Tag: Birch press design

  • Glitzy Golden Hugs

    Glitzy Golden Hugs

    Hello and welcome back to the Birch Press Design blog.  I’m so excited to be joining you this Friday with a project featuring some of items from the newest release.

    I’m loving today’s project because it is gold galore.  To start, I used the new String Art Frame hot foil plate to create the delicate webbed background and the new Hugs Sugar Script hot foil plate to create the golden ‘hugs’ sentiment.

    Next, Birch Press has a new Simple Dragonfly die set that is really fun. It let’s you create both large and small realistic 3D dragonflies.  I decided to cut this twice using the large die set and once using the small die set from heavyweight white cardstock.

    I then took the bottom layer and ink blended the Stardust color from Concord & 9th onto the bottom layer of the dragon fly.  Then, using liquid glue, I adhered the top white layer, making sure to put only a dot of glue in the center so that the wings could remain free to ‘fly’.

    Once all my pieces were assembled I put together the entire card. First, I cut a piece of the White Woodgrain cardstock to 4” x 5.25” and adhered it to an A2 card base.

    Next, I took the card panel I made with the String Art hot foil plate and cut it slightly smaller to 3.75” x 5” and adhered that on top of the woodgrain base with foam tape to create some dimension.

    Next, I adhered the hot foil ‘hug’ sentiment into the middle of the card in the circle. I placed my three dragonflies around the hug..two at the bottom and one at the top.

    Lastly, I couldn’t help but add even more bling, so I used gold bling from the Christmas Fairy Jewels set to add gold jewels to the center of each dragonfly, and a few sprinkled around the card.

    That is it! I love just how much bling hot foiling adds to a card. If you don’t have a hot foil machine just yet, using gold cardstock, heat embossing and adding jewels is a great way to add bling to a card. Birch Press has a lot of great glitter and foil paper pads that can help with this. If you do have a hot foil machine, I would encourage you to check out their new hot foil line.

    I hope today’s post has inspired you to go create and keep creating beautiful things!

    Have a wonderful weekend!

    Supplies

    BPF510 String Art Frame Hot Foil Plate and Die Set

    BPF513 Hugs Sugar Script Hot Foil Plate and Die Set and Die

    57487 Simple Dragonfly Contour Layers

    SH44001 Woodgrain Paper Pack White

    JWL005 Christmas Fairy Jewels

  • I Miss Your Face | by Crystal Komara

    I Miss Your Face | by Crystal Komara

    Hello crafty readers! This is Design Team member Crystal Komara here with you today and I am SOooooo excited to share today’s card with you! This card features the Wispy Blooms dies, part of the all-NEW Contour Layering products from Birch Press Design.

    Now, I’m not gonna lie, you’re going to take one look at this AH-mazing garden of rainbow delight and be WOW’d! Then, you’re gonna take a second look and say “wait, did she really die cut ALL those flowers? Is she craaaaazyyyy?!” Yes and yes! : ) Do I have the patience of a saint? No. Not at all. In fact, I typically shy away from oodles of die cutting (that’s all you, Jennifer McGuire!) but once I started and saw where this card was going, it was SO worth it!

    Card details:

    Yeah, so the basic gist of it, just keep die cutting flowers in ALL the colors of the rainbow! Then, when you think you’re gonna go insane, start adhering all the layers together! But, wait. . . there’s more! You’ve still got stems to die cut and adhere!

    P.S. – I’ve linked all the paper pads I used in the supply list at the bottom of this post.

    Start by die cutting LOTS of flowers in all the colors of the rainbow!
    Adhere the flower layers together.
    Die cut the stems.
    Adhere the stems to the flowers.
    Completed flowers with stems.

    The base of this slimline card measures 8 1/2″ x 3 1/2″. I use 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth for all my white cardstock. Slimline cards are designed to fit inside a regular #10 business envelope and require no additional postage. I cut an 8 1/4″ x 3 1/4″ piece of white cardstock and ran it through a basketweave embossing folder, then I began to adhere all the flowers to the card in a ROYGBIV pattern. Using the Contempo Greetings stamp set I stamped the sentiment in Versamark ink on black cardstock. I heat embossed the sentiment with white embossing powder and then I used the coordinating Contempo Greetings die to die cut it out. Lastly, I adhered the sentiment to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

    So sure, this card a LOT of die cutting and piecework, but the end result is gorgeous and I would do it all over again! Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

    Supplies

    57506 Wispy Blooms Contour Layers

    SP1001 Berry Red 6×6 pack

    SP1002 Sunny Orange 6×6 pack

    SP1003 Lush Green 6×6 pack

    SP1005 Ocean Blue 6×6 pack

    SP1004 Fresh Aqua 6×6 pack

    SP1008 Twilight Purple 6×6 pack

    8160 Contempo Greetings clear stamp and die set

  • Elegant Wedding Card Made Easy | by April Antonio

    Elegant Wedding Card Made Easy | by April Antonio

    Happy Wednesday my crafty friends! April here sharing an easy wedding card I created using the Kinsley Heart layering plate dies and a sentiment from the newest Kind Hearts stamp set.

