Holly Jolly Masculine Card – 52 Christmas Card Throwdown Colour Challenge

This week’s colour challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown is to use red, green and brown – such a classic festive combination! I decided to make the sentiment the star of the show, surrounded by lush greenery and bright red berries. By keeping the card unfussy and traditional, it gave the card a masculine look, perfect for the man in my life.

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Card Details

• Challenge theme: Colour – Red, Green & Brown
• Card size: 6″ square
• Main products: Holly Jolly Wishes stamp set by Stampin’ Up, Holiday Greens die set by Sizzix (Tim Holtz), wood-effect DSP
• Techniques: Layered stamping, clear embossing, die cutting, dimensional accents

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Step 1: Creating the Background

I started with a 6″ square base card in Basic White cardstock, then cut a piece of wood-effect designer series paper by Stampin’ Up just slightly smaller to leave a narrow white border all around.

Using my stamp platform for perfect alignment, I stamped a large sentiment from the Holly Jolly Wishes stamp set right in the centre of the DSP. The ink I used was Early Espresso, and I stamped it three times to get a beautifully rich, dark impression.

To add extra shine, I stamped again using Versamark ink and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder. The glossy finish isn’t easily captured in photos, but it gives such a lovely touch of dimension in real life.

Once finished, I adhered the DSP panel to the card base using strong double-sided tape.

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Step 2: Adding the Foliage

Next, I die cut an assortment of greenery using the Holiday Greens die set by Tim Holtz for Sizzix. I used two different shades of green – Old Olive for the holly leaves and Garden Green for the pine branches.

I arranged the foliage at the top and bottom edges of the card, framing the sentiment. For a more natural look, I snipped a few of the holly leaves from their stems and tucked them under the pine needles wherever there were small gaps. It’s always satisfying to see the greenery come together into a full, balanced arrangement!

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Step 3: Adding the Berries

For the berries, I used the Confetti Pocket Circle dies by Sizzix to cut lots of tiny circles from Real Red cardstock. These were adhered randomly among the greenery, making sure to group them in uneven numbers – a simple trick that keeps the composition more natural and pleasing to the eye.

To give them a glossy, dimensional finish, I added Crystal Effects to each berry. Once dry, they looked wonderfully shiny and almost good enough to eat!

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Final Thoughts

This colour combination felt so festive and traditional – I love how the woodgrain background pairs with the rich greens and vibrant red berries. The glossy sentiment and berries catch the light beautifully, adding just the right amount of Christmas sparkle.

There’s lots of time to play along with this week’s Red, Green and Brown Colour Challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown – I can’t wait to see your take on it!

Need some Christmas gift inspiration? My talented friend Jan has been on a stitching spree! 🎅✂️ Her shop, Jan’s Botch & Patch Dept., is bursting with unique, handcrafted treasures. Her handmade creations are full of charm and heart — the perfect one-of-a-kind gifts. Go take a look — your holiday shopping list will thank you!

Happy crafting! 🎄