🎨 Behind the Scenes: Creating My Summer Color Palette ☀️

Hey sweet friend!

Let’s take a little walk behind the curtain today — right into the heart of my creative process. I’m so excited to share how I built the Summer Color Palette for A Rea of Treasures, and what inspired every sun-soaked shade. 🌈✨

Whether you’re a fellow designer, a scrapbook lover, or someone who just adores color theory (hello, kindred spirit!), this post will take you inside the joyful mess of choosing colors that feel like summer magic.

Grab an iced coffee or sweet tea — let’s get colorful together!

🌻 The Vibe: What I Wanted This Palette to Feel Like

Before I even opened Canva or started swatching hex codes, I asked myself a simple question: "What does summer feel like to me?"

The answer? Warm light, garden blooms, citrus, fresh air, and playful days. I wasn’t after just bright colors — I wanted a palette that felt both energetic and inviting. Something that whispered “lemonade and laughter” but also felt gentle and nostalgic.

☀️ Inspiration Sources

Here’s what I gathered before building the palette:

• Photos from summer picnics & wildflower fields

• Scrapbook layouts from previous seasons

• Vintage postcards with sun-faded tones

• A few of my favorite summer outfits (yes, really!)

• Color-rich elements from my digital paper packs

I created a mood board in Canva with all these elements, and let the tones start speaking to me.

🎨 The Final Color Choices

After plenty of playing, here’s what I landed on for my Summer 2025 Palette:

1. 🍓 Strawberry Cream – A soft red-pink that feels fruity and fun (#EF5C78)

2. 🌼 Sunbeam Yellow – Cheerful and warm without being too neon (#FFD966)

3. 🌿 Mint Garden – A cool green that balances the heat (#A6DAB7)

4. 🩵 Sky Breeze – A soft, dreamy blue like a cloudless day (#B6E0F2)

5. 🍊 Tangerine Pop – A juicy accent color for energy and movement (#FFA552)

6. 🪻 Lavender Mist – A nod to calm moments and cool sunsets (#D3BEEA)

7. 🌾 Golden Beige – A grounding neutral to tie it all together (#EFD8B2)

I use these across digital paper designs, embellishments, social media templates, and even my Etsy product covers — so my brand stays cohesive and seasonally fresh.

💡 Want to use this palette yourself? It’s included in my newest bundles and perfect for summer projects, social posts, or mood boards!

🧵 How I Use the Palette in My Products

Here’s how this summer color palette shows up in the A Rea of Treasures shop:

• ✨ Digital Scrapbook Paper Packs

• 🧁 Printable Tags & Ephemera

• 📱 Canva Social Media Templates

• 💌 Clipart & Sticker Elements for Planners and Journals

Each design is infused with these soft, sunny tones to bring that light-hearted summer feeling to your creative space.

👉 Check out my full summer collection here on Etsy!

💌 Want the Palette + Free Downloads?

I love sharing these kinds of resources with my email friends first! If you want early access to color palettes, design freebies, and behind-the-scenes peeks at new product drops, join my creative circle.

🎁 Subscribers get a free Summer Color Palette PDF + sample paper designs!👉 Click here to join my mailing list and grab your freebie

💛 Final Thoughts

Colors are more than just decoration — they’re emotion, memory, and message. Creating this summer palette helped me reconnect with the joy of designing with intention. I hope it inspires you, whether you’re designing a planner page, posting to Instagram, or making a memory book of your favorite summer moments.

Thanks for joining me in the studio today — your support means the world.

With sunshine & creativity,

Rea 🌻Creator of A Rea of Treasures