Make a double shutter card design loaded with details!

Yes – this double shutter card design is over the top but I just could NOT resist all the gorgeous details created using just dies! I combined the new Large Garden Fence, Half Tree, Buchnera and Stems and Branches and Leaves from my new Kittie Kraft by Rubbernecker die collection.  I paired the new dies with Tabbed Mountains, Grass, Tiny Leaves #2, Tiny Flower Buds, Stacked Butterflies and Wrought Iron Fence (gate hinges and handle)  and I just love how they complement each other so perfectly! I used a card from the Double Shutter Card Kit for my base.

The Card Base

• The card base was made using a pre scored A2 sized card from the card kit. 
• Use your bone folder to sharpen the folds of the card.
• Cut the blue cardstock sections  to fit the card base.
  • four 1 15/16″ x 5 3/8″ pieces of blue paper.
  • one 4 1/16″ x 5 3/8″ piece of blue paper.
• Apply ATG adhesive to the blue layers and attach to the card base.
• Use green cardstock to cut the green mountain background sections and attach them to the card base using ATG adhesive.

The Tree, Leaves and Flowers

Some of you may ask why I don’t just cut my solid colored elements out of that color card stock. I find that inking darker shades over lighter shades offers a more dimensional look as the ink is, by nature of its application, a little varied and here and there the paler base shows through. I find it adds a more realistic look to die cut elements, like there with the tree trunks. For this tree I used a wet baby wipe to apply color because of the twiggy branches.  The baby wipe dipped in brown ink makes it so much easier to apply the ink to the trunk and all the branches than trying to color them with a marker or painting with a brush.  

I modified the tree sections to fit the card.  I trimmed some of the branches so they wouldn’t extend too far past the folds. The tree on the right was flipped.  I rubbed my bone folder over the back of the tree to smooth out the rough edges that appear on the back side of a die cut.  The middle tree was modified by cutting the branches apart from the trunk and attaching them together using glossy accents.  

• Cut the trees using Kraft cardstock.  Note:  you can white or cream cardstock for the trees but I just happen to like the look of Kraft after color has been added.  It’s just my preference.
• Apply brown ink to the trunks and branches of the trees and dry with a heat gun.  Pro Tip:  I heat dried the trees to make it easier to attach the leaves.  Adhesives don’t stick well on damp cardstock.

• Cut the leaves using green cardstock and the tiny flowers using pink cardstock.
• Place the leaves face up on the molding pad and form each one by pushing down in the center using the leaf tool.  If you don’t have a leaf tool you can use your paper piercer.  
• Use glossy accents to attach the leaves to the tree branches.
• Place the tiny flowers face up on the molding pad and form them by pushing down in the center of each one using a small tipped stylus.
• Attach the tiny flowers to the leaves using glossy accents.
• Attach the trees to the card base using using rolled up strips of double stick tape.

The Fence 

• Use white cardstock to cut six fence sections of fence.
• Cut the fence rails off the sides of the four fence sections so they wouldn’t overlap the card folds.
• Use small pieces of mounting tape on the back of the posts and ATG adhesive on the bottom of the four side sections and attach them to the base.  Pro Tip:  Attaching the bottom of the fence sections flat to the card keeps the bottom less bulky.  Attaching the small pieces of mounting tape to the top of the posts allows the fence to stand away from the card base to create dimension.
• Attach two fence sections together using glossy accents to create a fence gate. 
• Cut one fence post off to use as the connecting section on the right side of the opening.  
• Cut a small section of the wrought iron fence using black cardstock and cut three tips off to use for the hingers and handle.
• Attach the hinges and handle to the gate section using glossy accents.
• Set the gate and individual post aside to attach later.

The Grass, Flowers and Foliage

• Use green cardstock to cut the grass sections and attach them to the fence sections using ATG adhesive.
• Cut six sections of the flower set using pink cardstock for the flowers and green cardstock for the stems.
• Gently form the flower sections and attach them together using glossy accents. 
• Attach the stems to the flowers using glossy accents.
• Cut several sections of the foliage using green cardstock.
• Tuck foliage in behind the grass sections and attach them using glossy accents.
• Attach the flowers in behind the grass sections using glossy accents.

Finish the Card

• Attach the individual fence post to the right side of the fence opening using mounting tape and ATG adhesive.
• Attach the gate to the left side of the opening using glossy accents the back of the two side rails.
• Gently fold the fence gate out a bit from the side rails so it will stand away from the card base.  Note:  I love leaving fence gates open as a welcome invitation and to draw the eye in.
• Cut a single pink butterfly and attach it to the sky area using glossy accents.

This shutter card design is a simple one – something to span the panels and bring them together, details in front and more in the background to make you feel like you are looking at a beautiful scene. It’s all the tiny details that take it up a notch and that’s up to you!  Be sure to check out the new Rubbernecker “In the Garden”  release if you haven’t already.  There are so many new things to play with.

Double Shutter Card Kit [ RBB ] 5403D Half Tree Die [ RBB ] 5401-02D Large Garden Fence Die [ RBB ] 5402-03D Buchnera and Stems Die [ RBB ] 5404D Branches and Leaves Die [ RBB ] 5306D Stcked Butterflies [ RBB ] 5334-02D Tiny Leaves #2 Die [ RBB ] Tiny Flower Buds Die Cut 5147-10D [ RBB ] 5318D Tabbed Mountains Die [ RBB ] Tabed Grass Set Die Cut 5152-03D [ RBB ] 5215-07D Wrought Iron Fence Die [ RBB ] Paper Blossom Tool Kit 4/Pkg [ RBB ] Paper Blossoms Molding Mat [ RBB ] Glossy Accents .5oz [ RBB ] Scotch Advanced Tape Glider & Tape [ RBB ] Scor-Tape .125″X27yd [ RBB ] Crossover II Fabric & Paper Cutting… [ RBB ]