C.C. Blog — DT Rick Adkins

Creating a cozy winter card doesn’t have to feel complicated. In today’s project, we’re focusing on simple design choices that come together to create a polished winter card using the Winter Swissie Stamp Set from C. C. Designs. This card is designed with beginner-to-intermediate cardmakers in mind and highlights approachable techniques like stamping, alcohol marker coloring, pattern paper mixing, and soft ink blending. The goal is to help you feel more confident combining these elements without overwhelming your design. This winter card features a single stamped image as the focal point, framed by layered pattern paper and gentle ink blending....

Valentine’s Day cards are the perfect opportunity to mix soft color, playful imagery, and simple techniques that come together beautifully. Today’s project features the Swissie Love Stamp Set from C. C. Designs and focuses on approachable techniques that help create a polished card without feeling overwhelming. In this post, you’ll see how stamping, alcohol marker coloring, fussy cutting, dry embossing, and ink blending can work together to create a cheerful Valentine’s card that’s beginner-friendly yet visually engaging. Project Overview This card design centers around a sweet stamped image paired with a soft, heart-filled background. The layout keeps the focal image...

Hi crafty friends! Rick here, and I’m so happy to be sharing today’s project with you on the C. C. Designs blog. Clean and layered card designs are always a favorite of mine, especially when they feel cozy, intentional, and not at all complicated—and that’s exactly the vibe of this Warm Wishes card. This project was all about slowing down, enjoying the process, and letting smart choices do the work for me, especially when it came to color. Letting Pattern Paper Lead the Way One of my favorite confidence-boosting tricks in cardmaking is choosing my pattern paper first and then...

Hi friends! Rick here, and I’m so happy to be popping in on the C. C. Designs blog today to share this sweet and simple winter card. For this project, I reached for the Let It Snow Stamp Set, which has quickly become one of those sets I keep coming back to when I want something cozy and charming. The character Elisa has such a gentle expression, and she really shines when paired with soft coloring and a calm winter background. I love projects like this because they remind me that winter cards don’t have to be dark or heavy—sometimes...

Today’s post on the C.C. Designs Blog is written by Rick, and I’m excited to share a clean and simple winter card that features one of my favorite sets for cozy seasonal projects: the Henry & Twila Cocoa Stamp Set. This design is perfect if you love cards that feel polished without piling on layers, and it uses a few simple techniques to create plenty of interest. Clean and simple cards often look effortless, but there’s a lot of intentionality in the details, and this project is a great example of how small touches can transform a simple layout. Inspired...

Hi friends! It’s Rick here on the blog today, and I’m excited to share a festive card project that combines a fun fold design with one of my favorite holiday stamp sets from C.C. Designs. If you love Christmas cards that make people say “how did you make that?”—without spending hours creating them—this one’s for you. Today, we’re taking a look at the Quadruple Z-Fold Christmas Card, featuring the adorable Red Nose Stamp Set. A Reindeer That Steals the Show There’s just something about reindeer stamps that instantly feels like Christmas. The Red Nose Stamp Set captures that sweet, playful...

Hi friends! Rick here sharing a little sneak peek of the upcoming C.C. Designs October Release, and I’m so excited to show you today’s card featuring the adorable Bumbles Stamp Set. If you’ve followed my cardmaking style for a while, you know I love designs that are clean and simple but still full of character—and this one checks all the boxes. When I saw this sweet little Bumble holding his tiny star, I knew he’d be perfect for a soft, wintry background and a touch of holiday sparkle. Clean and simple Christmas cards are some of my favorites to make...

Hi friends! Rick here, and I’m excited to be sharing a project on the C. C. Designs blog today. I love Halloween cards, but sometimes I like to take a more clean and simple approach rather than piling on layers and embellishments. For this card, I reached for the adorable Vampy Family Stamp Set, and I think you’ll see why this little vampire girl stole the spotlight. Keeping It Clean and Simple One of my favorite things about clean and simple cards is how the focus stays right where it belongs—on the stamped image. The little vampire girl in the...

Hi friends, Rick here, and I’m so excited to be sharing today’s project with you on the C.C. Designs Blog. I knew the We Fly Stamp Set would be perfect for a Halloween slimline card—it captures the Sanderson Sisters’ personalities so well and gave me the chance to create a playful scene that tells a little story. Slimline cards are one of my favorite ways to showcase character stamps because the larger canvas gives you space to stretch out a background and let the images shine. Bringing the Sisters to Life I started by stamping the three witches from the...

Hi friends, Rick here sharing a fun Halloween card with you today on the C. C. Designs Blog. I reached for the Vampy Family Stamp Set and some of the pattern paper, and the combination brought such a playful vibe to this design. Whenever I create Halloween cards, I like them to feel festive and joyful rather than too spooky, and these products made that so easy to achieve. Coloring to Match Pattern Paper When I’m working with bold prints like the large polka dot pattern from any pattern paper packs, I like to let that guide my coloring. I...

Hi friends, Rick here today on the blog, and I’ve got a fun one to share! I created this bold, bright one layer card using the Crusty Stamp Set from C.C. Designs, and let me tell you—it was such a joy to make. I love when a card comes together with just a few techniques, a pop of color, and a little sparkle, especially when the end result is totally flat and mailable. Masking for a Big Impact (Without the Bulk) I’ve always been a fan of techniques that make your stamps work harder, and masking is one of those...

Hey crafty friends! Rick here today on the blog, and I’m buzzing with excitement to share a cheerful and sweet card design featuring the adorable Sweet Bees Stamp Set from C.C. Designs. If you’ve been around here for a bit, you know I love adding a little extra charm and interaction to my cards—and this book binding fun fold is one of my go-to designs. It’s such a simple structure, but it gives your card a unique flair without complicating the process. And with cute critters like these Sweet Bees, you really can’t go wrong! Why I Love the Book...