How to Create a Sparkling Christmas Card with Beautiful Layers

Hello, crafty friend! I’m Adrienne Boese, known online as Alice Scraps Wonderland. Today I’m sharing how to create a sparkling Christmas card using the Frank Garcia Christmas Blush Sparkling Trees Embossing Folder and Die. I’ll share how you can easily add color to your embossed and cut tree, how to add a bit of snowy sparkle, and add beautiful layers of papers and textiles.

Main Project Image: Adreinne-Boese-alicescrapswonderland_2026_Christmas-Blush_02.jpg

These techniques and materials are so easy to use while still bringing the “wow factor!” And even though we are adding some lace trim, don’t worry—there is absolutely no sewing required to recreate this card—unless you want to add that detail.

Let’s jump into this tutorial.

• Die-cut the tree shape from the Sparkling Trees Embossing Folder and Die set using Classic White Cardstock. I like to hold my die in place with a little bit of craft tape so it doesn’t move while running through my Platinum machine.
• Then take this die-cut cardstock and mist it with some water. Line it up inside the Sparkling Trees Embossing Folder and use some more craft tape to hold it in place.
• Run the embossing folder through your Platinum machine using the correct sandwich for a 3D embossing folder. Set this aside for now while we continue to use our Platinum.

TIP: Set your embossing folder at a slight angle on the platform and so the folded edge gets picked up first. This will help your die-cut machine pick up the folder easier and run it through more smoothly.

• Die-cut the Sweet Snowman from these shades of Color Wheel Cardstock: Classic White, Raven, Blush, Tutu, Chiffon, Mint, Acorn, and Fog. (See the photo above for reference on colors and number of cuts for each die in the set.)
• Choose one of the tickets from this die set and die-cut it from Alabaster Color Wheel Cardstock. (You want to choose a ticket die that can be used with one or more of the stamps from the Keepsake Numbers stamp set.)

• Using liquid glue, attach the black ovals behind the eyes and the buttons on the body of the snowman.
• Glue the two pieces of the snowman’s body together, then add the hat to his head.
• Add the snowman’s cheeks and nose as well as the band on his hat.
• Glue the layers of the scarf together. Then glue the scarf around the neck of the snowman.

TIP: I added glue just in the center sections of the top part of the scarf that wraps around the neck of the snowman. This allows you to add the piece that hangs down on the left side in between these layers around the neck easily.   

• Create a double bow by gluing the darker pink layer behind the lighter pink layer. Glue the ribbons together only at the top, and the bow only in the center. Don’t forget to add the tiny knot of the bow!
• Glue the two ribbon pieces together, then add it to the snowman’s hat. Glue the bow on top.
• Using a blending brush, darken half of the leaves with Distress Oxide in Bundled Sage.
• Glue 3 leaves to each arm branch of the snowman, then glue the snow layer on top.

• Add 2 leaves to the snowman’s hat. If you want to add a berry to these holly leaves, die-cut the cheeks die from some darker pink cardstock and then glue it in place.

• Using some small blending brushes, ink the tree with Distress Oxide in Bundled Sage and the bow on top of the tree with Distress Oxide in Tattered Rose. Don’t worry about getting the snow or ornaments inked up; we’ll fix this!
• Using a dimensional pearlescent medium, pipe “snow” onto the snowy areas of the tree branches—just follow the embossed design.
• While the medium is still wet, sprinkle some sparkly glitter over the medium. Set this aside to dry.

• While we wait for the tree to dry, let’s work on the base of the card. Trim 3 pieces of Christmas Blush 8x8 patterned paper to create an A2 card base (5 ½ x 4 ¼  inches) and two mattes (5 ¼  x 4 and 4 7/8 x 3 ½ inches).
• Distress the edges of the two mattes with the blade of your scissors.
• Attach some lace near the bottom of your top matte, wrapping the ends around the back of the matte for a more finished look. You can use tacky glue, hot glue or sew it on. Only attach the lace along the bottom; we want to be able to slip the tree in later. If you sew your lace on, add some sewn details around the other 3 edges of the matte.
• Glue your bottom matte onto the card base using dotted or liquid adhesive.
• Add 1mm thick foam adhesive to the back of the top matte and then add it to the layered card base.

• Let’s create a sentiment using the Christmas Blush Sentiments Press & Foil Plate and the Frank Garcia Blushing Macarons BetterPress Ink set.
• Place the Press & Foil Plate onto the chase (magnetic base) of the BetterPress platform. Then, using the Rose ink, pat ink onto the plate.
• Attach a piece of Porcelain A2 BetterPress Cotton Card Panel to the Platen (clear piece that sets on top of the magnets). Hold the cotton card panel in place with some craft tape, ensuring it lines up with the placement of the Press & Foil Plate’s placement on the chase.
• Place the platen on the chase, then run this through your Platinum machine.
• Using the coordinating die for this Press & Foil Plate, die-cut the sentiments out. Make sure to use a little craft tape to hold the die in place for cutting.

• Once the tree is dry, add some of the Rose Gold Color Essential Gems to the tree in place of the embossed ornaments. You can skip adding gems to the very bottom of the tree where it will be covered up by lace.

• Add 1mm thick foam adhesive to the back of the tree and slide it under the lace, attaching it to the card base.
• Add 2mm thick foam adhesive to the back of the snowman and place him onto the card, layering him over the lace and the tree.
• Add one of the BetterPress sentiments to your card with foam adhesive, along with a few more gems.
• Glue your decorated card onto a folded white card base.

And now you have a sweet, layered card that plays up the texture of the Sparkling Trees Embossing Folder and Die. If you want more ideas using the Christmas Blush collection, head over to my blog or follow me on Instagram. Until next time, happy crafting!

Adrienne

Other Supplies

Frank Garcia Christmas Blush 8x8 Paper Pad, Frank Garcia Christmas Market Lace Trim or other lace trim, Dimensional White Pearlescent Medium such as Ranger’s Liquid Pearls or Scrapbook.com’s Pops of Color, Finnabair Winter Glitter Set, Distress Oxide Bundled Sage, Distress Oxide Tattered Rose, Small Ink Blending Brushes, Scissors, Tweezers, Paper Trimmer, Foam Adhesive, Liquid Adhesive