Learn how to make 3D letters with a Cricut machine that stand up and can light up. 3 D paper letters are perfect as party decorations or room decor!
Now that my son’s graduation party is over, I have been busy getting a few tutorials ready for you in case you were curious on how to make some of the DIY decorations I’ve been showing you.
My last tutorial was how I made the cute champagne cupcake desserts, and up next are these cute and easy light up 3D letters I made with my Cricut Maker.
I absolutely love how they came out and now they can be used in different ways. I can split them a part and make more letters or just use them as bedroom decor!
With just a few craft supplies that you probably have in your craft room, you can whip up some illuminated 3 D paper alphabet letters in minutes!
You do need a scoring tool to get nice clean letters, so I’d recommend using one of the bigger cutting machines like the Cricut Explore Air 2, Cricut Explore 3, Cricut Maker, or Cricut Maker 3.
Note: You could use the smaller Joy machine to make smaller letters, you’d just have to make your own score lines with a ruler and score tool.
Tips for Cricut 3D Letters
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I didn’t really find many letter options in Cricut Access so I ended up using a a SVG file from Creative Fabrica here.
- Get 10 Credits for Free for CREATIVE FABRICA (Once you download the 10th credit or after a month, you’ll be charged the monthly subscription fee of $9. So if you don’t want to pay at all only download 9, then cancel your subscription. Or pay the $9 for a month and download as much stuff as you want during that month, and then cancel before the month is over! That’s what I did before I just decided to buy the full year since I use them so much!!)
I go over this in the video below, but you’ll need to do a few things in Cricut Design Space after you upload them. And if you are thinking the letter S is backward, you are right! I figured that out later in the making, lol!
Click on each layer that is a Line and change it to Score under the Operation menu.
Once they are score lines (they will turn to dashed lines), then you’ll want to select the back layer and score lines and click on Attach (lower right corner).
Just to show you, these are the different layers I’m cutting out. All of the green, will be the back of the letter.
Then I have the vellum layer, the gold outline layer, and another layer that sits inside the letter.
Click on Make and we are ready to go!
How to Make 3D Letters with a Cricut
Make an easy and fun 3D letter with a Cricut machine and cardstock. Each alphabet letter will be put together slightly differently, but the technique is the same.
Make sure to watch the video tutorial of the entire process below! It's much easier to show you as I'm doing it than in pictures.
Materials
Tools
Instructions
- Cut out each layer of the letter with a Cricut following all prompts from Cricut Design Space. Insert your scoring tool when prompted to make score lines.
- For each individual letter, you'll have the back layer with the sections to be folded, a vellum piece (or top layer if not doing an illuminated letter), an outline piece, and an extra layer to put inside the letter. Then depending on which letter you are making, you might have extra sets of pieces to complete the alphabet letter.
- The first step is to fold along each score line. Fold all of the side pieces in towards the center and the side tabs toward the side. You can always fold it the opposite way when you start gluing, you just need to make each score line has a good crease line. I like to use a bone folder, but you could always use your finger or a scraper.
- Once the top and bottom score lines are creased, you'll start gluing together the tabs so it becomes like a container. Place glue on the tab.
Then hold on the inside of the piece it's being glued onto so it holds in place. 
Continue gluing tabs together until they are all attached. - If you have an extra piece, now is the time to glue it on. Make sure all the score lines are folded.
Then you're going to glue the piece down so the tabs are flat against the bottom and also curve along with the letter. 
- Glue the rest of the tabs closed so you have one complete letter with all sides.
- All of the small tabs on the top of the base letter should be folded in (this is where the top layer will be glued on).
- Place the inside color of the letter down. This helps to give extra strength and stability to the 3 D alphabet letters and also a different color if you are using the letter as a shaker.
- If you want the 3D Cricut letter to light up, tape or glue fairy lights onto the bottom letter you just put in. I like to go back and forth with the lights and place a piece of tape every few inches.
Then make sure to tape the end part of the lights to the bottom of the letter and have the tail and battery pack hanging out to access.
- Glue the outline layer onto the top of the vellum sheet.
- Then glue the entire top layer onto the flapped edges covering all the lights.
It might take some finagling to get the layers lined up. 
- Repeat the same steps to make more 3 D alphabet letters if you want!
Notes
Again, make sure to watch the video below to see the steps in action!
The letters look great whether the lights are off…
or when they are all lit up”!
You will notice on the U letter that I didn’t tape the lights down very well, so I have one spot where they fell down. I got better at it the more letters I made!
And there are so many different ways to dress up your own letters to match your party decorations or bedroom decor. You can even add accent pieces like flowers or butterflies on top of the letters, get creative!
So fun right??!! Make sure to check out our other cardstock projects if you love it as much as I do!
Thanks for stopping by and Happy Crafting everyone!
