Moonrise Stroll Shadow Box - Tutorial

Project Description:

This project has you creating a stunning, contemporary beach scene to be installed in a purchased 11 x11 (12 x 12 exterior) shadow box. The download comes with a couple strolling in the moonlight along a deserted beach. You can substitute your own silhouetted figures in the design. This project features a new, easier construction technique that uses readily available straws as layer spacers. The print file for the shown sky is included however other styles can be substituted.

Cutting File available here from

https://3dcuts.com/shadow-boxes-nature-themes/moonrise-stroll

 

Supplies needed:

  • Cutting File available here from 3dcuts.com.

  • Card stock - I used American Craft card stock for the layers. These are the colors I used. I purchased the Neutrals pack from Amazon for many and got the others from 12 x 12 card stock. Other colors may be substituted but use solid core colors.

    • Mat - Denim

    • Mat - Vainilla

    • Fence Layer - Black

    • Foreground Sand - Carmel

    • Beach -light sand - Vanilla

    • Beach Dark Sand - Straw

    • Light Water - Sky

    • Dark Water - Denim

    • 2 frames in black

    • Gray - Concrete

  • 8.5 x 11 white index card stock for sky

  • 20 10” x .28” clear drinking straws - link below

  • 1/8” Scor Tape

  • Art Glitter Glue

  • Glue Dots

  • Frame - Link below to the 11’ x 11” frame I got at Amazon. It measures 12 x 12” on the outside and 11 x 11” on the inside. You can re-size files to fit any square frame.

  • Inkjet printer to print background or make your own.

Major Parts Sizes - as download.

Measure the inside of you frame first. Cut the layers to match that. Mine for the 11 x11” shadow box were:

  • Front Mat frame - 2 pieces - 10.9” W x 10.7” H for each

  • Black frames (cut 2) - 10.40” W x x 10.49” H

  • Black frames (with parts inside) - 10.40” W x x 10.49” H

  • Sand Frame - 10.49” W x x 10.49” H

  • Beach Sand light - 10.49” W x x 4.615” H

  • Beach Sand Dark -10.49” W x x 4.703” H

  • Dark Water - 10.49” w x 5.7044” H

  • Light water - 10.49” W x x 4.7861” H

  • Gray Shadows - Grouped - 3.9199” W x 2.0209” H

  • Sky - 10.5” W x 5” H

  • Moon - 1.447” W x 1.447” H

Order supplies from Amazon:

(Affiliate links work for USA customers only. Other countries will need to search in their local Amazon for the products.)

Special Note: I update the instructions online. Check here for adjustments and additional information.

Video Corrections:

  • In the video I have the fence frame flipped for part of it. I do notice it and correct it but the smaller frame should always be on the left when viewed from the front.

  • You will need 20 straws not the 22 I mention.

Steps for completing the Moonrise Stroll Shadow Box:

1. Download the cutting files for your cutting machine here from the 3dcuts.com store. https://3dcuts.com/shadow-boxes-nature-themes/moonrise-stroll . For those of you that are reading this as a pdf I recommend viewing it online at my tutorials page at this url: https://3dcuts.com/moonrise-stroll-tutorial There all the links will be live.

2. Load the files into your cutting software following the steps for your cutting machine.

  • For the Silhouette:

  • SIL Files from uploaded SVG purchased from 3dcuts.com:

    • The SVG files may need to be turned into cutting files. Click here for detailed steps on how to use SVG files on your Silhouette. http://www.3dcuts.com/tutorial-upload-svg-silhouette

    • DXF files can be opened in the basic edition of Silhouette Design Studio but often require modifications. I recommend using the Designer Edition and using svg files. DXF files do not always maintain file sizes and you may need to adjust according to sizes noted above.

  • For Cricut Explore: Here is a guide for importing into Cricut Design Space. http://www.3dcuts.com/tutorial-adding-3dcuts-files-to-cricut . Remember to ATTACH files before cutting in Cricut.

  • For Brother ScanNCut: The svg files will need to be transferred to files for your particular machine. You can change SVG files to FCM files at http://www.canvasworkspace.com/ or Google "How to import SVG files into a ScanNCut" for links to tutorials. Some models of Brother Scan N Cut can directly import the SVG files. Some files are on 12” mat so you may need to select 12 x 24” mat for correct sizing.

3.  Cut the files.

Detail photo of the straw construction technique for shadow box spacers by Marji Roy of 3dcuts.com

Detail photo of the straw construction technique for shadow box spacers by Marji Roy of 3dcuts.com

  • Do you need to re-size? Do so before cutting.

  • If you want to re-size the files bring ALL parts into one work space, group together and do a proportional re-szing. Then ungroup the files and separate into individual cutting files again. The sky and moon are in a separate file and will need to be re-sized separately.

  • It is best to have good quality color-core card stock and a good blade and clean, sticky mat. I use the Premium blade and the Nicapa mat.

  • I cut with the smooth side forward.

4. Print the sky.

  • Included in the download is a jpg sky file. It is a gradation I created in Illustrator to reflect the glow of the rising moon. The file is designed to be printed on an 8.5 x 11” piece of card stock on a color printer. I used my ink jet printer on high quality and printed on regular white card stock. Make sure to print in landscape orientation. It should print at 10.5” x 5”. There is a moon on the same print. Print both.

    You may insert any sky you wish behind this shadow box. Options include:

  • Using the one included in the download.

  • Printing a photo of a sky from another source (Have you photographed a favorite sky?)

  • Making a watercolor wash on paper

  • Using another type of gradated paper.

5. Assembly

6. Share

I love to see your finished projects. Please send photos to me at marji@3dcuts.com or share your photos on facebook, facebook crafting groups, pinterest and instagram.

7. Give

Who are you making this for? Enjoy giving.

If you try something new please share it with me. You can also send good quality photos to me at marji@3dcuts.com. I will insert interesting variations below as people share them so we can see how others apply their own creativity to this file.

Moonrise Stroll by Deborah Verkerke. File by 3dcuts.com

Deborah Verkerke accepted my challenge of customizing the silhouettes. Here is her beautiful creation using this file. Noice the people. She took them from photographs of her daughters and son-in-law.

Similar files - Did you like this straw-spacer construction technique? It is a new development of mine. I also used it in the Deer at Moonrise Shadow box.