🌿❄️ Global Design Project #GDP525 — Two Cards, Two Seasons, One Gorgeous Color Combo!

This week’s Global Design Project color challenge (#GDP525) features the stunning trio of Cloud Cover, Lost Lagoon, and Highland Heather. WOW—these colors are absolutely beautiful together! At first glance, they totally gave me winter vibes… but once I started creating, I realized they could go in so many different directions.

And of course, once I made one card, I just couldn’t stop at one.
So today I’m sharing two cards with the same layout—one floral and one snowman!
Same sketch, two completely different feels. I love when that happens!


🌸 Card 1: Soft & Dreamy Floral Design

Inspired by a lovely card I saw earlier today by StampinFancyFriday.

I started with the challenge colors and decided to step away from the obvious winter theme. Instead, I leaned into how soft and fresh these colors feel together and created a floral card. The muted tones mixed with a pop of Highland Heather gave it such a gentle, uplifting vibe.

What I love about this card:

  • How versatile the colors become outside of winter
  • The soft gradients between Lost Lagoon and Cloud Cover
  • The simple layout that really lets the colors shine
A handmade floral greeting card featuring three purple flowers with green leaves, layered on a soft blue background and bordered by a light purple frame. The card includes a white rectangular label with the text 'dear friend' on it.

Supplies Used:

  • Spotlight on Nature (163579)
  • Exposed Brick Embossing Folder (161600)
  • Misty Moonlight and White Ribbon (165276)
  • Frosted Iridescent Dots (165766)

⛄ Card 2: Snowman Winter Birthday Card

Okay… once the floral card was done, I just couldn’t resist!
I pulled out one of my favorite retired snowman sets because these colors are perfect for a frosty, wintery design.

I kept the exact same layout, but this time swapped the Christmas sentiment — making it a winter birthday card. The color combo brought the snowman to life in such a sweet, chilly way.

What makes this version fun:

  • Perfect use of a beloved retired stamp set
  • Great twist on a winter birthday card
  • Proof that one layout can create multiple completely unique cards
A winter birthday card featuring a cheerful snowman wearing a purple hat and scarf, holding a small bird. The card uses soft pastel colors and includes the sentiment 'hope your Birthday is snow much fun!' against a textured background with snowflakes.

✨ Same Layout, Two Moods

One of my favorite parts of cardmaking is seeing just how far a single layout can stretch! With just a few creative shifts, you can take a card from springtime softness to winter whimsy—all using the same sketch and color combo.

I’d love to know:
👉 Which version do you like better—the floral or the snowman?
👉 Have you tried the #GDP525 challenge yet?

Graphic for the Global Design Project #GDP525 featuring three hearts representing the colors Highland Heather, Cloud Cover, and Lost Lagoon.

Be sure to check out the challenge and share your creations, too!

Thanks so much for stopping by and creating with me today.
Happy stamping! 💜💙🤍


👉 You can shop current Stampin’ Up! supplies and tools here:
Shop with Me Here

A beautifully crafted Christmas card featuring a window scene that displays a peaceful nativity setting on one side, while the inside is adorned with cozy holiday elements like hanging stockings and warm colors.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Contact me today to place your order!
435-232-2655 Cell ( Call or Text)
andersoncandice@hotmail.com


💕 Let’s Stay Connected

📺 YouTube
📘 Facebook
📸 Instagram
📌 Pinterest

#StampinWithCandice #StamperCandi #GDP525 #StampinUp #CardMaking #ColorChallenge #HandmadeCards #SnowmanCard #FloralCard

Day 29 – Pinecone & Poinsettia Elegance Meets Cocoa & Company

A Floral Favorite + Cozy Cocoa = One Beautiful Winter Card

When I started today’s challenge, I’ll be honest—I had no idea where I was going. The themes Pinecone & Poinsettia Elegance and Cocoa & Company felt so different, and I wasn’t sure how they were going to come together on one card. But poinsettias are one of my absolute favorite holiday flowers (yes, I buy a new one every year!), so I knew I wanted to start with the retired Poinsettia Petals Stamp Set (#153475) and Dies (#153522).

From there… the magic started to grow.

A handmade winter greeting card featuring vibrant poinsettias and holly leaves, a cup of cocoa topped with whipped cream, and a gold circular frame. The sentiment reads 'warm wishes from our home to yours' in red lettering, with colorful sequins adding sparkle.

🌺 Watercolored Poinsettias & Layered Florals

I began by cutting a bunch of pieces from the poinsettia and pinecone dies. I wanted a soft water colored look, so I stamped the poinsettia outlines in the darker shade and then water colored with the Water Painters (#168253) using the lighter shade.

Color Choices:

  • Flowers: Cherry Cobbler + Real Red
  • Flower Centers: Crushed Curry
  • Leaves: Mossy Meadow + Old Olive

I also cut additional small flowers in both Real Red and Cherry Cobbler, layered them together, and added Gold Metallic Enamel Effects for the centers. The dimensional layered look was gorgeous.


🌲 Pinecones & the Perfect Focal Element

For the pinecones, I used:

  • Pecan Pie cardstock
  • Early Espresso cardstock

I was arranging all my pieces when something caught my eye: the retired Large Gold Hoops (#166004). Suddenly, the card clicked into place. The hoop became the perfect wreath-like frame to build my poinsettia cluster around.


☕️ Bringing in the Cocoa Theme

Next challenge: how do I incorporate cocoa into a poinsettia & pinecone card?

I had two great current product options, and ultimately went with the Weekend Adventures Stamp Set (#167318) for the mug. For the whipped topping, I used the More Than Autumn Stamps (#164228) and Dies (#164075).

Details:

  • Mug stamped in Secret Sea
  • Interior washed with Cloud Cover
  • Whipped topping sparkle added with Wink of Stella

The greeting was stamped in Cherry Cobbler, fussy-cut, layered onto Real Red, and fussy-cut again for a bold double-layered sentiment.

I tied a small Real Red Baker’s Twine Bow (#164051) to the mug for a cozy finishing touch.


🎨 Soft, Vintage-Inspired Background

I didn’t want a stark white background, so I used Watercolor Paper (#149612) and did a soft wash using Cloud Cover and my Aqua Painters. Then I roughed up the edges with my scissors and bent the corners slightly for a worn, distressed look.

This gave the whole card a warm, handmade, winter-cozy feel.


Assembly & Final Touches

With all the pieces ready, I began arranging and adhering everything around the gold hoop—
using lots of Dimensionals and Mini Glue Dots to secure every element and build incredible depth. Bonus water coloring the paper adds automatic depth by warping the paper. I did use a bone folder to add a bit of a curl to the petals.

I finished the front with the Traditional Sparkling Sequins (#165875), using a variety of colors to add softness, shine, and movement.

Since the card base is Cherry Cobbler, I made sure to decorate the inside as well. I added a Merry Christmas sentiment, tucked in a few small poinsettias, sprinkled more sequins, and mounted the whole inside layer onto Old Olive cardstock for balance and contrast.

This is definitely not your typical flat card—it has layers, depth, movement, and dimension and doesn’t exactly fit within the confines of a standard mailable design. But it is perfect for that special someone you want to hand-deliver a card to… the kind of card that truly shows how much you care. The pictures don’t do it justice. I made a quick video to help showcase the texture and depth to this card.


❤️ Final Thoughts

I love how this card evolved from “I have no idea where I’m going” to one of my favorite designs of the entire month. The mix of elegant florals, rustic pinecones, and a warm mug of cocoa created such a charming, heartfelt winter masterpiece.


👉 You can shop current Stampin’ Up! supplies and tools here:
Shop with Me Here

A beautifully crafted Christmas card featuring a window scene that displays a peaceful nativity setting on one side, while the inside is adorned with cozy holiday elements like hanging stockings and warm colors.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Contact me today to place your order!
435-232-2655 Cell ( Call or Text)
andersoncandice@hotmail.com


💕 Let’s Stay Connected

📺 YouTube
📘 Facebook
📸 Instagram
📌 Pinterest

#StampinWithCandice #StamperCandi #ACardADayInNovember2025 #30DayChristmasCardMakingChallenge #ChristmasCards #HandmadeCards #CreativeTechniques #HolidayCrafting #cardmaker #cardmaking #christmascards #handmadecards #papercraft #StampinUpKits #christmaschallenge

Day 28 – Cardinals in Winter with Silent Sparkle

A Peaceful CASE of GDP524 Inspired by Cordula De

Today’s themes were all about the quiet beauty of winter—the hush of falling snow and the peaceful stillness it brings. When I saw the prompt, I immediately thought of the Global Design Project #GDP524, where we were challenged to CASE a gorgeous winter design by Cordula De. It was the perfect layout and technique for today’s soft, serene inspiration.

I’ve admired so many beautiful samples created for this challenge, and I wanted to keep my version simple and close to the original. The result is a calm, snowy design with just a touch of sparkle and one bright, cheerful pop of cardinal red.


❄️ Snowflakes & Soft Winter Hues

For the snowflakes since I don’t have the current set, I reached for the retired Joyful Flurry (#159804) stamp set. It was just the right style—delicate and elegant—for a peaceful winter card.

Color combo:

  • Pool Party
  • Lost Lagoon

Soft, icy, and perfect for silent snowfall vibes.

To build the background, I used a sneak peek of an upcoming product—
the Lovely Stripes 3D Embossing Folder (#167179).
It added gorgeous texture without overwhelming the design.


🟥 Adding a Subtle Cardinal Touch

The cardinal element turned out to be trickier than I expected—I realized I don’t have many bird stamps! But tucked deep in my stash, I found the perfect tiny cardinal in the very old Jolly Bingo Bits set. It was just the right size for a small pop of color without taking over the card.

I colored the little bird using my Stampin’ Write Markers (hot tip: these are on the Last Chance List, so make sure you grab yours before they’re gone!). I fussy-cut the cardinal and popped it up with a Mini Dimensional.


🎨 Masking, Texturing & Sparkling

For the main technique:

  1. I cut a piece of Masking Paper (#155480) to 1″ × 2-3/4″.
  2. I placed it where I wanted my sentiment to be, then stamped my snowflakes.
  3. For the two larger snowflakes, I stamped off first to soften the look.
  4. The smallest snowflake was stamped full strength for contrast.
  5. A little Wink of Stella added the perfect bit of winter sparkle.

To add texture to the focal panel, I lightly distressed the edges with the side of my scissors. It gives such a soft, handcrafted look.

And while the card didn’t need ribbon… I really loved the gentle touch it added.
I tucked a strip of the retired White Woven Ribbon (#164634) behind the focal piece and tied a tiny knotted embellishment with a Mini Glue Dot.


Quick, Easy, & Peacefully Wintery

This card came together so quickly—and I absolutely love the gentle, snowy look paired with that tiny burst of cardinal red. It’s amazing how a simple design can carry so much quiet charm.

👉 You can shop current Stampin’ Up! supplies and tools here:
Shop with Me Here

A beautifully crafted Christmas card featuring a window scene that displays a peaceful nativity setting on one side, while the inside is adorned with cozy holiday elements like hanging stockings and warm colors.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Contact me today to place your order!
435-232-2655 Cell ( Call or Text)
andersoncandice@hotmail.com


💕 Let’s Stay Connected

📺 YouTube
📘 Facebook
📸 Instagram
📌 Pinterest

#StampinWithCandice #StamperCandi #ACardADayInNovember2025 #30DayChristmasCardMakingChallenge #ChristmasCards #HandmadeCards #CreativeTechniques #HolidayCrafting #cardmaker #cardmaking #christmascards #handmadecards #papercraft #StampinUpKits #christmaschallenge

Day 25 – Yule Be Amazed – Color combo

Playful Woodland Critters + Witty Wordplay + Color Challenge #5

Today’s challenge brought together two fun themes: Yule Be Amazed—full of playful woodland critters and witty wordplay—and Color Challenge #5 using the Concord & 9th palette of Wildberry, Lakefront, and Harbor.

To match this with Stampin’ Up! colors, I chose a bright, cheerful combination of Lost Lagoon, Balmy Blue, and Melon Mambo. At first, I wasn’t sure how to bring both themes into one card. Woodland critters made me think browns and greens… not exactly what this color combo offers!

So I turned to my wall of retired stamp sets in search of inspiration—and that’s when the answer practically jumped off the shelf.


⛄️ When Snowmen Become Woodland Critters

I spotted the retired Spirited Snowmen Set (#148072) and instantly thought of one of my favorite children’s books—
“Snowmen at Night” by Caralyn Buehner, illustrated by Mark Buehner.

In the story, the snowmen come to life and play outside in the woods after dark. And that’s when it hit me:
If snowmen can play in the woods at night… why can’t they count as playful woodland critters?

With that little spark, everything fell into place.


🎨 Coloring the Scene

To get a soft, playful look, I stamped the snowman in Black StazOn (#101406) on Watercolor Paper (#149612).

Then I used my Water Painters (#168253) and the ink pads in my three challenge colors to bring him to life. Watercoloring gave the image a gentle, whimsical feel—perfect for the theme—and made it easy to blend shadowing under him so it looks like he’s skating on ice.

For additional details, I used:

  • Pumpkin Pie (nose)
  • Pecan Pie (arms)
  • Basic Gray (skates)

A touch of Wink of Stella on the snowman and skates added the perfect shimmer.


❄️ Building the Background

To create the snowy nighttime feel, I used the Snowy Delights Decorative Masks (#165808) with a blending brush. The soft Balmy Blue and Lost Lagoon inks blended beautifully behind the snowman and tied the entire color combo together.


🎀 Finishing Touches

The final details pulled everything together:

  • Balmy Blue Sheer Ribbon (#165767)
  • Three Banner Punch (#167050) for the sentiment
  • A soft matting layer in challenge colors

The finished card is sweet, whimsical, and full of playful charm—perfect for sharing a little holiday cheer.


👉 You can shop current Stampin’ Up! supplies and tools here:
Shop with Me Here

A beautifully crafted Christmas card featuring a window scene that displays a peaceful nativity setting on one side, while the inside is adorned with cozy holiday elements like hanging stockings and warm colors.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Contact me today to place your order!
435-232-2655 Cell ( Call or Text)
andersoncandice@hotmail.com


💕 Let’s Stay Connected

📺 YouTube
📘 Facebook
📸 Instagram
📌 Pinterest

#StampinWithCandice #StamperCandi #ACardADayInNovember2025 #30DayChristmasCardMakingChallenge #ChristmasCards #HandmadeCards #CreativeTechniques #HolidayCrafting #cardmaker #cardmaking #christmascards #handmadecards #papercraft #christmaschallenge

Day 24 – Twinkle All the Way & Tree-mendous Wishes

A Sparkly Technique Using Iridescent Treat Bags!

Day 24 is here, and today was full of sparkle with the themes Twinkle All the Way and Tree-mendous Wishes. On my live, I shared a fun technique using the Iridescent Treat Bags (#166204) in a completely unexpected way to create a gorgeous, shimmering background.

Two handmade holiday cards featuring intricate sparkling trees, each tagged with the word 'merry', set against a softly colored background with embellishments.

If you missed the live, be sure to catch the replay—you’ll definitely want to try this one!


Using Treat Bags for Sparkle (In a Whole New Way!)

The magic of this card starts with the treat bags themselves. Instead of using them as packaging, I cut the bag apart to create a flat section large enough to run through my die-cutting machine.

Then I glued that piece directly onto my background cardstock.

Because these bags have a beautiful pink/yellow iridescent shimmer, the color shifts depending on the cardstock behind it:

  • My first sample used Pretty in Pink
  • During the live, I used Bubble Bath

Both produce totally different looks, and that’s what makes this technique so fun!

For today’s project, I paired the shimmer with the retired Decorative Trees Dies (#164084) for a clean, elegant seasonal look.


🎄 Building the Card

To keep things quick and easy, I went straight to page 24 of the Annual Catalog and pulled inspiration from one of the tag templates. (If you need a catalog, send me a message—I’d be happy to get one to you!)

Here’s how the card came together:

Layers & Elements

  • Background: Silent Snowfall Designer Series Paper (#166062)
  • Tree Layering:
    • One solid shimmery tree
    • One intricate tree cut from Peaceful Garden Glimmer Paper (#165929) layered on top
  • Tag & Sentiment:
    • Cut using the Merry Tags & More Dies #(#165639)
    • Tag created from the Celebration Expressions Memories & More Card Pack (#165307)
      • Not a Christmas pack—but the colors and designs worked perfectly (and bonus: tons of great backgrounds for future cards or scrapbook pages!)

Finishing Touches

  • Sheer Balmy Blue Ribbon (#165767)
  • White Baker’s Twine (#155475)
  • Strawberry Slush & Pretty in Pink Gems (#165615)

And one fun detail about this project:
There is no stamping on the entire card!
It’s a great reminder of how versatile your dies, embellishments, Memories & More packs, and specialty papers can be.

Card on top is Bubble Bath Background – Card on bottom is Pretty in Pink Background.


🌟 Bonus Samples

I also created a few additional samples to showcase how cool it looks when you emboss the iridescent treat bags. On the shaker card sample, I paired the treat bag layer with white cardstock—you can really see the yellow shimmer come to life!

This is definitely a technique worth trying on multiple projects.

