How to Make a Christmas Diorama Card

LEARN HOW TO MAKE AN ADORABLE CHRISTMAS DIORAMA SCENE WITH YOUR CRICUT CUTTING MACHINE

Okay, everyone. I have to say. This design came out better than I imagined it during my drawing sessions. It is just so stinking cute.

For those of you who don't know what a diorama card is, it is basically a shadow box card. However, instead of forming the box and adding the scene inside, this card's base is formed by folding the card in an accordian style on both sides.

I used different shades of blue cardstock for most of the scene but you can change it to fit your taste.

In this tutorial, I’ll give you my step by step instructions and tell you what materials I think work best when making this project.

Basic and Premium TBH Crafters Club Members can download the SVG cut file for this project in the File Library.

Not a Member? Click here or the link at the bottom of the page to join!

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IT'S SANTA DIORAMA CARD – MATERIALS LIST

It's Santa! Diorama Card

It's Santa! Diorama Card

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Active Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

This tutorial will show you how to make an adorable Santa scene to give this holiday season!

Materials

  • My It's Santa Diorama Card SVG Cut File
  • Cardstock
  • Glue or Adhesive

Tools

  • A way to cut out your cardstock. I am using my FABULOUS Cricut Maker!
  • Cricut LightGrip Cutting Mat (blue) or StandardGrip Cutting Mat (green)
  • Cricut Scoring Wheel or Stylus
  • Cricut Pen
  • Cricut Brayer
  • Cricut Scraper

Instructions

STEP 1 - DOWNLOAD THE SVG CUT FILE

Download the SVG Cut file for the It's Santa Diorama Card (#108) from The File Vault. Get access by joining the club.

STEP 2 - UPLOAD THE SVG FILE TO CRICUT DESIGN SPACE

If you aren't familiar with uploading SVG files into Design Space, take a look at my quick and easy tutorial here. Using your smartphone? Click here for my step-by-step guide on uploading SVG files with the Cricut App.

STEP 3 - UNGROUP CARD LAYERS

The file will upload into Cricut Design Space grouped together. You will want to hit the UNGROUP button to separate the layers.

ungroup the design

STEP 4 - CONVERT FOLD LINES TO SCORE LINES

Scroll down the list in the LAYERS panel and find the envelope. Click the fold line.

select the fold line of the envelope

Change the fold lines to score lines by changing the OPERATION from BASIC CUT to SCORE.

change the linetype to score in the operation menu

Attach the score line and the envelope by highlighting the GROUP the envelope is under and selecting the ATTACH option in lower right hand corner.

highlight the group and click attach

Repeat this step for the card base.

repeat this step for the card base

Next, find the text layer.

highlight the text

Change the text to pen by changing the OPERATION from BASIC CUT to PEN.

change the linetype to pen

Attach the text and the base layer by highlighting the GROUP the envelope is under and selecting the ATTACH option in lower right hand corner.

highlight the group and select attach

Click the GREEN Make It Button.

click the green make it button

STEP 5 - MAKE YOUR MATERIAL SELECTIONS AND PREPARE YOUR MATS

You will see the seven mats for this card in the mat preview.

Click the CONTINUE button.

click continue

For this tutorial, I am using Medium Cardstock. Select your materials accordingly.

make your materials selection

Attach your cardstock to the Cricut StandardGrip Mat using the Cricut Brayer.

STEP 6 - LOADING YOUR MATS AND CUTTING YOUR MATERIALS

To load the mat into the machine, press the double arrows button. Do make sure that the mat is positioned under the mat guides.

to load the mat, press the flashing arrows

You will know the machine is ready to cut your material when you see the flashing "C" button. Press that to start the cut.

click the flashing "C" to begin the cut

Follow Design Space prompts to change out the scoring wheel, pen, and fine point cutting blade.

Once the cut is complete, make sure to peel the mat away from the cardstock
rather than the cardstock from the mat. This will prevent any curling of your design.

Repeat Step 6 for until all layers have been cut.

