Tunnel Card

T
is for 
TUNNEL CARDS.

Version I

1. Cut  patterned cardstock to 5.5" x 5.5" for the back of your card.  Cut another piece the same size for the front of your card and then adhere a different design on top which is just smaller at 5.25" x 5.25" 

2. Cut two pieces of cardstock at 4" x 5" for the side pieces. Score along the 4" side at 1",2" and 3" to the bottom.  

Fold concertina style using mountain/valley/mountain folds

3. Adhere these strips to the sides of the back piece making sure that the first concertina has the mountain  fold to the outside edge placing .25" down from the top.

Your back piece should now look like this when looking down with it standing up. 

4. You now need to make an aperture in the front card piece.  First select a die cut which has more than one size to it.  Here I am using a Spellbinders Die  'Beaded Ovals' which has 4 graduating dies in total. I have used the two biggest dies and placed evenly within each other using contrasting cardstock. N.b. When cut out will give you an oval circle for the edging and a centre oval which we will use to decorate the back of the card with. 

Discard the centre oval for the moment and place the large oval centrally over the top of the cardstock which you have layered up for the front at 1. above.

Place the small die cut back into the frame and then carefully remove the oval edging. Run through your die cutting machine. Front will now look like below.

Adhere the large oval frame onto the front to neaten the aperture edging and carefully lining up with the back of the card attach to the concertina side pieces to close card.  

5. I have stamped a sentiment onto the discarded circle (see at 4.above.) 

6. Hold card down flat then place the sentiment through the front aperture to see where it needs to be attached to the back. Glue in place. 

You can now finish decorating the front of the card as needed. 

Version II

1. Cut  3 patterned cardstock to 5.5" x 5.5" for the layers. n.b. If the design paper is flimsy adhere to white cardstock.

 For the back of your card I recommend using a heavy duty (300gsm) cardstock and adhere a design paper of your choice. This back card  needs to also be 5.5" sq.

 Select a die cut for your tunnel effect. Here I have used a stitched rectangle. Your die cut needs to have 3 dies in reducing sizes.

 2. Start with the front of the card and select one of the pattern papers you have cut. Using the largest of your dies die cut an aperture. (Here I have put to one side as I am going to adhere a spiral of flowers for my design)

 3.Place on top of your next design paper and place the next die cut(down in size) inside and tape in place with an even space all around. Run through your die cutting machine.

 4. Now place these two on top of the last design paper and adhere the smallest of the dies in place, making sure you have an even space all around.  Die cut out.

5. You should now have all 3 design papers die cut as below.

 Take the one with the smallest aperture on it and place over your back card.

 Draw a pencil line around the inside to mark where the aperture is.

6. Use double sided 3D tape to cut strips to fit snugly around your pencil line and then add around the outside edge. (I layered my tape up twice to get the depth I wanted for the shaker element. )

 Place the smallest aperture back over to make sure that none of the strips are showing.

 Once you are happy with the strips, cut a piece of acetate to fit over the aperture.

7. Fill with your shaker element. Here I have used sequins. Adhere the acetate to seal.

 Now you can layer up with the design papers using the 3D tape inbetween to give  added height . You can now decorate the front to finish your card.

  If you want your card to stand up  then follow the instruction below on how to make a stand for it.

8. To make your stand up cut a strip of cardstock 8" x 2" and score then fold at 3" and 6".

 Place d.s tape as shown and fold over to adhere.

 You will now have a strip that is doubled over 3" and a single flapon the end  that is 2".

9. Cut a small strip 0.5" x 2.5". Score at 0.5", 1.25" and 2". Fold as shown below.

 Place d.s.tape on the two ends. attach one of these ends to the edge of the single flap

 like this.

 Now adhere the other end as shown, folding the single flap down over the 3" strip.

 This will ensure that when you adhere the stand to the back of your card it will not open and slip any further .

10. Put strips of d.s tape on  the single flap and attach to the back of the card.

Make sure you place the double fold right to the edge of your card.

 Your stand is now complete and will fold flat for postage.

Here is my completed card.

Version III

1. Create a cardbase either from a ready made one or card stock. 5.5" x 5.5" and cover the front with design paper of your choice. Here  I have rounded the outside edges but this is not necessary to do.

 Cut 3 further design papers to the same size. n.b. if the paper is flimsy then back with white cardstock ( 120 - 160 gsm. is fine.)

 2. Select a die cut with 3 frames that reduce in size.

 3. Choose which of the design papers will be the top one and arrange  the largest die cut where you want the aperture to be. Run through your die cutting machine.

 4. Once cut, place over the top of the next design paper and position the next die cut down in size , tape in place and die cut out.

 5. Finally do the same with the last design paper and smallest die cut.

6. Adhere this to the front of the cardbase using 3d Pads for dimension.

 Now layer the other two on top, again with the 3D pads in between.

 7. You can now decorate the front of your card to finish as needed.

 Here is the card showing the tunnel effect layering on the front .

 Here is my completed card.