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Floral Cardmaking with The Rabbit Hole Designs | January 2026 Release
Sometimes a card comes together not because it’s complicated—but because the design decisions are clear from the start. That was exactly the case with this floral card using the January 2026 release from The Rabbit Hole Designs . I wanted something that felt fresh and sassy, with enough visual interest to feel special, but simple enough that it could easily be recreated with supplies you already own. This project is a great example of how letting pre-designed elements do som

Rick Adkins
Jan 10


Designing with Intention: Collage Stamping for Magical House Cards
I recently shared a full, start-to-finish tutorial over on the Miss Ink Stamps blog where I walked through how to create these Magical House Personality cards using collage stamping and dies. That post is very product- and process-focused, so today I wanted to take a step back and talk about the thinking behind the designs instead—the creative decisions, what worked, and how you can adapt this idea using supplies you already own. These projects ended up being one of those

Rick Adkins
Jan 10


Clean and Simple Cardmaking with Pattern Paper and Stamping
There are seasons when I crave all the layers and embellishments—and then there are seasons when I just want my cards to breathe . This little set of winter-themed cards came together during one of those moments when I wanted the coloring to shine, the images to tell the story, and the design to feel calm instead of crowded. Clean and simple doesn’t mean boring, and it definitely doesn’t mean plain. For me, it means being intentional with every choice. For this project, I cre

Rick Adkins
Jan 9


Clean & Simple Card with Unity Stamps
There’s something about winter cardmaking that makes me slow down a bit. Maybe it’s the softer color palettes, the cozy themes, or the chance to let simple designs really shine. Lately, I’ve been reaching for clean and simple layouts more often, especially when I want my stamping, coloring, and ink blending to do the heavy lifting. This winter card came together during one of those creative sessions where I reminded myself that simple doesn’t mean boring—it means intentional.

Rick Adkins
Jan 8


Robo Buddies Valentine Card Tutorial Using Simon Says Stamp Products
Every once in a while, I like to challenge myself to keep the layout simple while letting the surface do more of the work. That was the mindset behind this Valentine card. I wanted something playful and fun, but still polished—and I also wanted to push a few techniques that many cardmakers tend to shy away from, especially when black cardstock is involved. Using Contrast to Create Visual Impact This card uses the Robo Buddies Stamp Set from the Simon Says Stamp Heart to H

Rick Adkins
Jan 8


Shaped Card Design Using Stamps Dies & Alcohol Marker Coloring
If you’ve ever wanted to try a shaped card but felt a little unsure where to start, today’s project is a great place to begin. Shaped cards are a fun way to move beyond standard rectangle card bases, and with the right dies and coordinated products, they’re much more approachable than they might seem at first glance. For this card, I used the Abbey Mini Album/Card Die Set from Scrappy Boy Stamps to create a shaped card base that feels elegant and unique while still being ea

Rick Adkins
Jan 1


Clean & Layered Valentine Card Using Pixi Dust Designs Dies
There’s just something extra special about a clean and layered Valentine card, especially when it has a little touch of magic mixed in. For today’s card, I’m sharing a Valentine’s Day design created with Pixi Dust Designs , and it came together beautifully using the Magic World 6×6 Paper Pad as the starting point. I adhered a piece of patterned paper to a top-folding A2 card base to instantly set the tone, then reached for the Vintage Scroll Die Set . Cutting the scroll piec

Rick Adkins
Dec 31, 2025


Pop Up Block Fun Fold Valentine Card Using Pattern Paper, Dies & Stamps
Fun fold cards are one of my favorite ways to add that wow factor to a handmade card without making things complicated—and today’s Pop Up Block Fun Fold Valentine card is a perfect example of that. This design looks interactive and impressive, but it’s built with simple folds, layered pattern paper, and a few well-chosen dies and stamps. If you enjoy creating cards that fold flat for mailing but pop open with a little surprise, this fun fold design is one you’ll want to kee

Rick Adkins
Dec 30, 2025


Clean and Simple Card with The Rabbit Hole Designs Stamps
Clean and simple cardmaking is one of those styles that looks effortless—but when done well, it feels thoughtful, polished, and full of intention. This encouragement card using The Rabbit Hole Designs Balloon Animal No. 1 Stamp Set is a great example of how a few well-chosen techniques can create a soft, uplifting design without overwhelming the eye. From the airy cloud background to the no-line watercolor balloon animal, every element on this card was chosen to support the

Rick Adkins
Dec 28, 2025


All the New My Sweet Petunia Tools Put to the Test
I recently had the chance to unbox and test several of the newest tools from My Sweet Petunia , including the MISTI LITE , Petunia Platform , Power Mag , and Mini Pawn Magnets , and I couldn’t wait to put them through their paces using supplies from my own stash. I tested the MISTI LITE with both clear and red rubber stamps and tried stamping on card fronts, envelopes, inside a book, and even paired it with stencils to see how versatile it really is. I love testing tools in

