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From Stamped Mum to Fall Showstopper: Coloring Techniques for Handmade Cards
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

Rick Adkins
1 day ago


Give Your Halloween Cards a Foiled Glow Up
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

Rick Adkins
2 days ago


This Halloween Cow Is Ready to Get Spooky!
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

Rick Adkins
5 days ago


A Little Spooky A Little Sassy: An October Birthday Card
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

Rick Adkins
Sep 3


Special Delivery! A Fun Stamped Birthday Card with Colorful Mail
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

Rick Adkins
Sep 1


Give Your Halloween Cards a Frightfully Fun Fold
Sometimes a Halloween card needs more than a spooky stamped image to make an impact! For this project, I wanted the card base itself to become part of the design. That is what I love about a diamond stair step fun fold card—it gives you multiple layers, angles, and surfaces to work with, creating a dimensional handmade card before you even begin decorating it. For this Halloween design, the combination of the bold black cardstock, patterned paper, and adorable character image

Rick Adkins
Aug 31


Dress for Success: A Fashion Themed Scene Building Card
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.

Rick Adkins
Aug 29


Don’t Be Ridiculous! A Sassy Fashion Themed Handmade Card
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

Rick Adkins
Aug 28


How to Create a Clean and Layered Halloween Card with Stamping
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

Rick Adkins
Aug 24


How to Make Clean and Simple Fall Cards with Stamping and Alcohol Markers
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

Rick Adkins
Aug 20


How to Build a Stamped Scene Card with Ink Blending and Alcohol Markers
I love when a card can feel like a little story, and this encouragement card definitely falls into that category. The Sword Master Clear Stamp Set from C. C. Designs gave me the perfect characters to build that story around, but the real fun for me was figuring out how to make the stamped images feel like they belonged together in one scene. Rather than creating a complicated card design, I focused on a few techniques—stamping, alcohol marker coloring, ink blending, stencilin

Rick Adkins
Aug 18


Why Every Crafter Needs a Killer True Crime Card in Their Stash
I have to admit, there is something especially fun about making a card that is just a little bit unexpected. Not every friendship card needs flowers, hearts, or a sweet sentiment, and this true crime friendship card is a perfect example! When I saw the possibilities in the True Crime Stamp Set from Miss Ink Stamps, I knew I wanted to keep the design clean and simple while letting the stamped images do most of the storytelling. The result is a card that feels sassy and a littl

Rick Adkins
Aug 15


C. C. Designs August 2026 Release: Alcohol Marker Handmade Card Tutorial
I love when a card starts with a simple idea and then grows into something that feels like a little scene on the front of the card. That was exactly what happened with this sweet “You’re Sweet” card featuring the new August 2026 release from C. C. Designs. The combination of whimsical stamped characters, soft pastel colors, and pretty pattern paper immediately made me think of a vintage-inspired springtime look. Rather than letting all of those elements compete for attention,

Rick Adkins
Aug 15


How to Use Dies in a Different Way to Create a Handmade Card
Have you ever looked at a die set and thought, “I know this was designed for one particular project, but what else could I do with it?” That is one of my favorite questions to ask when I’m cardmaking. I love finding ways to use supplies a little differently, especially when it means getting more versatility from something I already have. For this project, I took the Magic Journal Builder Die from Scrappy Boy Stamps and used it as a cardmaking tool rather than using it for its

Rick Adkins
Aug 14


How to Make a First Day of School Card with Stamping and Alcohol Markers
There’s something special about making a card for the first day of school. It’s one of those occasions where a handmade card doesn’t have to be complicated to feel meaningful. For this project, I wanted to create a clean and simple design that let the stamped image and coloring do most of the work.
I’m using the Off We Grow Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Company along with alcohol markers, but the bigger idea behind this card is one you can use with almost any stamp set in your s

Rick Adkins
Aug 13


How to Balance Patterned Paper and Stamped Images on a Handmade Card
One of my favorite things about cardmaking is finding that sweet spot between a background that adds interest and a stamped image that still gets to be the star of the show. Patterned paper can be beautiful, but it can also compete with your focal point if we're not careful. On this friendship card, I wanted to use a fairly bold patterned paper while still keeping the little dragon front and center.

Rick Adkins
Aug 8


How to Make a Halloween Square Tri Fold Card with Stamping and Pattern Paper
Halloween cards are one of my favorite opportunities to step outside my usual design comfort zone. While I enjoy creating clean and simple cards throughout the year, Halloween gives me permission to play with rich colors, bold patterns, and interactive layouts that tell a story the moment someone opens the card. For this project, I wanted the card itself to become part of the experience. Instead of creating a traditional front-and-center design, I chose a square tri fold layo

Rick Adkins
Aug 5


How to Create a Summer Beach Scene Card with Stamping and Alcohol Markers
There is something about creating summer-themed cards that instantly makes me slow down and enjoy the creative process a little more. Bright blue skies, warm sandy beaches, and playful images always remind me that handmade cards don't have to be complicated to tell a story. Sometimes all it takes is a few thoughtfully placed stamped images and a little color to transport someone to a favorite vacation memory.

Rick Adkins
Aug 4


How to Color Background Stamps for Detailed Scene Cards with Alcohol Markers
There are some card designs that immediately tell a story, and scene cards are always at the top of that list for me. I love how they invite you into a tiny world where the stamped images become characters instead of just embellishments. While scene cards can sometimes look intimidating, they don't have to be complicated. By choosing a detailed background stamp and a handful of coordinating images, you can create a card that feels rich and layered without needing dozens of pr

Rick Adkins
Aug 2


Easy Sassy Friendship Cardmaking Tutorial with Stamping and Alcohol Markers
There's something about a humorous friendship card that never goes out of style. Whether it's celebrating a lifelong friend or sending a little encouragement to someone who appreciates your sense of humor, a card that brings a smile is always worth making. I love creating cards that combine playful images with witty sentiments because they're memorable, personal, and often become keepsakes.

Rick Adkins
Aug 2
