You Mermaid It! Fun Congrats Card Featuring Salty Air from The Rabbit Hole Designs!

A Splashy Way to Say “Congrats!” There’s something about mermaids that just makes everything feel magical, right? Lately, I’ve been reaching for stamps that bring a little whimsy to my card designs, especially when I want to break away from the usual florals or geometric patterns. This card came together when I needed a fun, cheerful way to say “congrats” to a friend who just landed her dream job—talk about mermaid magic!

I reached for the Salty Air Stamp Set from The Rabbit Hole Designs and instantly knew it would be perfect. The mermaid in this set has such a confident, happy vibe to her, and the “Congrats You Mermaid It!” sentiment sealed the deal for me. It’s the kind of playful message that adds a smile before the card is even opened.

You Mermaid It! Fun Congrats Card Featuring Salty Air from The Rabbit Hole Designs!

Why a Mermaid Card?

Let’s face it—traditional congratulations cards can start to feel a little, well, expected. I wanted something with personality, something that felt like it was made just for her. That’s where this card really shines. It’s light-hearted, full of texture and dimension, and the imagery feels uplifting without being too serious.

When you're designing a congratulations card, think beyond caps and diplomas. Is your recipient a beach lover? Someone who likes quirky humor? This kind of stamp set lets you tailor your card to reflect their personality while still keeping it clean and classy.

Pro Tip: Whimsical stamps like this one are great for more than just congrats cards—swap the sentiment for “Sorry I Flipped Out” or “Fish Your Were Here” and you've got a whole new design direction.

Coloring & Character

For this card, I stamped out the mermaid and one of the supporting images (like the seaweed and anchor) onto Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80 lb Cardstock. This paper is my go-to when I’m using alcohol markers—it holds up beautifully and keeps the blends smooth.

I used a mix of Ohuhu Honolulu Brush Markers, pulling from both the 48-color set and the 36-piece skin tone set. These markers are surprisingly smooth, especially for their price point, and the color range in the skin tone set is amazing for bringing life to character stamps.

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that a few white gel pen highlights go a long way. I like to add just a few dots to the hair or cheeks and trace along the edges of the tail fins for that extra pop. It brings a little light back into the design and gives your images that polished look.

Let Texture Do the Talking

Once the images were colored and die cut using the Salty Air Outline Die Set, I turned my attention to the background. I embossed a panel of the same Neenah cardstock using an embossing folder from my stash—any soft wave or ripple design would work here to keep the aquatic theme flowing.

Embossing is such an underrated design trick. It adds interest and depth to your card without adding more layers or visual clutter. Especially when working with a clean layout, that little bit of texture can go a long way in elevating your finished design.

I mounted the embossed panel onto a standard A2 card base made from Neenah Ultra Thick Cardstock, which is my favorite for sturdy card bases that hold up to heavier embellishments.

Layout and Dimension

When it came time to assemble, I kept things simple: the sentiment was stamped right above the embossing using Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink, which is my go-to for crisp, bold stamping. I placed the mermaid on the right-hand side of the card front using foam adhesive for a bit of lift and tucked the seaweed and anchor in just below the sentiment.

Pro Tip: Always build your scene around your sentiment, not the other way around. The sentiment is your message—everything else should support it, not compete with it.

To finish the card, I added a few sparkly embellishments around the sentiment using Holographic Silver Sparkle Spots from Trinity Stamps. They catch the light just enough to draw your eye without distracting from the main image.

Make It Your Own

One of the best things about this card layout is how flexible it is. You can change the colors, swap out the background texture, or even create a shaker panel with the same focal elements. The mermaid steals the show, but she plays well with different design styles depending on how you want to personalize your project.

If you’re ever stuck in a creative rut, try starting with a fun sentiment like this one and build your card around it. It’s amazing how much easier the design flows when you have that one anchor point in place.

Wrap-Up

This card was such a joy to make, and even more fun to give. It’s bright, playful, and packed with details without feeling overwhelming. Whether you're sending congratulations, a cheerful hello, or just a little encouragement, the Salty Air Stamp Set from The Rabbit Hole Designs has plenty of personality to help you say it in style.

Thanks so much for stopping by today—I hope this post inspired you to dive into something a little different for your next card project!

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

Affiliate Disclaimer:

Just a friendly reminder, as part of my commitment to transparency, please note that some of the links provided maybe affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your support is truly appreciated!

Additionally, I kindly ask that you always accept the tracking cookie for the affiliate websites. Rest assured, this will not in any way expose your computer to viruses or compromise your information. It's simply necessary for the company to attribute the sale to the affiliate, ensuring creators like myself receive their rightful commissions.

Your trust and support enable me to continue sharing creativity through my email lists, blog, and YouTube channel. Thank you for being a valued part of our crafting community!