Sunflowers and kindness

Hello crafting pals!

Today I spent a happy half hour having a go at a challenge I stumbled across online. It's a monthly challenge called Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday Challenge and the theme for August is:

Sunshine, Sunflowers or Add Something Yellow

Which gave me the perfect opportunity to do something unusual with what is fast becoming my favourite stamp set - Beautiful Branches by Concorde and 9th. Come and see what I made:

A simple card with a beautiful sentiment and some pretty sunflowers... but hang on! There are no sunflowers in that stamp set are there?!

Well no, there aren't - but there ARE if you use the rounded eucalyptus leaf for the seeded centre and the small leaf stamp as the petals! The most elongated eucalyptus leaf stamp makes a perfectly acceptable sunflower leaf too!

These stamps have a textured effect which gives a nice 'retro illustration' feel. I added a bit of colour with a blender pen and inks - Pear Pizzazz for the leaf and stems, Early Espresso for the flower centres and Mango Melody for the petals.

The sentiment is perfect! I have made this card for someone who joined my team towards the end of my time as a Stampin' Up demo. It was only for a short while so we didn't know each other very well, but she has recently sent me some stamping goodies when I started crafting and blogging again and I'm absolutely bowled over by her kindness and generosity.

AND IN OTHER NEWS
I took Eva for a walk in the woods today and we went the long way round. Eva was delighted as she found a nice pond to go swimming in. When I say 'a nice pond', it has to be said that Eva was keener on it than I was...

... perhaps she has always wanted to be a black lab?

I'm hoping to get some crafting in tomorrow. Anyone else? See you then!