Festive Collage, 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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Festive Collage, Tim Holtz

This card features one of my all-time favorite holiday stamp sets from Tim Holtz, and if you’ve been following along for a while, you may remember that I shared a quick technique video using this set in the past. I was so excited to see that it now has coordinating dies, because they truly elevate this set and make it even more versatile and easy to use.

I started this card by creating a soft, layered background using Distress Watercolor Pencils. I did a pigment smooshing technique directly onto Distress Watercolor Cardstock. This creates a beautifully organic, mottled background that works perfectly behind focal images. Once I was happy with the look, I dried the panel with my Ranger Heat Tool.

Next, I stamped the poinsettia image from the Festive Collage stamp set directly onto the background using Pumice Stone Distress Oxide Ink. I love using Distress Oxides for this step, their soft finish allows the image to blend into the background without overpowering it.

To create the focal poinsettia, I stamped the same image again onto another piece of Distress Watercolor Cardstock. This time, I dipped my Distress Watercolor Pencils into a cup of water to soften the pigment, then colored directly onto the stamp, focusing on the poinsettia portion of the image. This is such a fun technique and gives the image a loose, watercolor feel with lots of natural variation.

After stamping, I used the coordinating dies to cut out the poinsettia. I absolutely love how clean and easy this step is, no fussy cutting required! I adhered the die-cut image to the card using foam squares, which adds dimension and helps the flower stand out from the background.

For some extra texture and sparkle, I added Distress Rock Candy Clear to portions of the poinsettia petals. This subtle shine catches the light beautifully without overpowering the watercoloring. I also added gold Liquid Pearls to the center of the flower for a bit of elegant detail and dimension.

The sentiment comes from Tim Holtz’s Tattered Christmas stamp set. I stamped it, trimmed it into sentiment strips, and layered it onto the card to balance the focal image.

As a final finishing touch, I splattered a bit of gold using the Gansai Tambi Starry Colors Palette. This adds texture, and just the right amount of festive shimmer to pull everything together.

I love how this card combines soft watercolor techniques with layered dimension and subtle sparkle. The addition of coordinating dies for this stamp set makes it even more enjoyable to create with, and I know I’ll be reaching for it often during the every holiday season.

I hope this card inspires you to pull out your favorite holiday stamps, play with watercolor techniques, and add a little sparkle along the way. ✨🎄

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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!