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Candy Cane Dreams & Nutcracker Schemes with Hero Arts

Tuesday, July 29, 2025 | By: Lea Lawson

It’s beginning to look a lot like… crafty Christmas! 🎄 I’m so excited to share five festive cards today featuring the adorable new holiday releases from Hero Arts. I dove headfirst into Crackin’ Christmas, a nutcracker-themed collection that had me grinning from ear to ear (or should I say nut to nut?), and Candy Cane Season, which is sweet enough to keep your spirits high and your peppermint stash low!

From twirling toy soldiers to candy-striped cuties, these designs were such a joy to create—and I hope they inspire a little merry making of your own this season. Let’s unwrap the creativity together!

If you're craving some holiday sparkle, this card set is serving up Christmas cheer with a peppermint twist! I had so much fun creating with the Candy Cane Season collection from Hero Arts—it’s packed with festive goodness, including the Candy Cane Toss Up layering stencils, Candy Cane Swag, A Little Merri-Mint stamp & die sets, and the Candy Cane Season sentiment die. And let’s talk shimmer: iridescent gold heat embossing was the perfect finishing touch, adding a frosty glow that catches the light (and hopefully your eye)!

Whether you're into bold stripes or merry little mints, this collection is ready to sweeten your season.

Easy Step by Step instructions:

  • Cut & fold (3) A2 card bases.
  • Cut A2 panels from white, pink & red cardstock.

Merri-Mint Card:

  • Ink blend the candy cane stencils to the pink panel in Cherry Blossom & Berrylicious ink.
  • Prep the panel with anti static powder, then sponge embossing ink into the final stencil.
  • Cover in holographic embossing powder, then heat set.
  • Trim slightly smaller than A2, then mount to the front of a card base.
  • Diecut all the pieces from the Candy Cane Seasion sentiment die set, then assemble.
  • Stamp the candy canes & bow, then diecut.
  • Heat emboss the secondary sentiment in iridescent gold, then diecut.
  • Arrange & adhere the pieces to the card front as shown.
  • Accent with self-adhesive gems in Aura AB to finish.

Peppermint Skies Card:

  • Ink blend the candy cane stencils to the white panel in Cherry Blossom & Peony ink.
  • Trim slightly smaller than A2, then mount to the front of a card base.
  • Stamp the candy canes & bow, then diecut.
  • Heat emboss the sentiment in iridescent gold, then diecut.
  • Arrange & adhere the pieces to the card front as shown.
  • Accent with self-adhesive gems in Aura AB to finish.

Peppermint Skies Card:

  • Prep the red panel with anti static powder, then sponge embossing ink into the final stencil.
  • Cover in white embossing powder, then heat set.
  • Trim slightly smaller than A2, then mount to the front of a card base.
  • Stamp the candy canes, peppermint wheels, greenery & bow, then diecut.
  • Heat emboss the sentiment in iridescent gold, then diecut.
  • Arrange & adhere the pieces to the card front as shown.
  • Accent with self-adhesive gems in Aura AB to finish.

This pair of holiday cards features the Crackin’ Christmas collection from Hero Arts, and they were an absolute joy to create. The interactive nutcracker is especially fun—his mouth opens to reveal a hidden sentiment, and I think he’s just the cutest! I don’t usually gravitate toward intricate interactive dies, but this one was delightfully simple to work with.

This card set features the Big Mouth Nutcracker bundle, and the A Little Nuts stamp & die set!

Easy Step by Step instructions:

  • Cut & fold (2) A2 card bases.
  • Cut A2 panels from white & ivory glitter cardstock.

Son of a Nutcracker Card:

  • Diecut all the pieces from the Big Mouth Nutcracker die set, then assemble. (Hero Arts has a great step by step video with easy instructions to follow.)
  • Arrange & adhere the diecut pieces to the card front as shown.
  • Pull the interactive element down, and stamp the sentiment in black.
  • Accent with self-adhesive gems in Aura AB to finish.

Cracking Christmas Card:

  • Diecut the white cardstock panel with the Star Confetti coverplate die.
  • Adhere over top of ivory glitter cardstock to the card front.
  • Heat emboss the nutcrackers to colored cardstock in white, then diecut.
  • Heat emboss the cracker to white cardstock in iridescent gold, then diecut.
  • Stamp the sentiment to white cardstock in black, then diecut.
  • Arrange to the card front as shown.
  • Accent with self-adhesive gems in Aura AB to finish.

I hope these holiday creations featuring Crackin’ Christmas and Candy Cane Season have sparked a little seasonal cheer and inspiration, even in the midst of summer! Hero Arts has truly delivered a joyful mix of whimsy and classic charm in this release, and I’ve loved every moment spent bringing these designs to life. Whether you're diving into holiday crafting early or just gathering ideas for the season ahead, I can’t wait to see how you make these products your own.

Before I close up, I wanted to mention that my Crafty Sale and Events/Classes pages are updated, and I'm also currently work on my FAVORITES page! Thank you so much for your support!

If you would like to see more posts from me, I would love for you to sign up for my email newsletter! I share blog posts, giveaways, sales and new events/classes regularly. You can sign up for emails HERE. Thank you!

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 I hope you have an inspiring day!

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Thank you SO MUCH for joining my email list! I typically send out emails a few times per week with project inspiration, new release info, crafty sales and free project PDFs from time to time!

Check out my latest Email Newsletter for cardmaking inspiration!

Have an awesome day,
Lea

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