The Tim Holtz Paper Village has grown! The new Paper Village Upkeep die set lets you renovate, personalize and add finishing details to your little houses. It's made for windows, doors and decorative elements, so you can refresh the Paper Village houses you've already made or build a whole new scene.

For my first project with it, I made a wintery vignette box with a snow-covered house that lights up, a few frosty trees and Santa flying across the moon. After the tutorial, I'm sharing a short history of the Tim Holtz Village dies, because this little village has been around a lot longer than you might think!

How I Made the Vignette Box

The Box

I started by covering the outside edges of the vignette box with patterned paper, adhered with Distress Collage Medium. Then I inked the edges with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.

The Night Sky Background

For the inside of the box I used Distress Watercolor Cardstock. I stamped several pieces with the text stamp from the Stripes and Holiday stamp set, using embossing ink. I sprinkled clear embossing powder over the wet ink (white works too) and heat set it with a heat tool.

Next I ink smooshed the panels with Chipped Sapphire and Stormy Sky Distress Ink. To ink smoosh, press the ink pad onto a craft mat, spritz the ink with water, then press your paper into the ink. Dry it with a heat tool and repeat until you like the coverage. The embossing acts as a resist, so once the ink is dry, lightly wipe the panel with a baby wipe or damp paper towel to lift any ink sitting on top of the embossed text.

Finally, I trimmed the panels to fit the back, sides and top of the inside of the box.

The Moon and Santa's Sleigh

To create the wintery scene, I used three Tim Holtz Sizzix die sets: Vault Christmas Magic, Paper Village and the new Paper Village Upkeep.

I die cut the moon from white cardstock with the Vault Christmas Magic die set. I heat embossed the bottom layer with Antique Linen Embossing Glaze and the top layer with Pumice Stone Embossing Glaze. Then I gently sanded both pieces with a Distress Sanding Tool (fine grit sandpaper works too), layered them together and inked the edge with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink for a distressed look.

Santa and his reindeer are die cut from Black Kraftstock with the same die set. A light sanding with the Distress Sanding Tool gives them a worn, vintage feel.

The Snowy House

I die cut the house from Distress Watercolor Cardstock using Paper Village and Paper Village Upkeep. The roof is cut from Distress Kraftstock with the Paper Village Upkeep die set, then embossed with the Tim Holtz Mini Woodgrain Embossing Folder.

I heat embossed the house with Aged Mahogany Embossing Glaze and then sanded it. Then I lightly inked the edges and windows with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink, inked the embossed roof shingles with Gathered Twigs too, and assembled the house.

For snow that looks like it's sticking to the house, I dabbed small amounts of Distress Grit Paste Opaque here and there. While the paste was still wet, I added Rock Candy Distress Glitter with a Glitter Duster.

The Snowy Landscape

For the snow, I unrolled a cotton ball and fluffed it up. The trees are some of the smaller ones from the Tim Holtz Woodland Tree Lot, which I made last year. I colored them with Distress Spray Stain, though I honestly don't remember which green I used! Then I added Distress Grit Paste and glitter, just like the house. Grit Paste can make the ink bleed, so if you try this, seal the trees first with something like Distress Resist Spray.

Once the trees were in place, I brushed a little Distress Collage Medium over the snow and added more glitter. The final touch was Tim Holtz Silver Tinsel around the outside edge of the box.

Lighting Up the House

Of course the house had to light up! The tricky part was adding a light I could get to easily. I used a Mini Ball Light, but then I needed a way to reach it inside the house. The answer was a magnet! I attached a small magnet to the back of the house and another in the matching spot on the back of the box. Now the house pops right off, so I can turn the light on and off or replace the battery when it dies.

A Short History of the Tim Holtz Village Dies

The Village Bigz Dies (2015)

The village started in 2015 with three Bigz dies: the Village Dwelling, the Village Bell Tower and Village Winter. The Village Dwelling was the base house, and every die that followed was designed to build on it. The Bell Tower turned the house into a church, and Village Winter added a decorative winter overlay.

