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How I Created Three Different Handmade Cards from One Simple Layout
One of the easiest ways to make cardmaking feel less overwhelming is to stop reinventing the wheel every time you sit down to craft. I think a lot of cardmakers assume that creating multiple unique cards means starting from scratch with every design, but honestly, some of my favorite projects happen when I focus on one strong layout and simply explore different ways to interpret it.

Rick Adkins
May 25


Easy Fun Fold Handmade Card with Paper Rose Studio Petals & Pansies Collection
There’s something about a fun fold card that instantly makes a project feel extra special without necessarily making it more complicated. I love creating cards like this because they give you the opportunity to showcase beautiful patterned papers and layered embellishments in a way that feels thoughtful and dimensional, while still being approachable for everyday cardmaking.

Rick Adkins
May 15


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


Two Quick and Easy Card Ideas: Perfect for Mass Producing Cards
When you need handmade cards in a hurry, it helps to have a simple design that still feels special. That’s exactly what inspired today’s pair of cards. I wanted to create something quick enough for busy crafting days, but with enough detail to make each card feel polished and thoughtful. By combining patterned paper, a simple fun fold, and a few layered embellishments, these cards come together in just minutes while still delivering that “wow” factor we all love.

Rick Adkins
Apr 25


Easy Spring Birthday Fun Fold Card for Beautiful Handmade Card Idea
There’s something so satisfying about creating a card that has that “wow” factor the moment it’s opened, especially when the design is much easier to make than it looks. That’s exactly what I love about this Trifold Hidden Door Fun Fold Card. It has the charm and dimension of an interactive card, but the structure is simple enough that beginner and intermediate cardmakers can enjoy making it without feeling overwhelmed...

Rick Adkins
Apr 19


Spring Bunny Hollow Fun Fold Card with Paper Rose Studio Pattern Papers
There’s something about spring projects that always pulls me toward soft colors, delicate patterns, and interactive designs—and this card checks all those boxes. I wanted to create something that felt a little extra special when displayed, but still approachable enough that you could recreate it with supplies you already have on hand. That’s where this lantern pull-up fun fold design really shines. It looks intricate, but once you understand the structure, it becomes a layout

Rick Adkins
Apr 15


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


Clean and Simple Easter Cards: Easy Layout Ideas with Pattern Paper and Die Cuts
I always love a project that lets me stretch my supplies a little further—and these cards were exactly that. I sat down with a handful of products from Paper Rose Studio and challenged myself to create four clean and simple Easter cards using the same core supplies. What surprised me most was how different each card felt with just a few small changes in layout and layering. If you’ve ever felt like your cards start to look the same, this is such a fun way to break out of that

Rick Adkins
Mar 25


Nautical Accordion Fun Fold Card Using the Seaside Memories Collection
Every now and then I like to create a card that has a little extra movement and dimension, but still feels approachable and practical to make. Fun fold cards are perfect for that. They add visual interest without requiring a lot of complicated techniques, and they’re a wonderful way to showcase beautiful patterned paper. For today’s project, I designed a nautical-themed accordion fun fold card using pieces from the Seaside Memories Collection from Paper Rose Studio . The go

Rick Adkins
Mar 15


Paper Rose Studio Seaside Memories A2 Book Cradle Fun Fold Card
There’s something about a nautical theme that instantly makes me think of structure and balance. Ships, anchors, lighthouses—they all have strong lines and intentional design. That’s exactly why I love pairing a seaside theme with an A2 Book Cradle Fun Fold Card. The fold itself feels architectural, almost like a little display stand, which makes it perfect for showcasing layered pattern paper and detailed die cuts. For this card, I reached for the Paper Rose Studio Seaside M

Rick Adkins
Feb 25


Book Cradle Fun Fold Cardmaking Tutorial: 5 x 7 Handmade Card with Die Cutting & Pattern Paper
There is something so satisfying about creating a card that looks impressive but is actually built on a very repeatable structure. That’s exactly why I love a Book Cradle fun fold card. It has presence. It stands beautifully for display. And it gives you multiple design areas to play with—without feeling overwhelming. For these two 5 x 7 handmade cards, I wanted to show how one layout can feel completely different simply by shifting the color story. Both designs use the same

