This holiday season, I had the pleasure of creating five vibrant and whimsical Christmas cards using Lisa Horton’s All About Christmas collection for Spellbinders. This set is filled with versatile dies and stencils that make layering and design incredibly fun. I incorporated the Lots of Circles stencil, Lots of Stripes die, Essential Stars die, Christmas Foliage, Bells and Bows Die and Little Birdies die, bringing each card to life with Distress Oxide inks in Villainous Potion, Dusty Concord, Rustic Wilderness, and Bundled Sage. Each card has its own unique design and personality, yet together they feel like a coordinated holiday collection. Let’s take a closer look at each one.
Card One – Bells & Boughs Delight
Creating the Background
For this design, I wanted a soft and subtle base that would let the focal elements shine. I lightly ink-blended Bundled Sage Distress Oxide around the center of the panel, fading toward the edges. A soft patterned background peeks out from beneath the scalloped white frame, adding extra interest without overpowering the scene.
Building the Scene
The focal point is a beautiful branch holding a pair of golden bells. I die-cut the bells from metallic gold cardstock for a luxe holiday feel and topped them with a bold purple bow, blending Villainous Potion and Dusty Concord for depth. The branch adds a natural, grounding element in deep brown.
Adding the Bird
To complement the bells, I perched a little bird on the branch. The bird was blended in shades of purple, with a green winter hat inked in Rustic Wilderness for a cozy seasonal touch. This pop of character brings the whole scene to life.
Sentiment & Final Touches
A gold die-cut “Happy Holidays” banner was added across the bottom portion of the frame. The warm metallic matches the bells perfectly, tying the design together for a polished and festive finish.
Card Two – Starry Holiday Wishes
Bold Background Play
This card started with the Lots of Circles stencil, where I blended Bundled Sage Distress Oxide in varying intensities to create a playful dotted background. The circular pattern adds movement and contrast to the angular star shapes.
Layering the Stars
I cut a large star from gold mirror cardstock for maximum shine, then layered it with two offset stars in purple. The deeper purple was shaded with Villainous Potion, while the lighter layer was softly blended with Dusty Concord for dimension.
Accents & Composition
Smaller stars were scattered across the background in both gold and purple, drawing the eye around the design. I kept the placement asymmetrical to create a sense of whimsy and flow.
Sentiment & Shine
A gold die-cut “Happy Holidays” banner sits across the central star cluster, adding both texture and festive sparkle. The gold-on-gold effect, accented by purple, makes this card feel both luxurious and joyful.
Card Three – Golden Gate Blooms
Framing the Background
For this design, I chose a patterned leafy background for a lush, botanical feel. Over this, I layered the Lots of Stripes die cut from metallic gold cardstock, giving the appearance of a decorative gate or window frame.
Floral Focal Point
The Christmas Foliage die set was perfect for adding seasonal greenery and blooms. I built a cluster of holly leaves, berries, and a vibrant purple flower. The petals were shaded with Villainous Potion for richness, while the leaves received a soft touch of Rustic Wilderness.
Depth & Details
Layering the foliage over the gold frame gave the card depth, while a few tucked-in branches helped the arrangement feel natural. The combination of metallic and matte textures creates a balanced, elegant look.
Sentiment Placement
The “Happy Holidays” foiled banner was placed slightly overlapping the foliage, drawing attention to the greeting while keeping it integrated into the overall design.
Card Four – Perched Among the Stars
Creating the Soft Backdrop
Once again, I brought out the Lots of Circles stencil, softly blending Bundled Sage Distress Oxide across the card base. The lighter tones kept the focus on the bold gold elements in the foreground.
Star & Banner Arrangement
I used a rectangle panel and cut stars around it from gold mirror cardstock, arranging them in a staggered formation across the center panel. This layered approach gave a modern, geometric feel.
Adding the Bird
To keep the playful charm of the collection, I added a little purple bird perched on a brown branch that overlaps the gold shapes. The bird’s green hat adds a fresh pop of color.
Sentiment Finish
The “Christmas Wishes” gold banner sits neatly along the bottom, balancing the design and reinforcing the warm, celebratory theme.
Card Five – Delivering Joy
Background Design
For the last card, I blended Bundled Sage through the Lots of Circles stencil, but this time kept the ink lighter for a softer base. Over it, I placed a diagonal striped frame cut with the Lots of Stripes die, pairing gold metallic with crisp white backing for a candy-cane-like feel.
The Winter Birds
Two purple birds take center stage, each wearing a tiny green winter hat. The hats were shaded with Rustic Wilderness, and the birds’ bodies were deepened with Villainous Potion for contrast.
Adding Winter Touches
I added snowy branches for the birds to sit in, cutting them in brown and layering white accents for the snow. This small detail adds to the seasonal charm.
Finishing with Foil
The “Delivering Joy” gold sentiment banner sits across the lower portion of the frame, tying the metallic elements together while perfectly matching the cheerful theme.
Creating this set of five holiday cards was a joyful process, thanks to the versatility of Lisa Horton’s All About Christmas collection for Spellbinders. Each card has its own unique layout and design focuc, whether it’s bells, stars, blooms, or birds, but they all share a cohesive color palette of purples, greens, and golds. By mixing stenciled backgrounds, metallic die-cuts, and hand-inked accents, I was able to create a festive, coordinated collection that’s ready to spread cheer this holiday season.
Hugs,
Jyoti
Lots of Stripes Etched Dies Shop at: SB |
Bow & Bell Scallop Frame Etched Dies Shop at: SB |
Essential Stars Etched Dies Shop at: SB |
Christmas Foliage Etched Dies Shop at: SB |
Little Birdies Etched Dies Shop at: SB |
Lots of Circles Stencils Shop at: SB |
