FAUX SHUTTER FISH

I don't know about you, but when I first saw a card made like this, the first question in my head was "how did they get all those DSP pieces just the right size?" I was completely mystified.

But then I watched the video so wonderfully done by Lynn Dunn at Stamptastic Designs on YouTube. 

And the mystery was solved.

 

Following Lynn's instructional video on how to create a Faux Shutter Card or Fractured Card, as she also refers to it, is quite easy.

If you don't feel like watching the video, I will include a tutorial on how to do it yourself. The video is about nine minutes long.

The only dimension to this card is from the popped-up fishbowl. 

SUPPLIES:

Shaded Spruce cardstock

White cardstock

Coordinating Designer Series Paper

Fishin' Around - Retired stamp

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Stampin' Blends in: Light Pumpkin Pie, Light Pool Party, Light Mango Melody, Light Cinnamon Cider, Light Crumb Cake and SU 600

Die Cutting/Embossing Machine

Stitched Shapes dies

Stampin' Dimensionals

Paper Cutter

INSTRUCTIONS:

Fold a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of Shaded Spruce cardstock in half, creasing it well with a bone folder.

Cut a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of coordinating Designer Series Paper. Set this aside for a bit.

Cut four strips of Shaded Spruce cardstock. Three of the pieces will be 1/4" x 4", while the fourth will be 1/4" x about 6". Set these aside for now.

I used the square die from the retired Stitched Shapes dies that was about 2 1/8" to cut a white square. This will be your starting place. Add this, turned like a diamond shape, to the DSP with even margins at the top and the sides.

Take one of the shorter strips and butt it up to the diamond with the left corner of the diamond and the end of the strip together. Glue it in place, letting the end extend beyond the edge of the DSP. Take another of the shorter strips and butt that to the top corner of the diamond and tucking it into place against the first strip. Take the long strip and do the same thing as the first two strips, but running it all the way to the bottom of the DSP. Finally, take the last short strip annd finish the framing process.

Turn the DSP over, and with paper snips, trim off any of the strips that extend beyond the DSP.

Now you can add your completed piece to the card front.

To complete the card, you need something in the center of the framed portion. I opted for this cute fishbowl and fussy cut it when I finished the coloring. If you don't like the fishbowl idea, add anything that appeals to you and fits within that area. It's possible also to do your stamping directly on the white diamond, eliminating the fussy cutting step. I preferred to do it separately and added it with Stampin' Dimenisonals to give an otherwise flat card a little bit of dimension.

There! No more mystery. An easy way to get a complicated look. I'd like to thank Lynn at Stamptastic Designs for her fabulous instructions!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Focus on the journey, not the destination. 

Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it. 

- Greg Anderson -

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Fractured 

Smiles.