Hey y’all! Every once in a while, a collection of Designer Series Paper comes along that just speaks to me, and the Whispering Woods Designer Series Paper from Stampin’ Up! is definitely one of those! From the moment I saw those gorgeous watercolor designs in shades of blue and green, I was completely smitten. Those are two of my absolute favorite colors, and goodness, they’re beautiful together!

There’s something so peaceful and calming about this paper. The soft watercolor backgrounds, beautiful woodland scenes, and cool colors make it feel like a quiet walk through the woods on a crisp winter morning. It’s perfect for winter and Christmas crafting, especially those sometimes-tricky masculine Christmas cards, but it’s certainly not limited to the holidays. These designs are just as lovely for birthdays, thinking-of-you cards, and other occasions throughout the year.

And y’all, once I started creating, I just couldn’t stop! I made card after card, added a scrapbook page to the mix, and still had ideas swirling around in my head. I honestly could have kept going!

Watercolor fabric pattern featuring teal botanical foliage, evergreen trees, bears, blue-green stripes, and geometric squares

The Whispering Woods 12″ x 12″ Designer Series Paper (168368) features beautiful watercolor-inspired designs in a soothing combination of blues, greens, and natural tones. Some sheets feature scenic designs that can be cut apart to create stunning card fronts, while others offer coordinating patterns that are wonderful for layering, accents, and scrapbook layouts.

The package includes 12 sheets of double-sided paper, with four sheets each of three designs. The coordinating Stampin’ Up! colors are Azure Afternoon, Blueberry Bushel, Garden Green, Night of Navy, Pecan Pie, Pretty Peacock, and Shaded Spruce.

And here’s something that makes this paper even more special! For every package of Whispering Woods DSP purchased, Stampin’ Up! will donate $3 to organizations around the world to help spread a little holiday cheer. I love knowing that something we enjoy using at our craft tables can also help make a difference for others. Beautiful paper with a beautiful purpose. What’s not to love?

Handmade Cards with Whispering Woods

I had so much fun exploring different ways to use this paper! Those gorgeous watercolor designs offered endless possibilities, and every time I finished a card, another idea seemed to pop into my head. Of course, you know me! I couldn’t resist pulling out a few other goodies from my craft stash to add a little something extra. There were so many ways to showcase these beautiful patterns, and I enjoyed every minute of it!

One of my favorite things about this collection is how easily it moves between different styles. Some of my cards have a traditional winter or Christmas feel, while others are more rustic and masculine. And with a simple change of sentiment, many of these same designs could work beautifully for occasions well beyond the holiday season. The hardest part was deciding when to stop! Let me show you what I came up with!

Let the Paper Do the Work

Sometimes beautiful paper is all you need! These cards couldn’t be simpler to make. I just cut the gorgeous watercolor scenes into card fronts, matted each one with Pretty Peacock cardstock, and added a simple sentiment and a few gold embellishments. That’s it! The beautiful scenery does all the work, creating lovely handmade cards without a lot of fuss.

Four handmade Christmas cards featuring watercolor evergreens and woodland animal silhouettes, displayed on a wooden slice with festive greenery and ornaments.

A Little Die Cutting & Layering

Next, I added a little more interest with die-cut elements and embossed backgrounds. For these two cards, I chose contrasting looks—one with a crisp white background and the other in rich Pretty Peacock. The embossed foliage adds beautiful texture, while the die-cut openings frame those peaceful woodland scenes perfectly.

The watercolor imagery was so beautiful and elegant that I just couldn’t bring myself to cover it with a sentiment! Instead, I let the artwork take center stage and added a simple “Warmest Winter Wishes” greeting to the inside of each card. Sometimes knowing when to leave something alone is the best design decision of all!

Handcrafted Christmas card featuring a watercolor evergreen tree and rabbit in an embossed white leafy frame

Handcrafted winter greeting card featuring silhouetted deer in a snowy forest, framed by embossed teal foliage.