STEP 7 - ASSEMBLE YOUR CARD

Now that everything is cut, we can start to assemble the card.

time to assemble

Begin by folding one side of the card base. Fold the score line toward you. Then following in an accordian, fold the remaining score lines on that side.

fold the card base along the score lines with the first pointing toward you

Burnish the folds and repeat for the other side.

press the fold with a scraper

Next, add glue to the back left and right sides of the frame piece and attach to the card base.

add glue to the left and right sides of the frameattach to the card base

Add glue to the back of the window layer and attach over the window layer with Santa.

add glue to the back of the window layerattach over the santa layer

Now, add glue to the back of the sky layer and slip into the card base, securing to the back.

add glue to the back of the sky layer

slip into the card base and attach to the back wall

Next, add glue to the left and right edges of the village layer and slip into the card base adhering to the tab in front of the sky layer.

add glue to the sides of the village layerslide that into the card base on the second tab and press

Lastly, add glue to the left and right edges of the window layer and slip into the card base adhering to the tab in front of the village layer.

add glue to the sides of the window layerslide into the card base and adhere

STEP 8 - FORM THE ENVELOPE

To make the envelope, begin by folding along the score lines and press the folds with your scraper.

fold along the score lines

burnish with the scraper

Add glue to the back of the inlay panel as well as around the cutout.

add glue along the outside edge of the inlayadd glue around the cutout

Place the inlay panel over the cutout on the envelope making sure to center it well.

place the inlay onto the envelope

With your card inside, bring the side flaps in and add glue to the bottom of the flaps.

add glue to the side flaps

Bring the bottom flap up and press to form the envelope.

bring the bottom flap up to form the envelope

Your card and envelope are finished!

This card is such a sweet card that I know anyone will love it.

Post a photo in the comment section or tag your projects on social media @thebeardedhousewife using the hashtag #beardedhousewife! I’d love to see how yours turn out!!

Happy Holidays!

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Responses

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  1. OMGosh, this is a darling card Nick!! I love the nostalgia of it. Reminds me of when I was a little girl and Santa came down the street on Christmas Eve, ringing his bells in a sled. It was snowing and I ran to the door and threw it open and Santa told me Merry Christmas and to get to bed because he would be back later. lol It was such a magical moment for me and I still get those warm and fuzzies thinking about it now, at almost 62 years old. lol Might have to make this card just to sit around! Hugs, Brenda

    1. I have not started this one yet. It’s all on the mats waiting for me to dig out the colors. I’ve read through all of the instructions and it seems to me that it would easier to add the layers from back to front instead of going front to back? I’m going to try it that way and see how it works for me. It is an awesome card!

  2. Hi Ken! Another sweet and beautiful design from you THANK YOU!!
    Question, I made this, and as careful as I was, the card doesn’t fit into the envelope! What did I do wrong? Card measures 6″, the envelope is about 6 1/8 square. but I can’t get it in – card is too thick? I used 65# paper. Did I fold it wrong? Is there a special way I should fold the pleats to be sure? Not sure what I did wrong!
    I”m going to try it again making sure the card is as small as possible to fit in the envelope. Nonetheless, the card is adorable! I love layers!!

    1. Hi, Cynthia.

      Did you add the card to the envelope when forming it? That helps to make sure you have enough space for the card to fit. Make sure to press down on the pleats to make it as flat as possible when placing into the envelope.

      Let me know if that works.
      Nick

      1. yes, I did everything together as you instruct. I do think it was operator error and I will be very careful in my folding next time! I love this design though. Great job!

  3. This is the second of your diorama designs that I have made and it came together so easily! The perfect card for my grand kids. Thanks so much!!

  4. Hi! I love your cards! I just have one quick question, if I want to add my address so the Cricut writes it for me on the envelope, how do I add it?

  5. I wish I had made this for Christmas. I was trying to make everything and didn’t remember this one. Thank you for creating. I’m thinking about taking the Santa frame out and using for a birthday card. What do you think?

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