DIY 3D Owl Mandala + 3D Layered SVG [FREE]

In this post, I’m sharing an owl 3D Layered SVG [FREE], perfect for creating a 3D layered art for home, along with secrets to make the best-layered art with clean cuts. I’ve also covered the type of cardstock I use for creating layered arts using SVG designs from my store.

Get the FREE Layered SVG File Below

DIY 3D Owl Mandala + 3D Layered SVG [FREE]

Hello, Cricut buddies! I’m Jav from Cut N Make Crafts. Today I’m sharing a super cool 3D Layered SVG [FREE] to make a 3D layered mandala owl. If you have been following me on other social media channels, you must have noticed how obsessed I am with this new papercraft. It suits me so well because it’s so hassle-free for a lazy person like me. LOL! I’ve noticed that I just LOVE designing and playing with software more than anything. When I was designing bags, I truly enjoyed the designing process, it’s the pattern testing that drove me nuts. With the 3D layered art designs, it’s so much easier as I don’t have to run multiple tests with a group of sewists. I can test the 3D mandala SVGs on my own on the magical Cricut. It literally takes a few minutes to test out the 3D layered SVG cut files which is the best part about designing these 3D layered SVG mandala designs.

And it’s even easier to assemble them. Trust me!

Alright, now let’s see how you can make this 3D layered owl with the 3D Layered SVG [FREE].

This FREE layered art SVG is perfect for creating a gorgeous home decor wall art or you can also create it as a gift for your loved ones. You can use any color cardstock you like for creating this gorgeous 3D layered project. For my owl, I used

In this post, I’ve covered the supplies needed for creating awesome 3D layered owl art with paid or free layered art SVG files along with eight of my personal tips for creating the perfect layered art. These are the tips I discovered after cutting out a ton of layered SVG files while I was testing my designs for my Etsy store.

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Cut N Make Crafts is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Supplies Needed for 3D Layered Owl Mandala

• Heavyweight cardstock (the color of cardstock that you choose for creating your 3D layered artwork is totally up to you. I’ve noticed I get the best results when I use a transition of colors starting from the darkest to the lightest or vice versa. For my designs, I mostly use mirrored, metallic and holographic cardstock. I’ve listed the different places you can purchase these cardstocks for your layered art below).
• Cricut Fine Point Blade (most of the layered art designs have layers with very intricate details. The secret to cut these layers perfectly without any mess is to use a separate blade for the intricate layers with the “cardstock for intricate cuts” settings enabled). 
• Foam squares (these are perfect for adding a raised effect to the 3D art. I used 4mm foam squares as they are really small and are barely visible to the eye. I bought mine in bulk from eBay).
• FREE Layered SVG File for 3D Layered Owl Mandala (available for the VIPs, become a VIP member by entering your name and address below)

Get the FREE Layered SVG File Below

Enter your name and address below to access the FREE VIP library and get the FREE layered SVG file for “3D Layered Owl Artwork” art.

Places to Purchase Mirror/Metallic Cardstock

• Gold Mirror Cardstock
• Silver Mirror Cardstock
• Rose Gold Mirror Cardstock

Secrets for Creating Perfect Layered Art

1. To get the best results always use heavyweight cardstock instead of the lighter ones because the heavy cardstock is sturdy and stays stiff without having to glue together a million different layers. This will save you a ton of time and gives a really beautiful look to the art.
2. When cutting out detailed designs, use “cardstock for the intricate cut” settings as this tells the machine to be gentle and cut with lesser pressure thus preventing rips giving clean and beautiful cuts. I usually use this setting for cutting the topmost layers of my layered SVG files.
3. Keep a separate blade for intricate cuts as paper usually makes the blades dull which can cause issues when cutting out intricate designs.
4. Always start by cutting the intricate design first. Before cutting the design make sure your machine has rested an hour because cutting intricate designs takes a lot of time which puts stress on the machine. Once, while cutting out the intricate design one after the other, my machine got extremely hot and stopped working while cutting. I had to unplug it and leave it for a day to cool down so I could use it again.
5. Another tip I’ve discovered after cutting out a ton of these layered designs is if I use a setting meant for a thinner material on thick material, it cuts out extremely clean even with a blunt blade. For instance, if I’m using medium cardstock, I cut it on “light cardstock” setting, sometimes with the pressure reduced. It does not cut in one cycle, so usually, I cut it twice without unloading the mat. Thanks to this tip, I barely have unclean cuts.
6. Always use a sticky mat, if your mat is not sticky enough, wash your mat with some dishwashing liquid. Another way to make the mats sticky is by spraying adhesive spray or using Zig Glue.
7. When choosing the colors, it’s best to create an ombre effect by going from dark to light or light to dark.
8. Make sure the design is not less than 7”. This is extremely IMPORTANT. If you’re planning to make something smaller, leave out the intricate layers because it’s too small for the machine to cut and will not come out perfect.
9. To ensure the cut stays intact while removing it from the mat, roll the mat and use the scraper to gently remove the cut.

Video Tutorial for the Layered Art

Here’s a step-by-step video tutorial for creating any layered artwork project.

How to Make Layered 3D Owl Mandala

3D Layered Artwork FAQs

Can I cut these 3D SVGs on Cricut Joy?

Yes, you can! However, you would need to make sure the size of the file is less than 6″ so that it fits on the mat. Also, when reducing the size, you might have to leave out some layers with extremely intricate designs as it will be too difficult for the machine to cut it and might result in the paper ripping off.

How long does it take to make the 3D layered art?

It takes just a couple of minutes to assemble the 3d layered projects once they are cut out.

Get the Multi-layered Owl SVG Below

More Layered SVG Cut Files to Check Out

I have a ton of layered SVG cut files available in my Etsy shop based on different themes. Click on each image to check out the file in my Etsy store!

Save this Project on Pinterest for Later

More Cricut Projects to Try

Want more Cricut project inspiration? Check out these posts!

1. 1. FREE LAYERED SVG FILE + 3D Layered Art Tutorial
   2. Free Disney Princess SVG Files
   3. How to Make Cake Topper With Cricut
   4. Convert Picture to SVG: 3 Quick and Easy Methods