    A friend recently requested a wedding card and I settled on using the a love theme — of course– and grabbed the Kinsley Heart layering plate set. I love this set because it basically does the work for you. It is already so elegant, and I find it easy to pick three colors, cut them out and adhere them together.

    I grabbed a red and pink cardstock sheet from the Berry Red Memory Box paper pack and a beautiful pearl colored sheet from the Vintage Pastel Mirror pad. I used these colors to cut Layers A, B, and C of the Kinsley Heart layering set.

    PRO TIP: Adding liquid glue to the edges of the layering dies and just a few drops to the center helps you to line up each layer and will stick just as well as trying to add glue all over the center. I save so much time now that I add most of my glue on only the edges.

    I then grabbed the ‘Best wishes on your journey together’ sentiment from Birch Press’ newest stamp set Kind Hearts and heat embossed it on a piece of thick vellum.

    This stamp set has a beautiful mix of fonts and wonderful sentiments that I can’t wait to use such as ‘Hoping today is as wonderful as you are’ and ‘The world is full of amazing things’. It also has simple saying such as ‘thank you’ in a very elegant font.

    I adhered the vellum across the all three heart layers and secure it on the back of the panel with double sided tape, which is one of my favorite ways to adhere vellum without showing any glue on the front.

    The side of the card looked a little empty to me so I also cut two flowers from the Star Flowers Contour Layers set using the same pearl cardstock and a pearly-pink cardstock from the 6×6 Mirror Pad. The center of the flower was cut using a gold cardstock from the same cardstockp pad.

    PRO TIP: If you would like to give your flowers a 3D look, only adhered the center to the card and once dry, use your fingers or tweezers to gently lift the petals off the page. They will flatten if you are mailing the card, but will not be fully stuck to the page so that whoever receives the card will still see the 3D effect up close.

    I finished off the card by putting the entire panel onto a 4.25″ x 5.5″ folded card. Also, I could not resist adding some crystals to the center of some of the hearts.

    That is all for today! Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you were inspired to break out your plate layering sets and create something beautiful.

    Supplies

    CL8163 Kind Hearts clear stamp set

    57402 Kinsley Heart Plate Layer Set

    FP1002 Vintage Pastel Mirror Pad 6×6 pack

    SP1001 Berry Red 6×6 pack

    57505 Star Flowers Contour Layers

    CRY102 Christmas Fairy Crystals

  • Caramel Apple a Day | by Jennifer Svare

    Caramel Apple a Day | by Jennifer Svare

    Happy Harvest! These caramel apples were inspired by my visit to a nearby home boutique. I was reminded that it is “caramel apple season,” and I could not resist making these using the Apple a Day die set!

    The Maxwell Layer A die is so versatile, and was used to create the base of the card.

    There are three varieties here: Green apple with chocolate over caramel, classic red caramel apple, and a fun zombie caramel apple.

    Because there are three sizes of dies in the set, there are a lot of different variations that could be made.  I used the mid-sized apple which fit perfectly inside the frame.  Embossing added some texture to the frame, as well.

    The video below shows how I made each design ~ they are simple to make in a large batch, so everyone on the list can receive one! (The cards themselves are so fast; it’s the drying time that takes the most time.)

    I hope you enjoy the video, and also caramel apple season!  Have a great day!

     

  • Show & Tell

    Show & Tell

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    Try and picture your childhood bedroom. If you’re anything like me, you had posters of your favorite artist, mine: Michael Jackson, cassettes (remember, it was the 80’s) all over the place, and cork boards that were filled with polaroids, concert tickets, and held flowers that I was given to at the school prom.

    If you’re looking to display your fond memories of travel or fun, exciting times you shared with your closest friends and family, but are looking for a modern twist, Birch Press Design has just the thing for you! These chromatic black finish of these iron-edged hanging frames will add a modern twist to your home!

    It doesn’t just stop at displaying memories! Eloquently display feathers, flowers, leaves, and more with different sizes and shapes of frames.

  • Brass Ring Vases

    Brass Ring Vases

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    Summer time means flowers are blooming all over my garden and I couldn’t be more happy! I love displaying flowers in my kitchen which instantly brightens my home up. My little boys and I have a tradition and we go out on Sundays to our garden and we pick our favorites that will get a chance to shine in our home! They actually love doing it and it totally makes my day!

    Lately my favorite vases to use have been these gorgeous brass ring standing vases. These graceful vases will uniquely add a modern twist to your space with a medley of materials.

