Frame Card with Pleated Heart and Rolled Flower

 

Dimensional frame with mitered corners has 

wrap-around top, bottom and side components to provide 

low-relief edge in front of rectangular center panel. 

Two narrow offset accent panels inside frame provide base 

for two hearts: larger layers-thickened heart with jute twine 

added to edge, and smaller dimensional “corrugated” 

(pleated) heart with center smaller accent heart on top. 

Additional embellishment includes a dimensional rolled 

flower on arched stem, fine jute twine bow, 

optional print & cut letter tiles to spell out ‘BLOOM’ or ‘LOVE’. 

This framed hearts ensemble can be a fun and 

unique decoration, or add a sentiment panel (included) 

for the backside to give as a card that can be 

displayed by the recipient. 

Frame measures 8” wide x 6” tall when completed. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:

A main center panel (2 layers; sample is composed

of beige print paper on front, kraft card stock on back)

B bottom layer accent: burlap mounted on paper

C top layer accent: sample has torn edge with distressed edge

D frame backside "fill-in" panel (should match A back color)

E frame members for top, bottom (2)

F frame members for sides (2)

G large heart face (cream newsprint) plus build-up (8)

H medium heart base build up for thickness (4-5)

I pleated heart     J small accent heart

K rolled flower with bottom glue-to circle

L stem/leaves base

M separate stem, separate contrast leaves

NOT SHOWN: letter tiles for "BLOOM"

2. Complete the stacked layers build up so they can

be drying:

A) layer the large hearts into a stack (including the contrast

front heart, if your project includes this), taking care

to match all cut edges as precisely as possible.

B) Place the glued-up stack on a flat surface and press

under a flat heavy object such as this thick book

(possibly with something else heavy placed on top) and

leave until completely dry. This may require several hours

or overnight, and helps reduce or avoid warping or

curling of the stack when using liquid glue.

(Repeat the pressing process for any stacked or layered

and glued-up shapes.)

C) Layer and glue together the medium heart "base"

shapes into a stack. Press under a flat heavy weight.

D) layer the two accent rectangle panels, centered,

and glue together. If using liquid glue, press til dry.

E) layer the main rectangle panels with edges aligned;

press until dry.

F) Layer separate stem with leaves and glue together . . .

. . . then position and attach the separate leaves.

Press under heavy weight until dry.

3. Prepare the frame members by bending on all

perforation lines as shown in the labeled photo:

V = valley fold    M = mountain fold.

(It may be helpful to read through Step 7 to get 

an overall understanding of how the frame sections have 

"accordion" layers that bend to fill the low relief depth 

of frame between front face and back face segments.)

NOTE that there are two pairs of closely-spaced

perforation lines that create the "low relief" frame edge

at the inward edge (next to the rectangle center panel)

and at the outer frame edge (as the frame wraps to back).

4. Compress them together so that they "stack"

behind the first panel that is next to the second pair

of closely-spaced perforation lines.

5. Place the frame member face down on work surface

with accordion layers stacked . . .

. . . and use a bone folder to firmly crease the stacked

accordion edges.

6. Working quickly, apply glue between the accordion 

segments on both front surface and back surface, 

then press along the length until glue grabs.

Repeat for all 4 frame members.

As each member is prepared to this point, press under

heavy flat weight temporarily.

7. Apply glue to the bottom segment face of

the accordion stack, and also the narrow inward

segment, and behind the FRAME FACE segment, 

then . . . 

. . . wrap the frame face segments around the stack

so that the inward narrow segment falls snugly

at the side depth of the stack;

adjust all along length so that the narrow segment

wraps neatly and snugly.

Continue to wrap so that the face segment attaches

neatly all along the top of the accordion segment.

Apply pressure all along for a consistent and smooth

attachment. Immediately press under flat weight

and leave to dry for several hours.

Repeat for remaining frame members.

NOTE: the BACK FACE remains unattached until

subsequent steps.

