How To Make A Personalized Snowflake Ornament With Cricut

Instructions

NOTE: Due to the many variables in names, letters, and shapes possible, this is more of a design tutorial to inspire you rather than precise steps to follow.

STEP 1: GET MY FREE CUSTOMIZABLE SNOWFLAKE DESIGNS

First, download my Personalized Name Snowflake designs from my free library -- look for design #566. Alternatively, you can use the Save This Project form near the top of this post and the design link will be emailed to you.

TIP: If you’re not sure how to upload, go to jennifermaker.com/svgs to learn how to unzip and upload SVG files.

In the download folder, there is a design kit SVG with elements we’ll use for the different ornament types.

There is also a folder with finished designs that you can cut the same way.

If you want to make a custom snowflake, the typeface is important. I’m going to show you how to design two examples: one using Andalusia and another using Biosha Script. After downloading your choice, follow the steps in my tutorial on uploading fonts to Cricut Design Space to add it before you start your designs.

STEP 2: PREPARE YOUR CUSTOM FAMILY NAME SNOWFLAKE ORNAMENT

CRICUT DESIGN SPACE

1. Open Cricut Design Space and click “New Project.”
2. Click “Upload” and then “Upload Image.”
3. Click “Browse.”
4. Select the design kit SVG file, “personalized-snowflake-ornament-jennifermaker-SVG.svg.”
5. On the Prepare to Upload screen,  it will say “Cut image” with the design preview.
6. Click “Upload.”
7. Find your design in Recent Uploads and add it to the Canvas.
   
8. With the kit selected, click “Ungroup.”
9. Click “Text.”
10. Type the name you want to use.
11. Select the “Font” menu.
12. Click “System” to see your added typefaces and search for “Andalusia,” then click it.
    TIP: A typeface with connected letters, like a script font with pretty thick, consistent lines, will make this project much easier.
13. Close the Font pop-up.
14. Adjust the name’s size if you want. Letters about .9” tall worked well for me, but yours may vary depending on the name.
    
15. If some of your letters aren’t connecting, you can use glyphs. See my tutorial on how to find them and swap in glyphs for some of the letters to help more of them touch.
    
    
16. Or, click “Advanced” and “Ungroup to Letters” to adjust the letter spacing one by one. Make sure the outlines of the letters are smooth to make cutting easier.
17. Select the design so far and click Combine then Weld.
18. If you have a dot for an “i” click “Contour” and select the dot to remove it, then close the tool.
    
19. Click the Shapes icon and select a Circle.
20. Resize it to the right size for the dot, then drag it in place so it’s touching the top of the i.
21. Select the design so far and click Combine then Weld again.
    
22. Duplicate the text.
23. Select the copy, then type “60” into the “Rotate” field.
24. We’ll add arms to the snowflake going clockwise. Move the rotated text so its lower right edge slightly overlaps with the top right edge of the original word.
    
25. Duplicate the original horizontal word, and type “120” in the “Rotate” field.
26. Move this word so it touches the furthest right spot on the previous arm.
27. Select both of the rotated arms, then click “Align” and “Align Top.”
28. Select the original word, Duplicate it.
29. Click the copy and type “180” in the “Rotate” field.
30. Make its top left section slightly overlap the lowest right spot on the previous arm.
31. Select both of the horizontal arms, then click “Align” and “Center Vertically.”
    
32. Duplicate the original arm and rotate it to “240.” 
33. Position it to slightly overlap with the previous arm’s last letter.
34. Duplicate the original arm and Rotate it to “300.”
35. Position this arm to touch the last letter of the previous arm and the original.
36. Select this word and the previous one, then click “Align” and “Align Bottom.”
37. Make sure all the letters are connected.
    
38. To make it sturdier, use some of the swirl elements to fill in the space in the open V-shaped space at the top. Resize, rotate, and flip the elements as needed until the words are connected more.
    
39. Hold “Shift” and select all of the adjusted elements you used to fill in the space.
40. Click “Group” to keep them together.
    
41. Duplicate the adjusted elements once.
42. Rotate the duplicate to “60” and position it in the next open V going clockwise to connect those arms further from the center.
    TIP: You might have to slightly adjust the filler elements to touch the words, so check before continuing. Select the element in the Layers Panel to move one independently of the others.
43. Rotate the original to “120” and position it in the next open space.
44. Rotate the original to “180” and position it in the next open space.
45. Rotate the original to “240” and position it in the next open space.
46. Rotate the original to “300” and position it in the last open space.
    
47. To make a hanger, click the Text icon and type “o.”
48. Change the Font to “Cricut Sans” and close the pop-up.
49. Drag the “o” so it touches the ornament at the top where you want the hanger to go. Resize it if needed.
50. Select all the layers for the copy, then click “Combine” and select “Weld.”
51. Click “Contour.”
52. If there are any tiny cutouts that may be difficult, click them to have the machine skip making them.
53. Close the Contour pop-up.
    
