HERE IS YOUR TUTORIAL!

Hey All! OK, I'm wiping the sweat from my brow on this one. For those of you who do tutorials on a regular basis (Mel that means you! LOL) I tip my hat to you! Good Lord this was some work! Trying to hold things and take a picture with the other hand was a real endeavor and then to write everything down each step and make sure I didn't forget anything was tough, but I think I've got it all. So, here is the tutorial you've asked for. . .


SURPRISE DIORAMA CARD



1. Cut two panels of card stock so that you have two at 4 5/16 x 11.



2. Score panel one at 4 1/2, 5 1/2, and 10 inches.

3. Score panel two at 15/16, 5 7/16, and 6 1/2 inches.



4. Using whatever DP you are going to use for the back of the diorama, cut a panel that is 4 1/2 x 4 5/16 inches.

5. Stamp background image on this panel (make sure you stamp it correctly depending on the orientation of the card. It will either open from the top or the side. This will make sense when you start to fold). Set image aside for now.

6. Working with panel 1, cut a window between the 5 1/2 inch and 10 inch score lines. I used the largest scalloped rectangle Nestie. You obviously can use whatever shape you want.

7. After cutting the window out, I then ran this section of the card through the Cuttlebug again using the Swiss Dots embossing folder.

Panel 1 should now look like this:

8. Using a strong 2 sided tape, tape panel 1 at far left edge and also at the edge of the first score line like this:

9. Line up right edge of panel 2 with first score line on panel 1. Secure it with the tape you just put down. You should now have one long panel like this:

Here is a shot of it with a little bend at all the score lines so you can see them better.

10. Now comes the time to adhere your background image that you stamped earlier. Adhere it here (look at the photo below). It shouldn't be too hard to figure out where to place the image, because at this point there is only one place it can go. Remember, you need to make sure you attach it in the correct orientation (see #5.).

It should now look like this:

11. Stamp middle "3-D" image on a separate piece of card stock.

I used Marvy's Liquid Applique on the branches to give it a 3-D snowy look. Then heated the liquid applique with my heat gun. While it was still "warm", I sprinkled the tree with glitter and then pressed it in with finger so that it would adhere to the applique. It works really well.

12. Cut image out and set aside for now. NOTE: Be sure to leave at least a 3/4 inch bottom on the image to be able to fold it under (see next step).

13. At this point, I would start folding at the score lines so that you can "see" your card as it is going to be once folded and to locate where your front cover of the card is.

14. Decorate the front of the card however you decide. I cut an identical panel and stamped an identical image of the one I used for the background on the inside of this card. I matted it and used a decorative corner punch and matted it on the front of mine.

15. Now, flip back over and add 2-sided tape here to finish off window box.

16. Tape the front of the 3/4 inch tab of your cut out image with 2-sided tape and fold it back so that it stands up on its own (tape is underneath).

17. Slide cut out image behind window and press down firmly to adhere.

18. Now decorate the panel in front of the window with DP and sentiment.

19. OK, so you are now done. . .sort of. Look at the picture below and note the "flap":

As you fold the card closed, you will notice that this little flap will fold nicely over the outside edge of your card. I left this as an option. I was thinking that you could use this as a closing feature by adding a button with string, a slip in tab, etc. However, I chose to cut this flap off completely. So that it just becomes the front of the card that you simply lift open. Here is the final series of pictures of the final product from pulling out of the envelope to the open product:

There you have it! I hope this wasn't too confusing. I know I probably added way too much detail and way too many pictures, but I wanted to be sure that it was clear. Please don't think that after all this that it seems like to much or too time consuming. It really isn't that hard and only took me less than 30 minutes to do this one. If you have any questions about this tutorial, please do not hesitate to drop me an email.

I hope some of you make one of these. I would love to see what you come up with. I'm sure that some of you could find an easier way of getting the same results, and if so, I would love to hear about it. If you do make one, please leave a comment on this post with a link so that I and everyone who visits can take a look.

Hope you enjoyed it! I'm fast approaching my 10,000 hits, and I have something special planned to give away to celebrate. So stay tuned. Thanks again for visiting! I'll see you on your blogs! Don't forget the pic of the week below. . .

Best,

Curt O'Brien

"God help me be the person my dogs think I am."