9. Once frame members are dried, begin the final

frame assembly. Test the first (top) frame member

to understand how it attaches. Position the member

around the top edge of the main panel with face panel

 toward the rectangle panel's front surface, and

panel and frame ends aligned.

Remove, apply glue to underneath surfaces, then

reposition and press firmly to attach in place.

Apply pressure all along frame until securely attached.

10. Position the first side frame member in similar

manner, centered, and so that the miter corner edge . . .

. . . will wrap and fit snugly against the miter edge layer

of the top frame. NOTE that the side frame's stacked

edges will fall next to the top frame's stacked edge.

Attach in place.

11. Repeat for the second side member on opposite

center panel edge.

12. Finally, prepare, position and attach the bottom

frame member, taking care to arrange interconnection

at corners as previously described.

13. Position and attach the "filler" back panel in between

the frame edges on assembly backside.

(Suggestion: use dry adhesive tape instead of liquid.)

14. If desired, apply adhesive (such as Fabri-Tack

quick-grab glue being used here) to the thickened

edge of the large heart, then add thick jute twine

to edge, beginning at the "valley" at center top.

Work in sections, to continue to add all around

the heart, trimming to length when perimeter

is completed, then tucking the ends together neatly

to be held in place with glue.

15. Prepare the rolled flower by first rolling the spiral

shape. Use the narrow tip of a tweezers tool to grab

and hold the inner end, then twirling the tweezers to

wrap the strip onto the tweezers, angling the wrapping . . .

. . . so that the bottom spiral edge stacks on top

of the previously-wrapped edge. Continue until

the strip is completely wound onto the tweezers,

then release to remove tool. 

16. If possible, add a little bit of outward curl to

the final several petals - those with deeper cut shape

between petals.

17. Apply glue to the face bottom edge for the first

couple of inches, beginning at inward tip. Then

re-roll the center, allowing the spiral to attach

somewhat loosely. Use the tweezer tool if helpful.

18. Continue to wrap until completely re-coiled,

adding glue forward for a few petals ahead of roll,

then attach final tip in place. NOTE that the bottom

circular size of the rolled flower should roughly

match the separate base circle.

19. Apply glue to the bottom of the coil, then position

and attach the circle in place. Once dry, use scissors

to trim away any of the base circle that extends

undesirably beyond flower coil.

20. Apply glue to the stem assembly attachment circle,

then position and firmly attach flower to cover circle.

21. Position and attach flower assembly to the front

of the large circle as shown here, or refer to thumbnail.

22. Prepare the pleated heart front shape by folding.

A) First, bend and crease the center perforation line

as a "mountain" fold.

B) Continue to bend and crease along perforation lines

toward right (or left) side, alternating the folds as

"valley", then "mountain", etc., until . . .

. . . the final "valley" bend is completed at side edge.

C) Repeat step B to complete the folding and creasing

across to the opposite side.

23. Prepare to position and attach the pleated heart

to the front of the medium heart base stack.

First, apply a zigzag bead of quick-grab glue down

the center of heart, with approx. 1/4" coverage at center 

- this will hold the center two "valley" ridges.

Once the center ridges are firmly attached, bend

the first half back out of the way to apply glue across

the remainder of the heart panel. Also add glue to

the pleated heart end curved segment underside . . .

. . . then re-position the pleated half over the base,

taking care to align the side curved segment with

the base's edge. Work quickly to adjust the ridges

to be even across the half, using fingertips or tweezers

of other handy, appropriate tool as needed.

24. Once the first half is secured, repeat Step 23

for the opposite, second pleated half.

25. Position and attach the small accent heart

in the center of the pleated heart assembly.

FINISHING

26. Position and attach the accent center panels onto

the frame's center panel. Use dry adhesive tape if possible.

27. Position and attach the large heart assembly,

then position - overlapped - the medium heart

assembly and attach in place.

Optional embellishments:

Prepare a refined jute bow and attach to edge

of large heart, if desired.

Finish the ensemble by adding the letter tiles

as shown above medium heart.