Birch Press Design Blog Post #2

 Hello, hello!  Popping in to let you know that I have a post up on the BPD blog today.  Here is a little peek.

Hope you will head over to the BPD blog to check out what I created.  The new BPD release is now available on the website and it is a good one!  Lots and lots of Christmas/holiday themed dies.  Can't wait to share what I make.  Til next time!

Papertrey Ink September Release - Part 2

 Hello!  I'm back to share three more cards that I made with products from the Papertrey Ink September release.   With all these beautiful Christmas themed products to work with I'm sure to get most of my Christmas cards made for the season!  Let's have a look at what I made.

This first card was made with the new Into the Blooms: Snowdrops die set, the This is Big Happy Holidays stamps and dies, the Stitched Snowflakes cover plate die, Rounded Rectangle dies and In Frame: Ovals dies.   I die cut the snowdrops from green and white cardstock and then added a little bit of Broken China distress oxide ink to the white pieces.  The stems were die cut from a medium green cardstock.  I adhered all the piece together with liquid adhesive and thin foam squares in a few places.  I then die cut pale blue cardstock with the largest In Frame: Ovals die.  I kept the two pieces together by securing them in place on the back with washi tape.  White cardstock was die cut with the largest Rounded Rectangle die and then run through my die cutting machine with the Stitched Snowflakes die.  I adhered that to a pale blue cardstock base and then layered on the ovals and the snowdrops.  I finished with the Happy Holiday sentiment.   I didn't stamp the sentiment and then die cut it as I wasn't sure I could get the die to line up correctly.  So, I die cut first, left the die cut in place, aligned the sentiment on top and then stamped using black ink.  Worked like a charm.  I die cut additional layers, adhered them together and then adhered the sentiment to the card front with liquid adhesive and thin foam squares.   A little bit of sparkle was added as well using Rock Candy glitter.   Going to add this card to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of anything goes.

For this card and the third one I went with a traditional red and green theme with kraft instead of white as the background for a more homespun feel.  This card uses Love to Layer Christmas Tree dies, Fresh Greens hot foil plate, Rounded Rectangle Pierced dies and a sentiment from the Merry Motifs stamp and die set.    I had recently found a sheet of watercolor cardstock that I had used to create this dark green backgound using distress mica sprays.  I decided to use it for my Christmas tree.  I used Memory Box patterned paper from one of their Christmas pads for the garland and little ornaments.  I decided to bring gold into the mix with the star, little sparkle ornaments and the gold hot foiled frame.  The background needed a little something else, so I used one of the smaller pierced Rounded Rectangles to die cut the patterned paper I used for the garland to place behind the tree.  The sentiment was stamped in a dark red and die cut.  I then die cut a second layer from gold foil cardstock and adhered it behind the sentiment slightly off set.  It looks so pretty in real life. 

 I think this final card really has a homespun feel too it.  Again, done in red and green with kraft.  I think I should have maybe embossed the sentiment black, but there it is in white!  This card was made with Build a Christmas Tree dies, This is Big:  Happy Holidays sentiment set and the Rounded Rectangle Stitched dies.  Memory Box plaid cardstock was used for the background.   After die cutting the garland from a red cardstock I decided to jazz things up a bit by using red glitter cardstock for the ornaments.  The kraft bows dial the glitz back a little for a more homespun fell.  After layering everything on the tree and adhering it to the plaid background I stamped the sentiment on vellum and embossed in white.  Again, thinking maybe I should have used black, but what is done is done, right? 

Well, that is it for me.  I have made it through a large portion of the September release, but still have several more products to share.  So, I will be back later in the week with more Christmas cards!  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

PaperTrey Ink September Release!

 Hello, hello!  Have you seen the September release from PaperTrey Ink?  It is absolutely amazing!!  PaperTrey Ink generously sent me products from the release.  I will be sharing projects that I have made with the release over the next few weeks.  Let's take a look at the first set of cards I made using release products.

