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A Popsicle Box Gets a Spooky Halloween Makeover
Halloween is one of my favorite times to let paper crafting get a little playful! For this project, I took a simple Popsicle Box Die from Pixi Dust Designs and gave it a spooky Frankenstein makeover. I’m always looking for ways to take a basic die and make it feel completely different through color, texture, and layering. The result is this fun Halloween treat box featuring CutCardStock papers, ink-blended die cuts, and lots of little details that bring Frankenstein to life.

Rick Adkins
Sep 24


Batty for Halloween: A Cute 3D Treat Box
I recently shared a full tutorial on the Pixi Dust Designs YouTube channel showing how I turned the Carrot Box Die Set and Halloween Carrot Box Add-On Die Set into this fun Halloween bat treat box. The full video walks through the construction and assembly, so rather than repeat those steps here, I wanted to talk about the part of the process I enjoy just as much: why the design works and how you can take the same idea and make it your own.

Rick Adkins
Sep 23


A Halloween Treat Box That Looks Good Enough to Eat!
There’s something about Halloween projects that makes it especially fun to play with familiar shapes—and this little pumpkin popsicle treat box was too good to pass up! I love when a die set can be used for something beyond its obvious purpose, and the Pixi Dust Designs Popsicle Box Die gave me the perfect starting point for a Halloween treat box. Instead of making another traditional square or pillow-style box, I wanted something with a little personality that would still be

Rick Adkins
Sep 9


Labor Day Crafting Sales Worth Checking Out: Plus My Tips for Shopping the Deals Wisely
Discover top Labor Day Crafting Sales Worth Checking Out: Plus My Tips for Shopping the Deals Wisely. Save big and shop smart with these tips!

Rick Adkins
Sep 6


A Little Batty: Create a Halloween Treat Box with Die Cuts
There’s something especially fun about making a Halloween project that isn’t just a card! This little 3D treat box combines die cutting, pattern paper, and a few creative modifications to turn a collection of dies into something that’s perfect for holding a small Halloween treat. I also love projects like this because they encourage us to look at our dies a little differently. Instead of thinking about a die as having only one specific purpose, we can ask, “What else could I

Rick Adkins
Aug 26


The Ultimate DIY Santa Gift Card Box for the Holidays
Gift cards are one of those holiday gifts that are always appreciated, but let's be honest—they aren't always the most exciting gifts to wrap! I love finding ways to make a gift card feel a little more special, and this Santa-themed gift card holder does exactly that.

Rick Adkins
Aug 12


Create a Sweet Christmas Card with the Pixi Dust Designs Gingerbread Bakery Die Set
There’s something about gingerbread-themed Christmas cards that instantly brings back memories of holiday baking, warm kitchens, and spending time with family. Even if you don't bake a single cookie during the season, those familiar shapes and cozy colors create a feeling that makes handmade Christmas cards extra special. That's exactly what inspired me while creating this card featuring the Pixi Dust Designs Gingerbread Bakery Die Set and Gingy Dress Up Stamp Set.

Rick Adkins
Jul 22


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


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


A Simple Layered Card Design for Coffee and Faith Themed Projects
There are some card themes that naturally work together, and coffee and encouragement are definitely one of them. Whether you're creating a card for a friend, a Bible study companion, or someone who simply appreciates a good cup of coffee and a thoughtful message, combining coffee imagery with scripture can create a project that feels both personal and meaningful.

Rick Adkins
Jun 10


How to Create a Faith Inspired Handmade Card with Die Cutting and Pattern Paper
For today's project, I created a sweet Psalm 23 card featuring the new The Lord Is My Shepherd Stamp & Die Set from Pixi Dust Designs. As part of the Pixi Promises Video Hop celebrating the June 2026 release, I wanted to create something that felt uplifting, soft, and approachable while still highlighting the scripture sentiment.

Rick Adkins
Jun 8


How to Mix and Match Die Sets for Elegant Handmade Cards
One of the questions I hear often from cardmakers is how to make different die sets work together without the finished card looking busy or disconnected. It’s easy to fall into the habit of using products exactly as they were designed or only pairing items from the same collection. But some of the most interesting card designs happen when you start mixing pieces from different sets and looking at your supplies in a more flexible way.

Rick Adkins
May 27


Easy Die Cut Birthday Card Using Scrap Cardstock Pieces
One thing I hear from cardmakers all the time is how hard it can be to use up those leftover scraps of cardstock that seem too pretty to throw away but too small to organize. I’ll admit, I have a growing pile of them on my desk most days too! For this birthday card, I wanted to create something bright, layered, and detailed while challenging myself to work primarily from scraps instead of pulling out full sheets of cardstock.

Rick Adkins
May 13


Easy Mother’s Day Gatefold Card Idea for Beautiful Handmade Cards
Today’s project features a clean and simple tea-themed Mother’s Day gatefold card created with products from Pixi Dust Designs. Using the My BEST-TEA Die Set, You're A Cute Tea 6x6 Paper Pad, and Lemon Shaker Bits, this design combines soft pastel colors with a sweet teapot and teacup focal point for a card that feels cheerful and heartfelt.

Rick Adkins
Apr 22


Quick & Easy Mother’s Day Card with Dies | Soup-er Cute Idea
Sometimes you just need a card that comes together quickly but still feels thoughtful and polished. That was exactly the goal behind today’s clean and simple Mother’s Day card. I wanted something that let the focal image shine, kept the design uncluttered, and still had a little personality—and this sweet soup theme checked all the boxes.

Rick Adkins
Apr 8


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


Pixi Dust Designs Fancy Box Die Set: Flip Top Gift Box Tutorial
There’s something really special about creating a handmade gift that feels just as thoughtful on the outside as it is on the inside. For this project, I wanted to design a simple, polished gift box that could hold a small treat—something quick to make, but still beautiful enough for a meaningful occasion like Mother’s Day. I also wanted to solve a common problem many of us run into: how to package a small gift in a way that feels intentional without spending a lot of extra ti

Rick Adkins
Mar 25


One Layer Card Design Ideas Using Stamps, Stencils, and Ink Blending
There’s something really satisfying about creating a beautiful handmade card without adding layers, foam tape, or lots of extra pieces. These clean and simple one layer cards are a perfect example of how a thoughtful design can do all the heavy lifting for you—no bulk required. For these MOM-themed cards, I wanted to focus on keeping things soft, polished, and approachable while still incorporating a few favorite techniques like stamping, ink blending, and Copic coloring. I w

Rick Adkins
Mar 18


Copic Coloring Tips for Layered Die Sets | Easter Bunny Card Tutorial
Layered die sets are one of my favorite ways to build quick focal points for handmade cards. They give you that polished, dimensional look without having to do a lot of complicated stamping or coloring. But sometimes those layered pieces can feel a little… flat. The shapes are great, but they can look a bit one-dimensional if you leave them exactly as they come off the die. That’s exactly the idea I wanted to explore with today’s card. I used the Chocolate Easter Bunny Die Se

Rick Adkins
Mar 11


Easter Basket Handmade Card Tutorial Featuring CutCardStock and Layered Die Cutting
There’s something about Easter cards that makes me want to lean into softness and structure at the same time. Pastels. Clean lines. A little nostalgia. When I sat down to create this picket fence Easter card, I knew I wanted it to feel fresh and cheerful—but also intentional. Not fussy. Not overworked. Just layered in a way that feels thoughtful. This design pairs beautifully with the companion tutorial I created for CutCardStock, but here I want to share more of the why be

Rick Adkins
Mar 10