Fussy Cutting for Extra Dimension

For these next designs, I pulled out my paper snips and started fussy cutting some of the beautiful trees and woodland animals from the Whispering Woods DSP. By layering these pieces over the original designs, I was able to bring those beautiful watercolor scenes to life.

For the first card, I kept the layout simple, adding fussy-cut trees and bears to the woodland scene for a little extra dimension. For the second, I layered the scenic panel over coordinating Designer Series Paper and added a few fussy-cut trees to create depth and interest. A sprinkling of tiny Adhesive-backed Snowflakes adds just the right finishing touch to both designs.

Handmade winter wishes card featuring layered evergreen trees, bears, and snowflakes on a wooden display stand

Handcrafted Christmas card featuring painted evergreen trees, snowflakes, a bear and deer, with “Peace & Joy” greeting

Birch Trees & a Little Shaker Magic

I love finding new ways to use supplies from my craft stash, and the birch tree die cut from the Aspens of Gratitude Paper Pumpkin Refill Kit was a perfect match for the Whispering Woods DSP! I layered the delicate birch trees over the watercolor woodland scenes, creating a beautiful sense of depth while letting the scenery peek through.

For the second card, I took things a little further and turned it into a shaker card! I added a clear Window Sheet and tiny snowflakes behind the birch trees, creating a fun winter scene that comes to life with a little shake. Both cards feature sentiments created with the Magical Christmas Hot Foil Dies, adding a beautiful finishing touch.

Christmas-themed framed artwork featuring birch trees, evergreen trees, bears, and "Merry Christmas" lettering on a wooden stand

Festive handmade winter scene card reading “Tis the Season,” featuring birch trees, evergreen forest, deer, snowflakes, and teal accents on a wooden display stand.

Framing the Scene with Die-Cut Shapes

For this last group, I used die-cut shapes to frame the beautiful woodland scenes, giving each card its own unique look. I added a variety of die-cut trees, greenery, and textured backgrounds to bring even more interest and dimension to the designs. I love how the different shapes draw your eye right into the watercolor artwork, while the added greenery ties everything together. It’s amazing how changing a few design elements can give the same beautiful paper a completely different look!

Handmade Christmas card featuring a teal star, moose woodland scene, greenery, and a “merry everything” sentiment — The ***Shining Stars Dies*** beautifully frame the peaceful woodland scene, while the “Merry Everything” sentiment from the ***Holly Jolly Branches Stamp Set,*** a few die-cut sprigs of greenery, and ***Adhesive-Backed Sparkle Sequins*** add the perfect finishing touches.

Handmade Christmas card featuring a watercolor bear, evergreen tree, snowflakes, and a banner reading “Sending Love & Joy.” — The ***Everyday Arches Dies*** beautifully frame this peaceful woodland scene, while delicate pine sprigs die-cut from the DSP add a soft, wispy touch. A few ***Adhesive-Backed Sparkle Sequins*** bring just the right amount of shimmer to finish the card!

Handmade winter greeting card featuring layered watercolor evergreen trees, a bear, snowflakes, and the message “Sending JOY always.” — The ***Holly Jolly Branches Dies*** add beautiful layers of evergreen trees die-cut from the **Whispering Woods DSP**, while the embossed background brings in a little extra texture. The “Sending Joy Always” sentiment from the ***Holly Jolly Branches Stamp Set*** and a sprinkling of ***Adhesive-backed Snowflakes*** complete this lovely winter card!

Handmade winter-themed card featuring evergreen trees, moose silhouettes, pinecones, and the sentiment “Celebrate the Season.” — Inspired by a beautiful design from Yvonne Spikmans-Van Bruggen, this card combines layers of coordinating **Whispering Woods DSP** with fussy-cut woodland images for added dimension. Die-cut pine branches and pinecones bring a festive touch, while a sprinkling of ***Adhesive-backed Snow*****flakes** adds the perfect finishing detail!

