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Writer's pictureRick Adkins

Nontraditional Holiday Card: Emboss Resist Video Tutorial | Miss Ink Stamps

Holiday card making is one of my favorite creative outlets. It’s the perfect excuse to get playful with techniques and explore color palettes that might not scream “holiday” at first glance. This year, I decided to step out of the traditional red and green zone and try something a bit unexpected—peachy pink and dark green. The results? A pair of modern, eye-catching cards that still feel festive but with a fresh twist.


Let’s dive into how I pulled these cards together using some fabulous products from Miss Ink Stamps, plus a few tips for breaking free from conventional holiday colors.


Nontraditional Holiday Cards Blog Banner

Nontraditional Holiday Card:

Why Go Nontraditional?

Every year, I find myself itching to try something new with my holiday cards. Traditional color schemes are beautiful, but switching things up can really spark creativity. This time, I paired a soft peachy pink with a deep green for a sophisticated yet festive look.


Here’s my thinking: holiday cards don’t always need to be red, green, and gold to evoke that seasonal magic. By choosing colors outside the norm, your cards can stand out on the mantel and still feel just as merry. Plus, playing with color is a great way to keep your stash of supplies feeling fresh and versatile.


Pro Tip: Choosing a Palette

If you’re unsure about trying nontraditional colors, start by pulling inspiration from patterned paper or even home decor trends. I pulled mine from the Nutcracker Pattern Paper Pad, which had some beautiful solids that felt wintry yet modern.


Nontraditional Holiday Card Pink Frame  by Rick Adkins

Building the Perfect Background

A strong background sets the tone for the whole card, and for these, I wanted something dynamic but subtle enough to let the focal points shine. I used the Frosty Flakes Stencil from Miss Ink Stamps to create a soft snowflake pattern on both panels.


For the peachy pink panel, I blended Saltwater Taffy Distress Ink with my Cottontail Blending Brush, creating a light-to-dark gradient. On the green panel, I used Pine Needles Distress Ink for a rich, moody backdrop. These gradients gave each panel a cozy, dimensional look without overpowering the design.


Pro Tip: Gradient Blending

When working with stencils and ink blending, I like to focus more ink on the edges and blend lighter toward the center. This technique draws the eye toward the focal point while adding depth to your design.


Nontraditional Holiday Card Pink Frame  by Rick Adkins Over Head View

Emboss Resist Magic

Now, let’s talk about the showstopper: the emboss resist technique. If you’ve never tried it, you’re in for a treat. It’s such a fun way to combine stamping, heat embossing, and ink blending to create striking, layered images.


For these cards, I stamped the building from the Siriusly Stamp Set onto Hammermill Smooth Cardstock using Versamark Ink. I heat-embossed one image with white powder and another with clear. After blending over each image—Saltwater Taffy on the white embossing and Pine Needles on the clear—I buffed off the ink to reveal crisp, resist patterns.


This technique is like a magic trick every time. The embossed areas resist the ink, creating beautiful contrast and texture.


Pro Tip: Double Up Your Embossing

For a bolder resist effect, use white embossing powder. For a more subtle, tone-on-tone look, clear embossing is your best friend. Both work beautifully, depending on the vibe you’re going for.


Nontraditional Holiday Card Green Frame  by Rick Adkins Front View

Assembling the Cards

With all the pieces ready, it was time to bring everything together. I love a bit of dimension on my cards, so I used foam tape to pop up the Modern Typeset Frames on A2 top-folding card bases. To keep things interesting, I swapped the interior panels—pink inside the green frame and vice versa.


Next came the embossed buildings. The pink building went on the green card, and the green building on the pink. This simple switch created visual harmony and tied the two designs together. To finish, I added sentiments from the Deck the Halls Stamp Set and a sprinkling of Clear Twinkle Stardust Rhinestones for that final touch of sparkle.


Nontraditional Holiday Card Green Frame  by Rick Adkins Over Head View

Tips for Creating Unique Holiday Cards

  • Experiment with Color: Don’t be afraid to try unexpected combinations. Peach and green might not be your first thought for Christmas, but they work beautifully when paired with classic holiday motifs.

  • Mix and Match Supplies: Pull together elements from different sets or even different brands to keep your designs versatile and exciting.

  • Add Dimension and Texture: Foam tape, rhinestones, and emboss resist techniques can take a card from flat to fabulous with minimal effort.


Nontraditional Holiday Cards by Rick Adkins

Wrapping It Up

I hope this project inspires you to try something a little different with your holiday cards this year. Whether you stick to traditional colors or venture into the world of nontraditional palettes, remember: the most important thing is to have fun and let your creativity shine.


For a closer look at how these cards came together, be sure to check out the video tutorial. Happy crafting!


Video Tutorial:



If you have problems watching the video here on my blog you can always watch it on my YouTube Channel by Clicking here!


(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 Stampin'

Rick Adkins














Rick Adkins

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