Tag: Birch press design

  • Christmas in July with Forest Canopy and Large Cosmos | by Colleen Balija

    Christmas in July with Forest Canopy and Large Cosmos | by Colleen Balija

    Hi there! Today I’ve got a card for you that reminds me of Christmas -only in July! This wasn’t intended to be a Christmas card, but after seeing the finished product, I will definitely be creating similar cards for the holidays using these new products! I’ll be using the new Large Cosmos Contour Layers die and Forest Canopy Layering dies. As usual, I will share the product links at the end of my post!

    I chose to use shades of brown, green, and coral for this card (very similar to the card I shared in my post a couple weeks ago). Step one was to create the background. The Forest Canopy is a layering die set, which Birch Press Designs is known for creating in great detail! I die cut each of the layers using heavy white cardstock. Then I applied shades of green color, going from light to dark, by ink schmooshing to create a variegated, natural look to the leaves. This set comes with berries as well, and I inked those up in shades of coral.

    TIP: To ink schmoosh, apply the ink onto a glass media matt, spray with a bit of water, and then place the card panel directly onto the ink and “schmoosh” around over the ink to apply color to the card panel. Repeat this step until you’ve achieved the desired look that you want. If you notice in the photo below, this technique achieves more depth as opposed to basic ink blending.

    Once the inking was complete, I adhered the layers together and applied them over a card panel that was inked in shades of brown. I am in love with how earthy and beautiful the colors are coming along!

    Next I focused on the Large Cosmos Flower die. Did you know that Birch Press Designs embosses the layers on the flower so that you know exactly where to place each layer? I think that’s genius! They also emboss highlighted areas that add interest and depth to the flowers!

    I die cut each layer of the flower onto white cardstock and then ink blended the layers in shades of coral. Then I went around the edges of the flower and the stamin with gold embossing powder for added shine and interest. I adhered my layeres and placed the Cosmos Flower onto the lower left corner over the Forest Canopy leaves, and then added gold metallic splatters over the entire panel. I finished with a sentiment from the Memory Box Gracious Florals stamp and die set!

    Next time I may change up the color scheme and create a few holiday cards using these new dies! I’ll be sure to share them with you! Thanks for stopping by today!

     

    Supplies

     

    57528 Large Cosmos Contour Layers

     

    57534 Forest Canopy Layer Set

     

    CL5280D Gracious Floral Clear Stamp and Die Set

     

  • Gracious Florals | by Colleen Balija

    Gracious Florals | by Colleen Balija

    HI friends! Today I’m going to share an easy way to add color to your embossed images using the new Gracious Floral Embossing Folder, Stencil, Stamp, and die set by Memory Box. This set coordinates together to help you create TONS of unique cards! I’ve linked the Supply List at the end of my post if you’d like to purchase any of the items (and I think you will want this set!!!)

    First step was to create a colorful background to the embossed Gracious Florals. I applied shades of brown ink directly onto the flat side of the Gracious Florals embossing folder using my mini brayer. The brayer creates a unique pattern, and I change directions with it to get an even more playful, mixed media look (see the photo below). If you don’t have a brayer, use your ink pads directly onto the embossing folder and change directions with the ink pad. You’ll get a similar look!

    Once I inked up the embossing folder, I added a white piece of heavy duty cardstock inside the embossing folder, closed it, and ran it through my die cut machine per the usual method of dry embossing. I was left with this awesome colorful background, but the flowers remained white!

    Next, I stenciled the flowers using the coordinating stencil set from Gracious Florals.

    The flowers are bold and absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! The stamp set comes with the outline image of these flowers so you colorists will have a great time coloring the image! Getting back to my stenciling, I stenciled the layers using coral shades for the florals because they looked bold against the brown background. Then I stenciled the leaves in green and added gold embossing powder to the stamin for a touch of shine. I also added metallic gold splatters over the entire card panel for even more shine! Then I die cut the card panel using my deckled paper trimmer, added brown ink to the edges of the panel, and adhered it over a white 5.5×4.25 card base.

    The last step was to add the sentiment from the Gracious Floral stamp. The sentiments are bold and amazing, and I love how the die cuts right around the wording! I kept the sentiment simple in black and white so that the floral remained the focal point.

    I love how the brown background seemed to surround and embrace the florals! I hope you enjoyed today’s post and thank you for visiting me!

