This started out not to be a card! I was going to stamp a sunflower and die cut it and decorate a glass votive candle holder. The sunflower was going to be a little large for that project and when I laid it down on the table I thought it would look pretty on a card. That is how this Highland Heather Sunflower Thank You Card came to be! Don’t be afraid t change your mind from your original idea!

I decided to make my sunflower a different color than yellow, so I happened to choose Highland Heather for the color. I stamped the largest sunflower in the Celebrate Sunflowers Stamp Set in Highland Heather Ink. I die cut that sunflower, as well as the outline, with the Sunflowers Dies also out of Highland Heather Cardstock. I didn’t know if this would be enough contrast or not, but I liked it. I added the die-cut center out of Bumblebee cardstock.

The leaves are stamped in Granny Apple Green Ink on the same color cardstock, then die cut. The leafy stems are cut out of Garden Green Cardstock. The sunflower is popped up on Stampin’ Dimensionals and then I slid the leaves partially underneath. The greeting is also in the stamp set and is stamped in Highland Heather ink. The card base is Highland Heather.

In spite of not planning to even make this card, I was really pleased with it and may even copy myself and make some more, maybe in different colors! We are artists and can be creative with whatever we make!

The sunflower’s name comes from its tendency to face toward the sun. I didn’t even think of any symbolism about the sunflower, but I’ve read that it can symbolize adoration and loyalty. And it may mean something a little different across other cultures. Apparently it is an easy plant to grow because it is heat and drought tolerant and grows in the summer. If heat is good for sunflowers, I could be growing sunflowers filling my whole backyard because it is so hot here in Houston!!

I also stamped a Whisper White layer for inside the card with the smaller sunflower in the set just with Highland Heather Ink. That makes it easier to stamp or write a message inside the card on white instead of purple. While I had the stamp and ink out, I also stamped a corner of the envelope to make it pretty as well! Hopefully the envelope will not get separated from the card and I’ll remember to use it!

If you like sunflowers, this is a popular stamp set so check it out in the Online Store. And if you like the Sunflower Dies as well, you can buy both the stamp set and dies in the Celebrate Sunflowers Bundle at a 10% discount.

SHOP STAMPIN’ UP! ONLINE HERE!