Sail into Retirement with the Sunrise Sailing Bundle

Sail into Retirement with the Sunrise Sailing Bundle by Stampin’ Up!® and create a card that feels like a breath of fresh ocean air! When someone special is setting off into the next exciting chapter of life, there’s no better way to mark the occasion than with a handmade card full of heart, hope, and a little coastal charm. This Bundle from Stampin’ Up! brings all the relaxed, adventurous vibes you need to design a memorable Happy Retirement card that will have them dreaming of open waters and sunny horizons.

One of the things I love most about the Sunrise Sailing Bundle is how easy it is to build layered scenes that look incredibly detailed but come together quickly. I used the coordinating Hybrid Embossing Folder and dies in black cardstock to make the focal image pop. My goal was to make an easy show-stopping card that feels like a mini work of art.

For this retirement card, I started with a calming color palette of soft blues, warm yellows, and a pop of soft pink to capture the feeling of a peaceful sunrise over the ocean. The color palette I went with was Lemon Lolly, Strawberry Slush, and Azure Afternoon but if you’d like something even softer, make sure you check out my Color Combination Library.

The best part? You can make this design as simple or as layered as you want! If you’re short on time, a basic stamped sailboat and sentiment still looks amazing thanks to the intricate artwork in this set. If you’re feeling a little extra creative, you can add die-cut details, sponged backgrounds, or even a little bit of glimmer paper for that sparkling water effect. It’s totally up to you — and it all looks fantastic!

For the sentiment, a simple Happy Retirement message was the perfect finishing touch. I love that you can easily swap out the greeting if you want to make it a Congratulations, Bon Voyage, or even a Just Because card. The Sunrise Sailing Bundle is super versatile and one you’ll reach for whenever you want to send a little bit of calm, inspiring beauty through the mail.

There’s something so meaningful about giving a handmade card to someone at such a special moment in life. It’s not just a card — it’s a memory, a smile, a reminder of all the adventures yet to come. And thanks to the Sunrise Sailing Bundle, creating that kind of magic is as easy as setting sail on a calm, sunny morning.

Whether you’re an experienced stamper or just dipping your toes into cardmaking, this bundle makes it simple and fun to create beautiful, heartfelt designs. So the next time you need a retirement card, reach for the Sunrise Sailing Bundle and sail into crafting bliss!

1. Fold the Azure Afternoon cardstock in half at the score line to create your card base.
2. Adhere the 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Basic White cardstock inside the card.
3. Adhere the Blueberry Bushel cardstock to the front of the card.
4. Load Lemon Lolly ink onto a Blending Brush. Using the scrap of typing paper, lay the 4″ straight line of paper down in the center of the 3-3/4″ x 5″ piece of Basic White cardstock and lightly sponge Lemon Lolly ink above the straight line. Move the paper to cover the Lemon Lolly ink and, using a Blending Brush with Strawberry Slush ink, lightly sponge a straight line of Strawberry Slush Ink. Remove the paper mask.
5. Without adding any more ink onto the Blending Brush, lightly sponge Strawberry Slush ink above the Lemon Lolly ink.
6. Load another Blending Brush with Azure Afternoon ink and lightly sponge the bottom of the cardstock, slightly overlapping the Strawberry Slush ink. WIthout adding any more ink, lightly sponge the top of the Basic White cardstock, slightly overlapping the Strawberry Slush ink.
7. Adhere the Basic White cardstock to the front of the card.
8. Fit/snuggle the Sailboat Die into the corresponding “image” inside the Sunrise Sailing Hybrid Embossing Folder that is part of the Bundle – make sure the cutting side is up. Lay the Basic Black Paper onto the folder so that it covers the Die. Run through the Cut & Emboss Machine so that it embosses and die-cuts the sailboat.
9. Adhere the sailboat to the front of the card as shown in the sample, using Stampin’ Dimensionals.
10. Stamp the sentiment onto the 3/4″ piece of Azure Afternoon cardstock using Tuxedo Black Memento ink. Angle both ends of the cardstock using scissors. Adhere to the front of the card, just below and to the right of the sailboat to finish.

I’m delighted you stopped by for today’s creative escape! Whether it’s a birthday, holiday, or any special moment, I’m here to help you craft the perfect card with ease. If you have questions about today’s tutorial, please email me for detailed steps. Inspire your craft with more ideas—join me over on Pinterest!

Supplies Used On This Project: