Clean & Simple Card Design with the Stuck Duck Stamp Set

Sometimes the simplest cards are the ones that make me smile the most. I’ve always loved the idea of clean and simple designs that still feel full of character, and today’s project does exactly that. This card features the Stuck Duck Stamp Set and Air Mail Frame Stencils from Miss Ink Stamps—a perfect combo for creating something minimal yet playful. I wanted the design to stay crisp and uncluttered but still have a fun focal point, and this little duct-taped duck delivered the personality I was looking for.

Clean & Simple Card Design with the Stuck Duck Stamp Set

Bringing Character to a Clean Design

When I’m creating a clean and simple card, I like to start with the background first. Instead of adding layers of patterned paper or embossing, I kept things light with ink blending directly on my top-folding A2 card base using the Air Mail Frame Stencils. It’s an easy way to create visual interest without adding bulk. For this card, I reached for Gravel and Pumpkin Inks—a soft gray and warm orange that balance each other beautifully.

A little personal tip: when ink blending right on your card base, go slow and build up the color gradually. It helps prevent harsh edges and gives you that smooth, even fade that makes stenciling look effortless. Once I finished blending, I masked off the frame and added a stamped image of the large duct tape roll from the Stuck Duck Stamp Set inside the opening using Gravel Ink. That stamping adds depth while keeping the design cohesive—one of my favorite tricks for clean cards.

A Duck That Makes You Smile

Now, let’s talk about the star of the show: that poor little duck all tangled in duct tape. I stamped him, along with a few smaller tape pieces from the same set, onto Neenah Ultra Thick Cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. Coloring them with my Triblend Brush Markers was such a relaxing step—I went with soft oranges, light grays, and a few warm tones to keep everything coordinated with the background.

After coloring, I used my scissors to fussy cut the smaller duct tape pieces and reached for a circle die to cut out the duck image. I love using circles for focal points because they naturally draw the eye in without taking over the card. To give it a polished look, I layered it over a slightly larger circle cut from Matte Silver Cardstock. The metallic layer adds a little shimmer, which helps elevate the clean design without adding visual clutter.

Pro Tip: When layering circles, try using a subtle metallic or soft shimmer cardstock for that bottom layer. It adds dimension and contrast while still keeping your design simple and elegant.

Adding the Finishing Details

I always think of the sentiment as the “personality piece” of a card, and this one couldn’t be more fitting. I stamped “What do you mean duct tape can’t fix it?” with Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink on a scrap of the same Neenah cardstock and cut it out with a banner die. It’s playful, unexpected, and pairs perfectly with the image. To finish the inside of the card, I added the duck again in Gravel Ink and a smaller sentiment in Pumpkin Ink to echo the colors from the front.

Once everything was in place, I popped the main circle up on the card using thin foam adhesive for a little dimension and tucked the sentiment banner just beneath it. I couldn’t resist adding a few fussy-cut duct tape pieces around the card front for balance. The final touches were my favorite part—adding white highlights with a POSCA Extra Fine Paint Marker and a touch of Stardust Stickles on the tape pieces. Those little sparkly details give the illusion of shine, which is perfect for something as shiny as duct tape!

Why Clean & Simple Works

There’s something so satisfying about creating a card that’s both simple and full of personality. Clean and simple designs are a great way to let your stamps shine (no pun intended) while giving your creativity room to breathe. This layout works beautifully for other images in your collection too—just swap the colors or sentiment for a whole new look.

If you’ve ever struggled to make a CAS card that doesn’t feel empty, try layering textures and tones instead of more products. A bit of shimmer cardstock, simple stamping, or subtle ink blending can make all the difference.

Wrapping It Up

This Clean & Simple Card Design with the Stuck Duck Stamp Set really shows that less can be more when you have the right balance of humor, color, and shine. It’s the kind of project that reminds me why I love this craft so much—it’s fun, approachable, and it always brings a smile.

You can catch the full video tutorial to see this card come together step-by-step on my YouTube channel. And don’t forget to check out the Stuck Duck Stamp Set and Air Mail Frame Stencils over at Miss Ink Stamps if you’re looking to add a little laugh to your next clean and simple design.

Clean & Simple Card Tutorial | Miss Ink Stamps Stuck Duck Video Tutorial:

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(Wondering what I used in this video? Everything is linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post, or in the text below. Compensated affiliate links used when possible). As always I appreciate your support of my videos!

Materials Used:

Here you will find the list of supplies that I used to create today's card. All supplies are linked to supply sources below. Compensated affiliate links may be used at no cost to you.

Happy Crafting,

Rick Adkins

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