welcome to the 3rd dimension!
i have some great inspiration for you to bust out of the flat paper zone.
let's start with ready-to-go blank board mini shadow boxes...these are so much fun to fill and decorate. i chose to make "travel boxes" - each one will celebrate a place i visited. this one is for paris—my mother and i had a wonderful time there several years ago.
here are the basic steps:
1. line the inside with paper or photos. my side walls are covered with a sliced up aerial photo of paris that i took from the top of the eiffel tower. my back wall is a little fleur-de-lys die-cut with a picture of a statue of joan of arc inside...the statue was right around the corner from our hotel.
2. choose some charms and/or cut-outs to adhere in front of the back wall. i chose a lamp post from a picture i took in the park at the base of the eiffel tower, and a metal charm of...well, you get the idea.
3. decorate the outside. i distressed mine with black, blue and bronze inks and a couple different rubber stamps.
4. print out the name of the place you visited on translucent paper and adhere to the inside of the window.
i plan to make a bunch more for other trips i have taken to mexico, alaska, hawaii, puerto rico, jamaica...they'll look so cute lined up on a shelf or windowsill, or even hanging in a mobile. click here for a gallery of beautiful design ideas for these boxes.
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and now for some wonderful submissions i received and some terrific posts i found!
• carli made this adorable photo cube for her kids - so creative and interactive too.
• patricia posted this great ornament design ...i remember making these as a child, can't wait to make them again!
• tamara shares instructions for how to make an ingenious box card to hold a greeting and a surprise.
• angela made a gorgeous poinsettia ornament and card by cutting and layering.
• over at little house in the suburbs, you can learn how to make your own beautifully textured handmade paper from the stems of an okra plant.
• for tons of family friendly 3-d craft projects - check out jolly mom! she hosts "make something monday" which challenges you to make a fun new craft each week.
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thanks for reading!
issue #4 will be posted on december 12th.
it will showcase the best of 2008 - what were your most creative papercrafting projects this year?
email me with your ideas and submissions!