Right as Rain - Cardmaking and Scrapbooking with Jean Manis

Tropical and Beach Card Inspiration

Hello! Take a creative escape to paradise with this collection of tropical and beach-inspired handmade cards! Whether you’re looking for ideas for scene-building, tropical color palettes, or coastal-inspired designs, this roundup gathers together some of my favorites. With tropical and beach-themed products appearing in stores again, it’s the perfect time to take stock of what’s already in your stash, revisit old favorites, and identify any gaps in your collection for summer crafting.

Click on any photo to visit the original post for additional details and project information. Please note that some of the products used may no longer be available, as this roundup is intended to provide inspiration rather than serve as a current shopping guide.

From playful flamingos to two interpretations of the same cockatoo die, these cards explore tropical imagery through bold teal and pink palettes.

These Lawn Fawn beach scenes showcase two versions of seaside living. One is a tidy coastal cottage, and the other is a more rustic shack with laid-back island character.

This Instax-inspired camera card captures the feel of vacation snapshots with two tiny beach scenes tucked into the photo frames.

This card takes a whimsical approach to tropical crafting with gnomes enjoying a sunny day at the beach.

The roundup concludes with two watercolored cards, one capturing the quiet relaxation of beach chairs facing the water and the other offering a whimsical moment with a cat drinking from a fishbowl.

Seeing these cards reminded me how much I enjoy tropical imagery and beach escapes on paper, making this a fun time to pull out longtime favorites and consider what new products might complement them.

Hello There Slimline Flamingo Card

Hello! Today, I’m sharing a clean and simple slimline card featuring a fun flamingo from Tim Holtz paired with a bold die-cut sentiment that says “hello there.” The CAS design lets the image and pattern do all the work.

- Create a card base measuring 3 3/8″ x 6 3/4″.
- Cover the base from the top with patterned paper. The paper I used was a 6″ square, but because of the sentiment, that was not an issue.
- Die-cut the flamingo with the Gladys Colorize set from cardstock and assemble.
- Die-cut the sentiment with a die in the Bold Text 1 set from cardstock. Cut a rectangle measuring the width of the card and tall enough for the sentiment, and cut the sentiment again. Inlay the letters from the first cut into the rectangular piece. Adhere to the base of the card.
- Add the flamingo.

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Elizabeth Craft Designs | Camera Album

Hello! Today, I’m sharing the first page of a mini album created with the Camera and Suitcase Build a Book die set from Elizabeth Craft Designs. Designed to create a camera-shaped (or suitcase) album, this clever die set offers many opportunities for storytelling and creativity. For my cover, I included the adorable little mouse as a playful focal point and used patterned paper on the camera body to add color. To build a cohesive look, I plan to seek out a coordinated paper collection for the inside pages. I’m looking forward to adding more pages.

- Cut the mouse from Soft Finish cardstock and color with Distress Oxide inks (Black Soot, Spun Sugar, Tea Dye, and Candied Apple). Assemble. I used the Aloha Accessories set to cut the sunglasses.
- Cut the camera body from a variety of cardstock colors and assemble. I built up the lens with foam so that the mouse could be placed inside.

Don’t want to make an album? Cut off the side section with the binding holes.

Affiliate links are used when available at no extra cost to you. I’ve discontinued my Linkdeli lists. From now on, I’ll share product links directly within my posts where needed. Previous posts will still include Linkdeli lists, and I’ll be working through updating older content over time.

Elizabeth Craft | Feathered Friends Hello

Hello! I’m back playing with the Elizabeth Craft Designs Birds & Dwellings die set. This time, I took a different approach from my previous card featuring the birdhouse and two cardinals. For today’s design, I chose the bird cage and paired it with two sweet birds, all die cut from watercolor paper that I colored with Distress Sprays. A dry-embossed background adds texture without competing with the focal elements. I finished the design with a tucked-away “hello” tag sentiment for a subtle finishing touch.

- Dry-emboss solid cardstock with an embossing folder. I used the now-retired Sizzix Tim Holtz Floral folder. Add panel to an A2-size card base.
- Using a die in the Essential Stylish Ovals set from Spellbinders, cut an oval from vellum.
- Cut watercolor cardstock, colored with Distress Sprays, with the Birds & Dwellings dies for the birds, birdcage, and florals. Assemble and add to the oval. Add the assembly to the card base.
- Stamp the sentiment (now-retired SU Timeless Tropical set) and cut it with a small tag die (now-retired MFT tag set).

A quick note: I’ve discontinued my Linkdeli lists. From now on, I’ll share product links directly within my posts where needed. Previous posts will still include Linkdeli lists, and I’ll be working through updating older content over time. Affiliate links are used when available at no extra cost to you.

Spellbinders | Stars, Stripes & Celebration

Hello! I’m sharing a card made with bonus items from the Spellbinders Crate, an embossing folder and die set, and it felt like the perfect project to celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday. The background was created using a fireworks embossing folder, which instantly sets a festive tone. For the focal point, I filled an Uncle Sam hat with florals, an American flag, and a firework, creating a design that feels both patriotic and celebratory. I finished the card with a subtle BetterPress sentiment that complements the design without detracting from the focal image.

Affiliate links are used when available at no extra cost to you.