November Sketch Challenge – 52 Christmas Card Throwdown

I’m so excited to be hosting the challenges throughout November at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown!  It’s always such fun seeing everyone’s creative takes on the themes, and I can’t wait to share what I’ve come up with each week.

As it’s the first challenge of the month, we’re starting with a sketch – and I’ve created a card that’s soft, wintry, and full of friendship.

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Card Details

• Challenge theme: Sketch
• Card size: 5.7″ square
• Main products: Scallop Square dies by Craft Addiction UK, Spellbinders winter borders dies, Stampin’ Up sentiment stamp, digistamp by Louise Dunne, Tim Holtz & Sizzix large snowflake die
• Techniques: Watercolour painting, die cutting, layering with foam adhesive

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Step 1: Creating the Base Card

For the base card I used Soft Sky cardstock, and diecut 2 pieces using the largest scallop square die from Craft Addiction UK which is almost 6″ square. I love how the scalloped edge gives a delicate, decorative frame without adding extra layers – perfect for a soft, snowy feel. I scored and folded the back piece of card to form a hinge and adhered it to the front card using wet glue.

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Step 2: Making the Centre Panel

For the centre panel, I used watercolour card, die cutting the top and bottom edges with a decorative scallop die from the winter borders die set by Spellbinders to echo the curves of the scalloped base.

To add a touch of colour and texture, I brushed on shades of blue watercolour paint to the bottom left corner of the panel, keeping the strokes loose and organic. It gives the perfect little patch of wintry sky for the focal image to sit on.

Once the paint was dry, I stamped the sentiment – “Friends like you make this season special” by Stampin’ Up – in black ink in the top right corner. I thought it suited the adorable image so well!

The finished panel was adhered to the base card using foam adhesive to give it a little lift and shadow.

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Step 3: Adding the Focal Image

The stars of the show are this cute polar bear and his penguin buddy, a digistamp by Louise Dunne. I printed the image on watercolour paper, coloured it softly using watercolour paints, and then fussy cut it out.

The image was adhered with foam adhesive over the painted area of the centre panel, so it looks like they’re sitting together in the snow.  Louise has lots of gorgeous digistamps to choose from but I just fell in love with these cuties!

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Step 4: Finishing Touches

To complete the design, I added a large snowflake die cut using a Tim Holtz & Sizzix die, cut from the same watercolour card for a cohesive look. I adhered it just above of the polar bear with foam adhesive for extra dimension.

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Final Thoughts

I love how soft and serene this card feels – the gentle blues, the sweet friendship between the bear and penguin, and that touch of winter frost from the snowflake all capture the spirit of winter perfectly.

I can’t wait to see how you all interpret this week’s sketch challenge! Don’t forget to share your creations over at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown – I’m really looking forward to visiting your blogs and seeing your festive designs.

Happy crafting, and see you next week for the next challenge!