Christmas - Right as Rain

Simon Hurley | Deck the Halls

Hello! Today, I’m sharing a festive card created with Simon Hurley’s layering stencil – Mod Christmas Trees. This design features three inked Christmas trees adorned with gold decorations, adding depth and shimmer. The “Deck the Halls” sentiment ties the design together, complementing the trio of decorated trees.

- Create an A-2 size card base from Pomegranate cardstock.
- Stencil the first layer of trees with Later Gator green ink.
- Next, add Rustic Wilderness ink to all three trees with the half tree portion of the Mod Christmas Trees stencil.
- Stencil gold pigment ink (I used Color Box) through the stencil for the tree trunks.
- Next add the three gold pastes (left to right) – Slippery When Wet Astro Paste, Slippery when Wet Lunar Paste, and Golden Hour Solar Paste. Once dry, trim the panel and mat with gold cardstock. Add assembly to card base.

- Glimmer foil the Joyful Christmas Sentiments plate in Matte Gold and cut with the coordinating die. Add to the card with foam square adhesive.

This Clean and Simple card design shines with its simplicity, but achieving that effortless look takes attention to detail and a steady hand.

Snow Much Fun | Waffle Flower

Hello! Today, I am sharing a winter-themed, holiday card created with one of the Postage Collage stencils offered at Waffle Flower. I have seen creations with these stencils for months now and wanted to give the products a try. The Waffle Flower Postage Collage Snowy stencil set makes it easy to layer winter mountain scenes with its multi-part stencil design. You can customize the colors for a different look, and the “stamps” can be separated for more creative possibilities.

- To begin, I swatched a number of different inks in my collection looking for purple, red, two shades of green, and two shades of blue. Knowing which inks I would use for the elements saved a lot of time. Scroll for the entire list of inks I used.
- I cut the stenciled scenes with the Postage Collage die. Next time I will probably cut the cardstock first and then stencil. If you have used these products, what did you do – stencil first or cut the collage first?
- I finished the card with one of the Snow Cheer Sentiments, which I cut with its coordinating die. I was particularly impressed that the sentiments are numbered on the packaging and the coordinating dies are etched with the corresponding number. All in all, I was very impressed with all of the Waffle Flower packaging.

Ink List – Mountains: Taylored Expressions Jelly Donut; Sky: Distress Ink Tumbled Glass; Lake: Taylored Expressions Sprinkles; Trees: Simon Hurley Later Gator, Distress Ink Rustic Wilderness; Cardinals: Memento Love Letter, Distress Ink Aged Mahogany, Distress Ink Black Soot

Christmas Window Scene for 52CCT Challenge

Hello! This week’s 52 Christmas Card Throwdown Challenge provided the perfect opportunity to create a festive holiday card using the August Sketch Challenge graphic as inspiration.

My design showcases a cozy window scene with die-cut shutters framing a decorated Christmas tree. A patterned paper background and intricate snowflake borders add seasonal charm, while the “Merry Christmas” sentiment completes the look. Let’s dive into the details of this cheerful creation!

- Cover A-2 card base with patterned paper.
- Cut the Snow Flurries Backdrop from Snowdrift cardstock and add to card front.
- With the Wonderful Windows die, cut the window and shutters from a variety of cardstock colors.
- Cut the Christmas tree from green cardstock. I used a now-retired Memory Box die (Frosted Christmas tree) and inked with Rustic Wilderness ink to create more contrast.
- Trim the bottom of the tree, add to a yellow cardstock panel (SU So Saffron), and attach the assembly to the back of the window with foam adhesive. Attach the assembled shutters and add gold latches. Decorate the tree with adhesive pearls and gold circles (I used a die in the Wonderful Windows set). Attach the window and shutters to the card front with dot adhesive.
- Press the Merry & Bright sentiment in Geranium ink on Snowdrift cardstock and cut with the coordinating die in the set. Add to the card with foam adhesive.

If you’re feeling inspired, head over to the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown Challenge site and join in—create your own card and share it with the community!

Elegant Christmas Card with Bells

Hello! This elegant Christmas card features die-cut bells framed by a label die, creating a festive focal point. Embellished with holly sprigs and tied with a gold ribbon, the card is finished with a timeless seasonal greeting.

- Stamp Snowflake Pattern with Memento Toffee Crunch ink on kraft cardstock for a tone-on-tone effect. Trim to A2-size and add to a card base.
- Heat-emboss the sentiment (SU Tidings & Trimmings) in gold on a red cardstock panel. I have had this stamp set for many years and never used it.
- Cut a frame with the largest die in the Classy Frames set from soft-white cardstock. Trim the sentiment panel to fit within the frame and glue the frame to the sentiment panel. Add assembly to the card front.
- Cut gold cardstock with the Christmassy set to create two bells. Add Potting Soil ink to the bells to create depth. Archival ink is permanent. I tried used Distress Ink (non-permanent) and it did not stay on the gold cardstock.
- Cut greenery with dies in the Christmassy set and assemble.
- I tied the bells together with ribbon (Crinkle Ribbon by Tim Holtz Idea-ology), which I dyed with Tarnished Brass Distress Spray. It appears that this ribbon is no longer made. I have used the ribbon several times in the past.

This card combines both new and older products, showing how timeless designs can work together.

Die-Cut Staircase Christmas Card

Hello! There’s joy in breathing new life into older crafting supplies, and this Christmas card is a perfect example. With timeless Poppystamps dies, I created a nostalgic scene that exudes cozy charm. The patterned paper mimicking vintage wallpaper, cream cardstock for the staircase, and rich red accents capture the essence of a classic home. A die-cut staircase adorned with garland and stockings, a faithful dog resting on the floor, and a textured ground created with the Penny Black Allover Stitches embossing folder all come together seamlessly. This card demonstrates how older products can still craft something truly magical.

I cut the Poppystamps Elegant Stair Frame from Memory Box Woodgrain Paper in Cream. The dry-embossed ground is SU Cherry Cobbler, which coordinated with the patterned paper I used for the sentiment and stockings. I cut the dog from SU More Mustard.

Poppystamps Dies (now retired): Patient Pup, Elegant Stair Frame, Leafy Garland, Stocking Garland