2019 Holiday Cards Collection Lookbook – Snowy Backgrounds – Kim McDougal, Handmade Crafter & Designer

Welcome to my 2019 Holiday Cards Collection Lookbook Blog Series! I love doing a lookbook towards the end of the year to look back over creations. It’s not a brag or boast, just a celebration of what I created which brings a smile to my face. I don’t take lightly the journey I’m on and I’m incredibly grateful to God for giving me a talent and the opportunity to share it with you. I’m putting together a 6-blog post series all centered about my Holiday cards with a quick overview of how I made them! Included will be links to the products I used in case you’re interested in purchasing. I hope you’ll like it 🙂

So far this year, I’m having a ball making Holiday cards and all it’s all due to the many wonderful products and kits out there up for grabs! Last week, I purchased and received Spellbinders’ “Merry Everything” card kit and it’s loaded with paper goodies (I’ll be posting those cards in Series 3 coming soon). I also picked up some other products below (some I haven’t even gotten to use yet!)

Throughout this series, there will be links to the products I used and some of them are affiliate links meaning if you purchase through them, I’ll earn a small commission and it is no extra cost to you. Your purchasing helps support our small business and we appreciate that so much! – Kim

Concord & 9th Merry Christmas stamp and coordinating die set
Simon Says Stamp sets, “Shake your Flakes this Season” (SOLD OUT), “Holiday Hellos“, I also purchased the November card kit, “Woodland Whimsy” to go with the November “Thanksgiving” theme
Vintage Classic Rose Pink 12 x 12 paper pack with die cuts
Classic Floral Rose 7 x 7 paper pack
Simple Stories Holly Jolly 6 x 8 paper pack
Tim Holtz Woodlands tree die by Sizzix
Simon Says Stamp Schoolhouse red and green leaf cardstock (perfect colors for Christmas)

For the first couple of cards, I used my Holly Wreath die from Tonic Studios for the focal point and did some ink blending with Distress Oxides. I used “Salty Ocean“, “Blueprint Sketch” and “Wilted Violet“, one of my favorite color combos. I waited for it to dry and then flicked some Distress Paint (Picket fence) on top which I also love to do with ink blending and watercoloring.

Snowy Background Christmas Card - part of the 2019 Holiday Cards Collection

Then I glued the wreath in the center and die cut the border using the Poppy Stamps rectangle frame die (I used the largest size). Then I adhered the design onto Neenah Classic Solar White 110 lb. cardstock.

For this card, I wanted a more narrow center point for my background with the gold tree** in the center. I used the frame die (I believe the 3rd from the smallest) for the border. Then I used fun foam paper cut down to just under an A2 size to add dimension.

** With the Tim Holtz Woodlands trees die, I cut out a bunch of trees with glitter paper and so I had a bunch to choose from for these cards!

The next set of snowy backgrounds features a Jennifer McGuire embellished windows technique (you gotta learn this method cause it is so cool, catch the video here) and the Tim Holtz Woodlands trees die by Sizzix as the focal points. I LOVE, LOVE these two dies in the set. I used some assorted glitter cardstock by Darice to cut them out and some of the trees I cut out all the little pieces while leaving them in on other cards. They’re beautiful both ways!

For the snowy backgrounds, I purchase a box of Scotch Thermal 4 x 6 laminating pouches. I wanted small size because I wanted it to be easy to cut to size of an A2 card. I also used slew of embellishments for those snowy backgrounds including:

Gina K. Designs Fine White Embossing Powder
Distress Glitter Clear Rock Candy – seems to be discontinued, I couldn’t find this anywhere 🙁
Iridescent chunky glitter by Studio Katia
Iridescent Fine White glitter part of an assorted pack

After I laminated my snowy window backgrounds, I let them cool for a bit and then trimmed them down to just under 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″. I decided to go with the clear liquid glue around the edges to adhere them to my cardstock so that it wouldn’t show up after it dried. I absolutely couldn’t get enough of making these cards! This is such a fun technique and it’s not only great for Holiday cards but for birthdays and other occasions. I made them in several colors! NOTE: I ordered some stars and snowflakes to make some more! LOL!

BE SURE TO VISIT THE SHOP FEATURING ALL THESE CARDS IN OUR 2019 HOLIDAY CARDS COLLECTION (always free shipping!)

The last two cards in this collection use a different decorative frame die for the border. I wanted a different shape than the rectangular or circular. I love the shape of these and the set comes with several sizes.

I was also trying to keep these cards from having a ton of dimension so they would mail easier and with the exception of the 3rd card from the top, I think I succeeded.

If you’re wondering about the sentiments, a big thank you goes to Simon Says Stamp for their Christmas Sentiment (Extra Large) Strips, they were easy because they come already printed in different font sizes with various Christmas sayings and all I had to do was cut them out, put some foam tape behind them and tada… done!

Other Supplies Used: