Peace on a Perch

Hello Crafty Friends!

For my latest AECP Level 3 class, “All About Layering 7 – Stencil Edition,” I decided to turn a non-holiday layering stencil into the star of a Christmas card.

Perched on a branch, ink-blended and pencil-polished, this bird proves that even a non-Christmas layering stencil set can steal the show on a holiday card

Armed with Altenew's Sweet Greetings Layering Stencil Set—which is, by all accounts, not a holiday stencil—I set out to create a clean and simple one-layer Christmas card.  The focal point is a graceful bird—colored with ink blending in pink (Altenew's Pinkalicious & Fuchsia Fresh Dye Ink) and light green (Bamboo & Parrot Fresh Dye Ink), a pastel twist on traditional Christmas colors. Once the blending was complete, I brought the bird to life with colored pencil details that added just the right amount of texture and depth.

The accompanying branch was treated to a bit of rebellion: I skipped the stencil entirely and colored it freehand using four shades of brown pencils. A tiny act of artistic independence that made the image feel personal and warm.

To finish, I stamped “Peace on Earth” (from Altenew’s long-retired but still beloved set of the same name) in Obsidian Ink, added a single white highlight to the bird’s eye, and left the rest untouched. The abundant white space lets the little bird shine—peaceful, poised and perfectly at home in its minimalist surroundings.

Do you like to use non-holiday products on Christmas/ Hanukkah/Diwali/... cards? Let me know in the comments.

In the end, this little bird reminded me that sometimes the simplest cards hold the most charm. With just a few layers of ink, a handful of colored pencils and a lot of white space, a non-Christmas stencil can deliver a message of peace. So here’s to mindful details and the joy of letting a bird take center stage!

Close-up of the bird.

Thanks so much for stopping by 💕