There’s something about winter that brings out the coziness in crafting. Today, I’m sharing a card project that’s bursting with warmth, featuring the delightful Hamster Family Stamp Set paired with some soft, wintry colors. This slimline card is perfect for sending love and hugs during the colder months, and it’s a great way to showcase your favorite stamping and coloring techniques. Let’s dive into the details of how this card came together!
Winter Love & Hugs Slimline Card:
The Inspiration Behind the Card
I’ve always loved the idea of capturing little moments of joy in my cards, and what could be more joyful than a family of hamsters all bundled up for winter? The Hamster Family Stamp Set has such charming characters that I couldn’t resist creating a scene where they’re enjoying a snowy day. The idea was to bring these cute critters to life with some bright and cheery coloring, while keeping the background soft and serene, just like a quiet winter morning.
Stamping & Coloring: Bringing the Hamsters to Life
For this project, I started with a piece of Accent Opaque White 80lb Cardstock and stamped all the adorable hamsters and their winter attire using Intense Black Ink from Hero Arts. This ink is a go-to for me because it works beautifully with alcohol markers, and you know I love my markers! Speaking of which, I used my Spectrum Noir TriBlend Brush Markers to color in the images. These markers are fantastic for achieving smooth blends and gradients, making them a perfect choice for the cozy winter attire and fluffy fur of the hamsters.
One thing I’ve found really helpful when coloring intricate images like these is to start with the lightest colors and gradually build up the darker shades. It helps create a natural depth and keeps the colors from getting muddy. If you’re working with these markers, a good tip is to let each layer dry slightly before adding more color. This prevents bleeding and gives you more control over the shading.
Creating a Winter Wonderland Background
After the hamsters were all colored and cut out with the coordinating dies, it was time to create the background. I wanted something that would set the scene without overpowering the main characters. I reached for my Accent Opaque White Cardstock again and started masking off some snow mounds using 4" Mint Tape. If you haven’t tried this tape yet, I highly recommend it—easy to tear and it doesn’t leave any residue.
For the ink blending, I used Shaded Lilac and Speckled Egg Distress Oxide Inks to create soft, snowy hills. I love how these two colors blend together; they remind me of the cool, early morning light just after a fresh snowfall. To add a bit more depth, I blended Stormy Sky and Speckled Egg for the sky above. If you’re new to ink blending, here’s a pro tip: start your blending on the tape and then move onto the cardstock. This helps avoid harsh lines and gives you a smoother transition.
With the background done, I added a few pine trees in the distance using my Spectrum Noir TriBlend Markers. These little touches are what make a scene feel complete and give it that extra bit of charm.
Assembling the Card
Once the background was dry, I started placing my hamsters into the scene. I positioned them around a snowman, giving the card a fun, interactive feel. I added their winter clothing—scarves, hats, and mittens—which really brought the whole scene to life. The little details like this can make such a difference in the overall look of your card.
One of my favorite parts of this project was adding the snow effect. After arranging the hamsters, I splattered some white shimmer liquid watercolor over the entire card front using a paintbrush. This gives the illusion of falling snow, and the shimmer adds a magical touch, perfect for a winter card.
Finishing Touches
To finish off the card, I created an ombre sentiment using the Over Sized Hugs Print Die from Waffle Flower Crafts. I colored a piece of cardstock with my True Blue TriBlend Brush Markers and then die-cut the word “Hugs.” The soft blue tones of the ombre effect complement the wintry scene perfectly. I mounted the sentiment on the card front, along with a “Love” and subsentiment strip from the Hugs Subsentiment Strips, popping it up with a bit of foam tape for dimension.
I mounted the entire scene onto a piece of light blue cardstock that was cut slightly larger than the card front, giving it a nice framed look. Then, I adhered it to a Top Folding Slimline Card Base that I created from Accent Opaque White 120lb Cardstock. I love how sturdy this cardstock is, especially for larger cards like this one.
The final touch was adding a few Glassier Rhinestones from Pink Fresh Studio, and some white gel pen highlights to add that extra sparkle and highlight certain areas. The rhinestones add just the right amount of sparkle, like a light dusting of frost on a winter morning.
Wrapping Up
I hope this card inspires you to create your own winter wonderland scenes. The combination of playful hamsters, a snowy background, and a heartfelt sentiment makes this card perfect for sending a little warmth during the cold months. Whether you’re crafting for a loved one or just adding to your collection, this project is a great way to practice your coloring and scene-building skills.
If you give this card a try, I’d love to see how it turns out! Don’t forget to share your creations and tag me so I can admire your work. And remember, the links provided are affiliate links, which means if you purchase something through them, you’ll be supporting my blog at no extra cost to you—thank you for your support!
Happy crafting, and stay warm!
Wondering what I used in this video/project? 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
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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