Step 1: Design The Shadow Box

Our shadow box contains 11 layers all with different designs. We are going to start creating them from the first layer, that is the one that is showing on the front of the shadow box.

1- We are going to start our project by adding two shapes: square and a heart with the following dimensions:

• Square: 8” x 8”
• Heart: 7.29” x 6.44”

2- We are going to overlap the heart over the square, align them horizontally and vertically, you should have something like this:

3- We are going to align the two shapes vertically and horizontally, to make sure that they are centered align:

4- After the alignment is done, we are going to use the slice tool, and we are going to keep the result of the slice only, the square with the heart in the middle.

First Layer: 

Now, we are going to start with our first layer (you can hide all the other layers so it’s easy to identify them). 

💡 Tip:  You can rename the layers so at the moment of the layering you know which one goes in which order. In order to rename them, you go to the layers section, double click on the layer that you want to rename and in there you add the new name:

Our first layer is going to include a couple of stars and some stems growing from the heart.

1. Let’s start with the stars first, by going to images and search for a north star, you can search by using the id: #M3B6AE14A.

💡 Tip:  You can use any other star or shape that you want, like hearts, circles, etc.

2. We are going to add it and resize it to the size that we like, in our example we are using 2 different sizes, but feel free to use them in different sizes and the amount of sizes that you like:

3. We are going to place them around the free space of the square, something like:

4. After placing them, we are going to select the stars one at the time with our base shape (square + heart) and we are going to proceed to slice them:

5. Now, we are going to add some branches growing from our heart, since we were not able to find a branch that I really like, I’m going to modify an existing image to do it the way that we want, we are going to search for the following image (ID: #M30441DAB):

💡 Tip: You can use the branch without the modifications that we are going to do, or just avoid adding the branches, this is based on your preference.

6. In order to modify the branch, we are going to use several times the slice functionality with different shapes like: squares, circles, ovals, etc. The main idea is to obtain a clear stem with one or two leaves on the top part.

We are going to repeat the slices with different shapes until we obtain something like this:

7. After we have the stem as we want, we are going to duplicate the stem and place them around the heart, in our example we are going to use:

• Single Leaf stem: 3 times
• Doable leaf stem: 4 times

And we are going to start with the slice functionality one stem at the time. You should have something like this:

8.  The first layer is going to be our most light layer, so I change the color to white, but feel free to use any other color that you prefer. And the result of the fist layer should be something like: 

Second and Third Layer: 

For our second and third layer, we are going to use:

• Square: 8” x 8”
• Heart: 6.55” x 5.79”

We are going to make sure that they are aligned between each other vertically and horizontally and we are going to slice them together.

1. We are going to add 2 medium hearts (Measurements of the heart are: W:2” and H:1.77”) on the top part of our big heart, something like:

2. After we place the hearts on the position that we like, we are going to select the 2 little hearts and the base shape and we are going to weld them together.

3. After the weld, we are going to duplicate this layer as we did with our base layer, only one time. 

4. We are going to add some meaningful words on the 2 shapes, any words that you like, in our case we are going to use: LOVED and AMAZING. Using the Text functionality, we are going to proceed writing the words separately. 

💡 Tip:  In our case we are using the font: Stardos Stencil that we previously installed in order to be able to use it in Cricut, if you do not know how to install new fonts. You can use any font that you like.

5. We are going to select one of the words and place it over one of the hearts, and resize it until it fits nicely inside the heart,

6.  Once that it is looking as we expected, we select the word and the base shape for our second layer and we slice them. And we proceed doing the same with our second word:

7. To the third layer, we are not going to add any design, we are just going to change the color to one that is darker than the second layer.

8. The second and third layer results, should be something like this:

Fourth and Fifth Layer: 

For our fourth and fifth layer, we are going to use:

• Square: 8” x 8”
• Heart: 6.2” x 5.35”

We are going to make sure that they are aligned between each other vertically and horizontally and we are going to slice them together.

