One Layer Christmas Card | Masking Technique with Christmas Cats

If you’ve been around my craft room for a while, you already know I’m a huge fan of cards that look complicated but are secretly super simple to make. That’s exactly the kind of project I’m sharing today—a one-layer Christmas card featuring the adorable Christmas Cats Stamp Set from Simon Says Stamp’s Sugar & Spice Release. I wanted to capture a bit of that cozy, slightly mischievous holiday energy (because if you’ve ever had a cat and a Christmas tree in the same room, you know it’s only a matter of time before things get interesting!). This card is all about creating the look of layers with the magic of masking—no bulk, no foam tape, just pure scene-building fun.

One Layer Christmas Card | Masking Technique with Christmas Cats

Creating a Dimensional Scene Without Layers

When I first started cardmaking, I was convinced that dimension only came from adding layers—foam tape, die cuts, embellishments. And while I still love a good pop-up moment, sometimes you just want that clean, flat surface that’s perfect for mailing. That’s where the masking technique comes in.

For this design, I stamped out each of the Christmas Cats to build my own little “cat tree.” I started with the cat on top (because it’s always the one who climbs the tree first, right?) and worked my way down, masking each one as I went. Masking is simply covering up a stamped image so you can stamp another one behind it—giving the illusion that everything is perfectly stacked. It’s a bit like playing paper-doll dress-up with stamps, and honestly, once you get the hang of it, it’s hard to stop.

Pro Tip: If you’re new to masking, stamp an extra set of images on masking paper before you start. Having those ready to go makes the process smoother and keeps your creative flow uninterrupted.

Setting the Scene: Warm Glow and Cozy Chaos

Once all my cats were stamped and masked, it was time to bring the scene to life. I wanted it to look like they were proudly forming their own Christmas tree right in the middle of a living room, so I added a soft ink-blended background that glows from behind the pile of cats.

I used a warm golden yellow for that cozy holiday light, blending it softly in a circular motion behind the tree. To ground the scene, I inked in a deeper brown at the bottom for the “floor” and softly blended the two together. The faint diamond pattern in the background (created with Pepita Background Stamp Set and a three shades of yellow ink) gives just enough texture to make it feel like wallpaper without distracting from the main image.

Pro Tip: When ink blending behind a focal image, keep your color concentrated near the center and let it fade out toward the edges. This creates a natural spotlight effect that pulls the viewer’s eye exactly where you want it.

Bringing the Christmas Cats to Life

Now for my favorite part—coloring! I used my Copic markers to bring each little cat to life, giving them their own personalities with shades of warm browns, soft grays, and even a few ginger tones. I like to mix up fur colors so the pile doesn’t blend together too much. A soft pink on the cheeks and ears adds instant cuteness (and who can resist that?).

The Christmas tree was colored with deep greens and pops of festive red ornaments. I couldn’t resist adding a bit of shimmer with a clear glitter pen on the ornaments and star—because it’s Christmas, and sparkle is basically required.

Pro Tip: When coloring multiple critters in one scene, vary your tones slightly—even if they’re all the same “color family.” It adds depth and keeps the image visually interesting without feeling repetitive.

Finishing Touches that Make It Shine

After all the coloring was done, I peeled off the masks to reveal that perfect, crisp one-layer scene. That moment never gets old—it’s like unwrapping a present. I stamped the sentiment, “Merry Mischief ’tis the season!” right below the cats to anchor the design, and then added a few sequins for a little extra holiday sparkle.

A touch of white highlights on the cats’ noses, the presents, and the ornaments added just enough highlight to make everything pop. The whole design feels playful and festive, and best of all—it’s perfectly flat for mailing.

Why Masking is a Holiday Hero

If you’ve ever had a stack of cards warp, smudge, or feel too bulky to send, masking might just be your new best friend. It lets you create layered looks without layers, giving your designs depth and storytelling power while keeping them simple and practical. Plus, it’s an easy way to get creative with your stamp sets—turning individual images into a whole new scene.

This one-layer card was a great reminder for me that sometimes, less really is more. And with the right masking and a bit of creative ink blending, you can turn a pile of cute Christmas cats into a full holiday story right on one piece of cardstock.

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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