3 Easy Cardmaking Techniques Using January Collections

If you love handmade cards that feel playful, polished, and full of personality—but don’t want complicated steps—this one’s for you. Our January Collections are designed to make cardmaking fun and approachable, with bold imagery, smart layering, and charming details that come together quickly.

In today’s inspiration, Channin is demonstrating three easy cardmaking techniques using the Packed with Love, All That, and What a Ride collections. These techniques are perfect for Valentine’s Day cards, friendship cards, and everyday encouragement, and they’re flexible enough to use all year long.

Channin's video focuses on simple layouts, playful details, and stunning results that give you designs that look impressive but are totally achievable.

Partial inking—sometimes called multi-inking—is a simple technique that adds shading and dimension using just ink. This method works best with solid stamps, making it a perfect match for the bold imagery in the Packed with Love collection.

For this birthday card, only portions of the stamps were inked with a darker shade to create natural-looking depth. You can see this especially well on the fish and mermaid tail, where selective inking adds contrast without needing markers or coloring tools.

This card also features a standout detail: the sardine tin lid, cut from silver metallic cardstock. The metallic shine looks incredibly realistic and adds instant texture, making the focal image feel almost tangible.

Partial inking is a great option when you want detailed-looking cards without investing extra time. Be sure to watch Channin's tips in the video for achieving a smooth blend of color.

Offset stamping is a simple trick that delivers big impact, especially for bold sentiments. This technique involves stamping the same image twice, slightly shifting the position to create a shadow or layered effect.

Using the All That collection, the sentiment was first stamped in Intens-ified Black Ink to create a solid base. The stamp was then shifted slightly and overstamped with Unicorn Pigment Ink, and heat embossed with white embossing powder. The result is a crisp, dimensional sentiment that immediately draws the eye.

While this technique works beautifully for large messages, it can also be used on other stamped elements for added depth and interest.

Offset stamping is an excellent choice for adding dimension without adding bulk to your cards, which will make them mail-friendly without extra postage.

What ties these three techniques together is their flexibility. Each one can be adapted for different occasions, color palettes, and card styles while still keeping your workflow efficient.

Across all three January collections, you’ll notice:

• Bold designs that work well with minimal layers.

• Techniques that can be repeated across multiple cards.

• A balance of playful details and clean layouts.

Whether you’re making one special card or creating several at once, these techniques give you dependable results with room to personalize. These are techniques you’ll reach for again and again—because great handmade cards should feel just as joyful to make as they are to give.

Happy crafting!