1. We are going to add 1 medium heart (Measurements of the heart is: W:2” and H:1.77”), in order to know where to position it, we are going to overlap the third layer over our fourth layer in order to accommodate the heart making sure that the previous design is looking as expected, when we like were the new heart is going to be, we proceed and weld them together, something like:

2. After we place the medium heart and weld it to the base, we are going to proceed and add 3 small hearts (Measurements of the heart is: W:0.70” and H:0.62”). Following the same process as the previous step, we are going to place them in the position that we like and then, we are going to weld them together with the main base.

3. Your fourth layer should be showing something like this:

4. After the weld, we are going to duplicate this layer as we did with our base layer, only one time. 

5. We are going to add one more meaningful word on the medium heart shape, in our case we are going to use: WORTHY. Using the Text functionality, we are going to proceed writing the word.
6. As we did with the Second Layer, We are going to select the word and place it over the medium heart, and resize it until it fits nicely inside the heart:

7.  Once that it is looking as we expected, we select the word and the base shape for our fourth layer and we slice them. 

8. The fourth and fifth layers results, should be something like this:

Summary: Layers 1-5:

We are going to take a look on how our layers are looking all together before we proceed with the other layers. In order to do this, we are going to place one over the other, the 5 different layers that we have until now. Making sure that they are in order. You should have something like:

💡 Tip:  Remember that the layers that have the hearts with the words on it are layer 2 and 4. And in order for your design to have the shadow effect, make sure that you are using different colors on each layer.

Sixth and Seventh Layer: 

For our sixth and Seventh layer, we are going to use:

• Square: 8” x 8”
• Heart: 5.75” x 4.95”

We are going to make sure that they are aligned between each other vertically and horizontally and we are going to slice them together.

1. We are going to add 2 medium hearts (Measurements of the heart is: W:2” and H:1.77”), in order to know where to position it, we are going to overlap the Sixth layer over our fifth layer in order to accommodate the hearts making sure that the previous design is looking as expected, when we like were the new heart is going to be, we proceed and weld them together, something like:

2. After we place the medium heart and weld it to the base, we are going to proceed and add 3 small hearts (Measurements of the heart is: W:0.70” and H:0.62”). Following the same process as the previous step, we are going to place them in the position that we like and then, we are going to weld them together with the main base.

3. After the weld, we are going to duplicate this layer as we did with our base layer, only one time. 

4. We are going to add two more meaningful words on the medium heart shape, in our case we are going to use: ENOUGH and VALUED. Using the Text functionality, we are going to proceed writing the words separately.

5. As we did with the Second Layer, We are going to select the one word at the time and place it over the medium hearts, and resize it until it fits nicely inside the heart, and after that we are going to proceed to slice them:

Eighth Layer: 

For our Eighth layer, we are going to use:

• Square: 8” x 8”
• Heart: 5.41” x 4.66”

We are going to make sure that they are aligned between each other vertically and horizontally and we are going to slice them together.

1. We are going to add 2 small hearts (Measurements of the heart is: W:0.71” and H:0.62”), in order to know where to position it, we are going to overlap the Seventh layer over our Eighth layer in order to accommodate the hearts making sure that the previous design is looking as expected, when we like were the new heart is going to be, we proceed and weld them together, something like:

2. After the weld, Our eighth layer is done:

Ninth Layer: 

For our Ninth layer, we are going to use:

• Square: 8” x 8”

1. We are going to put together all the previous layers, since on the Ninth layer we are going to add the following text: YOU ARE ( you can change it for I AM, WE ARE, or any other word that you may like) and in order to add the text, we need to make sure that is going to be visible under all the other layers:

2. After we place it and we are happy how is looking, we proceed and slice it:

Tenth Layer: 

The last layer is going to be just an 8” x 8” Square.

After the tenth layer, our design is done and ready to cut!