Who doesn't love the Christmas poem Twas the Night Before Christmas?  When I opened the package from PaperTrey Ink and saw the Twas the Night Before Christmas products I was in heaven!  I loved reading the poem to my boys when they were little.  I would read it almost every night until Christmas day arrived.  I read it so much I could recite it from heart!   Besides using the Twas the Night Before Christmas products I also used the new, Nutcracker Magic stamps and dies, Storybook Scroll die collection and the Cover Plate:  Stitched Snowflakes die.   Kept things simple by using PTI Rustic Cream cardstock for everything.  The scroll and accompanying pieces were diecut and then inked with Antique Linen distress ink for an aged look.  I then assembled the scroll.   The Twas the Night Before Christmas stamp set includes the main sentiment and then a few small images to use with the sentiment.  I used one to place at the bottom of the scroll.  For the top of the scroll, I used an image from Nutcracker Magic for the swag at the top.   The sentiment and the larger swag were stamped in brown ink to keep the aged look going and then inked with Antique Linen distress ink. The larger swag was colored with Copic markers.  I stamped the smaller swag in green ink and the berries using a light red.  I then added red berries using Nuvo drops.    Rustic White cardstock was die cut with the Stitched Snowflake die and then I assembled the card.  Thought about adding some glitter, but decided against it.  Maybe next time!

For my second card I used the 2 Corinthians stamp, outline die and background dies and the Merry Motifs hot foil plate.  I used the color palette from Color Throwdown so I will be posting this card in their gallery.  I hot foiled the Merry Motifs on light blue cardstock using Skybright hot foil.  The larger of the two background dies was used to cut dark blue cardstock and the smaller one die cut the same light blue cardstock used for the foiled background.  The sentiment was stamped using Altenew Terracotta ink.  I did also use an image from the Merry Motifs stamp and die set stamping the image with the Terracotta ink.  Die cut the image and the sentiment and then layered everything on a card base. 

That's it for me, but I will be back soon with more projects made with this fabulous release.  Stay tuned, lol!  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Having Fun With 49 and Market...

 Hey friends!  I'm popping in with two projects that I made with some newly purchased products from 49 and Market.  I will be posting one project to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge (birthday) and the other project will be heading over to the Paper Players (travel) and Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge (tag it).   So, let's get to it!

My first project is a birthday card that I made using laser cuts from the 49 and Market Starlight Dreams collection.  When I purchased the Starlight Dreams laser cuts I didn't think I would need the patterned paper pack, but now I have decided that I do need it, lol!  I'm not really into celestial motifs, but I couldn't resist the gorgeous designs in the laser cut pack.   For this card I used a set of angel wings, a floral piece, some feathers and butterflies.  For the background I used a light blue cardstock that I embossed with a layering die from Birch Press Design.  The sentiment was hot foiled and is also from Birch Press Design.    Pretty quick to put together once I figured out what pieces I wanted to use and the arrangement. 

This next project is a tag that I created for the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge and the Paper Players using another new line from 49 and Market called Wanderlust Explorer.  What sold me on this collection was the ability to make masculine projects like birthday cards.    I used a few Tim Holtz Idea-ology products with this tag.  Namely, a #8 thick board tag, a thick board scalloped trim, a window frame base board and crackle paste.  I trimmed out some of the patterned paper to fit the tag and adhered it with collage medium.   I covered the scalloped trim and part of the window frame with crackle paste and let it dry.  Once dry I applied paint in a soft teal and orange wiping some of the paint off.  I trimmed down the scalloped piece and then applied collage medium to the trim and window to seal them.  Ground Espresso distress crayon was added to all the pieces I picked out, as well as the tag and then I got to layering everything.   I used glue and thin foam squares to add my pieces.  I finished with the little sentiment that is also from Tim Holtz.   I love how it turned out.  I was, again, inspired by the super talented Emma Williams who is a member of the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge design team.  

Well, that is it for me!  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day.

