Violets

 

I've no doubt that there are several among us who feel like Spring can't come soon enough with all the crazy winter weather we've had of late.  

I'm reminded of picking violets and violas in Grandma's yard.  They grew wild in her side yard and the infusion of purples and yellows and white peeking from the green blades of grass was as sure a sign of Spring as the blooming of the crocus, daffodils and tulips that were sprinkled throughout the flower beds.  

Our gardens are still covered in snow and are seriously lacking in the way of spring flowering bulbs.... so this project will have to do.  

You'll need:
images of violas, violets and or pansies in isolation 
Photo Shop Elements or another similar photo editing program if the images do not have a transparent background
Vellum 
Electronic die cutting machine & associated software or sharp detail scissors to cut
wreath base (white cardstock)
12 x 12 back (plain or designer paper)
12 x 12 frame (with or without glass)
Gel Medium and a brush

If you need to remove the white from the images, use the magic wand in PhotoShop and delete the white, leaving only the flower image.  Save as a png.  

Open your cutting machine software, import the png images and size as desired.  Set the images to print2cut.  Check preview to make sure that you just have the outline cutting and no cutting lines inside the flower.  If you see cutting lines, use the contour cut (shadow) feature and create a blackout shadow.  Set the shadow to 0, so it will cut with the outline.  If your software can create a print2cut outline, you can use that was well.  Group the image and shadow together for ease in making any adjustments to placement before printing and cutting.  Repeat with additional images and fill the mat for the size of paper you will be printing to.  When you're satisfied with the size of all your images, send to the printer and cut using the machine's software instructions.  This project used  3 12 x 12 vellum sheets¹.  Approximately 60 flowers were cut (20 images per sheet).

If you don't have a cutting machine,  you can use a word editing program or photo program and set the size of the paper to the desired dimensions for the paper you will be printing to.  Size and place the images as desired and print on the vellum.  Cut the images using sharp scissors and trim close to the printed edges.  

Cut the wreath base -  I used was a 9 inch diameter circle, the center being cut out leaving approximately a 1.25 inch wide section to glue the flowers to.  

Glue one of the images to the wreath of the base using the brush and gel medium - just a little goes a long way.  Add additional images filling the wreath base using the gel medium  Let that layer dry.  Add additional images to fill in and fill out the wreath.  Let dry thoroughly.  Just a small amount of gel medium² where the images overlap is necessary.  The petal edges can remain loose.  If your base has warped at all because of the moisture in the gel medium, place under a heavy book for several hours and the base should flatten out. 

The background I chose is from AC cardstock and is the textured white.  It does have a slight gray tint to it and plays well with the colors printed on the vellum.  

Mount and frame as desired. I had a few images left over and used them for another project which I will share very soon.  

Happy Crafting and wishing you a week filled with nurturing your creative spirit!  

  
¹ Vellum was chosen for the translucency that many dried and pressed flowers have.  
² Gel medium will dry clear and did not show through the images as normal adhesive does.