1 Stencil, 3 Christmas Cards 🎄

One stencil… three completely different Christmas cards! In today’s video, I’m sharing a fun holiday background hack that helps you stretch your supplies and create festive cards without needing a pile of products.

The new Papertrey Ink release has the perfect stencil for experimenting, and I used it to try out three very different techniques. Whether you love subtle details, bold shine, or luxe metallic finishes, there’s something here you’ll want to try this season.

Technique 1: Shadow Effect with Clear Ink

For the first background, I applied clear ink on colored cardstock. It creates a subtle shadow effect that makes solid cardstock look more dimensional and interesting without overwhelming the design. This technique is perfect if you want your stencil design to stay soft but still add detail.

Technique 2: Heat Embossing with a Stencil

The second card takes the same stencil and adds a sparkly raised design using heat embossing. I love how this technique transforms a simple stencil into a bold background that looks like custom patterned paper. For Christmas, you can go classic with gold or silver, or add color for a fun twist.

Technique 3: Dry Embossing + Metallic Ink Swipe

For the last background, I used the stencil to dry emboss the cardstock, then swiped metallic ink over the raised areas. This trick instantly creates a luxe, high-end finish. The shimmer catches the light beautifully and makes the card feel extra special—perfect for holiday giving.

Why This Works for Any Occasion

Even though these cards are holiday-themed, the techniques work year-round. Swap in florals, geometrics, or birthday stencils and you can create quick, unique cards for any occasion. That’s what I love most about stretching stencils—one supply, endless possibilities.

Watch the Full Tutorial

Want to see each step in action? I walk you through all three techniques in today’s video.

👉 Click here to watch the video on YouTube

Supplies and Shopping Links

You’ll find the full supply list here: [Insert supply list/blog link].

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