Mixed Media Christmas Card Background Tutorial—Shop Your Stash!

I'm so excited to share this mixed media Christmas card project with you today! While I'm using stamps and stencils from the Stampers Anonymous Christmas Curations, I really want you to think about what you already have in your own collection. These layered background techniques are incredibly versatile and will work beautifully with any of your favorite stamps and stencils. We'll build a gorgeous festive background together using Distress Spray Stains, Distress Spritz, and Texture Paste, and I'll also share how I finished the card plus give you a couple of alternative ideas to make it your own.

Mixed media Christmas card featuring Santa Claus die-cut on layered background with turquoise and gold Distress Spray Stains, texture paste through stencils, and Season's Greetings sentiment, surrounded by Tim Holtz products including Distress Spray Stain and stamps

Creating the Background

The magic of this project is in the layering! I started by stamping my images onto the background using waterproof ink—this is key because it allows the stamped images to stay crisp through all the wet media we'll be adding on top.

Next, I applied Distress Texture Paste through a stencil to add dimensional interest. Once that dried completely, I layered on Distress Spray Stains and Distress Spritz to build up rich, blended color. The combination of these products creates such beautiful depth and movement in the background.

To finish things off, I added some distress ink to the edges and white ink splatters for that perfect final touch—but you'll want to see exactly how I did all of this in the video!

Watch the Full Tutorial

Ready to see all the details, tips, and tricks? You can watch the complete tutorial in the video below, or head over to my YouTube channel [LINK] to check it out.

[VIDEO EMBED HERE]

I'd love to see your take on this project! Feel free to use whatever stamps, stencils, and colors you have in your stash to create your own version. Share your creations with me on social media or leave a comment below—I love seeing what you make!

Supplies

Below you'll find the supplies I used to create this 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. Thank you so much for your love and support!

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Thinking of You: Creating Authentic Vintage Vibes

When I sat down to create the final card in this series, I wanted to celebrate something special: how the right paper collection can make design decisions effortless. The Halloween card taught character and whimsy. The Christmas card explored foundation and focal points. The Love card was all about dimension and movement. This one? It's about creating authentic vintage vibes—and how a beautifully coordinated collection does most of the heavy lifting for you.

Vintage-style thinking of you card featuring yellow and peach die-cut flowers clustered in lower left, layered with kraft tickets, red postage stamps, vertical striped paper, and decorative bow on subtle floral background

The Scrapbook.com Oak Lane collection is a vintage lover's dream. Warm autumn tones, subtle patterns, and that perfect balance of muted sophistication. But here's what makes it brilliant: it's versatile enough to go modern and clean OR lean into full vintage nostalgia. I chose the latter, adding ephemera tickets, postage stamps, and distressed edges to amp up that collected, timeless feel.

The best part? There's an Oak Lane Bundle that includes the paper pad, coordinating die set, stamp set, and rub-ons—everything you need in one package at an amazing price. It's currently sold out (which tells you how good it is!), but you can turn on notifications to be alerted when it's back in stock. Trust me, it's worth the wait.

Vintage Vibes: Creating Timeless, Collected Designs

Let me share what I mean by "vintage vibes" and how to create them authentically.

Vintage isn't just about old-looking ephemera. It's about color palette, composition, and those thoughtful details that make a card feel collected over time rather than mass-produced. When you nail the vintage aesthetic, your cards feel warm, nostalgic, and deeply personal.

For this card, the Oak Lane collection provided the foundation: warm yellows, peachy corals, sage greens, and kraft browns. These muted, autumn-inspired tones instantly evoke that timeless, vintage feel. Then I layered in elements that amplified the aesthetic—tickets, stamps, distressing, and organic floral clusters.

The magic? Everything coordinates effortlessly because it's designed to work together. No guessing if patterns clash. No wondering if your colors are cohesive. The Oak Lane collection handles that, leaving you free to focus on composition and storytelling.

Here's how to create authentic vintage vibes:

Color Palette:

  • Choose muted, aged tones over bright, saturated colors
  • Look for warm neutrals—creams, tans, sage greens, faded florals
  • Cohesion is key—everything should feel like it came from the same era

Layering & Composition:

  • Layer ephemera like you're creating a collection of memories
  • Asymmetrical arrangements feel more organic and collected
  • Mix patterns (florals, stripes, text) for visual interest
  • Let elements overlap naturally—nothing too perfect or rigid

Distressing & Details:

  • Sand die-cut edges to reveal the white core and add wear
  • Use vintage-style ephemera (tickets, stamps, ledgers)
  • Add dimension with foam adhesive on key elements
  • Choose sentiments that feel timeless and heartfelt

The One Collection Advantage:

  • Using products from a single coordinated line eliminates decision fatigue
  • Patterns and colors are designed to work together seamlessly
  • You can focus on design instead of worrying about coordination
  • The Oak Lane Bundle gives you everything in one package

Building the Card

Step 1: Start with Your Foundation

I used the sage green patterned paper from the Oak Lane Paper Pad as my card base. That subtle floral pattern sets the vintage tone immediately—it's present but not overwhelming, creating texture without competing with the focal elements.

