Make a Paper Shadow Box Card in Minutes!

I have to start by saying that I am just SO excited that Rubbernecker has designed and released two dies that make a perfect paper shadow box with nothing more than a spin through a machine! If you’ve ever made a paper shadow box you know that measuring and cutting has to be as precise as that done by a BRAIN SURGEON and I just want to CRAFT! My prayers are answered!

For this tropical fish shadow box card I used the A2 Shadow Box Frame, Tropical Fish, Sea Kelp, Seaweed and Coral and Deckle Hills. 

The Paper Shadow Box and Card Base

• Cut the shadow box frame using bright green cardstock.
• Cut the 4 7/8″ x 3 5/8″ scene base using aqua cardstock.
• Use the Scor-Pal to add deeper score lines on the frame.
• Fold the frame sides in and use the bone folder to crisp up the crease on each fold.
• Apply 1/4″ double stick tape on the inside of the wide frame fold layers.
• Turn the frame face down, and insert the aqua base face down in the frame.
• Remove the tape on both frame flaps, fold and secure the frame flaps closed.
• Turn the frame face up and push down on the scene layer and secure it in place to the taped frame flaps.
• Apply 1/4″ double stick to the back of the frame and attach it to the aqua A2 sized card base.
• Be sure and check out my Shadow Box Video Tutorial showing how to fold and secure the shadow box frame. 

The Sand Layers

• Cut three 4 7/8″ sand layers using Kraft cardstock and color them using Antique Linen ink.
• Use a clear shimmer pen to add sparkle to the sand layers.
• Apply two layers of mounting tape to the back sand layer and attach it to the back card base.
• Apply three layers of mounting tape to the back of the second and attach it to the back layer.
• Attach three layers of mounting tape to the back of the front sand layer and attach it to the second.

The Fish and Vellum Seaweed and Coral

• Cut the fish using several bright colors of cardstock. 
• Use vellum to cut two sections of the sea kelp and seaweed coral dies.
• Apply Color Fuse inks using mini applicators to color the fish and to add depth of color.
• Mix and match the fish sections and attach them together using glossy accents.
• Use black cardstock for the eyes of the fish. Note:  Instead of filling in the eye section with the negative piece I cut small black pieces of card stock and attached it to the back side of the fish with glossy accents.
• Color all the vellum pieces using mini applicators and various colors of Color Fuse inks.
• Use a clear shimmer pen to apply sparkle to all the fish and vellum pieces.

Complete the Under Water Scene

• Gently bend and form the seaweed and coral pieces to create the appearance that they are swishing around in the water.
• Tuck the seaweed and coral pieces in behind the sand layers and attach using glossy accents.
• Use small pieces of mounting tape to attach the fish to the aqua card base.

Check out my Shadow Box Frame Beach Scene card to see another card using the A2 Shadow Box Frame.  And, you might also want to see my pretty garden Square Shadow Box Frame card. 

So if you’ve ever wanted to make a paper shadow box card and was intimidated by all the measuring and cutting and tweaking and recutting……get your hands on these dies and make everyone wonder how you became such a papercrafting maven!  I sure do appreciate you coming by and I hope you have a great weekend.

Here are the Rubbernecker dies and inks used for my card.

5315D A2 Shadow Box Frame Die [ RBB ] 5321-01D Tropical Fish Die [ RBB ] 5321-02D Sea Kelp Die [ RBB ] 5321-03D Seaweed/Coral Die [ RBB ] 5173-02D Deckle Hills Die Cut [ RBB ] Color Fuse Set #2 [ RBB ] Color Fuse Set #9 [ RBB ] Color Fuse Set #1 [ RBB ] Color Fuse Set #4 [ RBB ] Color Fuse Set #11 [ RBB ]

Here are the other tolls and supplies used.

40 lb. Vellum – 25 pk, Essentials by… [ ELH ] Antique Linen, Ranger Distress Ink Pad [ ELH ] Mini Applicators, 12 pk, PanPastel Sofft [ ELH ] Tonic Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Pen 2 pk [ ELH ] Scotch Foam Mounting Tape [ ELH ] 5mm (1/4″), Be Creative Tape [ ELH ] ATG Kit, Advanced Tape Glider [ ELH ] Mini Glossy Accents, Ranger Accents [ ELH ] Teflon Bone Folder, Essentials by Ellen [ ELH ] Scor-Pal Measuring & Scoring Board 12×12 [ ELH ] Crossover II Fabric & Paper Cutting… [ RBB ]