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From Stamped Mum to Fall Showstopper: Coloring Techniques for Handmade Cards
here’s something about a large floral stamp that makes me want to slow down and really play with color. For this fall card, I used the Heirloom Mum Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Company’s September 2026 Whit-Kit Card Kit, and instead of relying on a complicated card layout, I let the coloring become the star of the design. The sentiment, “Holding you close from here,” adds a heartfelt touch that makes this card appropriate for sending a little encouragement when someone you care

Rick Adkins
2 days ago


Give Your Halloween Cards a Foiled Glow Up
I love when one cardmaking technique can take a familiar stamped image and make it feel completely different. That was the idea behind these four Halloween cards. I wanted to play with the spooky images from the R.I.P. Stamp Set from Unity Stamps, but instead of simply stamping and coloring them, I decided to experiment with Deco Foil Transfer Gel Duo and see what would happen when I brought foil into the mix. The result is a collection of dramatic Halloween cards with plenty

Rick Adkins
3 days ago


This Halloween Cow Is Ready to Get Spooky!
There’s something about a Halloween card that makes me want to reach for my markers and have a little fun. For this card, I knew I wanted the stamped image to do most of the talking, so I kept the overall design clean while adding enough layers and details to make it feel special. The result is a playful Halloween card featuring the Cowstume Party Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Company, with plenty of room for coloring and a few simple details that really bring the finished desig

Rick Adkins
6 days ago


A Little Spooky A Little Sassy: An October Birthday Card
There’s something I really enjoy about making birthday cards for people born in October. You can take all those familiar Halloween colors—purple, orange, black, and a little bit of sparkle—and turn them into something that feels festive without making the card entirely about Halloween. That was exactly the direction I took with this card featuring the Bagged & Bothered Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Company. The slightly grumpy cat, bold colors, and cheeky sentiment gave me the p

Rick Adkins
Sep 3


Halloween Cardmaking Tutorial: Create a Sassy Handmade Card with Stamping and Stenciling
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

Rick Adkins
Aug 27


4 Color Blocking Techniques for Easy Fall Cardmaking
I love when a cardmaking idea looks completely different simply because I change the way I arrange my cardstock. That was the inspiration behind these four fall cards. For this project, I wanted to take a traditional autumn theme and give it a brighter, more playful feel, so I reached for a combination of Pop Tone cardstock colors from CutCardStock rather than sticking with the usual collection of deep oranges and browns. The result is four cards that use the same stamped ima

Rick Adkins
Aug 25


How to Create a Clean and Layered Halloween Card with Stamping
Halloween cards don’t always have to be packed with spooky patterns, lots of embellishments, and layers of cardstock to make an impact. For this card, I wanted to take a different approach and create something that felt clean and layered at the same time. I love that combination because it gives you the finished, polished look of a more involved card without making the design feel busy. The slightly mischievous couple from the Deadpan Devotion Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Compa

Rick Adkins
Aug 24


How to Make Clean and Simple Fall Cards with Stamping and Alcohol Markers
I’ll admit it—sometimes I love a card that doesn’t need much fuss. There’s something really satisfying about stamping one beautiful image, adding some thoughtful coloring, and letting the design breathe. That was exactly the idea behind these three fall cards featuring the Mice & Cozy Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Company. I wanted the stamped scenes and alcohol marker coloring to do most of the work, while keeping the finished cards approachable enough that a newer cardmaker co

Rick Adkins
Aug 20


How to Make a First Day of School Card with Stamping and Alcohol Markers
There’s something special about making a card for the first day of school. It’s one of those occasions where a handmade card doesn’t have to be complicated to feel meaningful. For this project, I wanted to create a clean and simple design that let the stamped image and coloring do most of the work.
I’m using the Off We Grow Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Company along with alcohol markers, but the bigger idea behind this card is one you can use with almost any stamp set in your s

Rick Adkins
Aug 13


How to Make a Halloween Card with Alcohol Markers on Kraft Cardstock
Halloween cards are one of my favorite excuses to experiment with color. They don't always have to be bright oranges and bold purples to feel festive. Sometimes a darker, moodier palette tells the story even better. That's exactly what inspired this card featuring the adorable The Coop is Haunted Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Company...

Rick Adkins
Aug 7


How to Create a Summer Beach Scene Card with Stamping and Alcohol Markers
There is something about creating summer-themed cards that instantly makes me slow down and enjoy the creative process a little more. Bright blue skies, warm sandy beaches, and playful images always remind me that handmade cards don't have to be complicated to tell a story. Sometimes all it takes is a few thoughtfully placed stamped images and a little color to transport someone to a favorite vacation memory.

Rick Adkins
Aug 4


Create a Layered Handmade Christmas Card with Stamping and Alcohol Markers
Christmas cards don't always have to be elegant or traditional. Sometimes the ones that get the biggest laugh are the ones people remember long after the holiday season is over. That's exactly what inspired today's card featuring the Merry Crisis Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Company. The whimsical Santa, adorable reindeer, and humorous sentiment immediately caught my attention, and I knew they deserved a design that felt just as fun without becoming overly busy.

Rick Adkins
Jul 30


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


Designing a Handmade Floral Encouragement Card: Ideas You Can Use with Your Own Supplies
I recently shared a full tutorial for this card over on the Unity Stamp Company blog, where you'll find the complete walkthrough featuring the Daisy Defined (July 2026 Background of the Month) Stamp Set. Rather than repeat that tutorial here, I wanted to spend some time talking about the design choices behind this card, why I made them, and how you can use the same ideas with the supplies you already have. Sometimes understanding the "why" behind a design is just as valuable

Rick Adkins
Jul 16


Handmade Patriotic Floral Card with the Where Freedom Blooms Stamp Set from Unity Stamps
There is something timeless about combining florals with patriotic colors. While stars and stripes are classic symbols of Independence Day, adding flowers creates a softer, more elegant look that works well beyond a single holiday. It's a style that feels appropriate for celebrating service members, honoring loved ones, or simply expressing appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy.

Rick Adkins
Jul 13


Float Into Summer with a Clean and Simple Relaxation Card
I recently shared a full tutorial on the Unity Stamp Company blog featuring the Cool Goose Summer Stamp Set, part of the July 2026 Whit-Kit Card Kit. In that post, I focused on the featured products and the overall project. Here on my blog, I wanted to take a different approach by sharing some of the design decisions behind the card, why I kept the layout so simple, and a few ideas for making this style work with supplies you may already have in your craft room.

Rick Adkins
Jul 9


How to Make an Encouragement Card with Stamping, Ink Blending, and Alcohol Markers
There are certain images that instantly tell a story, and lighthouses have always been one of those for me. They symbolize hope, strength, and guidance during difficult seasons, making them a natural choice for an encouragement card. When I sat down to create this project using Unity Stamp Company's A Light to Weather By {bom 6/26} Stamp Set, I wanted the finished card to feel peaceful, uplifting, and full of quiet strength without becoming overly complicated.

Rick Adkins
Jul 2


Background Stamping Techniques for Elegant Encouragement Cards
There are certain cards that seem to come together naturally, and this encouragement card was one of those projects for me. Sometimes I sit down at my craft table with a detailed plan, and other times I start with a stamp set that inspires me and let the design evolve from there. For this card, I was drawn to the beautiful floral image from Unity Stamp Company's The Good You Grow Stamp Set and knew I wanted it to be the star of the design.

Rick Adkins
Jun 25


How to Create a Clean and Simple Handmade Card with Stamping and Alcohol Markers
I love creating cards that look polished and colorful without requiring a complicated design. Sometimes the most effective cards are the ones that allow a beautiful stamped image and a fun sentiment to do most of the work. That's exactly what inspired today's project featuring the Boozy & Bougie Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Company.

Rick Adkins
Jun 18


How to Combine Pattern Paper and Stamping for Elegant Encouragement Cards
Have you ever looked at a beautiful piece of pattern paper and wondered how to use it without covering up all the details? I find that balancing patterned paper with a detailed stamped image can sometimes feel tricky. Too much pattern can compete with the focal point, while too little can leave a card feeling unfinished.

Rick Adkins
Jun 11
