I have always enjoyed making cards for people whose birthdays fall close to a holiday because it gives me an opportunity to combine two themes in a way that feels personal. This Halloween birthday card started with that idea: instead of making a traditional Halloween card or a traditional birthday card, I wanted something that felt like both. The result is a clean and simple easel card with spooky imagery, an orange focal point, and just enough Halloween detail to make an Oct

Halloween cards are one of my favorite places to let a little personality take over. For this project, I wanted to create a card that felt playful and sassy without relying on a complicated layout. The Mildred Moonspite Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Company immediately gave me the perfect focal point, and combining it with stenciling and alcohol marker coloring allowed me to build a colorful scene while keeping the overall card design clean and easy to follow. This project is a

I love when a Christmas card can look detailed and dimensional without requiring a complicated card layout. That was the idea behind this card. I wanted the ornament to be the star of the design, but I also wanted the background to have enough interest that the card didn't feel like a plain white panel with a large die cut sitting on top. For this project, I combined stenciling, stamping, ink blending, and die cutting with several products from Emily Moore Designs. The res

Create two beautiful handmade cards using stencils, ink blending, and stamping techniques. Learn why simple layouts, white space, and thoughtful color choices create polished results—and discover ideas for adapting the designs with supplies you already own. Perfect inspiration for beginner and intermediate cardmakers looking for clean and simple card ideas.

Sometimes the simplest supplies can create the biggest impact. That's exactly what I discovered while making today's pair of handmade cards featuring two of the July free gift stencils from Miss Ink Stamps. By combining bold ink blending with clean stencil designs, I was able to create two completely different cards—a colorful zebra birthday card and a tropical-inspired hello card—without relying on complicated techniques or lots of layers.

One of the questions I hear most often from cardmakers is how to get more mileage out of the supplies they already own. Stencils are a perfect example. Many crafters think of them as background-building tools, but they can do so much more when you start looking at them as design elements rather than just patterns.

Sometimes the challenge in cardmaking isn’t what to use—it’s how to make what you already have feel fresh and interesting. I wanted to explore how stencils can do more than just add a background… how they can actually create depth and guide your entire design. For today’s project, I created two clean and simple handmade cards using stencil techniques in completely different ways. One leans soft and floral, while the other goes bold with a rainbow clover design. I walk through

Sometimes a card idea starts with a character, and other times it starts with a background. For this project, it was really the combination of both. I wanted to create a playful Alice-themed belated birthday card that felt whimsical and storybook-inspired, but still kept the design clean and simple so the focal image could shine. One challenge many cardmakers run into is figuring out how to create a background that feels interesting without overpowering the stamped image. I

Every once in a while, I like to challenge myself to keep the layout simple while letting the surface do more of the work. That was the mindset behind this Valentine card. I wanted something playful and fun, but still polished—and I also wanted to push a few techniques that many cardmakers tend to shy away from, especially when black cardstock is involved. Using Contrast to Create Visual Impact This card uses the Robo Buddies Stamp Set from the Simon Says Stamp Heart to H

One of my favorite ways to keep cards clean yet interesting is by layering stencils to create something completely custom—and this card is a perfect example of how fun that can be. I started with the Torn Paper 4 x 8 Stencil from The Rabbit Hole Designs , lightly tracing the shape onto white cardstock before adding color around the outside of the design. After lining the stencil back up and masking off the colored areas, I layered the Oh Duck 6 x 6 Stencil right over the to

Some days, you just need a card that’s cheerful, punny, and comes together with minimal stress—and that was exactly my mood when I...

Hey crafty friends! Have you ever found yourself totally inspired by your stamps but unsure how to build a background that really brings...

Every year during Pride Month, I find myself reaching for all the bold, beautiful colors in my stash. There’s just something about a...

Today, I’m sharing a project that really let me play with my stencils and put a fresh spin on some well-loved supplies. I’m talking about...

Every year, when the 4th of July rolls around, I find myself pulling out the same supplies — stars, stripes, and lots of red, white, and...

Have you ever started a card with one idea in mind, only to have it take on a life of its own? That’s exactly what happened with today’s...

Sympathy cards are never easy to make, but they’re some of the most meaningful cards we can create. Today, I’m sharing a project...

Hi friends! Welcome back to the Holiday Card Series 2024. I’m thrilled to have you here for Day 12, and today’s card might just be one of my favorites! We’re combining a playful holiday design with a super fun technique that I think you’ll love: double stenciling. This card features the Caffeinated Critters Stamp Set , the Latte Love Stencil , and the Rounded Arch Stencils , all from Miss Ink Stamps . It’s a cheerful way to bring texture and depth to your holiday cards while

Hello, crafty friends! Fall is officially here, and there’s something so comforting about crafting this time of year, especially when...

Hello, crafty friends! Today, I’m excited to share a Halloween card that’s perfect for anyone who loves a good, spooky ink-blended...