Tag: flowers

  • 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

     

  • Lots of Large Cosmos | by Crystal Komara

    Lots of Large Cosmos | by Crystal Komara

    Hello Birch Press readers, this is Design Team member Crystal Komara here with you today showing your a whole variety of ways to use the beautiful new Large Cosmos Contour Layering dies! Initially, I had only one slimline card in mind, but I ended up die cutting soooooo many cosmo flowers that I made four cards to show you a variety of ways to use them. So, sit back and enjoy the inspiration!

    The easiest way to begin making all of these cards, is to first create the large cosmos. For the flowers, I used a combination of purple colored cardstock. Then I just began assembling the flowers following the guided image. I ended up with almost 20 flowers by the time I was done. This truly was the hardest part of the entire process. Then I just took the flowers and designed multiple layouts.

    The first card is an 8 1/2 x 3 1/2″ slimline card. It is designed to fit inside a regular #10 business sized envelope. The white base is made from 80 lb. Neenah Smooth white cardstock. I adhered four of the large cosmo flowers down the center of the card. Behind a couple of the flowers, I tucked a few leaves, die cut from the Curved Leaf die from lush green cardstock.

    I heat foiled the sentiment in purple foil on white cardstock. The sentiment is from the Sugar Script Sentiments Hot Foil plates. I added the sentiment to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

    My next card is an A2 sized card made from the same 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I matted the base with a piece of plaid foiled cardstock from sister company Memory Box. This plaid foiled paper is 5 1/4″ x 4″. Next, I die cut a large scalloped oval from white cardstock. I adhered this to the center of the card. I adhered one of the large cosmos to the lower right side of the oval. I also added a few leaves behind the flower. I heat foiled the sentiment in purple foil on white cardstock. Again, this sentiment is from the Sugar Script Sentiments hot foil plates.

    My third card for today is also an A2 sized card made from a base of 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I heat foiled a piece of white cardstock with the String Art Frame Hot Foil Plate. Once this hot foiled background cooled, I adhered it directly to the card base as my first layer. I adhered one large cosmo to the lower right side of the card and tucked one leaf under the flower. Using the Find Joy and Outline die, I die cut the sentiment from purple and white cardstock, adhering the two layers together before adhering both to the card with 3M foam adhesive.

    I hope you have enjoyed seeing a variety of cards all made in monochromatic purple and white with the new Large Cosmos die!

    Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

    Supplies

    57513 Curved Leaf Branch Contour Layers

    57528 Large Cosmos Contour Layers

    57534 Forest Canopy Layer Set

    BPF503 Sugar Script Sentiments 1 Hot Foil Plate and Die Sets

    BPF510 String Art Frame Hot Foil Plate and Die Set

    57452 Find Joy and Outline

  • 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

     

     

  • 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

  • You Are Loved Easter Egg | by Crystal Komara

    You Are Loved Easter Egg | by Crystal Komara

    Hello readers and happy Tuesday! This is Design Team member Crystal Komara here with you today sharing a beautiful Easter card for the upcoming holiday using the Petal Egg Layer Set and a few other products from Birch Press Design.

    Card details:

    The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. For the first 5 1/4″ x 4″ layer, I ran a piece of the same Neenah white cardstock through the Blooming 3D embossing folder by Memory Box Co (a sister company of Birch Press Design).

    Next, I created the layers of the Easter egg from the Petal Egg Layer set:

    Layer A – the top layer was die cut from white cardstock.
    Layer B – the middle layer was die cut from yellow glitter cardstock.
    Layer C – the bottom layer was die cut from a darker yellow cardstock.
    I fussy cut the base or bottom layer of the egg in yellow cardstock, so that it would help the egg standout against the white background.

    I adhered all four layers of the egg together using a fine-tip liquid glue. Once this was dried, I placed the egg in the center of the card. Then I used the Tiny Tuft Flowers and Leaves Contour dies. I cut the leaves from two different colored green cardstock and the flowers from both yellow cardstock and yellow glitter cardstock.

    I adhered the leaves and flowers to the lower right side of the egg using a fine-tip liquid glue.