Step 2: Add Vertical Movement

I die cut a strip of the vertical striped paper and positioned it slightly left of center. Those stripes create upward movement and establish a strong visual line that anchors the design. This is where the Oak Lane Die Set really shines—perfectly coordinated patterns at your fingertips.

Step 3: Layer Your Ephemera

I added vintage tickets and postage stamps from my stash, layering them over the striped paper. This creates that collected, found-object feel that's essential to vintage design. The tickets and stamps feel like they've traveled through time, adding narrative and authenticity.

Step 4: Create Your Floral Cluster

Using the Oak Lane Die Set, I die cut flowers and leaves from various papers in the pad—yellows, peach, coral, and greens. I arranged them asymmetrically in the lower left, creating an organic cluster that feels natural and unforced. I lightly sanded the edges of some die cuts to reveal the white core and add that distressed, worn character.

Step 5: Add Your Focal Sentiment

I stamped "Thinking of You" from the Oak Lane Stamp Set on white cardstock and positioned it on a clean white strip in the center. This gives the eye a resting place and ensures the sentiment is readable against all the pattern and texture.

Step 6: Finishing Touches

I die cut the decorative bow from patterned paper and positioned it in the upper right, creating a visual anchor that balances the floral cluster below. I used double-sided foam adhesive to pop up the flowers, bow, and some ephemera elements for dimension—what pops up physically draws attention visually.

Why the Oak Lane Bundle is a Game-Changer

Here's what I love about working with a coordinated collection like Oak Lane: everything just works.

When you have the paper pad, die set, and stamp set all designed to coordinate, you eliminate hours of decision-making. No more staring at your stash wondering if this green works with that peach. No more buying dies that don't quite match your papers. No more searching for the perfect sentiment.

The Oak Lane Bundle includes:

  • Oak Lane Paper Pad - 24 double-sided sheets with coordinated patterns
  • Oak Lane Die Set - Florals, leaves, frames, bows, and more
  • Oak Lane Stamp Set - Sentiments perfect for any occasion
  • Oak Lane Rub-Ons - (I didn't use these, but they're included!)

All at an amazing bundled price. It's currently sold out, but you can enable notifications on the product page to be alerted when it's back in stock.

The versatility is the real winner here. While I leaned into full vintage with ephemera and distressing, you could use these same products for a clean, modern card. The muted palette and thoughtful patterns work across styles—it all depends on how you layer and what you add.

A Series Wrap-Up

This brings our four-card series using Scrapbook.com Exclusives to a close, and I'm so glad you've been on this journey with me:

Each card taught me something different about design principles that work across ANY style—mixed media or clean paper layers. The fundamentals don't change. Good design is good design, regardless of medium.

Working with Scrapbook.com's exclusive products reminded me that beautiful, coordinated collections aren't a shortcut—they're smart design tools that free you up to focus on what really matters: composition, storytelling, and creating cards that feel personal and meaningful.

Let's Connect!

Ready to create your own? Grab the Oak Lane Bundle (when it's back in stock!) using the supply list below.

I'd love to hear from you: Which card in this series was your favorite? Halloween's whimsy, Christmas's bold sentiment, the octopus's charm, or this vintage beauty? Drop a comment!

If you make any of these cards, please tag me—I absolutely love seeing your versions!

Thanks for following this series! Subscribe to my email newsletter so you never miss future projects, posts, or videos.

Vintage-style thinking of you card featuring yellow and peach die-cut flowers clustered in lower left, layered with kraft tickets, red postage stamps, vertical striped paper, and decorative bow on subtle floral background

Supply List

Below you can find the supplies I used to create this card. When you shop through those 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 to provide you with FREE inspiration and tutorials. If you want to learn more about what an affiliate link is, you can see my full affiliate and product disclosure statement here. Thank you so much for your love and support!

Featured Product: Oak Lane Bundle (currently sold out - enable notifications!) Includes: Oak Lane Paper Pad, Die Set, Stamp Set, and Rub-Ons









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Love You the Most! Creating Dimension & Movement in Card Design

When I sat down to create this card, I knew I wanted to explore something different from the previous two in this series. The Halloween card was about building a stage for character. The Christmas card focused on strong foundations and clear focal points. This one? It's all about dimension and movement—creating depth that draws you in and flow that guides your eye on a journey.

This adorable octopus from the Scrapbook.com Coastal Charm die set became my star, but here's the thing: I didn't want it to feel overly precious or childish. The challenge was balancing that cute factor with vintage sophistication. The solution? Pull from three different paper pads to create a cohesive palette of teals, blues, and browns. Add distressed ephemera. Let a fish dictionary page tell a story that connects to the octopus. Suddenly, cute becomes charming and thoughtful.

