Skip to main content

The Holly Queen’s Gift Blog Post

 

The Holly Queen’s Gift Blog Post


The story behind the Kit “The Holly Queen’s Gift”


Once upon a time, in the heart of the Enchanted Forest, there lived a remarkable queen named Helena. She wasn’t just any queen; she was the Holly Queen, ruling over the magical realm with grace and kindness. Her kingdom was a place where snowflakes danced in the air, and the scent of pine and cinnamon lingered year-round.

Helena’s love for Christmas knew no bounds. She revelled in the twinkling lights, the cozy fires, and the joyous carols that echoed through the frost-kissed trees. But what truly set her apart was her passion for decorations and gift-giving. Helena believed that every present carried a piece of the giver’s heart, and she delighted in finding the perfect gift for each of her subjects.

The Holly Queen’s palace was a sight to behold during the holiday season. Its walls were adorned with wreaths made of holly and mistletoe, and the grand hall sparkled with crystal chandeliers that cast a warm glow on the festivities below. Helena herself wore a gown woven from silver threads and adorned with tiny bells that jingled as she moved.

Her favourite tradition was the annual Yule Ball. On the night of the winter solstice, the entire kingdom gathered in the palace gardens. Helena, resplendent in her gown, danced with everyone—from the lowliest gnome to the tallest elf. She twirled under the moonlight, her laughter like tinkling icicles.

But it wasn’t just about dancing and merriment. Helena had a secret mission: to find the perfect gift for each of her subjects. She spent months observing their likes and dislikes, their dreams and desires. For the baker gnome, she commissioned a magical rolling pin that kneaded dough on its own. The squirrel messenger received a tiny scarf made of spider silk to keep warm during his deliveries. And the elderly tree spirit got a rejuvenating potion that made his leaves greener and his branches stronger.

As the snow fell softly around the palace, Helena’s heart swelled with joy. She knew that her gifts would bring happiness to her people, and that was all she ever wanted. But there was one person she hadn’t found a gift for—the mysterious cloaked figure who appeared at the edge of the forest every year.

On the night of the Yule Ball, Helena stood near the ancient oak tree, waiting. The figure emerged from the shadows, their face hidden beneath a hood. Helena approached, her curiosity piqued.

“Who are you?” she asked.

The figure’s voice was like wind chimes. “I am the Winter Wanderer,” they replied. “I seek warmth and light in this cold season.”

Helena smiled. “Then you’ve come to the right place.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small crystal ornament. “Hang this in your home, and it will glow with the spirit of Christmas.”

The Winter Wanderer accepted the gift, their eyes shining with gratitude. “You are a generous queen,” they said. “May your heart always be as warm as your hearth.”

And with that, they vanished into the falling snow.

Helena watched them go, her heart full. She had found her purpose—to bring joy to others, even those who wandered in darkness. As the Yule Ball continued, she danced with renewed energy, her beautiful gown shimmering like starlight.

And so, the legend of the Holly Queen spread far and wide. People whispered about her kindness, her love for Christmas, and the magical gifts she bestowed. But only a few knew the truth—that Helena’s greatest gift was the joy she felt when giving to others.

And so, in the Enchanted Forest, the Holly Queen reigned, her heart forever wrapped in tinsel and ribbons, her laughter echoing through the snow-covered trees.

And that, my dear friends, is the tale of Helena, the Holly Queen—a reminder that the true magic of Christmas lies not in the presents we receive, but in the love we share.



** Disclaimer - complete transparency


The links to Digital Downloads are my own digital download products from my website -https://www.obyd.co.uk/


** Also as an Amazon Associate i may receive a small referral commission should you buy something through my UK Amazon Store front. (if you would like to see what i have used and where to get it you can find the links where there is blue on the page) ** Please note that there is no charge to the customer for this.


I hope you like today's little blog post..


New today - Helena the Holly Queen Cardmaking Kit PDF Digital download is available on the website here: https://shop.obyd.co.uk/b/QXAHV




This kit contains: 

2 x Topper and sentiment sheets

2 x Backing Papers

2 x Inserts - portrait and landscape


Handmade A5 Helena the Holly Queen card:


Supplies List:

The topper and sentiment are from The "Helena the Holly Queen" kit which you can find here:

https://shop.obyd.co.uk/b/QXAHV


Embossing folder can be found on amazon here: https://amzn.to/3Lc2ys5


The panel die is called A2 Swirl it isn't for sale any longer on amazon as it is an old one but i found a similar one you might like here: https://amzn.to/3zbS8G3

The poinsettia die is also an old one from my stash but you might like to take a look at my "dies" section of my amazon store as there are some lovely poinsettia dies in there:

Spellbinders dies - https://amzn.to/3RA5dPA

All other brands - https://amzn.to/3Ryih88


The foliage die for the pines, holly berry sprigs can be found here: https://amzn.to/3VPQsLi

