Katrina's Kreative Heart: easy handmade cards

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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