Easy Cards to Restart Your Creative Mojo (Using the 12 Days of Crafting Advent Calendar)

 If your craft room has been a little quiet lately, you’re not alone. Between holidays, family time, and the general chaos of December, creativity can take a back seat. This week on Stampin’ Sundays, I wanted to make things easy. No pressure. No overthinking. Just three simple, pretty cards using supplies from the 12 Days of Crafting Advent Calendar to help gently restart that creative mojo.

These cards are proof that you don’t need complicated techniques or hours at your desk to make something beautiful.

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Why Simple Cards Matter After the Holidays

Let’s be honest—jumping straight back into layered, technique-heavy projects can feel overwhelming. When creativity feels stuck, the best thing you can do is:

• Use what you already have

• Follow a simple process

• Let the supplies do the heavy lifting

That’s exactly why kits and curated boxes (like this Advent Calendar) are such a lifesaver this time of year.

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Card #1: Soft Florals + Stencils = Instant Wins

For the first card, I used the floral stencils from the Advent Calendar along with blending brushes and a soft color palette. Layered stencils might sound intimidating, but these are numbered and designed to line up easily—no guesswork required.

Why this card works:

• Stenciling adds depth without bulk

• Soft ink blending keeps it light and forgiving

• Minimal embellishments let the design shine

This is the kind of card you can make multiples of once you’re in the groove.

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Card #2: 3” x 4” Cards for Fast & Fabulous Designs

The second card highlights one of my favorite things from the Advent Calendar: the 3” x 4” pre-printed cards. These little panels are a game changer when you want results without fuss.

I simply:

• Matted the card with coordinating cardstock

• Added baker’s twine for texture

• Finished with a stamped sentiment and a few gold accents

Tip: These small cards are perfect focal points w

hen your brain doesn’t want to “design” — they’ve already done it for you.

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Card #3: Embossed Panels with Gentle Color

For the final card, I used one of the embossed 3” x 4” panels and lightly added ink over the raised areas with a blending brush. This gives you:

• Subtle color

• Beautiful texture

• A clean, elegant look

Paired with a simple sentiment and one small embellishment, this card came together in minutes.

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The Big Takeaway

You don’t need to go all-in to get back into crafting. Sometimes the best thing you can do is:

• Make something simple

• Use coordinated supplies

• Give yourself permission to keep it easy

That’s how creativity comes back naturally.

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Still Available (For Now!)

The 12 Days of Crafting Advent Calendar is still available on the Last Chance list. It includes:

• A stamp set

• Coordinating dies

• Stencils

• Pre-printed cards

• Embossed panels

• Labels, twine, and embellishments

It’s a fantastic value and an easy way to build your stash while actually using what you buy.

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If you’ve been feeling creatively stuck, I hope this inspires you to pull out a simple kit and just start. Let me know in the comments—which card was your favorite? And if you want more easy card ideas like this, be sure you’re on my email list so you never miss a project.

Product List

12 Days Of Crafting Advent Calendar (English) [167335] $99.00	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229] $17.00	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [166780] $14.00	Crushed Curry 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131199] $14.00
Melon Mambo 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [115320] $14.00	Misty Moonlight 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [153081] $14.00	Darling Duckling 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [165622] $14.00	Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Pad [147052] $9.00
Soft Sea Foam Classic Stampin' Pad [147102] $9.00	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad [147090] $9.00	Strawberry Slush Classic Stampin' Pad [165286] $9.00	Darling Duckling Classic Stampin' Pad [165277] $9.00
Misty Moonlight Classic Stampin' Pad [153118] $9.00

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3 Simple & Beautiful Cards Using the 12 Days of Crafting Advent Calendar

When Simple Is Exactly What You Need

Let’s be honest — this time of year gets busy. Between work, family, weather, and the never-ending to-do list, finding time to sit down and actually enjoy crafting can feel like a stretch. That’s why this week’s projects are all about keeping things simple, beautiful, and stress-free.

