Friday, 20 September 2013

Sunflowers - golden days at the end of Summer

I love sunflowers, such happy flowers and they always make my heart sing. I was so lucky to be gifted some LOTV vouchers by a little group of friends (you know who you are, mwah!!) a while ago and have been hanging onto them like a little squirrel for ages. Finally I spent a voucher earlier this week and one of the items I bought was LOTV's Wild Flowers Art Pad. They come pre-coloured and imagine my delight when I found a fabulous sunflowers image. So I made this card:
I used:

 - 6" x 6" square white card blank

 - two shades of plain yellow Core'dinations card

 - patterned papers from Echo Park's 'Hello Summer' double sided paper pad, including the chevron snippet

 - image from LOTV's Wild Flowers Art Pad (pre-coloured of course!), die cut with a Nesties Labels Eighteen die and an embossing tool run round the edge before removing the image from the die. The backing yellow frame was hand cut as usual

 - no sentiment, I wanted the lovely sunflowers to make the statement - plus I had little space left anyhow. I love the simplicity of the flowers just individually in plain jars/bottles too

A lot of years ago I went for dinner and an overnight stay with a friend, when I first moved down to London to work. I took her a huge bunch of pink peonies as a thank you for dinner (plus a bottle of wine of course!) - a stroke of luck as they turned out to be her favourite flowers.

The next morning I saw she had popped the peonies into a very simple vase on a coffee table, against a plain wall, with nothing else on it - apart from a botanical book open at a page showing pink peonies. Such a clever idea and really striking. Some folk are just born artistic!

Edit: My buddy Sarn just alerted me to The Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge, where the inspiration is this photo: 
So I'm entering today's card to play along. It look like a fun challenge having peeked at previous inspirations :) Thanks Sarn, mwah!

Di
x
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33 comments:

  1. jimlynn20 September 2013 at 00:57

    Just gorgeous and I love that pre colored image! Beautiful card!
    Lynn

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  2. Karen P20 September 2013 at 01:21

    There is just something so completely and utterly beautiful about sunflowers - they just make me smile so you are not alone Di. Beautiful card, glad you have treated yourself a little. I will try to get to PO next week with me parcel but will let you know when I do eventually make it out! xx

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  3. Sue20 September 2013 at 02:10

    I love sunflowers Di and this card is gorgeous and all your others I've caught up on! lots of huggles Sue xx

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  4. Sazzle Dazzle20 September 2013 at 06:42

    Eye catching and gorgeous Di x

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  5. Loll20 September 2013 at 06:47

    Beautiful card Di. I love sunflowers too ... so bright and cheerful. Loll xx

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  6. Annie20 September 2013 at 07:30

    I love sunflowers Di and your card really does do them justice. Beautiful.
    Hugs,
    A x

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  7. scrappymo!20 September 2013 at 07:58

    I love sunflowers too (I do not kill those off) lol
    They are so bright and cheery...my favourites are the teddy bear type...short and stubby and sort of muted colours!
    I am going to remember the book with the picture open on the coffee table...that is a wonderful idea.

    Your card design is so nice...the DP you chose are just perfect with this image.

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  8. Sue -20 September 2013 at 08:10

    Lovely sunny card Di. Love sunflowers too - and peonies.

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  9. Irene20 September 2013 at 08:34

    Absolutely stunning and beautiful Di.
    luv
    irene
    xxxx

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  10. Carol Willis20 September 2013 at 08:36

    Love this pretty card Di. Fabulous image, papers and a great layout.
    Hope you have a fabulous weekend.
    Hugs
    Caz x

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  11. Hettie20 September 2013 at 09:03

    Gorgeous Honey. Sunflowers are one of my favourites too!
    Love that nestie shape you have used.
    Hugs and Happy Friday.
    xx

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  12. Sarn20 September 2013 at 09:09

    I am also a HUGE FAN of sunflowers. You just have to think of them to make you smile. There's just something about them that's HAPPY.

    Absolutely lovely card Di. Great buy!

