It may be the middle of summer, but I love taking a break from seasonal heat to create a Christmas card or two. There’s something refreshing about pulling out holiday stamps, rich colors, and festive designs when they aren’t competing with the busy holiday season. "Christmas in July" is also the perfect opportunity to experiment with new techniques and build up your handmade Christmas card stash before December arrives.

If you caught my recent project on the Miss Ink Stamps blog, you already know I had a lot of fun creating a festive coffee-themed Christmas card. Over there, I walk through the project and show how I used the featured products to bring the design together. Here on my blog, though, I wanted to take a different approach. Instead of walking through the process again, I thought it would be more helpful to share the design decisions behind the card, what I learned while creating i

I recently shared a full tutorial for this card over on the Unity Stamp Company blog, where you'll find the complete walkthrough featuring the Daisy Defined (July 2026 Background of the Month) Stamp Set. Rather than repeat that tutorial here, I wanted to spend some time talking about the design choices behind this card, why I made them, and how you can use the same ideas with the supplies you already have. Sometimes understanding the "why" behind a design is just as valuable

One of my favorite things about making birthday cards is finding creative ways to make the design feel just as special as the person receiving it. Sometimes that means reaching for bright colors, and other times it's about choosing a focal point that instantly tells a story. When I saw the Mailbox Shaker with Mouse Ears Die Set from Scrappy Boy Stamps, I knew it would be the perfect starting point for a cheerful birthday card that looks like happy mail arriving on someone's s

Sometimes the best card designs come from giving yourself a few creative boundaries. Instead of starting with three completely different ideas, I challenged myself to use one basic layout and see how many unique cards I could create simply by changing the patterned paper, focal images, and sentiments. It's a great reminder that you don't need an elaborate design to make something memorable.

There are some cards that come together because of a single focal point, and then there are cards where the magic happens by layering several simple techniques together. This birthday card is definitely the second kind. By combining soft ink blending, a subtle stenciled background, and colorful die-cut accents, I was able to create a design that feels playful and polished without becoming overwhelming.

There is something timeless about combining florals with patriotic colors. While stars and stripes are classic symbols of Independence Day, adding flowers creates a softer, more elegant look that works well beyond a single holiday. It's a style that feels appropriate for celebrating service members, honoring loved ones, or simply expressing appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy.

There’s something about Christmas cards that brings me back to the basics of why I enjoy cardmaking so much. While it's tempting to reach for lots of embellishments and specialty techniques during the holidays, I often find that combining a fun stamped image with beautiful patterned paper creates a card that feels festive without becoming overwhelming. For this card, I reached for The Rabbit Hole Designs Santa Says Stamps & Dies Bundle and let the cheerful Santa take center s

Sometimes the most interesting part of making a card isn't the technique itself—it's deciding how to let that technique shine. This project reminded me that when a background is this striking, the best design choice is often knowing when to stop adding more.

There’s something about a bright, cheerful friendship card that never goes out of style. Whether you're celebrating a lifelong friendship, sending a little encouragement, or simply letting someone know you're thinking of them, a handmade card has a way of making those moments feel even more meaningful.

I recently shared a full tutorial on the Unity Stamp Company blog featuring the Cool Goose Summer Stamp Set, part of the July 2026 Whit-Kit Card Kit. In that post, I focused on the featured products and the overall project. Here on my blog, I wanted to take a different approach by sharing some of the design decisions behind the card, why I kept the layout so simple, and a few ideas for making this style work with supplies you may already have in your craft room.

Recently, I had the opportunity to share a full step-by-step tutorial for this Summer Vibes Cupcake Card on the CutCardStock blog. In that tutorial, I walk through the construction of the card and how I used their beautiful cardstock collection to bring the design together. In this post, I wanted to take a different approach. Instead of repeating the instructions, I thought it would be more helpful to share the creative decisions behind the card, why I made certain design cho

Christmas cards don't always have to be filled with traditional reds, greens, and bold holiday prints. Sometimes, choosing a softer color palette is enough to make a card stand out while still feeling festive. That's exactly what inspired today's project. I wanted to create a Christmas card with a light, cheerful feel that shows how pastel colors can work beautifully for the holiday season.

Graduation season is one of those times of year when I always seem to need a few special cards on hand. Whether you're celebrating a high school graduate, a college graduate, or someone earning a professional certification, a handmade card adds a personal touch that makes the occasion even more meaningful. I also love creating graduation cards because they're easy to customize with school colors, graduation years, and personal embellishments that make each card feel unique.

There is something magical about creating a card for an engagement. It's more than celebrating a milestone—it's about capturing the excitement of a couple beginning their own happily ever after. Whenever I sit down to design an engagement card, I like to create something that feels timeless and elegant while still reflecting the personality of the couple receiving it.

Sometimes the simplest supplies can create the biggest impact. That's exactly what I discovered while making today's pair of handmade cards featuring two of the July free gift stencils from Miss Ink Stamps. By combining bold ink blending with clean stencil designs, I was able to create two completely different cards—a colorful zebra birthday card and a tropical-inspired hello card—without relying on complicated techniques or lots of layers.

There are certain images that instantly tell a story, and lighthouses have always been one of those for me. They symbolize hope, strength, and guidance during difficult seasons, making them a natural choice for an encouragement card. When I sat down to create this project using Unity Stamp Company's A Light to Weather By {bom 6/26} Stamp Set, I wanted the finished card to feel peaceful, uplifting, and full of quiet strength without becoming overly complicated.

One of my favorite things about Christmas cardmaking is finding unexpected ways to create a festive design. While traditional reds, greens, and snowy scenes will always have a place on my craft table, sometimes it's fun to step outside those familiar colors and try something completely different. That's exactly what inspired this card featuring the new Santa Says Stamps and Die Bundle and Galaxy 6x6 Pattern Paper Pack from The Rabbit Hole Designs.

Birthday cards are one of those projects I never seem to have enough of on hand. No matter how many I make, there always seems to be another birthday right around the corner. That's one reason I love creating card designs that are easy to customize while still looking polished and thoughtful.

There are certain cards that seem to come together naturally, and this encouragement card was one of those projects for me. Sometimes I sit down at my craft table with a detailed plan, and other times I start with a stamp set that inspires me and let the design evolve from there. For this card, I was drawn to the beautiful floral image from Unity Stamp Company's The Good You Grow Stamp Set and knew I wanted it to be the star of the design.