Hi friends! Today’s post is a little different for me — we’re going flat. Yep, you read that right. I’m creating one-layer Christmas cards (and loving it!). Normally, I’m all about dimension, layers, foam tape, and embellishments galore, but Altenew’s Abstract Village Stencil Set practically begged me to try something new.
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These designs are clean, graphic, and bold — perfect for flat cards that slip into envelopes without a fight. And honestly? I think I might be hooked.
VIDEO TUTORIAL
Watch the video below or on my YouTube channel.
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THE ABSTRACT VILLAGE STENCIL SET
The stencils let you build out a whole little village scene — houses, paths, mountains, sky, trees, and even a sun. You can keep it simple with one color per layer, or go wild with masking and multiple ink shades. They line up easily due to the etched guides and allow you to create A2 cards in both portrait and landscape orientation.
TODAY’S PROMOTION – 40% OFF STENCIL MAT
When you use stencils, it helps to have a sticky surface to hold the paper, the stencil, and even the ink pad in place. Altenew’s Sticky Mat is perfect for this! Get 40% off this mat with the code: YANA40OFF (valid from September 4, 2025, at 12:00 am EDT to September 6, 202,5 at 11:59 pm EDT).
Add the 9″x12″ Ultra Sticky Mat: Grid to your cart and use the code YANA40OFF at checkout to get 40% off OR purchase using this link, and the discount will be automatically applied.
- One-time use only.
- Cannot be combined with other code.
CARD DETAILS
I started with a simple A2 panel on the sticky mat and went layer by layer:
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Houses: Masked different sides to get depth with light + dark pinks.
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Sun & Sky: Sunray yellow for the sun, then Dew Drops blue for a bold sky.
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Path: Dew Drops ink again, but toned down with white pigment ink for a softer look.
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Trees: Two greens (though honestly, they turned out so similar you can hardly tell).
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Mountains: Pink! Yes, pink. They reminded me of the villages I saw on my road trip through Austria this summer — colorful, magical, and a little unexpected.
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Shadows & Details: Browns for tree trunks and shading under houses, dark blue for the windows to keep the vibe “daytime.”
At the end, I stamped a delicate “Season’s Greetings” sentiment (from the Cozy Spaces Craft Your Life Kit). It’s small and simple, letting the stenciled village be the star.
A BONUS TRICK: EMBOSS WITH YOUR STENCILS
One of my favorite ways to stretch stencils is by dry embossing with them. I placed a stencil over my panel, added the embossing mat in my Platinum Six, and ran it through. It’s subtle, but the pressed texture adds such a lovely tactile element — like snow drifts or frosty highlights.
Who knew I’d enjoy one-layer cards this much? The Abstract Village Stencil Set is simple, modern, and so versatile. These are flat, mail-friendly, but still vibrant and full of story.
SUPPLIES
I’m listing the products I used below. Click on the link to go directly to the product. Where available, I use compensated affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!
 Altenew Abstract Village Builder Stencil Set Shop at: C9 | AN |
 Altenew 9″x12″ Ultra Sticky Mat: Grid Shop at: C9 | AN |
 Neenah 80lb Solar White Cardstock Shop at: SSS | AMZ |
 Altenew Coffee Break Fresh Dye Ink (Sand Dunes, Rocky Shore, Mocha, Espresso) Shop at: C9 | AN |
 Altenew Sweet Dreams Fresh Dye Ink (Dew Drops, Aqualicious, Teal Cave, Galactic Stream) Shop at: C9 | AN |
 Altenew Cherry Blossom Fresh Dye Ink (Pink Diamond, Pinkalicious, Rubellite, Razzleberry) Shop at: C9 | AN |
 Altenew Forest Trail Fresh Dye Ink (Aloe Vera, Matcha Tea, Swamp Green, Oak Moss) Shop at: C9 | AN |
 Altenew Green Fields Fresh Dye Ink (Frayed Leaf, Forest Glades, Evergreen, Jet Black) Shop at: AN |
 Altenew Red Sunset Fresh Dye Inks (Blush, Rouge, Crimson, Velvet) Shop at: C9 | AN |
 Altenew Golden Sunset Fresh Dye Ink (Sunray, Chamomile, Snapdragon, Terracotta) Shop at: C9 | AN |
 Altenew Jade Dreams Fresh Dye Ink (Pistachio, Misty Sage, Mossy Meadow, Green Opal) Shop at: C9 | AN |
 Hero Arts Unicorn White Pigment Ink Pad Shop at: SSS | C9 | AMZ | SC |
 Altenew Stampwheel 2.0 Shop at: SSS | C9 | AN |
 Altenew Mini Blending Brush Set (Flat Bristles) Shop at: SSS | C9 | AN |
 Altenew Large Blending Brushes Shop at: C9 | AN |
 Altenew Crafter’s Showcase Mini Blending Brush Storage Shop at: C9 | AN |
 Altenew Satin Masking Tape Shop at: C9 | AN |
 Altenew Craft Your Life Project Kit: Cozy Spaces Shop at: AN |
 Spellbinders Platinum 6 Machine With Universal Plate System Shop at: SSS | C9 | SB USA | SB UK | AMZ |
 Altenew Mother of Pearl Gem Sparkles Shop at: C9 | AN |
 Glassboard Studio Super Strong Magnets Shop at: GBS |
 Glassboard Studio Glass Craft Mat – Code YANA15 Shop at: GBS |
