Monochromatic Christmas Card with the Whiteout Technique featuring One Line Santa

Today I’m sharing a cozy monochromatic Christmas card that brings together two of my favorite things: kraft cardstock and a simple technique that adds instant magic. This design features the One Line Santa Stamp Set and the Modern Luxury 6 x 6 Stencil from The Rabbit Hole Designs, and it’s all built around the Whiteout Technique. If you’ve ever wanted a card that looks detailed without heavy coloring, this technique might be your new best friend. I’ve been leaning into clean, warm neutrals this season, and this little Santa fit perfectly into that vibe. Plus, there’s just something charming about a hand-painted effect that still feels modern and polished.

Monochromatic Christmas Card with the Whiteout Technique featuring One Line Santa

Bringing the Whiteout Technique to Kraft Cardstock

The Whiteout Technique is one of those little tricks that gives you a big payoff. I stamped the Santa image onto Neenah Desert Storm cardstock using Ground Espresso Archival Ink. It’s a rich brown that stays crisp even on textured cardstock. Once the ink was set, I reached for regular Titanium White acrylic paint. Nothing fancy—just the same bottle I bought years ago when I first started experimenting with mixed media.

What I love about this technique is that it turns a simple line drawing into a bold focal point. Each coat of white transforms the kraft underneath into something soft and snowy. When everything was dry, I restamped the Santa image using the same ink. This extra pass pulls the details forward and adds back the clean outlines. A quick tip I’ve learned the hard way: restamped ink takes a little longer to dry on top of acrylic paint, so avoid touching it for a bit. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve accidentally smudged a project because I thought it was dry.

A Modern Background with Warm Holiday Style

While the Santa panel finished drying, I created the background using the Modern Luxury 6 x 6 Stencil from The Rabbit Hole Designs. This stencil has such a striking geometric pattern, and I love how it balances out the playful feel of the Santa image. Using Caramel Ink and a foam dome blending tool, I blended ink through the stencil onto another piece of Neenah Desert Storm. I let some areas get slightly darker than others to add variation without overwhelming the card.

The end result feels warm and rich, almost like the look of wrapped gifts or holiday décor you’d find in a cozy living room. I cut out just the section of the stenciled panel I wanted to feature so it became a subtle frame behind the Santa. This small tweak pulls everything together without covering the entire card base.

Pro tip: If you’re using a bold stencil, blending softer ink tones lets the pattern support your focal image instead of competing with it. Caramel Ink is perfect for this because it adds depth without getting too dark on kraft cardstock.

Layering Details for Impact

To frame the Santa, I cut a stitched circle from Neenah Desert Storm cardstock and mounted the painted Santa panel on top using a slightly smaller stitched circle. Layering circles like this gives you beautiful dimension without a complicated layout. Foam adhesive between the two layers adds just enough lift to highlight the focal point.

Whenever I’m working with a minimal color palette like this, I like using shapes and stacked layers to add interest. It’s a great way to keep things clean while still creating a strong visual structure.

Clean Construction with Classic Finishing Touches

Everything was added to a top-folding A2 card base made from Neenah Ultra Thick cardstock. I attached the stenciled panel right across the center, then placed the stacked circles above it for balanced positioning. In the bottom right corner of the card base, I stamped the sentiment No Peeking using Caramel Ink to tie in the warm tones from the background.

A few Cherry Red and Shiny Sage Baubles finished off the card with festive color without disturbing the simplicity of the monochromatic look. These tiny details add sparkle in a way that still feels soft and cohesive. I also love how the red and sage tones compliment the kraft and white—they give just enough holiday flair while keeping the overall palette grounded.

Why This Design Works

This card strikes a balance between playful and modern, and the Whiteout Technique makes the One Line Santa image shine without needing any traditional coloring. The Modern Luxury stencil adds a grounded background that pulls everything together. If you’re someone who wants to create a standout holiday card without spending hours on coloring or heavy techniques, this layout is a wonderful option.

The best part is that this idea is incredibly flexible. Try switching to different neutral inks or pairing the Whiteout Technique with other line-art images. If you need a design that’s easy to mass-produce for holiday mailing, this one works beautifully with minimal supplies and quick drying time once you get into a rhythm.

I hope this inspires you to pull out your kraft cardstock and try something a little different this season. The Whiteout Technique is one of those simple approaches that gives you a card with tons of charm and personality. Happy crafting, friends.

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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