Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Seasons Greetings Tutorial


As the leaves fall with the cooling temperatures, I am gladdened to know my favorite season of the year is fast approaching. A most fun project to share with you.


A 7 Gypsies shadowbox (Michaels $19.99 use 50% coupon) that welcomes in the holidays in preparation of the New Year. Gather about your craft desk your favorite vintage images and small trinkets you thought didn't have a Place to Be.


The images you choose to use in your shadowbox should tell a story. I wanted mine to give the feeling of coming in from the cold to unexpectedly find you are in the middle of a celebration. Making a template will make cutting your image so easy.


To give depth to your shadowbox, cut out parts of the images to lift from the background with Pop Dots or hot glue to the frame surrounding each box.


Use scrapbook printed paper to fill in where needed. I will use a Pop Dot behind the little tree and hot glue the the hanging branch to the box frame.


It is such a magical process to create these little scenes of wintery wonderfulness.
 

I purposefully chose my first image to be that of a door, my last image the First of January. A little mushroom added as a symbol of good luck.

 
Divide your shadowbox into units of four. It is important to have a balance of light and dark images. Here the two snow scenes are positioned across from matching nearly white boxes with printing.

 

Green is the color I chose as a secondary color to red, white, and sky blue. It is not predominate in any of the images chosen. Yellow is the accent color as seen in this little horn blower and poinsettia center as well as the little yellow toy soldier.


My favorite greeting cards to purchase on line are the ones with scenes. I know that there will be a version of the same image on the inside of the card. Here I cut streamers found inside the card to add a three-dimensional look to the box.


This is the second time I have made a shadowbox, the first can be seen here. I do hope you will give this wonderful project a try; and if you do, please share it with me!

40 comments:

E said...

Elizabeth ! I love love love it all ... it's just precious. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts about your process I couldn't begin to tell someone how my thoughts are organized :) Thinking of you today, I'm "building" your Santa barn. E

craftyles said...

It's a beautiful shadowbox, E. I love all your tips on how to balance the colors, etc. I'm digging through my stash as we speak. I may try a mini box.

Kristin_Texas said...

These are so adorable! Love it!

Kristin

Unknown said...

So special!!! A couple of questions...one what is a 7 Gypsies box and two, do you make copies of your cards or use the originals? Love this!!

chris

Lynn said...

Both of your shadow boxes are really neat! I love the tree and house in the lower left:@)

Pieceful Bits said...

You certainly have the "knack" for these shadowboxes :)

Pieceful Bits said...

You certainly have the "knack" for these shadowboxes :)

Erica of Golden Egg Vintage said...

What talent E! It's so funny how we all have different ways of creating. Your way is so purposeful and organized! I wish my mind worked like that. For me it's total chaos with no rhyme or reason...and then my end result is a total surprise! haha
Thank you for the inpiration!
Erica :)

laurie -magpie ethel said...

ADORABLE! The streamers...take the cake!

CeceliaMc said...

Absolutely magical!

I'll take ten!

~Damita's Pretty Wrap~ said...

Oh my goodness I absolutely love this!! It's so sweet and adorable! Love all the cute details!! :) xo Holly

Tammy's in Love said...

I thought that the images you used last year were the cutest thing on earth but alas, you've done it again! You are the best finder of smalls to sit in the boxes, they absolutely make the pictures come to life! YOU SHOULD WORK FOR Seven Gypsies! If they saw what you make with their products they would be tickled pink...er red, sky blue, white yellow and a green accent!

Teresa said...

Thank you for showing this tutorial, it's so cute! I have just the shadowbox waiting to be filled. Have a wonderful week.

A Little Creation said...

FaNtAsTiC!! I will be adding a new scene to my printer drawer box collage. Thanks for the design inspiration.
Chris =]

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

LOVE it, Elizabeth! I love how you give dimension to each box. I love these shadowboxes. I did a Christmas one the same size as yours my granddaughter's first Christmas and used scrapbook papers and pictures of her. I've also done the six partition one also using scrapbook papers and her pictures. This one is great for holding the 4x6 size pictures and I just pop them in so I can update them as time goes on.

Musings from Kim K. said...

Another splendid tutorial. I will spend lots of time coming back to this post to peer at each special shadow box for inspiration. I'm especially smitten with the New Year's eve party and the tiny streamers. I think this is why I love my dollhouses so much. They remind me of your precious shadow box scenes.

vintage grey said...

So beautiful Elizabeth! I love all the sweet graphics! The perfect touches! xo Heather

Dorothy Prudie Vintage said...

I don't know what it is...there is something about a shadow box that makes me smile. I will have to try this. Yours is simply too cute. Thanks for the inspiration.

vivian said...

beautious! elizabeth. I still remember the one you did last year or the year before that I LOVED too.
have a great day my creative friend
xoxo
vivian

LBP said...

Love, love, love it! I just bought one of these boxes Monday, a smaller version, such a timely tutorial!

Blessings

Linda

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the toot! I own several shadow boxes just waiting for me to decorate them! One of these days! ♥

Claudia said...

This one of my very favorite of all of your crafts. I loved the one you did a couple of years ago, and I'd love to try one of my own. Thanks, Elizabeth!

Sandy said...

This is the cutest thing ever! Love it! I think my grands would love to make one of these. Saving the link for a craft day with them. Thank you!

Tazas y Cuentos said...

Great job! I love it! I like all the details....perfect!
Besos from Argentina, Silvina

Ina said...

I love both of them!!! So creative and fun! ;p

craftyles said...

I had to come back and thank you for your sweet comment. I had never thought of using paper doll clothes on a little tree. That's a wonderful idea. Have a Happy and Creative weekend!

cheryl said...

Hi Elizabeth! Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy all your posts and your beautiful crafts! I would like to make a similar shadow box and have been on the look out for the snowman playing a guitar that you used in your shadow box project from last year.Being a bit OCD myself I can't seem to get around wanting to use him in my project, could you share your source? (I have coveted him far too long) Cheryl in ND

cheryl said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tresa said...

Another fun and beautiful creation! Thank you for all of the tips and ideas. I have a shadow box waiting for me to find inspiration.

Nan said...

I love your shadow boxes so unique and just too too cute I can't stand it!!
Thanks for all the tips, now if I can stop sewing long enough to make one of these!

Ric Rac and Polka Dots said...

AMAZING!!!!! LOVE IT!!!
Hugs,
Julie

Unknown said...

Elizabeth,
This is just so wonderful! I just love the card images you use! Great tutorial, part of me can't wait to get home and start crafting again! I have so many cute things to show you all of my visit!!!!! Sandy

Unknown said...

Hi Cheryl, The snowman playing the guitar was an actual greeting card image. I am so sorry I did not think to save the image to my computer. I do hope you make your shadowbox, and please send me a photo at elizabeth.andrus@yahoo.com
Thanks for visiting! Elizabeth

Little Susie Home Maker said...

Thank you so much! I love this tutorial! I really would like to b eable to create something similar, and this is just such a sweet shadow box!
Blessings,
Susie

Celestial Charms said...

Oh my goodness. Oodles of fun shown in your Christmas shadowbox. Each scene is adorable. I wish I had a Michaels near me. I'll have to check my local Hobby Lobby, to see if they sell them.
Maureen

Crafty Lumberjacks said...

I can't wait to make this!! Where online do you get your cards?

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

I always absolutely love your Christmas shadow boxes! This one is great, too! Thanks for the inspiration. :)

voyante said...

Very good article, it's been fun to play this kind of site! good continuation.

rosy123 said...

j ai passé un bon moments et j en ai eue plein les yeux!!!
voyance en ligne