help with shadowing in inkscape

[gardnchk]

Ok, hopefully I can explain this right. I want to make an new svg out of a "camping" title that I found on this site, and merge it on one side with a campfire, and on the other with a tent or something else camp related, then put a shadow around the whole thing so once I put it all together, it's one diecut. Does that make sense? No matter what I type in google, or in this forum, I can't find exactly what I'm trying to accomplish. The best I can do is attach a photo of something similar to what I'm trying to accomplish. Can anyone help me??? I want to know how to do this so badly!!

[Sweetness4713]

What I usually do is duplicate the item and then use the path/outset feature until all the pieces are touching and then I use path union and delete and unnecessary nodes left inside the image...