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Card Revival: Refreshing Fall and Halloween Cards with New Products
Have you ever made a card design you really loved, then wondered how you could give it a fresh look with the products in your craft room today? That’s the idea behind my Card Revival Series! Instead of starting from scratch every time I want to make something new, I revisit an older card design and explore how a few thoughtful changes can transform it into something that feels fresh and current.

Rick Adkins
Oct 20


One Fall Design, Four Handmade Thank You Cards
Fall is one of my favorite times of year to play with color, texture, and simple card designs. There is something about those deep burgundies, warm oranges, golden yellows, and earthy browns that makes even a clean and simple card feel special. For this project, I wanted to see how far I could take one basic card layout. The result is a set of four handmade thank you cards that use the same design idea but feel slightly different because of the changing color combinations. I

Rick Adkins
Oct 9


Happiness Is Finding Your People: A Friendship Card
There are some cards that just make me smile, and this one is definitely one of them. I love when a card can feel cheerful and detailed without becoming complicated, and that was the goal behind this friendship card. The combination of the sweet Stars Hollow Clear Stamp Set from C. C. Designs, colorful pattern paper, and a simple layered layout gave me plenty of personality to work with. Instead of starting with a complicated technique, I focused on how the different elements

Rick Adkins
Sep 28


How to Make a Split Panel Fun Fold Card with Pattern Paper
I love a card fold that looks more complicated than it actually is, and this Split Panel Fun Fold Card is a perfect example. The finished design has several layers and panels that create a lot of visual interest, but the basic concept is straightforward once you understand how the pieces work together. For this project, I paired the fun fold with the beautiful Portraits in Bloom 6x6 Pattern Paper Pack and the Portraits in Bloom Embossed Die Cuts from Paper Rose Studio to crea

Rick Adkins
Sep 26


One Winter Design: Three Completely Different Looks
One of my favorite ways to stretch a cardmaking idea is to stop changing the layout and start changing the color story. It is amazing how different the same stamped image can look when you move from cool colors to warm colors, or combine warm and cool shades in a balanced palette. That was the idea behind these three winter cards featuring the Knit Wits Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Company. Rather than creating three completely different designs, I kept the basic card structure

Rick Adkins
Sep 24


How to Make a Triple Panel Fun Fold Halloween Card
I love a card fold that makes a handmade card feel a little more special without requiring a complicated collection of techniques. That was the idea behind this pink Halloween card. The triple panel fun fold creates extra layers and plenty of room for patterned paper and embellishments, while the basic construction is still approachable for beginner and intermediate cardmakers.

Rick Adkins
Sep 17


A Scenic Route Through Fall: Coloring, Layers, and Card Design
I love when a stamped image does more than simply decorate a card—it gives the card a place, a feeling, and a little story. That is exactly what happened with this fall scene featuring the Fall for the Scenic Route Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Company. The boardwalk winding through the colorful trees immediately gave me that feeling of taking a quiet autumn walk, and I wanted the finished card to let that scene take center stage.

Rick Adkins
Sep 17


Dutch Door Fun Fold Card Tutorial: An Easy Halloween Design
I love a card design that looks more complicated than it actually is, and this Halloween Dutch Door Fun Fold Card is a perfect example. The interesting opening gives the card some extra personality, but the construction is surprisingly approachable. It also creates a great opportunity to let patterned paper do much of the design work for you.

Rick Adkins
Sep 15


How to Make Clean and Simple Fall Cards with Stamping and Alcohol Markers
I’ll admit it—sometimes I love a card that doesn’t need much fuss. There’s something really satisfying about stamping one beautiful image, adding some thoughtful coloring, and letting the design breathe. That was exactly the idea behind these three fall cards featuring the Mice & Cozy Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Company. I wanted the stamped scenes and alcohol marker coloring to do most of the work, while keeping the finished cards approachable enough that a newer cardmaker co

Rick Adkins
Aug 20


How to Make a First Day of School Card with Stamping and Alcohol Markers
There’s something special about making a card for the first day of school. It’s one of those occasions where a handmade card doesn’t have to be complicated to feel meaningful. For this project, I wanted to create a clean and simple design that let the stamped image and coloring do most of the work.
I’m using the Off We Grow Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Company along with alcohol markers, but the bigger idea behind this card is one you can use with almost any stamp set in your s

Rick Adkins
Aug 13


How to Make a Halloween Square Tri Fold Card with Stamping and Pattern Paper
Halloween cards are one of my favorite opportunities to step outside my usual design comfort zone. While I enjoy creating clean and simple cards throughout the year, Halloween gives me permission to play with rich colors, bold patterns, and interactive layouts that tell a story the moment someone opens the card. For this project, I wanted the card itself to become part of the experience. Instead of creating a traditional front-and-center design, I chose a square tri fold layo

Rick Adkins
Aug 5


How to Create a Summer Beach Scene Card with Stamping and Alcohol Markers
There is something about creating summer-themed cards that instantly makes me slow down and enjoy the creative process a little more. Bright blue skies, warm sandy beaches, and playful images always remind me that handmade cards don't have to be complicated to tell a story. Sometimes all it takes is a few thoughtfully placed stamped images and a little color to transport someone to a favorite vacation memory.

Rick Adkins
Aug 4


How I Created Three Different Handmade Cards from One Simple Layout
One of the easiest ways to make cardmaking feel less overwhelming is to stop reinventing the wheel every time you sit down to craft. I think a lot of cardmakers assume that creating multiple unique cards means starting from scratch with every design, but honestly, some of my favorite projects happen when I focus on one strong layout and simply explore different ways to interpret it.

Rick Adkins
May 25


Three Cards One Layout: You Fill My Cup Stamp Set | Pixi Dust Designs
Creating multiple cards from one layout is one of my favorite ways to streamline the card-making process while still ending up with...

Rick Adkins
Mar 16, 2025


Four Cards One Layout: Botanical Memories Collection | Paper Rose Studio
I’m always on the lookout for ways to stretch my supplies and create more with less, and my latest project did just that. Using a single...

Rick Adkins
Mar 15, 2025


Two Mardi Gras Cards: Video Tutorial | Southern Charm Stamp Set | C. C. Designs
There’s something about the vibrant energy of Mardi Gras that makes it a perfect inspiration for card making. The rich purples, bold...

Rick Adkins
Mar 3, 2025