A Whispering Woods Scrapbook Page

After making so many cards, I decided to give this gorgeous paper a little more room to shine with a 12″ x 12″ scrapbook page! The scenic watercolor designs are just perfect for scrapbooking. Those beautiful blues and greens create a peaceful backdrop, and the coordinating patterns make it easy to bring everything together without overwhelming the page. I combined the watercolor stripes with the winter tree design, added a little embossed snowflake texture, and tucked in a few die-cut sprigs of greenery for a little extra dimension.

With room for two favorite photos, this page is ready for preserving holiday memories, winter outings, or those everyday moments that deserve a special place in our albums. I especially love how this collection captures the peaceful feeling of winter without relying on traditional Christmas colors or decorations. It’s a beautiful way to celebrate the season!

Handmade winter-themed scrapbook page with blue watercolor stripes, evergreen branches, snowflakes, trees, and two blank brown photo mats

Watch the Whispering Woods Video Tutorial!

Want to create a little Whispering Woods magic of your own? In my video tutorial this week on the Christie Crafts YouTube channel, I’ll walk you through making a beautiful birthday card featuring the Whispering Woods DSP and Shining Stars Dies from Stampin’ Up!

I love how the watercolor trees create such a pretty backdrop for the bold star, while the die-cut greenery and a few sparkling embellishments add just the right finishing touches. Follow along as I share the steps to recreate this card, and I hope you’ll find a little inspiration for your own projects along the way!

And while you’re there, be sure to subscribe to my channel so you don’t miss my weekly crafting videos, tutorials, and creative inspiration!

Craft tutorial title card featuring Whispering Woods DSP and Shining Stars Dies from Stampin’ Up!, with a Christmas tree patterned birthday card. — 🎥 ***Watch on YouTube!***

What a joy it’s been creating with the Whispering Woods DSP! From simple handmade cards to more detailed designs and a scrapbook page, this collection has given me so much inspiration. And knowing that every package purchased helps support charitable organizations around the world makes it even more special. Beautiful paper, creative possibilities, and a little kindness along the way—what could be better?

Thanks for stopping by my craft table today! I hope these projects have inspired you to create something beautiful, share a little kindness, and enjoy a peaceful moment of crafting.

If you have any questions about any of the projects I shared today, please don’t hesitate to reach out—I’m always happy to help! Feel free to email me at christie.king@gmail.com or leave a comment below. And while you’re here, be sure to subscribe to my blog and the Christie Crafts Weekly Newsletter at ChristieCrafts.com so you don’t miss the latest card-making inspiration, tutorials, classes, and crafty updates. Now go get crafty!

Promotional image inviting people to join a crafting community, featuring three women engaged in crafting activities. Text highlights benefits like a simplified joining process, shopping credit, and a welcome box.

Curious about Stampin’ Up!?

Whether you’re like me and knee-deep in cardstock every weekend or just getting started, joining Stampin’ Up! as a Demonstrator might be the best next step. I joined for the discount and stayed for the friendships, inspiration, and fun! ❤

JOIN US!

Once you join, you’ll get at least a 15% discount on all of your Stampin’ Up! purchases, invitations to Demonstrator only events, and the ability to place orders from upcoming catalogs and promotions in advance (my favorite perk)!

We welcome all types of Demonstrators from those only join to get the discount for themselves to those who want to run a business! We’re a relaxed group that loves to create with no pressure to sell!

There is absolutely never any obligation or penalty if you decide being a Demonstrator isn’t for you. So why not give it a try? We have fun Facebook groups where we chat, share creative ideas, and support one another. Plus, we host virtual gatherings, training sessions, and even offer occasional giveaways just for our team. It’s a welcoming space full of inspiration and encouragement!

Email me christie.king@gmail.com if you have any questions. You can also see more information about the benefits of becoming a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator HERE.