Category: Christmas

Is “Fast & Easy” your cardmaking jam? Stencils for the win!
Two stencils and a couple of pre-coloured & cut elements … easy peasy.

Would you like to experiment with a design like this? You’ll find a supply list below, including a link to the stencils I used from A Colorful Life Designs. Follow the link and use discount code ChrisFan10 to save 10% on your entire order! (Master Creator Bundles are excluded as they already have a 20% discount built in.)

Let’s get Started:

Card Base: 5.5 x 8.5, scored and folded at 4.25

Card Face: 5.25 x 4

Card Face:
- I laid the card face onto my Grip Mat and then positioned the Fine Snowflakes stencil: I applied white pigment ink on all exposed areas, using a heavy hand to ensure good saturation.
- After removing this stencil, I replaced it with the Tree Edger #1 stencil, positioning this approximately half way down the page (horizonally).
- I used the same white pigment ink to create a tree line, with a lighter hand than I had used for the snowflakes.
- I moved the stencil down and repeated this step, to create a second tree line directly below the first.
- I used a white gel pen to add dots of snow to the night sky.
Other:
- The wee house and tree were already stamped, coloured and cut out, waiting in my Ready to Go binder, as was the sentiment. I pulled all three out for use on this card.
Assembly
- I glued the card face to the card base, centering on all sides.
- I glued the house in the middle of the card, just a bit up from the bottom.
- I added the tree as shown, overlapping the house slightly.
- I added the sentiment to the upper left.
- I added rhinestones to the center of each snowflake.
Final Thoughts:

This is a very outside-the-box card for me: both design wise and as a Christmas card. None the less, I like it!

Supplies: (and links where possible)

   I have listed which products I have used, and where they may be purchased. It’s a huge marketplace and in most instances, there are multiple sources and many alternatives to choose from.

Stencil:

Fine Snowflakes: A Colorful Life Designs

Christmas Tree Edger #1, A Colorful Life Designs

Waffle Flower Grip Mat, 8.5 x 6.5, Scrapbook.com

Versamark Embossing Ink: Simon Says Stamp

White Gel Pen: Arteza, Amazon

Clear Embossing Powder, Wow, Simon Says Stamp

Stamps & Coordinating Dies: Stampin’ Up! (retired)

Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up!

Versafine Onyx, Simon Says Stamp

Memento Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Alcohol Markers:

     Stampin’ Blends: Stampin’ Up!

     Copics: Wallacks

Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

Card Base & Card Face: Accent 100 lb., Amazon

Do you have comments or thoughts to share on this design? Drop me a line in the Comments Section below – I’d love to hear from you!

You can also use the Comments Section to be notified when I release new work.

Fine Snowflakes by A Colorful Life Designs

Christmas Tree Edger #1, by A Colorful Life Designs
10/26/2025
Making Cards or Making Mischief ? sometimes you can have both!
Peaceful & calm outside, but inside? Mischief and mayhem!

Would you like to experiment with a design like this? You’ll find a supply list below, including a link to the stencils I used from A Colorful Life Designs. Follow the link and use discount code ChrisFan10 to save 10% on your entire order! (Master Creator Bundles are excluded as they already have a 20% discount built in.)

Let’s get Started:

Card Base: 5.5 x 8.5, scored and folded at 4.25

Card Face: 5.5 x 4.25

Card Face:
- I stamped the trees roughly in the center of the paper using Memento black ink. I coloured the trees with alcohol markers.
- I placed the card face onto the grip mat, and then added one of the Arches stencils, centering the opening around the trees.
- Using a light hand, I added blue ink in the open areas.
- I added snow to the scene by spattering white metallic watercolour into the opening, directly over the image.
- I removed the Arches stencil and placed the Floor Perspective stencil towards the bottom of the card face, immediately under the window. I used brown ink across the open areas. I wanted to continue the floor pattern across the entire width of the card face, so I moved the stencil to the right and tried to line up the pattern before applying ink again. (you can see that I was not entirely successful!) I repeated this on the left side of the card face, extending the tiled floor there as well.
- I protected the window image created earlier by adding the corresponding mask to cover the inked area completely. I used a loop of low-tack tape on the back of the mask to keep it in place.
- Using a strip of low tack tape to mask the edge of the floor, I added yellow ink to the top of the card face around the window.
- I put the Sparkles stencil in place and added the same yellow ink across the exposed areas, creating a tone on tone pattern.
- I added light grey ink to the border area between the floor and wall to create shadow.
- I put the mask back in place over the window and traced around this with a black marker. I used a ruler and the same black marker to create the window panes within this border.
Other:
- I had previously stamped and coloured the image of the dog with the string of lights: I fussy cut around the image. To give this just a bit more “pop” I used a clear medium over the Christmas bulbs – this added a bit of depth and a lot of shine.
- I looked through my sentiment binder and found one that worked perfectly with the scene.
Assembly
- I glued the card face to the card base.
- I glued the dog in place.
- I added the sentiment across the center of the trees.
Final Thoughts:

