This week’s Global Design Project Challenge #GDP568 was another fun CASE the Designer challenge, featuring the talented Krista Frattin!
All week long, I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to create for this challenge. I had a few ideas floating around, but nothing was really coming together. Then, toward the end of the week, my Stampin’ Up! order arrived with this month’s Product of the Month — the Shining Stars Dies! ⭐
OMG! I was so excited to get my hands on these dies, and as soon as I saw them, I knew they would be perfect for this challenge!
I decided to pair them with the Holly Jolly Branches Bundle and step a little outside my usual Christmas color palette. I took inspiration from Krista’s beautiful colors, changing them up just slightly to give my card a more festive feel.
And I have to say, I absolutely LOVE how it turned out!
Creating the Background & Adding Layers
I started with Lost Lagoon for my background, stamping a subtle pattern of stars using white ink. I love how the soft white stars add interest without taking away from the focal point.
Next, I stamped my Christmas tree in Old Olive and began building layers with the Holly Jolly Branches Bundle and Shining Stars Dies.
To add a little sparkle, I die-cut several trees and stars using Silver Foil Sheets. I love how the metallic accents catch the light and give the card that extra touch of holiday magic!
A Sneak Peek at Something New!
One of my favorite details on this card might be a little difficult to see in the pictures.
The greeting, several of the trees, and some of the stars were all die-cut from the new Textured Canvas Specialty Paper, coming in November as part of Stampin’ Up!’s Online Exclusives!
This paper is so cool! It adds a beautiful, soft texture to your projects, but what’s even better is that you can stamp directly onto it!
I also used a Blending Brush to add Old Olive ink to a few of the canvas stars, giving them a little extra color and dimension. It’s such a simple way to customize the paper while still allowing that wonderful texture to show through.
One of the things I love most about being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator is getting early access to new products like this!
And speaking of being a demonstrator, there’s an awesome joining special happening in October! If you’ve ever thought about joining my team, I’d love to share more with you. You can also visit the GROW section of my blog to learn more about the creative opportunities and benefits of being part of my team.
Ribbon, Stars & a Little Whimsy
To finish building my design, I added some Barely Blush stars and ribbon, along with the new Cherry Cobbler Striped Grosgrain Ribbon.
We’ve had ribbon similar to this in the past, and it’s always been one of my favorites for Christmas projects. There’s just something about those festive stripes!
But did you notice the wispy ribbon flurries tucked behind the trees?
This is such a fun technique, and it’s one I recently shared when creating my Spooktacular Gift Bags!
By carefully pulling out one of the main threads from the ribbon, you can separate the fibers and create these wonderful, delicate wisps. I tucked them behind my trees, letting them loop and flow naturally across the card.
I love how they add movement, texture, and a little bit of whimsy without overwhelming the design.
For the finishing touches, I added a few Iridescent Pearls and layered my Lost Lagoon panel onto Cherry Cobbler cardstock, all mounted on a Barely Blush card base.
Those little details really brought everything together!
Sometimes the Best Projects Are the Unexpected Ones!
When I first sat down to create this card, I really wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out. I had a general idea, a new set of dies I couldn’t wait to play with, a color palette that was a little different from my usual Christmas combinations, and beautiful challenge sample for inspiration.
But once I started creating, everything came together surprisingly easily!
I love the mix of textures, the unexpected colors, and all those wonderful layers. It’s definitely one of those cards that looks more complicated than it actually is and has that WOW factor I love!
That’s one of the reasons I enjoy participating in creative challenges so much. They encourage me to try something different, look at my supplies in a new way, and sometimes discover combinations I might never have thought to use.
What do you think? Would you use Lost Lagoon, Old Olive, Barely Blush, and Cherry Cobbler for a Christmas card?
Have You Gotten Your Shining Stars Dies Yet?
If the Shining Stars Dies aren’t already on your wish list, you might want to add them! ⭐
They’re this month’s Stampin’ Up! Product of the Month, which means you can purchase them for just $5 with a qualifying $75 order!
I have a feeling these dies are going to be popular, so I wouldn’t wait too long if you want to grab a set before they’re gone.
Ready to shop? Visit my online store at candiceanderson.stampinup.net.
And remember to check out the other amazing creations for #GDP568. There’s always so much inspiration to be found!
Happy Stamping!
Learn • Connect • Create • Grow 🦋
