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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 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


How to Use Christmas Pattern Paper for a Romantic Handmade Card (Design Choices)
I recently shared a full tutorial over on the Unity Stamps blog featuring this sweet romantic card, and today I wanted to sit down and chat a little more about the why behind the design. If you’ve ever finished a card and thought, “Okay… but what actually made this work?”—this is that kind of post. We’re diving into the design choices, a few lessons learned along the way, and how you can take this same idea and make it your own. Design Decisions & Creative Thinking This card

Rick Adkins
Mar 26


Creative Easter Card Using the Christmas Train Die Set | Spring Card Idea
Have you ever pulled out a product that was clearly designed for one season… and wondered, could this work for something completely different? That was exactly my thought when I reached for this train die set ( Christmas Train Die Set ). It’s one I would normally associate with winter and Christmas cards—but with a few thoughtful changes, it turned into the sweetest little Easter scene. And honestly, this is one of my favorite ways to craft—finding new life in supplies I alr

Rick Adkins
Mar 17


Let the Cards Fall Where They May | Spotlight Stamping Technique
Sometimes the most interesting cards come from letting a few creative constraints guide the process. For today’s project, I pulled four prompts from my Creative Card Deck for my Draw Four Make a Card series and challenged myself to see where they would lead. The prompts gave me a technique, a color direction, and even a design rule—which meant the creative decisions were mostly made before I even picked up a stamp. The result is a spring hello card featuring a spotlight st

Rick Adkins
Mar 14


Make Your Own Patterned Paper for Stunning Birthday Cards!
Hi, crafty friends! Today, I’m excited to share a fun twist for making stunning birthday cards—by creating your own patterned paper! If...

Rick Adkins
Jun 2, 2025