     

    Supplies

     

     

    CL5280D Gracious Floral Clear Stamp and Die Set

     

    EF1026 Gracious Floral 3D Embossing Folder and Die

     

    88620 Gracious Floral Stencil Set

     

     

  • Patriotic Balloons | by Crystal Komara

    Patriotic Balloons | by Crystal Komara

    Happy 4th of July friends! This is Design Team member Crystal Komara sharing in the red, white and blue celebration with you today with this patriotic themed balloon easel card.

    Card details:

    The base of this A2 sized card was made with 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock.

    Using all three layers (A, B, and C) of the Floral Balloon Layer Set, I die cut four of every balloon in red, light blue, dark blue, white and silver glitter cardstock. (I really didn’t know how many balloon pieces I would need, so this gave me plenty to mix and match!) I really could have made two cards with all the pieces I had leftover.

    I then began playing around with the balloons to see which colors I liked layered over each other, until I found an arrangement that was pleasing to my eye. I saved two balloons for the base of the card, to act as the “stopper” so the easel fold won’t collapse once it is standing.

    *To make the easel fold, simply look up a tutorial on YouTube, there are a wide range of ideas, but all you need is the basic cutting instructions which are super easy!

    I die cut the Let’s Party sentiment from both navy blue and white cardstock. I layered the two together with a fine-tip liquid glue and then adhered the sentiment to the card with 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

    Have a wonderful, safe and happy 4th of July celebration friends! Thanks for visiting!

    Supplies

    57430 Let’s Party Sugar Script

    57433 Floral Balloon Layer Set

    sp1001 Berry Red 6×6 pack

    SP1005 Ocean Blue 6×6 pack

    SP1006 Stormy Blue 6×6 pack

    GP1003 Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad

  • Blue Balloons | by Crystal Komara

    Blue Balloons | by Crystal Komara

    Hello crafty readers! This is Design Team member Crystal Komara here to inspire you today with a birthday card using a lot of texture from glitter paper to alcohol inks. It’s also in my favorite color – blue! And. . . it sparkles!

    The base of this A2 size card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using Plate A only from the Viola Layering Plates, I cut this background from white cardstock and adhered it directly to the card base. ( I actually cut two of these backgrounds, so that I could fussy cut some of the flowers to add to the balloons). Using Layer Plate C of the Floral Balloons I cut two balloons. The first was from silver glitter paper and the second was from a little scrap piece of an alcohol ink background that just happened to coordinate!

    I fussy cut two of the flowers from the Viola Layering Plate A and adhered them to each balloon. I adhered each balloon to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

    I die cut the sentiment using the Make a Wish Sugar Script die. I die cut the bottom layer from blue glitter cardstock and the top layer from white cardstock. I adhered the two layers together with a fine-tip liquid adhesive. Lastly, I adhered the entire sentiment to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

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

    Supplies

    56128 Viola Plate Layer Set

    57434 Make a Wish Sugar Script

    57433 Floral Balloon Layer Set

    GP1007 Glitzy Glitter Pad

  • Make a Wish | by Crystal Komara

    Make a Wish | by Crystal Komara

    Hello crafty readers! This is Design Team member Crystal Komara here with you today and I’m really excited to share my card with you because it’s one of my favorite color palettes! First, let’s take a look at the inspiration for today’s birthday card:

    Yes! My color inspiration came from a Pinterest photo from an architectural website. Kind of wild, right? What I liked about this photo was that these are colors I would not normally have considered ever putting together, and yet they work beautifully! Now, while I don’t want these colors in MY house (hello, neutrals girl here!) I found they worked well for a card.

    Card details:

    The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth. I also cut a 5 1/4″ x 4″ piece of the same white cardstock to be used as the first base layer. Using all three layers (A, B, and C) of the Floral Balloon Layer Set, I die cut four of every balloon in teal green, min green, light pink, gold glitter and magenta pink cardstock. (I really didn’t know how many balloon pieces I would need, so this gave me plenty to mix and match!) I really could have made two cards with all the pieces I had leftover.

    I then began to play around and see what colors I liked layered over each other. I also toyed around with the balloon placement on the card. There was no real method to my madness, I simply kept rearranging until I found a layout that was pleasing to my eye.

    Using the Make a Wish Sugar Script word die, I cut the thicker shadow portion from darker pink cardstock and the thinner top portion from white cardstock. I layered the two together with a fine tip liquid glue and then used 3M foam adhesive behind to sentiment to adhere it to the card with added dimension.

