Hello, crafty friends! As the holiday season approaches, I find myself diving deeper into the festive spirit, and what better way to channel that energy than through card making? Today, I’m thrilled to share my latest design for Day 13 of the Holiday Card Series 2024. This card combines elegant die-cut layering, ink blending, and just a touch of sparkle, featuring the Lovely Layers Poinsettia Dies, St. Nick Stamp Set, and coordinating dies from Honeybee Stamps. Let’s get into what makes this card so special!
Holly Jolly Poinsettia Card:
Inspiration Behind the Design
Poinsettias always remind me of Christmas mornings growing up. My mom loved having a poinsettia plant on the table, and its vibrant red petals paired with lush green leaves became a symbol of the season for me. When I saw the Lovely Layers Poinsettia Dies, I knew I had to incorporate that memory into a card. The dimensional layers these dies create allowed me to mimic the beauty of a real poinsettia while adding my own creative flair.
Bringing the Poinsettia to Life
For the poinsettia, I started with smooth cardstock from the Jolly Smooth Cardstock Paper Pad. Using Copic markers (R89, R59, R29), I added shading to the red layers. Here’s a pro tip: working in small circular motions with your darkest shade first helps build depth and prevents harsh lines. The leaves and center pieces were inked with Distress Oxide Inks, giving them a soft, natural gradient. Once all the pieces were assembled, the poinsettia truly became the star of this design.
Creating a Subtle Background
Backgrounds can make or break a card, and for this design, I wanted something that complemented the poinsettia without overshadowing it. Using an arch die, I cut the center out of a piece of Neenah 80 lbs cardstock. The arch created a beautiful focal point while leaving room for additional details. Iced Spruce Distress Oxide Ink added a soft, wintry feel around the arch and slightly outside it. The blend was subtle but impactful, drawing the eye toward the center of the card.
Sentiments with a Creative Twist
The St. Nick Stamp Set has some of the most versatile holiday sentiments I’ve seen. To add texture and dimension, I used first- and second-generation stamping with Iced Spruce. This technique gave the card a layered look, almost like faint echoes of the sentiment in the background. For the main sentiment, I heat embossed it in white on a scrap of cardstock and used the coordinating die to cut it out. This added a crisp, polished touch to the design.
Finishing Touches that Shine
No holiday card is complete without a bit of sparkle, right? I splattered Tarnished Brass and Picket Fence Distress Sprays across the card for a snowy, festive effect. A few Twinkle Rhinestones added just the right amount of sparkle to tie everything together. Finally, I highlighted the poinsettias with Clear Wink of Stella and added white gel pen accents for extra dimension. These little details are what take a card from pretty to stunning.
Why This Card Stands Out
What I love most about this card is how it combines classic holiday imagery with modern techniques. The dimensional poinsettia paired with the subtle, textured background creates a balanced design that’s both elegant and festive. Whether you’re creating cards to send to loved ones or building up a stash for the season, this design is sure to impress.
Pro Tips for Card Makers
Layering Dies: When working with layering dies like the Lovely Layers Poinsettia, consider using foam tape sparingly on some layers to create additional depth.
Ink Blending: Use a light hand when blending inks onto your background. Build up the color gradually for a soft, seamless look.
Splatter Techniques: For controlled splatter effects, tap your brush gently and hold it closer to the card for smaller splatters or farther away for larger ones.
Wrap-Up and What’s Next
I hope this card inspires you to get creative with your holiday crafting. The combination of die-cut layering, ink blending, and embellishments offers endless possibilities for customization. Be sure to check back for Day 14 of the Holiday Card Series, where I’ll be sharing another festive design that’s just as fun and unique.
Happy crafting, and may your holiday season be filled with joy and creativity!
Video Tutorial:
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(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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