The fern leaves are from Spellbinders

Gold chips for the flower centres can be found here: https://amzn.to/3xmk1dX


Liquid pearls for the berries on the foliage - https://amzn.to/3RYtLlR


Here are some more samples made with this kit for the launch of 'Helena"

The topper, snowflake backing paper and sentiment are from The "Helena the Holly Queen" kit which you can find here:

https://shop.obyd.co.uk/b/QXAHV


Card blank - 8"x8" you can find them here: https://amzn.to/3KSh484


Fabulous frosted berry embellishments - https://amzn.to/4evQMWz


Gold beads sprays - https://amzn.to/4ca80Hw


Large pearls - https://amzn.to/45xPQNo


Mirror card - https://amzn.to/3XrzB2w



The topper and sentiment are from The "Helena the Holly Queen" kit which you can find here:

https://shop.obyd.co.uk/b/QXAHV


Green mirror card - https://amzn.to/3VEJhV0

You can check out all of the fabulous colours of mirror card and glitter card in my amazon store front here: https://amzn.to/4eGOT9U


Amazon Store front category links


I have created specific categories in my Amazon Store Front for you to find everything easier

** Everything flower making section - https://amzn.to/3wNmJJ6

** Card, Cardblanks and speciality papers - https://amzn.to/4aw6ePA

** Crafting Tools and Equipment - https://amzn.to/4bvTCJk

** Crafting Adhesives - https://amzn.to/3UQuh5T

** Embellishments - Ribbons, gems and all that bling - https://amzn.to/44SPUqI


I hope you have enjoyed looking through the samples for today


For more crafty inspiration check out our:


Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/672573406875861


Blog - https://shop.obyd.co.uk/blog/opulence-by-design-crafty-corner-blog


Download Shop - https://shop.obyd.co.uk/


Website - www.obyd.co.uk


Thank you for looking, happy crafting as always! A xo


For all of our social media accounts you can find the links here: https://linktr.ee/opulencebydesign


Thank you for looking, happy crafting as always xo

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Let’s Talk About Those Flowers!

  Let’s Talk About Those Flowers! April 28, 2026 Pretty Carnations Card So Many Questions… Let’s Talk About Those Flowers! 💙🍃 I recently shared a card over on Facebook, and I honestly wasn’t expecting the response it received! I’ve had so many lovely comments, questions, and private messages about how I created the flowers — thank you so much 💙 It has got to the point where it’s just physically impossible to reply to everyone individually, so I thought the easiest (and most helpful!) way would be to put everything together here in a blog post for you. The Pretty Carnation Kit is available as a digital download - you can find it in the shop here: https://shop.obyd.co.uk/b/4HFqd 💙 My Top Craft Supply Picks **As an amazon associate i may receive a small commission from amazon on eligible sales made through my affiliate links. This is at no cost to the customer but helps support our blog and tutorials. Watch the Process I’ve included a selection of videos so you can see the techniq...

Paper Flowers Made Beautiful: Techniques, Tips & Inspiration

  Buy This As A Download 🌸 Combining My Two Loves – Flowers & Crafting 🌸 This blog post includes amazon affiliate links - there is no cost to you but it helps support our blog posts and video tutorials. Flowers have always been a huge part of my life. As a fully qualified florist, I spent many years surrounded by beautiful blooms every single day. Although I hung up the snips from day-to-day shop life quite a while ago, my love for flowers and plants has never gone away. I still enjoy dipping back into floristry now and again—whether that’s creating special gifts, working on events, or the occasional wedding. Alongside that, crafting has always been my other passion… so it probably comes as no surprise that the two have blended together over the years in the most wonderful way 💛 Creating flowers out of paper is something I’ve absolutely fallen in love with—and it’s been a passion of mine for over 20 years now. Whether they are stamped, die-cut, or printed, there is something...

Amanda's Floating Tower Card Base Instructions Blog post with video

Amanda's Floating Tower Card Base Instructions Blog post with video Published: February 11, 2026 Buy This As A Download Make your creations shine with our Radiant  Blooms Collection Happy Wednesday Crafty friends, Sharing today's cards using the Radiant Blooms Collection, you can find the kit  here in the shop The  Radiant Blooms Collection  is a beautifully vibrant floral kit designed to bring colour, elegance, and creativity to your crafting. This digital collection includes  20 A4 sheets  featuring a wonderful mix of toppers, tags, embellishments, special floral sentiments, decorative panels, and stunning backing papers. It’s an absolute joy to work with and isn’t just for cardmaking — use it to decorate or create journals, folios, and albums, design bookmarks and tags, enhance your stationery projects, or add beauty to ATCs and mixed media creations. You’ll also find specially designed panels in this kit that are perfect for adorning fancy fold car...