    I hope today’s post inspires YOU to find inspiration from the world around you! Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

    Supplies

    57433 Floral Balloon Layer Set

    57434 Make a Wish Sugar Script

    GP1003 Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad

    SP1001 Berry Red 6×6 pack

    SP1003 Lush Green 6×6 pack

  • Best Wishes On Your Journey Together | by Crystal Komara

    Best Wishes On Your Journey Together | by Crystal Komara

    Hello friends and happy May! I feel like May is the unofficial start to summer, which also means that wedding season is upon us. This is Design Team member Crystal Komara here today to inspire you with a wedding/love themed card using a variety of product from Birch Press Design.

    Card details:

    The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock. This is my go-to white cardstock for e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g! To create the background of this card I used Layer Plate C of the Flora Plate Layer set, and I die cut it from white cardstock. I mounted that die cut piece onto a piece of white cardstock for a white-on-white look and then mounted both pieces onto black cardstock before adhering it to the card base.

    For the largest heart I used the Flora Heart Layer C. I die cut Layer A and Layer B from red cardstock. I adhered the two layers together with a fine-tip liquid glue. Then I adhered those of a piece of white cardstock and fussy cut a heart shape background. I adhered this heart to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

    To create the two smaller hearts, I die cut Layer A of the Kinsley Heart Layer Set from white cardstock. I adhered this over a sheet of red cardstock and then fussy cut the individual hearts out.

    For the sentiment, I stamped the font in black ink on white cardstock. This sentiment is from the Kind Hearts clear stamp set. I then used a heart punch to punch the sentiment out. I adhered the sentiment too the card using 3M foam adhesive.

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

    Supplies

    56120 Flora Heart Layer Set

    57437 Flora Plate Layer Set

    57402 Kinsley Heart Plate Layer Set

    CL8163 Kind Hearts clear stamp set

    SP1001 Berry Red 6×6 pack

  • Prime Peony Hello | by Crystal Komara

    Prime Peony Hello | by Crystal Komara

    Hello readers! Now that spring is officially here (oh but wait, is it??) Oh well, I declare spring IS here! Let’s celebrate with all things floral. This is Design Team member Crystal Komara here with you today sharing this hello card made using the Prime Peony Duo Contour Layers.

    Card details:

    The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I cut a 5 1/4″ x 4″ piece of the same Neenah White cardstock and ran it through my Big Shot using the Blooming 3D embossing folder from Memory Box Co. (a sister company of Birch Press Design). I adhered this embossed background directly to the card base. Next, I die cut a large oval from white cardstock.

    To create all the peonies, I die cut the various layers of the Prime Peony from different colored pink cardstocks and then using the image provided, I was able to assemble them (with only limited curse words!) Trust me, I’m not proud of my less-than patience.

    After adhering all the peony pieces together I adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. Lastly, for the sentiment, I used the Big Hello Sugar Script die. I die cut just the top layer (not the shadow layer) from white cardstock. I cut this layer three times and them on top of each other before adding them to the card.

    I hope you have enjoyed this card! Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

    Supplies

    57504 Prime Peony Duo Contour Layers

    SP1001 Berry Red 6×6 pack

    57143 Hello Sugar Script

  • Shaker Star Flowers | by Crystal Komara

    Shaker Star Flowers | by Crystal Komara

    Hello readers and happy Wednesday! This is Design Team member Crystal Komara here today sharing one of my favorite (and seemingly easiest) interactive cards to make – a shaker card! I made this card very monochromatic in purple and white, but if purple really isn’t your color, there are endless possibilities and color combinations you could use instead with these beautiful Star Flowers Contour dies.

    Card details:

    The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. For the background, I cut a 5 1/4″ x 4″ piece of the same Neenah White cardstock and ran it through my Big Shot using the Pinpoint Radial Plate.

    Using the Star Flowers Contour Dies, I cut the flowers from two different colored purple cardstock and one purple glitter cardstock (for the center of the flowers). I adhered the layers of the flowers together with a fine-tip liquid glue.

    To create the shaker component, I die cut Layer A of the Roundabout Layer Set from white cardstock. I then fussy cut a solid white background of this same shape to create a white frame. I adhered a piece of clear acetate to the back of this frame. I added about 1 tablespoon of sequins to the card and then layered the shaker frame on top.

    I stamped the sentiment “to my friend” in purple ink on white cardstock and used a circle punch to punch it out. This sentiment is from the Kind Hearts clear stamp set.

