This free Layered Apple Mandala cut file makes the perfect DIY teacher gift.
It's hard to figure out what to give as a teacher's gift throughout the year.
Often times you have to think of a teacher's gift for back to school, a holiday gift, and an end of the year gift.
There are a lot of amazing ideas out there, some store-bought, some handmade. I wanted to contribute a DIY teacher gift with this layered apple mandala design.
I always like to get my kids involved when making the gifts so it means more when they give them to their teachers.
My daughter loves to craft with me, especially when I'm using my Cricut. She loves to push the button to make it go and has so much fun picking out the colors she wants to use which almost allows includes pink!
This was a fun project for us to do together a great way for us to say Thank You to her teachers.
Want to make your own?
Let me show you how to cut one in Cricut Design Space using cardstock.
This can also be made using a Silhouette, Brother Scan n Cut, or another cutting machine. Just choose the file type that works for your machine. You can reference the ‘How to use cut files’ document included in the zip file to learn which file type is needed for your cutting machine.
This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)! Read my full disclosure policy.
Materials & Supplies
- Free Layered Apple Mandala Cut Files (link below)
- Cricut Maker, Cricut Explore, or another cutting machine
- Cricut Cutting Mat – LightGrip or StandardGrip
- Cardstock – Learn how to choose the right color combinations here.
- Scraper Tool
- Foam Adhesive – 0.25-inch circles for the bottom layers and 0.12-inch circles for the top layers
How do I download the file?
Click the banner below to download the free cut file from my Freebie Vault. The password can be found at the bottom of my emails.
If you're new to the community, please subscribe to get the password.
Please remember these are for personal use only. If you’re looking to sell products using these designs please purchase a Commercial Use License here.
Instructions
Follow these easy steps to make the Layered Apple Mandala using Cricut Design Space.
Open Cricut Design Space and click the + to create a new project.
In the Design Panel on the left, select “Upload.”
Click Upload Image, then Browse, and navigate to the SVG files on your device to upload them to Cricut Design Space. Here you can change the name and add tags. Click “Save.”
Once you have the file uploaded, select the designs and click “Insert Images” to bring the design onto your canvas.
Below is what the design will look like when you add it to Cricut Design Space. Resize the design if necessary to fit the frame you're using.
The design can be resized using the Edit Toolbar at the top of the page.
Now you’re ready to cut it. Click Make It in the upper-right hand corner and you’ll be taken to the prepare screen.
Here you’ll want to select your material size. The default size is 12x12 so don't forget to change it if you're using cardstock or another material that's a different size.
Now it’s time to connect to your machine and select your material. For all of my layered designs, I use the Cardstock (for intricate cuts) setting.
This setting along with a clean, sticky mat will ensure you have a nice, clean-cut.
Assembling the Layered Apple Mandala
After you cut the design, use the foam adhesive to put it together. It’s best to use the adhesive in the same spot on each layer to get an even rise and 3D layered look.
My favorite foam adhesive is the 0.12-inch circles from Forever in Time. They are incredibly small but they work perfectly for intricate layered designs.
Cricut Design Space doesn’t cut out the layers in order so it can get confusing to piece together. Head back to Design Space to see the layers as a reference for how to put them together.
The image below shows you from bottom to top how the layers should be placed.
Need More Inspiration?
Look at these amazing finished projects from members of this community. I love how you can customize it to make it your own.
Sharing is Caring
Please help us by sharing this design before downloading it. If you like these free designs, please take a moment to share on your favorite social media site or pin it on Pinterest. That helps this site continue to grow so that we can continue to provide free content. Thank you!
