Aquarium Diorama Card

My second son wishes to have a catfish for his birthday which we don't have space for in our house. This card, even though it is a few days late for his birthday, is made with him in mind.

I created a diorama card before for my sons' teachers. For this card, I made it slightly smaller than a regular A2 card. The front dimension is 4 1/2" x 3 1/4" which is the size of the second rectangle of the Simon Says Stamp Stiched Rectangles Die.

There are 4 layers to create this diorama. The front and back panels are sized at 5 1/4 x 3 1/4". The inner panels are sized at 4 3/4" x 3 1/4". The scores for the longer panels are different. One is scored @ 3/4", then 5". The other long panel is scored at 1/4", then 4 3/4". The shorter panels are scored @ 1/4" and 4 1/2". One panel has its folds backward while the other is folded towards the front.

I used the Misti Tool to stamp the aquarium from the Lawn Fawn Fintastic Friends to each panel, making sure that the scores are aligned. I gave particular attention on the impressions made on the longer panels. Using the coordinating die, I cut out the aquarium from the shorter panels.

I stamped the aquarium critters and images on Neenah Solar White. Using the coordinating die, I cut each image before coloring each with Copics. I cut more than I used in the aquarium but that's okay. I'd rather have extras which I can use on another project. Jennifer McGuire has an excellent video on how to stamp and die cut multiples (http://www.jennifermcguireink.com/2016/05/multiple.html.)  This is very helpful for those who are trying to save time. I used my scraps for this project and I am also rather thrifty with my supplies that's why I used the traditional way of laying each die on every stamped image. Since I stamped multiples, I was able to die cut several images with one crank through the Sizzix.

I created a mask to color the aquarium image on the back panel. I used Post-It notes and used second generation stamping to stamp the aquarium on the Post-It note. I buffed the image with a rag to take off the excess ink. I usually contaminate my image and my sponge dauber with the ink I used on the mask. It worked the first time but not on the front aquarium. Maybe I didn't buff the Post-It note long enough.

I fuzzy cut the image on the Post-It note. I cut the image on the line itself for total ink coverage when blending. For the water, I used Tim Holtz Peacock Feathers and Tumbled Glass. Since this inks take a while to dry, before I took off the mask, I pounced some blue Perfect Pearl on the blended area. I used TH Antique Linen for the sand. I colored the aquarium stand with Copic markers.

For the front panel, I used a craft knife to create the window. Cut the image on the line itself. Run a black marker around the window to make it look finished. I covered the front panel with patterned paper from LF Perfectly Plaid. I die cut a rectangle using the SSS die I used earlier. With the use of the short panel as a guide, I die cut the aquarium.

For the middle panels, I free hand cut a slope using Kraft paper. I adhered this to the back of the window. I poured TH Antique Linen Glitter to the sand. I used Ranger Glossy Accent to adhere the glitter. I brushed off any excess. I set this aside to dry.

I adhered an acetate to the back of the front panel. I cut long strips of acetate to which I adhered some of the stamped images so it appears like it is floating inside the diorama. After the glitter has set, it is time to embellish the aquarium. I think this is the hardest among the steps, given such a small space to work with. I applied clear Wink of Stella to some of the images.

I used a thin double sided tape to adhere the layers, sticking the back folded short panel to the back panel. And, sticking the other short panel to the front. Afterwhich, I connected the two long panels.

For the sentiment, I stamped this on white cardstock using Hero Arts Ombre Ink. I cut this into a strip and used Avery Elle-ments Custom Panel to cut the edges. I adhered this to the front using dimensional tape. I also embellished the front with another image from the LF stamp set.

Thanks for viewing my blog.

Maria Giselle B.

I am submitting this creation to:

http://lawnscaping.blogspot.com/2016/05/lawnscaping-challenge-sparkle-it-up.html

http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-anything-goes-27/