Sea-ing Is Believing: Whale-Inspired Card with Ocean Vibes!

Have you ever had a card idea come together before your coffee was even finished brewing? That was me with this card. I sat down with the Sea-ing Is Believing Stamp Set from The Rabbit Hole Designs, thinking I might just stamp out a few images for later. But the minute I saw that adorable whale, everything just clicked. I wanted something dreamy, clean, and ocean-inspired—something that looked pulled from a deep blue sea without needing a dozen layers or techniques. If you're ever short on time but still want to make something that feels special, this is a great project to try.

Finding Inspiration in a Stamp Set:

Whenever I’m working with a new stamp set, I like to flip through it slowly and take in all the possibilities. This one practically designed itself. That sweet whale is full of personality, and the additional images in the set are perfect for building a subtle background. I wanted to let the whale take center stage, but still give a sense of movement and depth—like he’s gliding through the ocean on a peaceful swim.

A trick I’ve leaned on for years when creating simple but striking backgrounds is white heat embossing on colored cardstock. It’s a great way to build layers without any bulk. For this card, I reached for a bold blue cardstock from the Kaleidoscope Smooth Cardstock Assortment Pack (Harmony Hue Paper) and embossed all but two of the images from the stamp set in white. It created an instant ocean vibe with almost no effort.

Creating Depth Without the Fuss

After embossing the background, I felt like it needed just a bit more contrast to make it pop. That’s when I pulled out my Blueprint Sketch Distress Oxide Ink and gently blended it around the edges of the panel. I love how just a touch of ink around the outside can frame the entire scene—almost like a vignette effect in photography.

Pro Tip: If you ever blend over embossing, use a dry cloth to gently buff off the ink from the raised areas. It brings back that crisp white shine and keeps everything looking clean.

Coloring the Focal Image

Now, let’s talk about the whale. I stamped him on OLO Premium Marker Blending Card and colored him using a handful of OLO Markers: B2.6, BV2.3, and BV2.2 for the body, and CG0 and CG1 for the belly. The blend turned out soft but dimensional, which is just what I was aiming for. Once he was die cut with the coordinating outline die, he was ready to shine.

And because I can’t help myself, I added a few white gel pen highlights to give him some shimmer—just enough to suggest sunlight catching on his back as he swims.

The Sentiment and Final Details

For the sentiment, I stuck with a favorite formula: white embossing on black cardstock. It’s always bold and clean, and it anchors the design perfectly. I trimmed it down, then layered it over the background panel with foam adhesive.

And yes—I popped the whale right over the top of it. He’s floating just above the sentiment, almost as if he’s diving into the scene. A few Crystal AB Rhinestones scattered around the panel added that last bit of sparkle—think tiny air bubbles catching the light.

The whole panel was matted on black cardstock (Midnight Black from Harmony Hue Paper) and adhered to a Brilliant White Smooth 110 lb A2 card base, also from Harmony Hue Paper. It’s a simple layout, but the colors and textures really do all the talking.

Why I Love This Design

There’s something special about combining clean design with just a few thoughtful techniques. Embossing, ink blending, and coloring—each one brings something unique, and when they’re used together like this, you get a result that feels polished and playful at the same time.

If you’ve ever struggled with where to start when using a new stamp set, try letting one image be the star. Build your card around it, and use other techniques—like embossing or ink blending—to support the scene without stealing the spotlight.

Wrapping It Up

I had so much fun making this card, and it reminded me how a single image (especially a charming one like this whale!) can inspire a whole scene. Whether you're just getting into card making or you've been crafting for years, there’s always joy in keeping things simple and letting the details shine.

If you give this design a try, let me know. I love seeing how others interpret the same stamp set—it’s one of my favorite parts of being in the cardmaking community.

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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