💌 Bright & Happy Christmas Wishes – #GDP522 Card Sketch Challenge

Card sketches are one of my favourite ways to kickstart creativity — and this week’s Global Design Project #GDP522 sketch was the perfect excuse to play with the Jolly Holly Bundle from Stampin’ Up!®.

For this cheerful holiday card, I went with a fun non-traditional colour combo:
🎨 Strawberry Slush, Granny Apple Green, Pool Party, and Coastal Cabana.

The background is embossed with holly leaves for a soft texture, and I added White & Gold Baker’s Twine for a touch of sparkle. The Strawberry Slush Gems finish the look perfectly — just the right pop of shimmer to balance the playful colours.

I love how this card turned out — bright, modern, and full of Christmas cheer! 🌿✨

Play Along!

Want to join the fun? Create your own project inspired by #GDP522 and share it on social media – facebook.com/GlobalDesignProject
👉 Don’t forget to tag @stampinwithleah and use #GDP522 so I can see your creations!

📌 Save this post for your next cardmaking session — or share it with a crafty friend who loves non-traditional Christmas cards!

If you’d like to recreate this look, here’s a full list of supplies used as well as a printable card recipe.


Want to Stamp With Me?

Join my December Card Class to learn new techniques and create beautiful projects. Spots are limited, so reserve yours today!

Don’t live nearby? You can find many PDF Tutorials in my shop:
👉 https://payhip.com/StampinWithLeahCardCardClassestoGo

Looking for even more inspiration and more ways to enjoy stamping? Join my Stampin’ Up! Ink Pad Pals team!

  • Save 20%+ on your orders.
  • Get free access to my monthly card class tutorials.
  • Enjoy our monthly team meetings with stamping fun and collaboration.

Contact me to find out more or see the details on my website.



Jolly Holly & Patterned Tags – Holiday Cardmaking Replay

If you missed this week’s Facebook and YouTube LIVE, don’t worry — you can still catch all the creative fun! I shared a set of festive projects featuring two unique Stampin’ Up! products: the Jolly Holly stamp set and the Patterned Tags Dies.

These two work together beautifully to create quick, cheerful cards that are perfect for your Christmas crafting! Whether you’re making a few special cards or prepping for a big batch, these ideas will help you add sparkle and dimension to your holiday projects.

📺 Watch the Replay:

💖 Why You’ll Love This Class

  • You’ll learn fresh ideas for using tag dies beyond gift tags — perfect for cards, packaging, and more!
  • The Jolly Holly stamp set offers beautiful sentiments and imagery that blend easily with many DSPs and embellishments.
  • Get step-by-step guidance and design inspiration to make your holiday crafting simple and stress-free.
  • You can craft along with me using your free packet or the PDF tutorial — whichever fits your crafting style!
  • The projects are quick to make but look polished, ideal for sending a handmade touch during the busy holiday season.

💌 How to Join In

🎁 Free Card Packet Offer (Nov 3–7 Only!)

Place a $65+ order with me this week and you’ll receive a FREE card packet featuring the pre-cut Designer Series Paper and sequins I used in my projects.

✨ I only have 5 ready-to-ship packets available!
If those run out, I’ll contact you to see if you’d like:

  • A kit with a coordinating retired DSP substitute, or
  • To wait for your packet when the DSP is back in stock (expected Nov 17).

🛒 Shop here: https://www.stampinup.ca/?demoid=2189587

Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss my next live class!

Here are the 4 unique cards:

I had such a great time creating these projects live — I hope you’ll give them a try and add your own festive twist! If you do, be sure to tag me on social media @StampinWithLeah so I can see your creations. 💕

Looking for more ways to stamp with me?

Join my December Card Class to learn new techniques and create beautiful projects. Spots are limited, so reserve yours today!

  • Save 20%+ on your orders
  • Get free access to my monthly card class tutorials.
  • Enjoy our monthly team meetings with stamping fun and collaboration.

