4.25″ x 5.5″ inch panel of white cardstock. Using a blending tool, I blended a sunny yellow dye ink into the center of the panel, concentrating and deepening the color at the top left corner of the rectangular area.

    Then, I adhered the three layers of the frame together and adhered it to the ink-blended background.

    I used the die for the bottom layer to cut a piece of white cardstock, and then pieced in the white fallout pieces into the petals of the dahlia.

    To finish, I adhered the card front to a card base and then stamped the sentiment, which is from the Lingo Thanks stamp set, in black pigment ink.

    Thank you so much for coming by!


    Supplies


  • Masked Ink Blending | By Seeka

    Hello friends, it’s Seeka here! Today I’m sharing a way to stretch your supplies by using dies to create masks for ink blending. Using the most intricate layer of a layer die set (usually “Layer A”) you can create a beautiful pattern for your background.

    I began by using Layer A of the Kinsley Heart Layer Die set to cut three masks out of Avery Removable Label paper. The particular size I use is Avery 6465 but you can use any masking paper you have on hand.

    Next, I removed the backing paper and positioned the hearts over an 4.25″ x 5.5″ inch piece of Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock.

    I put a piece of scratch paper under my panel and then, using foam blending tools, I blended Seedless Preserves Distress Oxide ink onto the center of each heart. Then I blended Dusty Concord over the rest of the panel. I blended the colors a little bit where they met, but as you can see, I didn’t attempt to perfect the blending.

    Next, I sprayed Milled Lavender Distress Oxide Spray over the entire panel. When the inks were dry, I peeled the masks away. You can see that the splatter helps to hide the fact that the ink-blending was fast and loose.

    I trimmed about a quarter inch off each side of the panel and then adhered it to an A2-sized card base. To finish, I used foam tape to adhere a sentiment strip that I stamped using a stamp from the Lingo Thanks stamp set.

    Thank you so much for coming by!


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  • Hello Friend | By Seeka

    Hello Friend | By Seeka

    Hello there, it’s Seeka here and today I have a card featuring the Viola Plate Layer die set over an ink-blended background.  I picked a pink and red color scheme, fitting for Valentine’s Day; what colors would you choose?

    I began by creating the ink-blended background.  I used foam blending tools to blend Candied Apple, Abandoned Coral, and Tattered Rose Distress Oxide inks onto a 4.25” x 5.5” panel of Bristol smooth cardstock. Next, I used the Viola Plate layers A and B dies to cut pieces of white cardstock.  I layered and adhered the two die-cut pieces together and then adhered them to the ink-blended panel.

    Using the Big Hello die set, I die cut “hello” three times from white cardstock.  I used a foam-blending tool to color one piece with Abandoned Coral Distress Oxide ink, and then I stacked and adhered all three layers together, with the pink piece on top.  I adhered the piece to the shadow layer, which I had cut from white cardstock, and then used foam tape to adhere the sentiment to the background.

    Next, I stamped a sentiment from the Awesome Ticker Tape stamp set in black ink onto white cardstock.  I trimmed the sentiment down so that it just said “friend,” backed it with foam tape, and adhered it just under the “hello” sentiment. 

    To finish the card, I adhered the card front to a card base and then adhered some small pink gems to the centers of each of the flower shapes in the background.

    Thank you so much for coming by!


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  • Pink Poinsettia Joy | By Seeka

    Pink Poinsettia Joy | By Seeka

    Hello there! It’s Seeka here and today I’m using the Floral Star die set which, this time of year, reminds me of a poinsettia. For a modern twist on traditional Christmas colors, I used pinks and teals instead of reds and greens.

    I started by die cutting the three layers of the Floral star set in three shades of pink. I glued the layers together, the darkest fullest layer on the bottom. To allow some flex in the petals, I only added glue to the centers of the flowers, leaving the tips unglued. When all three layers were adhered together, I curled the tips of the petals around my fingers so they’d curve upward a bit for added dimension.

    Next, I used the Big Joy die set to cut the sentiment three times from white cardstock. I adhered the three layers together, for dimension, and then adhered the combined piece to the shadow layer, which I’d cut from vellum.