Supplies: (and links where possible)

This card involved a lot of design on the fly …. I started the process with the idea of using the Arches stencil, and no real plan. It created itself as I went along (something that happens often in my craftroom), and once I had added the floor, wallpaper and outlined the window I thought the card was done.

When I went back and had another look the following week, I realized it still needed “something”. So I looked through my pre-coloured images and discovered the perfect final touch.

I love it when serendipity strikes!

Supplies:

   I have listed which products I have used, and where they may be purchased. It’s a huge marketplace and in most instances, there are multiple sources and many alternatives to choose from.

Stencils:

Marvellous Masks Arches, A Colorful Life Designs

Floor Perspective, A Colorful Life Designs

Sparkles, A Colorful Life Designs

Waffle Flower Grip Mat, 8.5 x 6.5, Scrapbook.com

Versamark Embossing Ink: Simon Says Stamp

Clear Embossing Powder, Wow, Simon Says Stamp

Stamps:

Dog: Christmas Fun, Penny Black, Amazon

Trees: Impression Obsession (no longer in business)

Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up!

Versafine Onyx, Simon Says Stamp

Memento Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Alcohol Markers:

     Stampin’ Blends: Stampin’ Up!

     Copics: Wallacks

Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

Card Base & Card Face: Accent 100 lb., Amazon

Do you have comments or thoughts to share on this design? Drop me a line in the Comments Section below – I’d love to hear from you!

You can also use the Comments Section to be notified when I release new work

Marvellous Masks Arches by A Colorful Life Designs

Sparkles by A Colorful Life Designs

Floor Perspective by A Colorful Life Designs
10/25/2025
Create Beautiful Christmas Cards with Stencils
Would you like to experiment with a design like this? You’ll find a supply list below, including a link to the stencils I used from A Colorful Life Designs. Follow the link and use discount code ChrisFan10 to save 10% on your entire order! (Master Creator Bundles are excluded as they already have a 20% discount built in.)

Let’s get Started:

Card Base: 5.5 x 8.5, scored and folded at 4.25

Border Layer: 5.25 x 4

Card Face: 5 ⅛ x 3 7/8

Card Face:
- I stamped the girl and the tree using black Memento ink, and then coloured them in using alcohol markers.
- I laid the card face onto my Grip Mat and positioned the Diagonal Weave stencil. I used light gray ink and a soft hand to add this pattern to the background, carefully avoiding the two coloured images.
- I wasn’t entirely satisfied at this point: after mulling over my options I pulled out the Glittering Hearts stencil and added that to the background as well, using the same gray ink, and once again a very light hand. This provided enough detail in the background to support the two images, while the soft colour didn’t compete with them for attention.
- I placed the card face into my stamp positioner and added the sentiment in red ink, stamping a few times to get the saturation I wanted.
Assembly
- I glued the red border layer to the card base, and then added the card face on top, centering both of these layers carefully.
- I added a small, textured red heart above the sentiment.
Final Thoughts:

I am happy with this card – the two stencils worked together perfectly to fill in that background, providing just enough visual interest.

Supplies: (and links where possible)

   I have listed which products I have used, and where they may be purchased. It’s a huge marketplace and in most instances, there are multiple sources and many alternatives to choose from.

Stencils

Diagonal Weave, A Colorful Life Designs

Glittering Hearts, A Colorful Life Designs:

Waffle Flower Grip Mat, 8.5 x 6.5, Scrapbook.com

Stamps: Impression Obsession (no longer in business)

Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up!

Memento Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Alcohol Markers:

     Stampin’ Blends: Stampin’ Up!

     Copics: Wallacks

Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

Card Base & Card Face: Accent 100 lb., Amazon

Do you have comments or thoughts to share on this design? Drop me a line in the Comments Section below – I’d love to hear from you!

