How to Create a Halloween Shadow Box Card with a Spooky Haunted House Scene
- This Chick Loves Paper
- 2 days ago
- 10 min read
🎃 Brewing Up a Spooktacular Halloween Shadow Box Card
If there’s one thing I love about Halloween card making, it’s the opportunity to pile on the layers, crank up the dimension, and create something that looks like it belongs in its own little haunted world. This Halloween Shadow Box Card with a Spooky Haunted House Scene checks all those boxes and then some!
Originally, I set out to showcase some of the exciting new Halloween products coming our way. But as often happens in my craft room, one idea led to another, a few older favorites joined the party, and before I knew it, this spooky little haunted house had moved into the neighborhood.
The best part? While this card looks complicated, it’s really just a series of simple layers working together to create depth and dimension. I’ll walk you through every step, share all the measurements, and show plenty of photos along the way so you can recreate this Halloween Shadow Box Card with confidence.
So grab your paper trimmer, dust off your blending brushes, and let’s build a haunted house that’s more charming than chilling!
🎃 Halloween Shadow Box Card Supplies: Everything You Need to Create This Spooktacular Design
Designer Series Paper
Stampin’ Up! Frightfully Fun 12” x 12” Designer Series Paper
Used to create the striped background layer that frames the shadow box and brings in those classic Halloween colors.
Cardstock
Stampin’ Up! Basic Black 12" X 12" Two-Tone Cardstock
Used for the card base, shadow box frame, haunted house, spider web, and sentiment layers.
Stampin’ Up! Basic White 12" x 12" Cardstock
Used for the cloud background and interior shadow box scene.
Stampin’ Up! Brushed Silver & Gold, Specialty Paper
Used behind the Happy Halloween sentiment to create the dimensional gold offset. Also used behind the haunted house to illuminate the windows and door.
Ink & Color
Stampin’ Up! Smoky Slate Classic Stampin’ Pad
Blended onto the cloud background to create a spooky moonlit sky.
Stamps, Dies & Bundles
Stampin’ Up! Web of Fun Bundle (English)
Used for the Happy Halloween sentiment and layered spider web accent.
Stampin’ Up! Spooky Halloween Bundle
Used to create the haunted house focal point featured inside the shadow box window.
Stampin’ Up! Sweet Words & Labels Bundle
Used to die cut the decorative opening that creates the shadow box frame.
CTMH Fancy Borders Dies
Used to create the rolling hill at the bottom of the scene.
Embossing & Specialty Products
Stampin’ Up! Swirls of Magic Embossing Folder
Used to add texture and movement to the shadow box frame.
Added as a behind-the-frame opening to create the shadow box window.
Tools
Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine
Stampin’ Up! Paper Trimmer
Stampin’ Up! Bone Folder
Stampin’ Up! Blending Brush
Stampin’ Up! Detail Scissors
Stampin’ Up! Take Your Pick Tool
Embellishments
Stampin’ Up! Loose Shaker Stars
Added to the background sky for a touch of sparkle and dimension.
✂️ Before We Start Cutting…
This Halloween Shadow Box Card is built on a standard 5” x 7” card base and combines embossing, die cutting, ink blending, layering, and dimension to create a spooky haunted house scene.
Don’t let the shadow box part scare you away. If you can cut paper, run cardstock through an embossing folder, and glue a few layers together, you’ve got this. By the time we’re finished, you’ll have a Halloween card that’s packed with dimension and ready to steal the spotlight.
🎃 Step 1: Build the Foundation for Your Halloween Shadow Box Card
Every haunted house needs a place to live, so let’s start with the card base.
Cut a piece of Stampin’ Up! Basic Black Cardstock to 10” x 7” and score it at 5” along the 10” side. Fold along the score line and burnish with a Bone Folder to create a standard 5” x 7” card base.
Next, trim a piece of Stampin’ Up! Frightfully Fun 12” x 12” Designer Series Paper to 4-7/8” x 6-7/8” and adhere it to the front of the card, leaving a narrow Basic Black border around all four sides.
I chose the striped pattern because it instantly pulls in those classic Halloween colors and creates the perfect backdrop for the shadow box scene we’ll be building next. Plus, let’s be honest… stripes and Halloween go together like pumpkins and porch lights. 🎃
🕸️ Cut the Window and Let the Spooky Begin
Now we’re getting into the part where this card really starts to come together!
