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How to Create a Fun Handmade Birthday Card with Alcohol Markers and Stencils
There’s something about a clean and simple birthday card that never goes out of style, especially when you pair it with a character image that instantly makes people smile. When I sat down to create this card using the Still Kickin’ Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Company, I knew I wanted the image to do most of the storytelling. That donkey already has so much personality, so instead of adding lots of layers or embellishments, I focused on creating a soft background and keeping t

Rick Adkins
9 hours ago


Clean and Simple Baby Cards: Easy Stamping & Embossing Techniques That Always Work
There’s something timeless about clean and simple baby cards. They have a soft, welcoming feel that works beautifully for baby showers, new arrivals, and even thoughtful keepsakes for proud parents. Whenever I sit down to create baby cards, I always find myself reaching for layouts that feel calm and balanced rather than overly layered or heavily embellished.

Rick Adkins
May 7


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


Friendship Card Tutorial with The Rabbit Hole Designs Wild & Free Stamp Set
There’s something really special about a clean and simple card that still feels layered and full of personality. I’ve found that when I keep my layout straightforward, it gives me more room to play with small details—like texture, contrast, and coloring. That’s exactly what inspired today’s friendship card. I wanted something bold, easy to recreate, and just a little bit playful… because let’s be honest, that lion is hard not to smile at.

Rick Adkins
May 3


How to Layer Alcohol Markers and Colored Pencils for Beautiful Handmade Cards
There’s something so satisfying about creating a clean and simple handmade card that still feels rich with detail. Sometimes, the easiest layouts are the ones that really let your coloring shine, and that was exactly the goal with these two cards. I wanted each design to feel polished and complete without relying on lots of embellishments or layers, so I focused on combining alcohol marker coloring, colored pencil shading, and a few simple scoring details to add depth and tex

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


Clean and Simple Cardmaking Tutorial with Stamping, Stenciling, and Ink Blending
Clean and simple cards are always a favorite because they allow a beautiful focal image to shine, and this sweet design does exactly that. For today’s project, the The Hoarding of Wildflowers Stamp Set and 8-in-1 Essential Masking Stencils from Unity Stamps come together to create a cheerful handmade card with soft detail and plenty of personality. The whimsical floral image takes center stage, brought to life with bright alcohol marker coloring that contrasts beautifully aga

Rick Adkins
Apr 23


Bright Blooms and Bold Hugs: A Clean and Simple Floral Card
Bright colors and layered florals come together beautifully in today’s Floral Hugs Card, creating a design that feels both cheerful and polished. Using Yellow Jacket DCS Discount Card Stock, Hydrangea Purple DCS Discount Card Stock, and Cougar White Smooth CardStock 110 lbs from CutCardStock, this card features a vibrant bouquet of die-cut blooms arranged over a crisp white background for a fresh, clean look.

Rick Adkins
Apr 23


Sweet Stamped Thanks: A Simple One-Layer Card with Big Personality
Sometimes the simplest cards can have the most charm, and this one-layer thank you card is the perfect example. I wanted to create a clean and simple design that still felt playful and eye-catching, so I paired the adorable critters from the Animal Notes Stamp Set with the postage stamp image from the Sticky Notes Sayings Stamp Set . With just a little masking and thoughtful placement, this easy design turns a plain card front into something fun, colorful, and full of person

Rick Adkins
Apr 20


3 Clean and Simple Card Designs Using C.C. Designs April 2026 New Release Stamps
There’s something so satisfying about creating cards that feel polished and eye-catching while still keeping the design clean and simple. I always love the challenge of finding ways to let beautiful stamped images shine without overwhelming the card front, and that’s exactly what inspired these three handmade cards featuring the April 2026 C.C. Designs New Release.

Rick Adkins
Apr 18


Clean and Simple Hello Card Tutorial with Custom Colored Die Cuts
When I sit down to create a clean and simple card, I’m always looking for that sweet spot where the design feels polished and eye-catching without becoming complicated. That balance is exactly what inspired today’s clean and simple hello card tutorial with custom colored die cuts. By combining layered die cuts, custom ink-blended cardstock, and plenty of white space, this card has a bright spring feel while still staying simple enough for beginner to intermediate cardmakers t

Rick Adkins
Apr 17


Easy Stamping Techniques for a Clean and Simple Sympathy Card with Soft Ink Blending
I always find sympathy cards to be some of the most meaningful to create—but also some of the most intimidating. There’s a quiet pressure to “get it right,” even though what truly matters most is the intention behind it. For this card, I wanted to lean into something soft, simple, and calming, while still keeping the creative process approachable and enjoyable.

Rick Adkins
Apr 16


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


Stamping and Coloring Techniques to Add Depth to Clean and Simple Birthday Cards
There’s something really satisfying about a clean and simple card that still feels full of life and dimension. I love designs that look polished and thoughtful—but don’t require a ton of layers or complicated steps to get there. This birthday card is a perfect example of that balance. It started as a simple idea, but with a few intentional techniques, it turned into something that feels a little extra special.

Rick Adkins
Apr 9


Clean & Simple Spring Card Idea with a Flower Cart Design
There’s something about spring that always pulls me back to clean and simple cardmaking. Maybe it’s the fresh colors or the feeling of starting new again. Hi friends, it’s Rick, and today I’m sharing a card that came together with that exact mindset—light, cheerful, and easy to recreate. This little flower cart design is one of those ideas that works beautifully for a Mother’s Day card or a simple spring hello, and I love how just a few thoughtful choices can make it feel spe

Rick Adkins
Apr 9


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


Three Clean and Simple Cards with Unity Stamps: Comfort Companion, Pecking Order, and Sourpuss Scholar Sets
Sometimes I just want to sit down at my craft table and actually finish something—no overthinking, no complicated layers, just simple, satisfying cardmaking. That was exactly the goal behind these three clean and simple cards. I pulled out a few fun stamp sets from Unity Stamps and challenged myself to keep the layout easy, repeatable, and quick… while still letting each card have its own personality.

Rick Adkins
Apr 7


One Layer Bunny Card with Easy Alcohol Marker Coloring
There’s something really satisfying about creating a card that looks polished and complete… without adding a single layer. I’ll be honest—one layer cards used to feel a little limiting to me. I love dimension, texture, and all the extras. But over time, I’ve come to appreciate how much impact you can create with just thoughtful stamping and simple coloring.

Rick Adkins
Apr 2


Easter Card Parade: 15 Creative Card Ideas & One Cute Treat Box
There’s something about Easter crafting that just feels extra joyful—maybe it’s the soft spring colors, the sweet little characters, or the excuse to pull out all the pastels! Over the last few months, I’ve been creating and sharing a variety of Easter projects, and today I thought it would be fun to bring them all together in one place. Think of this as a little Easter card parade—full of inspiration, ideas, and hopefully a spark to get you creating with what you already hav

Rick Adkins
Mar 31


The Rabbit Hole Designs March 2026 Release: Dog Cards Shaped Card Tutorial and JuJu Clean and Simple Design
There’s something about a new release that instantly gets my creative wheels turning—but what I’ve learned over time is that it’s not about using everything , it’s about finding a few ideas that really spark something and exploring them in different ways. That’s exactly what I did with these three cards. I leaned into a mix of clean and simple designs and one playful shaped card, and honestly, it felt like the perfect balance of creativity and intention. Letting the Design Do

Rick Adkins
Mar 28
