An Epic Farewell – A Lord of the Rings-Inspired Shadowbox Card That Rules Them All

This Chick Loves Paper
Aug 30
6 min read

Updated: Nov 22

Layered black paper art depicts a mountain scene with silhouetted figures and trees. Text reads "Not All Who Wander are Lost." Subtle pastel sky. — Shadows, shimmer, and Elvish script? This ain’t your average farewell card.

Who knew the journey to Middle-earth could begin with… a stack of black cardstock and a proud mama’s heart? 💜

When your son’s girlfriend is obsessed with Lord of the Rings and about to head off to college, there’s only one thing to do: channel all your Cricut skills, Stampin’ Up! sparkle, and heartfelt creativity into an epic shadowbox card worthy of the Shire itself. 🌄

This wasn’t just any card—it was my first time making a shadowbox, and oh yes, I turned it into a full-blown fantasy book. A handcrafted keepsake to say “safe travels” without the mush. Spoiler: there are swords, scrolls, enchanted landscapes, and a note straight from her “king” (aka my son). 💍

Let me show you how this magical goodbye came to life…

📌 Real Talk Before We Begin…

Lord of the Rings-Inspired Shadowbox Card -Paper crafts on a table: one depicts silhouetted trees and figures in an arch; the other shows a mountain scene. A StazOn ink pad is nearby. — Before the magic… came the mess. Every piece, cut and prepped—just waiting to become a full-blown fantasy farewell.

If you’re new to my blog—hi! Normally, this is where you’d find a detailed, beginner-friendly step-by-step tutorial with all the measurements, tips, and tricks to recreate the project from start to finish. But this card? She’s not your average craft.

This was my first ever shadowbox—and it turned into more of an experience than a standard card. With custom Cricut cuts, layered silhouettes, and design elements tailored to fit a very specific (and very beloved) fandom, it didn’t make sense to break it down in a traditional format.

So instead, I’m walking you through the scene-building process, material choices, and all the little decisions that brought this fantasy-inspired masterpiece to life. 💜

🧙‍♀️ Cricut® & Design Space: From Fellowship to Final Cut

Black arch designs with floral accents, a pink paper section, "Not All Who Wander are Lost" text, and "ThisChickLovesPaper.com" watermark. — From sketch to Shire! This shadowbox card was mapped in Design Space with swords, scrolls, and a whole lotta love. Not all who wander are lost… but all great layouts start with a plan.

Let’s just say, I had no idea what I was doing when I started. 😂 Shadowboxes? New territory. Turning one into a card? Even newer. But when inspiration hits and the Ring is calling… you answer.

Design Space was my secret weapon here. I mocked up the entire shadowbox structure and interior scene before I ever cut a thing. This helped me figure out:

• Where to place embellishments (spoiler: there are a lot).

• How to build layers without bulk.

• And most importantly… how to fit that whole fantasy world into a 6x6x1 card.

From roses to scrolls, titles to sword outlines—it all got tailored in Design Space first.

✨ Pro Tip: Never made a shadowbox before? Use your Cricut like a paper rehearsal. Seeing the layout helps everything come together (especially when your layout includes Elvish script and sword silhouettes).

✂️ Materials Used For The Lord of the Rings-Inspired Shadowbox Card

LIGHTS OF AURORA 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER - Vibrant aurora borealis in abstract panels with swirling blues, purples, and greens. Background features a night sky effect. — LIGHTS OF AURORA 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER

🧚‍♀️ DSP & Specialty Paper

• Lights of Aurora 6x6 DSP (water)

• Brushed Silver Specialty Paper (Cricut sword)

• Brushed Gold Specialty Paper (Cricut ring)

✨ Cardstock

• Stampin’ Up! Basic Black Two-Tone Cardstock (light side)

• Close to My Heart Black Cardstock (for shadow and contrast pieces)

• White Willow (inside panel, scroll sentiment base)

• Stampin’ Up! Window Sheet (front layer)

🧙‍♀️ Stamps, Dies, & Thin Cuts

• Scenic Adventure Dies (mountains)

• Light & Wonder Dies (trees)

• Sunrise Sailing Hybrid Embossing Folder (water embossing on DSP)

🎨 Inks & Coloring

• Highland Heather Classic Stampin' Pad + Fresh Freesia Classic Stampin' Pad (blended sky)

• CTMH Glacier (left side of sky)

• Jet Black StazOn + sponge dauber (inked arch & mountain edges)

💫 Texture & Tools

Stampin’ Up! Shimmery White Embossing Paste - Open jar of white cream and a sprinkle of white powder on a gray square. Set on a light wood surface, exuding a clean and minimalist vibe. — SHIMMERY WHITE EMBOSSING PASTE

• Stampin’ Up! Shimmery White Embossing Paste (sky & water shimmer)

• STAMPIN’ CUT & EMBOSS MACHINE

• Stampin’ Up! Blending Brush

🛠️ Adhesives

• Bearly Art Glue

• Foam Tape (for lifted trees)

• Cricut Maker (for scrolls, title, sword, silhouettes, roses, and ring)

🌄 Scene-Building Spotlight: The Magic Behind the Mountains

Let’s break it down like the Council of Elrond, shall we?

Moonlit mountain scene card with trees and a bridge, next to two purple Stampin' Up! ink pads. Text: ThisChickLovesPaper.com. — Highland Heather + Fresh Freesia = Middle-earth magic 💫

• Water: I used a sheet of Lights of Aurora DSP, embossed with Sunrise Sailing, to add texture. Then I brushed over it with Stampin’ Up!’s Shimmery White Embossing Paste to make it glisten like moonlight on a river.