Cut a piece of Stampin’ Up! Basic Black Cardstock to 4” x 6”. Using the largest label die from Stampin’ Up! Sweet Words & Labels Bundle, center the die on the panel and run it through your Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine to create the shadow box opening.
Once the center is removed, place the panel inside the Stampin’ Up! Swirls of Magic Embossing Folder and run it through your Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine. This adds that subtle swirl and star texture that gives the background a little extra interest without overpowering the scene.
Now for the frame…
To create the decorative frame for the front of the shadow box, you’ll need to use two label dies at the same time. Place the smaller die inside the larger one to create a frame shape, then run them through your machine together.
I cut two of these frames and layered them together before attaching them to the front panel. It gives the frame a little extra thickness and really helps define that shadow box look.
Because if we’re making a dimensional card… we’re making a dimensional card. No shortcuts here. 🎃
🕷️ Build Your Spooky Scene Pieces (aka… Let’s Cut All the Fun Stuff)
Now that your shadow box frame is ready, it’s time to start building all those little details that bring this haunted scene to life.
The very first thing I cut was the spiderweb using the Stampin’ Up! Web of Fun Dies.
This piece is important because it attaches directly to the window sheet. That placement is what creates that layered, dimensional look since your full scene will sit behind it.
Since I already had my Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine out, I went ahead and knocked out the rest of my pieces at the same time (because we don’t put that thing away just to pull it back out again… nope 😄).
Here’s what I prepped:
* Die cut the “Happy Halloween” sentiment from Basic Black cardstock
* Die cut a second offset layer in Brushed Gold Foil for that bold pop of dimension
* Cut the rolling hills using the Close To My Heart border dies
* Created the tombstones in Cricut Design Space and cut them with my Cricut
* Die cut the haunted house (from the Spooky Halloween Bundle)
For the haunted house, I added Brushed Gold Foil behind the windows and door so they glow through. It’s a small detail, but it makes a BIG difference once everything is layered together.
At this point, you should have a full little pile of spooky pieces ready to go… and now we’re officially ready to start building the scene 🎃
☁️ Create Those Stormy Clouds (Because Clear Skies Are Overrated)
Now it’s time to build that moody, stormy sky that sets the whole tone for your scene.
To create the clouds, I used my Close To My Heart border dies to make a quick stencil. Nothing fancy here… just a little crafty improvising doing its thing.
Using a blending brush and Stampin’ Up! Smoky Slate ink, I softly blended over the stencil to build up layers of clouds. I didn’t overthink it… just light, circular motions until it looked like a sky that might start a little trouble 😏
Once the clouds were done, everything else started falling into place.
I added:
* The rolling hills along the bottom
* The haunted house right on top (because every spooky neighborhood needs a main character)
* And the mini graveyard scene that I created with my Cricut
At this point, you’ll start to see that shadow box magic happening… layers stacking, depth building, and suddenly it’s not just paper anymore… It’s a whole little haunted world 👻
👻 Add the Window and Create the Dimension
Flip your front panel over and attach your 4” x 6” window sheet to the back, covering the opening.
Now, take your spiderweb and place it directly onto the acetate. Since you already dry-fit your scene, you’ll know exactly where it should go. Glue it down and trim off any excess.
Next, add your 3mm foam tape around the entire back of the panel to create your shadow box depth.
Before sealing it, place your finished scene behind the panel and make sure everything lines up inside the window.
Once everything is positioned the way you want it, press the scene into the foam tape to seal the shadow box closed.
✨ Finish It Off
Once your shadow box is fully assembled, go ahead and attach it to the front of your card base.
Now let’s add the sentiment.
Take your “Halloween” die cut and attach the Basic Black layer to the Brushed Gold Foil to create that offset look. Then pop the entire word up using foam tape and place it along the bottom of the card.
For the “Happy”, glue it directly to the card front and angle it right into the corner of the spiderweb. That little angle? It pulls everything together and keeps your eye moving through the design.
🕸️ Your Halloween Shadow Box Card Is Officially Ready to Haunt the Neighborhood
Congratulations! Your Halloween Shadow Box Card with a Spooky Haunted House Scene is complete!
By combining layered die cuts, a dimensional shadow box window, embossed texture, and a few metallic accents, you’ve created a card that’s packed with Halloween charm. The best part is that this design looks far more complicated than it actually is. One layer at a time, that spooky little scene comes to life right before your eyes.
Whether you’re displaying it on a shelf, sending it to a fellow Halloween enthusiast, or keeping it for yourself (no judgment here!), this card is sure to make a hauntingly good impression.
