Today, I’m excited to share a card that’s all about celebrating the fun and playful side of Halloween without overcomplicating things! If you’re like me, you love Halloween but also appreciate a project that’s quick to put together, yet still makes an impact. This clean and simple Trick or Treat card was created with two fabulous stamp sets from The Rabbit Hole Designs: Spooky Sightings and Jack of All Faces. It’s the perfect design for anyone looking to create a spooky yet polished Halloween card.
Sometimes we get caught up in adding all the bells and whistles to our cards, and while that’s fun, I wanted to keep this card simple to show that clean designs can still pack a punch. Let’s dive into the details!
Clean & Simple Trick or Treat Card:
Focusing on the Main Elements
When I first sat down to create this card, I knew I wanted to highlight the adorable pumpkin with the witch’s hat from the Spooky Sightings Stamp Set. There’s something about the way the pumpkin sits with that hat—it's playful yet a little spooky, which is exactly what I love about Halloween crafting.
I also wanted to incorporate the moon and clouds from the same set because they added just the right amount of background interest without needing extra layers or complexity. Using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink on Neenah Solar White 80 lbs Cardstock ensured that I got crisp, clean stamped images to work with.
Pro Tip: When stamping, I always make sure to use a stamping tool for perfect alignment—especially when I’m working with multiple images. It’s a small step that saves time and eliminates any frustration from mis-stamping!
Adding Color with Ohuhu Markers
Next came the coloring, which, for me, is the most relaxing part of cardmaking. I reached for my Ohuhu Oahu Markers, which are budget-friendly and provide smooth blending, even if you’re not working with top-of-the-line alcohol markers. I love that these markers allow you to get professional-looking results without breaking the bank. Plus, they have a great range of colors, which makes them perfect for seasonal cards like this one.
For the pumpkin, I wanted a rich, warm orange that contrasted nicely with the deep grays I used on the witch’s hat. The moon and clouds were a mix of soft yellows and violets to keep the spooky vibe going, but with a soft touch.
Story Time: Coloring always brings me back to the early days of my cardmaking journey when I wasn’t quite sure which tools to invest in. I used to think I needed all the fancy, expensive markers to get that perfect blend. It wasn’t until I experimented with more budget-friendly options like Ohuhu that I realized it’s more about technique than the price tag. You can still get beautiful results—don’t let your tools hold you back!
Framing the Scene with Subtle Blending
Now, I’m all about keeping the focus on the main image in clean and simple designs, but sometimes a little ink blending can elevate a card without overwhelming it. For this card, I used one of the Background Basics Stencils from Penny Black—a rectangle stencil that perfectly frames the stamped images and draws the eye toward the center.
Using my CottonTail Blending Brush and Black Soot Distress Ink and a little Villainous Potion Distress Ink, I carefully blended around the top and sides of the stencil to create a soft vignette effect. This really made the pumpkin and moon pop, giving the card a bit of dimension while maintaining its clean lines.
Pro Tip: When blending, start light and build up your color slowly. It’s easier to add more ink than to take it away, so be patient and let the depth develop gradually. Plus, using a light hand helps you avoid those harsh ink lines we’ve all experienced at some point!
Finishing Touches with Gel Pen Highlights and Embellishments
Once the blending was complete, I added a few highlights using my trusty Uni-Ball White Signo Gel Pen. These little pops of white really brought the images to life, especially on the pumpkin and the witch’s hat. Sometimes, just a few small highlights can make all the difference in adding depth and dimension to your colored images.
To finish off the card, I decided to add a bit of texture with Matte White Enamel Dots from The Rabbit Hole Designs. But I wanted the dots to match my color scheme, so I colored them using the darkest orange, violet, and black markers from my Ohuhu set. It’s a small detail, but it really pulls the whole design together and gives the card a cohesive look.
Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to customize your embellishments! If you don’t have enamel dots in the exact color you need, grab an alcohol marker and color them yourself. It’s a great way to stretch your supplies and make sure everything coordinates perfectly.
The Sentiment and Final Assembly
No Halloween card is complete without a fun sentiment! For this card, I kept it simple with a “Trick or Treat” sentiment stamped in Clementine Ink on a scrap of Neenah Solar White 80 lbs Cardstock. To add a bit of visual interest, I cut a diagonal edge on one side of the sentiment strip before attaching it to the card front using 1mm foam tape. I love how the foam tape gives just enough dimension to make the sentiment stand out without overpowering the design.
Finally, I mounted the card front onto an A2 top-folding card base cut from Neenah Solar White Ultra Thick Cardstock. And just like that, the card was done—a clean, simple, and spooky design that’s perfect for Halloween!
Final Thoughts
This Trick or Treat card was such a joy to make, and I hope it inspires you to create your own clean and simple Halloween cards this season. Whether you're a fan of detailed designs or prefer something more minimal, I encourage you to play around with your supplies and see what works for you. Remember, cardmaking is all about having fun and experimenting!
Oahu Color Combinations:
Pumpkin: YR696, YR892, YR792
Witch’s Hat: CG071, CG080, CG090, CG130 (hat); G190, G189, G185, G289 (bow)
Moon and Clouds: Y494, Y495, Y583 (moon); V289, V380, V369, ZER0 (clouds)
Large Flower - V289, V380, V369
Small Flowers - FY020, YR496, YR596, YR792
Leaves - G190, G189, G185, G289
Wood - E367, E645, E644
Metal - WG170, WG180, WG190, WG200
Thank you so much for stopping by today, and I can’t wait to see how you take these ideas and make them your own! Wondering what I used in this project? Everything is linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails in the Materials Used section, or in the text below. Compensated affiliate links used when possible.
Materials Used:
Here you will find the list of supplies that I used to create today's card. All supplies are linked to supply sources below. Compensated affiliate links may be used at no cost to you.
Happy Stampin'
Rick Adkins
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