When Flowers Speak: A Warm Hello Card

As summer slowly winds down and the golden hour stretches a little earlier each evening, there’s a quiet shift in the air—and in our creative moods. The vibrant hues of summer begin to mellow into warm yellows, earthy browns, and cozy tones that feel like a gentle nudge toward fall.

Just like the leaves outside, our crafty palettes start to change too. This card captures that in-between feeling—with soft, stenciled layers, sunflower-inspired blooms, and a big bold hello that says it all. It’s a reminder to soak up the last bits of sunshine while embracing the new season of creativity ahead.

The inspiration behind this card came as I watched the garden slowly start to fade into its late-summer hues. I wanted to capture that soft transition—where colors are still rich and full of life but carry the warmth of what’s to come. I started with a stenciled background, gently blending shades of taupe and cocoa to create a cozy base with just the right amount of texture.

The flowers? A burst of golden oranges and sun-kissed yellows, reminding me of those last few bold blooms still hanging on. I kept the layering light and playful, letting the ink blending do most of the work. No pressure, just slow, satisfying creativity.

And of course, I couldn’t resist finishing it off with that big, beautiful hello—cut from cardstock ink blended in shades of brown that warm the soul. A simple sentiment, but a powerful one. Sometimes that’s all a card needs.

Supplies Used:

• Polkadoodles Crafting:

  • Daisy Dragonfly Stencil

  • Daisy Dragonfly Outline Cutting Dies

  • Moroccan Screen Stencil

  • Nested Arch Dies

  • Inks: Warm yellow, orange, green, and brown tones

  • Adhesives & Blending Tools

  • Altenew:

  • Simply Hello Word Die

How It Came Together:

I started with a soft stenciled background using the trellis design of the stencil and gently brushed in shades of brown and taupe—nothing fussy, just a light hand and circular motions with a blending brush on the cards base and the large arched die cut shape. Then I moved on to the florals, die-cutting the pieces and blending warm yellows and oranges, adding that little pop of green leaves for contrast.

Once everything felt balanced, I arranged the flowers into a casual layout—letting them overlap naturally, like they grew there. The final touch? That gorgeous "hello" die cut from Altenew, which I popped on top for a bold and simple greeting. A few clear droplets scattered around, and that was it. No overthinking. Just a peaceful bit of cardmaking to match the late summer vibe.

And Finally...

As I sit on my deck, coffee in hand, there’s something about watching the garden slowly start to fade that feels… grounding. The colors soften, the pace slows, and nature seems to exhale. That’s the feeling I wanted to tuck into this card—a quiet hello that welcomes the shift, celebrates the warmth still left in the air, and makes space for the beauty that’s just around the corner.