Hello, crafty friends! I’m so glad you’re here for another Christmas card-making adventure. Today, I’m thrilled to share a project that blends traditional holiday charm with a unique twist: a partial die-cut edge! It’s the perfect card to make when you want to add a little something extra to that classic cozy look.
For this card, I used the Warm & Cozy Stamp Set and Warm & Cozy Dies from The Rabbit Hole Designs. The sweet snowmen, Christmas tree, and gifts bring a storybook warmth to the card, and they’re super fun to customize with your own color choices. Plus, I’ve got a video tutorial to walk you through all the details if you want to see the process in action. Grab a warm drink and let’s get into it!
Warm & Cozy Wishes Christmas Card:
Creating the Scene: Stamping and Coloring Tips
Let’s start with one of my favorite parts—creating the scene with all the little details! I stamped the adorable snowman pulling a sled with a smaller snowman bundled up on it, plus a festive Christmas tree and two presents. To keep the stamped lines nice and crisp, I went with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink on Hammermill Smooth 100 lbs Cardstock. It’s a reliable combo, especially if you’re using alcohol markers like I did here.
For coloring, I used my Ohuhu Honolulu B Brush Markers (48 Set), which offer great flexibility and blend beautifully. When working with scenes like this, I like to choose colors that have a warm feel but still stay within that frosty winter palette—think soft blues, muted greens, and pops of red for that classic holiday feel. And here’s a tip: if you’re coloring in tiny areas, use light, feathery strokes to keep things from looking too saturated. This way, your colors will look softer and more layered.
A quick story from my own crafting journey—when I first started working with scenes like this, I often struggled with knowing how to balance the colors so that nothing looked too busy. Over time, I learned that picking two or three main colors and keeping everything else as an accent helps the focal point stand out. So here, the red scarf on the snowman and the green tree provide the pops, while softer shades fill in the rest.
Adding a Unique Touch: Partial Die-Cut Edge
Now, here’s where we get to the fun, interactive part! For this card, I used the die for the snowman with the sled and positioned it along the bottom edge of an A2 side-folding card base made from Neenah Solar White Ultra Thick Cardstock. I did some partial die-cutting to create a custom edge along the front panel. Partial die-cutting might sound a bit tricky, but it’s a fantastic technique that adds a wow factor without too much extra effort.
If you’re new to partial die-cutting, think of it as letting your die “cut halfway”—it doesn’t go through the entire panel, just enough to create an edge. After that, I used my trimmer and X-Acto knife to clean up any remaining areas for a smooth finish. And for those tiny, hard-to-reach areas, I always keep an X-Acto knife handy to trim away any paper fibers left behind.
Pro Tip: Partial die-cutting can be done with a lot of different dies. Just make sure the die shape has enough of a sturdy edge so that your cut doesn’t feel flimsy. This technique is such a game changer if you want to add some depth without layering multiple card panels.
Building the Card: Arranging and Attaching the Elements
With the partial die-cut edge ready, it was time to build the cozy winter scene. I attached the snowman images, tree, and presents to the front of the card, making sure the main snowman covered the cut edge. Adding a bit of foam behind the larger present gave the card just a hint of dimension—great for creating that layered look without overwhelming the design.
One thing I love about using foam squares for small accents is the way they add a subtle shadow, almost like a real 3D effect. It’s a small detail, but it makes a big difference in making the elements look like they’re in a real space.
Adding the Sentiment and Background Blending
Once I had the images in place, I stamped the sentiment using Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink. This ink is my go-to for sentiments because it’s so rich and crisp—it really pops on the card, even against bold colors.
Next, I wanted to add a soft background to bring out the snowy look. I flipped the card over and used Shaded Lilac and Speckled Egg Distress Oxide Inks to blend a soft wintery backdrop. I kept the blending only in the area that shows behind the partial die-cut, so the color peeks through when the card is closed. This adds a subtle but magical touch without drawing too much attention from the main scene.
If you’ve never tried blending only a small area, I recommend using low-tack tape or a stencil to mask off the parts you don’t want to ink. It’s a great way to keep things clean, especially on a project with intricate die-cut edges like this one.
Final Details: Adding Highlights and Sparkle
To finish off the card, I added a few white highlights with a White Milky Pop Gel Pen. Adding highlights to small details like scarves or tree ornaments gives everything a polished look—almost like the scene has just a touch of snow sparkle.
Finally, I couldn’t resist adding a few sequins from The Rabbit Hole Designs’ free sequin mix, which comes as a little thank-you gift with each order. These sequins were perfect for adding just a bit of shimmer to the ink-blended background.
Warm & Cozy Wishes Christmas 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!
Wrapping It Up
I absolutely loved putting together this card, and I hope it brings you as much holiday cheer as it did for me while creating it. Partial die-cut edges add such a unique twist and really let you customize your cards in a fun way. Plus, the warm and cozy snowman scene makes it a true holiday classic with a modern touch.
Don’t forget to check out the video tutorial if you want a step-by-step look at the process—it’s all there for you to follow along at your own pace. And if you give this design a try, I’d love to hear how it goes!
Happy crafting, and warm wishes for a cozy holiday season ahead!
(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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