Sometimes it’s the tiniest details that make the biggest splash! ☀️ For today’s card project, I started with a clean base using the Waffle Flower Postage Collage Beach Days stencil—but instead of pairing it with the coordinating postage die, I opted for a dreamy photo montage look. The result? A playful beachy card that feels like a collection of snapshots from your favorite summer vacation. 📸
To bring this project to life, I focused on layering color, texture, and embellishments in each tiny scene. Here’s how those extra touches turned a simple design into a little masterpiece:
🌈 Ombre Ink Blending with Altenew Inks
Each panel got its own ombre moment, thanks to some smooth blending with my Altenew inks. The fade from light to dark helps create depth and adds visual interest without crowding the design.
🏖️ Textured Sand for Realistic Detail
To bring the beach scene to life, I added texture to the sand by making small dots with a stylus. This part took a bit of time, but it was definitely worth it!
✨ Shine & Dimension with Lunar Paste
I used Lunar Paste to color the beach umbrellas and add shine to the final stencil layers of the ocean and sailboat. That bit of shimmer catches the light just right and gives the card movement—like the sun dancing off the waves.
💖 Enamel Dot Accents
To top off the umbrellas, I used enamel dots from Hero Arts for a pop of 3D fun. I also lined the yellow umbrella pole with turquoise enamel dots—just a playful detail that reminds me of those decorative beach setups at fancy resorts.
🍟 Rock Candy Glitter = Salty Fries
For the French fry panel, I added dots of glue on top and sprinkled Tim Holtz Distress Rock Candy Glitter to mimic sea salt. Mmmm, who doesn’t love salty fries?
😎 The Fancy Seagull
The seagull might be my favorite part. I die cut a pair of sunglasses from the Hero Arts July Card Kit of the Month using glitter paper, then popped them onto my feathered friend. Suddenly she’s strutting in style like a birthday queen.
After stamping my sentiment in black ink, I added photo corners with black cardstock to the edges of my panel to enhance the playful photo feel of this card. To finish it off, I created a simple background using the Waffle Flower Sea Foam stencil by inking the edges of my card panel with a lighter ink color, then rotating the stencil and inking again with a darker shade. I popped up the white panel with craft foam and adhered it to the card base—and that completed my card!
Supplies Used:
- Waffle Flower Postage Collage Beach Days Stencil
- Waffle Flower Sea Foam Stencil
- Altenew Inks (ombre blending)
- Simon Hurley Lunar Paste
- Hero Arts Enamel Dots + July 2025 Card Kit (sunglasses)
- Tim Holtz Distress Rock Candy Glitter
What’s your favorite way to add that extra something to your cards? I’d love to hear your go-to finishing touches!
Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!
❤️ Denise
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