Birch Press Design Block Print: Crane

 Hello everyone!  Can you believe that January is almost over?!  What an amazing month this has been!  Today I'm popping in to share my second Birch Press Design card for the month of January.  For this card I used the new Block Print: Crane die set.  Let's have a look.

I knew I wanted to create a scene where the crane was standing on a shoreline with some reeds.  When I saw the current Freshly Made Sketches sketch I thought it would be a great way to get my card going.  For the banded element in the sketch I tore strips of patterned paper from two different Memory Box 6x6 paper pads (Anemone Plaid and Poinsettia Plaid).  I adhered the strips with glue to a white panel of cardstock.  I left an area with no glue so that I could slip some of my "reeds" and the crane's legs behind the first bluish strip.  I then die cut the panel with a rectangle die.

The "reeds" were die cut from some of the scrap patterned paper that was left after I tore the green and brown strips using the Budding Twigs Contour Layers dies.  There are two dies in the Budding Twigs die set.  Each die cuts three pieces that are supposed to be layered together to create the budding twig.  I only used one layer from each die.  I placed the die on the patterned paper so that I would mostly just cut the piece I needed.  I cut a bunch, but didn't use all of them.  Because the card already had a more masculine feel I die cut the crane from light gray, white and brown cardstock.  I layered all of the pieces and then inserted the crane in behind the first blue strip.

Then I began adding my "reeds".  I inserted most of them into the little pocket I created, but added a few in front to give the reed cluster a fuller look.   I finished off the card with a sentiment from the Sugar Script Sentiments 1 hot foil set that I foiled in matte gold.   

Well, that's it for me.  I'm also going to add this to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of anything goes.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Noel... deer?

 Hello!  I'm popping in to share a card for the Paper Players challenge.  This week they are asking for card featuring a deer.  My card takes a bit of license with the idea, but I think it still fits. ETA:  I think this card also works for the current Tic Tac Toe challenge.  I'm going with the white on white, embellishment and die cut.   Let's have a look.

A few years ago my friend, Greta, gave me with fun noel die.  I don't know who the manufacturer is, but as you can see the word noel has deer antlers and the drop out pieces from the "o" allow you to turn that into a nose of sorts.   I wanted to participate in the Paper Players challenge, had several options and was about to go with another when I remembered this fun die.  I thought white on white with a touch of red (thinking Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer!) would made for a fun card.  I love how it turned out.  I die cut four pieces and then glued them to a white rectangle.  The "noses" were die cut from dark red and added to the words.  I added a dollop of Nuvo drops in Morning Mist to create a shiny red "nose".  I wanted to keep the noel theme going so I used the Joyeux Noel sentiment that I die cut with a small banner die.   

That's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

more clean and simple mixed media...

 Hello!  I'm back and like the title of my post says I have more cards created in a clean and simple style that feature some mixed media!  Love combining things that don't seem like they belong together, lol.  Let's have a look at what I made.

This card is for Freshly Made Sketches and I just love how it turned out!   I used lots of distress mica sprays and I think the Fossilized Amber distress spritz for the leaves.  The whole thing started when I created the tag I used on this card.  I had alot of the sprays left over in my splatter box and so I decided to grab a piece of watercolor cardstock and soak up all the leftover sprays.  The end result was a brownish color.  Once it was dry I added some additional mica spray in Mulled Cider and Harvest Moon (I think, lol).   I let it dry and then die cut the leaves using a leaf die from A Jillian Vance Design and a set of leaf dies from Simon Says Stamp.   A piece of off white cardstock was die cut with a rectangle die and then I worked on the arrangment of the leaves.   When I had that done to my liking I took a picture so I could get the placement just right.  I glued down the leaves and then added the sentiment from the Simon Says Stamp Cozy Autumn Hugs stamp set with strip of foam tape.  I finished with the little bow.  

This next card is for Color Throwdown and I will also be adding it to the Just Us Girls gallery as I added a little bit of stenciling.   Take a look.

