This non-traditional Christmas card idea proves you don’t have to use red and green to make a stunning holiday card — sometimes the unexpected color combination is the one that gets all the compliments. This Secret Sea and white combination is sophisticated, striking, and honestly a little unexpected — which is exactly what makes it stand out in a pile of holiday mail. The layered strips, stitched die cut squares, and “Merry & Bright” sentiment come together quickly, and it’s simple enough to batch-make if you’re working through a long Christmas card list.
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Supplies used in this project:
- Stitched Stocking Bundle (stamp set + dies)
- A Stitched Season Designer Series Paper
- Thick Basic White cardstock
- Basic White cardstock
- Secret Sea cardstock
- Secret Sea ink
- Dimensionals
- Liquid glue
Non-Traditional Christmas Card — Christmas Card Idea — Cutting Guide
Thick Basic White
- 5½” x 8½” — score at 4¼” (card base)
Secret Sea
- 5½” x 3¼” (background layer)
- 5½” x 1½” (centre strip)
A Stitched Season Designer Series Paper
- 5½” x 3″ (background layer)
Basic White
- 5½” x 1¾” (centre strip)
- 5½” x 1½” (die cut squares)
- 4¼” x ¾” (greeting strip)
How to Make This Non-Traditional Christmas Card
Step 1 — Card base
Score your Thick Basic White cardstock at 4¼” and fold in half. Hold the card down firmly before running your bone folder along the crease — this is especially important with thick cardstock as it will crack if you don’t score it properly first.
Step 2 — Background layer
Adhere your 5½” x 3″ A Stitched Season DSP strip to your 5½” x 3¼” Secret Sea cardstock strip. Adhere the combined piece to the center of the card base.
Step 3 — Center strip
Adhere your 5½” x 1¾” Basic White strip and your 5½” x 1½” Secret Sea strip together. Adhere the combined strip across the center of the card, overlapping the background layer.
Step 4 — Die cut squares
From your 5½” x 1½” Basic White piece, die cut four stitched squares using the Stitched Stocking dies. Stamp two squares with the snowflake pattern using Secret Sea ink and two squares with the plaid pattern using Secret Sea ink. Adhere the four squares evenly spaced across the center strip using liquid glue — liquid glue lets you slide them into position before it sets so you can get the spacing just right.
Step 5 — Greeting strip
Stamp the “May All Your Days Be Merry & Bright” greeting from the Stitched Stocking stamp set onto your 4¼” x ¾” Basic White strip using Secret Sea ink. Trim both ends on a diagonal angle. Mount on three dimensionals and adhere across the center of the card so it sits over the die cut squares.
My Favorite Tip for This Non-Traditional Christmas Card
Liquid glue is the secret to getting those little die cut squares spaced evenly — you can slide them around for a few seconds before it sets. Place the two end squares first to anchor your spacing, then fit the two middle squares between them.
Why This Christmas Card Idea Is Worth Making
This non-traditional Christmas card is proof that stepping outside the classic red and green palette can make your cards stand out in a pile of holiday mail. The Secret Sea and white combination is sophisticated and bold, the horizontal strip design is quick to assemble, and everything comes from the same bundle so there’s no hunting around for extra supplies. If you’re making a stack of Christmas cards this year, this is the one to batch.
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Pin This Non-Traditional Christmas Card for Later
Save this to your favorite Pinterest board so it’s waiting for you when you’re ready to create.
I’d love to hear from you in the comments on what you think about Christmas card idea— are you a traditional red and green Christmas card maker, or do you love mixing it up with unexpected color combinations?
Happy Stampin’ Karen