You can also use the Comments Section to be notified when I release new work

Diagonal Weave by a Colorful Life Designs

Glittering Hearts by a Colorful Life Designs
10/23/2025
Step-by-Step Guide to Gingerbread Card Design
Would you like to experiment with a design like this? You’ll find a supply list below, including a link to the stencil I used from A Colorful Life Designs. Follow the link and use discount code ChrisFan10 to save 10% on your entire order! (Master Creator Bundles are excluded as they already have a 20% discount built in.)

Let’s get Started:

Card Base: 5.5 x 8.5, scored and folded at 4.25

Border Layer: 5.5 x 4.25

Card Face: 5 ⅜ x 4 ⅛

“Snow” layer: 5.5 x 4.25

Card Face:
- I laid the card face down on the Grip Mat, then positioned the stencil to use the house’s outline.
- I applied light brown ink with a very soft hand to this portion of the stencil, adding a little extra pressure around the edges to add depth and visual interest.
- I repositioned the stencil to add the details to the house. Masking off portions of the stencil as necessary, I grabbed my small blending brushes and added the door, windows, and trim to the house, adding additional colour saturation where shown to create visual interest.
- I added “snow” to the house by colouring in each portion with an embossing pen, adding white embossing powder and setting it with my heat gun.
- There is also a small detail inside the smoke coming out of the chimney – I coloured this with my embossing pen, added holographic embossing powder and set it with my heat gun.
- I added definition by using a black fine liner to outline the house and around each of the detail areas: I also added “bricks” to the chimney.
- I used a soft hand and light blue ink around the house to remove the harsh contrast between the house and the stark white paper.
- I positioned the die on the card face and ran it through the Big Shot to create the sentiment.
Other:
- I pulled out my “someday” binder and grabbed a gingerbread girl who had been coloured and fussy cut, and was just waiting for a chance to shine on a card.
- I tore one edge of the snow layer, creating hills and valleys on that edge; I tore this piece in two, creating additional hills and valleys in the second tear.
Assembly:
- I glued the card face to the card base.
- I glued the upper layer of the snow in place, and then added the lower one, overlapping the two.
- Before the second layer was fully dry I added the gingerbread girl, tucking one lower edge in behind the snow just slightly.
- I trimmed all layers evenly at the bottom.
Final Thoughts:

I love the look of that debossed sentiment on this card.

When I added the micro liner around the chimney, I somehow managed to smudge the ink slightly – that detail grabs my eye and frustrates me so much!

Over all I like the card, and was delighted to create a home for my gingerbread girl.

Supplies: (and links where possible)

I have listed which products I have used, and where they may be purchased. It’s a huge marketplace and in most instances, there are multiple sources and many alternatives to choose from.

Stencil: Gingerbread House, A Colorful Life Designs

Waffle Flower Grip Mat, 8.5 x 6.5, Scrapbook.com

Embossing Pen: Ranger, Amazon

Hollographic Embossing Powder: Ranger, R&R Scrapbooking

White Embossing Powder: Wow, R& R Scrapbooking

Stamps: Gingerbread girl: Your Next Stamp (no longer in business)

Dies: Impression Obsession (no longer in business)

Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up!

Detail Blending Brushes: Waffle Flower, Glitter & Ink

Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

Card Base & Card Face: Accent 100 lb., Amazon

Do you have comments or thoughts to share on this design? Drop me a line in the Comments Section below – I’d love to hear from you!

You can also use the Comments Section to be notified when I release new work.

Gingerbread House by A Colorful Life Designs
10/15/2025
Easy Steps for Beautiful Handcrafted Cards
My wish for you this year, next year and always.

Would you like to experiment with a design like this? You’ll find a supply list below, including a link to the stencil I used from A Colorful Life Designs. Follow the link and use discount code ChrisFan10 to save 10% on your entire order! (Master Creator Bundles are excluded as they already have a 20% discount built in.)

