Sunflowers...

Good morning, dear Bloggers!  The sun is shining beautifully again today here in Wales and it's amazing how a little sunshine can affect your crafting!  I have noticed a lot brighter colours being used, more floral images and an overall cheerier feel to people's creations...including my own!
I have seen a few of the new Spellbinders create-a-flower dies around in Blogland and although I'm not one for big flowers on cards, I do like the look of them for altered projects and home decor.  I noticed that the sunflower die made a very similar shape to a large Woodware daisy punch that I have and so, it was time to experiment!  I raided my punch box for all the daisy dies I have (4 different sizes in total) and punched out a load of layers in different shades of yellow.  I inked the edges with Rusty Hinge and Walnut Stain DI and pinched the petals to give them a bit more dimension...

...I layered up 2 of the largest flowers, then cut the petals from a third so that I could attach them closer together to create a slightly smaller flower.  I used my Marianne Button Flower and SB circle dies for the centre and the leaves from my Button flower die which I pinched for more shape.  I then went on and made a smaller version...

...Not bad, eh?!  So, now what to do with them?  I decided to alter a plain old plastic fruit tray that came with pre prepared melon, etc in...

...I made a lid and added a panel on the underside that fitted into the recess of the tray...

...I decorated the lid with a Prima Life Time Collection paper then made a band to slide around the tray, which I could decorate...

...I added an embossed panel, yellow organza ribbon, the sunflowers and a MS clay frame...

...I stamped on a piece of cream card for behind the frame using individual alphabet stamps and stuck in a couple of pretty hat pins to finish...

...And there we have it, a pretty unique gift box ready to be filled with goodies!  Not sure yet what I'm going to fill it with, but I'm sure most people would say that chocolate wouldn't go far wrong?!  Hope you like my sunny creation and that you take inspiration to convert even the most unlikely of objects!  Only problem now is that I am saving every container that comes into the house!  Have a great Wednesday and don't forget about Eileen's fabulous challenge this week at Passion for Promarkers - scroll down a post to see my contribution and hop over to the PfP blog to see some more wonderful inspiration made by my amazing teamies!
Thanks for taking the time to come and see me today, take care and see you soon!
Hugs,

I'd like to enter my altered box into the following challenges :

Natalie and Amy

Flowers (closes 29th)

That Craft Place

Anything Goes (closes 15th)

Crafting from the Heart

Anything Goes/Favourite colours (closes 16th)

Crafty Ribbons

Anything Goes with Ribbon (closes today)