Starting in 2016, the series grew with more add-on dies. These are the largest of all the village dies, and they're all retired now. Here's the full list:

• Village Dwelling (Bigz XL, #660992)
• Village Bell Tower (#660987)
• Village Winter (#660988)
• Village Brownstone (Bigz XL, #661205)
• Village Bungalow (#661196)
• Village Rooftops (#661197)
• Village Manor (Bigz L, #661591)
• Village Gingerbread (#661608)
• Village Surf Shack (#661208)
• Village Landscape (#661813)
• Village Addition (#663120)
• Village Christmastime (#662424)

Paper Village (2020)

The Paper Village Thinlits set (#664741) arrived as part of the Sizzix Chapter 4 2020 release. With 16 dies, it makes three different sized dwellings plus separate windows and doors. These are the smallest houses in the village family.

Paper Village #2 and the Village Collection (2021)

Two new sets followed in fall 2021. Paper Village #2 (#665585) added 21 more dies in the same small scale as the original Paper Village, so the two sets work together.

The Village Collection (#665564) is a huge 87-piece Thinlits set that Tim says was "inspired by the original village die series from 2015." The houses are smaller than the original Bigz versions but bigger than the Paper Village houses. You can mix and match the pieces to build everything from basic dwellings and brownstones to grand churches and spooky manors.

Paper Village Upkeep (2026)

That brings us to today and the new Paper Village Upkeep, which works with both Paper Village and Paper Village #2. It's a fun way to give the houses you already have a little makeover.

Do you have any of the original Village dies tucked away in your stash? I'd love to hear which ones you have and what you've made with them. Dig them out this season and give them a little love!

Until next time, stay crafty my friend!
Happy crafting! ~ Juliana

Supplies

Below you will find links to the supplies I used to create these cards. When you shop through these links—whether you purchase that exact item or something else entirely—you're supporting me at no extra cost to you. The commission I receive helps me cover the costs of my blog and other expenses, and allows me to continue providing you with FREE inspiration and tutorials. If you want to learn more, you can see my full affiliate and product disclosure statement here: https://www.17turtles.com/p/affiliate-and-product-disclosure.html. Thank you so much for your love and support!

Sometimes using a die cut as a die cut is all you need, plus layers and layers of paper. Patterned paper, die cut paper, paper ephemera... each one adds another layer and creates texture and interest. You don't always have to pull out all the things. Sometimes just some paper is enough!

And that's exactly what I did for this card featuring some of the new Seth Apter dies from Sizzix. Even though they aren't Halloween themed (or any theme, really), I thought they were the perfect companion to my newest printable collection The Ashgrave Archive.

I die cut the paper, fussy cut the ephemera, trimmed the layers, inked the edges, and adhered everything together with a bit of adhesive, and it was complete. While I was creating, I also gave myself the challenge of not centering the focal point on the card. Centering is always my go-to, but I have to say I really love how this offset design turned out, and I'm going to have to remind myself to do it again the next time my "everything symmetrical" brain tries to take over!

The Seth Apter Dies I Used

The dies I used on this project are Seth Apter's Recount and Sockets 1. I die cut the numbers frame from Recount out of two different colors of patterned paper, offset them, and then adhered them together. I die cut one of the sockets from silver metallic cardstock and used it as a border across the bottom of the cluster.

If you haven't checked out Seth Apter's latest Sizzix release, I invite you to do so. His designs are what I like to call evergreen. They can be used for all the things at any time of the year, mixed in with whatever theme you have in mind, and they're perfect for adding the layer of texture and interest that takes a card or project to the next level.

The Ashgrave Archive Printable Paper Collection

And yes, Halloween is upon us, but if you're someone who loves it all year round, you might enjoy checking out my latest printable paper collection—The Ashgrave Archive. It leans Halloween, but it works for anyone who loves a vintage or gothic style. So if you haven't already, be sure to check it out!

I hope this inspires you to grab some paper, let your die cuts do the heavy lifting, and maybe even try an offset design of your own. If you give it a try, I'd love to see what you create! Feel free to share it with me on Instagram or in the comments.

