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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
35 minutes ago


Create a Sassy Friendship Card with The Rabbit Hole Designs August New Release
There's something special about creating a card that makes someone laugh before they even open the envelope. Friendship cards don't always have to be elegant or heartfelt—sometimes the best ones are a little quirky, a little unexpected, and full of personality. That's exactly what inspired this project featuring the August New Release from The Rabbit Hole Designs.

Rick Adkins
19 hours ago


Paper Rose Studio Campfire Tales Faux Center Step Fun Fold Card Tutorial
Sometimes a card doesn't need lots of complicated techniques to make an impact. A simple change in the card base can completely transform the finished project, and that's exactly what I love about the Faux Center Step Fun Fold Card. It creates extra dimension and naturally draws your eye to the focal point while still being easy enough for beginner and intermediate cardmakers to enjoy.

Rick Adkins
Jul 25


Four Halloween Card Layout Ideas That Make Pattern Paper Shine
One of my favorite things about cardmaking is discovering a layout that can be used over and over again. When I find one that works well, I rarely stop at making just one card. Instead, I'll cut enough pieces to create several cards at the same time, changing only a few elements to give each one its own personality. That's exactly what happened with these Halloween cards.

Rick Adkins
Jul 23


Why Slimline Cards Are Perfect for Building Fun Stamped Scenes
One of my favorite things about creating cards is finding ways to tell a little story with stamped images. I recently shared a full tutorial on the C. C. Designs blog featuring this colorful slimline thank you card. Over there, you'll find the product-focused tutorial and see exactly how I put the project together. Here, I wanted to take a different approach and share the creative decisions behind the design, what I learned while making it, and a few ideas you can use to crea

Rick Adkins
Jul 20


How to Create a Dimensional Christmas Card with Stamping and Fussy Cutting
It may be the middle of summer, but I love taking a break from seasonal heat to create a Christmas card or two. There’s something refreshing about pulling out holiday stamps, rich colors, and festive designs when they aren’t competing with the busy holiday season. "Christmas in July" is also the perfect opportunity to experiment with new techniques and build up your handmade Christmas card stash before December arrives.

Rick Adkins
Jul 19


How to Design a Fun Mailbox Birthday Card with Die Cutting and Pattern Paper
One of my favorite things about making birthday cards is finding creative ways to make the design feel just as special as the person receiving it. Sometimes that means reaching for bright colors, and other times it's about choosing a focal point that instantly tells a story. When I saw the Mailbox Shaker with Mouse Ears Die Set from Scrappy Boy Stamps, I knew it would be the perfect starting point for a cheerful birthday card that looks like happy mail arriving on someone's s

Rick Adkins
Jul 15


Three Clean and Simple Hello Cards with the Paper Rose Studio Campfire Tales Collection
Sometimes the best card designs come from giving yourself a few creative boundaries. Instead of starting with three completely different ideas, I challenged myself to use one basic layout and see how many unique cards I could create simply by changing the patterned paper, focal images, and sentiments. It's a great reminder that you don't need an elaborate design to make something memorable.

Rick Adkins
Jul 15


Santa Says Stamps & Dies Bundle: Easy Handmade Christmas Card Tutorial
There’s something about Christmas cards that brings me back to the basics of why I enjoy cardmaking so much. While it's tempting to reach for lots of embellishments and specialty techniques during the holidays, I often find that combining a fun stamped image with beautiful patterned paper creates a card that feels festive without becoming overwhelming. For this card, I reached for The Rabbit Hole Designs Santa Says Stamps & Dies Bundle and let the cheerful Santa take center s

Rick Adkins
Jul 11


July 2026 Berries & Buccaneers Release: Sweet Friendship Card with C. C. Designs Strawberry Delight
There’s something about a bright, cheerful friendship card that never goes out of style. Whether you're celebrating a lifelong friendship, sending a little encouragement, or simply letting someone know you're thinking of them, a handmade card has a way of making those moments feel even more meaningful.

Rick Adkins
Jul 10


Easy Christmas Card Idea Using Pattern Paper
Christmas cards don't always have to be filled with traditional reds, greens, and bold holiday prints. Sometimes, choosing a softer color palette is enough to make a card stand out while still feeling festive. That's exactly what inspired today's project. I wanted to create a Christmas card with a light, cheerful feel that shows how pastel colors can work beautifully for the holiday season.

Rick Adkins
Jul 8


How to Make a Handmade Fairy Tale Engagement Card with Die Cuts and Pattern Paper
There is something magical about creating a card for an engagement. It's more than celebrating a milestone—it's about capturing the excitement of a couple beginning their own happily ever after. Whenever I sit down to design an engagement card, I like to create something that feels timeless and elegant while still reflecting the personality of the couple receiving it.

Rick Adkins
Jul 7


July 2026 New Release: Galaxy Pattern Paper Christmas Card with Santa Says Stamps
One of my favorite things about Christmas cardmaking is finding unexpected ways to create a festive design. While traditional reds, greens, and snowy scenes will always have a place on my craft table, sometimes it's fun to step outside those familiar colors and try something completely different. That's exactly what inspired this card featuring the new Santa Says Stamps and Die Bundle and Galaxy 6x6 Pattern Paper Pack from The Rabbit Hole Designs.

Rick Adkins
Jul 1


A Simple Scrap Busting Bookmark for Cardmakers
If you're anything like me, you probably have a growing collection of cardstock scraps and leftover pieces of patterned paper that feel too pretty to throw away but too small to use on a traditional card. Over time, those little bits can pile up and create clutter in your craft space. That's exactly what inspired today's project.

Rick Adkins
Jun 24


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 Make a Waterfall Birthday Gift Card Holder
Gift cards are one of the easiest gifts to give, but they can sometimes feel a little impersonal. As cardmakers, we have the ability to transform a simple gift card into something that feels thoughtful, creative, and handmade. That's exactly what inspired today's project.

Rick Adkins
Jun 19


Birthday Card Tutorial with Catherine Pooler's Build a Sundae Dies
There are certain card themes that never seem to go out of style, and birthday cards are definitely at the top of that list. No matter how many birthday cards I create throughout the year, I'm always looking for fresh ways to make them feel fun, festive, and a little unexpected.

Rick Adkins
Jun 17


How to Create an Easy Masculine Fun Fold Card Using Pattern Paper
One of the most common challenges I hear from cardmakers is that masculine cards feel harder to design than other types of cards. Many of us have plenty of floral papers, bright colors, and decorative embellishments in our craft rooms, but when it's time to create a card for a man, it can suddenly feel like the creative options become limited.

Rick Adkins
Jun 15


Create a Fun Ice Cream Birthday Card with the New Catherine Pooler Better With Sprinkles Collection
Today's birthday card features a sweet summer-inspired design created with products from the new Better With Sprinkles Collection from Catherine Pooler Designs. The focal point is an adorable ice cream sundae created with the Build-a-Sundae Die Set, nestled against a playful mix of patterns from the I Scream You Scream 6x6 Pattern Paper Pack. Bright pops of teal, pink, and red paired with warm neutrals create a cheerful color palette that feels festive without becoming overwh

Rick Adkins
Jun 15


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