54. This design works for a single layer ornament in metallic poster board.
55. If you want to make your ornament using medium weight cardstock, click “Duplicate” and change the copy’s color.
56. Then Duplicate it twice so you have 3 layers to glue together.
    
57. Make sure the correct machine is selected in the top right.
58. Click “Make.”
59. On the Prepare Screen, make sure your mats look correct
60. If needed, change the Material Size to match each paper you’re using.
61. Click “Continue.”

CUTTING

1. On the Make Screen, click “Browse All Materials.”
2. Search for and select the settings needed for the materials you’re using. These are the settings you can use for each material:
3. “Metallic Poster Board” with “More” Pressure
   • 65 lb. Cardstock - “Medium Cardstock - 80 lb (216 gsm)” Setting with More Pressure
4. Place your paper face up on a StandardGrip machine mat and use a brayer to make sure it’s fully adhered. 
5. Check that your Fine-Point Blade is clean and in the clamp.
6. Press the flashing “Load/Unload” button to load the prepared mat into your Cricut. 
7. Press the flashing “Go” button to begin cutting.
   TIP: Before unloading the mat, gently lift a corner of the paper to make sure the cuts went all the way through. If not, press the “Go” button again to make a second cut pass in the same spot.
   
8. When it has finished cutting, unload the mat, flip it over onto your work surface, and roll it back to release the paper.
   TIP: Be careful when removing intricate pieces. Use a spatula to carefully remove any intricate parts and a weeding tool to pop out any small pieces. If you have trouble with any of your cuts, check out my Cricut Tips & Tricks for Cleaner Cuts.

STEP 3: ASSEMBLE YOUR NAME SNOWFLAKE ORNAMENT

1. For the poster board version, cut a piece of ribbon about 6” long.
2. Loop it through the ornament’s hanger spot and tie it closed.
   
3. For the cardstock version, place two copies face up and one face down.
   
4. Add small dots of glue to the back of one piece, but don’t get too close to the edges.
   
5. Lightly place it on a faceup layer.
6. Before pressing it down, gently adjust the layers so they’re perfectly aligned.
7. Then press them in place.
8. Let the first pair dry.
9. Use the same process to glue the third layer on top of the previous one.
10. Let the ornament dry completely.
11. Cut a piece of ribbon about 6” long.
12. Loop it through the ornament’s hanger spot and tie it closed.
    
13. For the cardstock version with a background, add dots of glue to the back of the name design.
14. Then line it up on the face up background, centering it as best you can.
15. Let it dry.
16. Cut a piece of ribbon about 6” long.
17. Loop it through the ornament’s hanger spot and tie it closed.
    

VARIATION: TEXT ONLY SNOWFLAKE ORNAMENT

CRICUT DESIGN SPACE

1. On a blank Canvas, click the “Text” icon.
2. Type the name you want to use.
3. Select the “Font” menu.
4. Select a connected typeface with reasonably thick lines.
5. If you downloaded Biosha Script and added it to Cricut Design Space, click “System” and search for “Biosha,” then click it.
6. Close the Font pop-up.
   TIP: If the bottoms of the letters slant, click the “Rotate” field and tap your up arrow until most of the letters are pretty straight so they’ll be easier to connect.
   
7. If the lines are thin, click “Offset” and set it to “.03” to thicken them a little. 
8. Click “Apply.”
   
9. Select the original and the Offset layer, then click Combine and Weld.
10. Duplicate the text once.
11. Select the copy, then click “Flip” and select “Flip Vertical.”
12. Move the flipped copy so it just barely overlaps with the bottom of the original word. 
13. Select both, then click “Align” and “Align Left.”
    TIP: If the letters’ edges don’t overlap, try repositioning or rotating them until they do.
    
14. Click “Combine” and “Weld.”
15. Duplicate the result.
16. Use the same duplication and rotation steps from the main tutorial to create and position the snowflake’s arms. Remember, increase the Rotation number by 60 each time.
17. Make sure all the letters are connected.
18. Select the entire design and click “Combine” and “Unite.”
19. If you want to make your snowflake in cardstock instead of poster board, Duplicate it twice and layer them during assembly.

VARIATION: NAME SNOWFLAKE WITH BACKGROUND

1. If you want to add a support background, follow Steps 1-19 in the above Text Only Snowflake Ornament.
2. Duplicate the design.
3. Select the copy, then click “Offset.”
4. Set the offset Distance and Corner type of your preference. I used .25.
   
5. Click “Apply.”
6. Select the Offset layer.
7. Click “Contour.”
8. Scroll down and click all the small cutouts to make the background mostly or entirely solid depending on your name and preference.
9. To make a hanger, click the Text icon and type “o.” Change the Font to “Cricut Sans.”
10. Drag the “o” so it touches the background at the top where you want the hanger to go on the offset. Resize it as needed.
11. Select both the hanger and background.
12. Click Combine and Unite.
    

STEP 4: SHOW IT OFF!

Here is what my finished ornaments look like!