Happy crafting!
~ Juliana

Supplies

Below you will find links to the supplies I used to create these cards. When you shop through these links—whether you purchase that exact item or something else entirely—you're supporting me at no extra cost to you. The commission I receive helps me cover the costs of my blog and other expenses, and allows me to continue providing you with FREE inspiration and tutorials. If you want to learn more, you can see my full affiliate and product disclosure statement here. Thank you so much for your love and support!

Seth Apter is back with another Sizzix release, and this time he has 5 new die sets (one also includes a set of sentiment stamps) that are just perfect for mixed media style cards. I always enjoy working with his designs because they can be used for so many themes and are perfect for adding texture and interest to your cards and other crafting projects. For this card I used three of the new sets: one for the background and two to embellish the card. You can find all the details and supply list below. And if you would rather watch the process, there is a link to the video tutorial as well.

Creating the Background

To create the background I started with a panel of Distress Watercolor Cardstock and spritzed it with Scorched Distress Spray. I did not add any extra water during this step. I only sprayed the paper with the ink. I then dried it using a heat tool. I recommend that you make sure the ink and paper are completely dry before moving on to the second step.

Next, I used a dry paint brush to apply Distress Foundry Wax in Sterling here and there across the panel. You are not going for solid coverage. I then spritzed it with water, let it dry, and used a heat embossing tool to heat set the Foundry Wax. The Foundry Wax must be heat set to make it permanent. If you skip that step, it will continue to rub off. So if you wipe over it with your fingers and you are still getting it on them, you need to heat it more. The Foundry Wax should become shiny as it dries and becomes permanent.

Once that was done, I applied Old Paper and Hickory Smoke Distress Oxide directly to the paper. Don't be shy here. Apply a generous amount of the ink. I then gave this layer a spritz of water and dried it with my heat tool. I repeated the process to add a little more Old Paper Distress Oxide, so feel free to do the same if you think it needs more ink.

I call this the Metallic Oxide Technique. It was inspired by a technique Vicki Evans shared called Mixed Metals and Mini Oxides. I put my own twist on it by using Distress Foundry Wax in place of Alcohol Ink Alloys.

The next step is to add the embossing using a metal die normally used for die cutting. I used the new Seth Apter Sizzix Stackers die set. Place the die on top of the background paper and run the panel through a die cutting machine to emboss it. I prefer to spritz the backside of the background with water to help soften the paper and lessen the chances of the paper cracking. You do not want to spray the front side where we just did all of the inking. When it comes to embossing with a metal die, please refer to your particular die cutting machine for the proper sandwich. The key for this technique is to use a silicone pad to prevent the die from cutting through the paper. This allows it to emboss the design into the paper instead of cutting it.

With the embossing completed, I then added some stamping using a script stamp from the Tim Holtz Gothic Tapestry stamp set. I used Black Soot Archival Ink, which is a permanent ink. I recommend using some sort of permanent ink for this step since you are stamping on top of Distress Oxide Ink. To finish it off, I inked the edges with Ground Espresso Distress Ink, spritzed it with water and dried it with a heat tool. The background is now completed and ready for you to embellish.

Embellishing the Card

To embellish the card, I pulled from my Ashgrave Archive collection. I used one of the papers as a base layer behind the background panel. I also die cut the moon and the word "wicked" from Ashgrave Archive papers. The moon is from the Tim Holtz Vault Moonlight Scare die set, and "wicked" is from the Tim Holtz Vault Gothic Portraits die set. I inked the edges with Ground Espresso Distress Ink. I also added a few of the ephemera pieces from the collection to finish off the layers.

The 31 and the tree are both from Seth Apter's new release. The 31 is from the Recount die set, and the tree is from the Free Bird die set. I cut both from Tim Holtz Distress Black Woodgrain paper. That paper is retired, but you can get a similar look by using plain black cardstock and embossing it with a wood grain embossing folder.

