With Sympathy

Joan's Graden challenge #28 ( http://www.atjoansgardens.com/2012/08/black-and-red-what-beautiful-color.html ) wanted us to use red and black, have a flower be the focal point, a border at the bottom, and use an embossing folder.  I kind of stretched  the border req78rejeht  at the bottom as anything I put with my checkerboard background just looked "stupid"...so, the design of the checkerboard edge I'm calling my border. First I wove the strips of paper, then embossed the whole.  I then mounted it on red cardstock which I then adhered to the grey cardstock base.  Sadly I needed a sympathy card and didn't want a typical subdued kind of card.  This is what I ended up with.  Thanks Joan for this challenge's criteria which gave me a good jumping off point.
Supplies Used
Stamp:  JustRite Large Fancy Sentiments
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
Inks: Memento/Distress
Dies: Cherry Lynn (leafy swirl) Spellbinders (tags and labels)
Paper: Red, black white, green, grey cardstock
Misc: May Arts Silk Ribbon