The CTD colors this week are orange, cream and kraft.  I thought the newly released Birch Press Design Splendid Cosmos Contour Layers die would look pretty in those colors.  I die cut the main flower from off white cardstock (PTI's Rustic White) and then added orange ink (Pinkfresh Studio Apricot) to the center of the flower extending it out on the petals.  Got a little too much on that one bottom petal, but I think it looks fine.  I die cut the center pieces from kraft cardstock and then added a little bit of the residual orange ink on my brush to the pieces.   Everything was then glued together.  I originally had another ide for the card, but when I tried it I just didn't like it.  That happens sometimes, right?   So, I decided to sleep on it and in the morning pulled out a brick pattern stencil from MFT Stamps and added the partial brick pattern to a kraft cardstock panel using Picket Fence Studios Luxe Paper Glaze in gold.   Once dry I adhered the flower and then added the sentiment that I had hot foiled on cream cardstock in matte gold.   Again, clean and simple, but with a little touch of mixed media.  Try it sometime!

I was sad to learn of the passing of Color Throwdown team member, Barbara Anders.  She never failed to amaze me with her gorgeous cards!   Her talent will be greatly missed.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

celebrate today...

 Hello friends!  I'm popping in to share a card that was supposed to be posted to the Birch Press Design blog on Wednesday, October 16th.   Unfortunately, the BPD blog was hacked and Dave, the owner of Birch Press Design was forced to remove the entire blog!    I decided to share what I made here so those of you who aren't on Instagram or don't want to go to the BPD Facebook page can see what I made.  So here we go!

I used the recently released Meadow Berry Branch Contour Layers and Evening Moths dies set for my card.  I wanted bit of a fall/rustic feel for the card so I used orange Memory Box cardstock for the berries and two red Memory Box red cardstocks that are more on the coral side of red.  

I used glossy accents on the berries and moth and then sprinkled on Rock Candy glitter for some subtle sparkle.  I used a Poppystamps circle die set for the two circles in the background.  They were die cut from cream Memory Box woodgrain cardstock.   The background rectangle was die cut from Memory Box kraft woodgrain cardstock.  

After adhering all the pieces as you see, I finished the card with the Celebrate Today Noted Script hot foil plate that was foiled using matte gold foil.   A little side note about hot foiling.  I haven't done it in ages so I was a little worried that I had forgotten how.  Thankfully I remembered and my foiling turned out perfect!  

Well, that is it for me!  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

a masculine card...

 Hello!  I'm back with a masculine card for a couple of challenges:  Color Throwdown and Pinkfresh Studio July challenge.  The colors this week at CTD are navy, terracotta and kraft which said masculine to me.  Part of the challenge at Pinkfresh Studio is to use geometric design elements which also had me thinking masculine.  Let's have a look at what I made.

I did more direct to paper inking using two Altenew Fresh inks in the colors of Navy and Terracotta!  So happy I had those colors.    Once the ink had dried I die cut each piece with a circular and rectangular die (both from Pinkfresh Studio).  I layered them onto a debossed background that has circles on it that my friend, Greta, gave me.  I layered the rectangle flat on the panel and then added layers to the back of the inner rectangle and inserted it into the center.  I then adhered the circle using various layers of foam squares. I finished with the leafy die cut (from Pinkfresh Studio) and a foiled sentiment (Pinkfresh Studio).  Everything makes for a great masculine card or a card for a gal pal who appreciates navy, terracotta and kraft!

That's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Birch Press Design Post

 Hello!  Popping in to let you know that I have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog.  Here is a little peek of what I created:

Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

Jewel Snowflake

 Hello!  Popping in with a card for a few challenges, Freshly Made Sketches, Color Throwdown and Pinkfresh Studio monthly challenge.    For the PFS challenge I went with the theme of a Christmas/holiday card. Take a look at what I made:

