Handcrafted Just Because Card – Framed Wood and Roses

This handcrafted just because card uses some new techniques for me.  I had so much fun making the wooden background that I just couldn’t cover it with an image, so I put a wonderful sentiment from my stash of Tim Holtz sentiments.  The roses were inspired by this great tutorial from Jamie Brock on FeltMagnet.  I am trying to get into paper flower making and I have looking all over for inspiration.  I titled this card, “Framed Wood and Roses”, because they are my favorite pats of the card.

The Background

To create the wooden background, first I ran a piece of blue-green card stock in a wood embossing folder through my Big Shot.  Then, I smeared Vintage Photo Distress Stain from Ranger over the image in random places.  Next, I smeared Broken China Distress Stain over that.  To rough up the wood, I lightly sanded the raised areas.  The wood grain did not show up how I wanted, so I sponged Tea Dye Distress Ink lightly over the top of the entire piece.  I wish I had some white distress paint, but maybe next time!  Finally, I scored the piece with vertical lines every 1/2″ and used a Spectrum Noir marker to darken the crevices and create a paneled wood effect.

The Roses

This card all began because I saw the tutorial above on paper roses.  I do not have a flower punch, s0 I used my Cricut Explore to cut a shimmer white sheet full of 1″ five sided flowers.  The name of game this time was “EXPERIMENTATION”.  I experimented with a few of my Distress Sprays in pinks and golds.  Then, I tried inking the flowers with Dusty Concord Distress Ink and a sponge.

The roses are made up of five little flowers.  I sprayed the flowers with water to make them easier to shape.  Then, I used the handle of a paint brush to curl the petals in and out.  Finally, I hot glues the layers one on top of the other.  As you can see, I rolled each layer a little differently (tighter in the center).  A lot of fun, a little frustration and some burned finger tips later, these beautiful roses are the result.  I still have quite a few flower dies cut out, but I am getting there.

Paper Roses

The Sentiment

This sentiment is from a set of stamps from Tim Holtz.  I just love all of the great inspiration and imagination in his work!  I am really loving the wood background I made, so I decided that it would be the focal point of the card, but I also wanted something within the frame.  So, I decided to use vellum for an image.  The vellum was still too opaque and I lost a lot of the beautiful color of the wood.  Finally, I decided to use a sentiment on vellum.  I cut the words out and glued them to the background wood.  At this point, I probably could have used white card stock for this and the words would have popped a little more, but hey, live and learn!

You’re the one who makes me the way you see me.

All the Little Pieces

Creating the layers of this card was so fun.  First, I used Scor-Tape and glue dots to attach 1/4 of a doily to the lower left and upper right corners of the wood background.  Next, I attached a white shimmer card stock frame made from the two largest of the Stitched Rectangle Dies from Tim Holtz and Sizzix.  Then, I added purple flower stickers from my stash to each corner.  These little sprigs are so beautiful and layered for extra dimension.  Using more Scor-Tape, I added hemp cord to the upper and lower borders.  I knotted another length of hemp cord, attaching it to the Cherish charm and looping it on to the upper border cord.  Then, I glued the roses into place and added pearls to the corners of the white frame.

The Completed Card

To finish assembly of the card, I attached the entire wood layer to a white shimmer card stock card base.  The final card measures 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″.  I just love this card!

Challenges

This project was inspired by the following challenges.  Please take a moment to check out these great blogs and talented design teams.

Themed Challenges

Add Gems and/or Pearls from the Star In My Pocket Challenge Blog.  For this challenge, I added pearls and liquid pears to the corners of the white frame.

Challenge #151 – Flowers Everywhere from the Deep Ocean Challenge blog.  For this challenge, I added my handcrafted paper flowers and a few flower stickers to the card.

Challenge #236 – Spring is in the Air from the QKR Stampede Challenge blog.  I just love al of the flowers that come with spring.  For this challenge, I have flowers and leaves.

QKR Stampede Blog

Spring Time from the Come and Get It Challenge blog.  Once again, I think of flowers and new growth when I think of spring and these roses are the perfect example.

Come And Get It Challenge Blog

Anything Goes Challenges

Challenge #116 – Anything Goes from the Crafty Galz Corner Challenge blog.  I had to join this challenge because I too am a craft gal!

Crafty Gals Corner Blog

Challenge #271 – Anything Goes from the Creative Inspirations Challenge Blog.  Wonderful design team and sponsors!

Creative Inspirations Cut Critters Challenge

Simon Says – Anything Goes from the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge blog.  I will someday win that wonderful prize to this great shop!

Simon Says Wednesday Blog