Curt's Best Shots Slideshow

Saturday, November 15, 2008

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."

30 comments:

Jan Scholl said...

Curt this is perfect-that is what my pine trees look like in the winter-at least the ones that survived after the lightening hit about 10 years ago.

I need to try this idea. thank you for taking the time to show us.

Happy Tofurkey Day!

Sue from Oregon said...

hmmm...I am going to have to plot my plan LOL...great job Curt, can't wait to try one!

Marie said...

Wow! Thanks for the time and effort! I really love the details and side notes with the arrows pointing to the correct areas. I agree with you on how much effort is required with tutorials. I like it this way than a video. That way I can follow along as I cut, score and paste. PS. Lovely card!

Jules said...

Great tutorial! They are hard to do aren't they!?!
I am going to try one of these, it just turned out so beautiful!
Thank you for taking the time to show us how!

Picture of the week is fabulous! Such great color!

Have a great Sunday!

Lauri said...

Wow! Thanks for all the work you put into this tutorial!! Great job (and no, not too much info at all!) I am definitely going to try this!

twinkletoe said...

Thats a great tutorial. I really admire you for doing this for us.
XXX

Barbara Jean Smith said...

What a wonderful tutorial! Thank you for sharing. Now I can go and play. I can't wait to try this out...now what can I skip doing to get some time? :)

Rita said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rita said...

Wow Curt, you did an awesome job on this tutorial! I will have to give it a try real soon. I'm a visual person so I appreciate all the great pictures! This tree card is so beautifu, love all the detail!

Anonymous said...

Very nice, Curt! Great tutorial! I miss you on my blog!

~ Katy Girl

(http://katygirlswritebackatyou.blogspot.com/)

Becky said...

awesome tutorial. If this was your first time you did it like a pro :). I am a new visitor here and I have to say I love your pictures, your dogs are gorgeous, and your cards are awesome to.

Jami said...

What a fantastic tutorial Curt!! It must've taken forever with so many pictures, but it sure made it crystal clear! I need to try one of these - I just love the 3d look!! And I love those snowy trees!!
hugs, Jami

Janine said...

THANKS CURT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I HOPE ALL THAT VISIT APPRECIATE YOUR TEDIOUS, AND BEAUTIFUL WORK...BUT, I KNOW ACCORFING TO YOU IT IS NOT "WORK"" .....AND THE "END", DOES, "JUSTIFY THE MEANS" IN THIS CASE. AGAIN THE "PIC OF THE WEEK" IS NATURES LAST HURRAH....AWESOME.LOVE, MOM

Ila said...

Your tutorial is Wonderful!!..great photos and very easy to understand...I am bookmarking it for future use...Thank you so much for sharing!!

DeeDee said...

WOW Curt!!! That was an excellent tutorial and as soon as I have the time, I want to try one also!!! I just finished making a VIDEO "how-to"...keep watching my blog...it will appear very soon!!! Hee hee!! Love the POTW by the way....you always find the best things to photograph!!! HUGS!!

dpkennedy said...

Wow, you put so much work into this tutorial-it's wonderful! Thanks so much! Hey, great picture of the week too!

Michelle Alejandro said...

Curt,
This is wonderful! I have to try it now! Love it, love it, love it! Just got to figure out which stamp sets to use. Need to buy those Spellbinders too. Thank you so much for sharing!
Hugs,
Michelle

Joanne said...

Great job on the tutorial Curt! It's so much easier for me to imagine now. I think I'm gonna give it a whirl this weekend. Thanks again for doing this for us!

Joan Fricker said...

Oh my gosh Curt, your tutorial is wonderful. You make it sound soo easy. I must give it a try soon.
Absolutely terrific!!!!!!!

Joan

6 wacky women said...

Great job of the tutorial, Curt. I am going to give it a try, soon. Your pic of the week is awesome, as usual.
Take care
Karen

Anonymous said...

Wow what a great tutorial. And your card is fabulous!

mel m. m. mccarthy said...

That left me Breathless with the excitement of making one of these beautiful creations. I can't believe it even fits in an envelope! And your tutorial was a work of art! SO perfectly easy to follow. I learned a trick or too about tutorials and dioramas! What fantastic fun and thank you so much for your sweet comment. At first, I found it hard to hold the camera in one hand so I totally know what you mean, but your photos are so lovely and it's all very clear. I can not wait to make one! You are incredible!!!

Catherine said...

Woo hooo! great job on your first tutorial, Curt. Next time, you'll be doing some video tutorial :)

Laura Davis said...

Wow!!!! Soooo much talent going on here! What a great tutorial!!
Hugs,
Laura

Unknown said...

Curt - this is just fabulous - I'm so impressed - It's just gorgeous - it's winter in an envelope - thank you so much for taking the time to show how it was done. Pat on the back for that man.

ps. thanks for the lovely comments on my blog.

Tammy Hershberger said...

Excellent tutorial, Curt! Now copy and paste it all to a tutorial over at Papercraft Planet, too!

Cheryl B. said...

Thanks for the tutorial! I'll have to give it a try for a couple of my Christmas cards.

Gina Wrona said...

I'm just speechless, awesome tutorial & card!

Dawn said...

Curt this is amazing - Love it!!