If your toddler is anything like mine, then trains are an obsession that can't be beat. Our living room is covered in tracks and he has been an "engineer" since the age of two. If you are planning a train themed party, then these DIY party favors are sure to give your guests something to talk about. You can fill them with candy, cupcakes, or even little favors. You can grab the free train SVG file here and the box SVG file for free here.
*Some of the links provided help me earn a small commission at no extra charge to you*
Cricut Project Ideas for the Free SVG files:
- Train Party Favor
- Cake Topper (train SVG file)
- Cupcake Toppers (train SVG file)
- Treat Boxes for Party Display (larger rectangle box template)
- Wall Decor (train SVG file)
You can download and use these files however you see fit, they are very personalizable and easy to use. Sign up for my newsletter for even more free SVG files for your Cricut Projects.
If you are having any trouble - learn how to download and upload all of the free SVG files on my website here.
All of my files include a commercial use license - you can make physical items but please do not share the SVG files for your own personal financial gain. I ask that the commercial use is for small businesses only! Thank you!
Materials Needed for the DIY Party Favors
- Paper - I am using 65-80 lb card stock and I love PrintWorks DIY
- Glue - I am using Bearly Arts (this link saves you 10%)
- Foam Mounting Tape - I love these from the Dollar Tree
The boxes will be stronger with a heavier paper so you can even make the base with 100 lb paper, just make sure to adjust your Cricut Machine settings.
How to Upload Into Cricut Design Space
To download my free SVG files, you will right click on the webpage and save to your computer then you will be able to use this in Cricut Design Space.
When sizing these files, it will depend on your machine capacity and also how big you want your party favors to end up. I did mine on the smaller size, it would be able to hold a cupcake or some small candies. The best way to size these together is to look at the longer side and adjust the train to fit onto the side.
You can use your canvas to give you an idea of how large your box base is going to be, don't go by the total width of the project because you will be folding up the sides. You want to look at the side panel or after you adjust the train to fit on the side of the box, you can use the width of the train to determine the size of the box. I made my boxes 4.5 inches long roughly.
Before we just hit make we first need to do two important steps. We are going to duplicate our train SVG file so that we have one for each side of our box template.
The next step is to change our lines on our box SVG file to score lines. This will make it extra easy to fold up the box, you can use either the scoring wheel or the scoring stylus.
Make sure you use the attach paperclip button to put those score lines onto the box template, if you skip this step your score lines will go onto a blank mat.
At this point, you can adjust colors for your train and box as you like, I am going with a red color palette.
Now we are able to send to our Cricut machine. I used my Cricut Air Explore for this project and used 65-80 lb card stock throughout. I like to use the Medium Card Stock setting with more pressure usually. This tends to guarantee a good cut through and it gives me the option of fast mode.
Assembling Your Train Party Favor
Once you have everything cut and off your mat, it's time to assemble. I like to keep all of my small pieces in little containers, you can grab some like these from the Dollar Store or these from Amazon. I have a variety of sizes depending on the project but they help keep the small pieces from going missing.
I started with my train assembling - I did both sides at the same time, so for example the wheels on one side and then on the other. To build it I started with base piece which has the front of the train engine. Make sure they are facing in opposite directions so that when we attach to the box the train is facing the same way on the box on each side.
I moved onto the windows and then the top. You can also place pieces prior to gluing down to assure your image looks correct. I ended with the wheels on top.
For some of the layered pieces like the steam tower in the front, I used the foam mounting tape squares to give these some dimension. I love the ones from the Dollar Tree because they are perfect in height and very sturdy. I also see a lot of crafters secure these even more with hot glue but that is a preference and I don't tend to do this.
Once my trains were built, I moved onto my box center. This is super quick to assemble. I used my craft glue and did one side at a time, putting the tabs inside. This is why scoring is so important - it gives us nice sharp edges. You can also use a bone tool to help with this, I don't always use mine but it's a great tool to have in your arsenal.
Take your time lining up the edges and allowing the glue to dry completely before moving to the next side. The glue I am using dries extremely quickly so I hold it usually for about 10-15 seconds. You can also use hot glue but I find it to be a but bulky on the seams.
Once your box is built, you can grab your two train pieces, this is why it was important to check the direction they were facing, and we can glue them to the sides of the box. I used my craft glue again but you can use tape or hot glue here, whatever you prefer. Make sure the bottom of the train lines up with the bottom of the box, you don't want there to be parts hanging over or it wont sit flat and could get damaged.
Now, your train box is fully assembled and you can add your goodies inside!
This box technique can work for really any theme, so whether the party is mermaids, trains, superheroes, or candy - you can create the cutest DIY party favors for your guests.
Happy Crafting!
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