Easy Christmas Card with Whispering Woods Designer Paper

This Easy Christmas Card with Whispering Woods Designer Paper is a perfect example of something I tell cardmakers all the time: when your pretty paper is doing the work for you, let it! You don’t need to cover it up with lots of layers, embellishments, or complicated techniques. Sometimes one beautiful focal point and a sentiment are all you need. That’s what we’re doing with this week’s Coffee & a Card.

The Whispering Woods Designer Series Paper has that soft watercolor look that makes a beautiful winter background all by itself. And that’s important. When I have paper this pretty, I don’t want to cover the whole thing up! Instead, I can use it to set the mood for the card and then add just enough stamping to give your eye somewhere to land.

It’s also why this is such a useful card design to remember when you’re short on time. Start with a piece of patterned paper you love and let that become the foundation of your card. No complicated background technique required.

Give the Card One Strong Focal Point. For this card, that focal point comes from the Dreamy Snowflakes Stamp Set. The large snowflake gives us plenty of detail, so we don’t need to add a lot of other stamped images around it. I especially like how the snowflake echoes the wintery feeling already happening in the Whispering Woods paper.

Pretty Peacock and Shaded Spruce give us those rich, deep colors that feel right at home on a winter card. Then Basic White changes everything. That crisp white gives your eye a resting place between those deeper colors and brings in the snowy feeling we want for this design. It also keeps the card looking fresh instead of dark or heavy.

And notice what’s missing? Red!

I love a traditional red-and-green Christmas card, but you certainly don’t have to use traditional Christmas colors every time. Pretty Peacock and Shaded Spruce give us a beautiful blue-green alternative that still feels completely at home during the holidays.

The Adhesive-Backed Snowflakes add just a bit of extra dimension without making the card feel busy. That’s exactly the kind of embellishment I like on a card like this. The patterned paper and large stamped snowflake already give us plenty to look at, so the embellishment doesn’t need to compete for attention. It’s simply that little finishing touch that makes the card feel complete.

There’s another reason the Whispering Woods Designer Series Paper is especially nice for Christmas projects. For every package purchased, Stampin’ Up! will donate $3 to organizations around the world that help spread a little holiday cheer.

I love that connection because we’re already making cards to let people know they’re remembered and cared about. It’s nice knowing the paper itself is helping spread a little more kindness, too.

The real lesson from today’s card isn’t that you need this exact paper or even this exact snowflake.
It’s the layout idea I want you to remember. Start with patterned paper you love. Let it create the background. Add one strong focal image and a simple sentiment. Then stop before you cover up everything that made you love the paper in the first place!

That’s a formula you can use for Christmas cards, birthday cards, thank-you cards, or just about anything else you need. And when you’re making a stack of Christmas cards? An easy design like this can save you a whole lot of time.

If you’d like to make this card along with me, I’ve put the measurements and project details together for you in the free tutorial. Then make an extra one while your supplies are already out. There’s always someone who could use a little unexpected Christmas cheer in their mailbox.

I appreciate you dropping by! My mission is to inspire you with card tutorials that are as fun to make as they are to give. If you’re curious about the specifics of crafting today’s design, just send me an email.  Want more papercrafting ideas?  Join my Facebook Community today.

Supplies Used On This Project: