SPOILERS! 12 Days of Stitchmas 2025 Advent Calendar – Day 12 with Yana Smakula

Welcome to day 12 of our 12 Days of Stitchmas 2025 Advent Calendar class! Join us and stitch your way through the season! We invited 12 guest artists to share inspiration with the 12 stitching surprises. Let’s welcome Yana Smakula as she shares inspiration with the Day 12 surprise!

Don’t miss the other video tutorials from our free Youtube Class: Day 1 with Kim Kesti; Day 2 with Jaycee Gaspar; Day 3 with Rebecca Keppel; Day 4 with Nichol Spohr; Day 5 with Tina Smith; Day 6 with Mindy Eggen; Day 7 with Carissa Wiley, Day 8 with Lisa Tilson, Day 9 with Suzanne Hue, Day 10 with Laura Bassen, Day 11 with Michelle Short.

We made it to the finish line! For the last window in the 12 Days of Stitchmas Advent Calendar by Spellbinders, we’re celebrating a classic – the Nutcracker. Below you’ll find assembly notes, simple stitching tips, and two card ideas (one stitched, one unstitched) to show how versatile this die is – even if you skip the thread entirely.

Watch the video tutorial below, or view it on our YouTube channel:

Day 12 includes a multi-piece Nutcracker die set with optional stitching inserts for the hat detail, jacket panel, and boots. Helpful etched guidelines are pressed into the cardstock – these show exactly where each element lines up as you assemble.

Palettes I used

• Classic: Brushed Black, Gold Glitter, Fawn (skin), Fog (hair), Fern + Rainforest, Brushed White

• Modern: Teal Topaz, Seaside, Wild Berry, Blush

Finishing touches

• Color Essential Gems in Peridot and Capri Blue

• Christmas Cheer Sentiments, gold foiled on Brushed White

• Molded Frame 3D Embossing Folder for subtle structure on the pink/teal card

Assembly & Styling Notes

• Build the base: Start with the body, then add the face/hair, hat, jacket panel, belt, legs, and boots. Use the pressed guidelines to position each layer quickly and accurately.

• Choose your texture:

  • Stitched look: Add thread to the hat band, jacket panel, and boots for classic toy-soldier detailing.

  • Unstitched look: Leave inserts in place for crisp pierced texture – clean and graphic with zero bulk.

• Metallic accents: A touch of gold glitter or mirror cardstock on the crown, shoulder pieces, and boot details instantly reads “holiday.”

• Ground the design: A narrow sentiment strip (BetterPress, foiled in gold) or an embossed frame keeps the Nutcracker from “floating” and finishes the card front.

Result: one traditional Nutcracker with stitched highlights and one modern, unstitched version – both bold, both festive.

Day 12 closes the 12 Days of Stitchmas with a bam! Whether you stitch everything, stitch a little, or skip stitching entirely, this Nutcracker is a showstopper and highly customizable.

Thank you for following along with the series – I loved opening each window and creating with the surprise dies.

Spellbinders Supplies:

Happy Stitchmas, and happy crafting!