Otterly Adorable Vacation Card Using The Rabbit Hole Designs Stamps & Stencil

There’s just something about crafting vacation-themed cards that makes me feel like I’m stealing a few moments of sunshine at my craft desk. When I sat down to create this card, I wanted something playful, light-hearted, and totally beachy. I also wanted to make a fun fold that felt like a mini scene you could step into—kind of like opening a little paper portal to paradise. And this otter? He stole the show. Sunglasses, drink in hand, total vacation mode. I used the Otter Play Stamp Set, Otter Play Outline Dies, and the Overlapping Circles 6x6 Stencil—all from The Rabbit Hole Designs—to bring this little vacation story to life. If you’re like me and love adding movement and surprise to your cards without complicated steps, this square fun fold is a fantastic option. Let’s talk about how it came together.

Otterly Adorable Vacation Card Using The Rabbit Hole Designs Stamps & Stencil:

Layered Ink Blending That Looks Like Water

I love using stencils in creative ways to add interest without bulk, and the Overlapping Circles 6x6 Stencil is one of my favorites from The Rabbit Hole Designs for water effects. I started by ink blending a piece of Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80lb Cardstock with Waterfall Ink from Pinkfresh Studio. Then I rotated the stencil and blended Turquoise Ink, followed by another rotation and blend with Paradise Ink.

This layered stencil technique adds a subtle but dynamic ripple effect—perfect for giving your scene that beachy, by-the-water vibe. It’s one of my go-to background tricks, especially when I want the stamped images to pop against something soft but interesting. Pro tip: using multiple tones of the same color family keeps things cohesive and avoids a muddy blend.

The Otter, the Sign, and Tropical Vibes

The Otter Play Stamp Set is full of personality, and I knew right away I wanted the otter with the sunglasses and drink front and center. I stamped him, the vacation sign, and the tropical plant images using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink on my trusty Neenah 80lb Cardstock and reached for my Ohuhu Brush Markers.

Here’s a fun thing I do: I always stamp a few extra of the smaller accent images—like the tropical plants—while I’m at it. It gives me flexibility during layout and saves time for future cards. Once everything was colored, I used the coordinating Otter Play Outline Dies to cut them out.

These dies cut beautifully—nice and tight to the image, which gives the whole card a polished feel. And using dies for your scene-building elements makes it so much easier to play around with composition before committing with adhesive.

Simple Square Fun Fold for Big Impact

Let’s talk card base. I wanted this card to open in a fun and unexpected way but still fit in a standard envelope, so I went with a square tri-fold design. I used two pieces of Neenah Ultra Thick Cardstock (4.25” x 8.5”), scored at 4.25” and layered together, trimming one panel slightly so it folds cleanly. It creates this interactive flap that opens to reveal a surprise scene or sentiment inside.

It’s easy to make and adds an extra layer of charm. On the inside flap, I softly blended Waterfall Ink through the Overlapping Circles Stencil and stamped “Have an Otter-ly Amazing Day” with Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink. That little pop of pattern on the inside adds a nice detail without distracting from the main message.

And because I can’t help myself, I added another little scene to the interior panel—this time with the crab, suitcase, and “Just an-otter day in paradise” sentiment stamped in Turquoise Ink. It's like the B-side of a great album—just as good, but hidden behind the fold.

A Framed Scene That Feels Like a Snapshot

I wanted the front of the card to feel like a mini snapshot—so I created a frame using my nested square and frame dies, cut from Neenah Ultra Thick Cardstock and ink blended with the same trio of Pinkfresh Studio inks to match the background.

Framing the panel this way draws the eye in and gives your layout a finished look. It’s a great way to highlight a small scene or focal image when you’re working with cute critters like this otter. Once the background panel was glued to the front flap, I used 2mm foam strips to pop up the frame for added dimension.

Then it was all about scene building: I tucked tropical plants into three corners, added the vacation sign to the bottom left, and popped the otter right in the center. Using foam adhesive for each image gave the scene depth without making it bulky.

Finishing Touches That Make It Shine

Before I called it done, I pulled out two of my favorite card-finishing tools: a White Gel Pen and Stardust Stickles. A few highlights on the otter and the plants really helped the images come to life. And those subtle sparkly touches? They catch the light in the best way.

This card came together with so much joy—between the playful design, the sweet stamped images, and the interactive fold, it’s one of those cards I know will bring a smile before it’s even opened.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a unique card layout that’s easy to customize and packs a big punch, this square fun fold is one to try. Pair it with cute critters like the Otter Play Stamp Set and a smartly layered stencil background, and you’ve got a vacation in a card.

I hope this project inspired you to look at your stencils and fun fold bases in a new way. Don’t be afraid to rotate, layer, and mix things up—you never know when a ripple stencil might turn into the perfect water effect for your next scene card.

As always, thanks for stopping by. I can’t wait to see what you create!

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 Stampin'

Rick Adkins

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