Saturday Showcase - Shadow Box Card Tutorial

Happy Saint Patrick's Day friends! Autumn with you today to share a simple shadow box card tutorial featuring the new Tim Holtz Worn Wallpaper.  A good while ago I came across THIS pin (cute, I know!) and wanted to recreate the idea Tim Holtz style, then my friend Julie posted THIS and it really inspired me to finish my concept.  The beauty of a shadow box card is its ability to fold flat for mailing. This particular card will fold to 6 x 5 3/4" to fit into a 6 1/2" square envelope. The front section measures 6 x 4 3/4".

I was having so much fun that I made two of these cards. I just couldn't stop! First let me share the details of my spring design, though the measurements apply to both cards.

To begin, cut one panel to 6 x 6 3/4" and two panels to 6 x 5 3/4". Score the longer panel one inch from each side. Score the second two smaller panels half an inch from each side.

I cut my panels from watercolor paper. I cut one sheet of Tim's new Worn Wallpaper to 5 7/8 x 4 5/8" for the front section. The side sections were cut to 5 7/8 x 7/8". To make my window, I used Tim's largest Stitched Oval die, first cutting the wallpaper, then attaching to the center of my largest watercolor panel and running through again. This makes sure things are even without being too thick for the machine.

Next I cut a Paper Cut Bird die from Metallic Kraft Core. I sanded with an emery board (thanks for the tip @carolinasweetlee ) then inked it with a variety of Distress Oxides for an aged look.

I cut an oval from one of my smaller two watercolor panels. Then I glued my bird to the back, cutting off one section and adding it to the bottom to fill the space.

I gave the final of my smaller two watercolor panels a light sponging with a variety of Distress Inks.  I spritzed the panel and lifted some of the ink for a mottled look.

Next, I assembled my pieces. I folded the flaps of the center bird panel up and used wet glue to attach inside of my front panel. Then I folded the flaps of my inked background panel up and adhered inside of the front panel, butting up to the middle panel.

You can see how they line up better here.

I decorated with a Paper Doll, a handmade flower, a quote chip and an embossed butterfly, all relatively flat for mailing.

I made the flower with the Small Tattered Florals die and Tattered Rose Distress Ink. The center is a Say It In Crystals gemstone by Prima (SIIC).

I embossed the Mini Detailed Butterfly in the GORGEOUS new Metallic Sage embossing powder by Ranger. SWOON!

For card two I stained my Worn Wallpaper panels with Peeled Paint Distress Ink. I thought this particular pattern resembled four leaf clovers.

I used a base of kraft card and used the second largest Stitched Rectangle to cut my front panel window, slightly offset. I used the largest Stitched Rectangle to cut my middle window.

I stained Wildflower dies and mounted on black bases for stability then glued my flowers to the perimeter of the middle window.

I embellished the front with handmade four leaf clovers made from tiny punched hearts. I used a spring of die cut greenery as a base to glue my petals onto. The flower was made with a Tim Holtz flower punch and dyed with Antique Linen Distress Ink. I used the same ink with a bit of Pumice Stone for the stamped background panel and stamped a Tim Holtz text stamp in Watering Can.

These cards were so much fun to make and I have so many variations running through my mind. I hope you do too and are inspired today. Leave me a link in the comments if you try this tutorial. :) 

Check out these and other new releases at The Funkie Junkie Boutique today:

(FEBRUARY PRE-ORDER) Tim Holtz Idea-ology Worn Wallpaper	(FEBRUARY PRE-ORDER) Ranger Embossing Powder - Sage Metallic	Tim Holtz Ideaology Paper Dolls TH93555	(APRIL pre-order) Sizzix Thinlits Die - Paper-Cut Bird by Tim Holtz
Sizzix Thinlits Die Set - Stitched Ovals by Tim Holtz 661188 (February Pre-Order)	(February Pre-order) Tim Holtz Idea-ology Quote Chips	Tim Holtz ideaology Metallic Kraft Stock TH93586	(February Pre-order) Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 21PK - Small Tattered Florals by Tim Holtz
(February Pre-order) Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Detailed Butterflies, Mini by Tim Holtz	(LATE JANUARY PRE-ORDER) Prima Marketing SIIC - Love Story	(February Pre-order) Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Iced Spruce	(February Pre-order) Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Fired Brick
(February Pre-order) Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Vintage Photo	(FEBRUARY PRE-ORDER) Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Evergreen Bough	Ranger Tim Holtz Seasonal Distress Ink Pad - Evergreen Bough	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Weathered Wood
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Tattered Rose	VersaMark Watermark Ink Stamp Pad	Sizzix Thinlits Die Set - Wildflowers by Tim Holtz 661190 (February Pre-Order)	Sizzix Thinlits Die Set - Stitched Rectangles by Tim Holtz 661189 (April Pre-Order)
Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 9PK - Garden Greens by Tim Holtz	Sizzix® Paper Punch - Spiky Floral, Medium by Tim Holtz®	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Peeled Paint	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Pine Needles
Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps - Newsprint and Type CMS266 (April Pre-Order)	Ranger Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink - Watering Can	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Pumice Stone