Author: John Blair

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Mini Adirondack Tutorial: How To Craft The Perfect Summer Chair

Mini Adirondack Chair Cut File Tutorial

I created my first mini chair template a while back and could not wait to create more! Instead of a Mid-Century Stool like my last project (that can be found here) I decided to go a different route. I was inspired by the classic, plastic, Adirondack chair. Apparently these are made of wood sometimes – who knew? Let’s make a mini Adirondack chair!

Mini Adirondack Template in Cricut Design Space
Mini Adirondack Template in Cricut Design Space

Paper or Plastic

Creating this little chair was easier than I had anticipated. First, I studied a plastic version to understand of the various folds the template would need. Although plastic manufacturing (I imagine) is different that folding a template, I was able to draw some insights from the plastic model. I could tell areas where the design needed additional support, which would hold true with a mini paper version as well.

After toying around with the cardstock prototype I had made I remembered a paper that I had used on a previous project. Wood veneer cardstock! I used this on a shadow box card I made and the results were GREAT! The product cut so well, was able to be stained, and glued perfectly with my Bearly Art glue. Of course I was excited to use it again here! I hoped it would perform as well as cardstock when assembling, but only time would tell!

Cutting the Mini Adirondack

At this point I had worked through quite a few cardstock versions in order to get the dimensions right and was ready to move on to the main event. Next, I placed the wood veneer onto my cutting mat with masking tape, changed out the blade on my Cricut Maker, and hoped for the best. This template is slightly more intricate than other designs I have used the wood veneer for so I was a little nervous.

The machine hummed along and I heard the beautiful splintering of this cardstock. Really – the sound is pretty soothing. When the cut was complete I removed the item from my mat. It was cut perfectly! I used the glitter cardstock setting, but have also had success using the Heavy Cardstock setting with ‘More Pressure’ selected. You will know what works best for your machine.

Mini Adirondack Chair Template printed on Wood Veneer
Mini Adirondack chair template cut on wood veneer

Let’s Assemble the Wood Veneer

I began by folding all of the score lines. The wood veneer gives a very satisfying ‘crunch’ when you fold against the grain, sort of like biting into a kettle style potato chip. You have to hear it for yourself! And don’t worry – there is a kraft backing that holds everything together, your template isn’t going to break apart.

Next I proceeded to glue the template together from the back legs moving forward. The folds all fit nicely together and the Bearly Art glue held onto everything perfectly. It was complete and I was so pleased with how it turned out, especially the wooden version. It looked so realistic!

Materials For This Mini Chair

I used my Cricut Maker to cut both the cardstock and wooden versions. I use 65lb cardstock for almost everything I create and that was no exception here. You can try using 80-110lb cardstock, I think it should work, but I can’t say that I have tested this design with those weights.

In the tutorial and video below you see me using my trusty Bearly Art glue. The glue is amazing for mini projects like this one. If you are looking for glue and Bearly isn’t an option for you, try to find something that is fast drying.

Everything I have mentioned here can be found in my Amazon storefront and linked below. I will note that I used the Cherry finish for the cardstock in my photos, but White Birch is linked below (this one can be ‘stained’ any shade you like).

Make A Mini Adirondack Chair

Are you ready to “Make It”? Click the “Add to Cart” button to the left to purchase the template. Grab your paper, glue, and I’ll see you in the tutorial down below!

Disclosure: this post features affiliate links (noted with bold), meaning if you purchase the product via my link I could earn a small commission. All products referenced are items I personally use for my crafts.

Mini Adirondack Chair

Craft your own miniature Adirondack chair with this cutting machine template!

  • Cricut Machine
  • 65lb Cardstock or Wood Veneer
  • Craft Glue

  1. Open the document in your Design software. There are scale notes inside the download folder. You will need to score the top layer within each subgroup before cutting.



  2. Begin by cutting your shapes using a Cricut or Silhouette cutting machine. Once finished, you should have two shapes as shown here, each with score lines.



  3. Fold all of the score lines for both pieces.



  4. Glue the two pieces together starting with the back of the seat. You will notice a crease on both sides that fit together. When glued here the back leg from each front/back piece will align perfectly.



