An Epic Farewell – A Lord of the Rings-Inspired Shadowbox Card That Rules Them All
- This Chick Loves Paper
- Aug 30, 2025
- 8 min read
Updated: Dec 16, 2025
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…
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
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
🧚♀️ 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 (sky & water shimmer)
⭐ Other Tools I Use in My Projects
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Cricut® Essentials
• Cricut® Maker 3 — my primary cutting machine for titles, SVGs & embellishments
• Cricut® StandardGrip 12×12 Mat — 3 count used for cardstock, photo paper & labels
Printer
Canon® Printing System (Photos + Printable Cricut Elements)
• Canon TS9521C Crafting Printer — used for ALL printed project photos, journaling pieces, print-then-cut embellishments & titles
Photo Papers
• Canon Photo Paper Plus Glossy II (4×6, PP-301) → For 4x6 or smaller - printed photos
• Canon Matte Photo Paper (MP-101, 8.5×11) → Used for Cricut print-then-cut elements & titles
• Canon Double-Sided Matte Photo Paper (MP-101D, 8.5×11) → Also used exclusively for Cricut embellishments, icons, & layered pieces
Printer Ink
• EZ Ink Compatible 280XXL/281XXL Ink Pack → The exact ink set used for the TS9521C
Stamping & Precision Tools
• MISTI® Memory Size with 12-1/2" x 12-1/2" Stamping area — for borders, backgrounds & oversized stamping
• MISTI® Stamp Tool Bar Magnet - Additional magnet
Speciality Adhesives
• Tombow® Mono Aqua Liquid Glue — for corners, details & layered paper pieces
• Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue (4oz Original) — for embellishments & fine-detail gluing
• Tombow® Mono Air Touch Adhesive— my preferred tape runner for base
• Tombow® Mono Air Touch Adhesive, Refill 2-Pack — my preferred tape runner for base layers
Journaling Tools
• Avery® Easy Peel® Full-Sheet Clear Labels (8665) → Used for long typed journaling strips
• Avery® Clear Shipping Labels 2×4 (8663) → Used for short typed journaling strips or blocks
• Skaura Pigma Micron Fineliner Pens - Archival Black - Assorted Point Sizes - Used for handwritten Journaling
🌄 Scene-Building Spotlight: The Magic Behind the Mountains
Let’s break it down like the Council of Elrond, shall we?
• 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. 😆
• 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
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
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!
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!
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!
💥 Final Thoughts
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!
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!®
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.
⭐How I Protect My DSP, Cardstock & Finished Cards
I store my DSP, cardstock, scraps, and even finished cards in these clear resealable bags.
The 2-mil thickness is perfect for everyday crafting (they make a 4-mil option if you want extra durability!), and they’re tough, reusable, and great for keeping your entire crafting stash clean, tidy, and protected from the chaos of the craft room.
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
• 13×13 Plymor 2mil Zipper Reclosable Bags — for 12×12 DSP, cardstock sheets & scraps
• 9×12 Plymor 2mil Zipper Reclosable Bags — for 8.5×11 cardstock & scraps
• 6x8 Plymor 4mil Heavy Duty Reclosable Bags — for storing extra die cut embellishments & finished cards, card workshop kits
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