    Using the You Are Loved Noted Script heat foil plate and die, I heat foiled the sentiment in gold foil on black cardstock. I used the coordinating die to die cut the sentiment out and adhered it over the egg using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

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

    Supplies

    57369 Petal Egg Layer Set

    BPF509 You Are Loved Noted Script Hot Foil Plate and Die Set

    57501 Tiny Tuft Flowers and Leaves Contour Layers

    SP1002 Sunny Orange 6×6 pack

    GP1008 Majestic Hues Glitter Pad

  • Find Joy Prime Peonies | by Crystal Komara

    Find Joy Prime Peonies | by Crystal Komara

    Hello readers and happy Friday to you! I hope you have fun (and creative) things planned for the weekend ahead. This is Design Team member Crystal Komara here with you today sharing this card using the Prime Peony Duo Contour Layers.

    Now, before I get into the details of how I made this card, I want to take a minute to appreciate the intricate WORK and time commitment involved with contour layering dies! If you think you’re just going to throw a card like this together and also juggle cooking dinner, doing a load of towels, tending to a puking cat and watching Friends reruns, oh no, no, no, my friend, that ain’t gonna happen! Contour layering dies take an extreme amount of concentration, patience and precision. I lack all three. At best, I’m spastic in thought, I have the patience of a 5-year old and I’m of the philosophy that “done is better than perfect!!” So, for me, while contour layering dies (when completed) are absolutely gorgeous, the journey getting there is kinda sheer torture.

    But, look at this card, ain’t she a beaut?!

    But, I learned a few helpful tips while making this card I want to share with you to help make your contour layering dies journey less painful. First, we are going to make the peonies using a variety of pink cardstocks.

    1. Don’t be in a rush – contour layering dies take time and if you know this ahead of time, it’s half the battle

    2. Organization – when you die cut the Prime Peony flowers, keep them in organized rows

    2. Follow the Directions (or the provided image) – they really do make sense in how you put the peony layers together!

    *Use a fine tip glue to adhere these intricate tiny layers together.
    *Tip – use a fine tip liquid glue for adhering tiny layers together.
    Die cut the larger word shadow from pink cardstock and the thinner word outline from white cardstock.
    Die cut the Linear Triangle from white cardstock.

    Because I had fully committed myself to making this one card (and not being interrupted by anything else) I found the process went much more smoothly. I love the end result SO much that I now intend to work more with the contour layering dies!

    Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

    Supplies

    57504 Prime Peony Duo Contour Layers

    57452 Find Joy and Outline

    SP1001 Berry Red 6×6 pack

    SP1003 Lush Green 6×6 pack

    57393 Linear Triangle

  • Purple Wispy Blooms | by Crystal Komara

    Purple Wispy Blooms | by Crystal Komara

    Hello friends! This is Design Team member Crystal Komara here with you today sharing my passion for the color purple! I used the Wispy Blooms Contour Layering Dies to create these two monochromatic cards, however, you could re-create them in any color imaginable and have a rainbow assortment to choose from.

    For this first card, I used a piece of 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock as the base of my card. I also cut a 5 1/4″ x 4″ piece of the same white cardstock for the first layer. I ran this sheet of cardstock though my Big Shot using the Blooming 3D embossing folder (from Memory Box). I die cut one large white oval circle and adhered it to the center of the card.

    Using the Wispy Blooms Contour Layering dies, I cut multiple flowers from three different purple colors of cardstock in the 6″ x 6″ Twilight paper pack. I die cut the stems from two shades of green cardstock found in the 6″ x 6″ Lush Green paper pack. I adhered all the flowers together with a fine-tip liquid glue. I adhered the flowers to the center of the scalloped circle to create one giant bouquet. Lastly, I stamped the sentiment “thinking of you” in purple ink on a thin strip of white cardstock. This sentiment is from the Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp set.

    Because I had so many flowers leftover, I decided to create a second card using them, rather than waste them:

    The base of this A2 sized card is also made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I embossed a 5 1/4″ x 3″ piece of the same white cardstock using the Blooming 3D embossing folder (from Memory Box) and used a 5 1/4″ x 2″ piece of purple plaid paper for the other side. This paper is from the Spring Plaid slim paper from Memory Box. I die cut a large scalloped oval from Twilight cardstock and a smaller white oval for the center. I stamped the sentiment “hoping today is as wonderful as you are” in purple ink on the white oval. This sentiment is from the Kind Hearts clear stamp set. I adhered some of the leftover flowers into this white oval frame. I found that more than three flowers was too much, so I limited it to just the three.