  5. Glue both back legs to the corresponding front/back piece.



  6. Glue the piece under the seat to the underside of the seat.



  7. Glue the long panels of the chair onto the back piece.



  8. Glue the tab on each arm to form an arm rest for each side.



  9. There is a very small tab on the front of each leg, glue this to the underside of the chair. This will create a curve down on the front of the chair.



  10. Glue the bottom piece of the arm rest you made earlier onto the front legs.



  11. You did it! Make sure to share this tutorial and design if you enjoyed making it!



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Groovy Papercraft: How To Make a Mini Lava Lamp

Mini Lava Lamp Papercraft Tutorial and Template

Is there anything more iconic than a lava lamp? While I was not around for the initial debut in the 1960s, the 1990s resurgence of this gem is something I remember fondly. With the reemerging trends of the y2k era I thought this would be the perfect craft. Follow along with me as I design, cut, and assemble this mini lava lamp template.

Mini Lava Lamp Template Overview
Mini Lava Lamp Template Overview

Let’s Make Something Groovy

Starting this project saw me bouncing between doing a ‘square’ lamp or a rounded lamp. I knew that the square folded edges would be easier to assemble, but the curved shapes would give a better end result. After a few attempts at the square edges, I decided to abandon that approach. If I was going to capture the nostalgia of a lava lamp, I needed to do it justice. Curved edges it was!

Doing a paper craft with conical shapes is…challenging. Straight lines and folds lend themself to a quick and easy assembly, but once you start bending and creating more organic shapes things get tricky. Consequently, working at a tiny scale, such as this, doesn’t make things any easier. As I crafted the shapes for this mini lava lamp I added tabs to each of the pieces, to make the design as easy to replicate as possible.

How Much Detail Is Necessary for a Mini Lamp?

I truly admire the miniaturists I follow on social media. They make their objects from scratch, use so many types of media, and deliver AMAZING results. I was motivated to present some level of detail here in terms of the shape of the design. While different finishes would be up to the person assembling, I wanted to make sure to put forward a good foundation for them to customize.

Once I perfected the cone shape for the clear acetate (where the lava does) I moved on to the ‘metal’ pieces: the base and top portion. I added a small cone to the very top and another around the base of the clear cone. This would give the effect of the cone being encloses by metal. The base was my next challenge. To have two organic shapes, like cones/circles align perfectly for gluing is a struggle. After a bit more T&E (trial and error) I realized I could have one cone insert into the other. This way, regardless of if they are sized perfectly, they would ‘catch’ and could be aligned nicely.

Mini Lava Lamps
Mini Lava Lamps Glowing in the Dark

It Needs Something…

The base was finished, as well as the main cone. Next up, I attempted using cardstock for the lava pieces inside. The cardstock was too chunky for the small space and, as a result, didn’t give enough movement. I remembered that I had some glow in the dark powder from a previous project (check that out here) and thought it could make something cool happen with it. I proceeded to paint a few beads with the glow powder ad filled the cone. After charging the glow in the dark beads for a quick minute I switched off the lights. I was glowing. Ans so was my lamp!

Cut File Assembly

Assembling this little lamp was ultimately straight forward, once the template design was complete. Due to the simplicity of the shapes they cut easily with my Cricut Maker. They are not intricate at all and only require a few inches of paper. This is another great template to use up your scraps from larger projects. If you do not have a cutting machine, these shapes are even simple enough to cut with scissors!

In the tutorial and video below you see me using my trusty Bearly Art glue. The glue is amazing for mini projects like this one. If you are looking for glue and Bearly isn’t an option for you, try to find something that is fast drying. I would also recommend some form of super glue or hot glue for the acetate portion.

Make A Mini Lava Lamp

Are you ready to “Make It”? Click the “Add to Cart” button to the left to purchase the template. Grab your paper, glue, beads, and I’ll see you in the tutorial down below!

Disclosure: this post features affiliate links (noted with bold), meaning if you purchase the product via my link I could earn a small commission. All products referenced are items I personally use for my crafts.

Mini Lava Lamp Shaker

Create your own miniature lava lamp with this papercraft template for cutting machines.

