This adorable octopus from the Scrapbook.com Coastal Charm die set became my star, but here's the thing: I didn't want it to feel overly precious or childish. The challenge was balancing that cute factor with vintage sophistication. The solution? Pull from three different paper pads to create a cohesive palette of teals, blues, and browns. Add distressed ephemera. Let a fish dictionary page tell a story that connects to the octopus. Suddenly, cute becomes charming and thoughtful.

The result is a card with serious dimension (multiple layers building depth) and natural movement (those tentacles guide your eye around the design in the most delightful way).

Dimension & Movement: Making It Work

Before I dive into the how, let me share what makes this card successful.

Dimension is the physical and visual depth you create through layering, foam adhesive, and strategic placement. Movement is the path your eye takes as it travels around the design—it should feel effortless and natural.

For this card, the octopus creates both. Those curved tentacles holding hearts? They create organic flow and visual rhythm. The multiple layers beneath—nested labels, patterned papers, ephemera—build depth that makes the whole composition feel rich and collected. When dimension and movement work together, your card feels alive and engaging instead of flat and static.

Here's how to apply these techniques:

Creating Physical Dimension:

• Use multi-layer die cuts (like the 2-layer octopus) for instant depth
• Layer background papers and ephemera to build richness
• Add foam adhesive to key elements to create actual height
• Nest shapes within shapes (labels, borders) for visual depth

Creating Movement:

• Choose focal images with curves and organic shapes (tentacles!)
• Position elements to guide the eye on a journey around the card
• Use placement strategically—hearts at tentacle ends draw the eye outward
• Avoid rigid symmetry when you want flow and energy

Balancing Cute with Sophistication:

• Use muted, vintage color palettes instead of bright primaries
• Add distressed ephemera and dictionary pages for storytelling
• Sand edges for worn, collected character
• Pull colors from multiple sources for a curated, intentional feel

In my mixed media work, I'd build this depth with texture paste and modeling paste, and create movement through paint drips or gestural marks. Here, dimension comes from thoughtful paper layering and die cut construction, while movement flows from the shapes I chose and how I positioned them. Different tools, same principles.

Building the Card

Step 1: Create Your Star with Built-In Dimension

I started with the adorable octopus from the Coastal Charm die set. The die has 2 layers, which makes it perfect for adding depth and interest right from the start. I cut the base layer from a darker shade and the top layer from a lighter shade of the same color using solid cardstock from the Festive Duo Paper Pad. This creates instant dimension and visual interest.

Step 2: Add Playful Movement

The set comes with two hearts, and I immediately thought it would be cute for the octopus to hold them—one in each tentacle. I cut them from patterned paper from the Vintage Paper Pad. This positioning isn't just adorable; it creates movement. Your eye follows those tentacles out to discover the hearts.

Step 3: Ground Your Focal Point

To anchor the octopus, I die cut 2 of the Nested Vintage Label dies from paper in the Yuletide Paper Pad. I sanded the edges of these to give them a distressed vintage feel. This creates a foundation that grounds the playful octopus while adding to that collected, vintage aesthetic.

Step 4: Build Background Layers for Depth

The background layers are where dimension really builds. I included an ephemera ticket, a border cut from blue cardstock using the Coastal Borders die set, and several pieces of patterned paper from the Vintage Paper Pad layered together. When I saw the paper with the fish dictionary piece on it, I knew it was perfect—it tells a story that connects to the octopus and adds that thoughtful detail that elevates the design.

Step 5: Create Color Harmony

Here's something important: I used 3 different paper pads for this card to get the combination of colors I wanted. Teals, blues, and browns give an otherwise cute image a touch of vintage sophistication. Don't be afraid to pull from multiple collections to create the exact palette you're after. Cohesion comes from thoughtful color selection, not from using a single product line.

Step 6: Finishing Touches

I added a couple of Tim Holtz Postmarked stickers to enhance the vintage, collected feel. The sentiment—"love you the most" from the Scrapbook.com Wordfetti Best Day Ever stamp set—finishes off the theme perfectly.

Coming Up in This Series

This is the third of four cards I'm sharing using Scrapbook.com Exclusives—each exploring paper-only cardmaking from a different angle:

• Card 1: Halloween card — Character & Whimsy
• Card 2: Christmas card — Foundation & Focal Points
• Next: Thinking of You — Vintage Vibes (coming Thursday!)

Each card taught me something different about design principles that work across any style, mixed media or not.

Let's Connect!

Ready to create your own? Grab these Scrapbook.com exclusives using the supply list below.

I'd love to hear from you: What draws you more—cute and playful designs or sophisticated vintage aesthetics? Or do you love mixing them like I do? Drop a comment!

If you make this card, please tag me—I absolutely love seeing your versions!

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Supply List

Below you can find the supplies I used to create this card. When you shop through those links—whether you purchase that exact item or something else entirely—you're supporting me at no extra cost to you. The commission I receive helps me cover the costs of my blog and other expenses, and allows me to continue to provide you with FREE inspiration and tutorials. If you want to learn more about what an affiliate link is, you can see my full affiliate and product disclosure statement here. Thank you so much for your love and support!