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Stash Busting Cardmaking: Create an Elegant Wedding Congratulations Card
One of my favorite challenges as a cardmaker is creating something that feels fresh and special while using supplies I already have on hand. Over the years, I've collected stamps, dies, embossing folders, and cardstock that I absolutely love, but sometimes those older supplies get pushed aside in favor of the newest releases. For this Summer Wedding Congratulations Card, I wanted to challenge myself to revisit some favorites from my stash and pair them with beautiful cardstoc

Rick Adkins
2 days ago


How to Create a Faith Inspired Handmade Card with Die Cutting and Pattern Paper
For today's project, I created a sweet Psalm 23 card featuring the new The Lord Is My Shepherd Stamp & Die Set from Pixi Dust Designs. As part of the Pixi Promises Video Hop celebrating the June 2026 release, I wanted to create something that felt uplifting, soft, and approachable while still highlighting the scripture sentiment.

Rick Adkins
3 days ago


How I Used Two Different Stencils to Create Two Completely Different Cards
One of the questions I hear most often from cardmakers is how to get more mileage out of the supplies they already own. Stencils are a perfect example. Many crafters think of them as background-building tools, but they can do so much more when you start looking at them as design elements rather than just patterns.

Rick Adkins
5 days ago


How I Create Cohesive Card Designs Using Multiple Products
One of the questions I hear most often from cardmakers is how to make a card feel coordinated when using products from different sets. It's easy to fall in love with a stencil, a die set, and a stamp set individually, but bringing them together into a single design can sometimes feel overwhelming.

Rick Adkins
6 days ago


Create an Encouragement Card with the Paging Dr. Chaos Collection from Scrappy Boy Stamps
There are times when a handmade card can say exactly what someone needs to hear. Whether a friend is recovering from an illness, navigating a difficult season, or simply having a tough week, an encouragement card can be a meaningful way to let them know they're not alone.

Rick Adkins
Jun 4


Ink Smooshing Cardmaking Tutorial: Create Soft Watercolor Backgrounds with Distress Oxide Inks
One of the things I love most about cardmaking is how a simple technique can completely change the feel of a project. Ink smooshing is a perfect example. Every background turns out a little different, which means even when you use the same colors and supplies, you end up with something uniquely your own.

Rick Adkins
Jun 2


How to Create a Handmade Teacher Card with Pattern Paper and Watercoloring
There’s something especially meaningful about creating a handmade teacher appreciation card. Teachers pour so much of themselves into the people around them, and I always love making cards that feel cheerful, encouraging, and full of personality for them. When I sat down to create this card, I wanted it to have a playful classroom feel while still keeping the design polished and easy to recreate with supplies many cardmakers already have in their stash.

Rick Adkins
May 28


How to Mix and Match Die Sets for Elegant Handmade Cards
One of the questions I hear often from cardmakers is how to make different die sets work together without the finished card looking busy or disconnected. It’s easy to fall into the habit of using products exactly as they were designed or only pairing items from the same collection. But some of the most interesting card designs happen when you start mixing pieces from different sets and looking at your supplies in a more flexible way.

Rick Adkins
May 27


Masculine Thank You Card Tutorial with Colored Pencils and Torn Edge Details
Masculine cards always seem to spark the same conversation in the crafting world: why are they so much harder to design? I think a lot of us naturally reach for florals, soft colors, and embellishments, so when it comes time to create a masculine thank you card, it can feel a little outside our comfort zone. That’s exactly why I wanted to make this project. I wanted to create a handmade thank you card that still felt warm and creative while using a more rustic color palette a

Rick Adkins
May 25


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


How I Created One Easy Card Design for Multiple Military Holidays
There’s something special about creating handmade cards that honor the people who serve our country, but I know patriotic and military-themed cards can sometimes feel a little intimidating to design. It’s easy to overthink the layout, struggle with bold patterned papers, or feel unsure about how to make everything work together without the card becoming too busy. For this project, I wanted to create a Memorial Day card that felt meaningful and layered while still being simple

Rick Adkins
May 20


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 Fun Fold Handmade Card with Paper Rose Studio Petals & Pansies Collection
There’s something about a fun fold card that instantly makes a project feel extra special without necessarily making it more complicated. I love creating cards like this because they give you the opportunity to showcase beautiful patterned papers and layered embellishments in a way that feels thoughtful and dimensional, while still being approachable for everyday cardmaking.

Rick Adkins
May 15


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


Mother’s Day Card with The Rabbit Hole Designs Paisley Bandana Layering Stencils
There’s something about soft florals and delicate background patterns that always feels perfect for Mother’s Day cards. I wanted this card to have a clean and layered look while still feeling warm and detailed, so I focused on combining a subtle stenciled background with a brightly colored floral image. Sometimes a card only needs one strong focal point and a little supporting texture to feel complete, and this design was a good reminder of that.

Rick Adkins
May 10


Interactive Cardmaking Tutorial: Master the Twist & Pop Mechanism for Clean and Simple Handmade Cards
There’s something really special about a card that surprises you when you open it. As a cardmaker, I’m always looking for ways to create that little moment of delight—especially for occasions like Father’s Day, where masculine designs can sometimes feel a bit limiting. This Twist & Pop card is one of those designs that looks impressive but is actually very approachable once you understand the structure. And honestly, it’s become one of my favorite ways to elevate a clean and

Rick Adkins
May 9


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
