Colorful Tunnel Scapes Projects

Hello crafty friends!  It’s Rachel Alvarado from RachelAlvaradoDesigns.com.  I am thrilled to be able to share with you a few projects that I made using products from the new Tunnel Scapes Collection by Vicky Papaioannou.  This collection is absolutely gorgeous and is perfect for all year round. My first project is a 3D shadow box card that features both the Underwater Tunnel Etched Dies and the Underwater Marine Life Etched Dies.  All my images were die cut and the only stamping that I did was the sentiment on the top left corner of my box card. When folded, my card measures at 5 ¾” x 5 ½” and can fit into a standard 6x6 envelope with a little bit of room to spare on one end.  When popped upright, my card measures at 5 ½” high x 4 ¼” wide x 1 ½” deep.

Steps for making a 3D Underwater Tunnel Shadow Box Card:

• First trim two pieces of card stock (I used Spellbinders Snowdrift white) to 7 ¼” long x 5 ½” wide.
• Score each piece at 1 ½ “ from each end and use one panel as the rear of the box card and one panel as the front.
• For the piece that will be in the front, die cut a tunnel window in the center of it using the largest tunnel die from the Underwater Tunnel Etched Dies Set.
• Set aside the piece with the tunnel window and create two more tunnel pieces by first trimming two separate pieces of card stock (using the colors of your choice) to 4 ¾” long by 5 ½” wide. (I used both Waterfall and Teal Topaz)
• Score each end of both pieces of card stock at ¼” and fold to form tabs
• Die cut a tunnel window into each piece using the 2^nd and 3^rd smallest tunnel window dies.
• Using liquid adhesive, adhere the panel with the smallest tunnel window at the rear of the box card by attaching the tabs to the walls of the card.
• Repeat this with the second largest window in front of the smaller one
• Attach all the images (fish, foliage etc.) that you want to use on the inside of the shadow box. You can also add a background to the very back of the box (to be seen through the tunnel) if you desire.  For my background, I blended a mix of Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers, and Prized Ribbon Distress Oxide Inks and spattered it with some water to give a textured watery look.
• Stamp your sentiment on the front panel of your card and then attach it to the base by securing the side tabs to the side tabs of the base piece.

TIP: When you are adding in the tunnel window layers, make sure that your box can still fold flat from side to side before the glue sets.  This way, your box card be lined up and able to fold easily to fit into an envelope when finished.

Once done, your card should fold perfectly to fit into the envelope of your choice.  I added a few images to the outside of my card as well for added interest. For my second project, I used the new Tunnel Clouds Etched Dies and the Perched Birds Etched Dies.  Instead of using the Tunnel Clouds to look like clouds, I die cut them to resemble puffy trees around which I placed my birds. In order to give my card a slightly 3D look, I placed a layer of double-sided 3D foam adhesive tape in between each card stock layer as well as below each bird in order to pop them up. For my last card, I created a simple but bold card using the Rainbow Slice Tunnel Etched Dies and some colored card stock. I hope you enjoyed my cards today and love this gorgeous collection as much as I do!  Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by! Rachel