Quick and Easy Birthday Cards with Mermaid Party Stamps | Video Tutorial Included!
- Rick Adkins
- May 5
- 5 min read
Updated: May 8
Birthdays sneak up on me every single year. One minute I think I’m ahead of the game, and the next minute I’m scrambling for a fun, handmade card that doesn’t look like I threw it together last-minute. Sound familiar?
Today, I’m sharing a project that solves that problem beautifully. These quick and easy birthday cards feature the Mermaid Party Stamp Set along with a few favorite birthday sentiment sets from C.C. Designs. I designed them to be fast, colorful, and full of personality — perfect for those "uh-oh" moments when you realize you need a birthday card today. Plus, I have a video tutorial linked below if you want to see the full process in action. Let’s dive in!
Quick and Easy Birthday Cards with Mermaid Party
Supplies I Used
For these cards, I kept my supplies simple and manageable — just the way I like it when I’m aiming to make multiples. I used the Mermaid Party Stamp Set from C.C. Designs as the star of the show, paired with a mix of sentiments from both the Henry & Twila Birthday and Birthday Critters Clear Stamp Sets, also from C.C. Designs. My card bases were made with Neenah Ultra Thick Cardstock, which gives such a nice, sturdy feel to finished cards. For the colorful backgrounds, I pulled some patterned paper from the Beach Party 6x6 paper pad from my stash — though it's no longer available, I linked a similar option in the supply list below that would work just as well.
For stamping and coloring, I used Hammermill Smooth Cardstock because it pairs beautifully with alcohol markers and keeps everything crisp. I stamped my images using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, which is safe for alcohol marker coloring, and used Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink for all of the sentiments since it gives such bold, rich impressions, even on patterned paper. Coloring was done with OLO Markers (I’ll share my specific color combos below), and I finished everything off with a few white gel pen highlights and some flat-backed pearls for just a little sparkle. Of course, I had my trusty adhesives close by to pull it all together.
Pro Tip: If you’re mass-producing cards, stick with one style of card base and one or two background options. It keeps everything coordinated and speeds up assembly.
Creating a Simple Foundation: Card Bases and Pattern Paper
I always start with my card bases so everything is ready to go once the fun part — stamping and coloring — starts. For these, I used Neenah Ultra Thick Cardstock and cut them down into five top-folding A2 card bases.
Next, I grabbed some cheerful patterned paper from the Beach Party 6x6 pad. Sadly, this paper pad is no longer available, but don’t worry — I linked something similar that would work beautifully. I trimmed each piece to 4" x 5 1/4" and glued them onto the card bases.
This step gives a colorful base to build everything else on without needing a lot of extra work.
Pro Tip: When choosing your patterned paper, look for designs that are playful but not too busy. You want the background to add to the card, not fight with your stamped images.
Stamping and Coloring Those Adorable Mermaids
Now for my favorite part: stamping those sweet mermaids! Each one from the Mermaid Party Stamp Set is packed with personality, and I knew right away I wanted to give them bright, cheerful colors.
I stamped all of the images onto Hammermill Smooth Cardstock (cut down to 3 1/4" x 4 1/4") using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. Hammermill is a dream for alcohol markers — super smooth with no bleeding.
When it came to coloring, I didn’t overthink it. I picked out just a handful of OLO markers:
I used a really simple technique: lay down the lighter color first, then add just a touch of the darker shade in the shadow areas. No heavy blending needed.
Pro Tip: Keeping your coloring simple when making multiples saves tons of time. A quick two-tone shading method gives you depth without slowing you down.
When I was working on these, it reminded me of the first time I made birthday cards for my twin nieces. I spent hours adding all these tiny details… only for them to immediately ask if they could color over the cards themselves. It taught me that joy is the most important detail — not how long the card takes!
Adding Bold, Happy Birthday Sentiments
After the mermaids were colored, I pulled out my birthday sentiment stamps. Between the Henry & Twila Birthday Stamp Set and the Birthday Critters Stamp Set, there were so many fun options to choose from.
I kept things simple by stamping the sentiments directly onto the patterned paper backgrounds using Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink. This ink gives such a rich, crisp result, especially over textured surfaces like patterned paper.
Mixing up the sentiments on each card made the set feel a little more personal without adding any extra work.
Finishing Touches That Make a Big Impact
To pull everything together, I adhered each colored mermaid panel onto its card base. A few tiny highlights with a white gel pen on their cheeks and tails made the images pop without needing extra layers or embellishments.
Of course, I couldn’t resist a little sparkle. I added just a few Pastel Iridescent Pearls around each sentiment — enough to catch the light but not overwhelm the design.
Pro Tip: When you're short on time, focus your embellishments around your focal point. It draws the eye exactly where you want it to go and makes the whole card feel intentional.
Final Thoughts: Why I’ll Be Making These Again
I love how these birthday cards turned out. They’re quick, colorful, cheerful — and best of all, they still feel special.
Having a handful of cards like this ready to go makes such a difference when birthdays sneak up, and it feels so good knowing I can whip up even more in just an afternoon if needed.
If you’re looking for a way to build your birthday stash without stress, I hope these ideas inspire you to grab your stamps and get crafty.
You can check out the full video tutorial below to see how it all came together!
Happy card making, friends!
Quick and Easy Birthday Cards with Mermaid Party 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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