Easy Christmas Cards with Holly Jolly Branches: Three Beginner-Friendly Ideas

 If your Christmas card list is growing faster than your crafting time, I have good news: beautiful handmade cards don't need to be complicated! On this week's Stampin’ Sundays with Katrina, we made three easy Christmas cards with the Holly Jolly Branches Bundle and Whispering Woods Designer Series Paper. Grab your coffee and come see how to get more from a few simple supplies.

Let the Pretty Paper Do the Work

Our first card is a woodland scene featuring the charming wildlife printed right on Whispering Woods paper. There's no need to stamp or color an elaborate background. I simply trimmed a scenic panel to 5 by 3¾ inches, layered it onto Pretty Peacock cardstock cut to 5⅛ by 3⅞ inches, and centered it on a folded white card base. That tiny border gives the card a finished look without much extra work.

A round sentiment reading “You Make All My Days Bright” and a few embellishments complete the card. The best part? Different sections of the paper feature different woodland animals, so you can make a coordinated collection without making every card identical.

**Try this:** Look through the patterned paper you already own for a scene or focal image. Sometimes the paper has done the designing for you!

Make a Statement with One Stamped Tree

For the second card, we used a simple vertical strip of tree-patterned paper, a skinny Garden Green accent, and a stamped, die-cut Christmas tree. The patterned paper measures 2 by 5½ inches, and the green strip is ½ by 5½ inches. A little green showing along the paper's edge creates definition against the white background.

I stamped the tree in Garden Green, cut it with its coordinating die, and paired it with “Merry, merry everything” in Pretty Peacock. A white baker's twine bow adds just enough texture. I used a retired label punch for my sentiment, but any similar punch or die will work. That's one of my favorite reminders: use what you have!

**Try this:** When a patterned-paper strip looks a little lost on white cardstock, tuck a contrasting cardstock strip underneath it. You don't need to add a whole extra layer.

Build a Little Forest with Three Die Cuts

Our final card features three simple trees in Garden Green, Pretty Peacock, and Blueberry Bushel. I started with a 4 by 5¼ inch panel of colorful Whispering Woods paper, then layered a white scalloped die-cut panel over it. The white space helps those bold trees stand out.

The trees are cut from three standalone dies in the Holly Jolly Branches collection. I stamped “From Me to You” along the bottom of the scalloped panel, then arranged the trees above it. A couple of sparkling embellishments finished everything off.

**Try this:** When using three focal shapes, vary their height and color. A grouping of three gives you visual interest while keeping the design balanced and easy to assemble.

Beautiful Paper with a Little Extra Purpose

Whispering Woods is especially meaningful this holiday season. Stampin’ Up! is donating $3 from every pack sold to organizations that help bring holiday cheer to families in need around the world. I love when something we're already enjoying in our craft rooms can do a little good beyond them.

And because this is the first Sunday of November, these cards are also our Free with Purchase class! A qualifying $40 order before shipping and tax earns a mailed kit with the pieces to make six cards, two of each design, for U.S. customers. You'll supply your own stamps and ink; I'll prepare the cutting and die-cutting.

Your Turn: Which Card Would You Make First?

If you're new to cardmaking, start with the woodland scene. If you love stamping, try the single-tree design. And if you enjoy a little dimension, build your own three-tree forest. There is no wrong place to begin.

Tell me in the comments: are you Team Woodland Scene, Team Merry Tree, or Team Three-Tree Forest? Save this post for your next Christmas crafting session, and check the video description on YouTube for the supplies and shopping information. And don't forget—there's one more week to enter our sketch challenge for a chance to win an embellishment! Happy crafting, friends!

Product List

Holly Jolly Branches Bundle (English) [168280] $40.50	Holly Jolly Branches Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [168273] $20.00	Holly Jolly Branches Dies [168279] $25.00	Whispering Woods 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [168368] $13.00
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229] $17.00	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [166780] $14.00	Pretty Peacock 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [150880] $14.00	Garden Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [102584] $14.00
Blueberry Bushel 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146968] $14.00	Pretty Peacock Classic Stampin’ Pad [150083] $11.00	Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad [147089] $9.00	Scalloped Christmas Cheer Dies [168544] $33.00
1-1/2" (3.8 Cm) Circle Punch [138299] $16.00	Labeled With Love Punch [163569] $25.00	Array Of Dots [167559] $8.50	Baker's Twine Essentials Pack [155475] $11.00
Dewdrops Embellishments [167748] $9.00

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Three Santa Hat Christmas Card Ideas

 A little Christmas creativity at your own pace

Have you ever wanted a little time at your craft table, but felt too tired to decide what to make? That was me this weekend. I took a break from my usual Sunday Live and enjoyed some quieter cardmaking instead.

These three Christmas cards all use the Santa’s Hat stamp set and Timeless Christmas Designer Series Paper. By changing the paper arrangement, hat color and finishing touches, I gave each card a different look.

If you’re just getting started, choose the layout that feels most manageable. You can use an idea from one card without needing to recreate every detail.

Try angled layers for a playful look

For this card, I layered red plaid, kraft snowflakes and green dots behind a white stamped panel. The papers share colors, which gives you a helpful starting point for mixing patterns.

The patterned pieces measure 2 × 5¼ inches, 2 × 4 inches and 3 × 4 inches. The Basic White focal panel is 3 × 3½ inches. I stamped the hat in Black Hybrid and Poppy Parade inks, added the greeting in Peaceful Pine, and finished with Adhesive-Backed Christmas Berries.

Beginner tip: arrange your layers before you glue, then take a quick phone photo. You’ll have a placement guide when you lift the pieces to add adhesive.

This design doesn’t need die-cut panels, so it’s a good one to try if you’re keeping your tools simple.

Give green a turn in the spotlight

Santa’s hat doesn’t have to be red! Old Olive gives this version a different feel, especially with the plaid tag cut from the Timeless Christmas paper.

I started with a Pecan Pie card base, a 4 × 5¼-inch Basic White mat and a 3¾ × 5-inch snowflake paper layer. A white panel cut with the Scalloped Christmas Cheer Dies sits between the plaid tag and the hat. Real Red & White Baker’s Twine and Christmas berries add small pops of red.

Beginner tip: when your patterned paper is busy, add a plain cardstock layer behind your stamped image. Here, the white scalloped panel helps the green hat stand out instead of getting lost in the plaid.

Start with one strip of pretty paper

For the third card, a 2 × 5¼-inch strip of dotted paper sits along the left side of a Thick Basic White card base. That leaves open space on the right for the hat and a few finishing touches.

I used Nested Essentials Dies for the Poppy Parade banner and rounded white panel, then layered on the stamped and cut-out hat. “Sending Christmas Cheer” sits on a separate white strip near the bottom. Adhesive-Backed Mini Christmas Buttons finish the design.

Beginner tip: you don’t have to cover the whole card front. A narrow strip of patterned paper can establish your colors while the white space helps your focal image stand out.

Choose one idea to try

You can borrow something small from these cards: angle a few paper layers, try an unexpected ink color, or add a plain panel behind your stamping. There’s no need to try everything in one sitting.

For the full cutting lists and assembly steps for all three designs, download the printable tutorial:

Which would you like to make first—the angled layers, the green hat, or the Christmas Cheer card with buttons? Tell me in the comments. I’d love to know what caught your eye!

New to cardmaking

If you’d like some help getting started, sign up for my free Beginner Cardmaker’s Success Guide: Get the Guide. You’ll receive the guide, followed by my Color Coach emails over the next three days.

Wondering which supplies you need? Send me a message with what you already own. I can help you choose a manageable starting point for your first project.

Happy stamping,
Katrina
Katrina’s Kreative Heart
Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator

3 Easy Christmas Cards with Advent Labels & Small Paper Squares

 Small paper squares, big Christmas-card possibilities

Have you ever looked at a sheet of patterned paper divided into little squares and thought, ‘That’s pretty—but what am I supposed to do with it?’ You are not alone! A small panel can feel a little limiting when you are used to covering the whole front of a card.