    I love a card that can be made so easy to change simply by alternating the colors or the sentiments. Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

    Supplies

    57505 Star Flowers Contour Layers

    57384 Pinpoint Radial Plate

    56124 Roundabout Layer Set

    SP1008 Twilight Purple 6×6 pack

    GP1003 Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad

  • Rainbow Roundabout | by Crystal Komara

    Rainbow Roundabout | by Crystal Komara

    Hello readers! This is Birch Press Design Team member Crystal Komara here with you today sharing some rainbow inspiration using the Roundabout Layer Set. I love creating rainbow colored cards, I just find them so cheerful and uplifting!

    Card details:

    The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah White Solar Smooth cardstock. Using the same Neenah white cardstock, I cut a 5 1/4″ x 4″ piece and ran it through my Big Shot using the Blooming 3D embossing folder from Memory Box Co. (a sister company of Birch Press Design).

    Continue reading below to see how I created and assembled the rainbow roundabout itself, it was a little bit tricky!

    Step 1: Die cut Layer A of the Roundabout Layer Set from white cardstock.
    Step 2: Die cut Layer B of the Roundabout Layer Set from gold glitter cardstock.
    Step 3: Die Cut Layer A from the Roundabout Layer Set from all the colors of the rainbow – ROYGBIV. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.
    Step 4: Save the large solid circles for another card!
    Step 5: Adhere Layer A (white cardstock) over Layer B (gold glitter cardstock) using a fine-tip liquid glue.
    Step 6: Piece all the little shapes back into the die in a rainbow array.

    I then adhered 3M foam adhesive to the back of the roundabout and adhered it to the center of the card.

    Using the Hello Honey Script word die, I die cut the back shadow layer from black cardstock and the thinner top outline from white cardstock. I adhered both layers together with a fine-tip liquid glue and then adhered the entire sentiment to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

    I also created a second card using the leftover solid circles that were die cut from the Roundabout Layer Set.

    This mini slimline card measures 6 1’2″ x 3″. Honestly, I made up my own dimensions on this card, so don’t take these measurements as being any sort of a “professional” size! I placed all the die cut circles leftover from the Roundabout Layer Set in a rainbow array horizontally across the card. I stamped the sentiment “sending you sunshine, laughter and hugs” in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. This sentiment is from the Kind Hearts clear stamp set.

    Using the same Hello Honey Script word die, I die cut the back shadow layer from black cardstock and the thinner top outline from white cardstock. I adhered both layers together with a fine-tip liquid glue and then adhered the entire sentiment to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

    I hope you have enjoyed these two very colorful ways to use the Roundabout Layer Set. Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

    Supplies

    56124 Roundabout Layer Set

    CL8163 Kind Hearts clear stamp set

    57310 Hello Honey Script

    SP1002 Sunny Orange 6×6 pack

    SP1001 Berry Red 6×6 pack

    SP1003 Lush Green 6×6 pack

    SP1005 Ocean Blue 6×6 pack

  • To My Friend | by Crystal Komara

    To My Friend | by Crystal Komara

    Hello friends and happy Valentine’s (or Galentine’s) day to you all! This is Design Team member Crystal Komara here today. I wish you a day filled with love, happiness and a lot of something sweet! I have one last love or heart themed card to share with you for this season.

    Card details:

    The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using Layer A of the Flora Layering Plates, I cut the background layer from white cardstock. Using the new Banner Heart Layer set, I cut Layer A (the top layer) from magenta pink cardstock. I used the I cut Layer B (the middle layer) from black cardstock. I cut Layer C (the bottom layer) from a magenta pink glitter cardstock. I adhered all three layers together using a fine tip liquid glue. Then once the layers were dried, I adhered the hearts to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

    *Note, I cut two of each layer of the Banner Hearts die so that my card would have two hearts on it. Lastly, I stamped the sentiment “to my friend” in magenta ink on a piece of white cardstock. This stamp is from the Kind Hearts stamp set. I then used a small punch to punch out the heart and adhered it on the top of the card.

    Happy Valentine’s Day, my crafty friends! Thanks for visiting and be sure to spread the love today and always.

    Supplies

    56120

    57510 Banner Heart Layer Set

    SP1001 Berry Red 6×6 pack

    SH44004 Black Glossy Paper

    GP1007 Glitzy Glitter Pad

    CL8163 Kind Hearts clear stamp set