Sunflowers for a colleague and MU11

Last week I was asked to create a retirement card for a colleague.  She is leaving teaching to go on to bigger (and better!) things...can't say I'm not envious!!  Anyhow, she loves sunflowers and I was asked to do something with them for her card.  I SOOOOO wish I could order the one of the new background stamps from the new catty in time...when you see the new catty you'll know which one I'm talking about!  But since I can't order it until July 1st and the lady's retirement party is June 28th, I had to improvise.  I got out my Build-A-Blossom stamp set and punch and went to town.  Conveniently, sunflowers are also one of my favourite things about summer which means this card also works for this week's Friday Mash-up challenge, which is to create a summer-themed project with polka dots.  So...here is my card:

Sunflower card for a colleague and for MU11 using the Build-A-Blossom stamp set with sentiment from the Word Play set.

Inside of card using Love and Care and Occasional Quotes hostess sets.

 So this card is BIG...it had to be to allow enough room for everyone on our staff of 60 to sign it.  I also made it so that the inside opens up to reveal a full 8 1/2" x 11" area for signatures.  The sunflowers on the front were made by stamping the solid petal image in more mustard ink on daffodil delight cardstock.  I then stamped the shaded petal over top using peach parfait ink.  The result are petals with lots of depth without the extra effort of sponging each individual one.  I punch each petal out using the build-a-blossom punch and then textured them using my stylus and the foam from my mat pack.  It makes them curl a little and gives them dimension that makes them look almost real.  The centres of the flowers are punched from chocolate chip cardstock, sponged and then covered with Crystal Effects and clear micro beads (retired), again to give them texture and depth.  The leaves are also made using the Build-A-Blossom set but this time I stamped the largest solid petal image in wild wasabi ink on cardstock of the same colour.  I then stamped the shaded petal of the same size over top in garden green ink.  To make them look like leaves, rather than petals, I just turned them around so the narrow end was showing.  I again textured them using my stylus and mat pack.  The rest of the card is pretty simple and straightforward.  It had to be with those big flowers on the front!  I really hope my colleague likes this card...it took me quite a while to make!!