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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
3 days ago


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
6 days ago


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


Use Ink Blended Edges to Frame Your Focal Image in This Handmade Card Tutorial
There are some card designs that instantly make you smile, and this one did exactly that for me. The sweet hammock image from the Time For a Pause Stamp Set immediately inspired a card centered around slowing down, relaxing, and taking a moment to breathe. In a hobby that often encourages us to create for others, I love cards that gently remind someone to take care of themselves, too.

Rick Adkins
Jun 4


How to Create a Handmade Teacher Card with Pattern Paper and Watercoloring
There’s something especially meaningful about creating a handmade teacher appreciation card. Teachers pour so much of themselves into the people around them, and I always love making cards that feel cheerful, encouraging, and full of personality for them. When I sat down to create this card, I wanted it to have a playful classroom feel while still keeping the design polished and easy to recreate with supplies many cardmakers already have in their stash.

Rick Adkins
May 28


Masculine Thank You Card Tutorial with Colored Pencils and Torn Edge Details
Masculine cards always seem to spark the same conversation in the crafting world: why are they so much harder to design? I think a lot of us naturally reach for florals, soft colors, and embellishments, so when it comes time to create a masculine thank you card, it can feel a little outside our comfort zone. That’s exactly why I wanted to make this project. I wanted to create a handmade thank you card that still felt warm and creative while using a more rustic color palette a

Rick Adkins
May 25


Clean and Layered Handmade Card Tutorial with Pattern Paper and Alcohol Markers
There’s something about cute and whimsical cards that instantly makes me smile, and this one was especially fun to create because it combines several of my favorite things—playful stamped images, bold pattern paper, bright coloring, and a clean layered design that still feels polished and detailed.

Rick Adkins
May 21


How to Create a Fun Handmade Birthday Card with Alcohol Markers and Stencils
There’s something about a clean and simple birthday card that never goes out of style, especially when you pair it with a character image that instantly makes people smile. When I sat down to create this card using the Still Kickin’ Stamp Set from Unity Stamp Company, I knew I wanted the image to do most of the storytelling. That donkey already has so much personality, so instead of adding lots of layers or embellishments, I focused on creating a soft background and keeping t

Rick Adkins
May 14


Clean and Simple Baby Cards: Easy Stamping & Embossing Techniques That Always Work
There’s something timeless about clean and simple baby cards. They have a soft, welcoming feel that works beautifully for baby showers, new arrivals, and even thoughtful keepsakes for proud parents. Whenever I sit down to create baby cards, I always find myself reaching for layouts that feel calm and balanced rather than overly layered or heavily embellished.

Rick Adkins
May 7


How to Layer Alcohol Markers and Colored Pencils for Beautiful Handmade Cards
There’s something so satisfying about creating a clean and simple handmade card that still feels rich with detail. Sometimes, the easiest layouts are the ones that really let your coloring shine, and that was exactly the goal with these two cards. I wanted each design to feel polished and complete without relying on lots of embellishments or layers, so I focused on combining alcohol marker coloring, colored pencil shading, and a few simple scoring details to add depth and tex

Rick Adkins
Apr 30


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


Clean and Simple Cardmaking Tutorial with Stamping, Stenciling, and Ink Blending
Clean and simple cards are always a favorite because they allow a beautiful focal image to shine, and this sweet design does exactly that. For today’s project, the The Hoarding of Wildflowers Stamp Set and 8-in-1 Essential Masking Stencils from Unity Stamps come together to create a cheerful handmade card with soft detail and plenty of personality. The whimsical floral image takes center stage, brought to life with bright alcohol marker coloring that contrasts beautifully aga

Rick Adkins
Apr 23