A few months ago Pinkfresh Studio had a Christmas/holiday release and they introduced the beautiful Folk Snowflake stamp, stencil and die set of products.  I love a good snowflake and had to get this one.  I had been waiting for the right situation to come along to make something with this set and the color combo from CTD is what set everything in motion.  I just love the beautiful jewel tone colors in the combo and it worked out perfectly that there were three colors (plus gold) and three layers to the snowflake.  I just love the snowflake in those bold colors.  I stenciled the snowflake first using PFS inks in Royal Kiss, Olive and Sapphire, stamped it with the outline stamp and then die cut it.   I had previously die cut the gold rectangle using the PFS Folk Rectangle dies set.  I layered that on a white panel and then used the smaller scalloped rectangle die for the piece I layered the snowflake on.  To make the scalloped rectangle and the snowflake substantial I adhered several layers behind each before adhering them to the panel.  I finished with one gold glitter embellishment to the center of the snowflake and the greeting that I had hot foiled in black a long time ago! 

That's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

hey there...

 Hello!  I'm popping in today to share a simple card I made using a new product from Waffle Flower Crafts.  Waffle Flower was so kind and sent me a package of their brand new Shader 0+ brushes to try out and give my thoughts on.   I used the mood board/color combo from JUGs for my colors and the new Waffle Flower Pop Up Fall Leaves panel die and the coordinating Fall Leaves stencil which Waffle Flower generously sent to me, as well.  

You can see the shader brushes I used on the right hand side of the photo.  How cute are they?  Even though slim in size they fit nicely in your hand.  I die cut a piece of white cardstock with a rectangle die and then die cut the pop up leaves from that.  I selected the following distress ink colors based off the JUGs color palette:  Ripe Persimmon, Wild Honey, Aged Mahagany and Fired Brick.  I layed the stencil on top of the die cut panel and started blending on the ink.  I had initially thought I would blend two ink shades together, but I realized that I could achieve the shaded look I wanted with just one color.   It is very simple shading, but I like the more graphic look that I achieved.    

Because the brushes have a slight slant to them I found that for me what worked best for me was using a stroking motion instead of the usual circular motion that is used with most blending took.  You can blend with them that way it is just that the other way worked better for me.  And even for their small size they pick up a lot of ink.   Waffle Flower also sent me one of their sampler packs to try out.  I hope to have a few more cards to share made with these new brushes.  Life has been a bit of a struggle this past week.  My oldest was in a car accident that thankfully he emerged from with only lacerations, scrapes and bruising.   We are also thankful that he was driving our Subaru.  They have one of the best safety records and now we, as a family, can attest to that!   I think from all the stress I caught the cold my youngest had and that has knocked me for a loop.  I'm feeling better, but still lacking energy or drive!

I finished the card with a Waffle Flower sentiment that I foiled in gold and die cut with the matching die.  

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Birch Press Design Post

 Hello and happy end of June!  I'm popping in to let you know that I have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog today.  Here is a little peek of my card:

I hope you will head over to the blog to see the full card.  Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

Birch Press Design Monday

 Happy Memorial Day to everyone here in the US!   Have a wonderful day relaxing and remembering those who gave their all in service to our country.  My younger son is involved in the JROTC program at his high school and spent Saturday morning in a local cemetery pining flags on the graves of people who served in the military.  Proud momma moment!  

I do have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog today so I hope you will head over there to check it out.  Here is a little peek:

Thanks for stopping by today.  Don't forget to check out my Birch Press post.

two very different cards...

 Hello!  Today I have two very different cards to share.  One is light and bright and the other is rather dramatic.  Let's take a look at the first one.

