Classic Santa, Tim Holtz

Hey crafty friends! 👋 I’m popping in to share a card I made using some of my favorite Tim Holtz stamps and stencils from Stampers Anonymous.

Fun fact: Stampers Anonymous doesn’t retire their Tim Holtz designs—so there’s a huge library of awesome stamps and stencils you might not have seen in a while (or totally forgot you had 😉).

Hope this project sparks some inspiration to dig into your stash and get creative! ✨

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Classic Santa, Tim Holtz

For this holiday card, I started by stamping the large Santa image from the Just Believe stamp set. To color the image as I stamped, I brushed Hickory Smoke, Tattered Rose, Picked Raspberry and a little Festive Berries Distress Watercolor Pencils directly onto the stamp, then stamped it onto Distress Watercolor Cardstock. From there, I continued to build up the color by filling in and watercoloring the image with additional Distress Watercolor Pencils, adding depth and detail as I went.

Next, I stamped the same Santa image again using a Versamark ink pad and heat embossed it with gold embossing powder. I fussy cut this gold-embossed Santa and layered it over the watercolored image to create a beautiful, glowing backdrop. I then fussy cut the entire layered piece so it was ready to pop onto the card.

For the background, I created a soft, vintage-style wash using a bit of pigment smooshing with Hickory Smoke and Antique Linen Distress Watercolor Pencils. Once dry, I stamped the music background from the Festive Sounds stamp set over the top for added texture and interest.

To finish off the card, I added Distress Rock Candy Clear to the trim of Santa’s hat and coat using Distress Collage Medium for subtle sparkle. Around the frame, I sprinkled Distress Rock Candy Chunky and secured it with Glossy Accents for that extra festive shine.

This card was such a joy to create, and I love how the watercoloring, embossing, and sparkle all work together to bring Santa to life. I hope it inspires you to pull out your watercolor pencils, play with layered stamping, and add a little shimmer to your holiday projects. Thanks so much for stopping by and creating along with me, happy crafting! 💕

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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!