Floral Cardmaking with The Rabbit Hole Designs | January 2026 Release

Sometimes a card comes together not because it’s complicated—but because the design decisions are clear from the start. That was exactly the case with this floral card using the January 2026 release from The Rabbit Hole Designs. I wanted something that felt fresh and sassy, with enough visual interest to feel special, but simple enough that it could easily be recreated with supplies you already own.

This project is a great example of how letting pre-designed elements do some of the work can lead to a polished, confident handmade card.

Letting Ephemera Be the Star

The large floral on this card comes from the Mum’s the Word Ephemera Pack, and it was the starting point for the entire design. Ephemera is often thought of as a “finishing touch,” but here, I treated it as the focal image—and that decision shaped everything else.

Using a large ephemera piece instantly solves a few common cardmaking challenges:

• No need to color or shade a complex image

• Built-in dimension and layering

• A finished look without extra steps

This is especially helpful for clean and simple card designs, where one strong element can carry the whole card.

Why Heat Embossing Still Matters

While the floral itself is ephemera, I used heat embossing on the sentiment from the Sassy Sentiments Southern Edition Stamp Set. Embossing adds contrast and clarity, which is especially important when working with patterned backgrounds or layered elements.

A teaching takeaway here: heat embossing isn’t just decorative—it helps stamped sentiments stand out and feel intentional, even on busy or colorful cards.

Pattern Paper as a Supporting Layer

The background comes from the Watercolor Bubbles 6x6 Paper Pack, and I intentionally used it in a controlled way. Instead of covering the entire card front, I layered it behind a clean white panel. This keeps the design balanced while still adding color and movement.

Soft, organic patterns like these watercolor-style bubbles are ideal when you want interest without distraction. They complement florals beautifully and work well for both bold and minimal card styles.

Teaching Moments to Take With You

This card highlights a few reusable design principles you can apply again and again:

• Ephemera can be a focal point, not just an accent

• Heat embossing adds definition and polish to sentiments

• Pattern paper works best when it supports the design, not overwhelms it

These ideas aren’t tied to specific products—they’re adaptable to almost any stash.

Easy Ways to Adapt This Design

If you want to make this layout your own, here are a few simple swaps:

• Replace the floral ephemera with a large stamped or die-cut image

• Use a solid cardstock mat instead of pattern paper

• Try a different sentiment style for birthdays, encouragement, or thank-you cards

• Add subtle texture with twine, thread, or foam adhesive

Once you understand why the layout works, it becomes much easier to customize it confidently.

Final Thoughts

This card is a great reminder that handmade doesn’t have to mean complicated. Thoughtful choices—like using ephemera as a focal point and embossing a sentiment for contrast—can create a finished, professional look with very little effort.

If you’ve ever felt unsure about using ephemera or pattern paper, I hope this project encourages you to give it another try. Simple, intentional designs can be just as impactful as more detailed ones.

Thanks for dropping by today I hope that you found a little spark of creative inspiration with my project today. 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 Crafting,

Rick Adkins

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