Using supplies from the 12 Days of Crafting Advent Calendar, I created three handmade cards that come together quickly but still feel thoughtful and polished. These are the kinds of cards you can make in an evening, during a quick creative break, or even last-minute without panic crafting kicking in.

If you’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed or short on time, these designs are proof that simple doesn’t mean boring.

Why the 12 Days of Crafting Advent Calendar Works So Well

One of my favorite things about this Advent Calendar is that the coordination is already done for you. The papers, colors, embellishments, and textures all work together, which means:

• Less decision fatigue

• Faster card assembly

• More confidence while creating

When supplies are designed to play nicely together, you can focus on layout and layering — not second-guessing every choice.

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Card #1: Sweet Birthday Wishes

This first card is soft, cheerful, and perfect for birthdays of all ages. The patterned paper does most of the heavy lifting here, which makes this design ideal when you want something pretty without a lot of steps.

Why it works:

• Large DSP panel creates instant impact

• A simple sentiment label keeps it clean

• A small focal image adds charm without clutter

This is a great layout to keep in your back pocket because you can swap the sentiment and use it for almost any occasion.

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Card #2: Love You With Texture

The second card steps things up just a bit by adding texture — and texture is one of the easiest ways to make a simple card feel extra special.

Why it works:

• Embossed panel adds dimension fast

• Layered focal elements keep the design balanced

• Neutral tones make it versatile for many occasions

If you ever feel like your cards are “missing something,” try adding texture before adding more layers. It makes a bigger difference than you think.

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Card #3: For Someone Extra Special

This card is my favorite example of simple layering done right. Clean lines, coordinated colors, and just enough embellishment to draw the eye without overwhelming the design.

Why it works:

• Horizontal layering creates visual interest

• A bold focal image anchors the card

• Sentiment placement feels intentional and elegant

This design is perfect for happy mail, encouragement cards, or anytime you want to let someone know they matter.

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Tips for Making These Designs Even Faster

If you’re short on time (or patience 😄), here are a few ways to speed things up:

• Cut multiple card bases at once

• Pre-cut DSP panels for a mini card batch

• Stamp sentiments in advance

• Keep embellishments limited to 2–3 per card

Remember — finished is better than perfect.

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Final Thoughts

These cards are a great reminder that you don’t need complicated techniques or hours of time to create something beautiful. With the right supplies and a simple plan, crafting can feel relaxing again — not like another item on your to-do list.

If you give any of these layouts a try, I’d love to see them! Leave a comment, save this post for later, or reach out if you want help picking supplies or adapting the designs to what you already have on hand.

Happy crafting 💙

Simple & Elegant Nativity Cards Featuring the A Child Is Born Stamp Set

 If you’re craving some peaceful, elegant Christmas cardmaking before the holiday rush sweeps you away again, this week’s projects hit the spot. I’m featuring the A Child Is Born stamp set — a Last Chance item and beautifully discounted — paired with that jaw-dropping Lights of Aurora Designer Series Paper. These three cards come together quickly, but they look like you spent hours fussing over them. (You didn’t. No judgment if Christmas-card fatigue is very real right now. I’m right there with you. 😉)

These projects are perfect for beginners, perfect for batching, and perfect if you want something meaningful without getting lost in hours of coloring. Let’s jump in.

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Card 1: Soft Blocks + Vellum Overlay (For Unto Us a Child Is Born)

This first card is all about clean lines and glow. The blocked DSP layout lets those aurora swirls do most of the heavy lifting, and the vellum pulls everything together with a soft, ethereal feel.

Why it works:

• Vellum provides a subtle layer

• Simple stamping + a circle punch keeps the design clean

• Iridescent dots + sheer ribbon add just enough sparkle

Try it yourself:
Use 1¾" squares/rectangles 1 3/4" x 4", mix one stamped block with DSP blocks, and keep your sentiment low on the punched circle so the manger image can shine.

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Card 2: Silver Embossed Nativity (Oh Holy Night)

If you want a “wow” moment without the work, embossing is always the answer. Silver on white over those dramatic aurora skies? Absolutely stunning.

