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How to Create Watercolor Look on Cards with Crayola Markers
One of the biggest misconceptions in cardmaking is that you need expensive supplies to create beautiful results. Today’s friendship card is proof that simple, inexpensive markers can still create soft, vibrant watercolor effects that feel polished and professional. I used Crayola Markers along with a watercolor brush to color the adorable image from the Honey Bear Stamp Set from C. C. Designs, and I honestly love how playful and storybook-inspired the finished card turned out

Rick Adkins
May 18


Easy Cardmaking Ideas with Ink Blending and Simple Layers
There are days when I want to sit down and make a card without overthinking every design decision. That was really the inspiration behind today’s project. I wanted to create something colorful and polished, but still quick enough to feel approachable for a busy crafting day. This clean and simple card combines soft ink blending, easy layering, and a playful focal image to create a finished design without needing lots of complicated techniques.

Rick Adkins
May 16


Easy Die Cut Birthday Card Using Scrap Cardstock Pieces
One thing I hear from cardmakers all the time is how hard it can be to use up those leftover scraps of cardstock that seem too pretty to throw away but too small to organize. I’ll admit, I have a growing pile of them on my desk most days too! For this birthday card, I wanted to create something bright, layered, and detailed while challenging myself to work primarily from scraps instead of pulling out full sheets of cardstock.

Rick Adkins
May 13


Handmade Card Idea: Simple Shaped Gift Card Holder Video Tutorial
Sometimes a gift card is exactly what you need… but it can feel a little impersonal on its own. I’ve been reaching for ways to dress them up without adding a lot of extra time or complexity, and this coffee cup shaped gift card holder has quickly become one of my favorite solutions. It’s fun, practical, and perfect for anyone who loves coffee (which, let’s be honest, is a lot of people!).

Rick Adkins
May 6


Easy Cardmaking Idea: Clean and Simple Card with Ink Blending
Sometimes the hardest part of cardmaking isn’t the techniques—it’s deciding what to do in the first place. If you’ve ever sat at your craft table with supplies out and no clear plan, you’re not alone. That’s exactly why I love having a go-to layout that takes the guesswork out of the process.

Rick Adkins
May 4


3 Easy Cardmaking Ideas Using Stencils for Stunning Results
If you’ve ever pulled out a stencil, made a card, and thought… “well, that looks fine,” but not exciting, you’re definitely not alone. Stencils are one of those tools that can either feel incredibly versatile—or a little limiting—depending on how you use them. So for today’s project, I wanted to challenge that idea and show how just a few small shifts can completely change the outcome.

Rick Adkins
May 2


Easy Spring Shaker Card Tutorial for Beautiful Handmade Cards
There’s something about a shaker card that instantly makes a project feel extra special. The movement, the sparkle, and the little surprise inside all add a fun interactive element that catches the eye right away. But if you’ve ever felt intimidated by shaker cards, you’re definitely not alone. They often look much more complicated than they really are, and that can make them feel out of reach—especially if you’re newer to cardmaking. For this Spring Hey Shaker Card, I wanted

Rick Adkins
May 1


This 3D Gift Card Holder Box Has the Cutest Surprise Inside
Sometimes a gift card can feel a little impersonal, even when the thought behind it is meaningful. That’s exactly why I love creating handmade gift card holder boxes like this one. By turning a simple gift card into part of an interactive handmade project, you instantly make the gift feel more thoughtful, memorable, and fun to receive. For this project, I created a 3D book-style gift card holder box with a playful boy band theme, and the hidden pocket inside adds that extra s

Rick Adkins
Apr 30


Easy Cardmaking Idea for Creative Slumps: A Clean and Simple Anniversary Card
Have you ever sat down to make a card, looked at your supplies, and suddenly had no idea what to create? I think every cardmaker has been there. Sometimes the hardest part of making a handmade card isn’t the stamping or die cutting—it’s simply deciding where to begin. That’s exactly why I created my Draw Four Make a Card series. It’s a simple, practical way to take the guesswork out of designing by using four prompts to guide the process.

Rick Adkins
Apr 27


Two Quick and Easy Card Ideas: Perfect for Mass Producing Cards
When you need handmade cards in a hurry, it helps to have a simple design that still feels special. That’s exactly what inspired today’s pair of cards. I wanted to create something quick enough for busy crafting days, but with enough detail to make each card feel polished and thoughtful. By combining patterned paper, a simple fun fold, and a few layered embellishments, these cards come together in just minutes while still delivering that “wow” factor we all love.