This week on Stampin’ Sundays with Katrina, we made three easy Christmas cards with the Advent Labels bundle and Hearth & Home Designer Series Paper. Each design gives those smaller pieces a job to do. There is a poinsettia focal point, a stack of festive labels, and a paper square that becomes a wrapped present.

If your creative energy is running low after a busy day, these are manageable places to begin. Choose your paper, make a few cuts, and let the patterns provide the personality.

1. Give a 3-inch square a simple frame

The poinsettia card starts with a 3 × 3-inch square of Designer Series Paper. I layered it on a 3 1/4 × 3 1/4-inch piece of Real Red cardstock and added it to a Garden Green card base.

Here is a useful little measurement trick: adding 1/4 inch to the overall width and height creates a 1/8-inch border on each side. You divide that extra space between two sides. It is a small detail, but that narrow frame helps the patterned paper stand out.

A stamped, punched Merry Christmas label overlaps the bottom of the panel. There is no need to fill every bit of green space. The open area helps your eye land on the flowers and greeting. A few candy canes stamped inside finish the card without adding another complicated step.

2. Repeat a label for an easy layout

For the second card, I used three small patterned rectangles down the left side of a Thick Basic White card base. Each rectangle measures 1 1/2 × 1 3/4 inches.

You can cut two of these rectangles from one 3-inch square; you will need another matching piece for the third. That is a good reminder to check the cutting plan before assuming every small-paper layout uses just one square. Keep the offcuts for another project.

Three white punched labels sit over the rectangles. A wreath, a tree, and three gold stars give each label its own little moment, while the repeated shape keeps the card looking coordinated. The Merry Christmas greeting sits to the right in the photographed version.

If choosing a layout is where you get stuck, try repeating a shape you already own. You have made one decision instead of inventing three separate focal points.

3. Turn patterned paper into a wrapped gift

The Packed with Love card might be the easiest way to give a paper square a new purpose. Start with a 3 × 3-inch polka-dot square, cross it with ribbon, and suddenly it looks like a little present.

Secure the ribbon ends behind the square before attaching it to the card. Dimensionals lift the present above the pink check background and leave room for the ribbon tucked underneath. Add a small bow where the ribbon crosses, then place the punched greeting below.

Tiny bows can be fiddly, so I demonstrated my dollar-store fork trick during the Live. The fork holds the loops while you make the center wrap and knot. If that description sounds harder than the bow itself, watch that part of the replay—the hand movements make much more sense when you can see them!

I also reached for a stamping cushion when the greeting needed a better impression. Supporting a photopolymer stamp with a cushion and using even pressure is a helpful thing to try before deciding the stamp is the problem.

4. Let one small piece be enough to begin

The best part of these beginner Christmas card ideas is that you can borrow the layouts with paper you already have. A favorite floral square can become a birthday card. A wrapped-paper present can celebrate almost anything.

Pay attention to the size of the printed panels before cutting. Use the small designs as focal pieces, and use a full-pattern reverse when you need a larger background. That way, the paper works with your design instead of making you piece together a background you did not plan.

Save these ideas for your next ‘I want to make something, but I don’t want to think too hard’ evening. Which would you try first: the framed poinsettias, the three labels, or the ribbon-wrapped present? Tell me in the comments, and look for the printable tutorials in this week’s subscriber email.

Product List

Advent Labels Bundle (English) [168399] $45.00	Advent Labels Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [168392] $25.00	Design A Tag Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [168406] $20.00	Advent Labels Punch [168398] $25.00
Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad [147084] $11.00	Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad [147089] $9.00	Golden Glow Classic Stampin' Pad [167676] $14.00	Peaceful Pine Classic Stampin Pad [167679] $14.00
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229] $17.00	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [166780] $14.00	Garden Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [102584] $14.00	Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [102482] $14.00
Hearth & Home 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [168531] $13.00	Timeless Metallic 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Paper [168548] $12.00	Shining Stars Dies [168600] $5.00	Peaceful Pine 3/8" (1 Cm) Bordered Ribbon [167551] $9.00

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