Window On Your World Tunnel Book Tutorial

Hello everyone and thank you for stopping by.  It's Deb here with you today to share a tutorial on how I made my Winter Wonderland tunnel book for our Window On Your World challenge.

Grab a cup of your favourite beverage and let's get started.

Cut a piece of 12" x 12" scrapbook paper in half so your have two pieces measuring 6" x 12".

Score both pieces on the long side, starting at 3 1/2" and scoring every half inch up to 6 1/2".

Fold on the score lines as shown.

The 3 1/2" segments will become the front cover of your tunnel book and the 5 1/2" segments will overlap to form the back cover of your book.

Adhere the back covers together, making sure that the back of the tunnel book is 6" wide from score line to score line.

We now have the cover of our tunnel book completed, set it aside for now.  Cut 4 pieces of cardstock, each one just a smidgen less than 6" square.  Set one 6" square piece aside for the time being (sorry, forgot to take a picture of that step!).

Select 3 graduated nesting dies, I used circular dies that measured 5", 4 1/2" and 4".  Center the 5" die on one of the 6" square pieces of cardstock and die cut a window.  Place another piece of 6" square cardstock behind the die cut opening, lining up all of the edges, and center the 4 1/2" die in the opening.  Die cut the window on the second piece of cardstock.

Place the third 6" square behind the piece with the 4 1/2" window and center the 4" die within the opening.  Die cut the third window.  Set all of the die cut pieces aside for the moment.

Ink the last piece of 6" square cardstock with Distress inks in shades of blue, dipping it into puddles of ink until you are happy with the colour.

Ink more cardstock with Distress inks in shades of green in the same manner and die cut two Tree Line die cuts.  Die cut the Winter Wonderland stag from sanded Classic Kraft Stock and add the wreath around his neck if you'd like (the wreath die is from the Village Christmastime die set).

Overlay the 4" die cut window onto the inked background so that you get the placement right and adhere the Tree Line die cuts, overlapping and offsetting them slightly.  Adhere the deer on top of the Tree Line die cuts.  Add some snow along the bottom if desired with a white sparkle embossing powder.

Apply double sided tape to the back of the background panel and adhere it onto the back cover of your tunnel book.

Stencil a design onto the front of the 4" die cut window piece (this is Carta Bella's Holly stencil).  Die cut some Mini Holiday Greens from more Distress Ink coloured cardstock.

Adhere the 4" window onto the front of the 1/2" accordion fold that is closest to the background, centering the window top and bottom and side to side.  I found it easier to use a liquid adhesive for this step so you had a little play time to make the sure the window was centered properly in your tunnel book.  Adhere the die cut greenery around the opening, making sure that it doesn't obscure your focal point.

Stencil the 4 1/2" die cut window  piece with a design of your choice (this is Simple Stories Happy Trials stencil) and stamp and die cut some Mini Swirly Snowflakes.

Adhere the 4 1/2" window on top of the next 1/2" accordion fold in our tunnel book.  Adhere the Mini Swirly Snowflakes on top of the window, staggering them so you can still see the Mini Holiday Greens die cuts behind.

Stencil a design on the last 5" die cut window piece.  Make sure that whatever stencil you use has a repeating pattern as we will be continuing this design onto the inside covers of your tunnel book (this is Tim Holtz's Starry Layering stencil).  Die cut some stars from sanded gold Metallic Kraft Stock.

Adhere the 5" window on top of the last 1/2" accordion fold in your tunnel book.  Don't glue the stars around the outside quick yet.

Line up your stencil with the pattern on the 5" window and continue to stencil the pattern onto the insides of your tunnel book covers.

Adhere the die cut gold stars around the outside of the 5" window, staggering their placement so you can see the layers below.  Cut more Tree Line die cuts from green inked cardstock and adhere them on either side of the tunnel book covers.  Die cut two Woodlands trees from green inked cardstock and adhere one on each side, over top of the Tree Line die cuts.  Add a small gold star to the top of each tree if desired.

Decorate the front covers of your tunnel book with more Tree Line die cuts and some Mini Paper Snowflakes die cuts.  I designed the covers to overlap slightly but if you don't want them overlapped trim a 1/2" off each cover so the meet in the middle (probably best to do that before you decorate the inside of the covers!!).  Dye a piece of ribbon with Distress Ink to tie around our tunnel book to keep it closed and you are done.

