Paper Flower Shadow Box with Sizing & Quantity Charts

Instructions

Step 1: Get my free paper flower designs

I have many free paper flower designs that you can use to make paper flower shadow boxes. For this tutorial, we are using the Rolled Paper Rose design, and I've made special files for you with the roses sized for a variety of shadow box sizes. Look for the "Paper Flower Shadow Box" file (Design #187) free from my free resource library (get the password to the library in the form at the bottom of this post).

Here's what the paper roses SVG cut file for a 9" x 9" shadow box will look like when you upload it to Cricut Design Space:

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: Size your paper flower pattern to your shadow box

My paper flowers are already sized for a 9" x 9" shadow box frame. so you don't need to do any sizing if that is your frame size. If using an alternate size, re-size the flowers based on my resizing and quantity charts.

Step 3: Cut and assemble your paper flowers

This project used approximately 18 sheets of 8 1/2" x 11" sheets of 65 lb. cardstock to make 36 flowers. If you use 12" x 12" cardstock, you'll only need 12 sheets of paper.

Roll your flowers up using a quilling tool.

Be sure to glue your flowers once you've rolled them up, too. Just a bit of hot glue on the bottom circle, then carefully press it against the rolled bottom edge (use finger guards to avoid burned fingers).

Here is a finished paper rose:

Step 4: Arrange your flowers in your shadow box

Once all flowers are rolled and glued, decide how you want to arrange them in your frame. For this project, I arranged the paper flowers six across and six down. There are no rules here — arrange them as they please you best.

Step 5: Glue your flowers to the backing

Once you've decided on your paper flower arrangement inside your shadow box, glue each individual flower to the frame backing in the pattern you have chosen. The frame backing may be changed if desired by using a sheet of cardstock of your choice cut to the desired size that will fit into the frame.

Here are all 36 of our paper flowers glued inside our shadow box:

Step 6: Choose and cut a vinyl saying for your shadow box

Choose one of my SVG files for your saying on the front of the shadow box or create one of your own. Sayings for the frame included in the files are sized for a 9 x 9 shadow box. Adjust the size accordingly if your shadow box is is a different size.

NOTE: Prior to cutting the saying decide if you want the saying on the inside of the frame glass or the outside of the frame glass. If applying the saying on the OUTSIDE of the frame glass there is no need for any adjustments to the file when cutting. If applying the saying to the INSIDE of the frame glass, be sure to MIRROR the saying prior to cutting. The advantage of an inside application is that it makes for easier cleaning of the frame front (that's how I am doing mine in this tutorial).

Step 7: Apply the vinyl to your shadow box

Weed the vinyl saying that will go on the frame and apply transfer tape to the weeded vinyl.

Place transfer tape on your weeded vinyl.

Remove the backing off your transfer tape.

Clean the shadow box glass with rubbing alcohol using a lint-free cloth or coffee filter.

Apply the vinyl to the glass of the frame (either inside or outside of the glass). Our design was centered on the glass but can certainly be applied however it is aesthetically pleasing to you.

Step 8: Complete your paper flower shadow box

Place the glass back in your shadow box frame.

Put the frame with the paper flowers inside the shadow box.

Close up the back of your shadow box frame.

Enjoy your beautiful paper flower shadow box!