Festive Decorative Lantern Holiday Card Design Idea
Last Updated: December 19, 2025
Hello from Scotland! This is Bibi Cameron, today I’m sharing a simple holiday card created using layered die cutting and a classic festive color palette. This project focuses entirely on die cuts, combining elements from the Decorative Lantern, Feathered Beauty and the Craft Your Life Project Kit: Whispers in the Canopy.
How to Make a Decorative Lantern Holiday Card
This is an A2 top-fold holiday card. For the card base, I recommend using 300gsm cardstock. It is an excellent choice for a handmade holiday card because it provides great structure, durability, and a professional feel.
DIES & STAMPS
- Decorative Lantern Layering Die Set (die-cut lantern)
- Creative Cuts: Feathered Beauty Layering Die Set (foliage and flowers)
- Craft Your Life Project Kit: Whispers in the Canopy (little birds/ dove)
- Festive Triangles Stamp Set (stamped sentiment)
CARDSTOCK
- Crafty Necessities: Evergreen Cardstock
- Crafty Necessities: Velvet Cardstock
- Crafty Necessities: Ruby Red Cardstock
- Crafty Necessities: Parrot Cardstock
- Solid Cardstock Set - Mountain Mist
- Crafty Necessities: Frayed Leaf Cardstock
INKS
Yellow Ink left in my blending brush
EMBELLISHMENTS
Step-by-Step Cardmaking Process
As always, I kept the process simple by focusing entirely on die cutting. This technique is perfect for creating a high-end holiday card without needing complex painting or coloring skills.
- Trim a piece of light green cardstock to 5-1/4" x 4". Keeping the background clean ensures your holiday card elements really stand out. You can use Mountain Mist or Frayed Leaf cardstock colors.
The background is kept clean and light so the layered die cuts can really stand out.
- Then, I die-cut all the elements out of solid colored cardstock.
The lantern is die-cut from deep red cardstock to give it a traditional holiday feel, while the foliage and flowers add texture and interest around it. I paired rich evergreen tones with pops of ruby red and soft neutrals to keep the design balanced and elegant.
By using white and soft grey cardstock, I gave the little bird a different look and feel, so it resembles a dove. This adds a peaceful touch and helps tie the whole composition together.
- Next, I glued the foliage over the background panel and using dimensional foam pads, I adhere the lantern dove, and flowers.
- I added a little extra something by sticking a silver metallic bow over the lantern.
- To easily add the greeting, I stamped a small sentiment from the Festive Triangles Stamp Set and made a little banner.
This finishes your holiday card without overpowering the design.
- Last but not least, I added Satin Gold Pearl Dots at the center of the flowers and over the leafy design, which adds instant luminosity to the card... and just the right amount of festive shine.
This decorative lantern holiday card is a prime example of how versatile die cutting can be. By simply changing your color palette, you can use these same die sets for birthdays, anniversaries, or "thinking of you" cards.
The colors set the mood, while the dies do all the hard work for you. All that's left is for you to play with different arrangements!
Thanks for stopping by and hanging out with me today! I hope you were inspired. And until next time, I hope you have a fabulous day!
Happy Crafting
Bibi
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