There’s nothing quite like crafting during the holiday season, especially when you’re working with a collection as warm, nostalgic, and classically festive as Simple Vintage Believe from Simple Stories. This line is full of vintage Santas, retro typography, botanical greenery, and a traditional Christmas palette that feels straight out of a beloved holiday storybook. Today I’m excited to share a full set of handmade cards I created using this gorgeous collection—each one layered, detailed, and bursting with yuletide charm.
To create my cards, I started with some cream A2-sized card bases. As far as supplies go, I love to use all the things! I used the 6x8 paper pad, the pretty pattern papers in the Vintage Basics set, a few of the Cut Apart cards, all of the types of Bits and Pieces ephemera, the chipboard stickers, the foam stickers, the cardstock stickers, and the Chipboard Frames. I, of course, had to add the Decorative Brads. I threw in a few bits and bobs from my stash to add a little special extra texture and dimension to my cards.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these cards!
“Here Comes Santa” For this cheerful, vintage-inspired card, I paired the iconic Santa image with a bold red gingham background—it immediately sets that classic, cozy Christmas tone. Behind Santa, I layered soft greenery florals and subtle ledger patterns to give dimension and a bit of old-world ephemera feel. The large “SANTA” title creates a strong focal point, and the tiny “here comes” word strip adds a sweet, nostalgic touch. A textured poinsettia, stitched greenery, and a scattering of foam-sticker stars complete the card, giving it a playful burst of holiday magic.
“It’s a Wonderful Life.” This card feels like a Christmas postcard brought to life. I built the base with soft vintage botanicals and faded postal imagery, then tucked in layers of patterned paper and scalloped borders to add depth. The sentiment steals the show with its elegant script, surrounded by classic ornaments tied with twine for a handmade feel. Down at the bottom, the plaid strip and sweetly wrapped present cluster anchor the design with traditional holiday charm. A tiny burlap bow adds just the right rustic texture to finish everything off beautifully.
“It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.” This sweet woodland-themed card features a soft plaid background paired with one of the tags from the collection, printed with the familiar holiday phrase that instantly sets the mood. To the left, a wonderfully detailed Christmas tree—decorated with sparkling red rhinestone gem “ornaments”—sits cozily beside an adorable little deer nestled among presents. I topped the tag with natural twine, which adds warmth and ties the whole nostalgic design together in the most charming way.
“Believe” With its rich holly-bordered base and lots of layered clustering, this card feels lush and traditional. I began by tucking a soft kraft doily behind the main embellishment cluster to create a delicate vintage touch. On top of that sits the classic Santa image surrounded by bits of tickets, labels, holly sprigs, and layered papers that build dimension and texture. The large “believe” script sentiment stretches across the bottom, giving the card a magical, hopeful feeling—perfect for the season.
“Season of Joy.” This elegant card mixes deep greens, warm neutrals, and pops of festive red. The distressed black background creates a dramatic canvas for the kraft doily and greenery embellishments layered on top. The bell cluster with its bright red bow sits beautifully among pine sprigs and holly, while the big bold “joy” sentiment brings a wonderful statement feel. A dimensional poinsettia adds texture, giving the whole card a rich, classic Christmas look reminiscent of vintage holiday décor.
“25 Wonderful,” I had so much fun creating this December-focused card! The bold black-and-white gingham pattern sets a delightful rustic tone, and the kraft tag tucked behind the layers adds a warm, handmade feel. I clustered a holly and pine wreath around the large red “25,” embellishing them with shiny red gem berries for sparkle. A tiny burlap bow ties the grouping together perfectly. Between the layered banners, greenery, and textures, this card captures the excitement and coziness of Christmas Day.
“Filled With Wonder.” This card feels soft and elegant with its large half-circle element and combination of ledger patterns and subtle holiday prints. I layered deep red plaid along the bottom and topped it with a scalloped green plaid border for a sweet traditional touch. The cluster of poinsettias, white florals, gifts, and twine loops adds beautiful dimension and texture. The sentiment “filled with wonder” arches gracefully across the card, giving the entire design a dreamy, nostalgic feel.
“Good Cheer.” This cheerful snowman card features a lush holly background that instantly creates a festive frame for the design. I layered in a red tag, some chipboard ornaments, and a few greenery pieces to build up a playful collage behind the adorable snowman. His cozy plaid scarf and holly-topped hat pair perfectly with the “good cheer” sentiment sitting front and center. A few tiny holly accents scattered around bring extra pops of Christmas color.
“Be Merry” Shaker Card. For the final card, I couldn’t resist making a fun shaker! I used a large circular window Chipboard Frame filled with red, green, and gold sequins that shimmer and dance behind the snowman. He stands sweetly to the left, adorned with red gem buttons and surrounded by poinsettias, holly, and a charming gift cluster topped with a tiny burlap bow. The bold “Be Merry” sentiment stretches across the top, creating an energetic, joyful greeting perfect for the season. This card has such personality and movement—one of my favorites from the whole set!
Thank you so much for joining me today and taking a closer look at this festive collection of handmade cards. The Simple Vintage Believe collection truly captures the magic of a classic Christmas, and it was such a joy to bring these card designs to life. I hope these projects inspired you to pick up this beautiful collection and create some handmade holiday cards of your own. Happy crafting and happiest Christmas wishes!
Products Used: Simple Vintage Believe
6x8 paper pad
Collection Kit
Chipboard Stickers
Decorative Brads
Foam Stickers
Chipboard Frames
Bits and Pieces,
Floral Bits and Pieces
Sentiment Bits and Pieces
Ephemera Bits and Pieces
Vintage Basics Kit
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