The Winter’s Grace Collection by Susan Tierney is perfect for crafting elegant and festive cards for the holiday season. I’ve created three unique cards featuring the Withered Viburnum, Cymbidium Orchid, and Cyclamen die sets, each designed to bring a seasonal floral touch to your cardmaking. Here’s a look at my cardmaking process and the inspiration behind each design.
Card 1: Berries and Plaid – Withered Viburnum Festivity
Creating the Focal Image
For my first card, I used the Withered Viburnum die set to craft a cluster of vibrant berries and lush foliage. The berries were cut from red cardstock, while the leaves were shaped and shaded using green cardstock and Distress Oxide inks to create depth. To enhance the berries, I applied Nuvo Drops, giving them a plump, rounded look, and added some vellum leaves for a soft, delicate touch.
Textured Background and Foliage Arrangement
The background was created using a white panel embossed with the Norwegian Rosemaling 3D embossing folder, providing a lovely intricate texture. To introduce a holiday feel, I added a red plaid pattern paper matted with black cardstock, cut into a square and centered at the top of the card. Before arranging the viburnum leaves and berries on the plaid, I glued some jute twine behind the arrangement for extra texture and dimension.
Finishing Touch with a Sentiment
For the sentiment, I foiled “Season’s Greetings” from the Holiday Sentiments Foil and Die set and placed it atop the berries and foliage cluster. The contrast of the shiny foil against the rustic elements ties everything together in a festive, elegant way.
Card 2: Holiday Blossoms – Cymbidium Orchid Christmas
Floral Details with a Twist
For my second card, I featured the Cymbidium Orchid die set, transforming it into a festive floral design. The die set allows you to create as many flowers as you’d like on a single stem, but for this card, I crafted three red orchids to evoke the holiday spirit. The petals were cut from red cardstock and shaded with darker Copic markers for added dimension. The centers were detailed with yellow cardstock, accented with white and black dots.
Simple Plaid Background with a Bold Sentiment
To complement the orchids, I chose a background of plaid pattern paper, matted in black and sized slightly smaller than an A2 card base. The flowers were arranged along the left side, creating a balanced design. I completed the look with a foiled “Warm Wishes” sentiment, again using the Holiday Sentiments Foil and Die set, adhered with foam tape to give it a lifted, dimensional effect.
Card 3: Cyclamen Charm – A Christmas Bouquet
Building the Cyclamen Focal Point
For the third card, I used the Cyclamen die set to create a lush bouquet of red cyclamen flowers, paired with their distinctive leaves. Each petal was shaded with Copic markers to add depth and a realistic touch to the floral arrangement. This bold, festive bunch became the star of the card.
Modern Oval Frame with Plaid Accents
To ground the cyclamen, I used the Modern Oval die to cut an oval from plaid pattern paper and added a black cardstock mat to frame it. The cyclamen sits beautifully in the center of the oval, making the vibrant red flowers pop against the patterned backdrop.
Merry Christmas Sentiment
Finally, I added a “Merry Christmas” sentiment, once again using the Holiday Sentiments Foil and Die set. The sentiment was placed beneath the cyclamen plant, bringing the card together with a classic holiday message.
Each of these cards reflects the beauty of holiday florals and festive touches, all while showcasing the versatility of the Winter’s Grace Collection. Whether you’re looking for texture, elegance, or a modern flair, these cards are sure to inspire your next holiday crafting session!
Hugs,
