Tag: Challenges

30 Days of Christmas Card Inspiration — Let the Challenges Begin! 🎄

It’s that time of year again! Yay! 🎉 Who’s ready for another month of Christmas Card Challenges?

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I love a good creative challenge, and these Christmas Card Challenges are some of my favorites!

There’s just something about creating a card every day, trying new ideas, and seeing all the wonderful creations from other crafters that makes this time of year so much fun.

And once again, I’m taking on not one, but TWO Christmas Card Challenges! Of course, knowing me, I’ll probably throw in a few more along the way!

Two Christmas Card Challenges, Twice the Inspiration!

First up is A Card a Day in November — Christmas Edition, hosted by my friend Kevin of Kreations by Kevin.

This will be my third year participating, and I’m so excited to have been invited back as a guest presenter!

I’ll be going LIVE on November 3rd and 16th, sharing my take on each day’s challenge. You can catch these special Lives in Kevin’s Facebook group, on my Stampin’ With Candice Facebook page, or on YouTube.

And don’t forget, my regular Monday Lives this month will also be centered around the Christmas Card Challenges!

But guess what? There’s more!

Last year, I also participated in the 30 Day Christmas Card Making Challenge, hosted by Martin’s Mayhem, and I had so much fun that I couldn’t resist joining again this year!

Both challenges offer unique and creative prompts, and one of my favorite things is seeing if I can combine them into a single card.

Sometimes it works perfectly, and sometimes I end up creating two completely different cards!

I’ve even been known to throw in a Global Design Project Challenge or another creative challenge along the way. And this year, I have my own Create With Candice Creative Challenge to add to the mix!

Wow! That’s a lot of challenges for one month!

But more importantly, I’m hoping it brings you LOTS of creative inspiration.

While these challenges focus on Christmas cards, many of the layouts, techniques, fun folds, and ideas can easily be adapted for birthdays, thank-you cards, and so many other occasions.

Day 1 — Have Yourself a Mice Little Christmas Meets Merry & Bright! 🐭✨

What better way to kick off the month than with an adorable little Christmas mouse?

Today’s challenges were:

  • A Card a Day in November: Have Yourself a Mice Little Christmas
  • 30 Day Christmas Card Making Challenge: Merry & Bright — featuring shimmer, sparkle, and festive cheer!

I decided to combine both challenges using the Hearts & Hugs stamp set and Ornamental Christmas Dies from my stash.

And speaking of using what you already have, I went back to the fun fold I shared during last week’s Live!

If you caught that video, you might remember my Z-Fold Twist card. I loved how easy and versatile this design was, so I decided to switch things up a little and turn it horizontally for today’s Christmas cards.

And to make it even easier for you to give this fun fold a try, I’ve included a Z-Fold Twist Template below with all the measurements and scoring instructions for quick and easy reference. Be sure to save it for your next crafting session!

For my challenge card, I started with the adorable little mouse tucked inside the ornament opening and added some fun texture and sparkle.

But I couldn’t stop at just one!

Since the second challenge was Merry & Bright, I decided to create another version using a brighter, more playful color combination.

Now I can’t decide which one I like better!

Which would you choose?

❤️ The shimmer and shine of Cherry Cobbler and Barely Blush?

💚 Or the bright and cheerful combination of Lemon Lime Twist and Poppy Parade?

I love how changing the colors gives the same design a completely different feel!

One Fun Fold, So Many Possibilities!

One thing I love about this Z-Fold Twist is how easily you can change it up.

The opening doesn’t have to be an ornament, and the card doesn’t have to be for Christmas!

During last week’s Live, I shared several different samples showing how you can use this same fun fold and layout for all kinds of occasions and the card I created used the amazing Shimmering Star dies from the Product of the Month.

And the best part? It’s surprisingly easy to make!

Want to give it a try?

Be sure to check out the replay of last week’s Live, where I walk you through creating this fun fold and share several additional ideas.

Want to Join the Christmas Card Challenges?

Here’s the fun part — both challenges are open to anyone who wants to participate!

You don’t have to be an experienced card maker, and you don’t have to create a card every single day. Just jump in, have fun, and let the challenges inspire you! Or simply join just to see all the amazing ideas.

Both challenges are hosted on Facebook, where you can find the daily prompts and see what everyone is creating.

I’ll be sharing my cards throughout November on Facebook and Instagram, along with some fun reels, techniques, and videos.

And I’ve created a special page right here on my website dedicated to all 30 days of Christmas Card Inspiration!

Not every card will have its own blog post, but you’ll be able to find all my creations in one place, making it easy to come back for inspiration whenever you need it.

Would You Love a Handmade Christmas Card in Your Mailbox? 💌

Here’s one more fun way to celebrate the season!

I love making Christmas cards, but even more than that, I love sharing them!

If you’d enjoy receiving one of my handmade Christmas cards this year, I’d love to send one your way as a little thank-you for following along and being part of my creative community.

