Carved Pumpkin Shadow Box – Free Halloween Cricut Project (with Video Tutorial!)

Instructions

Step 1 - Uploading Your Pumpkin Mandala Design

First, download the Pumpkin Mandala SVG (#C21) and extract the file. Then…

1. Open design space

2. Click “New Project”

3. Click “Upload”

4. Click “Upload Image”

5. Select the SVG file

6. Click “Upload”

7. Select the file you just uploaded from the library

8. Click “Insert Images”

Side Note: When it uploads into the Canvas, it is going to be grouped together, so you want to make sure that the lock for the aspect ratio is locked.



Step 2 - Resize Your Design

What size you need to make your SVG depends on your project plans. I'll put my mandala into a 12" x 12" shadow box for this craft. 

So, I'll size my mandala to 11 ½" wide to allow for some space all around the mandala. 

You’ll want to measure the innermost portion of your shadow box and then decide how big you want to make yours. 

If you’re making this project by hand, you’ll probably want to make it no bigger than 8” wide so that the largest pieces still fit on a piece of letter paper (You’ll need to print it). 

You can adjust the size by clicking and dragging but I prefer to type the exact size - 11.5 - for the height and width at the top of the toolbar.



Step 3 - Visualizing Your Pumpkin Face Mandala Edits Before Cutting (OPTIONAL)

This step is not necessary. You can leave the design as is and customize your colors as you feed your cardstock through the machine but if you want to visualize your color choices, right-click on the mandala and select ungroup. 

Then, click on a layer and pick a color from the palette at the top of the toolbar. The Advanced tab gives more custom colors. 

This would be the time to choose the type of cardstock for the very last layer which can be the glitter cardstock like I am using in this tutorial or something else like glow-in-the-dark cardstock. In this example picture, I have changed that layer to purple.

To reassemble the layers, click Control and A, navigate to Align at the top, and Center.



Step 4 - Set Up Your Cut Settings

Now you’re ready to choose your cut settings. Click on "Make It" in the top right corner. 

Next, you'll click Continue and begin choosing your material settings.

I usually choose Medium cardstock for 65-pound cardstock and leave the settings to default. 

If you sized yours smaller than mine, it's better to choose “Intricate Cuts”. To do this, click the Browse button and scroll - or search for - Intricate cut. This mode helps with cutting smaller, thinner designs without damaging the paper. 

You might also have to tinker with the settings if you use a different type of cardstock to figure out what process is best without tearing. Choosing “more” or “less” pressure can help if you have trouble.



Step 5 - Cut Your Cardstock Pieces

Look at Design Space to see which layer is highlighted. This is the layer that will be cut next. Pick the cardstock color you want for that layer. Place that cardstock on a standard grip mat and press down firmly. 

I recommend using Standard grip mats instead of light grip mats to make sure the cardstock doesn’t lift while cutting.

Then feed your mat into your Cricut by lining it up with the markings on your machine and press the double-sided arrow. 

Wait for the Cricut logo button to flash and then press the button to initiate the cutting process. After the cut is complete, press the double arrow to remove the mat.

TIP! Before taking the mat completely out of the machine, examine your cuts. For intricate layers, it's sometimes necessary to perform a second cut. 

Here’s how you’d do a second cut - Without releasing your mat, press the Cricut button again so it can send your paper through again. Removing the mat and then trying to do a second cut can result in unaligned cut lines.

Step 6 - Removing Your Cardstock from the Mat

When you're ready to take the cut cardstock off your cutting mat, the easiest method is to flip the mat over with the cardstock facing down.

Then peel the paper off the mat from the cardstock. This prevents your cardstock from curling.

Once your design is off the mat and the cardstock, you may have to weed any leftover pieces that didn't come out. 

Sometimes a weeding tool can help you poke out the smallest pieces. A scraper will help you then remove any small pieces from your mat so you can prep it for the next cut.

Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you’ve cut all your layers.



Step 6 - Gather Your Cardstock Layers

Now you’re ready to assemble your layers. First line everything up - put your thickest most solid layer down first and then put the next thickest on top etc until you get to the thinnest most intricate layer. You’ll have two thick bottom pumpkin layers, followed by two thinner pumpkin layers, a spider web layer, and then your thinnest pumpkin layer.

Now you need to either glue these layers together (if you don’t have foam dots) or put foam dots. Gluing them is fairly straight forward so I’ll focus on the foam dot assembly.



Step 7 - Assemble your Pumpkin Mandala

I like to give my mandalas a dimensional look, so I add foam dots between each layer to create a raised overlay. But this design also looks just as striking if you leave it displayed flat and glue them together.

To add foam dots for extra dimension, I start by flipping my design over and working from the bottom sheet upwards. So, I start by separating my second layer from my base glitter cardstock layer.

Then I flip the second layer over and add foam dots around the edges of the sheet. I use a dot on each corner. For designs with intricate cuts, I also dot to the center and under thin pieces to avoid sagging.

Then peel the backing off each dot so it can stick to my base layer. After you center your design, press firmly around the sides to get a good seal. You have a few seconds to take the layers apart and readjust without damaging the paper.  

Continue this with all layers. Watch my Carved Pumpkin Shadow Box Video Tutorial to see this step in action.



Step 8 - Displaying Your Mandala in a Shadow Box

Open your box and take out the backing. 

Place foam dots on the back of your completed mandala. Then align your mandala onto your background - I chose a glitter cardstock - and press it into place. Next, adhere your cardstock background to the shadowbox backing with glue dots (or double back tape) to prevent your design from sagging or moving. 

Finally, replace the backing and close the tabs to secure it into place.