I've got a 3D garden card to share today using a technique for making a shadow box card Jennifer McGuire shared recently. You can watch a video from her blog to see how to make the mechanism work but it's essentially just a couple of folds in two pieces of card and a die cut window in the front. I thought the new "New Home" set from Wplus9 was the perfect candidate for this technique as I have managed to use just about every stamp in the set on one card!
For my measurements - I made the card wide enough for the shiplap strip stamp plus 2 inches so I could stamp the strips and score two score lines at either side at 1/2 and 1 inch to make the folds. I did this on my white base card and then cut a green front panel the same size with the same score lines and die cut a window from the front using Hero Arts Rectangle Infinity Dies.
I then set about stamping all the other elements from the set onto a sheet of white card so I could spend the evening watching a movie and colouring - my fave way to spend a Saturday night. All my colouring here was done using Inktense Pencils - they have the finished look of ink once you wet them, but you apply the colour as you would pencil so it's an "easy" form of a watercolour like effect that you can get both soft and really vibrant colours from.
I cut all the elements with scissors and a craft knife as I didn't want the white line around them that the die provides, but it would work just as well with die cutting if you're not a fan of faffy cutting like I am.
Then it was a case a "layering" up the garden to get the 3D effect so you feel you could be sitting on the chair watching the world go by.
For the first layer I glued the porch directly to the base making sue the frame extends onto the "floor" to get a realistic 3D look and then added the welcome mat and wreath into place all with wet glue. The lamp and hanging baskets I added more dimension by popping those up on foam squares.
Then the bench layer is created on a strip of acetate (you'll note on the finished card I added another pot as I felt it needed more when I put it together). You then glue this strip in between the z folded tabs on the side of your card and then the bench layer magically sits in the middle of your scene giving it a real 3D feel.
I just glued it with wet glue so I could put it taught then hold a few seconds until dry, trim off any excess and then glue the green layer to the front.
On that layer I just added a couple of pots in the corners so they are overhanging the frame, but you could add die cut grass, even a fence and gate if you fancied.
I haven't decided on a sentiment - although its a new home set, I think it would be a fab birthday card for any gardening fans too. Plus it all folds down nice and flat for mailing, despite the 3 layers.
Hope this inspires you to give this technique a go.
NEWS FROM THE STORE
It will be a busy week this week for stock:
Tara
For my measurements - I made the card wide enough for the shiplap strip stamp plus 2 inches so I could stamp the strips and score two score lines at either side at 1/2 and 1 inch to make the folds. I did this on my white base card and then cut a green front panel the same size with the same score lines and die cut a window from the front using Hero Arts Rectangle Infinity Dies.
I then set about stamping all the other elements from the set onto a sheet of white card so I could spend the evening watching a movie and colouring - my fave way to spend a Saturday night. All my colouring here was done using Inktense Pencils - they have the finished look of ink once you wet them, but you apply the colour as you would pencil so it's an "easy" form of a watercolour like effect that you can get both soft and really vibrant colours from.
I cut all the elements with scissors and a craft knife as I didn't want the white line around them that the die provides, but it would work just as well with die cutting if you're not a fan of faffy cutting like I am.
Then it was a case a "layering" up the garden to get the 3D effect so you feel you could be sitting on the chair watching the world go by.
For the first layer I glued the porch directly to the base making sue the frame extends onto the "floor" to get a realistic 3D look and then added the welcome mat and wreath into place all with wet glue. The lamp and hanging baskets I added more dimension by popping those up on foam squares.
Then the bench layer is created on a strip of acetate (you'll note on the finished card I added another pot as I felt it needed more when I put it together). You then glue this strip in between the z folded tabs on the side of your card and then the bench layer magically sits in the middle of your scene giving it a real 3D feel.
I just glued it with wet glue so I could put it taught then hold a few seconds until dry, trim off any excess and then glue the green layer to the front.
On that layer I just added a couple of pots in the corners so they are overhanging the frame, but you could add die cut grass, even a fence and gate if you fancied.
I haven't decided on a sentiment - although its a new home set, I think it would be a fab birthday card for any gardening fans too. Plus it all folds down nice and flat for mailing, despite the 3 layers.
Hope this inspires you to give this technique a go.
NEWS FROM THE STORE
It will be a busy week this week for stock:
- We've got the latest release of Tim Holtz's stamps and stencils from Stampers Anonymous and will get them live as quickly as we can.
- Mama Elephant's new release will be in store tomorrow.
- The latest release from Stamping Bella is due tomorrow but may take a couple of days to add as there is quite a lot to go through.
- We should also receive the Waffle Flower release tomorrow but we won't have the media mat this time. We weren't sure how easy it would be to ship safely and polling our VIP's no-one immediately wanted one, so we've decided to hang fire and see how well it's received. If you do really want one, then do let us know and we may consider getting them with a future release.
- The new release from Concord and 9th (including the new fringe kit) is in transit and will be here this week.
- The biggest news this week however is that we will also have by the end of the week a BRAND NEW BRAND and we are proud to be the first UK store to spot it's potential and stock it for you before anyone else! So if you like your stamps leggy - then look no further as ALL of the Lovely Legs Collection from Coloarado Craft Company will be in store very soon!
- This range of stamps is so different - all the images are headless - which may sound odd, but they are just really clever and interesting, and the sentiments that go with them are just beautiful. The DT and I will be showing you examples over the coming weeks but there are just a few of the 36 designs on offer currently - they bring out 3 new designs a month too so more will be heading our way as they release them.
- The lastest release from Altenew is on order - we are just waiting for them to ship it but it is unlikely to arrive this week.
Tara