Clean & Layered Christmas Reindeer Card with Ink Blended Lights | Scrappy Boy Stamps

There’s something about a clean and layered Christmas card that feels both timeless and fresh, and today I’m excited to share one I had so much fun putting together. If you’ve ever wanted a card that looks detailed but doesn’t require lots of complicated steps, this design might be exactly what you’re looking for. I love projects that let the patterned paper shine, offer a simple focal point, and leave room for a little playful detail. This reindeer card checks all the boxes, especially with those ink-blended Christmas lights twined around his antlers. This look always reminds me of the years when my dad and I would be in charge of untangling the Christmas lights. We’d always find one rogue strand still wrapped around a branch from the year before, and it became a running joke in our house. Those memories definitely came back as I worked on this sweet deer.

Clean & Layered Christmas Reindeer Card with Ink Blended Lights | Scrappy Boy Stamps

Creating a Strong Layered Base

I started this card by building out the layered background, which really sets the tone for the whole design. The A2 Stitched Scalloped Edge Nested Dies from Scrappy Boy Stamps are a favorite of mine because they instantly add polish without any effort. I cut the largest scalloped panel from the green cardstock in the Christmas 6 x 8 Smooth Cardstock Paper Pad. One thing I love about dies like these is how easy it is to use the cut-out center for smaller die pieces. So before I adhered anything down, I cut the light strings from the Reindeer Head Die Set right from the middle of that green panel. It’s such a simple way to stretch your supplies, and no one will ever know.

For the next layer, I reached for the Stitched Rectangle Nested Dies. I cut a solid red panel from the same Christmas Smooth Cardstock pad and then used the same die to cut a piece of the poinsettia pattern from the Vintage Christmas 6x6 Paper Pack. Trimming that patterned piece down into a strip let me build a clean, bold center band. Patterned paper can easily overpower a card, but limiting it to a smaller section keeps everything balanced while still giving the design some holiday flair.

Bringing the Reindeer to Life

The Reindeer Head Die Set has such a sweet expression that I knew it would be the perfect focal point. I die-cut the top layer from a lighter brown cardstock and the base from a darker shade, both from the Neutrals A2 Smooth Cardstock Paper Pad. Even though the die cuts look great on their own, adding a little ink blending makes a big difference. I used a sponge dauber to apply Caramel Ink to the bottom of the reindeer’s face, just enough to create soft dimension. It warms up the design and gives the reindeer that cozy holiday look.

Once the head was ready, I added the green die-cut strings to the antlers. Twining the lights around the antlers gives the whole card a whimsical feel, and this is where the design really starts coming together. I’ve always joked that my holiday cards are a safe place to put Christmas lights where they’ll never tangle, and honestly, it’s probably why I keep reaching for this kind of detail year after year.

Ink-Blended Lights for Subtle Glow

The little bulbs in the Reindeer Head Die Set are tiny, but they truly finish the whole design. I cut the bulbs and their bases from white Mixed Media Smooth Cardstock and ink blended them using Fossilized Amber and Rustic Wilderness Distress Inks. Blending such small pieces might seem intimidating, but a little dauber or blending brush makes it surprisingly easy.

A pro tip: keep a pair of tweezers nearby so you can hold each piece without getting fingerprints on your ink.

Once the bulbs and bases were ready, I adhered them to the strings, and the whole card instantly lit up. To take it a step further, I used a Posca Extra Fine White Paint Marker to add tiny highlights to the bulbs, then brushed on a touch of Rock Candy Glitter. It gives a frosty sparkle that feels just right for holiday cards without overpowering the clean design.

Finishing Touches

Before assembling everything, I stamped the Have A Merry Christmas sentiment from the Santa’s Workshop Stamp Set directly onto the red stitched rectangle using Versafine Clair Fallen Leaves Ink. Stamping straight onto the panel helps keep the card feeling crisp and uncluttered. I popped the reindeer head up on foam adhesive, layered all the pieces together, and attached the completed panel to a top-folding A2 card base.

This clean and layered look makes the reindeer the star of the show while still giving you room to play with paper, color, and texture. It’s a wonderful option if you want a design that feels polished but not fussy, and it’s especially great when you want to make multiple cards without spending all day at your craft table.

If you give this design a try, I’d love to see how you make it your own. Happy Christmas cardmaking.

Clean & Layered Reindeer Christmas Card | Ink-Blended Details + Scrappy Boy Stamps Dies Video Tutorial:

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(Wondering what I used in this video? Everything is linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post, or in the text below. Compensated affiliate links used when possible). As always I appreciate your support of my videos!

Materials Used:

Here you will find the list of supplies that I used to create today's card. All supplies are linked to supply sources below. Compensated affiliate links may be used at no cost to you.

Happy Crafting,

Rick Adkins

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