Make a 3D layered scene

Learn how to make a tunnel book from card

Cardboard frames can be layered to create impressive 3D scenes.

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By placing square hole frames in front of each other you can make a layered frame that is ideal for 3D scenes, like this underground reservoir.

Card *
Pencil
Putty
Scissors
PVA glue

(Choose the thickest card that you can cut easily. This will help build a strong frame)

You might also need a rubber for any mistakes and a glue stick when you stick your decorations to the frames (PVA glue will work but might warp paper or thin card).

First: Plan your picture

What do you want your picture to look like? It can help to create a quick sketch to plan it out:

A sketch to plan out a layered frame scene. The front has a shoreline and bird. The middle has a hill and some houses. The background has fields, wind turbines and sky with a cloud. — Image caption,
Things in the front of a picture are closer to us than those in the background. This is why the bird looks as big as the houses!

Looking at your sketch will help you to separate the different bits of your drawing up into frames.

You will need a background that shows the furthest away parts of the picture. This needs to fill the frame.

The front frame is the foreground and shows objects that are closest to you.

Add one or more frame in the middle depending on how deep and layered you want the picture to be.

Make sure objects in the foreground and middle are next to the frame, otherwise they won't have anything to stick to.

Then: Make frames

Choose your card and make the number of frames you need for your design. The frames should be identical in size.

Three identical black frames in a row, made from card. — Image caption,
Your frames need to be the same size as each other.

For more help with making angular frames check out our cutting holes articles:

Cutting folded paper is the simpler way.
Cutting to the corners is the neater way.

Next: Make spacers

Spacers join the frames together while creating space between them. This increases the 3D effect.

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Mark and cut a length of card
It is important that the strip has the same height throughout. You can use a ruler to mark it out.
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Snip along the card to create roughly equal strips
Each one of these is going to be a spacer.
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Roll each strip up into a cylinder
Don't worry if they spring back a little bit at this stage.
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Put glue on the inside of the rolled up strip
Glue stick is good for this job as it dries quickly. If you are in a hurry you can use sticky tape.
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Roll it back up and hold it for a few seconds to help it stick together
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Continue making spacers until you have enough of them for your frames
You will need one spacer per corner and for the middle of longer sides. Each frame needs spacers, apart from the front frame.

After that: Decorate your frames

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Make the picture sections for each of your frames
You can layer them and move things around to make sure you like the way the picture will look when framed.
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Make sure each section is the right size for the frame
Each section will need to connect to its frame.
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Put glue on the frame
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Flip the frame over and gently place it over the section
If you are happy with the way it looks press down firmly so they stick together.
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Glue the rest of your picture sections to their frames
Now you are ready to join the frames together!

Finally: Join the frames

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Put PVA glue on each corner and the long sides of your back frame
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Put a spacer onto each blob of glue
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Repeat on each frame apart from the front frame and then leave to dry
Remember that the front frame doesn't need spacers!
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Put PVA glue on the top of all the spacers
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Carefully stack the frames on top of each other
Be gentle and make sure you stack them in the right order!
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Finish by putting the front frame on top
Press down gently over each spacer and then leave the stack to fully dry.
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Once the glue has dried, flip the layered frame onto its side... Finished!

Artwork examples

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You can also use frames of different colours in a tunnel book.
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You can also use frames of different colours in a tunnel book.

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If you don't know what to make, experiment with different shapes and see what you can turn them into.
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If you don't know what to make, experiment with different shapes and see what you can turn them into.

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In this tunnel book the footballer's legs are on the front frame, the football on the middle frame and the goalie and crowd on the back frame. The goalie is much smaller than the legs and ball because he is in the background.
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In this tunnel book the footballer's legs are on the front frame, the football on the middle frame and the goalie and crowd on the back frame. The goalie is much smaller than the legs and ball because he is in the background.

Make a 3D tunnel book from card

Learn how to make a tunnel book from card

Cardboard frames can be layered to create impressive 3D scenes.

First: Plan your picture

Then: Make frames

Next: Make spacers

After that: Decorate your frames

Finally: Join the frames

Artwork examples

More on Design activity