Unicorn Shadow Box

Posted on 30th July 2020 by Alison Pendlebury-Brown
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When I first saw the Unicorn card pack I immediately knew I wanted to create a unicorn cloud scene in a shadow box. Shadow boxes are such effective cards with 3D effects and are quite easy to create once you grasp the idea with the support struts. And they fold flat so can be posted too!

To create the card I designed you will need:

• Unicorn Mixed Card Pack A4 | 10 Sheets
• Anita’s PVA Tacky Glue 240ml
• Stick it! 3D Foam Dots (152 pcs)
• Stick it! Permanent Adhesive Roller Refill 8mm x 10mm

You will also need:

• Unicorn Die set (I used Marianne Designs Elines Horse & Unicorn)
• Rainbow die set (or nested circle dies)
• Castle die (i used Xcut Docrafts Princess & Castle die set)
• Cloud dies in various sizes
• Cloud edge die
• Sheet of acetate (optional) measuring 4 1/2 " x 5 1/2"
• Cutting and scoring tool
• Pink ink pad (I used Distress Oxide Ink in Worn Lipstick)
• Craft knife

1. I started with the 2 pieces of Marine Blue Smooth 240gsm and cut 2 x pieces measuring 8" x 5 3/4"

2. Score both pieces at 5" and 7 1/2"

See image.

3. On one of the pieces draw a cut line 3/8" around the inside of the largest portion (see image below).

4. Using a metal die or a craft knife cut along this box to create an aperture.

5. If you choose to add acetate in cut your acetate to 4 1/2" x 5 1/2" and adhere to the back of the aperture frame.

6. Next glue the 1/2" flaps and assemble into a box shape as in the below picture.

7. Using the left over pieces of marine blue card stock create 3 support struts.

Cut 3 pieces measuring 6" long, scoring each at 1/2" and 5 1/2". These will form the support for the clouds, unicorn and castle.

8. Cut 2 x long clouds using the cloud edge die and trim to just under 5". I used a mixture of the Quartz White (Orchid) Sparkled Pearlescent Card 300gsm and Glaze Pink Pearlised Card 300gsm from the unicorn card pack.

9. Cut the unicorn body from the quartz white sparkled pearlescent card and the hooves and tail from the Lilac (Tea Rose) Double Sided Pearlised Card 300gsm.

10. Cut the unicorn horn, the rainbow and the castle from the Mirri Holographic Rainbow Card 270gsm included in the pack.

11. Cut a further castle in the marine blue smooth card.

12. I adhered the the marine blue castle on top of the mirri holographic card so that you could see the mirri card though the windows.

13. Assemble the cloud edgings to the support strut and glue to inside of the shadow box so that you can see the layers through the aperture. Glue the rainbow behind the clouds.

14. To create the pink cloudy background I cut a piece of the Baby Pink Plain Card 240gsm from the pack to 4 7/8" x 5 3/8".

15. Using the cloud die create a stencil from some scrap card. I then ink blended using the stencil all the way from the top to the bottom of the pink card.

16. Finally glue this to the inside of the shadow box.

And there you have it. You can add more clouds using support struts wherever you'd like. I did add a couple more clouds to the top right of the box to fill in the space. You could always add a sentiment there or add your sentiment to the outside of the shadow box.

I hope this provided you with some inspiration. You've probably noticed by now that I tend to prefer a 3D card of some style or other, although I occassionally do create a clean and simple card :)

If you give this a go feel free to post your image on our social media pages using #papermilldirect

Stay well.

Alison x

Tagged: shadow box, 3D card, Unicorn card, card tutorial