Welcome back to the craft room and today’s Easy 3D Celtic Shadow Box post. I’ve been in a paper craft mood lately, and this project is no exception. Instead of making a card, we’re exploring the world of shadow boxes. I found a beautiful Clover Celtic Knot 3D Shadow Box design on Creative Fabrica and couldn’t resist trying it! With just four layers, it’s incredibly simple to make. Let me walk you through the process of cutting it on my Cricut Explore Air 2 and assembling it into a stunning St. Patrick’s Day décor piece.
Clover Celtic Knot 3D SVG Design
During a recent visit to the Creative Fabrica website, I searched for fun St. Patrick’s Day designs and came across this super fun and easy Celtic knot shadow box. While there were plenty of shadow box designs to choose from, I loved how this one highlighted the clover.
Before bringing the design into Cricut Design Space, I measured my shadow box frame. Even though I purchased 8″ x 8″ frames from Michael’s, the actual size can vary slightly. After removing the backboard, I used a tape measure to check the inside dimensions. As you can see in the image below, my frame is slightly larger than 8 inches wide. In the video, I accidentally misspoke and said it was a little shy of 8 inches.
After downloading the design from Creative Fabrica and uploading it into Cricut Design Space, it’s important to make sure you’re cutting the correct size. If the layers aren’t already grouped, the best practice is to center them together before setting the paper size. In this case, the design is already sized to 8″ x 8″. I decided to cut only the top three layers with my Cricut machine, while the bottom layer—a simple 8″ square—was cut using my Tim Holtz Rotary Paper Trimmer.
To remove a cut layer—or any material—from your Cricut mat, turn the mat over and gently peel it away from the material. Cricut mats are flexible, but be careful not to bend them too much to avoid damage. After lifting your cardstock project, the best way to remove any leftover pieces is with a scraper tool. In the image below, you can see me using the large Cricut scraper at an angle to the design. This allowed me to hold onto the extra cardstock pieces with my fingers and discard them easily, rather than sweeping them across the mat onto the table.
Building the Design
While this is a simple four-layer design, some shadow boxes can be much more elaborate. To ensure your layers are in the correct order, it’s best to line them up before applying any adhesive. Once everything is positioned correctly, carefully flip the entire stack upside down and set it aside. To help with alignment, I’ll place each layer into the frame as I apply adhesive. I’ll start by placing the bottom layer into the frame first.
Next, I’ll take the second layer and, without flipping it over, apply adhesive to the back. For this project, I’m using Mini Foam Circles from Recollections to add dimension between each layer. Since this will be inside a frame, only a few foam pieces in the center of the design are needed.
After peeling the paper backing off the foam, I can carefully align this layer in the frame on top of the bottom layer. I won’t pretend this makes the process completely foolproof, but it definitely helps! I still found the last layer a bit tricky to position just right.
Finishing the 3D Shadow Box
Once the design is complete, remove it from the frame and set it aside. Use a soft cloth to clean the glass on both sides, making sure it’s completely dry before placing it back in the frame. Then, carefully position the Clover Celtic Knot design inside and secure the backboard. Just like that, you have a beautiful St. Patrick’s Day décor piece for your home!
Even though I absolutely love how this turned out, there are a few things I might do differently next time. Since I cut the design to sit on top of the inside spacer, the layers get a bit squished when I put the back on the frame. To avoid this, I’ll cut the layers to fit inside the spacer next time. This adjustment will work for both simple and more elaborate designs, ensuring they fit the frame’s depth properly. Alternatively, you could skip the dimension altogether by gluing the layers flat. This would still create a beautiful design that could be displayed in either a 3D or regular frame. As a bonus, since none of the pieces are permanently attached, you can easily swap out the design for different holidays or occasions!
Thank you so much for joining me for today’s Easy 3D Celtic Shadow Box post. I hope you enjoyed the process and are excited to try making your own shadow box. Have you ever made a shadow box before? I’d love to hear about your experience and any tips you may have! Be sure to check out more crafty inspiration right here on the blog and stay tuned for upcoming projects!
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