A Playful Christmas Card with Concord & 9th Handmade Holiday

Hello, friends!

I’m excited to share my first Christmas card of 2026! This year, I’m hoping to start my holiday cards early and simply enjoy the process instead of feeling rushed once October and November arrive. We’ll see how it goes, but it feels like a fun way to lean into crafty Christmas in July.

This card began with a play session using the adorable Handmade Holiday Bundle from Concord & 9th. Rather than starting with a finished design in mind, I chose the little Christmas icons that made me smile—the mug, gingerbread man, candy cane, string lights, and a few presents—and started die cutting in some of my favorite colors.

Since I almost always have pinks and blues on my desk, those naturally became the starting point. As the pieces came together, the palette began to take on a playful retro feel, so I leaned into it by adding a coral and bright blue present. Even though I’ve decided to embrace non-traditional Christmas colors this year, I still wanted a little nod to the season, so I wove in green and touches of coral-red throughout the design.

Once all the pieces were cut, I realized the arrangement filled much more of the card than I had originally imagined. My initial plan was to build a simple cluster on a circle, but the presents, mug, gingerbread, and lights created enough interest on their own. From there, I simply arranged the pieces until the colors and shapes felt balanced, intentionally tilting the top present to keep the scene feeling whimsical rather than perfectly stacked.

To ground everything, I added a Nectar cardstock strip across the bottom, stamped with the tiny scattered dots stamp included in the set. It creates a simple “floor” for the presents while tying the colors together.

Since green only appeared in the light string, repeating it in the sentiment helped balance the color across the card while also giving another subtle nod to Christmas. I stamped it in Basil from Concord & 9th. I especially loved the cheerful “Let’s Get Festive!” greeting—it perfectly captures the playful spirit of the design.

After I had the presents and lights arranged, I felt like the card needed one more little surprise. Then I remembered the tiny hands included in the set! I immediately thought it would be fun to create a little Grinch stealing an ornament. It adds a playful, mischievous moment to the scene.

One detail almost didn’t make the final card: the little pink snowflake tucked beside the sentiment. After looking at the card a few days later, I felt the sentiment needed just a hint of pink to tie it in with the presents. It’s a tiny detail, but I think it helps introduce the playful color palette before your eye even reaches the focal point.

Thank you so much for stopping by today! I hope this little Christmas card brings a smile to your face. And if you’ve been thinking about starting your holiday cards early, maybe this is your sign to pull out your favorite Christmas supplies and simply enjoy the process. Happy crafting!

Supplies

Cardstock

• Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb.
• Concord & 9th Cardstock: Nectar, Harbor, Bluebell, Pistachio, Sorbet, Aqua Sky, Carnation, Aster, and Pimento
• Spellbinders Cardstock: Fawn, Blush, Mulberry, and Fog
• Idea-ology Tim Holtz Kraft-Stock Metallic Cardstock

Stamps & Dies

• Concord & 9th Handmade Holiday Bundle
• Hero Arts Rounded Rectangles Infinity Dies (largest rounded rectangle)

Ink

• Concord & 9th: Basil, Bluebell, and Grapefruit