December is always filled with a special kind of magic.
Twinkling lights, Christmas markets, festive windows and cozy atmospheres turn everyday moments into memories worth keeping. For this layout, I wanted to celebrate that feeling by capturing the magic of Advent in Zagreb, a place that truly shines during the holiday season with its lights, decorations and festive charm.
The photo I chose shows a beautifully decorated window filled with stars and glowing lights, and that detail became the heart of my design. I imagined the layout as a large, symbolic star embracing the photo—almost like a festive frame—built with layers, movement and soft details that echo the warmth of December evenings.
I started by hand-cutting several stars from a patterned paper included in the Mistletoe & Memories collection designed by Vicki Boutin. I then die-cut many branches using a Sizzix die, working with leftover paper scraps from the same collection to add texture and dimension while keeping everything cohesive.
Next, I sketched a large star directly onto the patterned paper with text, hand-cut it, and superimposed on the patterned paper with the twigs. This oversized star became the main visual element of the layout and helped guide the placement of all the details.
(All the papers used are listed below in the materials section.)
To enrich the design, I added several elements from the collection, including laser-cut pieces, chipboard sentiments, and embellishments in vellum and acetate. For the title, I combined chipboard words with puffy stickers to create contrast and dimension while keeping a playful, festive feel.
Instead of adding traditional journaling, I highlighted some of the printed words already present on the patterned paper, letting them work as subtle storytelling elements, and finished the layout by adding the date.
This project perfectly captures the glow, warmth and festive spirit that make December so special for me.
49 and Market products:
- Mistletoe and Memories 12×12 Paper Pad – 49 and Market
- Mistletoe and Memories Starters Paper 7 – 49 and Market
- Mistletoe and Memories 12×12 Staples Pack – 49 and Market
- Mistletoe and Memories Laser Cut Elements – 49 and Market
- Mistletoe and Memories Laser Cut Foliage – 49 and Market
- Mistletoe and Memories Chipboard Basics – 49 and Market
- Mistletoe and Memories Foiled Die-Cut Assortment – 49 and Market
- Mistletoe and Memories Puffy Stickers – 49 and Market
- Sizzix Framelits 9PK Die Set – Fine Stems 02 by 49 and Market – Sizzix.com
This is my last blog post before 2026, so I’d love to end with a heartfelt wish.
I hope this holiday season brings you creativity, quiet moments for your passions,
joyful time with your loved ones and plenty of festive rest.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays 🤍✨
XoXo,
Evy
