For my latest AECP Level 3 class, “All About Layering 7 – Stencil Edition,” I set out to see if a non-Christmas stencil could sneak its way into a holiday card. Enter a single bird, perched gracefully in pink and light green—a gentle twist on traditional Christmas colors. With a little ink blending, some colored pencil detailing, and a thoughtfully altered branch, this bird became the star of a clean, simple, one-layer card that manages to feel festive, serene and fun all at