    I hope you have enjoyed these cards! Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

  • Watercolor Meets Hot Foil | by Crystal Komara

    Watercolor Meets Hot Foil | by Crystal Komara

    Hello crafty readers! This is Design Team member Crystal Komara here with you today. I’m excited to be sharing the first two cards I created using the new String Art Frame Hot Foil plate. Now, if I’m being completely honest, these are actually the first two cards I have ever made using hot foil!! Heat foiling is very on-trend right now in the craft industry, so I succumbed to the peer pressure and bought the Gemini Foil Press (because it works with my Gemini, Jr. die cutting machine). Heat foiling is a magical process where heat and pressure are applied to a special foil to imprint on paper. Unlike heat embossing where the image is raised when Versamark ink and embossing powder are heated with an embossing gun, in heat foiling, the image is imprinted or pressed into the paper when heat and pressure are applied.

    I created two cards that are nearly identical, I simply swapped out the color combination and sentiment to achieve two unique looks. Keep reading for all the details:

    Card details:

    The base of this A2 sized card was made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I cut a 5 1/4″ x 4″ piece of purple cardstock from the 6″ x 6″ Twilight cardstock pack. On a 5″ x 3 3/4″ sheet of white cardstock, I heat foiled the String Art Frame hot foil plate on my Gemini Foilpress machine with purple Foilpress foil.

    On a separate sheet of watercolor cardstock, I stamped the large floral image from the Memory Box (a sister company to BPD) All the Happiness stamp set in Versamark ink and heat embossed it with gold embossing powder. I colored the image using Zig Real Color Watercolor Brush markers. Once the image dried, I used the coordinating All the Happiness dies to cut the image out. I adhered the flowers to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I stamped the sentiment in Versamark ink and heat embossed it with gold embossing powder. This sentiment is from the Kind Hearts clear stamp set. I adhered the sentiment to the card also using 3M foam adhesive tape. Lastly, I added a light coat of clear Wink of Stella to the flowers for added sparkle. *Be careful with Wink of Stella on watercolor though, because it will bleed as it is water-on-water based.

    For this second card, I used identical products as the first card, I simply swapped out the purple foil for a teal foil and I colored the flowers with teal or turquoise hued Zig Real Color Brush markers.

    Alright, so since I admitted this was my first go-round with hot foiling, I’ll also admit that I did my initial foiling wrong and ended up heat foiling the plate itself and not the paper. Note to self, read the instructions first! They do exist for a reason!! : ) But, all-in-all I was quite pleased with how my first heat foiled cards turned out and I look forward to experimenting more!

    Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

    Supplies

    BPF510 String Art Frame Hot Foil Plate and Die Set

    SP1008 Twilight Purple 6×6 pack

    SP1005 Ocean Blue 6×6 pack

    CL5265-D All the Happiness clear stamp and die set

  • Hope You’re Feeling Better Eucalyptus | by Crystal Komara

    Hope You’re Feeling Better Eucalyptus | by Crystal Komara

    Hello Birch Press Design readers! This is Design Team member Crystal Komara sharing a CAS (Clean and Simple) card with you today featuring the new Eucalyptus Stem and Berries Contour Layering dies. Because I intended for this card to be very simple, I wanted to create a card without using the layering part of the dies, so here is what the dies look like quite simply on their own when cut from a rainbow array of cardstock. Add a gold heat embossed sentiment (any message will do!) and you have an elegant and easy card in no time flat!

    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 this same cardstock as the first layer. On that layer I stamped the sentiment “hope you’re feeling better” in Versamark ink and heat embossed it with gold embossing powder. This sentiment is from the Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp set.

    Using the Eucalyptus stems, I cut multiple stems from colored cardstock. I used the following 6″ paper packs:

    -Lush Green

    -Sunny Orange

    -Berry Red

    -Ocean Blue

    I adhered the stems directly to the center of the card and then I added a small white ribbon at the base of the stems for added texture.

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

    Supplies

    CL8157 Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp set

    57496 Eucalyptus Stem and Berries Contour Layers

    SP1003 Lush Green 6×6 pack

    SP1002 Sunny Orange 6×6 pack

    SP1001 Berry Red 6×6 pack

    SP1005 Ocean Blue 6×6 pack