If you’re looking for some new Cricut shadow box ideas, look no further! Our DIY Gnome Shadow Box is absolutely adorable. It’s a great piece for the holiday season, but is equally as beautiful to display in your home year-round.
Hello, crafty friends! Welcome back to Better Life Blog, a blog dedicated to crafty tutorials using your cutting machine (like your Cricut or Silhouette). I’m so glad to have you here today!
I’m very proud to present my latest creation: a DIY Gnome Shadow Box. Making shadow boxes with your Cricut or Silhouette is easier than you think! Don’t be intimidated! They may look complicated and intricate, but putting one together is rather quick… and they always make for the cutest gifts!
More Cricut Shadow Box Ideas
Do you love shadow boxes? I don’t blame you! Shadow boxes are one of my all-time favorite Cricut/Silhouette projects. Here are more of my shadow box crafts that I recently put together:
Where Do I Get the SVG To Make This Gnome Shadow Box?
I’m so glad you asked! Grabbing this file is very simple: all you have to do is log onto your VIP Crafters Club dashboard and download the October 2021 files. You will find the Gnome Shadow Box SVG file in there.
If you’re not yet a member of our VIP Crafters Club, all you have to do is click here to join! Becoming a member unlocks hundreds of cut files for you and gives you access to our online community, where we make crafts together every month!
Otherwise, you can download the Gnome Shadow Box cut file here.
Is It Hard To Make Cricut Shadow Boxes?
Absolutely not – especially with my original cut files! I design them so that they’re very easy to assemble! For most of my shadow boxes, all you have to do is layer each piece one by one. As you layer each of the cardstock pieces, you will start to see the design slowly take shape. It’s always amazing to see the final product once you place your last layer on the top!
Do You Have More Shadow Box SVG Files?
I most certainly do! Be sure to check out these shadow box SVG files that I created:
3-D Layered Winter Scene Shadow Box
Tree With Birds Scene 3-D Layered Shadow Box
Comic Shadow Box BOOM SVG Cut File
What Supplies Do I Need to Make This Gnome-Themed Cricut Shadow Box?
To put together your Gnome Shadow Box, you will need the following tools and supplies:
Cricut or Silhouette machine
Colored cardstock (we used different shades of green as the main base for each layer, and various colors for the layers’ pieces – please refer to the screenshot of the SVG below, as you can use it as your guide)
How to Make a DIY Gnome Shadow Box
Step 1: Download the SVG File
Begin by downloading my Gnome Shadow Box SVG cut file. Then upload it to your program of choice (ie.: the program that corresponds with your cutting machine).
Step 2: Adjust the Size of the Layers
Adjust the layers so that they’re the same size as the interior of your shadow box. In my case, I adjusted mine to be 8×8 so that it could fit into my 9×9 shadow box frame.
Step 3: Cut Your File!
Follow the steps on your design program to cut each of the layers and their corresponding pieces. Weed out any necessary pieces from each cardstock layer.
Step 4: Keep Every Layer in Order
Be sure to keep your cut-out layers in order! Please refer to the screenshot below: working from left to right, the top layer is the design that’s on the top row to the very left. The most bottom layer is the design that’s on the bottom row, to the right.
Step 5: Glue the Corresponding Pieces
For each layer, glue its corresponding pieces (mushrooms, gnome details, etc.)
Step 6: Use Your Distress Oxide Ink
Use your Distress Oxide Ink to add distress details to elements of your layers, like mushroom stems, around the borders in the center of your layers, etc.
Step 7: Prep Your Shadow Box
Next, turn over your shadow box (glass facing down), and open its backing. Using your scraper, remove the canvas covered pad that is attached to the backing material.
Step 8: Start Layering Your Design
Now, it’s time to layer! Add double-sided foam tape along the edges of the front of your last layer (so the design that was on the bottom row, to the very right).
Step 9: Layer With Foam Tape
Remove the backing of the foam tape, revealing the sticky part, and add the next layer on top. Continue doing this until you reach the last layer (ie.: the design that was on the top row to the very left). Set aside.
Step 10: Add The Light Strip
Add a light strip to your shadow box frame by removing the backing to your LED light strip. Attach to the inner edges of your frame, trimming where necessary.
Step 11: Place Into the Frame
Add your attached layers into the frame. Place back the frame’s backing and press the tabs down to hold your project in place. You may either present the shadow box with the lights on or off – either way, the design will look amazing!
Cricut Shadow Box Ideas: DIY Gnome Shadow Box
If you’re looking for some new Cricut shadow box ideas, look no further! Our DIY Gnome Shadow Box is absolutely adorable. It’s a great piece for the holiday season, but is equally as beautiful to display in your home year-round!
Materials
- Cricut or Silhouette machine
- Gnome Shadow Box SVG file
- Light grip mat
- Weeding tools
- Glue gun and glue sticks
- Scissors
- 9 x 9 shadow box frame
- LED light strip
- Colored cardstock (we used different shades of green as the main base for each layer, and various colors for the layers’ pieces – please refer to the screenshot of the SVG below, as you can use it as your guide)
- Double-sided foam tape
- Distress Oxide Ink
Instructions
- Begin by downloading my Gnome Shadow Box SVG cut file. Then upload it to your program of choice (ie.: the program that
corresponds with your cutting machine). - Adjust the layers so that they’re the same size as the interior of your shadow box. In my case, I adjusted mine to be 8x8 so that it could fit into my 9x9 shadow box frame.
- Follow the steps on your design program to cut each of the layers and their corresponding pieces. Weed out any necessary
pieces from each cardstock layer. - Be sure to keep your cut-out layers in order! Please refer to the screenshot below: working from left to right, the top layer is the design that’s on the top row to the very left. The most bottom
layer is the design that’s on the bottom row, to the right. - For each layer, glue its corresponding pieces (mushrooms, gnome details, etc.)
- Use your Distress Oxide Ink to add distress details to elements of your layers, like mushroom stems, around the borders in the center of your layers, etc.
- Next, turn over your shadow box (glass facing down), and open its backing. Using your scraper, remove the canvas covered pad that is attached to the backing material.
- Now, it’s time to layer! Add double-sided foam tape along the edges of the front of your last layer (so the design that was on the bottom row, to the very right).
- Remove the backing of the foam tape, revealing the sticky part, and add the next layer on top. Continue doing this until you reach the last layer (ie.: the design that was on the top row to the very left). Set aside.
- Add a light strip to your shadow box frame by removing the backing to your LED light strip. Attach to the inner edges of your frame, trimming where necessary.
- Add your attached layers into the frame. Place back the frame’s backing and press the tabs down to hold your project in place. You may either present the shadow box with the lights on or off – either way, the design will look amazing!