Inspirational Tutorial: 3D Nativity Tunnel card

Looking for a fun way to create a three-dimensional Christmas card that you can still send in the mail? Designer Annie Williams uses the Sara Signature ‘Away in a Manger’ die from the Traditional Christmas Collection  which is perfect for making collapsible 3D Nativity Christmas tunnel cards.

Directions

Step 1

Start by trimming a piece of dark blue cardstock to 6” x 12”. Using The Big Score, score the cardstock at 0.5”, 1.5”, 2.5”, 9.5”, 10.5”, and 11.5”.

Step 2

Flip the cardstock over along its short edge and score it at 1”, 2”, 3”, 9”, 10”, and 11”.

Step 3

Now trim three more panels of the same blue cardstock to 6” x 6”. Cut an opening in the centre using either a craft knife or die to yield three panels containing one of each of the following square apertures: 4.25” x 4.25”, 3.75” x 3.75”, and 3.25” x 3.25”. Trim a piece of patterned paper from the Contemporary Christmas paper pad to 5.75” x 5.75”.

Step 4

Die-cut and emboss the manger, star, and crown from the “Away in the Manger” die set using Gold Luxury Mirror Card. Then die-cut and emboss the remaining images from the die set using White Pearl Shimmering Cardstock. Using your Gemini die-cutting and embossing machine will allow you to cut all of the designs in one pass to create the 3D nativity scene

Step 5

Stamp the sentiment from the “Peace and Joy” stamp set in embossing ink and cover with gold embossing powder. Melt the powder with a heat tool, trim it out, and add blue ink to the edges if desired.

Step 6

Assemble the window panels as pictured above. To the panel with the largest aperture (4.25” x 4.25”), adhere the stable, grass, and palm trunks directly to the blue cardstock with liquid glue while adhering the Wise Men, sheep, palm tree tops, and sentiment with foam adhesive for a little dimension. Place Mary and Joseph on the panel with the medium aperture just a bit closer to the centre and then adhere the manger and star to the centre of the panel with the smallest aperture.

Step 7

Adhere the patterned paper to the centre of the scored piece of cardstock, ensuring that the “bump” is up for the score lines closest to the centre. Then fold on each score line so that the bump is on the inside of each crease, creating an accordion on both sides. This will help create the 3D Nativity scene.

Step 8

Add adhesive only to the left and right edges of each of the window panels and press them into accordion folds of the cardbase as shown. For example, the panel with the smallest aperture (and the manger) will be placed in the first fold up from the background, the medium aperture will be in the second fold, and the large aperture will be adhered to the front.

When finished, the card will be able to stand up on its own, but due to the accordion folds on each side, can also be pressed fairly flat to fit into an envelope. And your loved ones will be amazed at all of the detail in this pretty three-dimensional scene!

Here is a list of supplies Annie used to make her card:

Crafter’s Companion Supplies:

SS Traditional Christmas – “Away in a Manger” dies

SS Traditional Christmas – Luxury Mirror Card

SS Traditional Christmas – “Peace and Joy” stamp set

SS Contemporary Christmas – 6×6 paper pad

Crafter’s Companion Shimmering Cardstock – White Pearl

Big Score

Gemini

Other Supplies: Blue Cardstock, Blue Ink (optional), Adhesive, Embossing Ink Pad,  Heat Tool

We would love to see what you make! Share your projects and cards with us on our Facebook page, tag us on Instagram(#crafterscompanion), on Pinterest (@CraftersCompUK) or on Twitter (@CraftersCompUK)!