Acrylic Shadowbox Ornament Tutorial

 Hi Blog Friends,

The E-Team over at Eclectic Paperie's Blog is featuring a couple of my stamp sets today, so I thought I'd give you a little tutorial on one of those stamp sets to tie in with what they are doing.

A couple of our most popular products this season have been the #ACR27 Acrylic Shadowbox Ornate Frame and #JCS131 Cardinal Ornament Static Cling Red Rubber set of stamps. Here's a photo of the ornament:

And here's a photo of the stamp set:

Since this ornament has been so popular, Tonya and I decided to do a little tutorial on it. The ornament can be made using my rubber stamp set (shown above) or with this U-Cut:

The U-Cut number is #UC520 and it retails for $1.39.  You will need two of the U-Cuts to make the ornament, as the ornament is double sided.  We used the U-Cut for the tutorial. Here's the tutorial:

Cardinal Ornament Instructions

NOTE:  If you want to attach a hanging jewel to the bottom of the ornament as shown above, read Step 24 FIRST.

1.  Cut out the images, cutting two of each image.  (The ornament is double sided so that when it spins around on the tree, both sides are the same).

2. Use Tim Holtz's Distress Inks and an Inkssentials Blending Tool with a Foam Pad to add a little color to the edges of each cutout.  We used the following Distress Inks:  Tea Dye and Vintage Photo on the Frame and Joyeux Noel inset.  Shabby Shutters on the green leaves.  Fired Brick, Worn Lipstick and Rusty Hinge on the flowers and cardinal (the Rusty Hinge is for the cardinal's beak).

 

4.  Fill a Ranger Mini Mister with water (don't fill it completely full).  Add 4 drops Vintage Photo and a small scoop of Perfect Pearls (Perfect Gold color).  Spritz the background with the mixture.

5.  Dry the background with a heat tool.  (I LOVE Ranger's Heat It Tool, just the perfect temperature for everything... and quiet also).

6.  Apply permanent adhesive to one side of one of the chipboard frame pieces.

7.  Attach the background to the chipboard frame piece.  Turn this piece over and repeat Step 6 and 7 for the other side of the chipboard frame piece.

8.  Apply adhesive one a second piece of chipboard frame.

9.  Attach the frame (the one you just applied adhesive to) on top of the background as shown below.  Turn the frame over and repeat Step 8 and 9 for the other side of the frame. 

10.  Lay one of the U-Cut frame pieces (or stamped frame if you're using stamps to make the ornament) face down.  Place the ornament (The 3 chipboard pieces with the background that are now attached together) on top of the U-Cut.  Use a pencil to mark the hole on the back side of the U-Cut frame.

11.  Repeat Step 10 for the other U-Cut frame piece to mark the hole.

12.  Punch out the holes that you marked in Steps 10 and 11.

13.  Apply permanent adhesive on top of the chipboard frame as shown below.

14.  Attach the U-Cut frame to the chipboard.  Repeat Steps 13 and 14 for the other side of the ornament.

15.  Add a few iridescent mica chips or iridescent shreds to the inside of the frame.  (Glitter doesn't work well as it tends to leak out of the ornament after it is assembled and sticks to the inside of the acrylic).  If you're interested in purchasing the shreds, we are now stocking them).  (Call 1-800-945-3980 if you're interested in ordering any of the products in this post).

16.  Remove the blue or clear film backing from both sides of the acrylic.  Repeat for the other piece of acrylic.

17.  Lay one acrylic piece on top of the ornament.  Carefully pick up the ornament and turn it over, keeping all of the pieces aligned.  Repeat this step for the other side of the ornament.

18.  Use a set of needle nose pliers to attach the frame clips.  (It's easier on the fingers to use the pliers, the fit is snug).

19.  Repeat step 18 with the other 3 clips. 

20.  Apply double sided foam mounting tape to the back side of the embellishment images.

21.  Attach the images to the outsides of the frame.

22.  We attached a ribbon loop to the top of the ornament to hang it from the tree. Cut a piece of ribbon to approximately 18".  Cut one end of the ribbon to a long narrow point.  

23.  Thread the ribbon through the ornament, tie a knot above the ornament.  Tie a bow at the top of the ribbon, as shown below.

24.  Another option on these ornaments is add additional hanging jewels to the ornament. If you want to hang embellishments or jewels from the ornaments, you will need to punch additional holes using a Big Bite Cropadile.  Punch the holes before you start the project. Mark the placement of the hole on each piece of chipboard and acrylic piece individually, and punch each hole using the Big Bite.   

How would you like to WIN this Acrylic Shadowbox ornament and the coordinating U-Cuts? Just post a comment on THIS POST by Midnight, Monday November 22.  I'll announce the winner on the blog on Tuesday, November 23, and the winner will have until Friday, November 26 to claim the prize by emailing me with their snail mail address.  Yes, Black Friday.... check my blog on Thursday because we will all be shopping on Friday, right?

And speaking of blog candy and FREEBIES..... I promised in a previous post that I'd be picking a Facebook fan to receive a special prize.   And......Vickie Hawhee........you're it! So if you will send me your snail mail address, I have a little treat I'll send you.  Email me at [email protected].  (My business Facebook account is under the name "Darcie Heater Designs" in case you haven't checked it out yet).  Be sure to click the "Like" button on my Facebook account, because I'll be picking winners from the "Fans" again soon!

OK, see you guys soon!

Darcie

 

 

 

Comments

[Judy Waisner]

This is great and beautiful! I am a beginner and love the tutorial. Thanks!!
Mo./Judy

[Ana Garcia]

hello Darcie!

i visited your both at the carson convetion and i love it!!! i cant wait the get next kit! i love the frames i got, i finished two of them! :)

[Rose]

Such a beautiful ornament and another great tutorial.
Thanks so much!

[Sonia]

Darcie~ this is a stunning ornament. I love the tutorial and how you outlined everything step by step. Thank you so much for sharing it.
I hope I am lucky enough to win this.
It is superb!!!
All the best,
Sonia

[Glenda]

Wonderful tutorial and I just love the stamps! Beautiful!

[Cheri P]

This is soooo cute. I bought a bunch of your acrylic frames last year and haven't used them yet. I am printing your instructions and going to try this immediatley. This year we decided to make all the ornaments (instead of purchasing them) for the kids for Christmas and I think between this and your new shrink art ornament CD and the magnet kit I bought we I am set. I might have to go on line and buy these kits as well. Thanks it was great to see you at the Carson Convention you always inspire me to create beautiful things. Thanks.

[Lana]

Darcie, thank you for the tutorial. I just emptied my wallet out over at Eclectic Paperie! I'm so excited to get my goodies and play now! I am thinking I should have ordered MORE! LOL!

[Summrgirl8]

Hi Darcie. I met you this weekend at the Carson show and fell in love with your stuff! This ornament is beautiful. Is there a website that I can buy your products from when I run out of the supplies I bought over the weekend?

[Rose]

I love all your acrylic pieces. They are the hottest thing out there. I fell in love with them when I saw them at the Rhinebeck NY show and I can't wait to get my grubby little hands on more.
Thanks for the awesome tutorial.

[annette hug]

Hi Darcie,
I enjoyed talking to you at the stamp show in Carson this weekend. Thanks for the nice comments about my glass pendant! I've been playing with the shrink plastic kits I got and love them! Turned them into little magnets, so cute!
See you soon,
A Hug

[Sylvia/Little Treasures]

Thanks for the tutorial. So glad to visit your blog. The set is so very Vintage, just love it.

[Kaye Lang]

Love to really dress up my packages...this will be just perfect. Thanks for the great tutorial. I saw the u-cuts at a show this weekend, but just wasn't quite sure about using them. Just beautiful!

[christine s]

What a cool ornament! I love that stamp set!

[Cassie K]

what a great ornament and tutorial

[Jennifer]

Beautiful project!! Thanks for the tutorial!
Jen

[Eve]

Great ornament & tutorial! This is a very nice set. What a GORGEOUS pine tree sprig!!

[Jennifer Orosz]

HI Dacie - IM A NEW FAN! I met you at the Carson, CA show this weekend. Of course I was your last customer on Sunday as the doors were closing...but you still took the time to do a demo for me. THANKS! I love your ideas. I'm happy to have found your blog, I will check back often.
-Jennifer Orosz

[Leanne]

Thanks for the toot Darcie! Amazing details for a really pretty project.

[Vicki Hawhee]

Thanks so much darcie - it pays to be a facebook friend :) Thanks for the tutorial also - this ornament is fabulous!! Vicki

[Yelowflower Mo]

this is an awesome tutorial, you make it seem so Easy! and I know it's not really. lol

[Debbie B]

this is beautiful!!! This would make a great gift too!! Thanks for the tutorial.

Debbie B

[Heidi Gore]

What a great tutorial. Thanks for sharing it. That set is beautiful.

[Linda Z]

Oh my!! That is just gorgeous and would be perfect on our tree!!
Thanks for a great tutorial!

[Carole Gatza]

This is the sweetest ornament! Your products are awesome. Love them!

[Sharon G]

That is so pretty. I'd want that hanging up all year!

[Betty Todd]

Nothing better than "homemade" and this ornament is over-the-top!

Betty in KY

[Sue D]

Great tutorial and absolutely gorgeous ornament!

[Carol Miller]

Wow, I just found you from Sherry Cheever's
Blog for the E-Team. Love these ornaments and your stamps. Beautiful words from the heart.Thanks for the opportunity to win.

[Micki]

oh Thank U for this great tutorial, now the instructions that came with the ornament make total sense (smiling sheepishly here :-).

Beautiful ......

hugs

[Mary Anne P]

This would look lovely on a Christmas Tree or on a card as a small gift. Your tutorial is very easy to follow. Thank you for a beautiful piece of art.

[Beate]

Beautiful stamp set and gorgeous ornament.
Hugs and smiles

[Diane Seaward]

Would LOVE to try this out! LOVE the beautiful ornament. Thanks for the wonderful tutorial.
Diane

[Pam Perry]

Darcie, this is Georgeous! Thanks for sharing the tutorial.

[Jen Clark]

This is fantastic!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!

[Bev Gerard]

Whoa!
Darcie, this is oh so wonderful!!
Love your tutorial ... and love the results~!

~Tex / Bev