    For the background, I used an ink-blending tool to blend aqua ink onto an 4.25″ x 5.5″ panel of white cardstock. I concentrated the color at the four corners and when I finished, I splattered some white paint onto the panel, to mimic snow.

    To assemble the card, I adhered the sentiment to the center of the Floral Star and then adhered the Floral Star to the ink-blended panel. Finally, I adhered the card front to an A2-sized card base.

    Thank you so much for visiting and I hope your holidays are warm and cozy!


    Supplies


  • Thinking Of You | By Seeka

    Thinking Of You | By Seeka

    Hello, I hope you had a nice holiday!

    Seeka here, and today I have a clean and simple card featuring the Layer A die from one of my favorite sets, the Dahlia Mini Frame Layer Set.

    I began my card by using the Layer A die to cut a piece of heavy white cardstock. I carefully removed the die cut from the die, keeping as many pieces in place as possible, and adding Post-it Tape on the backside to hold it all together. Then, using three red Copic markers (R20, R14, and R27), I colored the petals without worrying about staying within the lines. When I finished, I used clear tape to hold all the pieces permanently in place.

    Next, I used the same die twice more to cut two more frames, this time letting the fallout layers drop away.

    I stacked and adhered the layers together, with the Copic-colored layer on the bottom, and a clean, uncolored die cut on the top.

    Next, I used black ink to stamp a sentiment from the You Are Awesome stamp set onto one of the large fallout pieces. I pieced this into the frame and then used a bit more clear tape, on the backside of the piece, to hold it together.

    To assemble the card, I adhered the frame to a 3.75″ x 5″ piece of aqua cardstock which I then adhered to an A2-sized white cardbase.

    Thank you so much for visiting!


    Supplies


  • Frosty Shine | By Seeka

    Frosty Shine | By Seeka

    Hello there, I hope you’re having a nice day! It’s Seeka here and today I have a frosty and sparkly card to share with you. It features the Frosty Flake Layer set and the Big Shine Sugar Script sentiment.

    I began by creating three layered snowflakes. For the top layer, I used white cardstock and the Frosty Flake Layer A die. For the bottom layer, I used light blue shimmering cardstock from the Memory Box Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad and the Frosty Flake Layer C die.

    To adhere the two layers together, I used a small adhesive dot at the center of the snowflake, and liquid adhesive behind the inner ring of the snowflake pattern. Because the glitter cardstock is textured, I weighed down each snowflake with an acrylic blog and let the adhesive fully set.

    Next, I used the Big Shine Sugar Script dies to cut the sentiment from a teal cardstock, and the shadow layer from vellum. I adhered the layers together and backed the sentiment with foam tape.

    To assemble the card, I created a background panel by adhering a 3.75″ x 5″ piece of white cardstock onto a 4.25″ x 5.5″ piece of light blue cardstock. Next, I adhered the snowflakes, trimming them where they hung off the panel. I added the sentiment and then I adhered the card front to a card base. As a finishing touch, I added a small light blue jewel to the center of each snowflake.

    Thank you so much for visiting!


    Supplies


  • Snowflake Joy | By Seeka

    Snowflake Joy | By Seeka

    Hello, crafty friends, Seeka here and today I’m sharing a sparkly monochrome card featuring the new Pinpoint Snowflake die and the Mini Snowflake Frame Layer dies.

    I began by die-cutting the three layers of the frame. The top and bottom layers are cut from shimmering cardstock from the Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad by Memory Box and the middle layer is cut from white cardstock.

    I adhered the layers together and then die cut the Pinpoint Snowflake out of white cardstock.

    Next, I used a blending brush to blend Peacock Feathers Distress Ink onto an 4.25″ x 5.5″ inch panel of white cardstock. Then I trimmed the panel down to approximately 3 5/8″ x 4 7/8″.

    For the sentiment, I used the Simple Joy die to cut a piece of aqua cardstock.

    To assemble the card, I adhered the snowflake frame to the pinpoint snowflake and then adhered the combined piece to the ink-blended background. I adhered the sentiment letters and then used foam tape to adhere the card front to an A2-sized card base, and then adhered a small jewel to the center of the snowflake as a finishing touch.

    Thank you so much for visiting!


