Hey there, crafty friends! Welcome to Day 10 of the Spooky & Sweet Halloween Series, where we're diving into a clean and simple Halloween card design. Sometimes, less really is more when it comes to card making, especially when you want the stamped image to take center stage. Today, I’m sharing a card featuring the Midnight’s Halloween Adventures #3 Stamp Set from Sweet November Stamps, which just feels perfect for capturing that spooky-yet-sweet Halloween vibe.
What I love about this design is how it’s both minimalist and bold—focusing on Midnight the cat sitting at the feet of a witch with just enough pop of color and texture to give it a fun and dynamic look. It’s the kind of card you can easily create in one sitting but still delivers that "wow" factor. Plus, there’s a video tutorial at the end to guide you through the process!
Clean & Simple Halloween Card:
Stamping & Masking: A Crisp Start
Let’s talk about this adorable Midnight’s Halloween Adventures #3 Stamp Set. For this project, I wanted to keep it simple and let the main image do all the work. I started by stamping the image of Midnight sitting at the feet of the witch (you only see her legs and broom, which I think makes it feel even more mysterious!) in Intense Black Ink from Hero Arts onto Hammermill Smooth 100 lb Cardstock.
I’m a big fan of clean lines, so masking is one of my go-to techniques when I need to section off areas for ink blending or coloring. After stamping the image, I reached for some 4" Mint Tape and stamped the image again onto the tape. Cutting it out with my trusty Cutter-Bee Scissors, I created a simple mask. Placing the mask over the stamped image kept Midnight and the broom safe while I added some ink blending around it. I also used another piece of 1" Mint Tape to mask off where the broom handle ends to keep that part nice and crisp.
Pro Tip: If you’re ever working on a card with intricate images like this, a good mask can be your best friend. It allows you to keep certain areas protected while you add colors or textures to other sections without worrying about overlap. I always keep some Mint Tape on hand for masking—it’s reusable and perfect for crafting.
Ink Blending Magic: Soft & Subtle
For this card, I wanted to add a soft, glowing background beneath the witch's broom. To create that look, I grabbed my Kitsch Flamingo and Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide Inks. These two shades blend beautifully together, giving the bottom of the card a soft pink glow that will really highlight the colors I planned to use without overpowering the rest of the card.
The ink blending started with the lighter shade, Kitsch Flamingo, closest to the image, blending into Worn Lipstick at the bottom for a deeper contrast. The gradient effect gives a dreamy feel to the card, like a glowing sunset, but with that perfect Halloween twist!
Once the ink was laid down, I flicked a little water over it to add some texture. This is one of my favorite tricks with Distress Oxides. The way the water reacts with the ink creates subtle little spots of texture, almost like a little bit of magic happening right on your cardstock.
Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to add a little water splatter after ink blending! Not only does it break up the solid color with texture, but it also gives the card a more organic, handmade feel. I like to use a microfiber cloth to blot the water for a softer, less defined look.
Coloring: Adding Personality to Midnight
Now comes one of my favorite parts—coloring! For the witch’s legs and broom, I chose a mix of pink, blue-green, and orange, which felt like a fun, non-traditional Halloween palette. This color combo really pops against the blended pink background and adds a playful feel to the card. I colored the broom with a mix of yellows and browns to give it a bit of contrast and texture.
For Midnight, I used warm grey OLO markers, which gave him just enough shading and dimension without pulling attention away from the rest of the design. Keeping the cat in grays helped balance the bright colors of the witch’s legs, creating a harmonious look.
Pro Tip: When coloring a focal image, try to pick a color palette that complements your background but doesn’t overwhelm it. You want your images to stand out, but in a way that feels cohesive with the rest of the card.
Finishing Touches: Lines, Layers & a Little Sparkle
Once the ink blending and coloring were done, I added a few finishing touches to pull the whole design together. First, I used my black pen and a 6” t-square to draw a clean line where the ink blending ended, which helped ground the image. Then, I added a gold line with a gel pen right next to it—just a subtle shimmer to bring a bit of elegance to the card.
Next, I added a thin strip of black cardstock above the gold line for some contrast and then layered another gold line next to that. These little details are what elevate a simple card design and give it a polished, professional look.
Finally, I stamped the sentiment in Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink and sprinkled a few Breakfast at T’s Rhinestones from Pajama Crafter Stamps around it to add a bit of sparkle. To finish, I attached the card front to a top-folding A2 card base, and voilà—the card was complete!
Pro Tip: When adding fine details like lines or borders, don’t be afraid to mix and match textures. The combination of matte black cardstock with shiny gold lines adds depth and interest, even in a simple design.
Conclusion:
And there you have it—a clean and simple Halloween card with just the right amount of spooky sweetness! I love how the Midnight’s Halloween Adventures #3 Stamp Set brought this whole design together, allowing for a playful yet elegant take on a Halloween theme. The combination of ink blending, masking, and coloring kept things simple but gave enough interest to make this card truly stand out.
If you’re looking for a card that’s easy to recreate but still has a unique design, this is the perfect project to try! Don’t forget to check out the video tutorial for more tips and tricks.
Until next time, happy crafting!
Spooktacular Simple Card Video Tutorial:
If you have problems watching the video here on my blog you can always watch it on my YouTube Channel by Clicking here!
(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 Stampin'
Rick Adkins
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