Mixing pattern paper on handmade cards is one of those things that sounds  more complicated than it really is—especially when you’re also stamping and coloring an image. I hear from cardmakers all the time who love patterned paper but hesitate to use it because they’re worried the card will feel too busy or out of control. That’s exactly the problem I wanted to solve with this winter card. I created this project to show how stamping, alcohol marker coloring, ink blending, and

Some cards come together because you planned every detail… and some happen because you just needed a card for that one friend . You know the one—the friend who appreciates a little sass, a little humor, and a whole lot of heart. That’s exactly where this card started. I wanted something clean and simple, but not boring. Polished, but still playful. And most importantly, flexible enough that the design could work again and again with supplies I already love. This project is a

I recently shared a Valentine’s Day card project over on the C. C. Designs blog , where I walked through the full process using the Swissie Love Stamp Set . That post focuses on the techniques and product use step by step, so today I wanted to do something a little different here on my own blog. This post is all about the thinking  behind the card — why the design works, the choices I made along the way, and how you can easily adapt the idea using what you already have in you

There are seasons when I crave all the layers and embellishments—and then there are seasons when I just want my cards to breathe . This little set of winter-themed cards came together during one of those moments when I wanted the coloring to shine, the images to tell the story, and the design to feel calm instead of crowded. Clean and simple doesn’t mean boring, and it definitely doesn’t mean plain. For me, it means being intentional with every choice. For this project, I cre

If you like to kick off the New Year with a little sass (and a lot of personality), this card is going to be right up your alley! For today’s project, I created a 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" square New Year card  featuring the Resolutions are Rubbish Pissy Kitty Stamp Set  from Unity Stamp Company , and honestly… this kitty says exactly what we’re all thinking. I started with a top-folding square card base using Neenah Ultra Thick Cardstock , then stamped the image onto Neenah Classic Cr

For today’s card, I had so much fun playing with the Ommm…My Gosh Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Company and turning it into a cheerful mini slimline card with lots of personality. I started by stamping the adorable yoga lady onto Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80 lb Cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink , then colored her in using my Triblend Markers . I chose marker colors to coordinate with the pattern papers I had pulled, which always makes the finished card feel extra

There’s just something so magical about fairy images, and this Clean & Simple birthday card came together beautifully using the Twinkleheart Stamp Set  from Unity Stamps Company . I stamped the fairy image twice onto Kraft 110 lb smooth cardstock , which instantly adds warmth and softness to the design. The images were colored with my TriBlend markers , then enhanced with colored pencils to add a bit more depth and detail—especially in the hair and wings. Keeping the colorin

Today I’m sharing a fun helmet-shaped birthday card  that’s perfect for any all-star in your life! I used the Football Helmet Mini Album/Card Die Set  from Scrappy Boy Stamps to create this bold red card base, and I have to say—the shape alone makes such a statement. To bring the design to life, I paired it with the Cute Kids I Love Sport Stamp Set  and the matching Outline Dies . The little football player was stamped onto Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80 lb cardstock  wi

There’s just something magical about mixing soft winter hues with a sweet little reindeer, and today’s square card brings all that cozy charm to life. I started by stamping the adorable Snugglebuck image onto Neenah Classic Crest Solar White and coloring him with my Triblend Markers —those warm browns and that bright red nose make him instantly irresistible. Once everything was dry, I used circle dies to cut out both the image and the “Stay Cozy My Dear” sentiment, giving e

Today I am sharing ten different clean and simple cards using new stamps from Unity Stamps. These stamps just came out Thursday as part of their Biggest Sale of the Year for week 2. I stamped and colored all the images using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored them using my Triblend Markers and added some fine details with my colored pencils. In this release you will find a stamps for different occasions, and themes. Some are Winter, some are Christmas and some are a

There’s something about holiday gift tags that always sparks a little extra joy for me. Maybe it’s because they’re small, quick to make, and instantly festive, or maybe it’s because I still remember helping my grandmother make tags for every single present under her tree. She always said the tag was the first “sneak peek” of the gift, so it deserved just as much attention as the wrapping itself. These Snow Wizard Holiday Gift Tags from Miss Ink Stamps brought back that same f

Every year around this time, I find myself trying to balance the joy of creating handmade Christmas cards with the reality of a busy schedule. Between shopping, decorating, and all the holiday happenings, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. That’s why I’m always looking for ways to simplify my cardmaking process without sacrificing the handmade charm I love. For this project, I turned to the Christmas Carol Collection  from Scrappy Boy Stamps  and created six quick Christmas cards

When a new month of Unity kits arrives in my mailbox, it always feels like Christmas morning. There’s something so inspiring about opening that package, seeing the red rubber in all its glory, and letting the creative ideas start flowing. This month, I couldn’t resist going all in. I pulled out the November 2025 Kit of the Month , the Uniquely Unity by Ang Kit , and the Background of the Month Kit —and challenged myself to create seven clean and layered card designs. Each car

Sometimes the simplest cards are the ones that make me smile the most. I’ve always loved the idea of clean and simple designs that still feel full of character, and today’s project does exactly that. This card features the Stuck Duck Stamp Set  and Air Mail Frame Stencils  from Miss Ink Stamps —a perfect combo for creating something minimal yet playful. I wanted the design to stay crisp and uncluttered but still have a fun focal point, and this little duct-taped duck delivere

Some mornings during the holidays, I find myself needing just one more cup  before I can even think about decking the halls or humming along to Christmas music. That little bit of caffeine seems to turn my “bah humbug” into “fa la la.” So when I pulled out the Don’t Cluck With My Coffee  stamp set from Unity Stamp Company, I couldn’t help but laugh. The sassy chicken holding her steaming cup of coffee perfectly summed up that pre-coffee holiday mood, and I knew she had to st

The holidays are full of sparkle, music, and magic—but sometimes, a little laughter is the best way to spread Christmas cheer. When I saw the Butt Cracker Fairies Collection  from Scrappy Boy Stamps,  I couldn’t resist turning it into a cheeky, one-of-a-kind Christmas card. After all, who needs Sugar Plum Fairies when you can have these sassy little guys twirling their way across a stage—or in this case, a handmade music box! This card combines a playful sense of humor with a

There’s just something about fall that makes me reach for warm kraft cardstock , a cozy cup of coffee, and a pile of pumpkin stamps. Today, I’m sharing a clean and layered card design featuring the Fall To Go Stamp Set  from Unity Stamp Company —a set that combines all my favorite things about this season: coffee, pumpkins, and that thankful feeling that comes with crisp mornings and cozy afternoons. If you’ve ever wanted to create a card with subtle dimension and texture wit

Have you ever reached that point in your holiday cardmaking where everything starts to blend together? The reds, greens, golds—all beautiful, of course—but sometimes I crave something that feels a little more special. That’s exactly where this project came from. I wanted a design that looked  impressive but didn’t require hours of precision cutting or complicated measuring. Enter the Quadruple Z-Fold Christmas Card —a fun fold design that looks like it took forever, but hones

Who’s ready to add a little shimmer to their Christmas crafting? I’ve always believed that a touch of foil can make even the simplest card design feel magical—and this one-line Santa card from The Rabbit Hole Designs proves it! I love how this project combines modern line art with classic Christmas charm, all wrapped up in layers of red, gold, and sparkle. And the best part? It’s one of those designs that looks  like it took forever, but really comes together quickly once yo

Sometimes clean and simple cards can be the trickiest to design, can’t they? You want something elegant and uncluttered—but not flat or boring. That was exactly the challenge I set out to solve with this project. I wanted to create a clean, square card design that still had plenty of interest and texture without relying on layers or busy backgrounds. The solution came in the form of some of my favorite products from Miss Ink Stamps: the Best Sort Stamp Set , Best Sort Outline