As the weather cools and the holiday season approaches, I find myself drawn to creating unique, heartfelt cards that bring joy to loved ones. There’s something magical about sending out handmade Christmas cards—it’s a way to share a little piece of your creativity and joy. Today, I’m excited to share a project that combines both simplicity and a fun surprise: a Christmas fun fold card featuring the delightful Heaven And Nature Stamp Set from Pajama Crafter Stamps.
Easy Christmas Fun Fold:
Card Design Inspiration
When I sat down to create this card, I knew I wanted to use a classic color palette that screams Christmas. Cranberry Cardstock from Concord & 9th was the perfect choice for the base—rich, deep, and full of festive warmth. To complement it, I chose a patterned paper from the Christmas Time 6 x 6 Pattern Paper Pad by Echo Park, featuring cardinals and Christmas foliage. The moment I saw this paper, it reminded me of the winter scenes from my childhood, where the sight of a bright red cardinal against a snowy backdrop always brought a sense of wonder.
One thing I’ve learned over the years is how important it is to select a color palette that not only fits the season but also ties together all the elements of your card. It’s like choosing the right ingredients for a recipe—each one plays a crucial role in the final product.
Pro Tip: When selecting your color combinations, think about the mood you want to convey. For a traditional Christmas feel, stick with rich reds, greens, and golds. If you’re going for something more modern, try incorporating unexpected colors like teal or soft pink.
Creating the Fun Fold
Now, let’s talk about the fun fold. I love adding an interactive element to my cards, and this design is both easy to execute and impressive to look at. The fun fold is essentially an extra flap on the front of your card that opens to reveal a hidden message or image. It adds a touch of whimsy without complicating the process too much.
For this card, I started with a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" of Cranberry Cardstock, scored at 4 1/4" to create a standard A2 card. I then added a piece of Cranberry Cardstock, 3 1/4" x 8 1/2" scored and folded at 4 1/4" to create the fun fold. Layering patterned paper on this fold adds depth and interest—plus, it’s a great way to use up those smaller scraps of paper you might have lying around.
Pro Tip: When creating fun folds, precision in scoring is key. A slightly crooked fold can throw off the entire design, so take your time and make sure your lines are straight. I like to use a bone folder to get a crisp edge—it makes a world of difference!
Focal Point and Embellishments
The focal point of this card is the stunning Christmas Lantern with Poinsettias and a Cardinal from the Heaven And Nature Stamp Set. I’ve always had a soft spot for cardinals—they remind me of the holidays and those rare moments of peace in the midst of winter. I stamped the image in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink onto Neenah Solar White 80 lb cardstock and colored it with my Ohuhu Oahu Markers. The rich, vibrant hues of the markers really brought the image to life, and I was thrilled with how it turned out.
Fussy cutting the images was a bit time-consuming, but it’s one of those tasks I find oddly therapeutic. There’s something satisfying about carefully trimming away the excess paper to reveal the perfectly shaped image. Once cut, I adhered the images to the front of the fun fold, arranging them to create a cozy holiday scene.
Pro Tip: For fussy cutting, use a small, sharp pair of scissors to get clean, precise cuts. It’s worth investing in a good pair of scissors—you’ll notice the difference immediately.
Sentiments and Finishing Touches
For the sentiments, I wanted to keep things traditional but still eye-catching. I stamped the front panel sentiment in Lumberjack Plaid Distress Oxide Ink—this shade of red pairs beautifully with the Cranberry Cardstock and ties the whole design together. Inside the card, I added another sentiment stamped over the Christmas Lantern image in Cracked Pistachio Distress Oxide Ink. The light color allows you to write over it, while still giving the inside of the card a finished look.
To finish off the card, I added a few white gel pen highlights to the images. This is one of my favorite tricks for adding dimension and interest to stamped images. It’s a simple step, but it really makes the images pop and gives them a polished, professional look.
Pro Tip: White gel pen highlights can add that extra bit of “wow” to your cards. Try adding them to the edges of your images or where the light would naturally hit to create a sense of depth.
This Christmas fun fold card is a wonderful way to spread holiday cheer. It’s simple enough for beginners but has that special touch that makes it stand out. I hope you’re inspired to try this design for yourself, using your favorite holiday-themed stamps and papers.
Thanks for dropping by today I hope that you found a little spark of creative inspiration with my project today. Wondering what I used in this project? Everything is linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails in the Materials Used section, or in the text below. Compensated affiliate links used when possible.
Materials Used:
Here you will find the list of supplies that I used to create today's card. All supplies are linked to supply sources below. Compensated affiliate links may be used at no cost to you.
Happy Stampin'
Rick Adkins
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