Hello, crafty friends! I’m so excited to share this whimsical fall-themed card featuring the adorable Elfin’ Christmas Stamp Set from Pajama Crafter Stamps. This set has such a playful, joyful vibe, and I couldn’t resist using it to create a fun fall card that brings in some rich, autumn tones while keeping the design lighthearted. Let’s dive in!
Just Elfin’ Around Fall Card:
Bringing the Elf to Life with OLO Markers
Whenever I start a card, I like to begin by focusing on the main character—and this little girl elf is just too cute! I stamped her using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink on my go-to Hammermill Smooth 100 lbs Cardstock. This cardstock works wonders with alcohol markers like OLO because it’s smooth, so the ink doesn’t bleed and blends beautifully.
For her outfit, I wanted something that felt fall-inspired but still kept a bit of that classic elf charm. I chose shades of green for her clothes, pairing them with cool gray accents and a little pop of orange on her belt. The orange really ties everything together, adding that extra autumn warmth. And of course, I couldn’t leave her presents out of the fun—I went with shades of blue and blue-violet to create contrast without overpowering the main design.
Pro Tip: When coloring with alcohol markers, start with your lightest shade and slowly build up to the darkest. This allows for smoother blends and helps keep the ink from bleeding outside the lines. And if you’re using vibrant colors like I did here, it’s helpful to leave small highlights uncolored for a more dimensional effect.
Playing with Fall Patterns and Textures
Now, I love working with patterned paper, especially when it comes to creating seasonal cards. For this one, I dug through my stash (yes, that ever-growing pile!) and found two beautiful fall-themed papers. The first piece I cut to 4” x 5 1/4” and adhered it to my A2 top-folding card base. The second, slightly smaller piece (1 3/4" x 5 1/4"), was placed on the left side of the card, about 1/2” from the edge.
Layering patterns is one of my favorite ways to add interest to a card without a lot of extra effort. It helps balance the design, and the contrast between the larger background piece and the slimmer accent strip gives the card a bit of structure. Plus, it’s a great way to use up those smaller scraps of paper we all have lying around.
Pro Tip: When mixing patterned papers, look for colors that complement each other but have different scales. A larger, more neutral pattern in the background works well with a smaller, more detailed pattern as an accent.
Heat Embossing for a Subtle, Shiny Detail
Next, it was time to add some embossing—one of my favorite techniques for adding texture and a bit of shine. I prepped another piece of Hammermill Smooth 100 lbs Cardstock with my Cottontail Powder Tool (a lifesaver for reducing static cling!) and stamped the little elf and some stars from the stamp set using Versamark Ink. Then, I sprinkled Ultra Fine Clear Embossing Powder over the stamped images and heat set it.
Once it cooled, I reached for my trusty Distress Inks—Peeled Paint and Forest Moss—and used my Cottontail Blending Brushes to ink blend over the panel. I love how the ink resists the heat embossing, creating a beautiful, soft shine that peeks through the inked background. A quick buff with a paper towel to remove excess ink, and the embossing really pops against the blended backdrop!
Pro Tip: If you’re heat embossing over a large area, make sure to move your heat tool in small, circular motions to avoid warping your cardstock. And don’t forget to let the embossing powder fully cool before handling it—smudging freshly embossed images is a mistake we’ve all made at some point!
Building the Focal Point
For the focal panel, I decided to go with another ink-blended piece. I cut a square from Hammermill Smooth Cardstock and blended Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge, Peeled Paint, and Forest Moss Distress Inks to give it a warm, cozy fall look. I layered this square on top of a scalloped square cut from Gold Holographic Cardstock to add just a bit of shimmer.
Layering is such a simple technique, but it adds so much to a card! The scalloped edge brings in a soft, playful detail, while the holographic cardstock catches the light and gives the whole design a touch of magic. After all, who can resist a bit of shine on a fall card?
Fussy Cutting & Adding Dimension
Once I had my background and focal panel ready, it was time to fussy cut the little elf I had stamped and colored earlier. I used my Cutter-Bee Scissors (because those fine-tipped blades are perfect for those small details) and attached the elf to the ink-blended square using Instant Dimensional Foam Tape. This gives her just the right amount of lift off the card, making her stand out against the layers below.
Pro Tip: When fussy cutting, try to move the paper instead of the scissors. This helps you get cleaner, more precise cuts, especially around those tricky corners and edges.
Embossing the Sentiment & Finishing Touches
For the sentiment, I went with a piece of Soft Navy Cardstock. I prepped it with my Cottontail Powder Tool, stamped the sentiment in Versamark Ink, and heat embossed it with White Detail Embossing Powder. The white really pops against the navy, and it balances out the cool tones in the rest of the card.
But the inside of the card needed a little something, too. So I grabbed my MISTI and stamped the little boy elf, stars, and a sentiment inside the card using Rusty Hinge Distress Oxide Ink. I love how this ties everything together and adds a little extra surprise for the recipient when they open the card.
To finish off the card, I added some simple white gel pen highlights to the elf and a few New Penny and Cosmic Rhinestones for a bit of sparkle.
Final Thoughts
This "Just Elfin’ Around" Fall Card was so much fun to make! Between the playful stamp set, rich fall colors, and a bit of sparkle, it’s the perfect card to send some autumn cheer. I hope this project inspires you to dive into your stash and create something magical with seasonal patterns and textures.
If you give this card a try or use the Elfin' Christmas Stamp Set, I’d love to see what you come up with—be sure to share your creations with me! Thanks for stopping by, and happy crafting!
OLO Marker Color Combinations:
Hat & Outfit - YG1.4, YG1.6, G1.7, G1.8
Hat Trim - CG3, CG5, CG7, CG9
Hair - YO2.5, YO2.7, OR3.8
Orange Strips, belt, bows, and shoes - O2.4, O2.5, O2.7
Presents - B2.4, B2.6, BV4.5
Eyes - B2.4, B0.6
Skin - OR2.0, OR4.2, OR4.4, OR3.7
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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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