Stunning Cosmos for Paper Players #383

Hi Everyone.  It's my pleasure to host our Paper Players challenge this week and I have a theme challenge.  

I know many of us are dealing with incredibly strange - and awful weather patterns and I know I am so ready for spring.  Whilst I was making my card this morning I heard the Canadian Geese on their way north and Lou heard the Cranes returning, too!  However, based on the weather forecast for the next couple of days, they were way too early!

However, as I am VERY tired of winter, I thought this would be a great theme for our challenge this week:

Tulips are some of my favorite flowers - they were my mother's favorite, too.  We both love(d) spring flowers; daffodils, tulips, croci, primrose, snowdrops, etc.  Although cosmos are not spring flowers in South Africa, they do bloom in March - which is Spring here in Minnesota!  So, I decided to use these flowers for my card.

I decided to position the flowers against a bright blue sky - typical of South Africa at that of year.  I took a piece of Neenah Solar White #110 and blended some Distress Oxide ink onto the yardstick.  I took care NOT to blend the color, as I wanted a more natural and textured feel.

I then stamped and die-cut the flowers and stamped the spring sentiment onto the card.  It took a little while for me to decide how I wanted to arrange the flowers and finally decided to make them into a little bouquet.

Here's a closeup of the flowers:

Aren't they gorgeous?  They make me smile just looking at them.  I also love the way the stamps have two images for the center of the flowers.  I popped two of the flowers off the card base with foam dots and adhered one to the card base.

For the stems, I adhered them only at the top and left them free down the rest of the card.  I added a little ribbon around the stems and adhered that area to the card base, but it still looks as though the stems and flowers are just resting on the base :-)

Here's my card:

Ah... that brings back memories :-)

I hope you will play along with the challenge this week, we would love to see what YOU create.  As usual, if you are looking for some inspiration, you have to look no further than the creations from our amazing design team:

• Claire
• Joanne
• Laurie
• LeAnne
• Nance 
•  Sandy
•  Elizabeth
• Jan
• Annie

On a personal note:

It was wonderful to feel the 40plus degree temps today and feel the warmth in the sun.  Sadly, it isn't going to last long as we are under another winter storm watch for Monday.  I hope all my readers affected by the dreadful Nor-Easter are safe and sound.

I looked out of the window this morning and saw the deer crossing the woodland looking for some food.  They looked wonderful in the early morning light and were amazing well camouflaged against the bushes and grasses.

On Friday morning, I cam down and opened the curtains in Lou's office and was VERY surprised to see this peeking around the flower pot at me!

You can't see it behind the flower pot - but there are plenty of grasses left over from summer in front of the box and, because they are above the snow, she had flattened them down and settled down on top of them.  She was also protected from the wind because of the tree.  She lay there until about 11am before she got up and wandered off!  It's amazing to be so close to nature.  I feel blessed every single day.

I'll be back tomorrow with another card.  In the meantime, warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight.

Hugs

Jaydee

card recipe:

• Card stock:  Neenah Solar White #110
• Stamps:  Stunning Cosmos - Altenew.  Sentiment:  Spring Hills - Papertrey Ink
• Inks:  Altenew.  Distress Oxide - background

Comments

[Mac Mable]

Popped in to say a big Thank You for choosing my card as your headliner this week. I am absolutely thrilled and delighted. So glad to have reminded you of your Mom too x Thanks again x

What a gorgeous card, so elegant and so very pretty and love the layout. What great photos you've shared too. I enjoyed reading your post x

[Claire Broadwater]

Jaydee, your card is soooo lovely! Those beautiful cosmos look real against that gorgeous blue sky! The bow makes them look like a real bouquet! Your card shouts Spring to me! I love all the Spring flowers but, tulips are my favorite. I have loved them since I was a child. This is such a fabulous challenge and so needed after such a cold winter. I love your sweet little visitor. She looks so happy standing by your porch! I hope you are staying safe and warm this week, My Friend! XX

[Annie A.]

Your cosmos bouquet is lovely against the blue sky. A beautiful card! Cosmos are a summer flower out here and I can't wait to fill up the yard with color and say goodbye to winter. Hope you're having a great week ~ Hugs, Annie

[Nance Leedy]

Oh so pretty, Jaydee! I love the wildflower look of cosmos and you’ve captured them perfectly here. Love the light and airy feel they have with the colors on white and the loose way they are arranged. Your textured blue sky really steals the show - a perfect spring sky!

[sandym]

Jaydee, I am with you - I am VERY tired of winter, and there is another Nor'easter headed my way tonight. One can wish, though... I really enjoyed this challenge and love your creation for it. Those pink and purple cosmos look terrific against the blue background, and I love how you tied up your bouquet with a ribbon. Stay warm, my friend!

[Joanne James]

I love cosmos Jaydee, although only manage to grow them here in the UK in the summer - to have them in Spring must be lovely. I've never seen them as a stamp before either - so pretty! I love the subtle layering, tied bow and that wonderful background. What fabulous wildlife too! I'm definitely fed up of the snow and icy cold temperatures we've been having here in the UK and am thankful they are on the rise again this week. What a great theme for this week's challenge!

[ElizStewart]

Jaydee... I so love your cards. This is so simple with the distressed background and the gathered flowers... the idea of tying loose stems is so smart. Just love it!

[LeAnne]

Gorgeous florals...a wonderful challenge! Love seeing your wildlife too! We didn't lose any power during the last storm but our weather girls tell us there are two more in the wings, waiting to hit us within the week! I just love March, LOL!

[Julia Aston]

Your cosmos are lovely in the colors you used - and against the pretty blue background - wonderful nature photos too!

[Nancy Lempinen]

I agree the way you let the flower stems drape & added the touch of ribbon is stunning, love the way they look. The blue sky just sets all those gorgeous colors off nicely.
What a sweet little picture of your visitor hiding behind the flower pot, so nice that she felt safe and out of the cold.

[Terri]

Another beautiful card-you just want to reach out and grab the bouquet. Sweet deer, what an amazing thing to open up your window to. The innocence in the gaze is just - well, I don’t know how to describe it. I would have just watched him (or her) for hours. We had a ridiculously wintry weekend, we got more snow over the weekend than we’ve had all winter and in Saskatchewan there are snow days never. Boo! I am SO DONE with winter. Spring, please make an appearance! Until then, I’ll have to look at your cards and pretend!

[Jan Clothier]

The bright, fresh colours against the blue sky - what could be more Spring? Your sky background is masterful... The way you've tied and mounted the flowers is so clever as they look like real flowers tied together. You have rocked your own challenge, Jaydee!

[laurie]

Your beautiful blooms certainly remind one of spring...which won't be long now! So funny to see a deer peeking at you...what a fun surprise. Have a great day!

[Kelly W.]

Pretty flowers Jaydee! They look so carefree and natural against the dreamy blue sky! This card will brighten anyone's day for certain. ; )

You've captured the inquisitive look on this deer perfectly! Love this picture and how sweet that she felt safe and protected to spend some time next to your home.