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Clean and Simple Sassy Cardmaking Tutorial
Some cards come together because you planned every detail… and some happen because you just needed a card for that one friend . You know the one—the friend who appreciates a little sass, a little humor, and a whole lot of heart. That’s exactly where this card started. I wanted something clean and simple, but not boring. Polished, but still playful. And most importantly, flexible enough that the design could work again and again with supplies I already love. This project is a

Rick Adkins
1 day ago


Floral Cardmaking with MISTI Tools
There’s something really satisfying about a clean and simple card that still feels finished and intentional. This card started as one of those “let’s keep it easy” projects and quickly turned into a great reminder of how powerful thoughtful tools and small design choices can be. When you let a few elements do the heavy lifting, you don’t need layers upon layers to make a card feel special. This project was created as part of an Instagram collaboration between My Sweet Petunia

Rick Adkins
2 days ago


Clean and Simple Floral Cardmaking Tutorial
There’s something especially satisfying about a clean and simple card that still feels finished and intentional. This birthday card started as one of those “I just want to play with a few supplies” moments, and it quickly turned into a great reminder that simple layouts don’t have to feel flat or boring. With a little thoughtful layering and contrast, even the most minimal design can feel polished and special. For this card, I leaned into a clean white base and let the detail

Rick Adkins
Jan 11


Clean and Simple Cardmaking with Pattern Paper and Stamping
There are seasons when I crave all the layers and embellishments—and then there are seasons when I just want my cards to breathe . This little set of winter-themed cards came together during one of those moments when I wanted the coloring to shine, the images to tell the story, and the design to feel calm instead of crowded. Clean and simple doesn’t mean boring, and it definitely doesn’t mean plain. For me, it means being intentional with every choice. For this project, I cre

Rick Adkins
Jan 9


Clean & Simple Card with Unity Stamps
There’s something about winter cardmaking that makes me slow down a bit. Maybe it’s the softer color palettes, the cozy themes, or the chance to let simple designs really shine. Lately, I’ve been reaching for clean and simple layouts more often, especially when I want my stamping, coloring, and ink blending to do the heavy lifting. This winter card came together during one of those creative sessions where I reminded myself that simple doesn’t mean boring—it means intentional.

Rick Adkins
Jan 8


Clean and Simple Card with The Rabbit Hole Designs Stamps
Clean and simple cardmaking is one of those styles that looks effortless—but when done well, it feels thoughtful, polished, and full of intention. This encouragement card using The Rabbit Hole Designs Balloon Animal No. 1 Stamp Set is a great example of how a few well-chosen techniques can create a soft, uplifting design without overwhelming the eye. From the airy cloud background to the no-line watercolor balloon animal, every element on this card was chosen to support the

Rick Adkins
Dec 28, 2025


Clean & Simple Christmas Card Using a Nontraditional Color Palette
If you love clean & simple Christmas cards but want to step outside the usual red and green, this project is such a fun way to do it. I used the I Believe Stamp Set from Miss Ink Stamps and stamped the bold sentiment in pink ink right in the center of the card front, then built the design by stamping the playful underwear images around it in a dark brown ink. All of the images were colored with my Ohuhu Brush Markers , using a nontraditional yet seasonal color palette pul

Rick Adkins
Dec 20, 2025


Discover the Wonders Beneath: Clean and Simple Ocean Card with Fin-Tastic!
There’s something so calming about ocean-themed cards, and this one really lets those sweet underwater images shine! For today’s project, I used the Fin-tastic Stamp Set from The Rabbit Hole Designs to create a playful coral reef scene filled with coral, seaweed, tiny fish, and seashells. I stamped everything in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink onto Hammermill Smooth 100 lb Cardstock and brought the images to life with my Ohuhu Pastel Brush Markers . The soft, cheerful coloring k

Rick Adkins
Dec 13, 2025


Soft Ink Blended Spotlight Card featuring Twinkleheart Fairy
There’s just something extra sweet about a clean and simple card that still feels magical, and today’s project brings all those cozy, whimsical vibes together. I started with the adorable fairy from the Twinkleheart Stamp Set by Unity Stamp Company and stamped her onto Kraft 110 lb Smooth Cardstock . Colored pencils were perfect for adding that soft, hand-drawn look, and a quick blend with a colorless blender marker kept everything smooth and dreamy. Her wings absolutely

Rick Adkins
Dec 9, 2025


Sweet Winter Birthday Card with Miss Ink Stamps | Woodland Angel Scene
Today’s project is all about creating a soft and sweet clean-and-simple Winter Birthday Card using some of my favorite sets from Miss Ink Stamps . I started by stamping the Little Angel images from the Little Angel Stamp Set onto Neenah Classic Crest Solar White Cardstock and building the snowy backdrop with the Holly Jolly Stamp Set . Once everything was stamped in crisp Memento Tuxedo Black Ink , I brought the scene to life with my Ohuhu Brush Markers , starting with the

