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How to Make an Encouragement Card with Stamping, Ink Blending, and Alcohol Markers
There are certain images that instantly tell a story, and lighthouses have always been one of those for me. They symbolize hope, strength, and guidance during difficult seasons, making them a natural choice for an encouragement card. When I sat down to create this project using Unity Stamp Company's A Light to Weather By {bom 6/26} Stamp Set, I wanted the finished card to feel peaceful, uplifting, and full of quiet strength without becoming overly complicated.

Rick Adkins
Jul 2


Background Stamping Techniques for Elegant Encouragement Cards
There are certain cards that seem to come together naturally, and this encouragement card was one of those projects for me. Sometimes I sit down at my craft table with a detailed plan, and other times I start with a stamp set that inspires me and let the design evolve from there. For this card, I was drawn to the beautiful floral image from Unity Stamp Company's The Good You Grow Stamp Set and knew I wanted it to be the star of the design.

Rick Adkins
Jun 25


How to Create Encouragement Cards with Pattern Paper and Stamped Images
One of the things I enjoy most about cardmaking is finding ways to create cards that feel cheerful and encouraging without making the design overly complicated. Encouragement cards are some of the most useful cards to keep on hand because they're appropriate for so many situations. Whether someone is facing a challenge, celebrating a small victory, or simply needs a reminder that someone is thinking about them, a handmade card can make a meaningful impact.

Rick Adkins
Jun 23


How to Combine Pattern Paper and Die Cutting for Eye Catching Handmade Cards
As cardmakers, it's easy to look at a detailed patterned paper and wonder how to use it without overwhelming the rest of the design. The Dragon Kingdom collection from Scrappy Boy Stamps immediately caught my eye because of the bold scale pattern and fantasy-inspired theme. Rather than treating the patterned paper as a simple background, I wanted it to become part of the storytelling while still allowing the focal elements to stand out.

Rick Adkins
Jun 12


How to Combine Pattern Paper and Stamping for Elegant Encouragement Cards
Have you ever looked at a beautiful piece of pattern paper and wondered how to use it without covering up all the details? I find that balancing patterned paper with a detailed stamped image can sometimes feel tricky. Too much pattern can compete with the focal point, while too little can leave a card feeling unfinished.

Rick Adkins
Jun 11


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
Jun 5


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


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


Simon Says Stamp Stay True Stamp Set Card with Turnabout Stamping Technique
Sometimes the best backgrounds come from the supplies you already have—you just need to look at them a little differently. That’s exactly what happened with today’s card. I started with the Stay True Stamp Set and instead of using the sentiments as a focal point, I challenged myself to turn them into the background. The result is a bold, encouraging handmade card that feels layered and detailed, but is actually built on a very simple idea. Creating a Background with Sentimen

Rick Adkins
Mar 20


One Layer Floral Cardmaking Tutorial with Ink Blending and Copic Coloring
I recently shared a full step-by-step tutorial over on the Unity Stamps blog featuring this soft, one layer floral encouragement card using the Slow Bloom Society Stamp Set . In that post, I walk through the entire process from start to finish. But here, I wanted to slow things down a bit and talk through the why behind the design—those little creative decisions that really make a card come together. If you’ve ever finished a card and thought, “Okay… but why does this actual

Rick Adkins
Mar 19


How to Use Stamping and Alcohol Markers to Create Meaningful Handmade Cards
There are some cards that come together quickly…and then there are cards that ask you to slow down and sit with them for a bit. This one definitely fell into the second category for me. I wanted to create a handmade card that felt calm, reflective, and full of comfort—the kind of card you send when words feel heavy, but presence matters. From the beginning, I knew the coloring would do most of the emotional storytelling, with stamping simply setting the stage. Letting the Sce

Rick Adkins
Feb 12


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


Unleash Your Creativity: Stamping Simple Cards with Hero Arts Stamps
In the world of crafting and card-making, few techniques are as versatile and satisfying as stamping. With a plethora of designs available, stamping allows you to create unique and personalized cards that are sure to delight their recipients. Today, we'll delve into the art of stamping simple cards using the wonderful Hero Arts stamps. So, gather your supplies, unleash your creativity, and let's dive into the enchanting world of stamping!

Rick Adkins
Jul 12, 2023


Stamping For Card Makers Simplify Your Start & Reduce Decision Fatigue
If you're an avid card maker, you know that the world of crafting supplies is vast and can sometimes feel overwhelming. With so many options available, it's easy to get caught up in decision fatigue, spending precious time and energy trying to choose the perfect embellishments and designs for your cards. However, there's one versatile tool that can simplify your card-making process and alleviate decision fatigue by following a few simple process.

Rick Adkins
Jul 10, 2023


Keep the Faith Card - Paint-A-Flower Poppy Outline Altenew
Hello and welcome to my blog today I am going to share a card with you using the Paint-A-Flower Poppy Outline Stamp Set from Altenew. I love floral images and I really love one that I can color. So, this stamp set checked all the boxes for me.

Rick Adkins
May 2, 2023


Parrot Tulips Altenew Card by Rick Adkins
Hello and welcome to my blog; today I have a fun little card to share with you featuring the Altenew Parrot Tulips Build-A-Flower Stamp Set. I have always been a big fan of Altenew products and love their Build-A-Flower Series. If you have followed me for any length of time you know I love flowers. I cannot grow them but by George I can stamp them. On my card today I only used two of the layering images from the Parrot Tulips Build-A-Flower Stamp Set. I used the most det

Rick Adkins
Mar 26, 2023