Rick Adkins
Apr 25


Easy Mother’s Day Gatefold Card Idea for Beautiful Handmade Cards
Today’s project features a clean and simple tea-themed Mother’s Day gatefold card created with products from Pixi Dust Designs. Using the My BEST-TEA Die Set, You're A Cute Tea 6x6 Paper Pad, and Lemon Shaker Bits, this design combines soft pastel colors with a sweet teapot and teacup focal point for a card that feels cheerful and heartfelt.

Rick Adkins
Apr 22


Easy Spring Birthday Fun Fold Card for Beautiful Handmade Card Idea
There’s something so satisfying about creating a card that has that “wow” factor the moment it’s opened, especially when the design is much easier to make than it looks. That’s exactly what I love about this Trifold Hidden Door Fun Fold Card. It has the charm and dimension of an interactive card, but the structure is simple enough that beginner and intermediate cardmakers can enjoy making it without feeling overwhelmed...

Rick Adkins
Apr 19


Easy Mixed Media Cardmaking Tips for Creating Magical Scene Cards
Creating layered mixed media backgrounds can be one of the most rewarding parts of cardmaking—but it can also feel like one of the easiest ways to ruin a project. When there are lots of bright colors, textures, and stamped details involved, it’s easy for the focal image to get lost in the background. That’s exactly the challenge I wanted to solve with today’s mixed media castle card.

Rick Adkins
Apr 19


Simple Handmade Camping Card | Catherine Pooler Designs April 2026 Trial Mix Release
There’s something about themed cards that can feel a little intimidating—especially when you start thinking you need to build a full scene to make it work. I wanted to challenge that idea with this card and show how you can create a clean and simple camping card that still feels complete, polished, and full of personality.

Rick Adkins
Apr 15


16 Easy Cardmaking Tips to Upgrade Your Die Cut Birthday Cards
There’s something about die cut cards that can feel a little… flat. You start with a great idea, cut all the pieces, put it together—and it’s nice, but it doesn’t quite have that finished, polished look you were hoping for. I’ve been there more times than I can count. I walk through all 16 tips in the video so you can see exactly how everything comes together, but here I want to share the design thinking behind those choices so you can start applying them to your own cards ri

Rick Adkins
Apr 13


Quick & Easy Mother’s Day Card with Dies | Soup-er Cute Idea
Sometimes you just need a card that comes together quickly but still feels thoughtful and polished. That was exactly the goal behind today’s clean and simple Mother’s Day card. I wanted something that let the focal image shine, kept the design uncluttered, and still had a little personality—and this sweet soup theme checked all the boxes.

Rick Adkins
Apr 8


4 Fast & Fabulous Watercolor Cards with the Pink Cuties Stamp Set
Sometimes you just need a set of cards—fast. Maybe it’s for your stash, a last-minute need, or you simply want to sit down and create without overthinking every decision. That’s exactly what inspired today’s project. I wanted to create four clean and simple watercolor cards that feel polished and intentional, but come together quickly and easily.

Rick Adkins
Apr 6


From Mystery to Birthday: 2 Easy Card Ideas with One Stamp Set
Hi Crafty Friends! Today I have a fun stencil technique video for you! I played with the Whodunnit stamp set from the March 2026 release from Miss Ink Stamps along with the April 6x6 Free With Purchase Stencil and the April 4x4 Thank You Stencil (both from Miss Ink Stamps) to create two cards which both feature a boho inspired color palette. The first card features an interior scene and the second is a clean and simple birthday card. I hope that you enjoy!

Rick Adkins
Apr 4


Triadic Color Schemes Made Simple for Cardmakers
If you’ve ever sat down to make a card and completely stalled out at the color stage… you are absolutely not alone. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a stamped image ready to go, markers in hand, and still couldn’t decide what colors to use. That kind of overwhelm can take all the fun out of creating

Rick Adkins
Apr 1


Stretch Your Dies: Little Pig Backpack Shaker Card Idea
Sometimes the best cardmaking ideas come from looking at your supplies a little differently. That was exactly my goal with this project—I wanted to see how far I could stretch a few die sets and turn them into something completely new. Instead of using each set as intended, I mixed elements together to create a shaped shaker card… and this adorable little pig backpack design came to life.

Rick Adkins
Mar 30
