There are quite a few steps to making this card so grab a cup of your favourite beverage and read on for the how to. If you get lost, I recommend you watch Jennifer McGuire Ink's 'Inside Tunnel Card' tutorial on YouTube, she describes all of the construction steps very clearly. Thanks for the video Jennifer!
To start, cut a piece of 8 1/2" x 11" white cardstock in half along the long side to give you two pieces that measure 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" each. Set one piece aside and score the other piece at 1/2", 4 1/4" and 4 3/4" along the long side. When folded on the score lines you will see that it forms a box shape. Set the box piece aside for the moment.
Choose two nesting dies, one slightly smaller than the other, that will cut out a larger window on the scored box piece and a smaller window on the inside tunnel panel. Center the larger die on the box piece panel beside the 1/2" score line and die cut the opening.
Stamp the cabin from the Holiday Drawings stamp set onto the back panel of the box piece with Vintage Photo Distress Archival ink and clear emboss it (when you fold the box closed, you will see this image through the die cut opening) . Apply Distress Resist Spray to the roof and the snow in the foreground of the stamped image with a paint brush and let dry (a big thanks to my fellow Creative Guide Barbara for this brilliant way to use Distress Resist Spray, check out her Inky Wings tutorial!). Make puddles of Tumbled Glass Distress Ink and dip the stamped cardstock into it, repeating as necessary until you are happy with the results. Gently wipe off any of the Distress Ink from the areas you wanted to keep white with a damp rag, magic! ** I forgot to take a step out picture but I also stamped the entire back panel with the Flurry background stamp and Distress Embossing Ink and applied white sparkle embossing powder ** Repeat the Tumble Glass Distress Ink dipping on the front of the box piece around the die cut opening.
Apply double sided tape to the right 1/4" score line on the inside tunnel piece. Line up the right edge of the inside tunnel piece with the nearest score line on the box piece so you can see the stamped image through the window. Remove the backing paper from the tape and fold the front of the box piece over top, burnishing well to get good adhesion (now might be a good time to go and watch Jennifer's video!!)
When you form your box, you can now see how your image will be centered inside the two die cut openings. Set the tunnel box assembly aside for the moment and score the remaining 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of white cardstock in half at 4 1/4". This will become the card blank that your tunnel assembly will be inserted into.
Cut off 1/2" from the back of the card blank. Stamp the outside of the card blank with more Mini Swirly Snowflakes and Tumbled Glass DI and emboss with clear embossing powder.
Stamp a sentiment on the inside of the card blank on the left hand side (the tunnel box assembly will be attached to the right hand side). Grab your tunnel box assembly and apply double sided tape to the back of the stamped panel.
Remove the backing paper from the double sided tape and adhere the tunnel box assembly to the inside of the card blank, lining up the edge of the stamped panel with the center score line of the card blank. Apply more double sided tape to the left 1/4" scored edge of the inside tunnel piece and line it up with the center score line on the card blank.
Remove the backing paper from the double sided tape on the 1/4" score line and fold the front die cut panel of the box assembly over top, lining up all the edges with the center score line of the card blank. Apply double sided tape to the left 1/2" score line on the box assembly, remove the backing paper from the tape and fold the front of the card blank closed (check out Jennifer's video if you are totally lost!)
Open the card and work it back and forth a few times to get all of the layers working smoothly. Stamp some more Mini Swirly Snowflakes and die cut them with the Swirly Snowflakes dies. Adhere the snowflakes to the underside of the inner tunnel panel, positioning them so they don't cover up your stamped image.
Die cut a few stars from sanded silver Metallic Kraft Stock and adhere them to the underside of the front tunnel panel. The snowflakes and stars will now pop forward when the card is opened. Stamp a sentiment from the Great Outdoors stamp set onto white cardstock and adhere it to the bottom of the tunnel assembly.
For the front of the card, stencil the smallest die cut rectangle (the ones you saved when we die cut our tunnel openings) with the Mini Starry Stencil and Tumbled Glass DI. Stamp the stag from the Great Outdoors stamp set with Vintage Photo Distress Archival ink and clear emboss it. Stamp the whole panel with the Flurry background stamp and Distress Embossing ink and then sprinkle with white sparkle embossing powder and heat set. Dip the larger die cut rectangle in puddles of Tumbled Glass DI and stamp it around the edges with Mini Swirly Snowflake stamps and Tumbled Glass DI and clear emboss them.
Layer the larger rectangle onto a piece of sanded silver Metallic Kraft Stock with a slight reveal around the edges. Attach foam squares to the back of the stag stamped rectangle and center it on top of the larger rectangle. Attach the whole assembly to the front of the card with double sided tape and you are done (and congratulations for sticking it out to the end!).
Here are a few closeups of the finished card, I am totally smitten with these tunnel cards!
Hope that you've enjoyed seeing how my Snowflake tunnel card came together and that you'll give one a try yourself, once you figure out the mechanics they are fun and easy to make. Thanks so much for stopping by today and if you have the time, consider entering our October challenge 'Inky Wings', you have until October 31st to join in the fun. Can't wait to see what you create!
Deb xo
