Slot-Together 3D Christmas Ornaments

Slot-Together 3D Christmas Ornaments

These cardstock 3D Christmas ornaments are so quick and simple to make.

Cut out the pieces and slot them together for the EASIEST 3D crafts for Christmas.

The pieces “slot” together so most of the ornament can be put together without glue. The only glue you’ll need is to stick the background coloured pieces to each of the outer sections.

Or, leave those parts off for a completely no-glue craft project!

Three different free Christmas bauble SVGs are included in this tutorial. For even more designs, scroll to the bottom of the post šŸ™‚

Snowflake ornament

Materials supply list

Here is a list of the materials that I used to make this project.

Please note that some of the links included in this article are affiliate links, which means that if you click through and make a purchase I may receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). You can read my full disclosure at the bottom of the page.

This project is suitable for the following types of Cricut machine: Explore Air 2, Explore Air 3, Maker, Maker 3, Venture, Joy Xtra and Joy.

Christmas baubles

Video tutorial

Watch the video below to see how to make this project. Keep scrolling for a written tutorial.

Written tutorial (with photos!)

Here’s how to make your very own 3D Christmas ornaments using a Cricut machine!

Step 1) Download the cutting file(s) & unzip the downloaded folder

Download the Free Cutting File

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TERMS OF USE:
You may sell finished, handmade physical craft items that you have made using this product but must not sell or share the digital files. Read full terms of use

Before you upload the SVGs to Design Space, you need to unzip the download folder that they comes in.

Step 2) Upload the SVG file into Design Space

Open up Cricut Design Space and start a new Project.

Click “Upload” and then find your unzipped version of the downloaded files for this project.

Go into the “SVG Files” subfolder and select a design to upload.

There are three designs to choose from: snowflakes, festive images and Santa with reindeer.

This is how it should look after you have uploaded the file:

Make sure you upload the file which starts svg- in the filename!!

After uploading, the design will show in your “Recently Uploaded Images”.

Click on it and then press “Add to Canvas” to put it onto your Project.

The ornaments will load in at the correct size to make a finished decorations that’s approximately 4.5 inches tall from the top of the ribbon hold right to the bottom.

Due to the intricate cuts in the patterns, I don’t recommend making them smaller, but you can resize them larger without issue.

TIP: If you resize the ornaments, make sure the padlock icon above the width/height boxes is CLOSED before you resize. If it appears “open”, click it with your mouse to close it.

You may wish to re-colour the pieces to match the cardstock you want to cut it from, to check that you’re happy with the colour combinations.

Step 3) Cut out the project from cardstock

When you’re happy with how the project is looking in Design Space, click “Make It” and follow the instructions on-screen to cut out all the layers.

To change the paper size, go into the dropdowns over on the left side of the screen and choose the paper size that you want to use. You need to change it for every single colour.

To save space on your cardstock, you can move things around by clicking and dragging. Make sure when you’re moving things about that nothing overlaps because otherwise, it won’t cut out properly.

Cut the main ornament pieces from medium or heavy weight cardstock (don’t use Kraft Board as that’s too thick). A solid-core cardstock that’s coloured on BOTH sides of the paper works best, as you can see the front and back sides of the card on the finished ornament.

The inner background shapes work best when cut from coloured paper or thin card. These are optional and can be left off to make the sides “see-through” instead.

The sides of the ornaments have small details on them, so use a sticky light-grip mat and a brayer tool/rolling pin/scraper to press the cardstock onto the mat so it’s really well stuck.

TIP: New to cutting cardstock with a Cricut? Check out this in-depth tutorial which goes through every step of the process, including tips for getting the best quality cuts from your Cricut.

Step 4) Do the glueing for the project

If you are using the backings for the window panels, glue them into place now.

Just use a tiny amount of glue and make sure you don’t press the pieces together too hardly, otherwise the glue might “smush” out the sides and become visible.

Leave everything to one side to let the glue dry fully.

Step 5) Assemble the ornament structure

Select the following pieces and make sure they are in the order listed below.

Slot the second structure piece into the top of the first piece, then carefully slit it into the bottom too.

Hold the two pieces flat against each other, then slit in the third body piece.

You will end up with six sides.

Place one of the the small circles into the top of the ornament and slot the outer ridges into the little gaps in the main shapes.

This is a little bit fiddly, so take it slow and be careful that you don’t rip any of the pieces of card.

Repeat with the bottom circle.

Step 6) Add the window panels

Lay out the window panels in the order that the appear in Design Space.

Most of the ornaments have repeating sides, so there may be 2 or 3 different designs that get repeated to make the 6 sides in total.

Slide the top “arrow” shape of one of the side panels into the ornament.

Gently bend the shape and slot the bottom “arrow” shape into the bottom of the ornament.

Repeat for the remaining sides.

Thread some ribbon through the hole in the top and then that’s it – your 3D Christmas ornament is finished!

3D baubles for Christmas

I hope you enjoy making these 3D slot-together Christmas baubles.

If you would like even more designs, check out my Cricut Design Space profile.

I’ve added some extra designs on there. You will need the Cricut Access subscription to be able to cut them for free.

Here’s a look at some of them: (scroll down for the links)

I’ve also made a “Cricut” version of the three designs from this tutorial so that you can open them straight away, instead of having to download and upload the SVG files.

Happy crafting,
Sarah x