Blog Archives

Lots of Large Cosmos

7/17/2023

Hello today I am on the Birch Press Design blog sharing three 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 multiple 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!

XO, Crystal

Supplies used:

You might also enjoy:

0 Comments

Jump In. . . The Water's Fine

7/14/2023

0 Comments

Thank you all for following along for Shark Week 2023! I hope you've found the cards and theme fun. Today I will be sharing my final shark card before moving onto to other summer goodness.

My final card is a shaker card made using the Surf Shark stamp set from Whimsy Stamps.

Card details:

*All supplies are linked at the end of this post for you convenience.

The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Next I cut a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of the same white cardstock and use the A2 Antique Frames die set by Whimsy Stamps to cut the hole in the middle of the card. Behind the frame I placed a sheet of paper from the Slimline Under the Sea paper pack (cut to fit). I lined the back of the frame with 3M foam adhesive to created height for the shaker card. I placed about 2 tablespoons of sequins behind the frame before adhering it tightly.

I stamped the Surf Shark in Memento Tuxedo black ink on Neenah White cardstock. I colored it using Copic Markers and then fussy cut the image out. I adhered the image to the card using 3M foam adhesive for dimension. I also put a layer of Nuvo Crystal Glaze on the image to make it look wet and shiny.

On a thin strip of white cardstock, I stamped the sentiment in Memento Tuxedo black ink. I notched the right end before adhering it to the top left of the card. On a scrap piece of white cardstock, I also stamped the sentiment "duh duh" in blue ink and then used the Comic Speech Bubbles die set from Whimsy Stamps to die cut the sentiment. I adhered the speech bubble above the shark using 3M foam.

Thanks for following along for Shark Week 2023! Have a wonderfully creative weekend!

XO, Crystal

Supplies used:

You might also enjoy:

0 Comments

Shark Week!

7/12/2023

0 Comments

Shark Week 2023 continues today with a special Shark Week Instagram Hop! So, please head on over to my Instagram to see all the other amazing shark themed cards that were created for this event from a variety of designers. Plus, there are some jawsome prizes for all who hop along with us!

Here is the card that I created for today's Instagram hop:

Card details:

*All supplies that I used are linked at the end of this post for you convenience.

The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I then cut a 5 1/4 x 4" piece of the same white cards and using the Wavy Nested Frame dies by Whimsy Stamps, I cut a large hole using the 2nd largest Wavy Nested Frame die in the center of the cardstock. I placed a sheet of ocean themed paper from the Slimline Under the Sea paper pack behind the Wavy Nested Frame die.

I created a blue alcohol ink background on white Yupo paper, using Glacier Ranger Adirondack alcohol ink by Tim Holtz. Once that dried, I die cut the letters "shark week" using the Bold ABC letter dies from Whimsy Stamps. I also die cut these letters three times from white cardstock to layer them for thickness (and a slight shadow peeking out from behind the blue letters). I adhered the die cut letters to the center of the card.

I stamped one of the shark images and the girl on the inner tube from the Snark Attack stamp set from Whimsy Stamps. I fussy cut the images and then colored them with Copic Markers. I adhered the images to the card with 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. Lastly, I added a layer of Nuvo Crystal Glaze to make it look like the images were wet.

Happy Shark Week friends! Be sure to come back on Friday for my final shark themed card!

XO, Crystal

Supplies used:

0 Comments

Duh Nuh

7/10/2023

0 Comments

Hello chum and welcome to Shark Week 2023 here on my website! I've got some jawsome cards to share with you over the next few days featuring a variety of shark themed products, so let's get swimming. . . if you dare! : )

This card features the Snark Attack stamp set from Whimsy Stamps and an aqua alcohol ink background amidst the words "duh nuh" (aka the theme music from "Jaws.")

Card details:

*All supplies are linked at the end of this post for you convenience.

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 white cardstock with an oval shaped die cut hole in the middle. On a separate sheet of 5" x 3 1/2" Yupo paper, I created an alcohol ink smooshed background with Turquoise alcohol ink from Tim Holtz. Once the background dried, I adhered it behind the die cut oval.

Using the Bold ABC letter dies from Whimsy Stamps, I die cut the letter "DUH NUH" from teal cardstock. I die cut the letters three times each in order for me to stack them for dimension (in lieu of foam adhesive). I adhered the letters across the center of the card. I stamped the two sharks in Memento Tuxedo black ink and colored them using Copic Markers. I added a layer of Crystal Effects over the sharks to give the appearance they were wet or shiny. I then adhered the sharks to the card using 3M foam adhesive for dimension. Lastly, I stamped the sentiment "tourist season is my favorite" in Memento Tuxedo black ink on thin strips of white cardstock. I adhered the sentiment strip (after cutting it in half to fit) to the lower right side of the card with foam adhesive.