Click here to shop my online store.
Click here to access & view the current catalogs.
Click here to subscribe to those fun Paper Pumpkin kits of creativity!
Click here for more information about joining my Online Monthly Technique Club. Earn even more goodies by joining a club!
Click here to learn more about joining my Ink Pad Pals Team. Get the MOST rewards including a discount on future products!
Follow me on social media! I share regularly on PinterestYouTube, and Facebook!
Please subscribe to my newsletter, too! Click here and enter your email. When you include your birthday you will even be added to my birthday card mailing list 🙂


Festive Friday with Jolly Holly

This week’s Festive Friday card was inspired by my August Card Class to Go featuring the Jolly Holly Bundle. I decided to create an extra card using this gorgeous set and its coordinating hybrid embossing folder.

✂️ How I Made This Card:

  • I started with a Pretty Peacock card base and ran a layer through the Jolly Holly Hybrid Embossing Folder (witht he die inserted).
  • To make the holly leaves pop, I gently dragged my Craft White Ink Pad across the raised areas—this creates such beautiful contrast and texture.
  • I then adhered the embossed panel to the card base, but here’s the trick—Dimensionals went only behind the cut-out leaves. This gives them a little lift, making the whole design more dimensional and eye-catching. Make sure to grab any small edge leaves that may fall away and add them in place with Dimensionals as well. If needed, use a Mini Glue Dot or other flat adhesive to hold the corners down to the card base.
  • The sentiment is stamped in Pretty Peacock ink on a stitched rectangle (from the Jolly Holly bundle), accented with an embossed-and-die-cut holly cluster.
  • To create the holly bundle, I fully cut out a piece of holly from another hybrid embossed sheet of Basic White cardstock. Then I coloured the berries and coated them in clear embossing powder. Next I used a blending brush to add Pretty Peacock Ink to the leaves.
  • I finished off the card with a few Iridescent Foil Gems for a touch of holiday sparkle.

This design is simple yet elegant, perfect for making multiples as part of your Christmas card stash.

Tip: The drag-ink technique works best with pigment ink pads like Craft White, as they give you bold coverage and time to blend if desired.

🛒 Want to recreate this card?
Head to my online store to grab your supplies or click on the supplies listed below:


📦 Want to create more with the Jolly Holly Bundle? Join my Card Class to Go this month and receive all the pre-cut supplies and tutorials to make even more festive cards!

Looking for more ways to stamp with me? You can find me online and in person ( In Port Coquitlam, BC)

See the details and register here – there is still time to register from any where in the world! The event has happened – but I still have a kit available and you can access the replay videos.

GET YOUR KIT HERE!

Looking for even more ways to enjoy stamping? Join my Stampin’ Up! Ink Pad Pals team!

  • Save 20%+ on your orders.
  • Get free access to my monthly card class tutorials.
  • Enjoy our monthly team meetings with stamping fun and collaboration.

Contact me to find out more or see the details on my website.

❤️ Thanks for crafting with me!
Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a Festive Friday!

Click here to shop my online store.
Click here to access & view the current catalogs.
Click here to subscribe to those fun Paper Pumpkin kits of creativity!
Click here for more information about joining my Online Monthly Technique Club. Earn even more goodies by joining a club!
Click here to learn more about joining my Ink Pad Pals Team. Get the MOST rewards including a discount on future products!
Follow me on social media! I share regularly on PinterestYouTube, and Facebook!
Please subscribe to my newsletter, too! Click here and enter your email. When you include your birthday you will even be added to my birthday card mailing list 🙂


Jolly Holly Card Class to Go – August 2025

My latest Card Class to Go is now available—and it’s a merry one! I’m featuring the Jolly Holly Bundle, an adorable Online Exclusive stamp and die set from Stampin’ Up! Paired with the luxe Regal Distressed Patterns 12×12 Specialty Paper, this class is all about holiday sparkle and cheer.

❄️ Whether you missed the Live or just want to craft along at your own pace, the Replay is now available on YouTube:

💖 Why You’ll Love These Cards:

✔️ Classic Christmas icons with a playful twist
✔️ Textured backgrounds using the Regal Distressed paper for wow-factor
✔️ Easy-to-follow layouts that look polished but come together quickly
✔️ Great for mass-producing holiday cards
✔️ Designs that pair beautifully with your existing holiday supplies

Whether you’re a beginner or experienced stamper, you’ll find this class both inspiring and achievable!

