Sketch Challenge Inspiration at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown: A Flipped Festive Scene

Hello crafting friends! I’m back this week with a brand new card for the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown challenge, and this time it’s all about getting creative with a sketch. Sketch challenges are such a fun way to spark new ideas, and for this one, I decided to flip the sketch and dive into my stash of patterned papers!

Materials Used:

• 6″ x 6″ white card base
• Double-sided patterned paper (DSP) with coloured Christmas trees on one side and dark purple with white dots on the other
• Basic White cardstock
• Christmas tree dies
• ‘Christmas to Remember’ stamp set by Stampin’ Up
• Black ink
• Silver half-backed pearls
• Die-cutting machine, trimmer, adhesives, and foam dimensionals

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare the Card Base and Patterned Papers

Start with a 6″ square white card base for a clean and versatile foundation.

Cut a piece of double-sided DSP to 5 1/2″ x 5 1/2″, then slice it diagonally from corner to corner. This will create two bold triangular pieces showcasing both patterns — perfect for a dynamic layout.

Step 2: Flip the Sketch and Assemble

Using the sketch as inspiration, flip it to suit your layout and adhere the two triangles to your card base. With the coloured Christmas trees on one triangle and the dark purple with dots on the other, you instantly get a striking contrast that evokes a wintry forest at dusk.

Step 3: Add the Corner Panel

To complete the sketch, cut a small piece of Basic White cardstock and adhere it to the bottom right corner, slightly overlapping the patterned pieces. This helps ground the design and provides a perfect space for embellishment, and represents a snowy slope.

Step 4: Create the Winter Scene

At the point where all three papers meet, add a Christmas tree die cut in old olive card, matching the colours in the dsp. This focal point ties the whole design together and draws the eye to the centre of the card. This die cut tree was a happy accident as the die set is actually 3 slimline trees which have 2 layers and I’d originally planned to add the 3 trees next to each other, but as I was auditioning them for my card, the die cut pieces fell together and reminded me of a lush tree. So I used my paper snips to cut off the trunks of 2 of the smaller trees, then adhered all the pieces together on top of one another. What a good way to get more use from your dies!

Step 5: Sentiment and Embellishments

Stamp a sentiment from the ‘Christmas to Remember’ stamp set in black ink onto Basic White cardstock, and die cut it using matching dies. Adhere with dimensionals to give a little lift and presence.

To finish, add a sprinkling of silver half-backed pearls to the tree for that perfect touch of festive sparkle.

Final Thoughts

This week’s sketch challenge really pushed my creativity — flipping the layout and using both sides of a gorgeous DSP helped me build a storybook winter scene full of charm and contrast. It’s a great reminder that sketches are a jumping-off point, and the real magic happens when we make them our own.

I’d love to see your take on this week’s challenge. Don’t forget to share your creations over at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown. Happy crafting and happy holidays!