Clean & Simple Christmas Card | Henry & Twila Christmas Sneak Peek from C.C. Designs

There’s something about the start of the holiday crafting season that makes me want to pull out all my Christmas stamps and start creating. But let’s be honest—sometimes the thought of making a bunch of detailed cards can feel a little overwhelming. That’s why I love finding ways to make clean and simple designs that still feel layered, special, and full of charm. Today’s card does just that! I’m giving you a little sneak peek at the adorable Henry & Twila Christmas Stamp Set from the C.C. Designs October 2025 Release, and I can’t wait to show you how this playful duo brings a touch of nostalgic joy to any Christmas card.

Clean & Simple Christmas Card | Henry & Twila Christmas Sneak Peek from C.C. Designs

A Sneak Peek at the New Release

C.C. Designs always capture that perfect mix of sweetness and story in their stamp sets, and Henry and Twila are no exception. They instantly reminded me of decorating the Christmas tree as a kid—carefully hanging ornaments, trying to reach that one high branch, and sneaking a cookie or two in between. That little spark of nostalgia was my inspiration for this card. I wanted it to feel like a snapshot of a cozy Christmas morning, but with the simplicity that makes clean and simple cards so approachable to recreate.

Coloring That Brings the Scene to Life

I stamped the images of Henry and Twila onto Hammermill 100 lb Smooth Cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, which is my go-to pairing for alcohol marker coloring. The smooth surface of the Hammermill paper works beautifully with my Triblend Markers, allowing the colors to blend seamlessly.

I gave Henry his fun red-orange striped pajamas—because, honestly, red-orange PJs just feel fun—and Twila got a cheerful green pattern that makes her stand out perfectly against the background. A little pro tip here: when working with smaller images, keep your color palette simple and cohesive. It helps the design look intentional without overwhelming the clean layout. Once everything was colored, I fussy cut the images to give them that hand-crafted, dimensional look I love.

Building the Background: Clean Layers with Impact

For the background, I wanted something simple that still hinted at the Christmas story unfolding in the scene. I used the Wavy Rectangle Dies (from SBC) to create a soft, scalloped frame out of Neenah Ultra Thick Cardstock. Cutting two frames and layering them together adds just enough depth to make the card front feel substantial without needing foam tape.

The Christmas tree is one of my favorite parts—it’s actually made from a piece of patterned paper I found in my scrap bin. I cut it using a Nested Fir Tree Die and added a little Ground Coffee Cardstock along the bottom for the trunk. It’s a small touch, but it helps balance the design and keeps the eye moving upward.

If you’re like me and have a growing pile of patterned paper scraps, this is a great way to use them! A single scrap can become the focal point of a clean and simple card with just the right die.

Creating a Soft and Festive Background

The background behind the frame is lightly ink blended with Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide Ink. It’s subtle but gives that feeling of a soft winter sky, and it helps the tree and characters stand out beautifully. I added this panel to a top-folding A2 card base and adhered the layered frame on top for a polished, finished look.

A quick pro tip: when ink blending backgrounds for clean designs, focus the color near the edges and keep the center lighter. This naturally draws the eye to your focal point and gives the illusion of depth without extra layers.

Sentiment & Finishing Details

To create a focal point for my sentiment, I used one of the Nested Wavy Oval Dies and stamped “Trim the Tree and Light the Lights” from the Henry & Twila Christmas Stamp Set right in the center. I inked around the edges with Frayed Burlap Distress Oxide Ink to give it that slightly vintage, cozy feel.

For a pop of color, I die-cut a bow from the Bow Toppers Die Set (also from SBC) using a scrap of Lobster Cardstock. It ties the red from Henry’s pajamas into the rest of the design and adds that perfect finishing touch. I positioned it at the top of the tree so it looked like it was hanging from the top of the tag.

After everything was assembled, I added foam tape behind my colored images to lift them off the background just enough to create shadow and dimension. A few highlights with a Posca White Extra Fine Paint Marker and a touch of Stardust Stickles on the ornaments brought the whole scene to life. Those tiny sparkles catch the light in just the right way—like twinkling Christmas bulbs on a cozy December night.

Clean and Simple, Yet Full of Story

This card is proof that clean and simple doesn’t mean plain. By layering a few thoughtful die cuts, keeping the color palette cohesive, and adding just a touch of shimmer, you can create a card that feels both quick to make and visually rich.

If you ever feel like your clean and simple cards look unfinished, try adding small details—like subtle ink blending or fussy-cut layers—to create depth. These little touches don’t take much time but can completely transform your finished design.

I hope this sneak peek of the Henry & Twila Christmas Stamp Set from C.C. Designs’ October Release inspires you to start your holiday cards early this year. It’s a wonderful reminder that sometimes, the sweetest designs come from simple ideas layered with a little love and a lot of personality.

Thanks for dropping by today I hope that you found a little spark of creative inspiration with my project today. Wondering what I used in this project? Everything is linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails in the Materials Used section, or in the text below. Compensated affiliate links used when possible.

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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