Category: Birch Press Design - Crystal Komara

Jolly Herbarium Layering Plate

9/27/2022

Hello crafty readers! Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog and I am so excited to be sharing a card made using the beautiful new Herbarium Layering Plates. This 3-piece full cover layering plate set is my favorite from this latest holiday release from Birch Press Design!

Swoon! Honestly, it's just gorgeous if I do say so myself! With a mixture of mint green and teal cardstocks with a splash of gold glitter paper in the sentiment, it's just pure holiday elegance!

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I die cut Layer A of the Herbarium Layering Plate from white cardstock. I die cut Layer B from mint cardstock and Layer C from a darker teal green cardstock. These beautiful colors are from the 6" x 6" Fresh Aqua paper pack. I layered all three layers together with a fine-tip liquid glue. I placed the layers underneath a heavy book to let them dry well and dry flat.

I die cut the word "jolly" from the Jolly Honey Script word die. I die cut the bottom shadow layer from the same darker teal green cardstock and the top outline layer from gold glitter cardstock. I adhered the two layers of the sentiment together and then adhered them to the card using Scotch 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. Lastly, I added a couple red rhinestones as the berries on the card.

I really, really, love how this card came out! In fact, I know that I'll be trying to recreate it in a variety of color combinations.
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

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Fall Classic Wreath

9/19/2022

Hello crafty readers! Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog sharing some fall themed cards using the Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp set and coordinating dies.

I created all three of these A2 sized cards the exact same way, I simply alternated some of the background papers and ink colors. All of the beautiful plaid background papers are from the Madras Plaid Coral 6" x 6" paper pack from Memory Box Co, a sister-organization of Birch Press Design.

Card details:

The base of each A2 sized card was made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I then cut a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of the plaid paper and adhered it directly to the card base. I die cut a rectangular piece of white cardstock and stamped my sentiment at the bottom in orange, brown or olive ink. All of the sentiments came from the same Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp set.

I heat embossed the leaves of the wreath with gold embossing powder and then used the coordinating die to cut the wreath out. I adhered the wreath to the card using Scotch 3M adhesive for added dimension. I tied a little bit of gold baker's twine to the corner of each wreath for added texture. Lastly, I added a couple clear rhinestones for sparkle.

I hope you have enjoyed these cards and are inspired to create some of your own using this Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp set, or any of the other wonderful products from Birch Press Design!

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

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Autumn Breeze Twist

9/7/2022

Hello readers! Happy September, and welcome to the beginning of fall, my favorite time of the year. Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog sharing a unique way to use the Autumn Breeze Layer Plate.

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 and ran it through my Big Shot using the Memory Box Blooming 3D embossing folder. I adhered this to the card base. I cut a 5 1/2" x 1" strip of decorative Madras Plaid coral paper for the bottom of the card. I cut a 5 1/2" x 1/2" strip of gold glitter paper above the plaid paper for contrast.

Using Layer Plate B of the Autumn Breeze Layering Plates, I ran the plate through my Big Shot multiple using white cardstock, burgundy cardstock, rust cardstock and the same Madras Coral plaid cardstock. Using the stitched leaf cutout pieces only, I adhered them in a line across the center of the card.

I stamped the sentiment "you inspire kindness" in cherry ink on white cardstock. This stamp is from the Awesome Ticker Tape clear stamp set. I adhered the sentiment to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

Ooh, I just can't wait to create more fall themed cards. I'm here for all the cozy sweater vibes and yes, even the PSL (pumpkin spiced lattes) too! ; )

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

More Monochrome

8/25/2022

Hello friends, today I am back again for another monochomatic card! Apparently sticking to one color when creating seems to be "m.o." : ) If you missed any of my monochromatic posts, please check out this trio of thank you cards, the Christmas mandala trees or these monochromatic torus rings (a personal favorite of mine)!

What's great about working with monochrome colors is that if blue isn't your color, try recreating it in red, or purple or green. The options are endless!

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 white cardstock and ran it through my Big Shot using the Blooming 3D embossing folder from Memory Box. This embossed cardstock is the first layer of the card. I then used alternating pieces of cardstock from the 6" x 6" Ocean Blue paper pack. These strips measure 5 1/2" x 1/4". I used the same color cardstock to create the three layer Floral Star. I also added in a piece of glitter cardstock from the Twinkling Jewel Paper pack. I die cut Layer B from this glitter cardstock. I adhered all three layers of the Floral Star layering dies together with liquid glue.

I took a chance and cut the finished Floral Star in half hoping to make it the focal point of the card. I stamped "hello" in turquoise ink on a thin white strip of cardstock and placed it between the two halves of the Floral Star. I think it pulled the two halves together more cohesively.

I really like how this card came out, in fact, I think I'll try it in a few other colors too!
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

Purple Wispy Blooms

8/5/2022

Hello friends! Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog 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.

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

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Rainbow Floral Star

7/25/2022

Hello readers and happy Monday! Welcome back from the weekend! Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog today sharing a cheerful rainbow themed card made using just layer plate B of the Floral Star Layering dies.

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 white cardstock and ran it through my Big Shot using the Memory Box Blooming 3D embossing folder. This is one of my favorite embossing folders as the detail is impeccable and the result is always gorgeous.