I hope you'll come back tomorrow for another shark card in honor or Shark Week 2023!

XO, Crystal

Supplies used:

You might also enjoy:

0 Comments

Patriotic Balloon Easel Card

7/4/2023

0 Comments

Happy 4th of July friends! Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog with this red, white and blue patriotic themed balloon easel card.

*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!

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.

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.

Thanks for visiting and enjoy your 4th festivities!

XO, Crystal

Supplies used:

You might also enjoy:

0 Comments

Happy 4th of July

7/3/2023

0 Comments

Well. . . technically it's only the 3rd of July, so happy 3rd of July! : ) We're just extending the celebrations here! But, be sure to come back tomorrow for another patriotic themed card with a fun easel fold.

Card details:

*All supplies are linked at the end of this post for your convenience.

This slimline card measures 8 1/2" x 3 1/2" and is designed to fit inside a regular #10 business sized envelope. As with all my cards, I use 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock for the card base (and nearly everything else too). Using the Slimline Stars Background die from Whimsy Stamps, I die cut it twice, once from red cardstock and once from blue cardstock. I then cut each slimline panel down the middle and assembled the card half red and half blue.

I die cut the "Happy 4th" sentiment using the Bold ABC letter dies also from Whimsy Stamps. I die cut these letter from silver glitter cardstock. I also die cut the letters three times from white cardstock to stack them for dimension (in lieu of foam adhesive which can get costly). Lastly, I stamped the sentiment in red ink and notched both ends before adhering it below the silver letters.

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

Supplies used:

0 Comments

USA Celebrate

7/1/2023

0 Comments

Happy July friends! Over the next few days I'll be sharing a couple cards that are patriotic/hero inspired cards in a red, white and blue color theme. With a few simple modifications any of these cards could be used for 4th of July, Veteran's or Memorial Day, or to celebrate heroes in the fields of firefighting and law enforcement.

Card details:

*All supplies are linked at the end of this post for you convenience.

This A2 sized card was made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using the Slimline Stars Background Die from Whimsy Stamps, I die cut two sheets of cardstock, one in red and the other in blue. I then took all the tiny cut out stars in varying sizes from the die and adhered them to a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of white cardstock. Using a liquid adhesive (Lineco glue) I adhered red stars on the top of the cardstock and blue stars on the bottom.

I cut a piece of vellum cardstock measuring 4 1/4" x 3 1/2" inches and I adhere it to the center of the card with vellum adhesive. I die cut the letters "USA" using the Bold ABC letter dies from Whimsy Stamp in gold glitter cardstock. I also die cut the same letters three times from white cardstock in order to stack them (in lieu of foam adhesive). I adhered the letters to the center of the vellum with liquid adhesive. Lastly, I stamped the "celebrate" sentiment in blue ink on white cardstock, notched both edges and adhered it to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

Supplies used:

0 Comments

Lots of Large Cosmos

XO, Crystal

Supplies used:

You might also enjoy:

Jump In. . . The Water's Fine

Card details:

XO, Crystal

Supplies used:

You might also enjoy:

Shark Week!

Card details:

XO, Crystal

Supplies used:

Duh Nuh

Card details:

XO, Crystal

Supplies used:

You might also enjoy:

Patriotic Balloon Easel Card

XO, Crystal

Supplies used:

You might also enjoy:

Happy 4th of July

Card details:

XO, Crystal

Supplies used:

USA Celebrate

Card details:

XO, Crystal

Supplies used:

Hi, I'm Crystal!

Archives:

Categories:

Disclaimer:

Disclosure:

Lots of Large Cosmos

XO, Crystal ​

Supplies used:

​You might also enjoy:

Jump In. . . The Water's Fine

Card details:

XO, Crystal

​Supplies used:

You might also enjoy:

Shark Week!

Card details:

XO, Crystal

Supplies used:

Duh Nuh

Card details:

XO, Crystal

Supplies used:

You might also enjoy:

Patriotic Balloon Easel Card

XO, Crystal ​

Supplies used:

You might also enjoy:

Happy 4th of July

Card details:

XO, Crystal

​Supplies used:

USA Celebrate

Card details:

XO, Crystal

​Supplies used:

Hi, I'm Crystal!

Archives:

Categories:

Disclaimer:

Disclosure:

XO, Crystal

You might also enjoy:

Supplies used:

XO, Crystal

Supplies used:

Supplies used: