Dive In! Make a 3D Under the Sea Diorama Card

Have you ever made a card that felt like it told a whole story? That’s exactly what I set out to do with this 3D under-the-sea diorama card using some incredibly fun products from Scrappy Boy Stamps. I wanted to create a layered, interactive design that felt like peeking through an ocean window—where every layer reveals more of the underwater world.

Now, I know diorama-style cards can seem a little overwhelming at first glance. All those layers, measurements, and window openings can feel like a puzzle. But once you break it down, it’s actually a lot of fun—and such a unique way to showcase scene-building sets.

Let me walk you through what I used and a few tips I picked up while building this aquatic adventure.

Dive In! Make a 3D Under the Sea Diorama Card:

Products That Bring the Ocean to Life

For this card, I used some favorite scene-building tools from Scrappy Boy Stamps, including:

• Little Mermaid Stamp Set

• Little Mermaid Outline Die Set

• Under the Sea Scene Builder Die Set

• Shipwrecked Scene Builder Stencil

These sets are absolutely packed with charm and detail. The mermaids are adorable, of course, but the real star of this design is how beautifully all the elements work together to help you build depth—from the seaweed and coral to the shipwreck silhouettes and layered backgrounds.

I also used a set of Nested Wavy Circle Dies (from SBC) to create the stacked window effect for the diorama. Using nesting dies with varying sizes helps give each layer of the card its own little “portal” to the scene, which really adds to the dimensional feel.

Building the Layers: A Blueprint for Depth

Here’s how I approached it: I started with a top-folding square card base (5" x 5"), and then built out three separate window layers in shades of blue—light, teal, and dark. Each of these panels was scored along the sides to create a box-style dimension and then die-cut in the center with those nested wavy circles I mentioned earlier.

Cardstock Sizes:

• Card base: 5" x 10" scored at 5"

• Layer one: 8" x 5" scored on 8" side at 1/2", 1 1/2", 6 1/2" & 7 1/2"

• Layer two: 6 1/2" x 5" scored on 6 1/2" side at 3/4" & 5 3/4"

• Layer three: 6" x 5" scored on 6" side at 1/2" & 5 1/5"

• Layer four: 5" x 5"

Here’s a tip: when cutting layered windows for a diorama, skip sizes between your nested dies—this ensures you’ll see each layer distinctly and avoid having them blur together visually.

I also made a 5" x 5" back panel from Kraft Cardstock, which became the base for the deepest part of my scene. This is where I started building the sandy ocean floor using the Shipwrecked Scene Builder Stencil and a little ink blending.

Why Scene Building Works Better Back-to-Front

I learned something the hard way the first time I made a card like this—I started with the front layer and worked backward. I ended up bending pieces and trying to glue around things already in place. It wasn’t fun.

This time, I started at the back layer and worked my way forward, and it made everything smoother. By placing background elements like the shipwreck and coral first, I could layer seaweed, bubbles, and fish gradually and keep the perspective clean. Plus, I wasn’t trying to reach through tiny windows with glue on my fingers. Much less stressful!

Creating the Ocean Floor

Once I had my window layers cut and scored, I focused on building the base scene. I used Salty Ocean Distress Oxide Ink to create that beautiful watery fade in the center of the Kraft Cardstock, then layered on some Vintage Photo Distress Oxide Ink with the stencil to make a textured sandbar at the bottom.

Then I reached for the shipwreck stencil piece and blended Black Soot Distress Oxide Ink over it for contrast. It added such a nice focal point without overpowering the rest of the scene.

Pro Tip: When you’re using detailed layering stencils like this, especially on the back panel of a diorama, lightly tracing the window opening before you blend helps you know exactly where your scene will peek through.

Adding the Details: Coral, Seaweed, and Sweet Mermaids

The Under the Sea Scene Builder Dies made it so easy to add colorful accents throughout the layers. I cut out coral and seaweed from scraps of colored cardstock and tucked them into the openings—some flat, some popped up for dimension. It’s amazing how just a few little pieces of foliage can make your scene feel full and vibrant.

For the characters, I stamped three images from the Little Mermaid Stamp Set onto Hammermill Smooth Cardstock and colored them with my OLO markers. I kept the color palette cool and oceanic—greens, soft lavenders, and with pops of reds, yellow, and blue—so everything felt harmonious.

Once they were cut out with the Little Mermaid Outline Dies, I used a Glue Press and reverse tweezers to carefully place each one into the scene, again starting in the back and layering forward.

Sentiments That Make a Splash

On the front window panel, I used the stencil again to blend in some sandy texture at the bottom, then inked the edges with more Salty Ocean to help frame the card. I stamped the sentiment “Sending Oceans of Love” at the top right corner, and I love how it draws the eye through the center of the card.

I also added a little stamped mermaid and coordinating sentiment to the inside of the card base using the same ink, just to tie everything together when the recipient opens it up.

Final Touches & Finishing Tricks

Once the layers were in place and the entire diorama was adhered to the card base, I added white gel pen highlights to bring everything to life—little bubbles, highlights on the seaweed, sparkles in the mermaid hair. These tiny details might seem optional, but they really make your scene pop and add movement.

You could also add shimmer spray or clear droplets if you want to go all-out, but I kept mine a little more subtle this time.

Final Thoughts: Try Something New

If you’ve been curious about making a layered scene card, I can’t recommend this style enough. It’s easier than it looks—and honestly, once you make one, you’ll start thinking of all the other scenes you could create with the same layout. Jungle adventures, spooky Halloween woods, cozy winter cabins—the possibilities are endless.

And that’s the best part of paper crafting. You’re not just making a card. You’re building a whole world in 5x5 inches.

Let me know if you give this a try, and if you do, don’t forget to share your version—I’d love to see how your underwater world turns out.

Dive In! Make a 3D Under the Sea Diorama Card Video Tutorial:

If you have problems watching the video here on my blog you can always watch it on my YouTube Channel by Clicking here!

(Wondering what I used in this video? Everything is linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post, or in the text below. Compensated affiliate links used when possible). As always I appreciate your support of my videos!

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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