Easy 3D Layered Mandala - Free Designs and SVG Cut Files for Cricut

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Learn how easy it is to make layered 3D mandalas that look amazing! These mesmerizing multilayered designs look stunning but are surprisingly easy to make!

If you’re anything like me, you’ve been seeing these amazing 3D layered mandalas all over the place recently. I have several on my blog, including my heart mandala, and my super cute Easter mandalas! For a fun twist, I have these really cute XO letters too! And the great thing is that these paper mandalas are surprisingly easy to put together! What makes them so easy is that your Cricut cutting machine does most of the hard work for you in cutting out the little details — all you have to do is stack them up and attach them together. 3D paper mandalas are really much easier than they look — which is half the fun! These 3D layered mandalas are part of our MAKE IT EASY Craftalong Challenge, filled with fun and EASY daily themed projects for your Cricut!

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Get the free SVG cut file for this project

Watch the full step-by-step tutorial on how to cut and assemble 3D layered mandalas on YouTube:

You can make the 3D layered mandalas big and detailed, or small and simple. I’ve made them as big as 11.5″ wide and as small as 4.5″ wide. You decide!

All you need is basic cardstock and a way to keep them together, like glue or spray adhesive. If you want to get the 3D look, you use spacers in between the layers — you can use foam mounting tape, pre-cut adhesive foam circles or squares, or just bits of cut cardboard, craft foam, or layered cardstock.

The secret to getting a beautiful look is to apply the spacers to the underside of each layer — that way you won’t see the spacers peeking through once it’s all put together.

We’ve designed three different FREE 3D layered mandala patterns for you to try, and they’re all very easy!

Here’s the flower mandala — this one is 8 layers! The flower mandala design is from the “Layered Wooden Sculptures” project in Instructables designed by watchmeflyy, which is copyrighted under a Creative Commons 4.0 license. Note that we modified the design to work with layered paper. Our new design is shareable under a Creative Commons 4.0 license as well and can be downloaded freely here. Learn how to make this mandala in the video above.

Easy 3d layered mandala shaped like a flower in front of a Cricut Joy

Here’s the wheel mandala — this one is just five layers. SO easy! Learn how to make this one in the photo tutorial later in this post.

Easy 3d layered mandala shaped like a wheel

Here’s a detail of the wheel mandala:

Detail of wheel mandala

And here’s the sunflower mandala, which is just six layers. All are free in my resource library!

Sunflower 3D mandala made from paper

Detail of sunflower mandala, a 3D layered paper mandala

Let me show you how easy it is make 3D layered mandalas! This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)! Read my full disclosure policy.

Materials to Make a 3D Layered Mandala on a Cricut Joy, Maker, or Explore!

View my Amazon shopping list with the exact items we used to make this project!

This is a completed six-layer mandala from cardstock

Layered Mandala

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 1 hour
Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Cost: $6

Learn how to make this beautiful six-layered mandala from cardstock.

Instructions

STEP 1: GET MY FREE LAYERED MANDALA FILE

Upload my layered mandala SVG into Cricut Design Space. The design I use in this tutorial is the Layered Wheel Mandala (Design #192). This is what the file looks like when placed in Design Space.

This is what the layered mandala looks like in Cricut Design Space

Adjust the size if needed. I’ve seen several similar designs displayed in shadow box frames. This design contains six layers for you to personalize with different cardstock colors.

Once you have the size adjusted to your measurements, you are ready to click "make it." For the material, select the intricate cut setting for cardstock. This setting worked perfectly for me.

As you cut your layers, each design will leave behind cut-out pieces on your mat. I used my extra large Cricut scraper tool to easily remove those pieces.

Tip: If you're not sure how to upload an SVG cut file to Cricut Design Space, watch this helpful video training series I made. If you're on an iPhone or iPad, here's how to download and upload SVG files to the Cricut Design Space app.

STEP 2: ASSEMBLE THE LAYERED MANDALA

Now that you have your six pieces cut, you'll want to apply double-sided foam adhesive to the backside of Layers 1 through 5. This is how I applied the adhesive foam to layer five.

