Kia ora Koutou

Soft, sweet, and full of joy—today’s shadow box card celebrates a precious new arrival with a whimsical hot air balloon scene, nestled among rainbow-coloured handcrafted flowers. The combination of soft mint, crisp white, and shimmering holographic silver accents creates a fresh and magical design, perfect for welcoming a little one.

Dies were provided by Amazing Paper Grace for today’s creation.

Design & Inspiration

For this baby congratulations card, I wanted to create something with depth and dimension—almost like peeking into a tiny dream world. The shadow box style is perfect for this, allowing each layer to build a soft, floating scene.

The hot air balloon becomes the focal point, gently “lifting” above a cloud of delicate rainbow florals. Keeping the base palette neutral with mint and white allows the flowers to shine, while touches of holographic silver add that dreamy sparkle—like sunlight catching in the sky.

Step-by-Step

1. Create the Shadow Box Base

• Die cut or construct a shadow box card base using white card stock
• Add an inner panel that has clouds ink blended to create a sky background

2. Build the Background Layers

• Add a layer of acetate to the base layer that will go in the centre of the shadow box for extra strength and also to create more depth to the shadow box.

3. Die Cut the Hot Air Balloon

• Cut the balloon elements from white and soft mint cardstock
• Add holographic silver accents to panels or trims for shimmer
• Tuck some white clouds behind the balloon
• Assemble and adhere to the acetate panel on a slight angle

4. Add the Top Shadow Box

• Die cut the oval from the centre of the top shadow box layer.
• Add some acetate behind the aperture for strength and the look of a window
• Die cut the decorative frame out of white and holographic card and layer the white die over the holographic die leaving the inlay pieces of the holographic layer intact
• Adhere the decorative frame to the front of the shadow box.

5. Craft the Rainbow Flowers

• Die cut the larger leaves out of soft mint card and lay them down to the top left and bottom right of the card front
• Die cut multiple small florals out of white flower shaping paper. Colour the flowers in a soft rainbow palette
• Shape petals for dimension
• Assemble the flowers and then arrange them along the top left and bottom right of the card around the oval as shown
• Die cut small leaves out of holographic silver card and tuck them around the base of the flowers

6. Add the Stork and Baby Accessories

• Die cut the stork out of white cardstock and add some colour to the inks. Add a die cut soft mint balloon to the image and then add the stork to the bottom right of the card front.
• Die cut the small feet and rattle out of soft mint card and holographic silver card and add to the bottom right of the card front.

7. Sentiment

• Add a “Congrats” sentiment, die cut out of holographic silver card and white card stock. Stack the holographic die over the white die and then adhere to the base of the aperture.

8. Create the Stand for the Card

• On the back of the shadow box add a small hinged card to create a stand for the shadow box
• Opitional: add a sentiment inside this small card and/or allow space for writing the greeting inside.

8. Finishing Touches

• Add small iridescent gems to the balloon
• Optional: include tiny clouds or vellum accents for extra softness

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Finishing Touches

The magic of this card really comes together in the details—the gentle shine of the holographic accents, the softness of the mint and white base, and the playful burst of rainbow florals. Each layer adds to that whimsical, floating effect, making this card feel extra special.

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Final Thoughts

Shadow box cards are such a beautiful way to create something truly memorable, and they’re perfect for milestone moments like welcoming a new baby. This design feels light, joyful, and full of love—just right for celebrating a brand new beginning.

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Share the Joy

And don’t forget to pin this project for later inspiration — you’ll definitely want to revisit it when you are in the mood for making an extra special card to celebrate the coming of a new baby!

✂️ Supplies I Used:

Amazing Paper Grace Products Used:

S6-200 3D-Vignette Hot Air Balloon

S5-327 – Annabelles Trousseau

Die of the Month March 2020 – Elegant Infinity

S4-982 – Cinch and Go Four.

S4-995 – Cinch and Go Five

S4-867 – Cinch and Go Flowers III Etched Dies

S4-852 – Layered Bundle of Joy Etched Dies

S4-1163 – Cinch and Go Blossoms

S5-436 – Grand Cinch And Go Flowers

S5-479 – Daisy Delight Garden Shutters A2 Card Base

S3-420 – Petite Floral Potpourri

Other Products Used:

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White – 80 Ib cardstock

Spellbinders Colorwheel Cardstock – Seaside

Dress My Craft Soft Floral Shaping Paper

Lawn Fawn Holographic Cardstock

Pink Fresh Studio inks – Sunkissed, Wisteria, Metropolis, Sparkling Rose, Summer Shadow, Berrylicious, Sweet Mustard, Lemon Whip

Altenew Fresh Dye ink – Baby Pink

Archival inks – Olive, Leaf Green

Small iridescent gems

Prills – Lemon Chiffon, Espresso Yourself

Wire Pollens

Bearly Art GlueI

Instructions on how to make the shadow box cards are here.

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Happy Crafting

Patricia