    Hugs
    Sarn xxx

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  13. Carol L20 September 2013 at 11:51

    This one definitely has a WOW factor with that gorgeous yellow color and those pretty sunflowers! We're on the same wave length with those labels 18 dies and hand-cut mats eh? *wink*

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  14. kay20 September 2013 at 12:01

    Sunflowers are so cheerful, love this card x

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  15. Mrs A.20 September 2013 at 12:48

    Bootiful card Miss. We have/had sunflowers growing in the garden this year. Not cos I planted any no such luck. No these were from where the seeds (which are supposed to be sterilized ones) fell out of the bird feeder and sprouted all by themselves!!! Hugs Mrs A.

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  16. Ustvarjalni utrinki Tamara P.20 September 2013 at 13:40

    Gorgeous card
    lovely sunflowers
    hugs with sun
    Tamara

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  17. G Peplow20 September 2013 at 14:23

    Woah! fabulous card, it all balances so well Di, I love sunflowers too they are just so well sunny LOL
    I think I may have missed a birthday here :( So sorry :( I hope you had a wonderful day, :D hugs Gay xxx

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  18. Benzi20 September 2013 at 14:54

    Di, what a beauty. Aren't friends the sweetest? I love those sunflowers.

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  19. Darla20 September 2013 at 15:32

    The maiden name of one of my BFFs is Wray. Her middle name is Diane!

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  20. Krisha20 September 2013 at 16:22

    Fantastic card!! I'm a sunflower lover too, and have a half made card on the desk with sunflowers to be finished today. LOL

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  21. Debs Willis20 September 2013 at 18:01

    Gorgeous card, love the simplicity of echoing the colours. Sunflowers are definitely happy flowers, always make me smile!

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  22. Planetsusie20 September 2013 at 19:41

    Hello Di - I have these images and just love the sunflower - a very inspiring flower to be honest. You have chosen great papers to go with it so good luck in the challenge!!!

    Hugs to you Sue Pxxx

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  23. Stacey Schafer20 September 2013 at 20:26

    absolutely lovely! thanks for playing along at the Curtain Call!

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  24. Anonymous20 September 2013 at 20:58

    This is gorgeous Di-and such a beautiful Sunflower image-fancy you working on yours and me on mine at the same time-bit spooky eh!!
    I hadn't entered the Curtain Call challenge either-until my new found playground friend and possible mischief buddy eeek-Ms A told be bout it :)
    Have a lovely weekend,Nessa xx

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  25. Jenny L20 September 2013 at 21:07

    Hi Di,
    love this card, it's so bright and cheerful. Just what one needs if they are feeling a little down.
    Have a wonderful crafty weekend.
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

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  26. Kathleen20 September 2013 at 21:11

    The ideal challenge for this card, these pre-coloured pads are gorgeous as is your card and it has just reminded me that I have one of each flower image, given to me by a member of our craft group that meets once a month, must dig them out and have a play.

    Kath x
    Finished all my Christmas cards now, yipee.

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  27. MagsB21 September 2013 at 00:22

    Sunflowers are the happiest flowers, so bright and cheerful! So is your gorgeous card!

    Have a lovely weekend!

    love Mags B x

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  28. MaryH21 September 2013 at 02:38

    Great choice on the gorgeously lovely sunflowers. Yes, they are so cheery, make one smile. You've showcased them so beautifully with the yellow matting. TFS & good luck with your challenges. Hope you win some 'good stuff'. Hugs

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  29. Elizabeth21 September 2013 at 10:22

    Stunning card, Di. As you know, I find yellow a difficult colour, but nature has no such problems and these sunflowers are proof - such happy flowers. Love the story of your friend and the peonies ... the book open at the right page is just genius and not something I'd ever think to do :)) Hugs, Elizabeth xx

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  30. Kimbo21 September 2013 at 11:26

    Gorgeous card Di and such happy colours. We've got some dwarf sunflowers this year and they are just starting to die off so will be feeding the birdies soon x

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  31. Tenia Nelson22 September 2013 at 17:42

    What a gorgeous card!! Thanks for playing along with us over at the Curtain Call!!

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  32. Anonymous22 September 2013 at 19:22

    GORGEOUS!!!
    xx

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  33. Princess Judy Palmer22 September 2013 at 20:57

    Lovely yellow! I'm fond of sunflowers so this card really speaks to me.

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