How to Make Easy 3D Shadow Box Project with Cricut

I'm new to Cricut, so I am amazed by what it can make. I was browsing on Etsy and came across these intricately layered paper shadow boxes, and I had to try and make them.

These Cricut shadow boxes are an easy and fun project to make and look amazing. They can be made with cutting machines like Cricut, Silhouette, or CNC machines. The size of these designs works best with larger Cricut machines like the Cricut Maker or Cricut Explore series.

These shadow boxes show their depth by layering cut cardstock paper with thin separators. The spacing between the layers gives the depth to the final image.

Since I'm just beginning my Cricut journey, I have found that many Cricut projects don't have detailed instructions on assembling them. So, I decided to make this photo tutorial to show how I assembled these shadow boxes. Look below; we also have a tutorial video!

I love sunflowers, so I had to make one when I saw this sunflower shadow box. Annette and I love gardening, so I made her a gardening shadowbox.

Today, I will make a US Flag Welcome Shadowbox, perfect for Independence Day celebrations.  Keep reading to learn about this shadow box project, or click the link below to watch the full video tutorial.

WHAT YOU NEED:

• Shadowbox design
• Shadowbox Frame
• Cricut Explore Air, Cricut Maker series, or another paper-cutting machine
• Colored cardstock - I recommend 65# or 80# weight paper.
• Glue Dots 
• Matboard or Foam Board to use as a spacer

INSTRUCTIONS to make a 3D shadow box

STEP 1: Shadow Box Design

The shadowbox designs I'm showing are all available from an Etsy Shop, Nice to Cut.  

Other Etsy shops sell shadow box designs, and you can even find many Cricut Shadow box ideas inside the Cricut Design space. 

As I mentioned, I saw the Sunflower design and just had to try it out, so I purchased the download from Nice to Cut's Etsy shop.

Purchasing a shadow box template design from Nice to Cut includes the digital files you need for Cricut and other cutting machines.  Be sure to check the listing to make sure it will work with your machine.

The design files also include a PDF of the design showing all of the layers that are to be cut and the order in which they are to be assembled. They also include a how-to-personalize PDF with more instructions.

Lastly, their designs include a free template design for a frame you can cut and use around your finished shadowbox.  This frame could also be used as a spacer inside your shadowbox frame.

You won't want to stop once you make one of these designs! They are very addicting to make and make a perfect gift for Mother's Day, baby showers, birthdays, Christmas, or other holidays. You are sure to find designs to fit any occasion.

STEP 2: Shadow Box Frame

I prefer to frame my shadowbox in a frame with glass or plastic.  The frame makes the finished shadow box look professional and keeps it from getting dusty.

The cut paper frame is nice for a temporary shadowbox or to use as a spacer.

For the first two shadowboxes I made, the Sunflower and Gardening, I used 8"x 8" black shadowbox frames. I will use a 12" x 12" white shadowbox frame for this new one.

The 12" shadow box will look lovely in my entryway.

The designs can be resized to fit most square frames. The limitation is the size of your mat on your cutting machine.  Be careful if sizing the project smaller because it may affect some intricate cuts. These projects may not work well with a Cricut Joy because of it's small size.

STEP 2: Select Paper

For best results, use cardstock for this project. I like the look of the textured cardstock, so I used a 12" x 12" square 80# textured solid core cardstock by Park Lane. A smooth cardstock could also be used. I don't recommend using a lighter weight paper because it will not hold up well inside the custom shadow box.

The designs' default size can be cut on 8.5" x 11" paper which makes it convenient.

Why Solid Core Cardstock? 

For this project, purchase cardstock that states "solid core". Solid core means that the color goes all the way through the paper.  If it says "white core," it will have white in the center.  

Since this project will show the edges of the paper, it's best to use solid-core cardstock.

Review the Instruction PDF included with the design files.  This file will show each layer and include the color of the cardstock to be used. The layers are listed in the order to assemble the shadowbox, so the last layer is shown first.

Note that your cutting machine will probably NOT cut them in this order, but that is okay.  The cutting machine may group all the pages with the same color and cut them in a row.

The cut order isn't important because each layer will include a cut-out number so you can put them back in order easily.

Pick out the paper to use for each layer and set it aside.

STEP 2: Open the Cut Files and Cut the layers

This tutorial assumes you know how to cut the layers using Cricut Design Space. A general shadow box instructions PDF is included with your purchase. This PDF will give you some tips on loading the design and cutting.

Open Cricut Design Space and start a new project. Use the "Upload" feature to import the design's SVG into your project canvas.

The design can be resized to fit the size of your frame. I resized mine to about 11.4” to fit into my 12" x 12" shadowbox frame.

Measure the interior size of your frame. It will be a little smaller than the size listed on the frame. My 12" x 12" frame is about 11.5".  Size your design slightly smaller than the measured size to allow for some space.  I recommend sizing the design minus .1 of the measured frame size. 

The design instructions state selecting the cutting lines and clicking attach for each layer.  I have found that the designs work without needing this step.  But, if you get to the “Make” steps and see that the shapes are all over the place and don’t look like the design, you must perform the attach step.

Cut out each of the paper layers with the Cricut machine and a fine point blade. I recommend using a light-grip cutting mat.

Carefully remove the sheet by flipping the mat sideways and curling it away from the paper. Use your scraper tool to help you remove the paper from the mat. A weeding tool will help remove any stuck paper.

STEP 3: Place cut sheets in order

I have cut out all of the layers, which are ready to be assembled into the shadow box.

Place the sheets in numerical order using the numbers cut into each sheet.  The sheet without a number is the top layer.

Put the layers on top of one another and check the design to ensure it looks correct.

STEP 4: Cut the separators

Use mat board or foam board strips as separators between the layers.  The mat board isn't as thick as the foam board.

One thing to check is the number of layers and thickness of your shadow box frame. The sunflower design has only six layers, the US Flag design has nine, and the garden design has 14.

If you use too many layers of foamboard, the final project may be too thick to put into the shadow box frame.  Pay attention to the layers in the instruction PDF as they suggest where to place the separator layers.

Cut strips of mat board or foam board to use between the layers. The width of the strips needs to fit within the margin or edge of the design, and they should not show.

I cut the mat board strips 1/2" wide by 11-1/4" long.  These will fit within the side of the flag design without showing.

The strips can be placed on all four sides, but I found that putting a piece on two sides and alternating between the sides and top/bottom was enough to support each layer.  

STEP 4: Assemble the Layers

Start assembling the layers, starting with the bottom layer and building up to the top layer.  

Glue dots are quick, easy, and less messy than glue. Place a glue dot on each end of the strip and another in the center.

Place the strips on either the sides or the top and bottom. Add more glue dots on top of each strip: one on each end of the strip and one in the middle.

Carefully center the next paper layer on top of the previous layers and push it down to attach it.  Try to keep the layers aligned along the edges and corners.

Continue the next layer, placing the matboard on the opposite edges of the previous board.  In this case, the next layer would be placed on the top and bottom.

The photo below is a side view showing the shadow box layers and the mat board between the layers.

The shadow box is complete!

Finally, place the shadowbox into the frame and add the backing of the shadow box frame.

Below are the shadow boxes I created.  The new one will be perfect to hang in my entry for patriotic holidays.  Shadow boxes will make wonderful gifts for the holiday season.

Here are some other Cricut projects you may be interested in:

• Jennifer Maker's Tutorial on Making Your Own Custom Shadow Box
• Extraordinary Caos's Tutorial - Make your own shadow box design
• How to Use a Cricut
• 20+ Free Cricut Projects
• 30+ Free Cricut Sewing Projects