Festive Elephant Christmas Card with Holly Leaf Background

A project from our live show CATCH UP with Simon for MONDAY MADNESS in the HTCN studio broadcast 6th Dec 21 · 12/06/2021 · watch it from 18:30

A bright, colourful Christmas card featuring a watercoloured elephant wearing a Santa hat, surrounded by a dynamic holly leaf background with red berries and a 'Fa La La' sentiment. The design uses layered leaves with dimension and hand-stitched details.

You will need

Izink Dye Based Ink Pad 5 X 5CM - Emeraude 050821HSEE IT

DOWNLOAD THIS GUIDE (PDF)

Step by step

1. Take a 5x7 blank card and turn it to landscape orientation. ▶ watch 18:45
2. Glue a pre-cut striped paper panel to the card base and press down firmly. ▶ watch 19:00
3. Die-cut the sweet sprinkles die from white card to create a decorative background panel. ▶ watch 19:30
4. Mount the white sprinkles panel onto red card, then glue it to the card at a slight angle. ▶ watch 20:30
5. Wet a piece of mixed media card with water using a large brush. ▶ watch 22:45
6. Apply watercolour paint in various green shades to the wet card, allowing colours to blend naturally. ▶ watch 22:45
7. Use a heat gun to dry the watercoloured card. ▶ watch 24:00
8. Apply emeraude ink pad randomly to the dried watercoloured card for added vibrancy. ▶ watch 24:45
9. Dry the card again with the heat gun. ▶ watch 25:00
10. Die-cut holly leaves from the watercoloured card multiple times to create varied, naturally coloured leaves. ▶ watch 26:30
11. Use a fine-line marker to add stitched details around the edges of each holly leaf for definition. ▶ watch 28:45
12. Arrange and glue larger holly leaves around the card in a star-like pattern, keeping the base flat. ▶ watch 30:00
13. Add foam pads to medium-sized leaves and position them towards the centre for dimension. ▶ watch 31:15
14. Fill gaps with smaller leaves and add small red berry die-cuts throughout the design. ▶ watch 32:45
15. Glue the 'Fa La La' sentiment across the centre of the holly background using foam pads. ▶ watch 34:45
16. Watercolour the elephant stamp with grey tones to add definition to the trunk, tummy and knees. ▶ watch 35:30

Tips from the show

• Each watercoloured holly leaf will be unique due to the blending technique, creating natural variation.
• You can make any character Christmas-themed simply by adding a Santa hat.
• Optional: add stitched details with a fine-line marker or ink the edges with an ink pad for definition.

More from this show

• Three-Dimensional Snowflake Tea Light Card Cover

Written up from the show itself. See every guide from our shows · free how-to guides · watch live on My Telly