Here are a few closeups of the completed Winter Wonderland tunnel book.

Hope you enjoyed seeing how it came together and that you will consider joining in our Window On Your World challenge, you have until December 5th to enter.  Thanks so much for stopping by today and as always, happy creating!

Deb xo

Creative Card Making With Deb

Hello everyone and thanks for stopping by.  It's Deb here today with a tutorial for our October Creative Card Making post.  I've been seriously obsessed with making shadow box and tunnel cards lately so thought I would create a tutorial for my Snowflake tunnel card.

There are quite a few steps to making this card so grab a cup of your favourite beverage and read on for the how to.  If you get lost, I recommend you watch Jennifer McGuire Ink's 'Inside Tunnel Card' tutorial on YouTube, she describes all of the construction steps very clearly.  Thanks for the video Jennifer!

To start, cut a piece of 8 1/2" x 11" white cardstock in half along the long side to give you two pieces that measure 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" each.  Set one piece aside and score the other piece at 1/2", 4 1/4" and 4 3/4" along the long side.  When folded on the score lines you will see that it forms a box shape.  Set the box piece aside for the moment.

Cut another piece of white cardstock to just under 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" (just trim a bit off each side).  Score this piece at 1/4" from each edge along the short side.  This piece will become the inside tunnel panel.

Choose two nesting dies, one slightly smaller than the other, that will cut out a larger window on the scored box piece and a smaller window on the inside tunnel panel.  Center the larger die on the box piece panel beside the 1/2" score line and die cut the opening.

Line up the inside tunnel cardstock piece behind the die cut opening and center the smaller nesting die inside the window, die cut the second window.  Don't throw those two die cut pieces away, we will use them on the front of the card.

Stamp the cabin from the Holiday Drawings stamp set onto the back panel of the box piece with Vintage Photo Distress Archival ink and clear emboss it (when you fold the box closed, you will see this image through the die cut opening) .  Apply Distress Resist Spray to the roof and the snow in the foreground of the stamped image with a paint brush and let dry (a big thanks to my fellow Creative Guide Barbara for this brilliant way to use Distress Resist Spray, check out her Inky Wings tutorial!).  Make puddles of Tumbled Glass Distress Ink and dip the stamped cardstock into it, repeating as necessary until you are happy with the results.  Gently wipe off any of the Distress Ink from the areas you wanted to keep white with a damp rag, magic!  **  I forgot to take a step out picture but I also stamped the entire back panel with the Flurry background stamp and Distress Embossing Ink and applied white sparkle embossing powder **  Repeat the Tumble Glass Distress Ink dipping on the front of the box piece around the die cut opening.

Stencil the front of the die cut opening with the Starry layering stencil and more Tumbled Glass DI.  Slightly offset the stencil and stencil through it again with Distress Embossing ink.  Sprinkle on Iridescent Shimmer embossing powder and heat set.  Stamp the front of the inside tunnel piece (the one with the smaller die cut opening) with Mini Swirly Snowflake stamps and Tumbled Glass DI and emboss the snowflakes with clear embossing powder.

Apply double sided tape to the right 1/4" score line on the inside tunnel piece.  Line up the right edge of the inside tunnel piece with the nearest score line on the box piece so you can see the stamped image through the window.  Remove the backing paper from the tape and fold the front of the box piece over top, burnishing well to get good adhesion (now might be a good time to go and watch Jennifer's video!!)

When you form your box, you can now see how your image will be centered inside the two die cut openings.  Set the tunnel box assembly aside for the moment and score the remaining 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of white cardstock in half at 4 1/4".  This will become the card blank that your tunnel assembly will be inserted into.

Cut off 1/2" from the back of the card blank.  Stamp the outside of the card blank with more Mini Swirly Snowflakes and Tumbled Glass DI and emboss with clear embossing powder.

Stamp a sentiment on the inside of the card blank on the left hand side (the tunnel box assembly will be attached to the right hand side).  Grab your tunnel box assembly and apply double sided tape to the back of the stamped panel.

Remove the backing paper from the double sided tape and adhere the tunnel box assembly to the inside of the card blank, lining up the edge of the stamped panel with the center score line of the card blank.  Apply more double sided tape to the left 1/4" scored edge of the inside tunnel piece and line it up with the center score line on the card blank.