Simply sign up for my Christmas Card List, and you might just find a little handmade Christmas cheer arriving in your mailbox!

I’m looking forward to seeing all the wonderful creations, finding new inspiration, and having a little fun as we get ready for the holidays.

Here’s to 30 days of creativity, Christmas cheer, and maybe a few surprises along the way!

United States mailing addresses only. Your information will be used to mail your Christmas card and won’t be shared or added to my marketing email list unless you choose to subscribe.

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🎄 You're on My Christmas Card List!

Thank you for signing up! I’m so excited to send a little handmade Christmas cheer your way. Keep an eye on your mailbox this holiday season! In the meantime, feel free to explore my Creative Resource Library for more cardmaking inspiration. Happy Stamping! Candice ❤️

Happy Stamping!

Learn • Connect • Create • Grow

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.

💕 Let’s Stay Connected

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CandiceLeave a comment

Shining Stars & Holly Jolly Branches | Global Design Project #GDP568

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 🦋

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.

💕 Let’s Stay Connected

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Candice1 Comment

Create with Candice Challenge — It’s Finally Here!

If you know me, you know I love a good challenge and participate in many different ones. You may have noticed that I even have a page dedicated to sharing some of my favorite creative challenges—and in the last section, there has been a little teaser:

Create with Candice Challenges — Coming Soon!

Well, guess what? The wait is over!

If you joined me for my live on Monday, you got the first look at my very first Create with Candice Challenge!

Each challenge will last approximately one month, giving you plenty of time to create and participate. The challenges will change from month to month and could include sketches, colors, themes, techniques, CASE the Designer, or just about anything else I come up with!

Most importantly, I hope these challenges inspire you to pull out your supplies, try something new, and share your creativity with us.

You can find all the information about how to participate, share your projects, and become one of my Featured Creators on the Create with Candice Challenge page. And while you’re there, be sure to jump over to my Creative Challenges page for even more challenges and inspiration.

Our First Challenge — #CWCC001

Before you go, let me introduce you to our very first Create with Candice Creative Challenge!

This month I’m starting with a super-easy sketch challenge. I honestly fell in love with this layout and had a hard time stopping once I started creating with it!

During my live, I shared how to create the Flamingo and Walrus cards, demonstrating how easily the same sketch can be adapted to both vertical and horizontal card designs.

But I didn’t stop there!

Be sure to scroll through and check out all the different cards I created using this fun design, along with the card that inspired it all (the Halloween Witches Hat). I think you’ll be surprised by just how many different looks you can get from one simple sketch.

Now it’s your turn!

Use the sketch as your starting point and make it your own. Turn it, flip it, change the shapes, keep it simple, or dress it up—the sketch is there to inspire you, not limit you.

Then share your creation using #CWCC001 and #CreateWithCandice so we can see what you create and inspire one another.

I can’t wait to see what you come up with, share your creativity throughout the month, and send a little happy mail to our Featured Creator!

Happy Stampin’! 🦋

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.

💕 Let’s Stay Connected

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CandiceLeave a comment

Creating Depth with One Color: Card Making Tips

This week’s #TGIFC587 challenge was all about tone-on-tone, and I decided to really challenge myself by creating an entire card using just one color.

Rather than choosing a color you would typically expect with the Notes of Collage Bundle, I reached for Gray Granite. This is a sneak peek bundle (and I’m not even sure when it will be released!), but I couldn’t wait to create with it. I have to say… I absolutely love how this card turned out.

One of my goals was to show that a monochromatic card doesn’t have to feel flat. By layering several simple techniques, I was able to create lots of depth, texture, and contrast while staying true to a single color palette.

For the background, I die cut one of the abstract images and used the piece as a mask with a blending brush to softly add ink. Afterwards, I made sure my Gray Granite ink pad was freshly reinked so I could stamp the large leaf at full strength twice, then stamped the wispy leaf a several times using the stamp off technique for a softer, lighter impression.

To add even more texture, I distressed the edges of the cardstock with my scissors before gently crinkling the panel. A little more Gray Granite ink brushed over the edges and creases helped highlight all of that wonderful texture. The delicate die-cut leaves, cut from Gray Granite cardstock, really stand out against the inked background without introducing another color.

I kept the sentiment monochromatic as well by stamping “I’m Here for You” in Gray Granite on a die-cut label. Finally, I finished the card with Gray Granite Variegated Ribbon and a few Mosaic Dots for just the right amount of sparkle and elegance.

This card was a wonderful reminder that sometimes limiting yourself creatively can actually open the door to new ideas. It’s amazing how much interest you can create with a single color by simply varying the depth of ink, layering textures, and adding dimension.

Have you ever challenged yourself to create a true monochromatic card using just one color? I’d love to hear which color you would choose or better yet share your creation in the comments or on my social media.

No matter where your creative journey takes you, I’m so glad you’re here. Let’s learn, create, connect, and grow together—one project at a time. 🦋

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.

💕 Let’s Stay Connected

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CandiceLeave a comment