Hi friends! It’s Charlene from Dream Craft Create, and I’m back on the SCT blog with a bright and breezy coastal card featuring some beautiful new products from Hero Arts. One of my favorite techniques is combining a stenciled background with stamped images. It’s such an easy way to add depth and visual interest to a card, and today’s project shows how seamlessly these two approaches can work together. I’ve also included a full video tutorial so you can follow along and create your seaside scene.

Supplies | Hero Arts: Coastal Blooms HeroScape Stamp & Cut, Color Layering Harbor Stencils, Hero Hues Core Ink (Sand, Wet Cement, Green Hills, Fresh Lawn, Mist, Periwinkle, Orchid); Altenew: StamPerfect Conditioner, 9″x12″ Ultra Sticky Mat: Grid, Instant Dimension Foam Tape; Spellbinders: Crystal Mix Color Essentials Gems; My Sweet Petunia: Precision Glue Press; Neenah: Solar White 80lb Cardstock; Gina K. Designs: Connect Glue

I started with the Coastal Blooms HeroScape stamp set and Neenah Solar White cardstock. For the fence base, I used Sand ink, then layered Wet Cement over the top to add detail. Solid stamps can sometimes resist ink on the first use, so I prepped mine with the Altenew StamPerfect Conditioner to ensure smooth coverage.

Next, I stamped the greenery in Green Hills and layered Fresh Lawn on top. Stamping each layer twice helped me get bold color and crisp detail. A quick tip—always start with your lightest ink first so the darker color can layer cleanly on top. I also went back and restamped the underbrush area in Moss, which brought a nice earthy contrast to the rest of the green.

For the hydrangeas, I stamped a base layer in Mist, then added detail using a combination of Periwinkle and Orchid. I applied the inks selectively using the edge of each pad to create natural-looking variation across the petals. This two-color technique is a favorite of mine because it provides a great deal of visual interest with minimal effort. After stamping, I used the coordinating dies to cut out the full scene.

To build the background, I brought in the Color Layering Harbor Stencils. These three stencils create a beach, sky, and sailboats with soft shapes and open space for blending. I reused the same ink colors—Mist, Periwinkle, Orchid, and Sand—to tie the scene together. When blending, I started light and gradually built up intensity. One helpful trick is to darken just the bottoms of the sailboats with a second color like Periwinkle. This adds subtle shading and helps them pop off the background.

Once my background was complete, I softly blended the leftover Orchid ink around the top and sides of the card. This creates a subtle frame that draws the eye toward the center of the scene. To finish things off, I trimmed down the stamped piece and used Altenew Instant Dimension Foam Tape to pop it up. I also added foam tape to the “Hello” sentiment, positioning it over the hydrangeas where the deeper colors help it stand out. A few Spellbinders Crystal Mix Gems added a little sparkle and texture!

Layering stamped images over a stenciled background is a technique I return to again and again. It’s such a great way to create depth without adding a lot of bulk. Don’t be afraid to mix elements from different sets or styles. As long as your color palette is cohesive, the whole scene will come together beautifully.

If you’d like to see exactly how the card came together and learn more tips along the way, check out the full video tutorial below! Click ‘watch on YouTube’ to open the video up in a new window so that you can hit the thumbs-up button, leave a comment, and subscribe to the SCT YouTube channel!

I hope this project inspires you to try combining stencils and stamps on your next card. Thanks so much for visiting the SCT blog today. Happy crafting!

Find more of Charlene’s creations at these links: YouTube | Instagram | Blog | Facebook