• Sky: I used Highland Heather and Fresh Freesia for my dreamy twilight blend. That little glow above the mountain? Created by masking a circle just behind the ridge, then softly blending. If you peek closely, there’s even a smudge of CTMH Glacier in there. 😆

LIGHT & WONDER DIES - Gray silhouette cutouts of trees, mountains, and clouds on a white background, creating a peaceful, natural scene. — LIGHT & WONDER DIES

• Mountains: Created with Scenic Adventure Dies and the light side of Basic Black Two-Tone cardstock. I inked the edges with Jet Black StazOn to give them depth.

• Trees: Cut from both black cardstocks for contrast. The lighter ones were popped with foam tape. 🌲

• Bridge: A custom Cricut cut using CTMH Black cardstock. A nod to that iconic scene, of course.

📚 Design Spotlight: Book Binding Brilliance

Decorative book box of "The Lord of the Rings" with silhouette art, intricate cutouts, and text "Not All Who Wander Are Lost." Black and blue tones. — It’s giving… epic fantasy novel vibes!

This card isn’t just a card—it’s a book. Literally.

During final assembly, I added a Stampin’ Up! Window Sheet to protect the interior, then created a book binding for the left edge.

On top of that? A Cricut-cut title panel and roses, all stacked and glued for dimension. The finishing touch was a pair of golden straps, cut from Brushed Gold Specialty Paper, and yes, they shimmer in the light like they were forged by Elves. ✨

💬 Inside the Card: Messages Fit for Middle-earth

Scroll-shaped card with text about carrying books to Mordor. Two roses are in the corner. Background is black with URLs at the bottom. — Braden’s message sealed the deal. A scroll fit for a Queen. 👑

The left panel features a heartfelt scroll, written by none other than the King himself—Braden. With all the romance and sass of a true Tolkien hero, here’s what he penned:

“I would carry your books to Mordor if I could.

But for now, go slay those classes like the true Queen of Middle-earth you are.

Safe travels, my Queen.”

— Braden

The scroll was cut with Cricut, then aged to perfection using Jet Black StazOn ink and a sponge dauber to give it that weathered, epic-quest feel. Two black-and-white roses—also Cricut-cut—frame the message, adding the perfect touch of fantasy and farewell.

The right panel features a bold sword and ring design, crafted with Cricut and encircled in Elvish-style script that reads:

“Enjoy Your Adventure… My Precious!”

Both sentiments were created using Cricut’s Print & Cut feature, then double-layered for extra impact. The sword and ring are cut from Stampin’ Up!® Brushed Silver and Gold Specialty DSP, adding a metallic shimmer worthy of a true quest.

Framing the center? Layered roses, of course—because even epic adventures deserve a little romance.

🏁 Epic Farewell – The Lord of the Rings-Inspired Shadowbox Card Completed!

Black box with "Lord of the Rings" text, featuring silhouetted tree design. Partial purple and yellow interior visible through the cutout. — Scene: epic. Vibes: legendary. Construction: sorcery. 🖤

The final card measures 6x6x1 and is fully dimensional, layered, and sealed with creativity and care.

My son will be gifting this to his girlfriend this week, and he promised to send me photos of her reaction! 💜 (You already know those will end up in a scrapbook layout… and yes, it’ll be posted on the blog when it happens!)

This project pushed me in all the right ways—from Cricut slicing to cardstock stacking—and now that it’s done, I can truly say it’s one of my favorite creations ever.

✨ Explore More: Paper Crafts with Plot Twists

If you loved the storytelling and symbolism in this shadowbox card, just wait till you see what else is brewing in my craft room. I’ve got more paper magic in the works—from cards inspired by favorite movies and magical moments to spooky haunts packed with heart. Whether you’re into fantasy fandoms, sweet sentiments, or bold designs that make people feel something, my blog is bursting with ideas that turn cardstock into keepsakes. Ready to dive deeper into the world of story-driven cardmaking?

🧡 Share Your Creations in the Gallery!

Welcome sign for the New Members Gallery with pink cherry blossoms on a soft pink background. Text: Create, Share, Motivate & Inspire Others!

Feeling inspired to create your own fandom-fueled masterpiece? Maybe a book card, or a fantasy layout, or a shadowbox for your favorite story? I’d love to see it!

Head over to the Members Gallery on This Chick Loves Paper and upload your projects. We’ve got a community for imagination and heart and your card might inspire someone else to try something brand new!

Share Your Creations

💥 Final Thoughts

Silhouette of figures crossing a bridge under a starry, colorful sky and moonlit mountain. Text: "Not All Who Wander are Lost." — One shadowbox, one scroll, one unforgettable farewell.

This Lord of the Rings-inspired shadowbox card wasn’t just a farewell—it was a fantasy-fueled keepsake packed with shimmer, sentiment, and storytelling. From the layered Cricut® sword and ring to the sunset ink blending and book-style binding, every element was handcrafted with love.

Whether you’re a fandom crafter or just want to try your first shadowbox design, this card shows how you can turn Stampin’ Up!® supplies into something straight out of Middle-earth. Because paper isn’t just paper, it’s a way to tell our stories.

💜 Craft like the fate of Middle-earth depends on it.

April – This Chick Loves Paper

🛒 Grab Your Supplies & Get Crafting!

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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!®

Create an epic shadowbox card inspired by The Lord of the Rings! With layered Cricut® cuts, Stampin’ Up!® LIGHTS OF AURORA DSP, and a storybook binding, this handmade masterpiece is full of heart, magic, and unforgettable dimension—crafted with love by This Chick Loves Paper.