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Level Up! Clean & Simple Card: Gamers Gonna Game Stamp Set | Pajama Crafter Stamps

Writer's picture: Rick AdkinsRick Adkins

Hey, crafty friends! I’m excited to share a fun and unique card design with you today, featuring the Gamers Gonna Game Stamp Set from Pajama Crafter Stamps. If you're into clean and simple cards with a playful twist, this one’s going to be right up your alley! This card is perfect for gamers (or those of us who love them!) and offers a great opportunity to use vibrant colors and a little sparkle to make everything pop.


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Level Up! Clean & Simple Card:

Bringing the Characters to Life

When I first saw the adorable boy and girl in the Gamers Gonna Game Stamp Set, I knew they had to be the stars of this card. I stamped both characters using Intense Black Ink, which is always my go-to when I want those crisp, bold lines that really help images stand out.


For coloring, I grabbed my Ohuhu Honolulu Brush Markers, and I can’t say enough about how much I love these markers. They blend so smoothly, making it easy to create shading and depth, even if you're not a pro at coloring. One little tip I always share with fellow crafters: when you’re coloring smaller images like these, try using circular motions with your markers to avoid harsh lines—it makes a world of difference in achieving a softer blend.


Pro Tip: If you're just starting out with alcohol markers, don’t be afraid to experiment with bright, contrasting colors. It can really make your images pop, and clean and simple designs can handle the boldness!


Level Up Gamer Card by Rick Adkins

Fussy Cutting for Dimension

Once the characters were all colored up, I took my trusty Tim Holtz Mini Recoil Scissors and fussy cut each image. Now, I’ll be honest—fussy cutting used to intimidate me, but the right pair of scissors makes all the difference. I like to leave a tiny border around the edges of my images; it helps them stand out when layered onto a busy background. If fussy cutting isn't your favorite part of crafting, don’t rush! Slow and steady wins the race, especially around those detailed areas like the boy's sneakers or the girl’s hair ties.


Creating the Ink Blended Background

For the background, I wanted something that would contrast the characters while still keeping the overall design simple. I grabbed the large circle stencil from the Background Basics Stencil set by Penny Black and placed it over a piece of Marshmallow Cardstock. Positioning the circle in the center of the card front gives everything a nice focal point, especially when the sentiment is involved.


I reached for my Distress Oxide Inks—they never let me down when it comes to smooth, blendable color. I started with Picked Raspberry in the center of the circle and worked my way outward with Spiced Marmalade. As the colors met in the middle, I gently blended them together for a seamless transition. After removing the stencil, I applied a soft blend of Tumbled Glass around the outer edges to frame everything nicely.


Pro Tip: When you’re ink blending, try using a light hand at first and build up the intensity. It’s much easier to add more color than to take it away! And don’t worry if the blend isn’t perfect—sometimes those little variations give your card a handmade, artsy feel.


Level Up Gamer Card by Rick Adkins Front View

Building the Card Base and Panel

Once the ink blending was complete, I trimmed the panel down to 4 1/8" x 5 3/8", giving just enough of a border when layered onto a top-folding A2 card base made from Neenah Solar White Ultra Thick Cardstock. I love using this ultra-thick cardstock because it holds up beautifully, especially when you’ve got a dimensional panel like this.


The slightly smaller panel size leaves a crisp white frame around the edge, which really draws your eye to the center of the design without distracting from the details. This small touch gives a clean and polished look to the finished card.


Level Up Gamer Card by Rick Adkins Close Up View

Adding the Sentiment & Finishing Touches

For the sentiment, I stamped “Level Up!” right in the center of the ink-blended circle using Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink. This ink gives you such a bold, rich impression—perfect for sentiments that need to stand out. Centering the sentiment within the circle gives the card a focal point that anchors the characters and ties the whole theme together.


To finish off the card, I adhered the boy and girl using a few Scrapbook Adhesive 3D Foam Squares. The added dimension really makes the characters pop, and since the background is relatively simple, this extra lift gives the card more interest without cluttering the design.


Level Up Gamer Card by Rick Adkins Side View

Adding Sparkle & Highlights

No card is complete without a little bit of sparkle, right? I used my Uni-ball Signo White Gel Pen to add a few highlights to the characters’ outfits—this simple step really helps bring the images to life by adding light and contrast.


Then, for a little extra magic, I added Star Dust Stickles to the lightning bolts on the boy’s sneakers and the heart-shaped earrings on the girl. The glittery accents add just the right amount of sparkle, without being over the top, and they catch the light beautifully. It's those small details that can elevate a clean and simple card design into something really special.


Level Up Gamer Card by Rick Adkins Over Head View

Wrapping Up

And there you have it! A clean and simple card design that’s full of personality, perfect for any gamer in your life. The Gamers Gonna Game Stamp Set was so much fun to work with, and I love how the bright colors and simple layout really let the images shine.


Whether you're new to card making or just looking to try something different, this design is a great way to practice your ink blending and fussy cutting skills, while still keeping things clean and fun. I hope this card inspires you to pull out your favorite stamps and get creative—there’s always room to “level up” your card-making game!


Until next time, happy crafting!


Ohuhu Honolulu Brush Markers Color Combinations:


Ohuhu Brush Marker Color Combinations by Rick Adkins
  • Girl - Y3, Y270, Y8 (hair); G110, G030, GY7 (shirt); G110, GY172, G130 (shorts); BO30, G322, GY2 (floral pattern on shorts); E010, Y110, E160, E130, E490 (skin tone); R20, E010 (cheeks); E440, Y210 (shoes); RV300, R22, R120, R23 (jacket, hearts, twitch, & socks); B120, B340 (eyes)

  • Boy - E450, E460, Y13 (hair); Y4, Y10, YR172, YR5 (shirt); B260, B270, B290 (jeans); E010, Y110, E160, E490 (skin tone); E010, R20 (cheeks); NG6, NG7, NG9 (shoes); Y3, Y2 (lightening bolt on shoes) B270 (watch); B120 (socks); E450, E460 (eyes)


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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














Rick Adkins

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