Create Merry Mischief: 5 Ways to Add Texture to Your Christmas Cards

Are you ready for a little mischief? Do you feel like your Christmas cards are missing that extra something? It’s Therese Calvird here, and I have three Christmas cards to share using the fun Merry Mischief Collection. These cards feature adorable critters - a hedgehog, penguins, and a Christmas tree dog (literally!). And, while playing with these critters, it became clear that adding texture can turn a cute card into something truly magical.  Let me show you how… I’ve got five fun ways to add texture to these cards, plus a bonus technique!

Why Texture Matters:

Textures give cards depth, invite the receiver to touch and explore, and make designs feel richer and more playful. There are so many ways to add them to your card designs, and today the focus is on easy and fun ways to bring these adorable critters to life.

Felt Accents

Soft and cozy, felt adds a touch that paper just can’t. On these cards, the Cozy Waddles penguins and Hedge-Hugs hedgehog wear felt scarves, and the Christmas tree is also made from felt. Note: The debossed details will not be as obvious as on cardstock, but they are still visible.

PRO TIP: Die-cut a piece of cardstock the same color as your felt and adhere the two together with a small amount of liquid glue. Test your glue first to make sure it doesn’t warp the felt - this little trick keeps your accents neat and sturdy.

Sparkle

A little shimmer goes a long way. Sparkling the edges of snow or highlights on critters gives the card a magical, wintry feel. Lightly paint along the edge of the snowbank with Sparkle Splatter Effects for a subtle shimmer. Other options include using a glitter pen, or for those feeling brave, a glue pen with fine glitter - just be prepared for a bit of extra sparkle cleanup!

Embossed Background

A 3D embossed panel adds texture and tactile interest, giving your card depth and dimension. It’s an easy way to make a plain background feel special. The Season Sparkles 3D Embossing Folder is covered with baubles, stars, and snowflakes. To make the textured pattern really pop, lightly brush a bit of white ink over the raised images. PRO TIP: Allow drying time for pigment inks, or speed things up with a heat tool set on low.

Idea #4 Glitter Cardstock

Nothing says festive like glitter! Using glitter cardstock adds instant texture and sparkle. It’s an easy way to add shine without the mess. On these cards, check out the star on the Deck the Paws dog’s hat - and don’t miss those sparkly skates the hedgehog is wearing!

Hot Foil

Foiled elements add eye-catching elegance with their shimmering texture. The Peppermint Twist Press Plate makes the perfect bold backdrop when paired with the Satin Pastels Glimmer Foil.

BONUS Idea

Is it a texture?  You may not be able to touch it… but you probably won’t want to! Can you spot the shaker elements? They’re actually tiny bits of finely ground glass, adding visual sparkle, movement, and playful texture to the card. These Merry Mischief cards show that texture doesn’t have to be complicated to make a big impact. Soft felt, sparkling edges, shiny foil, glitter stars, embossed backgrounds, and playful shaker elements all invite the lucky person to notice, touch, and fall in love with your card. Thank you for joining me here today! You can find more from me here at Lostinpaper, and I look forward to your visit.  But first, I’d love to hear from you - let me know in the comments below which textural technique is your favorite for the holiday season!

Other Supplies

Cardstock used: White, Kraft, Black,  Concord & 9th – Powder | Sprout | Ballet Slipper, Felt, Memory Box Delicate Pastel Glitter Cardstock – Pale Blue, Crafty Critta, Foil Art White Toner Sheets, Twinklets – Diamond Dust.