  • Cutting Machine
  • Pen/stick, for curling paper
  • 65lb Cardstock
  • Clear Acetate
  • Craft Glue
  • Beads (for filling the shaker)

  1. Begin by cutting your shapes and arranging your workspace. The cut file will have scaling instructions. Make sure to cut the acetate piece separately from the rest of the cardstock.



  2. Use a pen, stick, of the end of a paintbrush to curl each of the cardstock pieces (except the one circle). This makes the gluing process easier and your shapes look neater.



  3. Glue each of the cardstock pieces to form a cone or circle shape. There is an angled tab on the end of each piece showing where to place the glue/overlap.



  4. Glue the circle piece to the open end of the tallest cone. This is essentially gluing a straight edge to the flat circle, so be patient (and precise!)



  5. Insert the pointed end of the cone you just glued into the small end of the next largest cone. Glue it in place to form an hourglass shape. This is the base.



  6. Glue the acetate to form another cone. The remaining cardstock pieces will form the tip of the cone and the bottom border. Glue them in place. You may need to place a dab of glue in the point of the cone to keep your beads from escaping, depending on their size.



  7. Fill the clear cone with your beads.



  8. Glue the base inside the bottom of the cone, with the beads.



  9. You did it! Give your mini lava lamp a shake! And don't forget to share this content if you enjoyed making with me!



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Craft This Amazing Shadow Box Card for Any Occasion

Shadow Box Card and Envelope

When I originally designed this shadow box card I planned on using it as a Father’s Day template for cutting machines. However, as I continued working I realized how versatile the card itself could be. I continued customizing and eventually ended up with THREE (so far) different templates that make use of this wonderful base.

Father’s Day Shadow Box
Through The Window Graduation
Teacher Appreciation Card with Tulips
Teacher Appreciation Card

Recycle Your Templates

I love the idea of repurposing things, and digital templates are no exception! If you have one of my shadow box card files you should be able to create endless designs by combining them with my other mini items. I have added the templates I mentioned above to my online shop to help get you started, but the things I design are intended to all work well together. Grab another plant or planter from my shop and customize your card EXACTLY the way YOU want it.

Shadow Box Card for Fathers Day
This shadow box card for Father’s Day features a tool shelf backdrop and functioning drawers

Father’s Day Shadow Box

The card in the tutorial and video below is the Father’s Day card. It features a tool shelf background, wooden cutout letters, and a wooden tabletop above the fully functional drawers. The wood veneer paper is something I recently discovered over at Cardstock Warehouse and I am OBSESSED with it. I cannot wait to order more! You can find a link to the Timberluxe Wood Veneer here. (This is not an affiliate link, I am just really excited about this product)! It absorbs markers well, so it can be ‘stained’ like real wood, and it cut so beautifully for making the tiny wooden letters on this card.

Through The Window

Next I wanted, no needed, to find another excuse to use the wood veneer paper. I realized it would make the perfect window frame for a Graduation card. I cut another card base with my machine and folded it up. Then, I did a quick wash of blue/purple water on the background to give a sunny day effect. After that – it was time for the window frame! I kept it simple so the wood would be noticeable, then added a potted plant in front of the window. The template I uploaded features a mini graduation hat and “Congrats Grad” text, but the design is suitable for any occasion.

Congratulate the Grad in your live with this fun floral card
Thank a teacher with this fun school spirit card

Teacher Appreciation Card

Lastly, as I was making the Grad card I realize how perfectly suited the template is for a mini chalkboard! Since it was the end of the school year I wanted to create something for teacher appreciation. This gave me the perfect opportunity. After building another card base I cut a solid black square as the background and made mini roll up chalk pieces. I designed a tiny flag banner earlier which added the perfect touch. It can be customized to reflect the school name or abbreviation. The template also includes a pail of tiny tulips (necessary!), a tutorial of which can be found in my latest blog post.

Supplies, Supplies, Supplies

Cutting all these intricate cards on my Cricut Maker is a huge time saver. The cards are possible to cut by hand, but cutting them so quickly thanks to the Cricut technology allows me to make the multiple variations that I have mentioned here in a short amount of time.

The craft glue you see me using in these photos/videos is from Bearly Art. I make it a point to reference them by name because I get asked on nearly everything I post about the type of glue I am using. The glue dries quickly which is a must, but if you watch any of my mini assembly videos you will understand how amazing their ultra fine tip is! Links to Bearly Art from my website carry over with a 10% discount automatically applied at checkout (as I am a member of their affiliate program).

What Are You Waiting For?

Grab the template from my shop (or quick purchase links below) and scroll down to view the written instructions/video overview for assembling this functional shadow box card.

Disclosure: this post features affiliate links (noted with bold), meaning if you purchase the product via my link I could earn a small commission. All products referenced are items I personally use for my crafts.

Shadow Box Card with Drawers

Create this AMAZING and highly customizable shadow box card and envelope for any gifting occasion.

  • Cutting Machine
  • 65lb Cardstock
  • Craft Glue

  1. Begin by scaling your shapes in your design software (I am using Cricut Design Space). There are notes inside the download folder that specify the dimensions required if you intend to cut from 8.5×11 or 12×12 cardstock.



  2. Arrange your cut shapes in your workspace, make sure everything is accounted for so you don't have to go back and cut something while you're assembling.



  3. Begin with the card base and crease all of the folds inward. Glue each of the sides (left, right, top, bottom) in on itself to form a 3D shape.



  4. Glue the joint on the top left and top right corners to hold the shape of the card.



  5. Crease the folds for both of the drawer boxes and glue together to form two small boxes.



  6. Glue the handle and drawer front onto each of the boxes from the pervious step. Align the drawer front bottom flush with the bottom of the drawer (see close up in video below).



  7. Glue the backboard in place.



  8. Crease the folds for the tabletop, the glue the two tabs to form the table top shape.



  9. Glue the table top in place on top of the drawer section of the card. This piece should slide all the way back to touch the back of the card.



  10. Assemble the letters and tools, customizing the text as you see fit.



  11. Glue the letters and tools onto the card. That's it! Please like/share this design if you enjoyed it, and feel free to tag me in all of your creations on social media!



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Create A Tulip Garden With This Cutting Machine Template

Mini Tulip Garden Cutting Machine Template

This Tulip Planter cutting machine template is an adorable solution to all of your crafting needs! The svg cut file works perfectly for miniature projects or papercraft gifts and cards. I have seen this svg cut file used for SO MANY purposes. Table setting name card holders, 3D shadow boxes, holiday crafts, dollhouse flowers. The list is truly never ending.

Teacher Appreciation Card with Tulips from Cutting Machine Template
I used the mini tulip bundle to create this 3D Teacher Appreciation card.

Flower Power

When making the tulip flowers I wanted them to be not too boxy, but not too flat. They had to be just right. I attempted a few approaches, but ultimately found that quilling them was the most effective way. I used a thin strip inside the flower so that the petal shapes on the outside would be more noticeable.

How Many Tulips

After ‘growing’ the perfect tulip, I needed to decide how many tulips to include in the template. I wanted the bouquet to look full, while not being too lengthy of an assembly process. Ultimately I decided on 7 flowers with varying heights. This allowed all the effort put into creating the bulbs to be on display in the final bundle.

What Next?

Creating the stems was the next challenge. I knew I needed to have the leaves fold in half along each stem in order to add the right amount of dimension. Rather than relying on the scoring tool, I embedded cut marks into the template that would mark the center of each leaf. Cutting into the cardstock like this makes for a cleaner fold.

Assembling The Cutting Machine Template

After everything was sized to my liking I cut the design on my Cricut Maker. While this is one of the more simplistic templates I have made, using a cutting machine in this instance was a huge time saver. It also allowed me to make multiple iterations to make sure the template was just right, which would have taken hours if I were cutting by hand each time.

I will note that the garden box you see used here was part of another design I did for Easter. I filled the box with tiny carrots and it was so realistic! You can check out that template here. That being said, I do not go into detail on how to assemble the planter box, but there is an instruction diagram included in the download folder (I promise – it’s easy)!

Following the cutting process, I assembled the template using my trusty bottle of glue from Bearly Art. I try and make it a point to reference them by name because I get asked on nearly everything I post about the type of glue I am using. The glue dries quickly which is a must, but if you have seen any of my mini assembly videos you will understand how amazing their ultra fine tip is! Links to Bearly Art from my website will carry over with a 10% discount automatically applied at checkout (as I am a member of their affiliate program).

