Celebrate the Summer With Sunflowers

Posted on 5th July 2023 by STACEY BONE
Filed under Seasonal Crafts, Mothers Day Crafts, Easter Craft Ideas, Papercraft Disciplines And Techniques, Papercut, Design Team, Paper Flowers

Sunflowers are beautiful flowers and are perfect for summer crafting. Their vibrant colours, appealing design, and rich historical significance captivate them, making them popular in arts and crafts.

We'll delve into everything you need to know about the sunflower along with categories, like tall, dwarf, florist, branching, and perennial sunflowers, and guide you through crafting the perfect sunflower using card and paper. Whether you're a seasoned crafter or a beginner, this is the ideal place to unleash your creativity and celebrate the timeless charm of sunflowers.

Environmental Benefits of Sunflowers

Sunflowers are not just pretty to look at; they also bring several environmental benefits. Being drought-tolerant, they're a fantastic choice for farmers in areas with scarce water resources, offering a sustainable alternative for crop rotation. They also help improve soil health by reducing erosion and boosting organic matter.

On top of that, sunflowers are key in attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies, which are crucial for maintaining a balanced ecosystem and promoting biodiversity. All in all, sunflowers are an eco-friendly option for both agriculture and gardens, proving that beauty and practicality can go hand in hand.

Sunflower Symbolism Over Time

Throughout history, sunflowers have held various symbolic meanings across different cultures. They represent hope, loyalty, and adoration, with their bright yellow petals symbolising the warmth and joy of summer. During the 18th century, sunflowers were used as a symbol of the French Revolution, representing the loyalty of the revolutionaries to their cause.

In the art world, Vincent van Gogh's iconic "Sunflowers" series has immortalised the flower as a symbol of vitality, intelligence, happiness, and friendship. From agriculture to art and cultural symbolism, sunflowers have played a significant role in human history, making them remarkable and versatile plants.

The Categories of Sunflowers

Sunflowers are known for their captivating beauty and diverse varieties. With over 70 species and countless cultivars, they can be broadly categorised into several distinct groups:

• Tall Sunflowers: These can reach impressive heights, often growing between 10 and 15 feet tall. Some popular varieties include the 'Russian Giant' and 'American Giant'.
• Dwarf Sunflowers: As the name suggests, dwarf sunflowers are smaller, typically reaching heights of 1 to 3 feet. They are ideal for small gardens or containers. Examples include 'Teddy Bear' and 'Elf'.

• Florist Sunflowers: Specifically bred for the cut-flower industry, these sunflowers have long stems and large blooms, making them perfect for bouquets and floral arrangements. 'ProCut' and 'Sunrich' are popular choices.
• Branching Sunflowers: Unlike single-stem sunflowers, branching varieties produce multiple stems and blooms per plant. This feature makes them attractive for garden borders and continuous blooms throughout the season. 'Autumn Beauty' and 'Cocoa Sun' are examples.
• Perennial Sunflowers: Unlike the annual sunflower varieties, perennial sunflowers return each year, providing a reliable, low-maintenance garden option. 'Maximilian' and 'Lemon Queen' are well-known perennial sunflowers.

By understanding the different categories of sunflowers, you can choose the picture-perfect variety for your crafting choices to design the perfect paper sunflower for decoration or a gift for a loved one.

The Popularity of Sunflowers in Crafting

Sunflowers have long captivated artists and craft enthusiasts with their vibrant colours, appealing design, and historical significance. Their bright yellow petals exude warmth and joy, making them an attractive subject for various creative pursuits. The late 19th century saw the Arts and Crafts movement, impressionists, and aesthetes embracing sunflowers as a powerful artistic symbol, further cementing their popularity in decorative art.

Iconic artists such as Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin have also played a significant role in popularising sunflowers in their artwork. These timeless masterpieces continue to inspire artists and crafters today, showcasing the enduring appeal of sunflowers.

The striking appearance, rich symbolism, and illustrious artistic history of sunflowers make them a favoured choice in arts and crafts. Their versatility and charm inspire creativity across various mediums, proving that sunflowers are truly a timeless symbol of beauty and vitality.

Crafting Your Stunning Sunflowers

Now that you have discovered all there is to know about sunflowers let's start making them. Our crafting extraordinaire, Stacey, is here to guide you through the process.

Hi, it's Stacey. I recently received a beautiful box of rainbow colours from the lovely people at Papermilldirect. I was extremely excited to get into my studio and craft wonderful things with it. One eye-catching card inside my box was the Sunflower card, which I couldn't help but create some bright sunflowers with. I'm really pleased with how they've turned out.

As much as I love plants/flowers, I'm not the best at keeping them healthy, so creating paper flowers allows me to have gorgeous blooms all year round with no pruning and watering required.

I've used three types of Papermilldirect cards to craft the sunflowers:

• Pastel Canary Plain Card 160 GSM for the petals
• Mid-Green Plain Card 160 GSM for the leaves and calyx
• Mocha brown plain card for the seeds

Each flower requires two pieces of sunflower card to create the petals. I don't like paper waste, so I use any spare space on the sheet to cut out little yellow flowers, which can be seen in the photo.

A little tip for making flower stems - I used barbeque skewers (three, to be precise) that I wrapped in floral tape to create a nice chunky stem.

Happy sunflower making!

Links to Sunflower Cut Files :
Silhouette Store https://silhouettedesignstore....
Etsy https://www.etsy.com/uk/listin...

Tagged: paperflowers, sunflower, paperart, paperpetals