Hello, Monico back with another GDT post!
I wanted to challenge myself with this project. I used the “Mailbox Die Set” to make a holiday shaker card. Once I figured out the mechanics of how to do it, things came together very easily. I first cut out the mailbox using 80 lb. white cardstock, folded the mailbox, lightly traced the mailbox opening on the back inside flap of the cardstock to give me a guide to put the foam tape that will hold the shaker bits. I then glued a piece of clear cellophane across the backside of the mailbox opening. I then took a roll of foam tape and cut it down the middle to make thinner strips to outline the area that I traced for the mailbox opening to define the area for the shaker bits.
This was a series of trial and errors that I will share with you, so you can benefit from my mistakes. ? Tip #1: Remove the protective backing from the foam tape to make it easier to curve around the opening. The great thing about this Mailbox Die is that it is designed to be a gift card and has a bit of a gap which makes it easier to convert it into a shaker element. Tip #2: Use the thinnest foam tape possible, you don’t need a lot of bulk. You are creating just enough space to give your shaker bits room to slide. I used scraps of silver glitter cardstock to cover the outline of the foam tape and to create a backing for the mailbox opening (see the note below). Tip #3: You can eliminate this step if you use a colored or patterned cardstock that is double-sided.
Next, I added the shaker bit, some sequins and glass beads in traditional Christmas colors, assembled the shaker element and secured the seams with strong adhesive, you can use liquid glue or a tape. I then cut the mailbox and mini envelope out of gold foil cardstock. I only needed the front side of the mailbox to cover the white cardstock and used the back side to cut out the envelop to make the most of the paper. I used the small heart that came with the die set to cut a heart out of the middle of the mini envelope. For the card base I used a pre-folded 110 lb. piece of white card stock and mated it with a piece of patterned cardstock from my stash and adhered it with a tape runner. I used the same patterned cardstock to cover the inside of the mailbox flap and to cover the heart cut out inside the minienvelopep and inked the elements with a finger dauber to cover any white core or edges that were visible.
To bring all of the elements together into a finished card, I assembled the envelop and used strong adhesive to secure the mailbox on an angle onto the card front; making sure to leave enough room at the bottom right corner for my sentiment. I used thin foam tape to secure the mini envelop to the card base, so it looks as it is coming out of the mailbox opening. Tip #4: I used the mini envelop to keep the mailbox opening closed or open by tucking it slightly under the edge. For the sentiment I used a vinyl sticker and added a silver glitter reindeer sticker from my stash to complete the card.
This concludes my second post! I look forward to sharing my last project for December 2018 next week. Happy Holidays to you and your family from the ME Studio Designs family.