Altenew | Bold Holiday Card with a Festive Background using Minimal Supplies

Hello friends!

Today I want to share a bold holiday card featuring a festive background made using minimal supplies.

For this technique, you will just need a layering stencil, a couple of inks, and clear embossing powder.

A Multi-Color Background with Minimal Supplies

The technique is based on the resist effect of heat embossing, allowing to layer ink blending and create multi-color designs.

I used the Festive Greenery Stencil Set to create the festive background. Starting with the first stencil from the set, I added a berries layer onto a Solar White Cardstock panel using the Ruby Red Fresh Dye Ink and Mini Blending Brush.

Next, with the stencil still in place, I applied the Clear Embossing Ink onto the berries and heat embossed them with the Crystal Clear Embossing Powder.

After that, I placed the next stencil layer (the leaves) and applied the Forest Glades Fresh Dye Ink through the stencil. Again, I applied the Clear Embossing Ink on top and heat embossed with the Crystal Clear Embossing Powder.

Next, I inked up the whole panel with the Evergreen Fresh Dye Ink. The areas with clear-embossed berries and leaves resisted the ink blending so only the spaces in between got inked.

For the last stencil layer, I opted to use the Pure White Embossing Powder. I applied the Clear Embossing Ink through this stencil, followed by pouring said embossing powder onto the panel and heat setting it.

I decided to go with white for this layer as knew that I would add some other white elements onto the card and it would tie them all together.

At this point, the core part of creating the festive background was finished.

I also want to note that for each step, I generously applied antistatic powder on the whole panel to prevent stray embossing powder particles from sticking to the areas where I didn’t want them to be.

Adding Sentiments and Embellishments

To add more interest to the background I also added the Pure White Ink Spray splatters onto it.

Next, I made the sentiment, using dies from the Christmas Season Die Set. I die-cut each word 5 times out of a white cardstock, stacked the corresponding pieces, and glued them together using liquid glue.

Having a dimensional or raised sentiment added more impact to the card and added more elements beyond the festive background.

To embellish the card, I also tied a red baker’s twine around the panel’s top part. And added several red and white enamel dots from the Red Cosmos and Essential Black and White Sets.

Lastly, I foam-mounted the panel onto a white card base using the Instant Dimension Foam Tape.

Notice that I only needed one stencil set to create the background. This technique could be used with any other layering stencil set, for any design and occasion.

Have a wonderful day!

SUPPLIES

If you’re interested in the supplies I’ve used – they’re listed below. Where available I use compensated affiliate links (which means if you make a purchase I will get a small commission with no additional cost for you). Click on the letters below to go to a favorite store: Simon Says Stamp (SSS), Studio Katia (SK), Altenew (AN), Scrapbook.com (SC), Amazon (AZ), Spellbinders (SB), Papertrey Ink (PTI) etc.
I truly appreciate your support!

Altenew Christmas Season Die Set Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Festive Greenery Complete Bundle Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Ruby Red Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Red Cosmos Fresh Dye Ink Bundle Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Red Cosmos Fresh Dye Ink Mini Cube Set Click A Shop: AN
Altenew Forest Glades Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Evergreen Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Green Fields Fresh Dye Ink Bundle Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Green Fields Fresh Dye Ink Mini Cube Set Click A Shop: AN	Neenah Classic Crest Smooth Solar White Cardstock 110 Lb Click A Shop: SSS | AZ | AN
Hero Arts Precision Heat Embossing Tool Gun Click A Shop: SSS | SC	Altenew Embossing Ink Click A Shop: SSS | AN	Altenew Pure White Crisp Embossing Powder Click A Shop: SSS | AN	Altenew Crystal Clear Embossing Powder Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Pure White Ink Spray Click A Shop: SSS | AN
Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue Click A Shop: SSS	Altenew Instant Dimension Foam Tape Click A Shop: SSS | AN	Altenew Stampwheel Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Ink Blending Tool – Large Click A Shop: SSS | AN	Altenew Mini Blending Brush Set Click A Shop: AN
Altenew Red Cosmos Enamel Dots Click A Shop: AN	Altenew Essential Black & White Enamel Dots Click A Shop: AN