This week’s theme challenge over at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown is all about mugs, which immediately made me think of cosy festive drinks, warm colours, and a touch of festive foliage. I decided to revisit one of my favourite colour combinations — Pool Party, Real Red and white — and added a little Garden Green for the holly. The result is a fresh but festive card with a lovely mix of texture, stamping and layering. Here’s how it came together.
What You’ll Need
- Cardstock: White, Pool Party, White Linen
- Ink: Pool Party, Real Red, Garden Green, Black
- Stamps:
- Christmas Season (Stampin’ Up)
- Decorative Trees (Stampin’ Up)
- Scentsational Season (Stampin’ Up)
- Dies:
- Holiday Collection (Stampin’ Up – for the mug)
- Essential Rectangle Deckle Frames (Craft Addiction UK)
- Embossing Folder: Spellbinders Holly Flourish
- Embellishments: Clear half-back pearls
- Other: Masking tape, blending tool, foam adhesive, liquid glue
Step 1: Create the Card Base
Start by scoring and folding an A4 sheet of white cardstock in half to create your base card, then set it aside while you prepare the layers.
Step 2: Add the Embossed Background
Cut a panel of Pool Party cardstock, approximately ¼ inch smaller all round than the card base.
Emboss this panel using the Spellbinders Holly Flourish embossing folder. This adds a beautiful, subtle festive texture that works perfectly with the holly theme.
Adhere this layer to the card base.
Step 3: Create the Central Panel
Cut a piece of white linen cardstock using the Essential Rectangle Deckle Frames dies. The soft texture and torn-style edge add a lovely bit of interest straight away.
To create a feature strip, place a piece of 1-inch wide masking tape across the panel, slightly towards the bottom, leaving space below for your stamped foliage.
Using a blending tool, gently blend Pool Party ink across the exposed strip in a soft circular motion.
Step 4: Add Stamping Details
Using the Christmas Season stamp set and while the masking tape is still in place, stamp:
- Pine foliage in Pool Party ink
- Holly leaves in Garden Green ink
Remove the masking tape to reveal a clean strip, then stamp a scripty greeting from the Decorative Trees stamp set in black ink, positioned to the left-hand side of the panel.
Step 5: Create the Mug Focal Point
Stamp the mug image – I used the mug from the retired Scentsational Season stamp set in Real Red ink onto white linen cardstock, then die cut it using the matching Holiday Collection dies.
On a scrap of white linen cardstock, stamp:
- Holly berries in Real Red
- A large holly leaf in Garden Green
Then fussy cut these elements.
Step 6: Assemble the Card
Adhere the deckle edge panel to the card, making sure the spacing is even at the top and sides, with a slightly larger border at the bottom to show off more of the embossed background.
Add the holly leaf, using foam adhesive at the top and liquid glue at the base so it sits naturally.
Adhere the mug at a slight angle over the stamped foliage using foam adhesive to give it lift and dimension.
Finish by adding the holly berries, also using foam adhesive.
Step 7: Finishing Touches
To complete the card, add a sprinkling of clear half-back pearls across the design in a random pattern.
They catch the light beautifully and add just a subtle hint of sparkle.
Final Thoughts
I really love how this card turned out — it feels fresh and festive at the same time. The Pool Party and Real Red combination is always a winner for me, and the addition of Garden Green brings in that classic Christmas feel. I love mixing old with new craft supplies to create my projects. I have curated my stamp library over many years and won’t part with my stamps – I never know when I might need them! I cannot remember the last time I used this set, but it was nice to give it an airing again. Also, I really like the extra texture the linen card brings, even if it does mean the stamped images are not perfect – it adds charm and it is handmade after all.
The mix of embossing, blending, stamping and layering keeps everything interesting while still letting the mug take centre stage.
If you’re looking for a cosy, festive theme to play with this week, why not join in with the challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown? Whether you go for hot chocolate, coffee, or something a little stronger in your mug, it’s such a fun theme to explore.
Happy crafting!
Lily-by-Gilly 