How to Make a Shadow Box Greeting Card Fit For the Birds!

Today I wanted to share something a little different from the scene cards I usually make – I took this a step up and want to show you how to make a shadow box greeting card. These incredibly dimensional cards are actually SO EASY to make using a simple shadow box card frame technique I share below. The thing that I think makes this pop are the beautiful layers of the shadow box frame that I was able to easily make using some new dies from Rubbernecker. I just LOVE how I can use one of their dies six kajillion times and it always looks fresh and new and fabulous!

 

For this project I used the Rubbernecker Birdhouse, Winter Tree, Small Ivy, Grass Set, Clouds, Leaf Group, Tiny Flower Buds, Birds, Nested Scallop w/ Holes and Nested Rectangle.

The Shadowbox Frame 5.00″ x 3.75″

• Cut a piece of blue cardstock sized at 7.00″ x 5.75″.
• Place the cardstock on the Scor-Pal and score all four sides at 1.00″ and .50″.
• Place the frame on your cutting platform, line up the rectangle frame and run through your die cutting machine to cut the frame opening.
• Use your scissor to cut the four corners.
• Fold all the score lines in towards the center and use the bone folder to create a good crease.
• Apply double stick tape to the top and bottom inside tab edge of the box.
• Cut a piece of blue cardstock just a tad bit smaller than 5.00″ x 3.75″ to fit inside the box and use as the scene base.
• Secure the scene base to the top and bottom tabs inside the box. 
• Finish closing the box by attaching double stick tape to the side tabs, fold in and attach to the back side of the scene base.
• Apply double stick tape all the way around the back of the box and secure it to the folded card base.

The Shadow Box, White Frame and Grass Layers

• Cut the scalloped frame using white cardstock and attach to the frame using double stick tape.  Note:  The white frame is a touch wider than the frame so it extends out a tiny bit but I love how it looks.
• Cut 1 grass layer 4.00″ wide and 3 grass layers 3.75″ wide.
• Attach 1 layer of mounting tape on the back of the back grass layer and attach to the base.
• Apply three layers of mounting tape to the second layer of grass and attach to the base.
• Attach five layers of mounting tape to the third layer of grass and attach to the base.
• Apply a single layer of mounting tape to the front grass layer and attach to the front of the box.

The Birdhouse and Birds

• Cut the birdhouse sections using woodgrain and red cardstock.
• Apply Vintage Photo ink to the birdhouse and post using a mini applicator.
• Use a strip of rolled up 1/4″ double stick tape to attach the red roof and base to the birdhouse

• Apply  pieces of mounting tape to the back of the post and birdhouse, tuck them in behind the last grass layer and attach to the card base.
• Cut a section of the leaf group using green cardstock, cut one branch section off and attach it to the front of the birdhouse using glossy accents.
• Use red cardstock to cut several birds.  Color their beaks using a black marker.
• Attach one bird to the front of the birdhouse using a small piece of mounting tape.

The Tree, Clouds, Birds and Flower Branches

• Use woodgrain cardstock to cut the tree and color it using Antique Linen ink. Note:  I only cut a small section of the tree to use in the corner of the frame.
• Cut Small Ivy leaves using green cardstock and attach them to the branches using glossy accents.
• Apply glossy accents to the upper edges of the tree branches and attach it the inside of the frame.
• Use white cardstock to cut the clouds and attach them to the scene base using pieces of mounting tape.
• Cut the tiny flowers using red and white cardstock, form them with a small tipped stylus and molding pad and attach them to the leaf branches using glossy accents.
• Tuck the flower branches in behind the grass layers and attach using glossy accents.
• Attach the additional birds to the scene using small pieces of mounting tape for the finishing touch.

Now that you know how to make a shadow box greeting card, go ahead and pull out some of your frame dies – or get these new ones! – and make one for yourself!  Check out this Pinterest link for more shadowbox card inspiration. You can see my Gingerbread House Shadowbox card and my Shadowbox Winter Scene in my Shadowbox Category.  And, I have a little secret…..Rubbernecker might be making this shadowbox frame into a die for us to make making one lots easier.  Shhhh!  Don’t tell anyone.  I sure do appreciate you coming by and I hope you have a wonderful Sunday.

Here are the dies that I used for my project.

5300D Nested Scallop with Holes [ RBB ] Nested Rectangle Die Cut Set 5003D [ RBB ] Bird House Die Cut 5147-11D [ RBB ] Winter Tree Die Cut 5170D [ RBB ] Birds Die 5142-05D [ RBB ] Tabed Grass Set Die Cut 5152-03D [ RBB ] Leaf Group die 5118D [ RBB ] Tiny Flower Buds Die Cut 5147-10D [ RBB ] 5162-03D Small Ivy [ RBB ] Clouds 5147-02D [ RBB ]

Here are the tools and supplies that I used.

Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock, Icy… [ ELH ] Woodgrain Embossed 110 lb Tan – 10… [ ELH ] Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock,… [ ELH ] Bazzill Card Shoppe Cardstock, Easter… [ ELH ] Solar White Heavyweight 110 lb – 25… [ ELH ] COPIC Sketch Marker 100, Black [ ELH ] Vintage Photo, Ranger Distress Ink Pad [ ELH ] Antique Linen, Ranger Distress Ink Pad [ ELH ] Susan’s Garden Tool Kit, Elizabeth… [ ELH ] Mini Applicators, 12 pk, PanPastel Sofft [ ELH ] Mini Glossy Accents, Ranger Accents [ ELH ] Scotch Foam Mounting Tape [ ELH ] Fiskars 01-005452 Recycled Bypass… [ AMZUS ] ATG Kit, Advanced Tape Glider [ ELH ] Teflon Bone Folder, Essentials by Ellen [ ELH ] Scor-Pal Measuring & Scoring Board 12×12 [ ELH ] Crossover II Fabric & Paper Cutting… [ RBB ] Precision 5 Inch Scissors with… [ ELH ]

Now that you know how to make a shadow box greeting card, get your dies out and get busy making one of your own.