Hi, crafty friends! As the holiday season kicks into full swing, I find myself reaching for my favorite festive colors and cozy themes. This week, I created a cheerful coffee-themed card featuring some fabulous products from Miss Ink Stamps. Whether you're a coffee lover, a gnome enthusiast, or just someone who adores a fun, festive card design, this project has a little something for everyone.
I wanted to share my process, the products I used, and a few tips along the way to inspire your next crafting session. Let’s dive in!
Festive Coffee Themed Card:
A Festive Gnome with a Big Mug of Cheer
The centerpiece of this card is the adorable gnome from the Big Mugs Stamp Set. I couldn’t resist coloring him in a traditional red and green palette to embrace the holiday spirit, but with a twist—his mug got a cheerful yellow-green treatment for a pop of unexpected color.
One of my favorite parts of coloring is how it allows you to infuse your personality into a project. I used my Ohuhu Honolulu B Brush Markers (48 set) to bring this little guy to life. If you’re like me and love experimenting with shading, try layering cool gray tones on white areas, like I did for the band of his hat. It gives the illusion of dimension without adding extra color.
Pro Tip: When coloring small details like the gnome’s beard or shoes, use lighter pressure with your markers and keep your strokes short. This helps prevent bleeding and keeps those tiny areas crisp and clean.
Creating a Mug-Inspired Background
For the background, I wanted a design that complemented the coffee theme without overpowering the gnome. The Hugs in a Mug Stencils were perfect for this. Using leftover ink on my Cotton Tail Blending Brushes, I softly blended the first stencil layer to create mugs with a subtle, cozy feel. For the second layer, I added bold details using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. The contrast between the soft mugs and the crisp patterns added so much interest to the card.
Layering the background with the EIEIO Frame Dies brought everything together. I love how these dies include stitched and scalloped details that make your layers feel polished without extra effort. I used green cardstock and black cardstock for layering to tie in the festive theme.
A Little Extra Sparkle and Shine
What’s a holiday card without a little sparkle? For the finishing touches, I stamped coffee bean images from the Coffee Philosophy Stamp Set and heat-embossed them with Frosted Glass Embossing Powder. They turned out so shiny and dimensional—almost good enough to brew!
To make the sentiment stand out, I stamped it on a die-cut half-circle. The sentiment, also from the Coffee Philosophy Stamp Set, tied everything together beautifully. Adding the gnome with foam squares gave the card a fun, dimensional look that makes him pop off the background.
For a little festive flair, I used Stardust Stickles on the gnome’s hat and beard. It’s amazing how just a touch of glitter can make a design feel so magical! I also added some highlights with my trusty Pentel White Milky Pop Gel Pen to bring everything to life.
Pro Tip: When heat embossing small images like the coffee beans, use a fine-tipped pair of tweezers to hold them in place. It keeps your fingers safe and ensures the embossing powder melts evenly.
Why This Card Design Works
This card brings together multiple techniques—stenciling, coloring, heat embossing, and die-cutting—in a way that feels cohesive yet playful. The mix of textures, colors, and patterns adds depth, while the festive palette ties everything together. It’s a great example of how combining a few simple elements can create something that looks much more complex than it is.
If you’re looking for a unique card idea to send to friends or family who love coffee, this design is both fun to make and delightful to receive. Plus, the gnome is so charming, he’s bound to bring a smile to anyone’s face.
Let’s Get Crafting Together
This festive coffee-themed card was such a joy to create, and I hope it sparks some inspiration for your own holiday crafting! If you’ve been eyeing any of the products I used, like the Big Mugs Stamp Set or the Hugs in a Mug Stencils, I highly recommend giving them a try—they’re versatile, fun, and perfect for holiday projects.
I’d love to hear how you incorporate festive themes into your cards. What color combos are you loving this year? Drop a comment or tag me on social media so I can see your creations. And if you want to watch how this card came together, be sure to check out the video tutorial linked below.
Happy crafting, friends!
Festive Coffee Gnome Card Video Tutorial:
If you have problems watching the video here on my blog you can always watch it on my YouTube Channel by Clicking here!
(Wondering what I used in this video? Everything is linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post, or in the text below. Compensated affiliate links used when possible). As always I appreciate your support of my videos!
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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