3D layered paper art projects are all the rage right now – and it’s no wonder. If you’re looking for a truly impressive paper project that is sure to turn some heads, try your hand at a paper-layered mandala! In this tutorial, we’ll share some tips and tricks to get you headed in the right direction for assembling a 3D layered paper art project.
First, choose your cardstock. Good 3D layered paper mandalas always start with high-quality cardstock. Check out this blog post about what may be the best Cardstock for Silhouette Cameo and Portrait (and cut settings!). Cut Cardstock Mandala designs are so very beautiful because of how intricate they are, and the design will really shine when you get a nice cut with your Silhouette.
Next, cut the mandala design. This one is from So Fontsy’s Nautical SVG and Font Bundle. The mandala mermaid was cut cleanly on paper using the line segment overcut tool in Silhouette Studio. Removing Paper Mandalas from a Sticky Cutting Mat Getting the delicate mandala off the mat can be tricky, but it’s not impossible to remove it successfully. The key tip is just to work carefully. You may find a paper scraping tool helpful. Gently run the thin edge of the paper scraper underneath the cardstock and slide it along the cut edge of the cardstock. Check out this paper scraper blog post that helps stop the cardstock from curling up when you remove it from the mat. Another tip is to flip the mat over and peel the mat off the cardstock. This is helpful when you have a really sticky mat because it helps prevent the cardstock from curling. Before flipping the mat over, lay down the non-stick mat cover so your sticky mat won’t pick up anything from your work surface.
Assemble the 3D layered paper in one of three ways: liquid glue, spray adhesive or dimensional foam adhesive. Liquid glue is likely the most accessible to all crafters because you probably already have liquid glue in your craft stash. The biggest pro with liquid glue is that it doesn’t set immediately, so you have a little wiggle room to adjust the layers before the glue is completely set. Spray adhesive is by far the quickest – seriously, you’re done in seconds! Just spray and stick! The dimensional adhesive gives your mandala a super cool 3D effect!