Remove the backing paper from the double sided tape on the 1/4" score line and fold the front die cut panel of the box assembly over top, lining up all the edges with the center score line of the card blank.  Apply double sided tape to the left 1/2" score line on the box assembly, remove the backing paper from the tape and fold the front of the card blank closed (check out Jennifer's video if you are totally lost!)

Open the card and work it back and forth a few times to get all of the layers working smoothly.  Stamp some more Mini Swirly Snowflakes and die cut them with the Swirly Snowflakes dies.  Adhere the snowflakes to the underside of the inner tunnel panel, positioning them so they don't cover up your stamped image.

Die cut a few stars from sanded silver Metallic Kraft Stock and adhere them to the underside of the front tunnel panel.  The snowflakes and stars will now pop forward when the card is opened.  Stamp a sentiment  from the Great Outdoors stamp set onto white cardstock and adhere it to the bottom of the tunnel assembly.

For the front of the card, stencil the smallest die cut rectangle (the ones you saved when we die cut our tunnel openings) with the Mini Starry Stencil and Tumbled Glass DI.  Stamp the stag from the Great Outdoors stamp set with Vintage Photo Distress Archival ink and clear emboss it.  Stamp the whole panel with the Flurry background stamp and Distress Embossing ink and then sprinkle with white sparkle embossing powder and heat set.  Dip the larger die cut rectangle in puddles of Tumbled Glass DI and stamp it around the edges with Mini Swirly Snowflake stamps and Tumbled Glass DI and clear emboss them.

Layer the larger rectangle onto a piece of sanded silver Metallic Kraft Stock with a slight reveal around the edges.  Attach foam squares to the back of the stag stamped rectangle and center it on top of the larger rectangle.  Attach the whole assembly to the front of the card with double sided tape and you are done (and congratulations for sticking it out to the end!).

Here are a few closeups of the finished card, I am totally smitten with these tunnel cards!

Hope that you've enjoyed seeing how my Snowflake tunnel card came together and that you'll give one a try yourself, once you figure out the mechanics they are fun and easy to make.  Thanks so much for stopping by today and if you have the time, consider entering our October challenge 'Inky Wings', you have until October 31st to join in the fun. Can't wait to see what you create!

Deb xo

Creative Card Making with Alison

Hello all, it's Alison here with this month's Creative Card Making post.  Regulars over at Words and Pictures will know I almost never make cards.  For some reason I find them very difficult to get going with.  But a Creative Card Making post requires a card, so here it is...

For this, I borrowed my inspiration from a tag I made in which I borrowed inspiration from one of my fellow Creative Guides, the lovely Jennie of Live the Dream.  And at three removes of inspiration, I found that it wasn't so hard to make a card after all!

I started with a pre-cut kraft card and envelope, 6x6 inches, and gave it a rough coat of gesso as a base.

Over that, I added some Idea-ology Tissue Tape and Design Tape strips and then smeared some DecoArt Crackle Paint in places.  (I know I took photos as I was going, but my camera seems to be playing up, and decided not to keep them.)

Over the dried crackle, I added dribbles of Distress Stain in Weathered Wood and Stormy Sky...

... and I smeared some Peeled Paint DI and Shabby Shutters DOxide onto my craft mat, spritzed with water, and added that to the mix too.

I chose those colours to go with the tag I cut the Tim Holtz flower out of.

This one is from the Wildflower Stems #2 set.

I'd done some wrinkle-free distressing with those colours onto the tag, and had just enough to be able to cut the strips of paper lace too.

This is one of the two designs from the Lace Thinlits set released a couple of years ago.

Most of my butterfly Design Tape had become invisible under the crackle, so I added some more of that...

... as well as some actual lace from Tim's Idea-ology Lace Trimmings.

There's a bit of script stamping done in Stormy Sky Oxide.

And I used the leftover blobs from cutting the lace to add some extra detailing.

A few ivory sequins dotted around catch the light rather nicely.

And the Idea-ology Quote Chip gives me the necessary words to finish things off.

In the end, I really like this mixed-media card.  And it's flat enough to go through the post without extra charges!

I hope that's given you some card-making inspiration.  Thanks so much for pausing in your journey with me today.  There's still plenty of time to join in with our current Book It! challenge so do come and join us.  Have fun on your crafting travels.

Alison x