Sizzix - Right as Rain

Tim Holtz | Cozy Winter Bear Card

Hello! Sometimes the simplest projects are the most enjoyable. For this card, I revisited some of my favorite Tim Holtz dies and embossing folder to create a winter scene. The focal point is a die-cut bear bundled in a scarf, holding a steaming beverage, paired with the playful “BRRR” sentiment. By using products I already love, the process was relaxing and creativity flowed without overthinking. This card is a quiet acceptance that winter is sticking around a bit longer.

- To begin, spray a watercolor cardstock panel with Tumbled Glass spray. Once dry, dry-emboss with the Simple Snowflakes folder and attach to an A2-size card base.
- Use the Tree Line die to cut white cardstock. The die cuts along the bottom. In order to lengthen, align the plates so that the bottom edge does not cut. Trim and add to the prepared base.
- Spray watercolor cardstock with Mermaid Lagoon spray. Once dry, cut the sentiment with letters in the Seasonal Sketch set. Add to letters cut from foam. Add the sentiment to the base.
- Cut the bear with dies in the Cozy Winter set from soft-finish cardstock. Color with Distress Oxide inks and assemble.
- Add the bear to the card with foam adhesive.
- Embellish with snowflakes cut with a die in the Festive Things set.

Retired Tim Holtz products: Cozy Winter, Tree Line, Simple Snowflakes embossing folder

Tim Holtz | Mixed-Media Christmas Tags

Hello! Today I’m sharing three mixed-media Christmas tags that spotlight Tim Holtz stamps, stencils, and die sets. What started as a simple plan to make a few monoprint backgrounds quickly turned into an hours-long creative rabbit hole. I could have kept going indefinitely! Each tag ended up with a background created in a different way, and I’ll walk through those variations in the post.

All three tags feature Christmas Minis die-cuts, each set against a stenciled monoprint background. The base tags and sentiment tags were cut with dies in the now-retired Tag Collection set 658784.

For the Santa tag, I created the monoprint with the Tiny Holly stencil and Antique Linen Distress Spray. Once dry, I inked the leaves and berries and added Sparkle paste.

For the Gingerbread Boy tag, I created the monoprint with the Hollyberry stencil in the Mini Stencils Set 54. Once dry, I inked the leaves and berries.

For the Snowman tag, I created the monoprint with Fresh Balsam Mica Spray and the Pines stencil in the Mini Stencil Set 32. Once dry, I added white Texture Paste Opaque.

For the sentiment tags, I clear heat-embossed Tiny Text Christmas images stamped with Lumberjack Plaid ink and added them (once cut with the aforementioned Sizzix tag die) with Peppermint Twine.

Tim Holtz | Vintage Holiday Card

Hello! Today’s card leans into the vintage style of Tim Holtz, which is a departure from my usual look. I used the Tim Holtz sled die as the focal point, cutting it from cardstock that I inked and distressed for a worn, mixed media feel. The snowflake-embossed background adds texture, and the “Merry and Bright” sentiment brings in holiday cheer. I loved playing with layers, texture, and inky color to create that signature Tim Holtz weathered charm.

- Dry-emboss and A2-size panel of textured cardstock with a snowflake embossing folder. I used the now-retired Sizzix Tim Holtz Simple Snowflakes 662432 folder. Add to card base.
- Cut the Vintage Sled from a variety of cardstock colors and textures. Assemble.
- Stamp the Tiny Text Christmas sentiment in Potting Soil ink on off-white cardstock that has been colored with Antique Linen ink. Cut with a banner die.
- Add assembled sled to the card base with foam adhesive. Add sentiment to sled with foam adhesive.

Christmas Trend – Snowmen

Hello! Today I am sharing a wrap-up of cards created in the past several months featuring snowmen (snow people) die sets, which were introduced this past fall. I used snowmen more than any other holiday motif (focal item) this year.

Did you identify any strong Christmas cardmaking themes or trends? The farmhouse Christmas trend – Buffalo check and the red pickup truck – is still holding on, along with gnomes and poinsettias; however, I did not see anything new arrive on the scene this year. I spoke to the seasonal buyer at our grocery store about Christmas trends, (they carry an amazing number of seasonal items, as it is an independent store), and we speculated that the pandemic, and its uncertainty for retail, impacted the creation of a new trend (which would have had to have been created a year ago for this season).

My snowmen cards for Christmas 2022 – click on the photo for the original post.

Tim Holtz | Mixed Media Poinsettias

Hello! Today, I am sharing a mixed media Christmas card created with several Tim Holtz products including the Festive Bouquet die set. The items for which I have listed product links below are in bold.

To begin, I sprayed Watercolor paper with Distress Ink Sprays in Barn Door, Mowed Lawn, and Mustard Seed. I like the vibrancy of the Distress Ink Sprays. I have never used Distress Ink Oxide Sprays, although I have some in one of my online shopping carts!
Once the watercolor paper was dry, I cut the poinsettia pieces with the Festive Bouquet die set and assembled the elements.
I stamped the Simple Sayings sentiment in Potting Soil on off-white cardstock that has flecks in it. (I am not sure where I got this cardstock from; it might have been My Favorite Things in a sample pack.)
I trimmed the sentiment panel and added it to a Paper Bag card base.
I adhered the poinsettias and greenery to the card front.