First up is the rather dramatic looking card.  This one is for the current Sunday Stamps challenge as well as the April Pinkfresh Studio challenge.  The Sunday Stamps challenge is a color challenge and I just fell in love with the bold, dramatic color combo.   Pinkfresh is asking for floral themed cards and I did use at least one color from their color palette:  olive.  I started by foiling the Daisy Wreath with black foil.  Once that was done I stenciled image using the majority of the Sunday Stamps colors.  My greens aren't as dark, but I think that is okay.  All inks used are from Pinkfresh Studio.   The wreath was then die cut with the matching die.  I cut an additional wreath from scrap white cardstock and adhered it to the back of the stenciled one to give it more stability.  The sentiment is a collaboration between Pinkfresh Studio and Scrapbook.com.  I don't know if it is available now.  I have had it for a long time, but I think this is the first time I have used it.  I foiled it using blue foil and die cut it with the matching die.  Additional cuts were made and adhered to the foiled sentiment.  I decided to continue the dramatic look by die cutting dark blue cardstock with the Sparkling Diamond cover plate die.  I then die cut it down further so I would have the white border.  I adhered the wreath and the sentiment and then added some Pinkfresh Studio jewels in Stargazer and Pink to finish the card.  Here is a close up of the foiled sentiment.

Now for my light and bright card!

Even though it doesn't feel like spring in my part of the world the Color Throwdown combo helps remind we that it is in fact spring!  I pulled out my Reverse Confetti Poppies stamp and die set to do some simple stamping.  I'm still sad that Reverse Confetti is no more, but I'm determined to use my stash of RC products.  The hello is from the RC Hello Daisy stamp and die set.   After stamping and die cutting all the elements I arranged them on a simple white cardstock panel and then added some yellow Nuvo drops to the centers of the smaller flowers.   Clean, simple and very different from the first card!

Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

Bold Butterfly - Birch Press Design

 Happy Friday friends!  I have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog today.  Here is a little peek:

I hope you will head over to the Birch Press Design blog to take a look at what I made.  Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

A Spring Post at Birch Press Design

 Hello!  Hope all is well in your part of the world.  I have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog today.  Here is a little peek:

I hope you will head over to the blog to check it out.  Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

two cards...

 Hello!  Popping in with two cards today.  One card is for the Altenew monthly challenge and the other is for the Pinkfresh Studio monthly challenge.  First up is the card for Altenew, take a look. 

The color combo this month for the Altenew challenge was definitely a challenge for me.  But I wanted to take up that challenge because isn't that what challenges are for, lol?   The colors are green and two shades of brown, but there is also a lovely old brick castle featured in the photo so I decided to take some inspiration from that and create a "brick" background for my green leaves.  I created my own stencil using a die that I have that creates a brick background.  I applied light brown ink first through my stencil and then blended on some light gray ink.  The inks I used are Pinkfresh Doe and Altenew Linestone.  I went back and forth between the two colors to get the look I was going for.  I stamped the leaves from the Leaf Canopy stamp set on watercolor cardstock using VersaFine Clair Acorn ink and then watercolored them with two shades of green from my Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolor set.  Once everything was dry I die cut them with the matching dies.  I die cut down my background panel, stamped it with the sentiment from Mega Succulent stamp set with the Acorn ink.  The panel was adhered to the kraft card base with foam strips and then I added the leaf branches.  Now I have a nice masculine birthday card and I'm really happy with how it turned out. 

Now let's have a look at my card for the Pinkfresh Studio monthly challenge.

The last time I ordered from Scrapbook.com they had a free gift opportunity that I couldn't pass up.  I pretty 6x6 pad of paper from Dress My Craft called Hydrangea Lawns.   I decided to use that along with many different Pinkfresh Studio dies for my card.  The Pinkfresh challenge is layers and boy do I have layeres, lol!  I started by die cutting the Modern Mosaic coverplate die from some of the patterned paper.  Using a rectangle die that I have that is the exact same sizes as the cover plate die I die cut a piece of patterned paper with a script design on it and adhered it behind the mosaic panel.  I then die cut another piece of patterned paper with the Fancy Oval frame.  I die cut a second frame and adhered it to the main oval.  I die cut a scalloped rectangle using the Essentials Scalloped rectangle die, adhered that and then added the oval frame.  I added foam squares to the back of the fall out oval and set it back inside the frame.   I had previously foiled some of the Pinkfresh butterflies on acetate and then adhered them to some patterned paper I used two of those on the card along with a sentiment that I foiled in gold on acetate, as well.  Nice to be able to use up some of those bits and pieces we all seem to have!

Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!