here’s something about a large floral stamp that makes me want to slow down and really play with color. For this fall card, I used the Heirloom Mum Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Company’s September 2026 Whit-Kit Card Kit, and instead of relying on a complicated card layout, I let the coloring become the star of the design. The sentiment, “Holding you close from here,” adds a heartfelt touch that makes this card appropriate for sending a little encouragement when someone you care

Fall is one of my favorite seasons for cardmaking because the colors do so much of the design work for you. Rich reds, golden yellows, warm oranges, deep browns, and earthy greens instantly create a cozy feeling. For this Fall Thankful For You Card, I wanted to capture that feeling while keeping the design clean enough that the sentiment remained the star. I’m combining die cutting, dry embossing, and ink blending with a mix of CutCardStock papers to create a handmade card th

I love when one cardmaking technique can take a familiar stamped image and make it feel completely different. That was the idea behind these four Halloween cards. I wanted to play with the spooky images from the R.I.P. Stamp Set from Unity Stamps, but instead of simply stamping and coloring them, I decided to experiment with Deco Foil Transfer Gel Duo and see what would happen when I brought foil into the mix. The result is a collection of dramatic Halloween cards with plenty

Learn how to combine stamp sets to create a cheerful handmade scene card! In this cardmaking tutorial, I’m sharing how I used stamping, ink blending, die cutting, colored pencils, and alcohol markers to create an encouraging llama card—and how you can adapt the same scene-building ideas with supplies you already have.

There’s something about a Halloween card that makes me want to reach for my markers and have a little fun. For this card, I knew I wanted the stamped image to do most of the talking, so I kept the overall design clean while adding enough layers and details to make it feel special. The result is a playful Halloween card featuring the Cowstume Party Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Company, with plenty of room for coloring and a few simple details that really bring the finished desig

I have always enjoyed making cards for people whose birthdays fall close to a holiday because it gives me an opportunity to combine two themes in a way that feels personal. This Halloween birthday card started with that idea: instead of making a traditional Halloween card or a traditional birthday card, I wanted something that felt like both. The result is a clean and simple easel card with spooky imagery, an orange focal point, and just enough Halloween detail to make an Oct

Halloween cards are one of my favorite places to play with atmosphere. You can take a handful of stamped images, add some color and ink, and suddenly you have a little world happening on the front of a card. That was exactly the idea behind this Halloween card featuring the ghostly cat, potion bottles, mushrooms, moon, and stars from The Rabbit Hole Designs. Rather than trying to make every image the star of the show, I wanted to create a scene with a clear focal point and a

There’s something I really enjoy about making birthday cards for people born in October. You can take all those familiar Halloween colors—purple, orange, black, and a little bit of sparkle—and turn them into something that feels festive without making the card entirely about Halloween. That was exactly the direction I took with this card featuring the Bagged & Bothered Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Company. The slightly grumpy cat, bold colors, and cheeky sentiment gave me the p

There is something especially fun about creating a handmade card that tells a little story before the recipient even reads the sentiment. When I started working with the Surprise Mail Stamp Set from the Simon Says Stamp STAMPtember® release, I knew I wanted the mailbox to be the center of attention. From there, the colorful envelopes, gift, and scattered pieces of mail became a playful way to build a birthday scene that feels cheerful without becoming overly complicated. Some

One of my favorite things about Halloween cardmaking is that the background can do so much of the storytelling. You do not always need a complicated scene, a huge collection of supplies, or hours of coloring to create a card that feels festive and fun. For this project, I challenged myself to create five different spooky Halloween backgrounds for handmade cards, each with its own personality. Some are bright and playful, some are dark and dramatic, and some are wonderfully me

There is something I really enjoy about taking individual stamped images and turning them into a complete little world on a handmade card. A character stamp is wonderful on its own, but pairing it with the right background can completely change the story the card tells. For this project, I created a fashion-themed city scene using products from the new August 2026 release from Miss Ink Stamps, and I loved watching the separate pieces come together into one cohesive design.

Sometimes a card idea starts with one image that immediately makes me smile, and that was definitely the case with this fashion-forward scene! The combination of a stylish character, a rack of fabulous clothes, and that perfectly sassy “Don’t be ridiculous” sentiment gave me plenty of personality to work with. For this handmade card, I wanted the scene to feel like a tiny fashion studio or boutique while still keeping the overall design easy to understand and enjoy. That bala

There is something about a good mystery that makes a cardmaking project more fun, and this detective-themed card definitely had me thinking about the story I wanted to tell before I started creating. I’m sharing a sneak peek of some new products from Miss Ink Stamps, including the Elementary Stamp Set and Bullet Hole Layering Stencil, along with Honolulu Alcohol Markers. But rather than simply showing you what I made, I want to focus on the design choices behind this card and

There’s something about a shaped card that makes a handmade card feel instantly more special. Instead of starting with the usual A2 rectangle, I wanted to let the shape become part of the Halloween design itself. For this project, I reached for the Coffin Folio Die Set from Scrappy Boy Stamps and built the card around that dramatic silhouette. The result is a spooky Halloween card with plenty of personality, but the design also reminded me of something important: you don’t ne

I love a card design that looks more complicated than it really is, and a Pinwheel Fun Fold is definitely one of those designs! For these two Christmas cards, I wanted to see how much personality I could get from one basic fold simply by changing the way I used the patterned paper and embellishments. The result is two festive cards that feel different even though they share the same basic layout. I used the beautiful Mistletoe Market 6x6 Pattern Paper, Mistletoe Market Cut-a-

I love when a cardmaking idea looks completely different simply because I change the way I arrange my cardstock. That was the inspiration behind these four fall cards. For this project, I wanted to take a traditional autumn theme and give it a brighter, more playful feel, so I reached for a combination of Pop Tone cardstock colors from CutCardStock rather than sticking with the usual collection of deep oranges and browns. The result is four cards that use the same stamped ima

Halloween cards don’t always have to be packed with spooky patterns, lots of embellishments, and layers of cardstock to make an impact. For this card, I wanted to take a different approach and create something that felt clean and layered at the same time. I love that combination because it gives you the finished, polished look of a more involved card without making the design feel busy. The slightly mischievous couple from the Deadpan Devotion Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Compa

I love a card that looks more complicated than it really is, and this Halloween pinwheel card is exactly that kind of project! The folded centerpiece creates an eye-catching focal point without requiring a complicated collection of dies or embellishments. For this project in my Halloween Card Series 2026, I combined stamping, simple alcohol marker coloring, and patterned paper to create a fun fold card that has plenty of personality while still feeling balanced and easy to re

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

Have you ever sat down to make a card, pulled out a stamp set or die set, and then immediately started looking for a sketch or sample card to copy? I know I have, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with using sketches, tutorials, and other cards for inspiration because they can be incredibly helpful, especially when you are learning a new technique or trying to figure out how to get started with a particular product.