Hello Sunshine! A Bright Summer Card with Lovely Bunches

One of the most common questions I get from fellow card makers is, “How do you know what colors to use?” And let me tell you—I’ve been there too. Staring at a white card base with no idea where to start. That’s why I often let my patterned paper lead the way. For today’s card, the inspiration started with one cheerful plaid pattern from the Sunkissed 6 x 8 Paper Pad by Scrapbook.com, and everything else fell into place from there.

This project is all about building a cohesive card design by using the colors in your patterned paper to guide your choices—from your coloring to your cardstock and embellishments. It’s a great way to avoid decision fatigue and keep your card looking polished and intentional.

Hello Sunshine! A Bright Summer Card with Lovely Bunches:

Lovely Bunches, Brightened Up

Once I had chosen that happy plaid pattern, I trimmed it down to 4" x 5¼" and used it as my background panel. Right away, I knew I wanted my florals to match the tones in that paper, so I stamped one of the flower bunches from the Lovely Bunches Stamp Set onto a piece of Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80 lb Cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink—my go-to combination when I’m planning to use Copic markers.

Here’s a little tip: before committing to a full coloring session, I like to swatch a few marker combinations along the edge of my paper scraps to make sure the colors will coordinate well with the patterned paper. This helps keep everything looking cohesive without second-guessing halfway through.

I colored the floral image to pull out the yellows, pinks, and soft greens from the plaid background, then used the coordinating Lovely Bunches Outline Die to cut it out.

Adding Depth and Dimension with a Sunny Twist

Now, I could’ve just layered the floral bunch on top of the plaid and called it a day—but I wanted to add a little drama and dimension. That’s where the Sunburst Cover Plate Die came in. I pulled a warm yellow from the Yellows Smooth Cardstock Paper Pad, die cut the cover plate, and layered it right over the plaid background using 2mm foam tape.

Let me just say: I love the look of that sunburst design peeking through with just a bit of dimension. It gives the card movement and makes the center feel like a spotlight—perfect for framing the florals. I trimmed off any of the sunburst die cut that hung over the edge to keep the panel crisp and clean.

To adhere the floral arrangement, I used small and large 2mm foam squares in the center, nestled right inside the sunburst opening, then used liquid adhesive on the rest. This made sure it sat securely but still had that pop in the center.

The Sentiment and Finishing Touches

For the sentiment, I stamped “Hello Sunshine” from the same Lovely Bunches Stamp Set onto a scrap of leftover Neenah Cardstock using Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink. Then I used the coordinating die to cut it out. I love how this adds a little extra polish—those outline dies are such a time-saver and really elevate the sentiment.

I adhered the sentiment to the card front using liquid glue, then mounted the entire panel onto a top-folding A2 card base made from Brilliant White 110 lb Smooth Cardstock (I used Harmony Hues, but any sturdy white base will work here).

Now, you know I couldn’t leave it without a little sparkle! I added some Snowflake Glitter Pops of Color to the centers of the flowers and berries for just the right amount of shimmer and texture. And a few white gel pen highlights brought everything to life.

Pro Tips: Make Your Supplies Work Harder

• Start with your pattern paper. It simplifies decision-making and keeps your design cohesive.

• Use foam tape strategically. Layering with dimension can instantly turn a simple layout into something eye-catching.

• Coordinate your sentiment die cuts. Using the matching outline dies keeps everything looking polished and professional.

• Highlight with white gel pen. It’s a small touch that makes a big difference—especially on florals.

Wrapping It Up

This card was such a joyful one to make. Starting with the patterned paper gave me a clear direction, and I love how all the elements worked together to create a card that feels bright, balanced, and summery.

Whether you're new to cardmaking or have been creating for years, I hope this inspires you to look at your patterned papers in a new way. They’re more than just backgrounds—they’re a great starting point for color, composition, and creative momentum.

If you give this idea a try, I’d love to hear about it. What paper pad are you pulling inspiration from this season?

Thanks for dropping by today I hope that you found a little spark of creative inspiration with my project today. 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

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