Holly Jolly Christmas Card with the Simon Says Stamp And Everything Nice Release

Hey crafty friends! I’m so excited to share this cheerful holiday card that’s bursting with festive layers, texture, and a little sparkle. This design came together using some of my favorite products from Simon Says Stamp’s And Everything Nice Release—and let me tell you, it’s one of those projects that looks delightfully detailed but is surprisingly easy to create once you break it down. I wanted something playful yet polished, and the combination of the Holly Jolly Stamp Set, Winter Cardinal Die Set, Mistletoe & Berries Die Set, Interlocking Circles Stencil, and Twinkle Snowflakes Embossing Folder hit that perfect balance.

I always love this point in the season when my craft table is covered in shades of pinks, aquas, and soft corals instead of the traditional red and green. It feels fresh, happy, and just a little unexpected—exactly what this card brings to the holiday lineup.

Holly Jolly Christmas Card with the Simon Says Stamp And Everything Nice Release

Layered Sentiments That Steal the Show

The Holly Jolly Stamp Set instantly caught my attention because of its fun, layered look. I wanted those big bold letters to be the star of the card, so I stamped each layer using Cherry Blossom, Waterfall, and Atlantis inks on Hammermill Smooth 100 lb Cardstock. A good stamping platform, like the Mini MISTI, really helps keep those layers perfectly aligned.

Here’s a little trick I use all the time: after stamping, I place the clean stamp back over the finished sentiment and trace lightly around it with a pencil. It creates a subtle shadow layer that gives the design instant depth. It’s one of those small touches that makes a big difference, especially on a clean design like this.

I fussy cut around the sentiment with my Mini Recoil Snips—they’re small enough to handle tight curves without leaving jagged edges. This step might sound tedious, but it’s actually quite relaxing. I like to think of it as my “coffee and fussy-cutting” moment—it’s just me, the scissors, and a podcast playing in the background.

Creating a Soft Stenciled Background

To build a soft and cohesive background, I reached for the Interlocking Circles Stencil. I used the same trio of inks from the sentiment and added a touch of Paradise Ink for contrast. Layering inks in similar tones gives your background movement without overpowering the focal point.

If you ever struggle with backgrounds that feel flat, this is a great solution. Overlapping soft patterns like these circles create interest while still letting your main elements shine. Plus, since the stencil design echoes the round shapes of the snowflakes and berries, it ties everything together visually.

Adding Subtle Dimension with Embossing

For that extra “wow” factor, I used a piece of Nectar Cardstock as my top panel. I cut it down to A2 size and die cut an arched window using the A2 Arches Wafer Dies. Once the window was cut, I embossed the panel with the Twinkle Snowflakes Embossing Folder.

Here’s a quick pro tip: if you lightly drag an ink pad across the raised embossed areas—like I did with Peach Fuzz Ink—it instantly highlights the texture. This trick is perfect when you want dimension and visual interest without using a ton of layers or glitter. It’s subtle but so effective in bringing your embossed details to life.

Bringing All the Elements Together

Once the embossed panel was ready, I attached the stenciled background to a top-folding A2 card base and popped up the embossed arch panel with foam adhesive. This gives you that nice shadow play between layers.

For embellishment, I used the Mistletoe & Berries Die Set to create clusters of white berries and leaves, which frame the sentiment beautifully. The Winter Cardinal Die Set was already assembled from a previous project and just waiting for the perfect card to land on—don’t you love when that happens? The glittery peach bird perched perfectly beside the sentiment, adding the right amount of sparkle and contrast.

I wanted to balance out the bold “Holly Jolly” sentiment with smaller words, so I stamped “have a” and “Christmas” onto custom-colored cardstock I made by swiping Cherry Blossom Ink over white cardstock. Once dry, I stamped the text in Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink, trimmed them into strips, and added them to the card.

The Finishing Touches

No card of mine is complete without a few small details that pull everything together. I added highlights to the stamped letters with a Posca White Extra Fine Tip Paint Marker—a simple way to make the colors pop and give that hand-lettered look a little extra polish. Then, I added some Rock Candy Glitter over the berries for a frosty sparkle that catches the light just right.

These final touches are my favorite part of any cardmaking session. They’re like jewelry for your design—small but mighty details that make the whole piece feel finished.

Final Thoughts

This card was such a joy to create. I love how the mix of stenciling, embossing, and layered stamping works together to create a design that feels full of depth and texture without being complicated. It’s a great reminder that you don’t need to reinvent your process to get fresh results—you just need to play with color, texture, and layers in new ways.

If you’re looking for a fun, festive design that feels modern and bright, give this combination from Simon Says Stamp’s And Everything Nice Release a try. It’s the perfect way to create handmade cards that are full of cheer and sparkle—without spending all week in the craft room.

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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