Rick Adkins
Dec 27, 2025


Fun & Snarky New Year Card with Resolutions are Rubbish Pissy Kitty Stamp Set
If you like to kick off the New Year with a little sass (and a lot of personality), this card is going to be right up your alley! For today’s project, I created a 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" square New Year card featuring the Resolutions are Rubbish Pissy Kitty Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Company , and honestly… this kitty says exactly what we’re all thinking. I started with a top-folding square card base using Neenah Ultra Thick Cardstock , then stamped the image onto Neenah Classic Cr

Rick Adkins
Dec 26, 2025


Easy Clean & Simple Christmas Card | Baby’s First Christmas
There’s something so special about creating a clean & simple baby’s first Christmas card , and this project felt especially fitting for my Gingerbread Greetings Video Series for December 2025. For today’s card, I used the Baby’s 1st Christmas Stamp Set from The Rabbit Hole Designs to stamp the presents, toy train, and box car images onto Hammermill Smooth 100 lb Cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink . I kept the look soft and sweet by coloring everything with my Copic m

Rick Adkins
Dec 25, 2025


Clean & Layered Valentine Card with the Girl Wizard Mug Die
Clean and layered cards are one of my favorite go-to styles, especially when I want something quick but still full of personality. For today’s Valentine card, I kept the layout simple while letting the whimsical details shine using products from Pixi Dust Designs. I started with a top-folding A2 card base and added a strip of patterned paper from the Magic World 6x6 Paper Pad along the bottom. That one little layer instantly adds interest without overpowering the design, mak

Rick Adkins
Dec 24, 2025


Creating a Whimsical Mini Slimline Card with the Ommm…My Gosh Stamp Set
For today’s card, I had so much fun playing with the Ommm…My Gosh Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Company and turning it into a cheerful mini slimline card with lots of personality. I started by stamping the adorable yoga lady onto Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80 lb Cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink , then colored her in using my Triblend Markers . I chose marker colors to coordinate with the pattern papers I had pulled, which always makes the finished card feel extra

Rick Adkins
Dec 23, 2025


From Mini Album to Slimline Card | A Coffee Themed Gift Card Holder
One of my favorite ways to stretch my supplies is by looking at dies with fresh eyes, and today’s project is a perfect example of that. This shaped slimline card gift card holder started with the Coffee Mini Album Die Set from Scrappy Boy Stamps , but instead of building an album, I used the pieces to create a fun coffee-themed card base. I pulled colors directly from the Dreaming of Coffee 4x9 Pattern Paper Pack , cutting the album pieces from coordinating cardstock so eve

Rick Adkins
Dec 22, 2025


Clean & Simple Christmas Card Using a Nontraditional Color Palette
If you love clean & simple Christmas cards but want to step outside the usual red and green, this project is such a fun way to do it. I used the I Believe Stamp Set from Miss Ink Stamps and stamped the bold sentiment in pink ink right in the center of the card front, then built the design by stamping the playful underwear images around it in a dark brown ink. All of the images were colored with my Ohuhu Brush Markers , using a nontraditional yet seasonal color palette pul

Rick Adkins
Dec 20, 2025


Create Your Own UNIQUE Custom Backgrounds with Stencils
One of my favorite ways to keep cards clean yet interesting is by layering stencils to create something completely custom—and this card is a perfect example of how fun that can be. I started with the Torn Paper 4 x 8 Stencil from The Rabbit Hole Designs , lightly tracing the shape onto white cardstock before adding color around the outside of the design. After lining the stencil back up and masking off the colored areas, I layered the Oh Duck 6 x 6 Stencil right over the to

Rick Adkins
Dec 19, 2025


You Know You're Old When You Want Socks For Christmas Card | Pixi Dust Designs
There’s something about a clean and simple Christmas card that really lets a fun focal image shine, and this Santa sock made me smile from start to finish. I cut all the parts for the Santa Sock from my scrap cardstock using the Snowman and Santa Sock Die Set from Pixi Dust Designs , which is perfect for using up those leftover bits we all seem to collect. A little ink blending around the edges added just enough depth, and once everything was assembled with liquid adhesive,

Rick Adkins
Dec 19, 2025


Sweet Donut Card with a Simple No Tool Shiny Glaze
Today’s card is a clean and layered donut card that’s sweet, playful, and has just the right amount of shine—without any messy glazes or specialty tools. I used the Mouse Sprinkle Donut Die Set , Fairy Tale Phrases Die Set , and the I Love Theme Parks 6 x 6 Pattern Paper Pack from Scrappy Boy Stamps to create this fun storybook-style design. The colorful patterns paired with soft pinks and browns give this card a cheerful, polished look that works beautifully for birthdays

Rick Adkins
Dec 17, 2025


Clean & Simple Fairy Birthday Card with Masked Ink Blending
There’s just something so magical about fairy images, and this Clean & Simple birthday card came together beautifully using the Twinkleheart Stamp Set from Unity Stamps Company . I stamped the fairy image twice onto Kraft 110 lb smooth cardstock , which instantly adds warmth and softness to the design. The images were colored with my TriBlend markers , then enhanced with colored pencils to add a bit more depth and detail—especially in the hair and wings. Keeping the colorin

Rick Adkins
Dec 17, 2025