Let’s get Started:

Card Base: 5.5 x 8.5, scored and folded at 4.25

Copper Border Layer: 5.5 x 4.25

Card Face: 5.25 x 4

Card Face:
- I laid the card face on the Grip Mat and then positioned the stencil.
- I applied light green ink with a soft hand over all exposed areas.
- I allowed the ink to dry ( this only took minutes, but is a critical step when working with embossing powder).
- I put the card face into my stamp positioner and added the sentiment and the spatters using Versamark embossing ink.
- I sprinkled copper embossing powder over the surface, and set it with my heat gun.
Other:
- I positioned a rounded-corner rectangular die in the center of the card face. I added the next largest die around this.
- After ensuring that there was equal spacing all the way between the two dies, I ran it through the Big Shot. This created that copper outline in the center of the card.
Assembly
- I glued the copper border layer to the card base.
- I glued the card face on top of these, centering on all sides.
- I put the center piece in place, carefully centering on all sides.
- I added three small gold embellishments to finish the card.
Final Thoughts:

I’m a sucker for the unexpected in design, so I love negative images. This is an old, long retired stamp set, but I pull it out every year to make Christmas cards.

Supplies: (and links where possible)

I have listed which products I have used, and where they may be purchased. It’s a huge marketplace and in most instances, there are multiple sources and many alternatives to choose from.

Stencil: Christmas Montage, A Colorful Life Designs

Waffle Flower Grip Mat, 8.5 x 6.5, Scrapbook.com

Versamark Embossing Ink: Simon Says Stamp

Copper Embossing Powder, Wow, R&R Scrapbooking

Stamps: Stampin’ Up! (retired)

Dies: Rounded Corner Rectangle Infinity Dies, Hero Arts

Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up!

Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

Card Bling: A Colorful Life Designs

Cream Card Base & Card Face: Recollections, 110 lb., Michaels

Do you have comments or thoughts to share on this design? Drop me a line in the Comments Section below – I’d love to hear from you!

You can also use the Comments Section to be notified when I release new work.

Christmas Montage by A Colorful Life Designs
10/10/2025
Easy Steps to Craft a Santa Card
Even the Big Guy needs a break and some fresh air every now and then!

Would you like to experiment with a design like this? You’ll find a supply list below, including a link to the stencil I used from A Colorful Life Designs. Follow the link and use discount code ChrisFan10 to save 10% on your entire order! (Master Creator Bundles are excluded as they already have a 20% discount built in.)

Let’s get Started:

Card Base: 5.5 x 8.5, scored and folded at 4.25

Stamped Layer: 5.25 x 4

Card Face: 5.25 x 4

Card Face:
- I brushed blue ink onto the top two-thirds of the the card face, allowing variations in depth to create the look of clouds.
- I placed the card face onto the grip mat, and positioned the stencil about ¾ of the way down the card face. I used green ink to create the tree line.
- I shifted the stencil up and over (to allow the trees to fall in between those in the first row) and created a second row, overlapping where necessary.
- I put the card face into the stamp positioner and added the sentiment in the upper left, using Versafine Onyx.
Other:
- I stamped Santa on the second piece of cardstock, placing him towards the bottom right.
- I coloured this with alcohol markers, adding a shadow under him and the ski track behind him in the snow as well.
- I drew a curved hillside behind Santa, and then cut along that line and also carefully cut around the upper half of Santa.
Assembly
- I glued the card face to the card base, and the layer with the cut out Santa on top of these.
Final Thoughts:

This is such a cute combination – the style of the tree stencil works with Santa so very well. I really like this one.

Supplies: (and links where possible)

   I have listed which products I have used, and where they may be purchased. It’s a huge marketplace and in most instances, there are multiple sources and many alternatives to choose from.

Stencil: Christmas Tree Edger #1, A Colorful Life Designs

Waffle Flower Grip Mat, 8.5 x 6.5, Scrapbook.com

Stamps: Jolly Santas, Colorado Craft Co., (retired)

Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up!

Versafine Onyx, Simon Says Stamp

Memento Ink: Stampin’ Up!

Alcohol Markers:

     Stampin’ Blends: Stampin’ Up!

     Copics: Wallacks

Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

Card Base & Card Face: Accent 100 lb., Amazon

Do you have comments or thoughts to share on this design? Drop me a line in the Comments Section below – I’d love to hear from you!

You can also use the Comments Section to be notified when I release new work
10/03/2025
Stencils and Diecuts -making masculine cards just got easy
An elegant masculine card – ready in a snap!

Would you like to experiment with a design like this? You’ll find a supply list below, including a link to the stencil I used from A Colorful Life Designs. Follow the link and use discount code ChrisFan10 to save 10% on your entire order! (Master Creator Bundles are excluded as they already have a 20% discount built in.)

