Making Spirits Bright, Tim Holtz

Hey friends! Simon Says Stamp has come out with some more coordinating dies to work with Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous stamp sets, this time with a holiday theme! I used some of the fabulous coordinating dies to create these cards.⁠

These dies are exclusively available at Simon Says Stamp! 🙌⁠

Not only do they save you from all that fussy cutting, but they also unlock a whole new world of creative possibilities, especially when it comes to layering and collage. Let’s dive in!

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Making Spirits Bright, Tim Holtz

This card is all about layers, texture, and loose watercolor play, which are some of my favorite things to explore during the holiday season.

I started by creating a watercolored background using Distress Watercolor Pencils, letting the colors blend and move naturally on the paper. Once the background was dry, I stamped several elements from Tim Holtz stamp sets (all listed in the supply list below). To do this, I scribbled Distress Watercolor Pencils directly onto the stamps, then stamped them right onto the background. This technique gives such a soft, organic, slightly imperfect look that works beautifully with watercolor.

After the background was complete, I trimmed it down to 4” x 5.25” and used a paper distresser to rough up all the edges. I folded up the lower corner for extra interest and secured it with the Tiny Attacher, adding even more texture and a subtle industrial touch.

For the card base, I ink blended around the edges with Iced Spruce Distress Oxide Ink, then adhered the background panel on top. The focal images were stamped separately, the deer with Vintage Photo Distress Oxide Ink and Santa with Festive Berries Distress Oxide Ink. I die-cut both using the coordinating dies and popped them up with foam squares to give the scene dimension.

The sentiment is from the Tattered Christmas set. I stamped it, cut it into word strips, distressed the edges with a paper distresser, and adhered it to the card using foam strips to keep it consistent with the layered look.

To finish the card, I added a touch of Distress Rock Candy Clear to the trim on Santa’s suit for a bit of sparkle. I also sprinkled Distress Snowflake along the ground beneath Santa and the deer, giving the scene a soft, snowy finish.

I love how this card came together, it feels a bit vintage, a bit whimsical, and full of texture and detail. Mixing watercolor techniques with stamping and dimensional elements is such a fun way to create a holiday card that feels truly one-of-a-kind. 🎄✨

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Cardmaking Supplies Used

Supplies I used are linked throughout the post. Click on the picture and you will be taken to the product. I use affiliate links when available which means if you make a purchase I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!