Ready To Make it?

Ready to begin making? Grab the template from my shop here and scroll down to view the written instructions and video overview for assembling this fun flower bundle.

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Disclosure: this post features affiliate links (noted with bold), meaning if you purchase the product via my link I could earn a small commission. All products referenced are items I personally use for my crafts.

Mini Tulip Garden Box

Create these tiny and colorful bundles of tiny tulips to fill your garden box.

  • Cutting Machine
  • Quilling Tool or Stick/Pen
  • Craft knife
  • 65lb Cardstock, various colors
  • Craft Glue

  1. Begin by cutting your shapes with a cutting machine (or by hand if you're patient). There are notes inside the download folder regarding the scale of the items. If don't have the template yet there is a download link in the post above.



  2. Lightly score each leaf down the centerline. The line will already be marked with perforations from your cutting machine, but this will make the fold easier/cleaner.



  3. Fold each leaf in half along the center line you just scored.



  4. Place a drop of glue inside each folder leaf and press it in place until the glue holds.



  5. Collect your flower pieces, now is a great time to plan the colors if you are using a mixture like me.



  6. Use a quilling tool to roll each flower. Insert the straight edge end into the tool and twist from left to right.



  7. Once you reach the end of the paper, use a small drop of glue to seal the flower. Repeat for the remaining flowers.



  8. Glue each flower onto a stem. The stem piece should fit inside the center hole left behind by the quilling tool. I used a small drop of glue to hold my tulips onto the stems.



  9. Use your quilling tool again to roll the entire piece from left to right, glue to seal.



  10. Repeat this process to make additional bundles of tulips. I used 3 total to fill the planter box.

    **Planter assembly is not shown here (sorry!) but there are instructions in the download folder**



  11. Glue the base of each tulip bundle into the bottom of the planter.



  12. All done! Step back and admire your work. Make sure to share this post so others can enjoy making my templates as much as you have!



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Learn To Make Your Own Mini Paper Palm Tree

Lets make a mini paper palm tree! This was my second miniature palm tree template and I did not expect the design to be as challenging as it was. I set out to make a fan palm, or Washingtonia, which is something I encounter (surprisingly) regularly on my daily walks with my dog. You typically see these trees buried in landscaping, they are low to the ground with broad fan shaped fronds. I thought that my daily exposure to this plant would aid in developing the svg file; I was wrong.

mini paper palm tree in window box
Mini Paper Palm Tree in Window Box

Making the Leaves

Figuring out how to replicate the folding leaves without over complicating the miniature design proved to be the biggest challenge. I wanted to preserve as much detail as possible, but at some point 65lb cardstock did not agree with what I was trying to do. After some trial and error, I realized my zigzag folds along each leaf were too intricate. By enlarging the design ever so slightly it would be better suited to the paper I intended to use.

After sweeping away the pile of miniature trees on my desk, all with slightly different and unsuccessful palm leaves, I took a newer, more simplistic approach. The leaves had fewer zigzags, but the space added between each one added a ton of texture – which was great! Now that the leaves were perfect, I needed a way to adhere them to the template! Arranging 6-8 branches on a single sheet of paper would not be possible without overlapping shapes. So, I decided to cut the leaves separate from the base and affix them to the main part of the tree after they were folded.

I began with 8 branches, later cutting it down to 6 in order to keep the leaves from taking over the whole mini plant. Each leaf would be zigzag folded and affixed to the main piece of the tree. After the leaf issue was resolved I realized I needed to tackle another hurdle: the bark!

Barking up the right Paper Palm tree

I love how palm trees shed their leaves and leave behind this crisscross of stubs along the trunk. Finding a way to replicate that texture was a non-negotiable. I arranged the these stubs along the edge of a sheet of paper, then cut it using my Cricut Maker.

Next I glued this to the branch piece and it was ready to roll up! I get asked a TON about the brand of glue you see me using in my videos. It is from a company called Bearly Art. You can find the glue I use here, along with other craft supplies they carry and some free svg files. Links to Bearly Art from my website will carry over with a 10% discount automatically applied at checkout (as I am a member of their affiliate program).

