Backporch: Technique of the Week: Make a Shaker Card Using Die Cut Openings

Art ‘n Soul just had a really fun shaker card play day, and we made some cards using the Impression Obsession shaker pouches. This is the easiest way to make a shaker card, and it’s lots of fun too.  

We also had some cards on display that were shakers made without the use of shaker pouches, and using various dies to cut the shaped openings. I wanted to write down step by step instructions for making this type of shaker card, but I will be the first to admit that it’s hard to describe without showing you an example. I decided that the best thing to do would be a pictorial step by step. This method of making shaker cards is more complicated, but yields really beautiful results.   You can see the shaker cards I made with pouches, and the ones I made with dies in my post here. Here is the card I'm going to show you.

1. Make or choose an image for the background that will show behind the shaker.

This can be anything you wish, even a sentiment. It can be a stamped or inked or watercolored background – anything you like. This is usually my first step in making a shaker card, because it will determine the color palette I will use. I have a lot of pieces that I have made in the past that did not work out for the project I was working on at the time. I have found that this stash is a great source for shaker card backgrounds.  

This is just a small sampling of my "stash"!

In this case I used a piece that I had previously inked with Distress Ink, and stamped with a great Magenta Image “Birds Postcard” 05.230.L.

I was trying to do an ink lifting technique with these panels, and I just could not make it work out to my satisfaction with the images I was trying to use. I could not bear to throw them away. You can see the dies i chose for this project (see step 2) in this picture. The Woodland Oval die cut was helpful to determine how the background would look in the finished card.

2. Choose a die or dies for your shaker card opening or openings (yes, you can have multiple openings in the same card).

Your die or dies can be anything large enough to actually see beads and sequins through. Keep in mind that the more detailed or ornate the die opening is, the more challenging it will be to make a shaker from it. This shouldn’t deter you, because the more detailed ones can be really beautiful.   For this example I chose Poppy 1168 Oval Frame Background for the opening, and Poppy 1125 Woodland Oval for the decorative surround. A decorative surround is not necessary for this technique.

3. Choose your cardstock for the front panel of your card, and choose and make your base card.

The front panel and base card can be whatever colors fit into your chosen color palette, but make them of sturdy weight; especially the base card should be at least 100# cardstock. The front panel will form your shaker pouch, and will eventually be mounted on your base card. For the front panel, I chose Stardream Fairway cardstock, and for the base card I used Stardream Opal. I also cut the Woodland Oval surround out of the Stardream Opal. In addition, you will need a piece of acetate that will be larger than the diecut opening. 

4. Cut the opening in your front panel, and cover the back of the panel with acetate.

The entire opening should be covered with acetate on the back. I used scor tape to stick the acetate down. This will not show, but the acetate is what keeps your shaker material in, and you will see your image through it.  

5. If you want to stamp a sentiment on the front of your panel, now is the time.

I used the Magenta stamp “Find your song and sing it” 07.834.F, and stamped with Onyx Black ink and embossed with clear detail embossing powder. If you stamp onto Stardream paper, you should probably emboss it, because it does not dry readily. 

The reason there are scraps of foam tape all around is because I forgot to stamp my sentiment before I put foam tape all over the back, and so I had to peel them off so that I could stamp! I know you all have never done this.

6. With the front side of your panel down on your work surface, and the acetate side of your panel up, completely surround your die opening with foam tape. Also apply foam tape to the rest of the back of your panel.

This is probably the hardest part, but it’s really not that hard. Just be sure that each piece of foam tape around the opening is jammed up against the one next to it so that there are no openings for your shaker material to escape.

To clarify, this is being done on top of the acetate. Leave the release paper on your foam tape for now.

7. Add your shaker material on top of the acetate in the well you created with your foam tape.

The shaker material can be anything that is small, sparkly, and will shake around after your card is constructed. I use small beads, spangles, coarse glitter and sequins of various shapes. I have been collecting these things for a while, so I have a lot of it to choose from.   You can also use your tiny dies to cut great shaker material from shimmer sheetz or shiny cardstock. Just make sure the pieces are pretty on both sides. Choose shaker material that coordinates with your color palette.  

8. Carefully remove the release paper from your foam tape.

I use a fine pointed tweezers to do this, while I’m carefully holding the card down. Your shaker material will want to jump up onto the sticky side of the foam tape, but just remove any that do. You don’t want anything that will interfere with the seal you will be making to keep the shaker material in.

9. Place your background image front side down onto the foam tape.

Try to position your piece so that the image that you want shows through the front window of the acetate. Press your background piece firmly down and made sure it is well adhered to the foam tape. This is what forms your shaker pouch and seals in your shaker material.  

I also added the decorative surround (Woodland Oval) to the front of the panel at this time.

I realized too late that I had not left enough room for the surround when I stamped my sentiment, and I had to cut some leaves off the branches at the bottom.

It still drapes a little onto the sentiment, but I think it’s readable anyway.

I was originally planning to use my stamp positioner to stamp the sentiment as one line, rather than stacked, but then I didn’t. I should have gone with my first instinct!

10. Adhere your panel to your base card with strong adhesive.

I used scor tape to adhere my panel to the base card.  

Thanks so much for hanging in there with me for this tutorial, and I hope you try making cards using this process. It’s well worth the trouble!

Oh, one more picture. My wonderful husband Jim takes most of the pictures for my blog tutorials for me. For those who are curious about how he gets good light on some of the pictures (especially on our many gray days), he sent this one along. He has a ginormous light pad that he often uses, along with other strategically placed lights.