This is an example of where to apply foam adhesive to layer 5 of layered mandala

Center and place Layer 5 on top Layer 6. TIP: As you place the layers on one another, lay them down lightly so you can adjust your placement, if needed, then press to the underlying layer.

Place layer 5 on layer 6 for the layered mandala

Add adhesive foam to layer four.

This is an example of where to apply foam adhesive to layer 4 of layered mandala

Place Layer 4 on top Layer 5.

Place layer 4 on layer 5 for the layered mandala

When you apply the foam adhesive to Layers 1, 2, and 3, you'll want to use a ruler and blade to cut the foam into small strips.

Cut foam adhesive in tiny strips for layered mandala

Continue placing the layers one on top of the other. Refer to the file in Design Space for placement. Below you'll see how I placed the foam adhesive on Layer 2.

This is an example of where to apply foam adhesive to layer 2 of layered mandala

And here is Layer 1.

This is an example of where to apply foam adhesive to layer 1 of layered mandala

Here is my layered mandala fully assembled.

This is a completed six-layer mandala from cardstock

Notes

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Special thanks to the JenniferMaker Design Fairy Team, specifically Design Fairy Caitlin, for helping me design and assemble this awesome layered mandala.

These 3D mandalas are SO much fun to make! Once you start, you may not want to stop. You can find many more designs for sale on places like Etsy — here’s a list of my favorite stores:

There are also some fun 3D mandalas available for sale on DesignBundles.net here:

Need more projects for today’s theme?

Today’s MAKE IT EASY Craftalong Challenge is to Uplift Us either with 3D papercrafts or something uplifting. If you are looking for other ideas, we have you covered!

Answers to Your Questions About 3D Layered Mandalas

Q: What is the purpose of a mandala?

A: Traditional mandala designs are used in meditation practices among other purposes.

Q: What is a 3D layered mandala in papercraft?

A: While many crafters refer to designs like these as mandalas, they are mandala-inspired, not actual mandala designs. My free mandala SVG collection uses intricate designs and  different colors that are reminiscent of traditional mandalas.

Q: How do I create a layered mandala in Inkscape?

A: I have a workshop, Mandala Magic, where you can learn how to make 3D layered mandalas in several different ways!

Q: How do you keep cardstock together in 3D layered mandalas?

A: I use a combination of craft glue and foam adhesive to secure the pieces in 3D layered mandalas.

Q. Do I have to use a Cricut machine to make 3D layered mandalas?

A: No! We always include several versions of each free file in the free download ZIP file. If you have a Silhouette Cameo, which uses Silhouette Studio, you can use the DXF file in Silhouette Basic Edition. If you have upgraded to Silhouette Designer Edition, Designer Edition Plus, or Business, you can use the SVG format with your Silhouette machine to cut each intricate design. If you don’t have a cutting machine, you can print and then cut out my digital download PDF files, too! The ZIP archive in my resource library includes these file types and more!

Q. Are your free SVGs just for personal use or is commercial use allowed?

A: Yes, you can sell physical products you make using my free cut files. We only ask that you give credit to JenniferMaker.com for the original designs and do not sell the digital files. If you use them, please share photos with us! We love supporting small businesses!

Get my free SVG files to make your own 3D layered mandala!

I cannot wait to see YOUR 3D layered mandalas in all the colors of the rainbow! If you use my free layered mandala SVG files, please share a photo in our Facebook group or tag me on social media with #jennifermaker.

This project is a part of our MAKE IT EASY Craftalong Challenge with fun and EASY projects you can do to learn how to use your Cricut! You can share your photos in our daily challenge theme thread here!

Love,

JenniferMaker.com

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Easy 3D Layered Mandala - Free Designs and SVG Cut Files for Cricut

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7 Comments

  1. So awesome, I am so glad you did this video. I liked that your daughter joined you on this project. It is a great project to do together.

    1. Yes, our patterns work on ANY cutting machine that can read SVG or DXF files — many people with Scan ‘N’ Cut machines have cut my designs.

  2. I just made the colorful large Mandala. That was really fun. I already have it mounted in a shadow box. Im hooked. Some of the mandala’s on the sites you recommended are absolutely breathtaking. Im ready to start another one. Might do some for gifts for friends. Thanks for the lesson.

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