Tag: Christmas Cards

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.

A close-up of a handmade winter card featuring vibrant pink poinsettias, green leaves, a cozy cocoa mug with whipped topping, and decorative sequins against a soft, watercolor background.
Close-up view of a handcrafted card featuring a pink poinsettia flower, green leaves, and a cozy mug of cocoa with whipped topping.
Close-up of a festive winter card featuring a watercolored poinsettia, a mug of cocoa topped with whipped cream, and a decorative sentiment that reads 'warm wishes from our home to yours,' arranged around a gold hoop.

☕️ 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.

A festive card interior featuring a 'Merry Christmas' greeting in red script, surrounded by colorful sequins and a red poinsettia flower on a white background, all framed by a green border and a red card base.
Graphic for the 'Card a Day in November' challenge featuring the theme 'Pinecone & Poinsettia Elegance,' with a wintery blue background and decorative snowflakes.
Graphic announcing Day 29 of the 30 Day Christmas Card Making Challenge, themed 'Cocoa & Company', encouraging designs of cozy mugs and winter comfort.

✨ 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!
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andersoncandice@hotmail.com

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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.

A festive card featuring a pink tree die cut on a tag, with the word 'merry' in blue, placed on a light blue background. The card is adorned with light blue ribbon and colorful embellishments.
A decorated tag featuring a pink and white Christmas tree with glitter accents, the word 'merry' in blue, and pink sequins on a light blue background.
Graphic promoting Day 24 of a Christmas card making challenge, featuring the text 'Tree-mendous Wishes' with a snowy background and pine tree silhouettes.
Graphic for Day 24 of a Christmas card making challenge featuring the theme 'Twinkle All the Way' with instructions to add sparkle, light strings, or starry elements.
A handmade card featuring a decorated tag with a pink and gold Christmas tree and the word 'merry,' placed on a blue cardstock background.
A colorful holiday card featuring a pink and silver glittery Christmas tree with the word 'merry' in blue, embellished with pink sequins and set against a light blue 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!

A festive card featuring a translucent tree design with a snowman in a winter scene, surrounded by colorful sequins, on a pink and blue background with the text 'tis the season' at the top.
A festive shaker card featuring a clear tree shape filled with sequins and a snowman drawing, set against a pink polka dot background with a sentiment that says 'tis the season.'
A colorful card featuring the word 'JOY' in white, embellished with sparkly ribbons and layered iridescent elements in shades of pink and purple.

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

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Day 22 – A Little Bit of Festive Flora & Oh Deer!

Silly Deer Mishaps + Paper Pumpkin Fun

Today’s challenge theme brought together two fun ideas: festive flora and oh deer—and that instantly reminded me of this month’s Paper Pumpkin kit and its adorably silly deer mishaps. The original kit was designed to create cute tags and gift boxes, but you know me… I couldn’t resist turning those tags into full cards!

A layout sketch for a card-making challenge, featuring a framed design in pale pink against a light blue background.

The TGIFC551 Sketch Challenge (even though it’s finished now) was the perfect layout inspiration. I loved the balance and simplicity of the sketch, and it translated beautifully to both tag designs in the kit.

Transforming the Tag into a Card

To bring out the playful “oh deer!” vibe, I reached for one of my favorite retired sets: Cookie-Cutter Christmas (#142043) with the coordinating punch. That sweet little deer was exactly what the project needed.

I added a festive pop using the Real Red Shiny Ribbon (#165876)—a tiny bow with a big holiday statement!

For the card base, I stamped the Linen Background Stamp (#167107) to add soft texture without overwhelming the design. It really ties everything together and gives the card a more polished look.

The end result?
A fun, festive, simple-to-create card that came together quickly and still feels special and works for both the challenges.

Bonus Card!

Two handmade Christmas cards featuring festive designs, one with a reindeer and a red ribbon, and the other with holiday greenery and a bow.
A handmade Christmas card featuring a festive red and green tag design, adorned with a white bow and greenery, and a 'Merry Christmas' sentiment.

Since I loved the layout so much, I used the second tag design from the kit to create an additional card using the same sketch. Paper Pumpkin always makes it so easy to branch out and try new ideas—whether you follow the directions as-is or grab your supplies and create something entirely different.

Why I Love Paper Pumpkin

These kits are truly creativity sparkers:
✨ Quick projects
✨ Beautiful designs
✨ Endless alternate possibilities

And you never miss out when you’re subscribed!

Click Here to Subscribe

Be sure to sign up so you always get your kit—
or even better, save on prepaid subscriptions starting December 1st!

Promotional image for Paper Pumpkin subscription featuring customizable sentiment stamps and a floral design on a watercolor background.
A card featuring the message 'miss you so much' surrounded by decorative paper cutouts of leaves and flowers, with gold sequins on a textured blue background.
Graphic promoting Cyber Monday savings for Paper Pumpkin subscriptions, featuring a decorative box with tissue paper against a red background.

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

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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 2 – Two Challenges, One Design!

Don’t you just love it when a single layout and stamp set can do double (or even triple!) duty? Today’s projects prove just how versatile our crafting supplies can be!

For Day 2 of my Christmas card challenges, I reached for the Jar of Joy stamp set and punch to create two different cards using the same layout design. With just a few tweaks to color and embellishments, I was able to make each card fit its challenge theme perfectly—and they both turned out so fun and festive!

A Christmas card design featuring a snowman in a jar, surrounded by a glittery blue background and white accents, with the text 'may your heart be filled with joy'.
A festive Christmas card featuring a snowman inside a jar with snowflakes in the background and a message that reads, 'may your heart be filled with.'
Promotion image for Day 2 of a Christmas card making challenge titled 'Winter Wonderland', featuring a blue and white snowy background with text overlay.
A close-up of a Christmas card featuring a decorated jar filled with a gingerbread man and hearts, with the text 'may your heart be filled with joy'. The card has a soft purple background with snowflake embossing.
A festive handmade card featuring a jar filled with gingerbread cookies, decorated with pink accents and the sentiment 'may your heart be filled with joy.' The card has a collage-style layout with textured white and pink backgrounds.
Graphic for Day 2 of the 30 Day Christmas Card Making Challenge featuring a light blue snowy background with white text. The text includes '30 Day Christmas Card Making Challenge' at the top, 'Day 2' in a circular design, and 'Candy Cottage' with a description of 'Sugary colours, sweet details, and gingerbread charm.'

Here’s what I took on today:
✨ #ACardADayInNovember – Day 2: Winter Wonderland
🍭 #30DayChristmasCardMakingChallenge – Day 2: Candy Cottage

I combined both designs with a layout inspired by the Holiday Catalog, and I’m loving how they capture two completely different holiday vibes while using the same creative foundation. One card feels frosty and elegant, while the other is sweet and whimsical—proof that one good layout can spark endless possibilities!

If you’re following along with these challenges, try using the same layout or stamp set for multiple prompts this week. It’s a fun way to stretch your creativity and make the most of your supplies.

🫙 Jar of Joy Bundle

💖 Ready to add this adorable bundle to your collection?

Create endless sweet and festive projects with the
✨ Jar of Joy Photopolymer Stamp Set
and the coordinating
🍬 Sweet Jar Builder Punch.

Both are available now on my Stampin’ Up! website — just click the product names above or tap below to shop directly through my demo store:

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This week’s project is my little tribute to a retiring favorite — the Beside Me stamp set. I used the #GDP490 layout as inspiration to create a heartfelt farewell card. Swipe to see how it turned out! #lastchancelist #stampinup #handmadecards

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

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Curvy Snowman Card

I created this card to show case some of the products from the quite curvy bundle that is available now through January 4, 2021. The Quite Curvy Stamp Set and Curvy Dies will be in the Jan – Jun Mini catalog; however, if you want the Christmas stamp set that I’ve used or the paper you’ll want to make sure to get it before this promotion is over.

I’ve created a video with step by step instructions showing you how to use the dies to create your own card with this unique way of opening. I look forward to seeing what you come up with. Please feel free to share your creations in the comments or on my Facebook Page.

For your convenience I’ve created a PDF of all the products needed to create this project. I’ve also include the PDF with all the information about the Quite Curvy Bundles and promotion. Remember you can order them on my website at www.candiceanderson.stampinup.net.

In the video I said that I would create a card with the piece that I cut out of the pool party. I’ve use the designers series paper ( #155969 for $11.50) from the Quite Curvy Bundle to complete the card. I’ve also created alternate samples using the Warm and Toasty stamp set from the current Holiday catalog. I’d love to know your thoughts. Please share in the comments which stamp set you prefer the Snowman or Warm and Toasty.

Additional products used:

Warm and Toasty stamp set (#152615 for $22.00) from the current Holiday catalog
Snowman Builder Punch (#150643 for $18.00)
Snowflake Splendor 1/4″ Ribbon (153541 for $8.00) from the current Holiday catalog
Timeless Label Punch (#149516 for $18.00)
Wink of Stella Glitter Brush (#141897 for $8.00)

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