I cut 5 1/2" x 1/4" strips of cardstock in a rainbow array of colors. I adhered the strips of cardstock down the center of the card. I die cut Layer B of the Floral Star Layering dies from white cardstock. I then fussy cut small pieces of the colored cardstock and adhered it behind sections of the flora star to continue the rainbow theme. I adhered the floral star to the center of the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

Lastly, using the Lingo Thanks stamp set, I stamped the "you mean the world to me" sentiment in Versamark ink on black cardstock. I heat embossed the words with white embossing powder. I adhered this thin sentiment strip across the center of the card.

I love creating rainbow themed cards, I just find them so colorful and uplifting.
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

Watercolor Meets Heat Foil

7/5/2022

Hello crafty readers! I'm excited to be sharing the first two cards I created using the new String Art Frame Hot Foil plate from Birch Press Design. 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!

XO, Crystal

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Tropical Hibiscus

6/8/2022

Hello crafty readers! Today I am so excited to be sharing my first card(s) created with the beautiful new Tropical Hibiscus Contour Layering Dies from Birch Press Design. I am so in love with this spring's new release of the contour layering dies, they are just g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s! If you missed some of my previous posts using similar dies, check out this post where I used the Star Flower Contour Layering Dies, or, this one where I used the Wispy Blooms Contour Layering Dies. The options are truly endless when it comes to adding colored (and foil or glitter) cardstock with these dies.

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. This is my go-to cardstock for e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g from card bases, die cutting, ink blending, Copic coloring, digital stamps and so much more. It is the only white cardstock (aside from watercolor paper) that I used. For the first layer, I cut a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of white cardstock and used the Blooming 3D Embossing Folder from Birch Press Designs' sister company, Memory Box. To create the flowers, I die cut the Tropical Hibiscus Contour Layering dies from various shades of pink cardstock found in the Berry Red 6" paper pack.

I die cut the pistils or stigma of the flowers from yellow cardstock in the Sunny Orange 6" paper pack. Lastly, I cut the leaves (also from the Tropical Hibiscus Contour Layering dies) from two different colored green cardstock found in the Lush Green 6" paper pack. I assembled the layers of each flower and leaf together using a fine-tip glue. Then I adhered all of the flowers to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I stamped the sentiment "sending birthday hugs" in pink ink. This sentiment is from the Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp set. I used a 2" circle punch to punch out the circle before adhering to the card.

Because I had die cut so many flowers and leaves, I created a second card, only this time I used black cardstock as the base for the flowers (in lieu of white). I love a black background with floral cards, it really allows the colors to pop! I also swapped out the sentiment and used "celebrate today" from the same Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp set.

I hope you have enjoyed these very detailed beautiful new Contour Layering dies from Birch Press Design. Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

Classic Sentimental Wreath

5/23/2022

Hello readers! Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog and while I know there is a beautiful new release of the hot foils in the shop right now, I always love to use some of the "oldies but goodies." Everyone seems to always get caught up in what's the newest or latest and greatest product, but SOooo many of us haven't even used what we already own, so that's what I've been working on this month. Today's card features the beautiful Classic Sentimental Wreath stamp set and coordinating dies.

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. On a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of white cardstock, I embossed it using the Blooming 3D embossing folder from Memory Box (a sister company to BPD). You guys, this folder is absolutely gorgeous! I cut a scalloped rectangle from white cardstock.

On a piece of lush green cardstock, I stamped the wreath first in pale green ink and then the leaf layers in lime green ink. I used the coordinating die to cut the wreath out. I adhered the wreath to the scalloped rectangle using 3M foam adhesive. I stamped two of the flower sprigs in purple ink and used the die to cut them out as well. I adhered the two floral sprigs to the wreath and then I tied a small bow with lilac ribbon and adhered the bow to the card using a glue dot. I stamped the sentiment "thank for everything" in Memento Tuxedo black ink. This sentiment is also part of the Classic Sentiment Wreath stamp set.

This is one of those cards that I say can be used for every type of occasion. I could easily swap out the sentiment for a sympathy, birthday or get well expression and create a variety of quick and elegant cards. I hope you have enjoyed the simplicity of today's card. Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

Butterfly Basics

5/18/2022

Hello readers! Today I am on the Birch Press Design blog sharing a slimline card made using the Butterfly Basics die set. I have owned this beautiful die set for a while and for as much as I love butterflies, I can't believe I hadn't used it yet! So, while there is a whole new gorgeous release of products (to include foils!) from Birch Press Design, today I'm going back to the (butterfly) basics.

Card details:

The base of this slimline card is made from 80 lb. Neenah Solar White smooth cardstock. This slimline card measures 8 1/2' x 3 1/2' and will fit inside a regular #10 business sized envelope and, as such, requires no additional postage. I used a slimline die to create the first matted background. Using the Butterfly Basics die, I cut the large open base frame from solid cardstock. I used four primary colors (pink, blue, yellow and green). I used the following pads of cardstock: Lush Green, Berry Red, Sunny Orange, Fresh Aqua. I die cut the middle portion of the butterfly from glitter cardstock. I used the Glitzy Glitter 6 x 6" pad.

I adhered the butterfly basic together with LineCo ph neutral bookbinding glue. This is my favorite liquid adhesive and it works well when holding glitter cardstock to other paper. I die cut the butterfly bodies from black cardstock. After adhering all the individual butterflies together, I adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.

I really like the bold and bright colors of these butterflies. Due to their slightly larger dimension size, I felt like putting them on a slimline card would showcase more colors. I hope you like today's fun card! Thank you for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal