Category: Techniques

Day 19 – Hope & Light Meets North Pole Workshop?

Today’s Christmas Challenge brought two themes that couldn’t be more different: Hope and Light and North Pole Workshop. Instead of trying to force both themes into one design, I decided to lean into the contrast and create two separate cards—each with its own mood and message, but both built using the same layout and the same product focus:
Watercolor Pencils (#161700 & #149014) paired with Water Painters (#168234).

This turned out to be such a fun creative experiment—one layout, two techniques, and two completely different looks!

The Shared Layout

To keep a unified feel between the two designs, I started with a simple, versatile layout:

  • Horizontal card base: 8-1/2″ x 5-1/2″, scored at 4-1/4
  • Accent strip behind the focal point: 1-3/4″ x 5-1/2″
  • Focal image panel: Die-cut using the Textured Notes Dies (#165555) — a perfect little frame for any image
  • Layered background: 4-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ with the sentiment stamped along the bottom

It’s an easy formula that works for just about any stamp set or technique, which made it perfect for today’s theme split.

⭐ Card 1: North Pole Workshop

For my first card, I reached for a fun retired favorite—Christmas Crowd. It’s full of cheerful, whimsical North Pole characters, and it was the perfect set for a bright, playful look.

A festive holiday card featuring Santa and a group of cheerful North Pole characters, adorned with a vibrant color palette and playful design elements.
A graphic promoting Day 19 of a 30-day Christmas card making challenge, highlighting the theme 'North Pole Workshop' with decorative winter elements.

Technique: Coloring In the Image

For this card, I used the watercolor pencils in the most traditional way—coloring the entire image before blending it out slightly with my Water Painter. This gave everything a soft yet vibrant finish without overwhelming the line art.

Finishing Touches:

  • Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine (#164051)
  • Real Red & White Peppermint Embellishments (#164050)

These little elements really pull together that Santa’s-workshop, peppermint-candy vibe.

⭐ Card 2: Hope & Light (Silent Night Style)

For the second theme, I chose the retired Come to Bethlehem (#120591) set—a beautiful, solid-image stamp that has always felt powerful and peaceful to me.

A handmade Christmas card featuring a watercolor silhouette of three camels journeying across a hillside, with a bright star above and a village in the background, paired with a black accent strip and black twine.
Graphic promoting a card making challenge for Christmas featuring the title 'Hope & Light' and 'Day 19' with a snowy background.

Technique: Background Shading with Watercolor Pencils

Since the main image is a silhouette, I used the watercolor pencils differently for this card. Instead of coloring in the image, I lightly shaded a glowing backdrop behind the figures. With a soft wash from the Water Painter, it created a beautiful halo of color that makes the silhouette pop.

Finishing Touches:

  • Black Baker’s Twine (#155475)
  • Rhinestone Basic Jewels (#144220)

A little sparkle keeps the “light” theme present while keeping the card simple and serene.

⭐ The Result: One Layout, Two Techniques, Two Totally Different Looks

It always amazes me how using the same basic card design can produce completely different moods depending on the stamp set, colors, and technique.

  • North Pole Workshop → bright, fun, colorful
  • Hope & Light → soft, meaningful, peaceful

Both simple.
Both beautiful.
And both incredibly easy to create with supplies you already have.

👉 You can shop current Stampin’ Up! supplies and tools here:
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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!
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andersoncandice@hotmail.com

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Day 18 – Silent Night & Sketch Challenge #4

Today’s Christmas Challenge theme was Silent Night paired with Sketch Challenge #4, and the moment I saw the sketch I knew exactly what I wanted to reach for—the brand-new Swirled Designs Stamp Set (#167030) and Dies (#167032). The stars in this bundle are absolutely stunning, and they instantly sparked the perfect “silent night sky” idea.

Creating the Silent Night Background

I started with a Balmy Blue card base to give everything that crisp winter feel. For the next layer, I added Night of Navy, embossed with the So Swirly Embossing Folder (#163791). This folder adds such beautiful depth and movement—perfect for creating the look of a quiet, swirling night sky.

To bring in that magical Christmas sparkle, I die-cut the large star from the Peaceful Garden Glimmer Paper (#165929). The shine is subtle but so elegant, and it really helps the star take center stage.

Sentiments with a Twist

For the greeting, I reached for the Jar of Joy Stamp Set (#166176) and used the “may your heart be filled with joy” sentiment—except I masked off the word joy to better fit the sketch. I stamped and heat-embossed it in silver, then punched it out with the Triple Banner Punch for a clean finish.

To complete the sentiment on the inside, I added the word “Magic” from the Light & Wonder Stamp Set (#165756) along with a few coordinating stars. It ties everything together so nicely.

Ribbon Tip You’ll Want to Try

You might notice the ribbon on the card looks extra thin—here’s a fun trick! I used the Misty Moonlight Silver-Edged Ribbon (#165931) and simply cut off the silver edge so I could use it like baker’s twine. It adds just a touch of sparkle without overwhelming the design. Such an easy way to stretch your ribbon and get more looks from one spool!

Trying an Alternate Version

After finishing the first card, I wasn’t completely sure how I felt about the open center of the star, so I decided to try a second version. For this one, I traced the die onto a piece of Basic White cardstock and brushed it with Wink of Stella to create a soft sparkle behind the die-cut star. Once I layered the star over it, the whole look felt a bit more full and defined.

I used the same ribbon-cutting technique but added Balmy Blue Sheer Ribbon (#165767) behind the star as well. I even repurposed the extra little silver strips I trimmed away—perfect for accenting the sentiment!

For a final magical touch, I flicked my Wink of Stella across the Night of Navy embossed layer to create a splattered starlight effect. It’s such a simple technique, but it brings everything to life.

Which Version Do You Prefer?

Now the real question… Which one do I like better? Honestly, I’m still torn! The open star has a clean elegance, but the filled-in version has a soft glow that I really love.

I’d love to hear your thoughts—tell me in the comments which one speaks to you!

👉 You can shop current Stampin’ Up! supplies and tools here:
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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

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🪵✨ Day 15 – Plaid Perfection & Color Challenge #3

Day 15 brought together two fun themes:
Plaid Perfection — mix and match tartans for a warm, rustic look
and
Color Challenge #3 – Concord & 9th Midnight, Peacock, and Aqua Sky.

I chose the closest Stampin’ Up! colors to match the challenge:
💙 Secret Sea, Pretty Peacock, and Pool Party

These colors paired beautifully with the Timeless Plaid Designer Series Paper (#164678) to highlight the plaid theme. I used the Ornamental Christmas Stamp Set (#165991) and Ornamental Christmas Dies (#166000) to create a unique fun fold card that feels both modern and cozy. A little sparkle from the Peaceful Garden Glimmer Paper (#165929) made the star really shine, and I finished the look with 2025–2027 In Color Flat Pearls (#165192) and White Ribbon (#165562).

🔥 Warm Rustic Version

After creating the cool-tone version, I couldn’t resist trying a warmer palette too!
For this one, I switched to:
🤎 Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, and Petal Pink

To add sparkle, I used the Earthen Tones Metallic Specialty Paper (#165901) and accented with Cajun Craze & Gold Dots (#165984). A bit of Espresso Baker’s Twine (#165986) tucked behind the star added a rustic finishing detail.

A hand holding a festive card featuring a star design and the text 'Tis the Season.' The card incorporates plaid patterns and a rustic color scheme with brown and cream tones.
A hand holding a card with an exposed interior featuring the text 'TIS THE SEASON' elegantly printed, set against a textured background.
A promotional graphic for Day 15 of a card making challenge featuring a wintery background with snowflakes and a text overlay that reads 'Card a Day in November! Card Making Challenge. Christmas Card Edition. DAY 15 Plaid Perfection.'

📏 Fun Fold Measurements (In Inches)

This fun fold is much easier than it looks! Here’s the quick guide:

  • Base Piece: 5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ (cut to size, not folded)
  • Background Folded Panel: 5-1/4″ x 6″ — score at 2″
  • Inside White Layer: 5″ x 3-3/4″
  • Accent Piece: Cut using the Everyday Arches Dies (#164629)
    • Make the arch piece extra long, then score and fold the bottom behind the white layer to attach
  • Second White Arch: Cut using the next smallest arch die
  • Designer Series Paper Strip: 5″ x 1-3/4″
  • Lightly brush the edges of the DSP with a blending brush and your background color to help it pop against lighter tones.

Note: All measurements are in inches.

Both versions of this card turned out warm, inviting, and full of holiday charm. Whether you like cool winter blues or rustic warm tones, this fun fold works beautifully for both!

👉 You can shop current Stampin’ Up! supplies and tools here:
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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

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🖤✨ Day 12 – Black, White & Gold Glam Meets Reindeer Games

Day 12 brought a touch of elegant glam to my Christmas Card Challenge with the theme Black, White & Gold Glam + Reindeer Games!

The Modern Christmas Suite was the perfect go-to for today’s challenge. I wanted to keep things simple yet striking, so I designed a classic dual–Designer Series Paper layout with a bold focal image and a clean, elegant greeting layered right on top.

A Christmas card featuring a black, white, and gold design with a reindeer silhouette and the text 'PEACE & JOY'. The card has a modern layout with patterned paper and a ribbon accent.
A handmade Christmas card featuring a black and white geometric design, accentuated with gold trim. The focal point is a stamped black silhouette of a pine tree, accompanied by a gold and white 'PEACE & JOY' greeting.
The inside of a black Christmas card featuring the text 'Merry Christmas' in elegant script, accompanied by gold star embellishments.

A bit of ribbon and a mix of black and gold embossing added just the right touch of sparkle and sophistication. Since the card base itself is black, I made sure to stamp the inside on white cardstock, leaving plenty of space for a heartfelt holiday message. 💛

To tie in the Reindeer Games theme, I also created an additional card using the same layout — this time featuring one of my all-time favorite retired sets, Dasher, as the focal point. The elegant reindeer image paired beautifully with the black, white, and gold color scheme for a timeless Christmas look. 🦌✨

Two elegant Christmas cards featuring a black, white, and gold color scheme. One card showcases a pine tree with the greeting 'PEACE & JOY', while the other features a reindeer design with the same greeting. Both cards are arranged in a stylish layout with patterned paper and gold accents.
A promotional graphic for Day 12 of a 30-day Christmas card making challenge featuring the title 'Reindeer Games' with a winter-themed background and snowflake patterns.
Graphic announcing Day 12 of a card making challenge, featuring the theme 'Black, White & Gold Glam'. The design includes snowflakes and a wintery background, with the text prominently displayed.

This card came together quickly but makes a stunning impression — proof that minimal color and elegant accents can create a truly glamorous Christmas card!

Measurements Guide

Want to recreate this design?
I’ve included a quick measurement guide to make it easy!
Save or screenshot for easy crafting later! ✨

  • Card Base – Basic Black – 8-1/2 x 5-1/2 – Scored at 4-1/4
  • Top DSP (patterned) – 2×4
  • Bottom DSP (stripped) – 2-1/4×4
  • Ribbon Strip – Black – 1×4
  • Words – Gold 5/8×2-1/2 (trim to fit) and White 1/2×3 (Punched)
  • Inside – White 3×4-1/4
  • Image – Tree
    • White – 2×3-1/2
    • Gold – 2-1/4 x 3-3/4
    • Black – 2-1/2 x 4
  • Image – Deer
    • White – 2-1/4 x 2-3/4
    • Gold – 2-1/2 x 3
    • Black – 2-3/4 x 3-1/4

👉 You can shop current Stampin’ Up! supplies and tools here:
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✨ Products Used

  • Ornamental Christmas Stamp Set (#165991)
  • Modern Christmas Specialty Designer Series Paper (#165990)
  • Three Banner Punch (#167050)
  • Gold Striped Ribbon (#165599)
  • Metallics WOW Embossing Powder (Gold) (#165678)
  • Basics WOW Embossing Powder (Black) (#165679)
  • Gold Foil Sheets (#132622)

🎥 Here’s a quick video showing how I created it!

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

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☃️ Day 10 – Snowman Shenanigans & a Magical Color Twist

I had such a blast sharing today’s card during my live! This fun fold card is bursting with sparkle and holiday cheer — from the unexpected color combo of purples and greens to the whimsical twist on Snowman Shenanigans, I think you’re going to fall in love with this one just like I did. 💜💚✨

This card came together with a mix of creativity, experimentation, and a few surprises along the way. I used a lot of different products — including one very unexpected element!

I pulled pieces from the Darling Dinos (#164728) set again, but this time instead of dino-deer, I used them in a whole new way. Combined with the Light & Wonder Dies (#165762), I created the sweetest little snowman that’s sure to melt your heart. ☃️💖

To bring in more holiday magic, I added details and greetings from:
🎄 A Little Cheer Stamp Set (#166121)
🎅 Pine Tree Trimmings Stamp Set (#166040)
🌟 Pine Tree Trimmings Dies (#166046)

🎨 Color Palette Magic

For my color palette, I experimented with two different combos to capture the challenge colors — Concord and 9th —Plumberry, Rainforest, and Lilac.

As these are not Stampin’ Up! colors I had to adjust a bit. I started with my first color combo but after seeing some of the challenge samples, I decided to tweak the colors a bit to better match the prompt.

Which one is your favorite?

💜 First Combo: Mossy Meadow, Petunia Pop, and Berry Burst

  • Spooky Sweet DSP (#166191)
A colorful fun fold Christmas card featuring a decorated holiday tree, playful snowman elements, and festive embellishments in vibrant purples and greens.
A fun fold card featuring a whimsical design with purple and green colors, showcasing a decorated Christmas tree along with holiday-themed embellishments like presents and a snowman. The card includes festive greetings.

💚 Second Combo (used in my live): Blackberry Bliss, Pretty Peacock, and Fresh Freesia

  • Season of Elegance DSP (#164144)
A colorful, handmade fun fold card featuring a winter scene with a whimsical snowman, a decorated Christmas tree, and a festive 'Merry Christmas' greeting.
A colorful fun fold card featuring a whimsical snowman with a top hat and accessories, surrounded by a Christmas tree and holiday gifts. The card is decorated with a 'Merry Christmas' message and is highlighted by purples and greens.
A festive fun fold card featuring a whimsical snowman, colorful holiday tree, and various decorative elements, set against a soft background. The card includes spaces for photos or messages.

Both versions share some fun common touches — I used Pool Party for the snow and Pecan Pie for the tree trunks and snowman twigs. ✨

To finish off the sparkle, I added:

  • Wink of Stella (#141897) for shimmer
  • Petunia Pop Iridescent Ribbon (#166203) for a soft, festive glow
  • Frosted Iridescent Dots (#165766) for a frosty finishing touch

These details gave the card just the right amount of shine and magic!

📏 I’ve included a picture of the measurements if you’d like to recreate this easy yet enchanting fun fold card yourself — it’s simple, sparkly, and so much fun to make!

A hand-drawn template showing measurements and scoring instructions for a fun fold card, labeled with dimensions and cut lines.

✨ If you missed my live, be sure to catch the replay and see how it all came together step-by-step! Plus you’ll want to catch the magic in action to see how this fun fold card opens to add surprise and delight to the receiver.

👉 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

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CandiceLeave a comment

⛄ Day 8 – Penguin Pals & Snowy Sketch Challenge!

Day 8 brought another fun sketch challenge, this time paired with the theme Penguin Pals — adorable chilly friends bundled up with scarves and hats! 🐧🧣

For this challenge, I decided to reach for one of my favorite retired snowman sets, along with a retired snowflake set and some shaker elements, to create a super fun and easy shaker card made with flip flaps. ❄️

The stylish shapes dies were perfect for creating my shaker window. If you want to learn how to make one of these cards, you can check out my tutorial video here:
🎥 How to Make a Flip Flap Shaker Card

For this design, I focused on cool winter blues, combining a few of this year’s beautiful In Colors — Cloud Cover and Secret Sea — with Misty Moonlight for depth. I added a pop of brightness with Poppy Parade, then finished it off with sparkle using Wink of Stella and the Misty Moonlight Silver-Edged Ribbon.

Our Blending Pens made coloring these snowmen super easy, and I added the perfect finishing touch with a few Hues of Blue flower embellishments, which remind me of snowflakes and matched perfectly with my color palette.

This fun shaker card is full of motion, shimmer, and joy — sure to delight and surprise anyone who receives it this holiday season! 💙✨

Shop with Me Here

  • 165930 Hues of Blue Flowers
  • 165931 Misty Moonlight Silver Embossed Ribbon
  • 159183 Stylish Shapes Dies
  • 163580 Spotlight on Nature Dies
  • 141897 Wink of Stella
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

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#StampinWithCandice #StamperCandi #CreativeSkills #StampinUp #ACardADayInNovember2025 #30DayChristmasCardMakingChallenge #ChristmasCards #HandmadeCards #ShakerCard #SnowmanCard #SketchChallenge #WinkOfStella #InColors2025 #CardMakingCommunity

CandiceLeave a comment