Set back stamping technique for card making - Try this for your DIY Christmas Cards

 

Welcome to our papercraft technique blog hop for September 2025.  Our theme this month was set by the lovely Fanny Minnie in Austria and it is Set Back Stamping.  You create depth to give the view of your image being set back on your handmade card.  

I have used the popular Traditions of Christmas Suite of products from Stampin' Up! but instead of using the traditional colours of Christmas I've used pinks and greens and you could if you wished use a happy birthday sentiment instead of the ones I've used from the Traditional Labels stamp set.  The floral image is from Christmas Greenery and its coordinating dies.  

It's fun to create this texture to a card and really makes your image pop and can be done with any stamp and die bundle that you have.  I enjoyed colouring the images with my alcohol markers (Stampin' Blends) and as you'll hear in my video tutorial you don't need to be an expert colourer to create super colourful images. 

Colouring is such a great activity for clearing your mind as you focus on the colouring and the stresses of your day will more than likely disappear and so it can be very relaxing.  If you like my tutorial do subscribe to my channel as there are more tutorials on the way.  

Enjoy watching and then return for our tour of blogs showcasing different ideas for this fun technique.  You can find all the products I used in the list at the bottom of this post.  

Thanks for joining me today.

Keep stamping

Zoe x

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Christmas Greenery Bundle

Traditional Labels stamp set

foam adhesive sheets

iridescent faceted gems

telescoping technique for cardmaking

Welcome all to my blog today and the Totally Techniques blog hop. Tour via the links below to see different versions of the Telescoping Technique for card makers.  You could also consider this technique for adding embellishment to scrapbook pages that suit your theme.  

Today I've used the Winterly Tree Tops bundle which will be available from 4 September in our Winter Mini catalogue.  It has a fab set of papers that coordinates and some lovely bakers twine in various colours.  The set is perfect for Christmas or for any 'twitchers' ie birdwatchers that you know.  It will also work well for those always challenging masculine cards.  

This week I've been trying to use my phone to create the video with the help of my son. Where would be without our children in todays technology whizz.  I'm getting to grips with it slowly and I hope it works for you to watch.  If you like it to encourage me to keep trying do subscribe to my youtube channel. 

I added my telescoped image to a base card of 5.25 inches square and a few stripes of red card along with the designer paper which is called Iconic Celebrations.  It covers autumn into winter and seasonal events and gives lots of scope for Christmas cards and Diwali and celebrations of light and joy.  This suite of products can be found in the exclusively online section of my shop.

In the video I created the card below which uses the Stitched Shape dies circles as opposed to the squares from the same pack as you see above and some more easy to use products from the winter range of mix and match ephemera packs.  These will make Christmas card makes some of the easiest you will ever encouter.  

To add some texture to the sentiment and my telescoped image I've added a layer of card cut just a little smaller than my base card and used the de-bossed side having dry embossed it with the birch wood 3D embossing folder which is 6" x8.5" so a great size for embossing larger pieces of card. 

The weather is back to being variable here in my world and so Christmas making seems to feel right.  I'll be sharing more over the coming weeks so see you again soon. 

Happy weekend all. 

Hugs Zoe

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Supply List

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 Card stock

Iconic celebrations suite 

Blooming pearls

Stylish Shapes Dies

Alcohol markers Stampin' Blends

Reverse Masking for simple but effective handmade card design

Hi everyone hope you are all keeping well and welcome to the monthly Totally techniques Blog Hop.  This month we are sharing ideas and tips for the reverse masking technique.    

It's an easy one to do and you don't need many supplies.  This is how I created mine. 

I die cut a deckle edged rectangle and then used a decorative mask and blending brush to create a back drop for my design.  I added ink over the exposed area of card.  Leaving the mask in place I stamped the holly from Sending Cheer stamp set.  

I've added a sentiment which is stamped in red and gold embossing and then attached it to the debossed side of a dry embossed piece of green card.  It's an easy technique that you can add to or make even simpler with no bling or embossing.  

Have fun on the hop and we'll see you again soon. 

Zoe x

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Christmas Robin layered card.

 I've been busy this past week preparing and having a stand at a Papercraft Show which was a fun day yesterday.  It means I've had little time to make cards for blog posts and not only that, I don't have any bell stamps which is our theme for Christmas Card Club today.  However we have a let out of anything goes when you don't have the stamps and therefore I'm sharing a card a made a little while ago. It was inspired by the lovely Martine Smith if you know her. She used a different Robin and scaled it all slightly differently, but I've done my take on her original.  

On a piece of white card I stamped the Robin in memento ink and then added some grey using Stampin' Blends (alcohol markers) to the bird and also Poppy Parade to the holly berries and the simple combo has worked well with the flashes of colour.  Additional colour can be added using a stamp similar to the dotty one I've used and of course a bit of silver heat embossing coordinates and adds Christmas shine.   Once coloured I used my trusty Stitched Shape dies, sadly retired from Stampin' Up! to cut two squares from the image.  Now if you have a go be sure to position the dies so that you don't cut through a vital piece of the image like the eye for example as it could distort your image too much.  