Rick Adkins
Dec 6, 2025


CAS Balloon Animals Monkey Card | Soft Watercolor + Simple Ink Blending
If you love a clean and simple look with just a touch of playful charm, today’s card is such a fun one to try. I pulled out the Balloon Animals 1 Stamp Set from The Rabbit Hole Designs and stamped the sweet monkey-on-a-palm-tree image in Memento Toffee Crunch for a softer, no-line look. Using Distress Ink Reinkers as watercolors, I added light, airy color that keeps the design feeling fresh and effortless. Once everything dried, I placed one of the circle stencils from Pe

Rick Adkins
Dec 4, 2025


Simple Puppy Cards on Kraft | One Layer Designs with Unity Stamps
Today I’m sharing a set of simple one layer cards that completely stole my heart. These sweet little pups from the Puppy Paws Stamp Set by Unity Stamps look absolutely adorable on kraft cardstock, and I love how the warm tone makes the colored pencils pop. I started by creating top-folding A2 card bases from 110 lb Kraft Cardstock , then stamped each puppy in Memento Tuxedo Black . A little soft shading with colored pencils brought each image to life, giving them that cozy

Rick Adkins
Dec 2, 2025


Sorry You're Feeling Sluggish: Slugs & Kisses Stamp Set
Today I’m sharing a fun little “pick-me-up” card I created for Miss Ink Stamps, and I couldn’t resist reaching for the Slugs and Kisses Stamp Set , the Slugs and Kisses Outline Dies , and the Cobblestone Stencil for this one. I started with a clean top-fold A2 card base made from Neenah Ultra Thick Cardstock , then masked off a circle using one of the Background Basics Stencils from Penny Black. Inside that masked area, I blended soft gray ink over the Cobblestone Stencil

Rick Adkins
Nov 23, 2025


Unity Stamps' "Biggest Sale of the Year Week 2" Release
Today I am sharing ten different clean and simple cards using new stamps from Unity Stamps. These stamps just came out Thursday as part of their Biggest Sale of the Year for week 2. I stamped and colored all the images using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored them using my Triblend Markers and added some fine details with my colored pencils. In this release you will find a stamps for different occasions, and themes. Some are Winter, some are Christmas and some are a

Rick Adkins
Nov 22, 2025


Clean & Simple Floral Cards with the Pinkfresh Studio Delicate Details Release
Today I’m sharing a pair of clean and simple floral cards I created for the Pinkfresh Studio Delicate Details November Release Instagram Hop , and I have to say, this release lives up to its name in all the best ways. Every piece feels soft, elegant, and thoughtfully designed, which made these cards such a joy to put together. I’ve always loved the look of detailed florals without the time commitment of coloring, so this was the perfect chance to lean into stencils, light in

Rick Adkins
Nov 17, 2025


Three Clean & Simple Christmas Cards with Rainbow Village Basics Pattern Paper
Today I’m sharing three clean and simple Christmas cards that were such a joy to make using the Rainbow Village Basics 6 x 6 Pattern Paper Pack from Paper Rose Studio. I’ve been reaching for this paper collection a lot lately because the colors feel cheerful and bright without losing that cozy holiday charm we all love. These cards are perfect if you want something festive and eye-catching that doesn’t require a ton of time or complicated techniques. Each design uses the sam

Rick Adkins
Nov 15, 2025


3 Easy “Grinchy” Christmas Cards You’ll Love Making
The holidays always seem to sneak up on me, and before I know it, I’m knee-deep in cardstock scraps and glitter, trying to finish a stack of Christmas cards. This year, I decided to keep things simple—but still full of personality—with three Clean and Simple designs that feature one of my favorite mischievous characters. Using The Green One Stamp Set from C.C. Designs , I created a trio of cards that are easy to make, fun to color, and guaranteed to make anyone grin. Each d

Rick Adkins
Nov 4, 2025


Clean & Simple Card Design with the Stuck Duck Stamp Set
Sometimes the simplest cards are the ones that make me smile the most. I’ve always loved the idea of clean and simple designs that still feel full of character, and today’s project does exactly that. This card features the Stuck Duck Stamp Set and Air Mail Frame Stencils from Miss Ink Stamps —a perfect combo for creating something minimal yet playful. I wanted the design to stay crisp and uncluttered but still have a fun focal point, and this little duct-taped duck delivere

Rick Adkins
Nov 1, 2025


Quick & Easy Halloween Card Ideas ft. Paper Rose Halloween Hollow
Halloween always sneaks up on me. One minute I’m finishing summer birthday cards, and the next, I’m knee-deep in pumpkins, bats, and candy corn. If you’ve ever found yourself wanting to make a few festive Halloween cards without spending hours stamping or coloring, you’re going to love today’s project. I’m sharing three quick and easy clean and simple Halloween card ideas featuring the Halloween Hollow 6 x 6 Patten Paper Collection , Halloween Hollow Embossed Die Cuts , and

Rick Adkins
Oct 15, 2025


Clean and Simple Christmas Cards with the One Line Santa Stamp Set
Every once in a while, I stumble across a technique online that makes me stop what I’m doing and head straight for the craft desk. That’s...

Rick Adkins
Oct 11, 2025