Rick Adkins
Feb 15


3 Valentine’s Day Card Ideas Using Die Cuts and Pattern Paper
When it comes to Valentine’s Day cards, I hear the same concern every year: “I want to make something cute and thoughtful, but I don’t want to overthink it.” That’s exactly the problem I wanted to solve with these three handmade Valentine’s Day cards. The goal with this project was to show how die cutting and pattern paper mixing can do the heavy lifting for you—no complicated coloring, no guessing if things coordinate, and no pressure to reinvent the wheel. I shared the fu

Rick Adkins
Jan 30


Tuck & Reveal Fun Fold Cards | Paper Rose Studio
Valentine’s Day cards don’t have to be complicated to feel special—and this project is a great reminder of that. I wanted to create something that felt interactive and fun, but still approachable enough that you could sit down, pull from your patterned paper stash, and actually enjoy the process instead of overthinking it. That’s where the Tuck & Reveal fun fold really shines. It looks impressive when finished, but the structure itself does a lot of the work for you. For this

Rick Adkins
Jan 15


Pop Up Block Fun Fold Valentine Card Using Pattern Paper, Dies & Stamps
Fun fold cards are one of my favorite ways to add that wow factor to a handmade card without making things complicated—and today’s Pop Up Block Fun Fold Valentine card is a perfect example of that. This design looks interactive and impressive, but it’s built with simple folds, layered pattern paper, and a few well-chosen dies and stamps. If you enjoy creating cards that fold flat for mailing but pop open with a little surprise, this fun fold design is one you’ll want to kee

Rick Adkins
Dec 30, 2025


One Layout Three Cards with Rainbow Village
Sometimes the easiest way to spark creativity is to start with one solid layout and let your supplies do the rest of the work. For today’s clean & layered cards, I used the same basic layout on all three designs and simply tweaked a few details to give each card its own personality. The Rainbow Village 6 x 6 Pattern Paper does so much of the heavy lifting here, adding instant color and interest without feeling busy. Pairing those patterns with the Rainbow Village Birds Embos

Rick Adkins
Dec 15, 2025


How to Create an Accordion Fun Fold Card with a Hidden Inside Flap
If you love a fun fold that looks fancy but comes together quickly, this Accordion Fun Fold Card with a Hidden Inside Flap is such a treat to make. The gorgeous Rainbow Village 12x12 Pattern Paper from Paper Rose Studio does most of the work with its bold colors and playful artwork, and keeping the pattern lined up across the folds creates that seamless “wow” moment when the card opens. You’ll start by trimming your patterned paper to 4" x 12" and then cutting it down to 4"

Rick Adkins
Nov 30, 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


Triple Accordion Step Card with the Christmas Holly Collection | Elegant Holiday Card Idea
Every year as the holidays roll around, I love finding ways to make my Christmas cards feel extra special without spending hours at my craft desk. This year, I wanted something that felt elegant and dimensional—something that would stand out on a mantel but still fit neatly into a square envelope. That’s how this Triple Accordion Step Fun Fold Card came to life. It looks like a showstopper, but once you understand how the layers come together, it’s actually quite simple. I u

Rick Adkins
Nov 7, 2025


Double Z-Fold Christmas Card Ideas with Paper Rose Studio
Christmas card season is in full swing, and if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably reached that point where you want to make something a little extra special —something that stands out but doesn’t take hours to assemble. That’s exactly what inspired today’s project: a Double Z-Fold Christmas Card featuring some beautiful products from Paper Rose Studio . This design looks impressive when standing on display, yet it’s surprisingly simple to put together once you understa

Rick Adkins
Oct 30, 2025


36 Fast & Fabulous Christmas Cards | Paper Rose Sweet Christmas Treats
Every year around this time, I find myself in the same situation — the holidays are creeping closer, and I realize I still need a stack of Christmas cards ready to mail. Sound familiar? It happens to the best of us! Between decorating, baking, and all the little festive moments, sitting down to make dozens of handmade cards can feel a little daunting. But this year, I found a total game changer: the Sweet Christmas Treats 6x8 Quick Cards Collection and Sweet Christmas Treats

Rick Adkins
Oct 15, 2025
