Easy Handmade Summer Card to Share Smiles and Sunny Days

As the days grow longer and the sun shines brighter, now’s the time to bring that energy into your crafting space. Summer cards focus on bold colours, playful details, and joyful themes.

I made an easy handmade summer card using the Polkadoodles Summer Dreams Winnie digital stamp. In this post, I guide you through each step. You’ll learn alcohol marker colouring, distress ink blending, and how to use stencils to create a vibrant background.

This isn’t just a card; it’s a smile in an envelope.

Let me show you how to make your summer greeting card, perfect to brighten someone’s day.

Before you start crafting, review the supplies you’ll need. I’ve grouped everything into two simple categories: Polkadoodles digital stamps and inks, plus other tools. This shows what comes from Polkadoodles and what you might already have.

These are the creative core of the card, available on the Polkadoodles website:

• Summer Dreams Winnie Digital Stamp – the sweet focal point for the card. Available here.
• Spring Flower Mother’s Day Friends greetings – the sentiment hello sunshine. Available here.
• Distress Ink – Mustard Seed. Unfortunately not available at Polkadoodles at the moment.
• Distress Ink – Squeezed Lemon. Unfortunately not available at Polkadoodles at the moment.
• Distress Ink – Dried Marigold. Unfortunately not available at Polkadoodles at the moment.
• Distress Ink – Mowed Lawn. Available here.
• Distress Ink – Pine Needles. Unfortunately not available at Polkadoodles at the moment.

These are the basic tools I used. Feel free to swap in what you have:

• Sunbeams stencil – used to create the glowing summer background  
• Alcohol markers – for colouring the digital stamp  
• Grass die – adds depth and a fun layered element  
• Paper cutter – for trimming card layers  
• White card base – standard A6 size

Tip: If you don’t have this stencil, try one with rays or stripes. You can create your own with masking tape and a circle die-cut for the sun.

Ready to create? I’ll walk you through each step to put it all together.

This card looks cheerful and sunny, but it’s easy to create once you break it down into steps. You’ll start by printing and colouring a digital stamp, then make a glowing background with ink blending, and finish by assembling everything with simple layering techniques.

Each step is beginner-friendly, with tips to help you get smooth blends, rich colours, and a clean finish. You don’t need fancy tools, just your favourite markers, Distress Inks, and a little time to get creative.

Start with the first step: printing and colouring your image.

Start by printing the Summer Dreams Winnie digital stamp at 8.5 cm tall. I like this size because it becomes the focal point, the front and centre of your card.

I printed mine on DCP paper, which works well with alcohol markers. The ink doesn’t bleed, so you get crisp, vibrant colours.

Here’s the colour combination I used. Feel free to try your favourites:

• Skin: Tanned Skin, Peachy Blush, Salmon Pink, Pale Cream
• Hair: Pale Cream, Brown Grey, Walnut, Clay
• Dress and Butterflies: Mint Blue, Baby Boy, Neon Blue, Phthalo Blue
• Yellow Flowers and Boots: Barn Red, Golden Yellow, Lemon Yellow, Pastel Lemon
• Pink Flowers: Cherry Pink, Rose Pink, Pale Pink, Pastel Pink
• Leaves: Yellow Green, Grass Green, Forest Green

After colouring, carefully cut out the image by hand. This gets it ready to layer onto the background.

The background has two parts: sunshine at the top and grass at the bottom. Together, they make the cheerful summer scene we want.

Start with a white panel sized 10 by 14.3 cm. Place the Sunbeams stencil on top and tape it down. Folding tape into a loop and sticking it to the back helps keep the cardstock steady and lined up.

Blend your inks gently in circular motions over the stencil. I used:

• Dried Marigold on the edges
• Dried Marigold on the edges
• Dried Marigold on the edges

Start with the darkest colour at the edges and blend inward to the lightest shade in the centre. This creates a natural look with a bright centre that draws the eye.

Cut the grass using a die and white cardstock. If you don’t have a die, use a stencil instead. Blend two shades of green on the grass:

• Pine Needles at the base and centre
• Mowed Lawn along the top edge

This adds depth and contrast. After blending, stick the grass to the bottom of your sunshine panel. Your background is ready for the next step.

Tip: When you’re using stencils, tape down both the stencil and paper to keep your lines crisp.

Now, add the finishing elements to complete your card.

I used the sentiment “Hello Sunshine” from the Spring Flower Mother’s Day Friends greetings set. Print it at your preferred size — mine was about 6 centimetres wide. Cut carefully around the edges.

I print my digital stamp several times at the same size. This is useful for adding extra details or making future cards.

For this card, I cut out the flower and butterfly from the Summer Dreams Winnie stamp again. Colour these pieces with the same colours as your main image

With all your elements ready, it’s time to put the card together.

Add foam tape to the back of your coloured image. Place it near the centre of your background panel.

Place the sentiment in the top right corner. The butterfly from the main image was cut out separately, so position it next to the figure. I added another butterfly near the sun to balance the design.

Add the yellow flowers to the grass, placing the larger ones on the left and the smaller ones on the right.

Your easy handmade summer card is complete.

This card is great for birthdays, encouragement, or to say you’re thinking of someone. The bright colours and cheerful design bring warmth and make it a card to brighten someone’s day.

Polkadoodles digital stamps add fun and flexibility. You can resize, change colours, and print as many copies as you want, making it easy to create a personal card every time.

Summer is a great time to add fresh colours and cheerful vibes to your cardmaking. Imagine sending a handmade summer card that brightens someone’s day. A simple card like this can make a real difference.

Now that you’ve seen how easy this card is to make, gather your supplies and give it a go. Take your time, enjoy the process, and let your creativity shine.

Every card you make is a little piece of joy. I’m excited to see what you create.

Feeling inspired? Join the Polkadoodles design team challenge and share your sunny creations. It’s a great way to connect with fellow crafters and find new ideas.

Looking for more ways to spread summer cheer? Check out more handmade summer cards for fresh techniques and styles to keep your creativity going.

Handmade Summer Card Tutorial Easy Steps For Enthusiasts

Handmade Summer Card Tutorial Easy Steps For Enthusiasts

Summer Dreams Winnie Digital stamp

Shop at Polkadoodles

Spring flowers Mothers day friends sentiments

Shop at Polkadoodles

Distress ink Mowed lawn

shop at Polkadoodles

Unfortunately, these distress inks are currently not available at Polkadoodles.

• Mustard Seed
• Squeezed lemonade
• Dried Marigold
• Pine Needles

• Passion for Markers: Anything goes
• Fab ‘n’ Funky Challenges: Add a Sentiment
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: Bright and Cheerfull
• The Sisterhood of Crafters: Flowers
• CREATIVE INSPIRATIONS: The Great Outdoors
• Craft Rocket Challenges: Flowers
• Crafty Catz: Anything goes
• 613 Avenue Create: Floral Delight
• A Perfect Time To Craft Open Challenge: Anything goes