I added a black matt layer to the white card base and then positioned all the stamped pieces adding stampin' dimensional to the squares.  To create the pyramid effect I added double layered dimensional to the smaller square.  Carefully match up your image as you replace the squares.  

Robins are so popular for Christmas and I love this one.  

PS if you missed out on the Stitched Shape dies I have a brand new spare set for sale. Please contact me if you would like them.  

Happy stamping all and keep safe.

Hugs Zoe x

20% off selected die and stamp bundles and the mini Stampin' Cut and Emboss Machine in March 2022.

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Stampin' for Christmas blog hop - Handmade Christmas Card Ideas

Welcome on World Card Making Day to my blog for the October Stampin' for Christmas hop.   I've chosen a CAS card to share today.  I used the very popular Tidings and Trimmings bundle with Tidings of Christmas DSP (pretty papers) along with Perfectly Plaid stamp set and Scalloped Contour dies. 

I've chosen a couple of CAS cards to share today.  I used the very popular Tidings and Trimmings bundle with Tidings of Christmas DSP (pretty papers) along with Perfectly Plaid stamp set and Scalloped Contour dies. I used the scallop border die to die cut away about a third of the top layer of my card leaving a gap to showcase a stripe of the pretty papers underneath as well as space for the all important Christmas message to loved ones and friends.  

I've die cut a star in Cherry Cobbler card to add a backdrop to the punched tree and create a small paper banner with an offcut.  Love using every little piece of paper don't you?

I've added a gold heat embossed sentiment which I trimmed with a pair of scissors which I often find is the perfect die when you don't have anything else specific to suit your purpose.  

I love CAS cards for the festive season so that it is easy to create a handful well and quickly.  

Here I've used the Festive Foliage background stamp with the same scalloped edge and stamps from Tidings and Trimmings.  You can see more about this card on my earlier Stampingscene post. 

Thanks for checking in now you're off to the next stop via the next button. 

Hugs Zoe x

Tidings of Christmas Suite

Perfectly Plaid stamp set

Tree punch

Scalloped Contour dies

Festive Foliage background stamp

Here's a challenge for you to try.

 Christmas Card Club helps to get me organised for the busy festive season and makes me use lots of different stamps, dies and embellishments.  It's great as it often stretches ones imagination and is always good as it offers lots of ideas from all the other lovely ladies in the group. We take it in turns to set a challenge.  Margaret, based down in Australia, loves digi stamps and creating papers so her challenge today is to use at least two different papers.  I've used three and added layers with embossed texture so I think I've cracked it today. 

My papers are from one pack which is even better as the pack coordinates colour wise and so it's fun to use up offcuts from other makes from the pack but create with all the designs.  The pack is called Peaceful Place and includes colours Smoky Slate, Basic Grey, Black and Silver.  I've team with white and mini splashes of Real Red to just give my card a little bit of Scandi style.  I have only recently invested in the Stiched So Sweetly dies and wow why did I wait so long.  They layer and frame beautifully.  The Christmas tree is punched and coordinates with the ever popular Perfectly Plaid stamp set.  

I wanted to add some bling, but not just rhinestones on their own so die cut these  sputnik type spots from the Playful Alphabet die set and added the diamond on top.  

It's been a busy week for us in so many ways but not least as my amazing Mum celebrated her 80th birthday.  She's been spoiled rotten by lots of lovely friends, neighbours and of course all of us.  We have have had afternoon teas and the odd tipple to celebrate this milestone birthday. I made her a birthday banner, but forgot to photograph it before she took it home, but I'm pleased she has hung it up in her hall for all to see.  Charlie started working for his dad this week too and I'm very proud of them both.  It will be good for him to earn some funds towards Uni which all being well will start this autumn.  Liv has been touring Scotland for her work and is safely back in Lincolnshire today.  I've crafted as ever with my trusty nutty dogs who also made me proud at dog school this week.  Hope you have all kept well and safe too. 

Hugs Zoe xx

You can find most products in my Stampin' Up! Shop with the Christmas Peaceful Place papers arriving next week from 3 August and if you shop from then until end of September you can earn a free gift with every £45 spent. 

Christmas Card Club - Blue and Silver theme

Happy Sunday and welcome to another Christmas Card Club Challenge.  Today we are sharing Christmas cards with a colour combo theme of blue and silver.   Mine is a very simple make, but the embossing folder I've used is just so gorgeous that it doesn't need too much fuss.

I've used it on silver foil card and mounted that onto a piece of Night of Navy card. 

My sentiment  is a combo of two stamps. I stamped the Happy in Night of Navy ink, having stamped it off first so that I could stamp with 2nd generation ink for a lighter shade in order to add the second part overlapping a little which I heat embossed with silver powder.  The Christmas stamp will be available soon with a fab new stamp set coming in the Stampin' Up! winter mini catalogue which will be available from 3 August. If you'd like to see all the new stamps and winter stash please ask me for a catalogue. I love the big letters of the Happy they are modern font and connect with so many other sentiments.  

I've added some sparkly ribbon and used a white card base to make the embossed snowflakes really pop.  These would be really easy to make a batch of in no time at all.  

I also made this card for the theme, but I'm not sure about it. It didn't quite go with the idea in my head, but it does follow the theme and as a shaker card will be fun and a little different. 

I used a mask/stencil to create a background using Misty Moonlight and Pool Party inks. I added the ink with a blending brush first with the lighter colour and then a dauber to add the darker colour by dabbing rather than blending to avoid going where I didn't want to with the ink.  I placed the self made paper background into a self seal cello bag and added some sequins.  I've adhered the bag to the card base with tear and tape and then added a die cut frame which I stamped with snowflakes from the Penguin Place stamp set.  The stencil is from the Adorning Designs Decorative Mask set in the upcoming winter mini .

With another piece of embossed foil card I cut some snowflakes using the So Many Snowflakes dies and added a sentient this time just stamped with the two shades of blue.  

Tell me which you prefer of the two cards. 

Keep safe and keep stamping

Zoe x

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Christmas Card Club

 Welcome to my Sunday card for the Christmas Card Club challenge.  Those in the club are used to me being a bit all over the place and I totally got my dates wrong for the last challenge which was a card with humour and today is meant to be winter sports, but I don't really have anything that would suit that and my punch art back up that I'd usually do for such a theme would be somewhat stretched so I'm catching up with my humour card.

I love this fun deer he just makes you smile and I really enjoyed the practice of using my alcohol markers. I think I'm getting better, but there's always room for improvement.  The image itself is a very old stamp set from my stash, so old I can't remember where it's from or from where I bought it.   He's just a jolly guy don't you think?

I added some border doodles with a marker pen and whilst you can't see it believe me there is a little bit of Wink of Stella on the fairy lights.  I layered him onto Granny Apple Green and Pacific point card on a white base.  I also like to make the odd card a different shape and size to the popular A6, but then Christmas comes and I'm rushing to buy or make envelopes.  Good way to use up some of those papers that we all hoard for rainy days though.  

It's stopped raining here today, but I'm going to chill with a little crafting as I had my second covid vaccination yesterday and feeling a bit sluggish today.  Hope you have a happy Sunday and that it stays dry wherever you are.  

Keep safe and keep stamping

Hugs Zoe x

Frosty the Snowman in triplicate.

Happy Sunday all.  I hope you've had a good week.  Here it's half term and nice to have less rush for the school run etc.  I've enjoyed having the chance to craft some fun snowmen cards chosen as our theme for Christmas Card Club by Margaret.  I've used the same snowman in similar but different ways and I'd love to know which one you like the best. 

Above I stamped with black ink grey card and then used watercolour pencils to colour the image.  Added some embellishments and an embossed matt layer using the Dainty Diamonds 3D embossing folder which is fab for Christmas cards as it's got that sort of sparkle design lights make when they hit your tree ornaments if that makes sense.  

For the second and third card I've used the same layout but added some slightly different touches.  On the one above it's just simple stamping in Grey Granite ink on the same colour card with just a simple sentiment in black on white from the same stamp set.  You can see I used a different embossing folder here too called Old World Paper which is great for masculine cards. 

Below I've changed it a little by adding a heat embossed sentiment which I fussy cut and also used white pigment ink to stamp the additional snowflakes and a chalk marker to colour the snowman with criss cross to create a little texture.  I had a white gel pen too to add more snow along his twiggy arms and on the ground.  I also changed the ribbon and used double sided tape so that I could pleat the ribbon rather than a bow or knot. 

If you're on half term this week I hope you've managed to have fun despite whatever restrictions may be in place and if it's life as normal, well as normal as is at the mo, I hope you have a fun week.  Keep safe all and take a moment or two to check out everyone else's Snowmen cards - you're in for a treat. 

Hugs Zoe x

Snow Wonder Stamp Set
 

White Stampin' Chalk Marker

sheer red ribbon (1cm)

Don't Stop Believin' or are you on the naughty list

Welcome to my share for this fortnight's Christmas Card Club. Kate up in bonnie Scotland has asked for Santa, Father Christmas cards and this gorgeous stamp instantly came to mind from the Stampin' Up! winter mini called Don't Stop Believin' .  

 It's a really simple technique using text printed papers although a text background stamp would work too, possibly with second generation ink.   I stamped the Santa with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink and then used Stampin' Blends to colour in and added the holly from the Poinsettia Petals stamp set.  There are also some Christmas facetted gems and lots of Wink of Stella, but not so easy to see in a photo.  The sentiment I stamped and fussy cut around it before then adding it to a piece of black card before fussy cutting it out again.  

I added a piece of embossed red foil card to bring out the red of Santa's jacket and hat and to make him 'pop' a little more from the text background.  

Hoping your Christmas makes are coming along, but if you are adrift and need supplies don't forget to visit my Stampin' Up! Online Shop via any of the item links below.  

Thanks for checking in and keep crafting!

Hugs Zoe x

Don't Stop Believin' stamp set

Poinsettia Petals Stamp Set

Wonder of the Season Papers

Wonderful Gems

Stampin' Blends

red and green foil card sheets