💛 More Than Paper: Supporting Fresh Start & Crash Apparel
This project might look like it’s all about paper, layers, and a little Halloween fun… but there’s something bigger behind it.
These cards are being created to be shared through a program called Fresh Start — a community that supports individuals working through recovery, rebuilding their lives, and taking things one day at a time.
If you’ve ever been through something hard, you know how much a small moment of encouragement can matter.
That’s what these cards are meant to be… just a little reminder that someone is thinking of you. Sometimes it’s not about saying the perfect thing. It’s just about showing up.
🤝 Want to Support Fresh Start?
If you’d like to give back or support the work they’re doing, you can learn more or donate here:
👕 Supporting the Community: Crash Apparel
Another way I’m showing support through this project is by highlighting something really special that’s come out of this community — Crash Apparel.
Crash is someone who went through the Fresh Start program and is living sober. He’s put in the work, stayed committed, and is now in the process of rebuilding his life one day at a time — and that’s not something that goes unnoticed.
What makes this even more powerful is that he’s not doing it alone!
With the support of others who believe in his journey, Crash Apparel was created as a way to turn that story into something bigger. The designs, created by Stacy, are more than just graphics on a shirt. They represent recovery, resilience, and the mindset of continuing forward, even on the hard days.
This is premium apparel built around real-life experiences. Built around growth. Built around the idea that starting over doesn’t mean starting from nothing. It means starting stronger.
Every piece is a reminder that progress doesn’t have to be perfect… it just has to be consistent. So when you support Crash Apparel, you’re not just buying a shirt.
You’re supporting a story. A second chance. And a community that’s showing up for each other in real ways.
✨ Explore More: Cards with Dimension, Depth & a Little Attitude
If this card had you leaning all the way into layers, texture, and that “wait… how did she do that?” kind of dimension — you’re in the right place.
Because around here, we don’t really do flat.
We build cards that pop, stack, lift, and steal the spotlight — whether it’s a spooky scene, a bold birthday, or something completely unexpected.
If you’re loving this style, you’ll definitely want to check out some of these projects that bring the same energy:
👻 Show Me Your Spooky Side
If you took this idea and ran with it — whether you kept the spooky vibe or turned it into something completely different — I want to see it.
Did you go bigger with the dimension?
Switch up the scene?
Add your own twist?
That’s exactly what this is about.
Head over to the Members Gallery and share what you created. Your project might be the thing that gets someone else to finally try something new… or push their design just a little further.
Because around here, we don’t just make things…
👉 We inspire each other!
🦇 One Last Cackle Before You Fly Away
This card? It started as a fun little Halloween project… and somewhere between the clouds, the layers, and that tiny spiderweb tucked into the corner, it turned into something more.
That’s the thing about crafting… You don’t always realize what you’re building while you’re in it. One piece leads to another, one layer adds a little more depth, and before you know it, you’ve created something that actually makes people stop and feel something.
And that’s the magic.
Not the paper.
Not the dies.
Not even the dimension (okay… maybe a little the dimension 😏). It’s what you do with it.
So whether you’re making something spooky, sentimental, or somewhere in between… go all in. Add the extra layer. Pop it up higher. Try the idea you’re not totally sure will work.
Because those are the projects that turn into something unforgettable.
And those are the ones people hold onto.
April – This Chick Loves Paper
🛒 Grab Your Supplies & Get Crafting!
All photos and projects are subject to copyright © ThisChickLovesPaper.com.
Images © Stampin’ Up!®
The content in this blog is the sole responsibility of April Raine – This Chick Loves Paper as a Stampin’ Up!® Independent Demonstrator. The use of and content of classes, services, or products offered is not endorsed by Stampin’ Up!®
Learn how to create a 5x7 Halloween shadow box card with a spooky haunted house scene using layering, die cutting, embossing, and foam tape for bold dimensional cardmaking.
This step-by-step tutorial from This Chick Loves Paper shows how to build depth, texture, and standout detail in your handmade Halloween cards.
Cricut® & Other Essentials I used:
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
• Cricut® Maker 3 — my primary cutting machine for sentiments & embellishments
• Canon Double-Sided Matte Photo Paper (MP-101D, 8.5×11) → Also used exclusively for Cricut embellishments, icons, & layered pieces
👉 Perfect for clean, detailed adhesion on small die-cut pieces
• Canon Matte Photo Paper (MP-101, 8.5×11) → Used for Cricut print-then-cut elements & titles
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