I wanted to play with a technique today, and was tossing ideas for something that was soft, moody, and festive.
I grabbed a punch, a sponge dauber, and a few shades of green (though I was also seriously considering blues) and created this relaxed background. Sometimes, you just need to let the colours guide you and create something totally unique.
This card takes relatively few supplies, and can be totally customized to what you have, and what you want it to look like. This card uses: Shaded Spruce, Lost Lagoon, Garden Green and Pretty Peacock inks, a scrap of cardstock and a circle punch to make the stencil, a sponge dauber, Christmas Words Collage Hybrid Embossing Folder, Basic White cardstock (2 pieces at 4″ x 5 1/4″, and a 6″ x 6″ piece for the embossing folder, and a Pretty Peacock card base. You’ll also need water, a water spritzer, Wink of Stella, and embellishments, if desired.
Ink up the sponge dauber, and use the circle stencil to layer the colour onto the white card mat. Once I was happy with the background, I gave it a few flicks of water to lift the colour and add those organic little splotches. Then, because I can’t resist a little shimmer, I splattered some Wink of Stella across the surface.
To finish it off, I added the words peace, love, magic — from the Christmas Words Hybrid Embossing Folder — in white. The simplicity of those words against the background feels calm, hopeful, and a little bit enchanting.
That’s what I love most about projects like this — they remind me that creating doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t need a dozen tools or a long supply list. Sometimes it’s just ink, paper, and a few peaceful minutes to yourself.
So if you’re craving a creative pause — something simple, soothing, and full of that quiet kind of joy — give this one a try. Put on some music, grab your inks, and just play. No rules. No pressure. Just peace, love, and a little bit of magic.
And if quick, creative projects are your thing, you’ll want to get on my email list for my upcoming 5-Minute Merry Makes series — a collection of easy, joyful holiday projects designed to bring back the fun (and calm) to your craft space.
👉 Join here and don’t miss out!
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