Hey crafters! I’m excited to share with you a project that I recently fell in love with — making a beautiful rolled paper flower shadow box using a Cricut machine.
This was actually my first time ever making paper flowers, and I was so happy with how it turned out that I ended up keeping it for myself instead of gifting it.
If you want to create a stunning floral heart display, whether for your home or as a heartfelt gift, this step-by-step tutorial is perfect for you. Let’s dive in!
Watch the full tutorial:
Table of Contents
- Step 1: Gather Your Materials
- Step 2: Choose and Download Your Flower Design
- Step 3: Upload and Resize Your Design in Cricut Design Space
- Step 4: Prepare Your Cricut Machine and Materials for Cutting
- Step 5: Prepare the Shadow Box Backing
- Step 6: Cut and Attach the Heart Shape
- Step 7: Roll Your Paper Flowers
- Step 8: Assemble the Flower Heart
- Step 9: Finish and Display Your Shadow Box
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Final Thoughts
Step 1: Gather Your Materials
Before you start crafting, it’s important to have all your supplies ready. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Cricut Machine: You’ll want a Cricut Maker or Explore series machine. These can cut large flower designs up to 8 inches wide, which is perfect for making 2-inch rolled flowers. The Cricut Joy can only cut up to 4.5 inches wide, so it’s only good for very small flowers.
- Shadow Box: I used a 13×13 inch shadow box from Michaels, which I got on sale for about $5. Most tutorials use 8×8 inch shadow boxes, but I liked the bigger size for my project.
- Cardstock: I used 35 sheets of purple 65lb cardstock from Michaels. The pack had 50 sheets with five different purple shades, so that gave me a nice variety for my flowers.
- Poster Board: A large sheet of white poster board to cover the back of the shadow box and make it look neat.
- 12×12 Inch Cardstock: This is used to cut out a heart shape that will go in the middle of your shadow box as a base for your flowers.
- Glue: I recommend Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue. It dries clear and super fast, which makes working with paper flowers much easier.
- Quilling Tool: This is the best tool for rolling paper flowers, but if you don’t have one, I’ll show you a handy alternative using tweezers and a binder clip.
Step 2: Choose and Download Your Flower Design
To make your paper flowers, you’ll first need a design file. I found an amazing bundle of rolled flower SVG files on Creative Fabrica. This bundle has 70 different flower files and has been favorited over 1,800 times — so you know it’s popular!
You can browse Creative Fabrica to find this bundle, and if you like, add it to your favorites for easy access later. They also offer a free trial where you can download up to 10 items for free. After that, their subscription is very affordable, especially the yearly plan that costs just $4.99 a month. This gives you unlimited downloads and access to thousands of fonts, graphics, and craft files.
Once you’ve downloaded the bundle, look through it to find the exact flower you want to make. I chose flower number 7 from the set. Save the SVG file to your computer so you can upload it to Cricut Design Space.
Step 3: Upload and Resize Your Design in Cricut Design Space
Open Cricut Design Space and upload your SVG file. Here’s how to do it:
- Click on “Upload” then “Upload Image.”
- Browse to find your saved SVG file and open it.
- Click “Upload,” then select the image and add it to your canvas.
- Resize the flower design to 8 inches wide. This size will give you a nice 2-inch rolled flower.
- To speed things up, copy and paste the flower design 35 times on your canvas. This way, when you go to cut, you can load and unload mats without having to re-upload or resize each flower individually.
Once everything is set, click “Make It” and choose your material. I picked the option for Light Cardstock – 65 lbs.
Step 4: Prepare Your Cricut Machine and Materials for Cutting
For this project, I used 65lb cardstock in various purple shades. I recommend using a blue light grip mat to hold the cardstock firmly while cutting.
Place your cardstock in the upper left corner of your mat, load the mat into your Cricut machine by clicking the flashing double arrow, and then start the cut by pressing the flashing Cricut button.
It really helps to have two mats: one in the machine cutting while you prepare the next one. This way, you save time and keep the process flowing smoothly.
Tip: I saved the leftover cardstock strips for smaller future projects or kids’ crafts.
Step 5: Prepare the Shadow Box Backing
Once your flowers are cut, it’s time to prepare the shadow box. Remove the backing by twisting the tabs, then take out any paper inside. The backing usually looks plain and like cardboard, so I covered it with white poster board for a clean look.
To do this, trace the backing onto your poster board using a pencil and cut it out carefully with scissors.