The result is a card with serious dimension (multiple layers building depth) and natural movement (those tentacles guide your eye around the design in the most delightful way).

Love card with two-layer blue octopus holding hearts in its tentacles, layered on vintage labels with fish dictionary paper, tickets, and decorative border against patterned background

Dimension & Movement: Making It Work

Before I dive into the how, let me share what makes this card successful.

Dimension is the physical and visual depth you create through layering, foam adhesive, and strategic placement. Movement is the path your eye takes as it travels around the design—it should feel effortless and natural.

For this card, the octopus creates both. Those curved tentacles holding hearts? They create organic flow and visual rhythm. The multiple layers beneath—nested labels, patterned papers, ephemera—build depth that makes the whole composition feel rich and collected. When dimension and movement work together, your card feels alive and engaging instead of flat and static.

Here's how to apply these techniques:

Creating Physical Dimension:

  • Use multi-layer die cuts (like the 2-layer octopus) for instant depth
  • Layer background papers and ephemera to build richness
  • Add foam adhesive to key elements to create actual height
  • Nest shapes within shapes (labels, borders) for visual depth

Creating Movement:

  • Choose focal images with curves and organic shapes (tentacles!)
  • Position elements to guide the eye on a journey around the card
  • Use placement strategically—hearts at tentacle ends draw the eye outward
  • Avoid rigid symmetry when you want flow and energy

Balancing Cute with Sophistication:

  • Use muted, vintage color palettes instead of bright primaries
  • Add distressed ephemera and dictionary pages for storytelling
  • Sand edges for worn, collected character
  • Pull colors from multiple sources for a curated, intentional feel

In my mixed media work, I'd build this depth with texture paste and modeling paste, and create movement through paint drips or gestural marks. Here, dimension comes from thoughtful paper layering and die cut construction, while movement flows from the shapes I chose and how I positioned them. Different tools, same principles.

Building the Card

Step 1: Create Your Star with Built-In Dimension

I started with the adorable octopus from the Coastal Charm die set. The die has 2 layers, which makes it perfect for adding depth and interest right from the start. I cut the base layer from a darker shade and the top layer from a lighter shade of the same color using solid cardstock from the Festive Duo Paper Pad. This creates instant dimension and visual interest.

Step 2: Add Playful Movement

The set comes with two hearts, and I immediately thought it would be cute for the octopus to hold them—one in each tentacle. I cut them from patterned paper from the Vintage Paper Pad. This positioning isn't just adorable; it creates movement. Your eye follows those tentacles out to discover the hearts.

Step 3: Ground Your Focal Point

To anchor the octopus, I die cut 2 of the Nested Vintage Label dies from paper in the Yuletide Paper Pad. I sanded the edges of these to give them a distressed vintage feel. This creates a foundation that grounds the playful octopus while adding to that collected, vintage aesthetic.

Step 4: Build Background Layers for Depth

The background layers are where dimension really builds. I included an ephemera ticket, a border cut from blue cardstock using the Coastal Borders die set, and several pieces of patterned paper from the Vintage Paper Pad layered together. When I saw the paper with the fish dictionary piece on it, I knew it was perfect—it tells a story that connects to the octopus and adds that thoughtful detail that elevates the design.

Step 5: Create Color Harmony

Here's something important: I used 3 different paper pads for this card to get the combination of colors I wanted. Teals, blues, and browns give an otherwise cute image a touch of vintage sophistication. Don't be afraid to pull from multiple collections to create the exact palette you're after. Cohesion comes from thoughtful color selection, not from using a single product line.

Step 6: Finishing Touches

I added a couple of Tim Holtz Postmarked stickers to enhance the vintage, collected feel. The sentiment—"love you the most" from the Scrapbook.com Wordfetti Best Day Ever stamp set—finishes off the theme perfectly.

Coming Up in This Series

This is the third of four cards I'm sharing using Scrapbook.com Exclusives—each exploring paper-only cardmaking from a different angle:

Each card taught me something different about design principles that work across any style, mixed media or not.

Let's Connect!

Ready to create your own? Grab these Scrapbook.com exclusives using the supply list below.

I'd love to hear from you: What draws you more—cute and playful designs or sophisticated vintage aesthetics? Or do you love mixing them like I do? Drop a comment!

If you make this card, please tag me—I absolutely love seeing your versions!

Don't miss the final card in this series! Subscribe to my email newsletter so you never miss a new project, post, or video.

Supply List

Below you can find the supplies I used to create this card. When you shop through those 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 to provide you with FREE inspiration and tutorials. If you want to learn more about what an affiliate link is, you can see my full affiliate and product disclosure statement here. Thank you so much for your love and support!

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