The process:

• Stamp Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus with Versamark

• Heat-emboss in silver

• Add a soft wash of Misty Moonlight with a water painter — just enough to tint the swaddling cloth

• Tear the edges of your panel toward you for soft texture

• Finish with a ribbon bow and frosted embellishments

Why this is a great batch card:
Embossing looks fancy, but once your heat tool is hot, you can knock out a whole stack of these in no time.

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Card 3: Book Fold Nativity (Oh Holy Night)

You know I love a good book fold — easy, pretty, and always impressive. This one uses black cardstock to add contrast against the bright Lights of Aurora DSP and crisp white embossing.

What makes this card pop:

• White heat-embossed nativity scene

• Coordinating DSP strip inside the card

• Soft blue sheer ribbon wrapped around the hinge

• Clean, classic sentiment punched with the new Banner punch from the Online Exclusives

This is the kind of card that looks like it belongs on a mantel. And yes — no coloring required unless you want to.

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Don’t Forget: Free Card Kits Through the 15th!

Because this was the first Sunday of the month, these card kits are FREE with any $40 purchase in my online store (before tax/shipping) through the 15th. I’ll ship everything by the 20th so you can finish your Christmas crafting with ease.

And if you don’t already own A Child Is Born, it’s on the Last Chance list and marked down — so now’s the moment to grab it.

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Wrapping Up

I hope these projects inspire you to create something peaceful and meaningful this week. If the cold has you wrapped in blankets like me, a good cup of tea and some simple stamping are the perfect combo.

Tell me in the comments:
Which of these three designs will you be recreating first?

Happy crafting, friends. 💜
—Katrina

Product List

A Child Is Born Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [169234] $21.00	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229] $17.00	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [166780] $14.00	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121045] $14.00
Lights Of Aurora 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [165755] $12.50	2 3/8" (6 Cm) Circle Punch [161354] $25.00	Three Banner Punch [167050] $26.00	Misty Moonlight Classic Stampin' Pad [153118] $9.00
Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin' Pad [147099] $9.00	Versamark Pad [102283] $9.50	Balmy Blue 1/2" (1.3 Cm) Sheer Ribbon [165767] $8.50	Frosted Iridescent Dots [165766] $9.00
Basics Wow! Embossing Powder [165679] $21.00	Metallics Wow! Embossing Powder [165678] $21.00	Heat Tool (Us And Canada) [129053] $32.00	Mini Stampin' Dimensionals [144108] $4.25
Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.25	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.25	Stampin' Seal [152813] $8.00

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My Top 10 Christmas Cards of 2025 — Inspiration for Your Holiday Crafting!

 This year’s Christmas card season has been such a joy. Between classic greens, cozy critters, elegant neutrals, and a little Northern Lights drama, this lineup truly reflects everything I love about holiday paper crafting.

Whether you need quick & easy or full-blown “wow,” here are my Top 10 Cards of the Year and why they made the list:

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1. Celebrate the Season Snowflake

Bold, layered, and wintery. The stitched circle + giant snowflake combo is always a crowd-pleaser and is my number one card on Pinterest for saves and re-pins!

2. Gingham Tree Card

Simple pieces, big visual punch. You can replicate this one in minutes.

3. Festive Elf

Cute, quirky, and perfect for kids (or adults who act like kids — no judgment!).

4. Jolly Delivery Pup

This little dog in a sweater carries the whole season’s joy in one image.

5. Northern Lights Scene

DSP magic + silhouettes = breathtaking.

6. Llama Christmas

If you love whimsical cards, this one is pure personality.

7. Gold Star Classic

Black + gold + geometric lines = modern elegance.

8. Peace on Earth Dove

Soft blues and embossed texture make this one incredibly calming.

9. Pine Wreath

Traditional holiday style with a warm, cozy vibe.

10. Traditions of Christmas Floral

This one’s all about bold color and classic holiday beauty.

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I hope these designs give you inspiration as you finish your own Christmas cards this season. Want the tutorials? Join my email list — I send out free project sheets every week!