Hello friends!
Today I’m sharing a vintage-inspired floral card built around a symbolic hourglass focal point.
Vintage style has always had a special place in my heart. It’s actually what first inspired me to start papercrafting in the first place.
Over the years, I’ve explored cleaner designs and tried styles that are a bit outside my comfort zone — like soft color palettes and even rainbows. But no matter what I experiment with, I always find myself coming back to vintage. When I sit down to design or look for inspiration, that nostalgic, layered aesthetic is what I naturally gravitate toward.
I like incorporating meaningful elements into my designs, and this hourglass handmade card celebrates the beauty of time, memories, and thoughtful handmade moments.
DESIGNING THE HOURGLASS FOCAL POINT
For this card, I started with the main focal point — a layered hourglass created using the Timeless Sands Die Set. I wanted the hourglass to feel dimensional and slightly vintage, almost like a keepsake piece.
To build it, I die cut the elements from Crafty Necessities Cardstock in: Green Gold (frame and structure), Citronella (sand) and Vellum (glass portion).
To add stability and dimension to the hourglass, I die cut the frame multiple times from Green Gold Cardstock and stacked the layers together. While assembling the hourglass, I placed the vellum layer in the middle so it would be softly framed but still allow light to pass through.
For extra depth, I lightly inked the top layer using Espresso Fresh Dye Ink, adding subtle shading and enhancing the vintage feel.
CREATING A VINTAGE FLORAL BACKGROUND
Once the focal point was ready, I moved on to the background using the Twin Blooms Stamp & Stencil Set.
I began by stamping the large floral image onto white cardstock, then colored it with the coordinating stencils. For color, I chose inks from: Cool Summer Night Fresh Dye Ink Set (blues) and Warm & Cozy Fresh Dye Ink Set (oranges).
This blue and orange palette creates a beautiful contrast while still feeling warm and nostalgic.
ADDING SUBTLE SCRIPT TEXTURE
To enhance the vintage mood, I layered in a soft script background using the Paper Echoes Background Stencil and Mocha Fresh Dye Ink from the Coffee Break collection.
I carefully inked around the flower rather than over it, allowing the script texture to frame the floral image without overpowering it. This helps the flower remain the focal point while adding that aged, letterpress-inspired feel that beautifully echoes the nostalgic hourglass theme.
ENHANCING THE VINTAGE LOOK WITH INK DETAILS
To complete the background, inked the panel edges with Mocha Fresh Dye Ink and added light brown splatters for a subtle aged effect.
These small details really help push the design into that vintage space.
BUILDING LAYERS AND DIMENSION
To ground the composition, I created a coordinating mat layer using Green Gold Cardstock. I deepened the edges with Espresso Fresh Dye Ink and added a soft script texture using the same stencil for continuity.
I then foam-mounted the floral panel onto the mat, making the floral layer about half an inch smaller on each side. This framed the design beautifully and added depth.
Finally, I popped up the layered hourglass on top of the floral background, letting it take center stage.
FINISHING TOUCHES
For the sentiment, I chose a simple strip from my stash made using the One-Go Birthday Stamp & Die Bundle and stamped it in blue ink to echo the floral tones without distracting from the focal point.
To finish the card, I added enamel dots in coordinating shades from: Warm & Cozy and Marine Life Enamel Dots.
I tucked a few of them slightly under the floral panel and hourglass to create a more layered, interesting look.
These small accents tie the colors together and add just a touch of shine without overwhelming the vintage aesthetic.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This hourglass card was such a joy to create. I love how the dimensional focal point pairs with the soft florals and subtle textures, creating a design that feels both meaningful and timeless.
SUPPLIES
If you’re curious about the supplies I used, you can find everything listed below.
Some of the links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you shop through them — at no extra cost to you.
You can use the letter codes to shop from your favorite stores: Simon Says Stamp (SSS), Altenew (AN), Scrapbook.com (SC), Amazon (AZ), Spellbinders (SB), Papertrey Ink (PTI), and more.
I really appreciate your support 🤍
 Altenew One-Go Birthday Greetings Stamp Set Click A Shop: AN | SC |
 Altenew One-Go Birthday Greetings Die Click A Shop: AN | SC |
 Altenew One-Go Birthday Stamp & Die Bundle Click A Shop: AN |
 Altenew Twin Blooms Stamp Set Click A Shop: AN |
 Altenew Twin Blooms Layering Stencil Set Click A Shop: AN |
 Altenew Twin Blooms Complete Bundle Click A Shop: AN |
 Altenew Timeless Sands Die Set Click A Shop: AN |
 Altenew Sunkissed Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: AN |
 Altenew Orange Cream Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: AN |
 Altenew Autumn Blaze Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: AN |
 Altenew Firebrick Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: AN |
 Altenew Warm & Cozy Fresh Dye Ink Bundle Click A Shop: AN |
 Altenew Warm & Cozy Fresh Dye Ink Mini Cube Set Click A Shop: AN |
 Altenew Sea Glass Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: SSS | AN |
 Altenew Ocean Waves Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: SSS | AN | SC |
 Altenew Dusk Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: SSS | AN | SC |
 Altenew Desert Night Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: SSS | AN | SC |
 Altenew Cool Summer Night Fresh Dye Ink Bundle Click A Shop: SSS | AN | SC |
 Altenew Cool Summer Night Fresh Dye Ink Mini Cube Set Click A Shop: SSS | AN |
 Altenew Mocha Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: SSS | AN | SC |
 Altenew Espresso Fresh Dye Ink Click A Shop: SSS | AN | SC |
 Altenew Coffee Break Fresh Dye Ink Bundle Click A Shop: SSS | AN |
 Altenew Coffee Break Fresh Dye Ink Mini Cube Set Click A Shop: SSS | AN | SC |
 Altenew Crafty Necessities: Citronella Cardstock Click A Shop: AN |
 Altenew Crafty Necessities: Green Gold Cardstock Click A Shop: AN |
 Altenew Paper Echoes Stencil Click A Shop: AN |
 Altenew 9″X12″ Ultra Sticky Mat: Grid Click A Shop: AN |
 Altenew Ink Blending Tool – Small – Set Of 4 Click A Shop: SSS | AN | SC |
 Altenew Mini Blending Brush Set Click A Shop: SSS | AN | SC |
 Altenew Warm And Cozy Enamel Dots Click A Shop: AN |
 Altenew Marine Life Enamel Dots Click A Shop: AN |
