A Creative Celebrations Christmas Card For PP800

by Joanne James23. August 2026 08:00

Today it's Sunday and time for this week's new challenge over at The Paper Players! It's the turn of the fabulous Ann to host and we have a special challenge for you this week to celebrate our 800th challenge! As it's sketch week, we are going to revisit the very first sketch we used here at The Paper Players when we started:

 

Ann was one of the original team members, so it's only fitting she should be our host this week.My own blog doesn't go back that far so I know I didn't play along with this sketch the first time around; Challenge 169 was the first challenge I played along with and I joined the design team as a guest then a permanent member on Challenge 203 - so I'm nearer my personal 600th anniversary post, but I digress! You know how much I love a good sketch, so revisiting number 1 was fun - and I broke open some of my new pre-order product from the new September Stampin' Up! catalogue to make a Christmas card to share with you today - take a look:

 

Here's the low-down on today's card:

There's a mix of old and new on today's card: I used one of the patterns in the new Creative Celebrations Mix & Match designer series paper pack with a printed wreath as the centre of my focal layer, cutting it out with an Everyday Arches Die to follow the shape of the wreath. I used a base of (retired) Soft Succulent cardstock and covered the top portion with a piece of (retired) Tidings of Christmas patterned paper - the colour, including the retired Evening Evergreen, coordinates really well with these new papers.

For my accent image I used a deer, complete with winter scarf.  The deer is a pre-cut diecut piece that is also included in the Creative Celebrations DSP pack - it contains a mixture of patterned sheets, split sheets, tag designs and a few sheets of precut pieces that are great for quick and easy cards. The designs also co-ordinate perfectly with the Season of Celebration Mix & Match Ephemera Pack and the Happiest Season Tags Mix & Match Ephemera Pack - both of which you can expect to see on future cards. I fussy cut the diecut deer's border a little closer and decided to add some clear rhinestones to my wreath and a Hydrangea Hue bow behind my dear for a couple of extra festive touches:

A banner of Evening Evergreen cardstock and a simple 'Noel' greeting from the (retired) 'Peaceful Noel' stamp set complete today's card.

Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:

 

You can see all of my Product and 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any. 

Before you reach for your ink and papers, check out what our amazing team has created to inspire you this week:

 
Here's a quick recap of our challenge rules:
 
1.  Create a new paper project
2.  Upload your creation to your blog with a link back to us and provide a direct link to the post featuring your challenge submission.
3.  Please link your card to no more than four challenges, TOTAL.
4.  Have FUN!

It would be lovely to see as many of you as possible join us for our milestone anniversary challenge this week. Enjoy your day; I don't have anything special planned today, so I'm hoping it will be a relaxing one. I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Comments (11) -

Michele Ferguson
Michele FergusonUnited States
8/23/2026 2:04:06 PM #

Congratulations on your milestone at The Paper Players, JoAnne!  600 is equally impressive btw!  I still can't imagine why SU retired those beautiful greens - I have them both and use them sparingly, so I don't run out!
I love your new little deer - so sweet with his darling scarf!  The wreath is just precious, too!
I can't wait to play!
=]

Reply

LeAnne Pugliese
LeAnne PuglieseUnited States
8/23/2026 7:13:14 PM #

How fun to see some new goodies as well as that gorgeous DSP that I've been hoarding since it came out! Soft Succulent was such a great color too!  Love your little deer and his bow is a fun addition!

Reply

Cindy Beach
Cindy BeachUnited States
8/23/2026 10:16:10 PM #

Soft succulent is such a serene color, your Christmas card is so so pretty Joanne! I love that sweet deer. Just had to congratulate you on the 800th challenge post, what a lot of inspiration and fun you've given us! Six hundred is HUGE!

Reply

Jan Clothier
Jan ClothierNew Zealand
8/23/2026 11:03:21 PM #

This is gorgeous! You are such a whiz with the mix and match/epehmera packs. I have this DSP and ephemera pack and have yet to make anything half as lovely. Congratulations on your personal 600. Smile

Reply

Ann Schach
Ann SchachUnited States
8/24/2026 3:26:45 PM #

Oh, Joanne! Your card is so sweet! This little deer speaks to my heart. I love how you used the die cut wreath as a center piece. The arches are the perfect backdrop. Soft Succulent was always one of my favorite colors. I wish Stampin' Up! would bring it back. What a fabulous card for our 800th challenge! Have a wonderful week!

Reply

Christy Stanford
Christy StanfordUnited States
8/24/2026 3:59:08 PM #

What a beautiful Christmas card, Joanne!  I like how you paired brand new stuff with some retired favorites for your card and that deer is gorgeous.  I haven't bought any Christmas goodies yet, I plan to have a ball with fall and Halloween first : ) You're making me want to get just a couple of things early though, ha!  Have a wonderful week!

Reply

Christy Stanford
Christy StanfordUnited States
8/24/2026 4:02:25 PM #

I did a quick search of my blog posts and the first time I played along with the Paper Players was for challenge #155, another sketch!

Reply

jaydee
jaydeeUnited States
8/27/2026 7:54:41 PM #

Joanne, this is so sweet.  I love the colors and the almost scandi/nordic feel to the elements.  The blue ribbon on the deer is the perfect finishing touch.  Fabulous Christmas card
hugs
jaydee

Reply

Stef Perry
Stef PerryUnited States
8/27/2026 9:26:51 PM #

Joanne, your card just rings all the bells for me!  I love wreaths and this one is so delicate and pretty and fits in the arch to perfection.  The retired papers and cardstock look like they were made to go together with the newer products, plus they bring a serene feel to the design.  Beautifully done and congrats on 600 challenges!

Reply

elisa
elisaSpain
8/28/2026 3:48:53 PM #

Absolutely gorgeous xmascard🤩💐👏👏👏 happy day

Reply

Claire Broadwater
Claire BroadwaterUnited States
8/28/2026 7:19:32 PM #

Joanne, this card is so fabulous!  That sweet little dear steals the show.  Your beautiful wreath on the arch is the perfect backdrop for this cutie.  I love the Soft Succulent paper and I am hoarding mine, too!  You certainly made our 800th challenge shine!  WOW!  Congratulations on 600 challenges.  Have a wonderful weekend, My Friend!

Reply

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Hi I'm Joanne and live in Northampton and when I'm not looking after my husband and two beautiful children, am an avid crafter with a passion for all things Stampin' Up!

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