  • Sculpted Greeting Cards

    Sculpted Greeting Cards

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    We’ve been creating innovative craft supplies for over 20 years, so when we decided to create some new craft dies at Birch Press Design, we set out to do something a little different than what is on the market. We created a very intricate look at Memory Box, easily identified in our detailed birds and floral shapes – but at Birch Press we thought we would focus on creating some texture on greeting cards by using layers of shapes.

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    The result is a large collection of dies that coordinate – circles in graduated sizes, squares that layer beautifully and other shapes that play off of geometric simplicity. We designed these shapes to be used on their own – but also to be stacked.

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    For a paper artist, the possibilities are endless! You can layer several colored layers together for a colorful look – or if you plan on adding more to the card, you can keep the layers monochromatic, like we did here with some simple, crisp white layers. The design we used was the Circa Set – Layer A, Layer B, and Layer C.

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    For the Circa set, we designed the circles to “telescope” into the center, slightly offsetting each circle so that when they are layered together, the shapes seem to converge to the center. Sweet!

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    Adding a simple shape on top completes this pretty look – here we used the Poppystamps Delicate Dogwoods die (#1444) (cut the die out in green, red and yellow cardstock, then layer together and adhere to the front of the card). The look is beautiful – and you can make a dozen of these cards in no time!

    Don’t be surprised if you want to run your fingers over the card once assembled – the little reservoirs that are created in the card create touchable texture and the way each contour catches the light is breathtaking.

    Who knew you could create such lovely texture with layers of simple white paper? Just add these layers to the front of a white notecard (or any of our colored notecards!).

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    Wondering if you can still get an interesting look with a single layer! Absolutely!

    This is the Circa Layer A by itself – adding some subtle background texture to the Poppystamps butterfly dies (1378 Devyn Butterfly Trio and 1389 Emelia Butterfly Trio). The result is subtle – but still fun and it creates a nice and simple backdrop to the colorful butterflies.

    You can purchase the poppystamps dies at a craft store near you or by visiting poppystamps.com – and if you are ever in the Seattle area, we suggest you try one of the cupcakes shown in the pictures from Trophy Cupcakes! You can not go wrong with Salted Caramel or Strawberry Lemonade – yummm!

     

     

  • The Safi Stoneware Collection

    The Safi Stoneware Collection

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    I want to introduce to you the most recent dining collection to Birch Press Design: the Safi Stoneware Collection! The collection includes bowls, pitchers, and spoons each available in the colors oyster and cream.

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    The Safi Stoneware Collection is crafted from hand-thrown stoneware in soft-lined, modern sizes and shapes. The bowls include a set of 5 and can be used in a variety of ways including as your set of everyday bowls, or containing nuts and chips for parties, or spices and other seasonings for when you are cooking.  A set some with 5 spoons and includes a leather tie at the end of the handle. These chic spoons can be used in conjunction with the bowls so guests can serve them some treats. Last in the collection, but certainly not least, are the pitchers. A set contains 3 pitchers that are ideal for creamer to add to your coffee or tea, milk for oatmeal, and so much more!

    These unique pieces will make for a gorgeous, sophisticated addition to your dinning set! As well as the earthy, neutral tones will surely compliment your kitchen!

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  • Timeless Sheets

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    Shag carpets, bell-bottom pants, disco, blue eyeshadow with pink lipstick. I know I’m guilty of having rocked a few of these trends in my past, and I’m sure some of you out there are too! Yes these things all were fun, hip, and trendy at the time, but that’s the thing about trends- they come and go so quickly. Before you know it, everyone has moved onto something else. Sometimes it’s nice to just stick to the classics. Little black dresses will always be in, and certain prints just never die.

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    When it comes to decorating your house, sometimes it’s best to just stick to the classics that you know will never go out of style. Birch Press Design has something in store that is just this! The Vineyard Bedroom Collection features a timeless sky blue pinstripe pattern that will look great with any color scheme. You’ll love cozying up with with the soft 100% Belgian linen duvet. The pillow cases are available in sizes standard and king. 

    The Vineyard Bedroom Collection is just for you if you are looking for an endless trendy bedroom set that will look great throughout the seasons and years to come!

  • Time to Unwind!

    Time to Unwind!

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    The weather is warming up which means spending more time outside! My favorite is at night when it’s not scorching hot, but not too chilly. The temperature is just right! I love pouring myself a glass of fresh lemonade and grabing a book to read outside on my porch while the sun is setting. Sounds too cliche? Try it! It’s my ideal way of winding down from a long day at work!

    It’s time for me to change out those pillows on my bench! Birch Press Design recently got in the Bayfield Pillow Collection that is perfect for decorating your porch bench! The collection includes the colors brown, dark grey, sky, flax, taupe, and white. There is a neutral color that will go with every color scheme out there!

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    Take my advice and find some time at the end of the day to rest on your porch with some comfy, fluffy pillows! You’ll love it!