DIY: 3D Mandala Name in a Frame

3D Mandalas are easy to make and are made with cardstock and cut using a cutting machine. You can find several fonts on Creative Fabrica that is Mandala-inspired.  I made these sweet name frames for my family, and they adore them. You can hang them on the wall or a door and also display in your craft room. This can also be a special gift for a special person.

How to Make a 3D Mandala of your Name in a Frame

Materials you will need

• Cardstock in assorted colors of your choice
• A Cricut Maker or Cricut Explore, cutting mat, a fine point blade
• A boxed frame of your choice, size and color
• Glue and glue gun or double-sided thick tape (to raise each layer)
• Glue (for background cardstock and decorations)
• Scissors
• Feathers (optional)
• Lights (optional)

I purchased my frames from K Mart, in Australia, but you can buy boxed frames anyway. You can use any size depending on your project.

Steps to Layer your Mandalas

1. Download the zip file for the Mandala Alphabet. This is an SVG file only
2. Measure the area in your frame for your letters. Length and height
3. Each letter is individual so you will need to measure carefully. Allow for letter spacing
4. Choose your cardstock colors for each layer. Either mixed colors or 1 color. It’s your choice.
5. Choose your decorations and background (if needed)
6. Upload the file into your machine program.
7. Once you have your design, follow the cutting instructions on your program.
8. When all layers are cut, start with your base layer 6.
9. Glue thick dots or thick double-sided tape around edge of layer 6, not allowing it to show through next layer 5. Allow to dry if glued.
10. Continue gluing or taping each layer and placing on top of the previous layer.
11. Top layer 1 in not raised and is glued flat onto layer 2.
12. While waiting for glue to dry, start decorating frame.
13. Place all letters together, glue into position in frame to complete.

How to Assemble your Mandalas

1. I used my Cricut to cut the letters. Each letter has 6 layers. Each layer is a different size and style to the previous layer.
2. Layers are then glued or taped one by one from the base layer to the top layer. Use any colors you like. Use as letters only, without a frame. For all the talented crafters, you can make your own frames. For the Name frames, I removed the glass and left it open, but the SEW frame has glass as I added sewing needles. I purchased the frame before cutting the letters, so I could measure the length and height.
3. I bought a boxed frame and glued the letters into a name design and added all my decorations including, cardstock as a background, mini toy trains, feathers, beads, buttons, fabric, sewing needles.
4. The decoration imagination is endless. You can add lights to the frame to brighten it up.

I hope you have enjoyed my tutorial and make something very special for someone. I would love to see what designs you create with this project.