Here are the 4 unique cards:

This last card was inspired by the Global Design Project (GDP508) Case the Designer Challenge – so fun!

📦 How to Get the Card Kit
Receive the full card kit (supplies for 4 cards) FREE with your $60+ order (before tax/shipping) in my online store between August 6–12, 2025.
👉 Shop here

📥 Prefer just the tutorial?
Grab the PDF right here in my online shop:
👉 https://payhip.com/b/wDz9l

Here are the supplies you’ll want to have at home:


Want to stamp with me some more?

Join my August Card Class to learn new techniques and create beautiful projects. Spots are limited, so reserve yours today!

See the details and register here – you can still get the kit and watch the replay!
  • Save 20%+ on your orders (including the virtual album and the suite sale items!!)
  • Get free access to my monthly card class tutorials.
  • Enjoy our monthly team meetings with stamping fun and collaboration.

Click here to shop my online store.
Click here to access & view the current catalogs.
Click here to subscribe to those fun Paper Pumpkin kits of creativity!
Click here for more information about joining my Online Monthly Technique Club. Earn even more goodies by joining a club!
Click here to learn more about joining my Ink Pad Pals Team. Get the MOST rewards including a discount on future products!
Follow me on social media! I share regularly on PinterestYouTube, and Facebook!
Please subscribe to my newsletter, too! Click here and enter your email. When you include your birthday you will even be added to my birthday card mailing list 🙂


Festive Friday: Bright & Happy with Jolly Holly

Happy Festive Friday! Today’s holiday card was created using the brand new Jolly Holly Bundle (an Online Exclusive!) and the GDP506 sketch for layout inspiration. With custom-stamped floral accents, bold texture, and a rich traditional palette, this is a fun, cheerful addition to your Christmas card stash.

And don’t forget — Stampin’ Up!’s FREE Shipping ends TONIGHT (July 25 at 11:59pm MT). Stock up on Online Exclusives like Jolly Holly while you can!

💡 Leah’s Crafting Tips:

🖼 Create your own patterned paper!
The centre strip isn’t from DSP — I hand-stamped and coloured the florals and greenery from the Jolly Holly stamp set using Stampin’ Blends. It’s a beautiful way to customize your colour palette or match any project theme!

✂️ Modify your dies:
The sentiment label was created using the Textured Notes Dies, but I trimmed it with a double cut technique to make it narrower — perfect for this long sentiment while keeping those stitched details.

Here is a full Product List for today’s card:


🛍️ LAST DAY: Free Shipping on Orders $100+ CAD!

Today is your final chance to enjoy FREE SHIPPING on qualifying orders at Stampin’ Up!
✔️ No code needed
✔️ Automatically applied at checkout
✔️ Ends July 25 at 11:59 PM (MT)

👉 Shop Online Exclusives like Jolly Holly now

    Looking for more ways to stamp with me? You can find me online and in person ( In Port Coquitlam, BC)

    See the details and register here – there is still time to register from any where in the world! The event has happened – but I still have a kit available and you can access the replay videos.

    GET YOUR KIT HERE!

    Looking for even more ways to enjoy stamping? Join my Stampin’ Up! Ink Pad Pals team!

    • Save 20%+ on your orders.
    • Get free access to my monthly card class tutorials.
    • Enjoy our monthly team meetings with stamping fun and collaboration.

    Contact me to find out more or see the details on my website.

    ❤️ Thanks for crafting with me!
    Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a Festive Friday!

    Click here to shop my online store.
    Click here to access & view the current catalogs.
    Click here to subscribe to those fun Paper Pumpkin kits of creativity!
    Click here for more information about joining my Online Monthly Technique Club. Earn even more goodies by joining a club!
    Click here to learn more about joining my Ink Pad Pals Team. Get the MOST rewards including a discount on future products!
    Follow me on social media! I share regularly on PinterestYouTube, and Facebook!
    Please subscribe to my newsletter, too! Click here and enter your email. When you include your birthday you will even be added to my birthday card mailing list 🙂