If you have never seen any of my plants assembled please make sure to check out the video I have included below (it will help these written instructions make much more sense). I used my new quilling tool to roll the piece up and it was much easier than the bamboo skewer/tape method I had been using in my previous videos. The quilling tool held everything in place nicely and pulled out very easily once the tree bark had been glued onto itself.

Add Some Color

After stepping back to get a good look at this design and realized it was still missing something. The bark and branches were spot on, but it needed a bit more…depth. I remembered seeing a blog post a while back where a crafter used bleach to add color to their papercraft and thought this would be the perfect time to try that out! I watered down some bleach and used a brush to apply a small amount to the end of each palm branch. It slowly dried and left behind an amazing splotchy yellow-green that no paint could replicate. The design was complete!

Ready to begin making? Grab the template from my shop here and scroll down to view the written instructions and video overview for assembling this tiny tree.

Disclosure: this post features affiliate links (noted with bold), meaning if you purchase the product via my link I could earn a small commission. All products referenced are items I personally use for my crafts.

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Fan Palm Tutorial

Create your own scale miniature paper fan palm tree using this instant download template.

  • Cutting Machine
  • Quilling Tool
  • 65lb Cardstock (various colors)
  • Craft Glue (fine tip nozzle preferred)
  • Bleach Water (optional, for coloring leaves)

  1. Get the template! If you haven't already downloaded the cut file for this design, you can get it from the article above by clicking "Add to Cart."



  2. Cut (and score) the template on your machine. I have included notes within the download folder on how to scale the template before cutting so your size matches mine.



  3. (Optional) Add some color to your leaves and tree bark using bleach water. I used a 1:4 ratio and gently brushed it along the edge of each leaf and the tips of the bark. I allowed each piece to quickly dry/lighten in the sun before moving on to the next step.



  4. Begin folding the leaves. You will notice numerous score marks along each leaf. These should each be folded the opposite way to create a zigzag (the fan!) texture. There are two tabs at the bottom of each leaf, these will be used later to hold the leaf onto the branch.



  5. You will notice a circle cutout on the main leaf piece and also the bark piece. Align these pieces on top of each other so the circles overlap. Glue them together using only a drop of glue above and below the circle. If you glue the entire strip it will crumble when you roll it up.



  6. Glue each assembled leaf onto one of the stems from the base. I like to fold the stem in half at the end so the two leaf tabs wrap around it nicely, but you can adhere this any way you like.



  7. Use a quilling tool (or stick/tape) and affix it to the bottom left of the template. Begin rolling tightly from left to right, wrapping the template around itself.



  8. When you have rolled all the way to the end of the bark, use a dab of glue to seal the plant together.



  9. Make the planter by gluing the long solid rectangle to form a cylinder. I usually 'curl' my piece before gluing, like you would Christmas ribbon, so it doesn't get any unwanted creases. Once you have the base of the planter, you can affix the additional portion around the outside edge for more depth.



  10. Use your strips of 'soil' to continue wrapping around the base of the tree. This thickens the bottom so it will fit snug inside the planter.



  11. Once you have wrapped ~2 long strips of soil around the base of your plant tightly hold it in place so it doesn't unravel. Use one hand to remove your plant and soil from the quilling tool and insert it into the planter. Once it is inside the planter and you let go the soil should unravel and hold it in place.



  12. You did it!



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How to Make a Mini Wisteria Tree – Cricut Tutorial

The Wisteria is such an elegant and beautiful tree. Its branches fill with brightly colored flowers every year, creating a waterfall of petals. Recreating such an iconic plant on a miniature scale is something that I had hoped to do for a long time, but until recently struggled to figure out the mechanics of how to (somewhat) accurately capture the flowing beauty of this tree. Luckily I was able to figure it out and have the Cricut tutorial (below) to prove it! Keep reading to make your own tiny trees.

Mini Wisteria Tree Cricut Tutorial

Flowery Tree Branches

I began by working through a couple of different prototypes for the branches. I first tried threading the flowers onto the tree individually. After abandoning this approach, I arranged the flowers on a single branch, but this did not yield the depth required to do this tree justice. After toying around for a bit longer I began rolling the flowers around the end of a paint brush I had lying on my desk. This approach allowed for a quick cut time on the machine, but also brought the extra dimension I wanted to include for such a grand plant.

Once I had settled on an approach for the flowery branches, it was (mostly) smooth sailing. I had a trunk template from a prior design that I was able to modify for this template. The pinched green leaves sitting atop each branch took some trial and error, but not nearly as much as the flower branches themselves.

Assembling the Template

Assembling the design for the first time I knew I wanted the planter to be almost invisible, as to show off the tree itself. I settled on a white cardstock, with the slightest amount of colorful specks. I wrapped the base of the tree with the paper soil strips and stepped back for a view. It had worked!

This Mini Wisteria Tree is very easy to make using my cutting machine template. It has been live for a few days as of the time I am writing this and I have already seen it used in miniature houses, greeting cards, and 3D papercraft gifts.

The Wisteria flowers for the tree can also be cut separately and used on their own to imitate Wisteria vines! Follow along as I explain each step needed to create this design.

Products I Use

Everything shown below was cut on my Cricut Maker. I’m really happy with this product (hence why I blog about using it) and recommend it to anyone interested in any type of papercraft. Even if you prefer hand cutting with a knife, the machine is a great tool when prototyping or doing designs in bulk.

The glue I use for my crafts is from Bearly Art. I try and make it a point to reference them by name because I get asked on nearly everything I post about the type of glue I am using. The glue dries quickly which is a must, but if you have seen any of my mini assembly videos you will understand how amazing their ultra fine tip is! Links to Bearly Art from my website will carry over with a 10% discount automatically applied at checkout (as I am a member of their affiliate program).

Disclosure: this post features affiliate links (noted with bold), meaning if you purchase the product via my link I could earn a small commission. All products referenced are items I personally use for my crafts.

Mini Wisteria Tree

Miniature papercraft Wisteria tree assembly tutorial

  • Cutting Machine
  • Stick/Pen for roling
  • 65lb Cardstock in various colors
  • Craft Glue
  • Watercolor paint

  1. Load the file into your design software. The .zip folder will include various file types so make sure you are selecting the correct file for your design software. Each shape in the template will be a certain color to suggest what part of the tree it will correspond to, but feel free to adjust the colors as you like.



  2. Proceed to cut each shape using your cutting machine. I recommend using 65 lb cardstock as it is pliable enough to roll the leaves/trunk, but will provide the right level of sturdiness for your design.



  3. If you are going to paint any pieces of the template as I have done, I recommend doing this prior to starting construction. This gives the paint time to dry and absorb any glue properly during assembly. I added a light wash of watercolor paint onto the 'tops' of my Wisteria flowers. This could be done with most types of paint, marker, or even colored pencils.



  4. Roll each of the 5 flower stems around a pen/stick to create a coil. Please refer to the video below to see an example of this! This will create the 3D effect for each of the flowering branches. Repeat the rolling process for the other two branch pieces.



  5. You will now need to roll the trunk of the tree, so that you have something to adhere the branches to. Use a quilling tool, or even a pen/stick will do, and roll from left to right (in the direction of the arrow). The piece should roll up into a cylinder with three branches sticking out in different directions on top. Place a few drops of glue inside the end of the trunk piece to seal it up.



  6. You will notice that each branch of the tree has two flaps with a perforated fold line. Fold along these perforations, then glue one flower branch into the crease created.



  7. Fold the leaf bundles in half, there is a dash line to help you identify where to fold each one. Glue 4 leaf bundles to the top of each branch.



  8. Create the planter by curling the long solid strip to create a cylinder. Adhere the wavy portion to the outside if you would like a planter with more texture.



  9. Wrap the base of the tree with the 'soil' strips. There are cut files included in the download to make these using your cutting machine, but I find it more effective to freehand cut a few strips of cardstock to ~ half an inch. This method creates less waste and extends the life of your mat/cutting blade. Do not glue the soil, but hold it in place with your fingers.



  10. Plant your tree! Place the base of the tree into the planter. The soil should fill the planter almost entirely, so that when you let go it expands and holds the plant in place.