Important Tip: When gluing the poster board to the backing, only apply glue around the edges. I made the mistake of spreading glue all over the backing, which caused the glue to seep through and show on the paper. Luckily, I was able to fix this by removing the paper and reapplying glue just on the edges.
Use your finger or a credit card to smooth the glue and press the poster board firmly onto the backing.
Step 6: Cut and Attach the Heart Shape
Next, cut out a heart shape from 12×12 inch cardstock to place in the center of your shadow box. This heart will be the base where you glue your flowers. You can do it by hand, or, since it's already out and plugged in, use your Cricut!
In Cricut Design Space, select the heart shape and resize it to about 10.5 inches wide to fit nicely inside your 13×13 shadow box.
Remember to check the back of your shadow box before gluing your heart down. Make sure the heart is oriented correctly so it doesn’t block the hanging hooks.
Once it's cut out, glue the heart onto the poster board backing inside the shadow box, carefully aligning it.
Step 7: Roll Your Paper Flowers
Now comes the fun but somewhat tricky part — rolling your paper flowers! The proper tool for this is a quilling tool, which is designed for rolling paper tightly.
If you don’t have a quilling tool, don’t worry. I used a pair of tweezers and a binder clip as a makeshift tool. Simply pinch the tweezers closed, clip the binder on to hold the paper, and roll the paper tightly toward you starting at the end.
Keep your hand horizontal and twist steadily to roll the paper tightly.
Once you reach the end of the strip, pull off the tool and bend the small tab at the bottom backward. This tab will be glued to hold the flower together.
After rolling, gently flip the flower upside down and let it loosen naturally to give it a more open, realistic look.
Apply glue to the bottom tab and the bent piece, then press and hold for about 10 seconds until it dries.
Tip: Rolling flowers can be a bit frustrating at first. Take breaks if needed, and don’t stress if they don’t look perfect right away. It gets easier with practice!
Step 8: Assemble the Flower Heart
Once all your flowers are rolled and glued, it’s time to arrange and glue them onto your heart base.
I used a pattern with the different purple shades to create a balanced and colorful look — dark purple, light purple, bluish purple, and another shade. It can be hard to tell some shades apart, so feel free to mix them as you like.
Start gluing flowers around the outside edge of the heart and work your way inward. Be sure to space them evenly and cover the heart completely.
This part is super satisfying because you start to see your floral masterpiece come to life!
Step 9: Finish and Display Your Shadow Box
After all your flowers are glued and dried, carefully put the backing back onto the shadow box and secure the tabs.
Now your gorgeous rolled paper flower shadow box is ready to display! It makes a perfect piece for your home entryway or a thoughtful gift for someone special.
This project took me nearly six hours from start to finish, including cutting, rolling, gluing, and assembly. Each flower took about five minutes to roll and glue, and the machine took about two minutes to cut each one. So, be patient and enjoy the process!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I use a Cricut Joy for this project?
The Cricut Joy can only cut up to 4.5 inches wide, so it’s not suitable for making the larger 8-inch flower designs used in this project. For best results, use a Cricut Maker or Explore series machine.
What type of cardstock is best for rolled paper flowers?
Use 65lb cardstock for sturdy flowers that hold their shape well. I used a purple variety pack with five different shades to add depth and interest.
Do I need a quilling tool to roll the flowers?
A quilling tool makes rolling easier, but you can use alternatives like tweezers and a binder clip, as I did. The key is to roll tightly and consistently.
How long does it take to make each flower?
For beginners, expect about five minutes per flower for rolling and gluing. With practice, you can speed up the process.
Can I sell these paper flower shadow boxes?
While they look beautiful, making these by hand is time-consuming. I wouldn’t recommend selling them unless you can charge accordingly for your time.
Where can I find the flower SVG files?
I used a popular rolled flowers bundle from Creative Fabrica. They offer a free trial and affordable subscriptions for unlimited downloads of fonts, SVGs, and more.
How do I prevent glue from seeping through the paper?
Apply glue only around the edges of the backing paper when attaching it to the shadow box backing. Avoid spreading glue all over the backing to prevent it from showing through.
Final Thoughts
Making rolled paper flowers with a Cricut machine is a rewarding craft that combines creativity, patience, and a little bit of skill. This shadow box project is a beautiful way to showcase your handmade flowers and add a charming touch to your home décor or gift-giving.
Remember, it’s okay if you’re new to rolling flowers — it can be tricky at first, but with practice, it becomes easier and more enjoyable. Don’t rush the process, take breaks when needed, and most importantly, have fun creating!
If you try this project, I’d love to hear how it goes and any tips you discover along the way. Happy crafting!