👉 You can shop current Stampin’ Up! supplies and tools here:
Shop with Me Here

A beautifully crafted Christmas card featuring a window scene that displays a peaceful nativity setting on one side, while the inside is adorned with cozy holiday elements like hanging stockings and warm colors.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Contact me today to place your order!
435-232-2655 Cell ( Call or Text)
andersoncandice@hotmail.com


💕 Let’s Stay Connected

📺 YouTube
📘 Facebook
📸 Instagram
📌 Pinterest

#StampinWithCandice #StamperCandi #AC

Day 23 – Elfie Time!

Fun Fold Gift Card Holder + Sketch Challenge #5

Today’s theme was Elfie Time, and the moment I read it, I knew exactly which stamp set I had to pull out—my beloved retired #Elfie (#150509). Pairing it with Sketch Challenge #5 inspired a playful twist: a Fun Fold Gift Card Holder!

This design is so easy to create and perfect for the holidays—because who doesn’t love receiving (or giving!) a cute handmade gift card holder?

I shared the full tutorial during a live in the Card A Day in November 2025 group as well as on my YouTube and Facebook pages. If you missed it, no worries—you can still catch the replay. And huge thanks to Kevin for inviting me on to share this project!


🎁 How to Make the Fun Fold Gift Card Holder

This fold comes together quickly and can be decorated for any theme or season. Here’s the basic template:

Card Base

  • Cut: 9-1/2″ x 5-1/2″
  • Score at: 3-1/2″ and 7-1/2″
    This creates:
  • A 3-1/4″ panel (the main front)
  • A 4-1/4″ panel (the inside)
  • A 2″ flap (perfect for the pocket)

Belly Band

  • Cut: 1-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ (or longer depending on embellishments)
  • Wrap loosely around the card so it slides easily.

Gift Card Cutout

You’ll need circle punches or dies:

  • 1-3/4″ for the pocket opening (#119850)
  • 2″ for the decorative circle layer (#133782)

Interior Layer

If you’re using a different color inside:

  • Cut 2-1/2″ x 5-1/4″
  • Make sure it extends past the punched opening for a clean look.

Tools That Help

  • Bone folder (#102300)
  • Tear & Tape (#154031)
  • Mini Glue Dots (#103683)
  • Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals (#144108)
  • Circle punches/dies

And then… decorate to your heart’s content!


🧝 Elfie Samples

Of course I made more than one! Here’s what I used:

Elfie Cards

Color combos:

  • Poppy Parade, Pool Party, Summer Splash
    Others:
    • White Baker’s Twine (#155475)
    • Real Red & White Peppermint Embellishments (#164050)
    • Strawberry Slush and Pretty in Pink Gems (#165615)
    • Forever Plaid Embossing Folder (#164049)
    • A Little Cheer (#166121)
    • Stylish Shapes Dies (#159183)
    • Wink of Stella (#141897)
    • Blending Brush (#160518)
    • Masking Paper (#155480)
    • Blends – Poppy Parade, Summer Splash, Pool Party, Pecan Pie, Petal Pink, Pretty in Pink

Both versions turned out adorable and festive!


❄️ Additional Sample – Christmas Cuties

I also made a version using the retired Christmas Cuties (#139787) paired with the Need for Tweed Designer Series Paper (#166144) for a quick, textured background.

Color combo:

  • Mossy Meadow, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler
    Others:
    • Real Red Baker’s Twine (#164051)
    • Shimmer Star Foam Stickers (#166202)
    • A Little Cheer (#166121)
    • Perennial Postage Dies (#162607)

A different look but just as charming!


🎄 Do You Love This Fun Fold as Much as I Do?

I adore how quick and adaptable this Fun Fold Gift Card Holder is, and I can’t wait to see what you create with it!

If you try this fold, please share your photos—I love seeing everyone’s creative twist on the design.

👉 You can shop current Stampin’ Up! supplies and tools here:
Shop with Me Here

A beautifully crafted Christmas card featuring a window scene that displays a peaceful nativity setting on one side, while the inside is adorned with cozy holiday elements like hanging stockings and warm colors.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Contact me today to place your order!
435-232-2655 Cell ( Call or Text)
andersoncandice@hotmail.com


💕 Let’s Stay Connected

📺 YouTube
📘 Facebook
📸 Instagram
📌 Pinterest

#StampinWithCandice #StamperCandi #ACardADayInNovember2025 #30DayChristmasCardMakingChallenge #ChristmasCards #HandmadeCards #CreativeTechniques #HolidayCrafting #cardmaker #cardmaking #christmascards #handmadecards #papercraft #sketchchallenge #christmaschallenge