    Supplies


  • Monochrome Ornament | By Seeka

    Monochrome Ornament | By Seeka

    Hello! Seeka here and today I have a monochrome card featuring the Christmas Ornament and Labels stamp set. Lately I’ve been leaning towards aquas and blues for the holidays, but you could easily use any color of the rainbow!

    I started by using white embossing powder to heat emboss the background onto a piece of periwinkle cardstock. Next, I smooshed a bit of Blueprint Sketch Distress Oxide ink onto my work surface and used a water brush pen to paint in some of the leave shapes. I used concentrated dark color closest to the ornament, and then diluted the pigment with water to paint increasingly lighter blue as I moved out to the edges of the card.

    Next, I used the coordinating ornament die to cut another piece of the same color cardstock. Using a blending brush, I blended blue dye ink onto the edges of the ornament to create a bit of depth and color variation.

    I spritzed the ornament with Hero Arts White Iridescent Shimmer spray, and then used a paint brush to flick a bit of white gouache over the ornmanent.

    Next, I used the Big Shine Sugar Script dies to cut the word shine three times from white cardstock. I stacked and adhered the three layers together, and then adhered that piece to the shadow layer, which I cut out of vellum.

    To assemble the card, I adhered the ornament to the background with foam tape, and then used more foam tape to adhere the sentiment. Then I adhered the card front to an A2-sized card base. As a finishing touch, I used added a few drops of Nuvo Chalk Stick Vintage Drops to some of the open circles in the pattern.

    Thank you so much for visiting!


    Supplies


  • Shining Trina Snowflake | By Seeka

    Shining Trina Snowflake | By Seeka

    Hello! Seeka here, and today I have a card featuring the beautiful Trina Snowflake Layer dies.

    I started off by die cutting the three layers of the snowflake. My bottom two layers are cut from colored cardstock in two shades of teal and my top layer is cut from a shimmery cardstock from the Memory Box Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad. Each layer cuts out two pieces that can be used together, or separately.

    Next I stacked and adhered the layers of the snowflake together

    I set these pieces aside to work on the background. Using a blending brush, I blended a teal colored ink onto a light blue A2-sized piece of light blue cardstock. I concentrated the color around the edges and corners of the panel.

    Then, I used a small paintbrush to flick a bit of watered down white gouache over the panel.

    While the panel was drying, I created the sentiment using the Big Shine Sugar Script die. I cut the detail sentiment three times from white cardstock and then stacked and adhered those layers together. I cut the shadow layer from vellum and then adhered the detail sentiment to it.

    To assemble the card, I adhered both the inner and outer snowflake die cuts to the background and then used foam tape to adhere the sentiment. Finally, I adhered the card front to an A2-sized card base.

    Thank you so much for visiting!


    Supplies


  • Joy, Hugs, and Kisses | By Seeka

    Joy, Hugs, and Kisses | By Seeka

    Hi there, Seeka here and today I have a card featuring the Flicker Ornament Layer Die set.

    I started off by die-cutting the pieces of my ornament. I cut Layer B out of white cardstock and Layer A out of sparkly pink cardstock from the Memory Box Shimmering Cardstock Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad. I also used the the solid ornament die from the Ornament Basics die set to cut a piece of vellum. I adhered the three layers together and then set the ornament aside.

    Next, I used the Big Joy Sugar Script die to cut the large sentiment. I used the detail die to cut several pieces of white cardstock, and then I stacked and adhered those layers together. Then I used the shadow die to cut a piece of vellum, onto which I adhered the detail sentiment. I also stamped “hugs and kisses” (from the You Are Awesome stamp set) in black ink onto a strip of white cardstock.

    Next, I created the background by running an adhesive tape runner several times down the middle of an A2-sized piece of white cardstock, and then adhering seven strips of red and pink cardstock. Each strip is 1/4″ wide. I used the gridlines on a Make Art Stay-tion tool to help ensure I put down the strips straight.

    I trimmed the excess strips with a paper trimmer and then assembled the card by adhering the ornament and the sentiments, all with a bit of foam tape. And to finish, I adhered the card front to an A2-sized card base.

    Thanks so much for visiting!


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