Teachers work hard every day to help our children grow and learn. Show your appreciation for all that they do by making them a handmade gift! In this tutorial, we'll show you how to create a stunning 3D paper apple monogram shadowbox with your Cricut machine.
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Materials and Tools You Will Need:
- Cricut, Silhouette, or other cutting machine
- Cardstock paper - I used 12x12 red cardstock for the apple, then white and gold but you can use whatever you have or like! Shop 12x12 Cardstock shop and save with code KELSS53
- Craft glue or hot glue - I used Bearly Arts craft glue and you can shop here and save with code DINOMAMA
Download the Free SVG File
Learn how to download all of my free SVG files here for desktop and here for iPad/iPhone.
You can find this 3D Apple Monogram Teacher Appreciation SVG File under my community SVG files, you will need to sign up for my newsletter to receive the password.
After signing up, you will be sent a welcome letter with the password shortly! Please contact me if you have any difficulty with this. The 3D Apple SVG will be towards the bottom of the SVG page so you will have to do a little scrolling to find it!
If you are looking for more teacher appreciation gifts to make with your Cricut check out this blog post for five more Cricut projects.
Cricut Design Space Set Up
This apple SVG file has pre-set perforation lines so you do not need to change anything to score or cut there, the main thing to do is resize if you want to (check the size of one piece of the apple) but remember to resize the entire file to keep the edges correct!
Next, ungroup the file and grab out the white layer. You will be adding the monogram or name to this layer. I used a font called Salmon Queen Sans from Creative Fabrica but again, you can use any font you would like. Be sure to have the writing go from top to bottom and then use the weld feature in Cricut design space to attach these together into one piece. Now your file is ready to be cut. I cut my pieces out using the medium cardstock setting on fast mode, but these settings will depend on your paper and your blade.
Assembly of the Teacher Monogram Shadowbox
Once you have everything cut, we can start building our 3D paper craft! I started with my white and gold layers, layering these with craft glue. With my first go on this I did not add the red layer, instead I built the shadowbox around and then added the gold and white inside. I prefer the way this one looks but they both look good!
Once you have those layered you can start bending on the notches of the edge piece. There is one with a piece in the middle and one with no bend. The one with the bend is going to be your bottom and this is the section that will lay flat and help the apple stand up.
Start gluing in sections to the front piece, I started with my bottom and worked my way around the apple. Take your time gluing the edge as close to the side as possible to make a smooth looking design. Once you've made it to the end, glue the flap on the inside of the edge piece and secure together.
If you did not glue the three top layers together yet, now would be the time to insert the two and glue them to the front.
Now we attach the back and again, work in sections around the apple. This side might be a little more difficult to line up so just take your time.
Finally, attach the leaf and stem. I found attaching them together and then to the top of your apple using your craft glue. Hold this on long enough for it to dry!
Optional: Add Personal Touches
To make the shadowbox extra special, consider adding personal touches like a message to your teacher, their name or the school's name, or other small decorations.
With these steps, you have created a stunning 3D paper apple monogram shadowbox that your teacher will love. Not only is it a beautiful decoration for their classroom or home, but it's a thoughtful reminder of how much they are appreciated.
Stay Crafty!
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Check out these FREE Monogram SVG Files from my Crafty Friends!