Watch the Video Tutorial

Want to see the Metallic Oxide Technique and embossing with dies in action? I walk you through every step in the video tutorial, so you can see exactly how the layers build up and how the die embosses the background without cutting through the paper. You can watch it below or over on my YouTube channel.

I love how Seth's new dies and my Ashgrave Archive papers came together on this one. I hope it inspires you to grab one of your dies and try embossing with it instead of cutting!

Until next time, stay crafty my friend!

Supplies

Below you will find links to the supplies I used to create these cards. When you shop through these links—whether you purchase that exact item or something else entirely—you're supporting me at no extra cost to you. The commission I receive helps me cover the costs of my blog and other expenses, and allows me to continue providing you with FREE inspiration and tutorials. If you want to learn more, you can see my full affiliate and product disclosure statement here. Thank you so much for your love and support!

I'm back with the second Halloween card I created for the Tim Holtz Sizzix Halloween YouTube Live. If you missed the live and are looking for more inspiration, make sure you head to Tim's YouTube channel to check it out. And if you missed my first card, you can find it here. For now, join me as I walk you through each step of creating this card using some of the dies and embossing folders from the latest release. I'm also sharing the older die sets some of you may already have in your stash that you could use to make this card. Now let's get into the making!

The Cobweb Background

To create the background, I embossed a piece of silver metallic cardstock using the Vault Cobweb embossing folder. Next, I painted over the surface with Black Soot Distress Paint, but any black acrylic paint will work. Once the paint was completely dry, I took a Ranger Sanding Disc (a piece of fine grit sandpaper works too) and lightly sanded over the paper to reveal the embossed design.

The Skeleton and Spider

Next up, I created the skeleton using the Vault Frights Bones die set. If you have the original Mr. Bones die set, you could use it. The only difference is that the skeleton in the Vault set is slightly smaller. I cut all of the pieces from Distress Watercolor Cardstock, then ink smooshed the base layer with Pumice Stone Distress Ink and the second layer with Lost Shadow Distress Ink, and left the top layers white. I assembled all of the layers and inked the edges with Pumice Stone Distress Ink.

The spider is from the Vault Laboratory die set and is cut from a piece of Distress Watercolor Cardstock that I sprayed with Black Soot Distress Spray Stain.

The Sentiment

Next up, I die cut the sentiment pieces. Eek is from the Vault Frights Bones set, but you could also use the larger one from the Bold Frights die set or a different sentiment entirely. I die cut both layers from Distress Watercolor Cardstock, then spritzed the top layer with Wilted Violet Distress Spray Stain and ink smooshed the bottom layer with Lost Shadow Distress Ink. Once I assembled the layers, I inked the edges with Pumice Stone Distress Ink.

The final bit of die cutting is the word beware from the Vault Classic Halloween Handwriting set, which I cut from a piece of silver metallic cardstock. If you're lucky enough to have the original Halloween Handwriting, this new set is exactly the same size. This is definitely one of those sets I'm so happy was re-released because I can now have it in my collection!

Why Mr. Bones Needed Something Behind Him

Last but not least, I created the piece behind the skeleton. You may wonder why I did that. Well, if you're following along and have the background completed and all of the other pieces die cut and assembled, lay the pieces on the background and ask yourself a couple of questions. How well can you see them? Does Mr. Bones look like he's floating in the air?

I personally couldn't see my die cuts very well. They got lost in that cool textured background, and yes, he was definitely floating in the air! The trick was to create something to go behind it all, an area that was less detailed and textured where everything could be grounded.

I began by stamping an image from the Tim Holtz Mini Halloween 05 stamp set onto a piece of Distress Watercolor Cardstock using Black Soot Archival Ink. I placed it behind my images and realized it was still too busy. The solution? A piece of vellum! I tore the left-hand side of the stamped piece to give it a little distressed effect and inked the edges with Pumice Stone Distress Ink. I then cut a piece of vellum slightly larger than the stamped piece, tore the same edge, and inked the edges and lightly over the surface. Once I laid the vellum on top, the stamped image was less noticeable but still added a little interest to the design. And now Mr. Bones is back as the focal point he should be, and he's no longer floating away!

Side note: If you're using the larger, original Mr. Bones die set, you might want to create a slightly larger stamped piece to go behind him. Feel free to use any Halloween themed stamp you have, but something with a smaller design won't compete with the size of the die cuts.

Thanks for stopping by to learn how this Halloween Eek Card came together. I hope you enjoyed the process and maybe learned a couple of new tricks and treats along the way! If you make your own version, I'd love to see it. Share it with me on Instagram or tell me about it in the comments.

Supplies

Below you will find links to the supplies I used to create these cards. When you shop through these links—whether you purchase that exact item or something else entirely—you're supporting me at no extra cost to you. The commission I receive helps me cover the costs of my blog and other expenses, and allows me to continue providing you with FREE inspiration and tutorials. If you want to learn more, you can see my full affiliate and product disclosure statement here. Thank you so much for your love and support!

Tim Holtz has brought back some real vintage favorites in the Sizzix Christmas 2026 release, including embossing folders and die sets pulled straight from the vault. I couldn't resist pairing a few of them together, and the result is this Believe Christmas Card. The Santa is easily one of my favorite Santas ever. That face! Those little glasses! Isn't he just adorable?!

Beyond how cute he is, this card is also where I want to show you a technique I'm loving right now. That faux watercolor look on the blue panel didn't come from paint at all. I inked the embossing folder itself before running the paper through, then sprayed it with water afterward to let the ink flow and move into the design. It's an easy way to get real watercolor texture with none of the painting skill required, and it works with any embossing folder you already own.

If you are interested in any of the supplies I've used to create this card, you can find the full list at the bottom of this post.

Faux Watercolor Effect

For the red dotted background, I inked the top of the Vault Dots Embossing Folder with Aged Mahogany Distress Ink, then lightly spritzed the back of a piece of Distress Watercolor cardstock with water before running it through the die cutting machine. The water helps soften the paper for a better embossed design. The result is a polka dot panel with ink sitting in the recessed lines and the raised design left clean.

For the blue panel, I used the same starting technique, inking the Vault Season's Greetings folder with Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink and spritzing the back of the paper before embossing. This time I took it a step further and sprayed the embossed paper with water afterward, which lets the ink flow and move across the surface. That extra step after embossing is what gives the blue panel its soft, watery swirl.

Building the Postage Panel

Once the blue panel dried, I die cut it into a postage stamp shape using one of the Stacked Postage dies. This set has been retired for a while, but any rectangle die with a scalloped or perforated edge will give you the same look. I inked the edges of both the red dotted background and the postage piece with Ground Espresso Distress Ink, then added a line of machine stitching around the postage piece to tie it into the background.

Making the Santa

For Santa, I used the Vault Letter to Santa die set and cut every piece from Distress Watercolor cardstock. I inked the hat and the berries with Aged Mahogany and Festive Berries Distress Ink, the leaves with Rustic Wilderness and Peeled Paint, the face with Tea Dye, and the cheeks with Spun Sugar. The eyes are cut from black cardstock and the spectacles from gold. I adhered all the layers together with liquid adhesive before attaching the finished Santa to the card.

Finishing the Sentiment

For the sentiment, I cut each letter of the word believe from the same die set, once from white cardstock and once from gold, and layered them together for a little dimension before adhering them to the card. I finished by adhering everything to a white card base and inking the edges with Ground Espresso Distress Ink.

Whether you try this exact card or reach for a completely different embossing folder, I hope this gives you a new way to add color and texture without picking up a paintbrush. I'd love to know what folder you'd try this with first.

Supplies

Below you will find links to the supplies I used to create theis card. When you shop through these links—whether you purchase that exact item or something else entirely—you're supporting me at no extra cost to you. The commission I receive helps me cover the costs of my blog and other expenses, and allows me to continue providing you with FREE inspiration and tutorials. If you want to learn more, you can see my full affiliate and product disclosure statement here: https://www.17turtles.com/p/affiliate-and-product-disclosure.html. Thank you so much for your love and support!