Let’s get creative with what we already have! 🌿
Have you ever thought about using non-Christmas supplies to make your Christmas cards? I thought it would be fun to play with some foliage dies and embossing folders and see what happens when we give them a festive twist.
Would you like to see what we created?
Grab a cuppa and watch the video right here, or head over to YouTube to see it in HD.
Also, this post contains affiliate links. If you choose to click and shop, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. It’s a lovely way to support both me and the crafty shops we all love. Thanks a bunch 🥰!
Foliage Christmas Cards?
Foliage is one of those crafty supplies that just keeps on giving! Leaves, twigs, branches and sprigs can be used in so many different ways, and they certainly don’t have to be Christmas-themed to look festive.
Whether you have stamps, dies, stencils or embossing folders (or a mix of them all!), there are plenty of ways to give your everyday foliage a Christmas makeover.
🌿 PRO TIP: THINK OUTSIDE THE WREATH!
Here are just a few ways to use foliage on your Christmas cards:
- Wreaths – traditional circles, modern shapes or loose, airy designs.
- Swags & Garlands – hanging greenery, cascading arrangements or foliage framing a sentiment.
- Topiary – create decorative trees or greenery in pots.
- Christmas Trees – use triangle shapes, arrange individual leaves or repeat a foliage pattern to create a tree silhouette.
- Backgrounds – stamp repeated leaves, stencil patterns or add embossed texture.
- Gift Decorations – tuck a little foliage beneath a bow on a die-cut present.
And don’t forget the finishing touches! Add pine cones, berries, flowers, bows, birds, baubles or even little critters to give your foliage some extra Christmas personality!
Card #1 – Modern Triangle
This design is perfect for mass-producing Christmas cards! It’s quick and easy to make, packs a punch and is simple to adapt using supplies you already have.
I used a foliage embossing folder to add 3D texture, then highlighted the raised design with a swipe of white pigment ink. But imagine taking it a step further with a touch of gold embossing instead!
You could also make it more post-friendly by adhering the tree directly to the card base and swapping the pearls for flatter enamel dots.
STEP-IT-UP: Why not add your own spin? Try creating a negative triangle space, embossing the entire background with foliage and adding a plain die-cut tree, or even using tone-on-tone foliage stamping if you don’t have an embossing folder.
So many possibilities from one simple triangle!
Card #2 – Eucalyptus Foliage Christmas Wreath
A wreath might be a more traditional way to use foliage on a Christmas card, but not necessarily in these eucalyptus-inspired colours!
I’ve been asked how I create my wreaths, so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to walk through my process with you in real time during the LIVE.
I mixed and matched leaf dies from different companies and sets, using three cardstock colors. The different leaf shapes and colors add interest and dimension to the wreath. And because I was running out of time (as you do during a LIVE! 😂), I grabbed a premade stamped black sentiment to finish it off.
STEP-IT-UP: Why not give your wreath a different look? Try adding flowers, berries or pine cones, mixing in some metallic leaves or swapping the rustic twine for a big statement bow! You could even change the shape entirely and create an oval wreath or a hanging Christmas swag instead.
What Would I Have Done Differently?
- You may notice that I added a couple of extra leaves to the wreath, along with some sneaky extra pearls in the final photos!
- As I mentioned during the LIVE, I also tucked some foam tape (I used clear tape) behind a few of the leaves to add extra dimension.
- I would have loved to be more organised and stamped a sentiment in the centre before creating the wreath… but of course, I didn’t think of that until afterwards! 😂
- A coloured card base, a little splatter or even an embossed background would also look beautiful with this design.
Over to You!
I hope this has inspired you to look at your foliage in a whole new way!
I’d love to know how you would use foliage on a Christmas card. And if you create something inspired by today’s cards, be sure to tag me so I can see what you make!
Until next time, Crafty hugs,
Special thanks to my crafty assistant, Chad (aka ChatGPT), for helping me stay on track with my Gemini brain, grammar, and spelling… well, all the things! 😄
Let’s Shop!
Dies: The Stamp Market – Boho Botanical
Cardstock: Concord & 9th – Rainforest | Eucalyptus – Gina K – Whisper
Inks: Altenew – Cloud White.
Embellishments: Spellbinders – Fashion Oyster.
*Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon, this content is provided ‘as is’ and is subject to change or removal at any time. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Today's Supplies
 Expressive Flora Bundle Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Zero Waste Berries and Branches Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Just Leaves Die Shop at: ALT |
 Tidings of Joy Shop at: SSS | C9 |
 Wrapped With Love Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Nesting Triangles Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Nesting Circles Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Cloud White Shop at: ALT | SSS |
Basic Supplies:
 Neenah Solar 110 Shop at: SSS | AMZ |
 Neenah Solar 80 Shop at: SSS | AMZ |
 Nocturne Shop at: SSS |
 Fresh Dye Inks Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Mini Blending Brush Set Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Tweezers Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Perfect Picker Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Fine Blade Scissors Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Bone Folder Shop at: ALT |
 Score Board Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Paper Trimmer Shop at: SSS |
 Mini MISTI Shop at: SSS |
 Stampwheel Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Sticky Grid Mat Ultra Shop at: ALT | SSS | SB US |
 Platinum 6 Shop at: ALT | SSS | SB US | SB UK |
 BetterPress SB Shop at: ALT | SSS | SB US | SB UK |
 Glue Tape Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Foam Tape Shop at: ALT | SSS |
 Bearly Art Glue Shop at: SSS | AMZ |
 Satin Masking Tape Shop at: ALT |
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Therese, I love this time of the year when you bring the holidays to your LIVEs! The wheels are turning – along with our leaves! Don’t be surprised if you find me buried in leaves soon!
[I loved your embossed triangle tree – mine was inspired by my dear friend Donna Mikasa for your Craft Roulette turn!] x
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