Simple Ink Blending with Festive Bough Pattern Stencils: Yippee for Yana
Hi friends! Please join me in welcoming back the oh-so-talented and amazing Yana Smakula! (Please note: our dear friend Yana is Ukrainian. To show support to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, please see Yana’s post HERE.)
Hello, crafters, this is Yana Smakula for Simon Says Stamp! Welcome back for another Yippee For Yana video!
Today I’m sharing a clean and colorful holiday card that looks wonderfully intricate but comes together quickly, thanks to the Simon Says Stamp Festive Bow Pattern Layering Stencils. If you love the look of multi-layered designs with perfect alignment, this set is going to be a new favorite.
I started with a piece of Hammermill cardstock cut to 4 ¼” x 5 ½”, secured to my Simon Says Stamp Positively Sticky Mat. My trick for easy stencil alignment is to create a small “corner” with low-tack tape – this helps each new stencil layer snap right into place without fussing.
For layer one (the greenery), I used Pearfection ink as my base, then added shading with Pine using a smaller blending brush. Layer two is all about those pretty bows. I ink-blended with Cranberry for the base and Brick for depth, smoothing out the transition with my large blending brush. Layer three brought in a second set of foliage, this time in Sprout and Field inks. For the final layer, I returned to Cranberry for a cohesive, festive feel.
Before trimming my panel, I wanted to add a little something extra without overpowering the design. Using Fawn ink and the White Christmas Text Background Stamp, I stamped over the entire piece. The result is barely there – just a hint of detail that makes the background more interesting.
I trimmed the panel to 3 ¾” x 5″ and softly ink-blended the edges with Fawn to help draw the eye toward the center.
My sentiment comes from CZ Making Spirits Bright set. I heat embossed “Merry & Bright” in gold on red cardstock, added ink blending with Cranberry and Brick, and then die cut it with the coordinating die. For extra sturdiness, I adhered it to a second die-cut layer before foam-mounting it to my background.
A sprinkle of Starbright Embellishment Mix sequins finished the look – because every holiday card needs a bit of sparkle.
The Festive Bough Pattern Stencils make it so easy to create a layered, professional-looking background in minutes. By mixing two shades per layer and varying brush sizes, you can achieve beautiful depth and dimension.
I hope you’ll give this layering stencil technique a try – whether you keep it traditional with reds and greens or explore non-traditional color palettes, you’ll end up with something beautiful.
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Ways to support Ukraine:
If you are looking for ways to support Ukraine, we encourage you to visit this page on Yana’s blog:
Thanks so much for stopping by, and thanks to Yana for being our guest!
A Fun Interactive Spinner Card Idea: Amore Laurafadora
Hi friends! Happy Thursday! Please join me in welcoming back special guest Laura Bassen to showcase this super cute and fun interactive card showcasing our newly released Playful Dolphins stamps and dies set as well as our Basic Shapes Circles, and Gliders for that fun interactive element! Be sure to watch the video for all the details and enjoy!
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Thanks so much for stopping by, and thanks to Laura for being our guest!
Make Stunning Die Cut Cards EASILY with this kit!
Hi friends! Happy Wednesday! We’re delighted to welcome back special guest Nichol Spohr for this GORGEOUS inspiration showcasing our September 2025 Card Kit! Be sure to watch the video for all of the details, and enjoy!
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Thanks so much for stopping by, and thanks to Nichol for being our guest!
Did you know?! We’ve made our card kit subscription BETTER THAN EVER!
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