Let’s get Started:

Card Base: 5.5 x 8.5, scored and folded at 4.25

Kraft Border: 5.5 x 4.25

Black Card Face: 5.25 x 4

Scrap of Kraft Cardstock: .75 x 4

Card Face:
- I laid the card face onto my Grip Mat , positioned the stencil and applied metallic gold ink across the exposed surfaces.
- After allowing the gold ink to dry (it is a very saturated pigment ink) I put the card face into an embossing folder and ran it through the Big Shot to add texture.
Other:
- I stamped the sentiment in gold ink on a piece of black cardstock, and then cut it down to ⅝ x 3
- I looked through my Bits & Pieces binder and found the tree, previously cut out of kraft and waiting to be used.
Assembly
- I glued the black sentiment strip to the kraft strip.
- I glued the kraft border layer to the card base, and then centered the black card face on both.
- I glued the tree in place on the right hand side as shown.
- I glued the sentiment strip in place over the tree, just below the center of the card.
- I added a metallic embellishment on either side of the sentiment.
Final Thoughts:

This was a fast & easy card to put together; it has a very masculine feel due to the colours used.

I love the way gold and kraft play off of each other.

Supplies: (and links where possible)

I have listed which products I have used, and where they may be purchased. It’s a huge marketplace and in most instances, there are multiple sources and many alternatives to choose from.

Stencil: Fine Snowflakes, A Colorful Life Designs

Waffle Flower Grip Mat, 8.5 x 6.5, Scrapbook.com

Dies: Woodlands, Tim Holtz, Amazon

Ink: Lisa Horton Metallic Ink, Glitter & Ink

Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up!

Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

Card Base & Card Face: Accent 100 lb., Amazon

Do you have comments or thoughts to share on this design? Drop me a line in the Comments Section below – I’d love to hear from you!

You can also use the Comments Section to be notified when I release new work

Fine Snowflakes by A Colorful Life Designs
10/01/2025
A retro Christmas card is easy to create with these supplies
Would you like to experiment with a design like this? You’ll find a supply list below, including a link to the stencils I used from A Colorful Life Designs. Follow the link and use discount code ChrisFan10 to save 10% on your entire order! (Master Creator Bundles are excluded as they already have a 20% discount built in.)

Let’s get Started:

Card Base: 5.5 x 8.5, scored and folded at 4.25

Border Layer: 5.5 x 4.25

Card Face: 5.5 x 4

Card Face:
- I laid the card face on the Grip Mat and positioned the Atomic Strands stencil. I used light green ink across the entire surface.
- After removing this stencil, I positioned the wreath on the card face: I applied dark green ink across all exposed areas
- I repositioned the stencil to place the berries where they belonged on the wreath and applied red ink across all exposed areas.
- Using a white gel pen, I added accents to both the leaves and the berries.
- I put the card face into an embossing folder and ran it through the Big Shot, creating depth and visual interest.
Other:
- I used a scrap piece of red cardstock to create the bow, securing a die to the paper and running it through the Big Shot.
Assembly
- I glued the red border layer to the card base, and centered the card face on top of these.
- I glued the bow in place, and then added a small metallic gem to the center as a finishing touch.
Final Thoughts:

I love the retro feel of the Mid Century Atomic Strands stencil, and I think it creates a wonderful vintage feel for this card.

Supplies: (and links where possible)

   I have listed which products I have used, and where they may be purchased. It’s a huge marketplace and in most instances, there are multiple sources and many alternatives to choose from.

Stencils:

     Mid Century Atomic Strands, A Colorful Life Designs

     Layered Holly Berry Wreath, A Colorful Life Designs

Waffle Flower Grip Mat, 8.5 x 6.5, Scrapbook.com

Dies: Bow Toppers, Scrapbook.com

Ink: Stampin’ Up!

White Gel Pens, Arteza, Amazon

Blending Brushes: Stampin’ Up!

Adhesive: Tombow Aqua, Michaels

Cream Card Base & Card Face: Recollections 100 lb.,Michaels

Do you have comments or thoughts to share on this design? Drop me a line in the Comments Section below – I’d love to hear from you!

You can also use the Comments Section to be notified when I release new work

Mid Century Atomic Strands from A Colorful Life Designs
08/11/2025

Your cart (items: 0)

Products in cart
Product	Details	Total
	Available on backorder Previous price: Discounted price: Save	Save