How to 3D (almost) anything.

I'd like to share with you the method I use to turn flat images into three dimensional objects. After you have done this project the rules can be applied to any shape and there will be no stopping you.
download the free file here.

We will use the image above as our example. Its a mixture of flat sides and curves, so both methods can be demonstrated. 

First thing we will do is move the clock face out of the way as we don't need it at the moment, so simply click and drag it to one side for now. We are able to construct the body of the clock from this one shape left on the mat. Select the shape and open the replicate window and click mirror below this will give you a front and back for your clock.

Place you selected cardstock on you cutting mat and load in to your machine. Open the cut settings menu and select the settings for your media type. I used the preset plain card stock settings. Doing a test cut with these proved to be very effective for the card I used. Click the send to silhouette button and allow to cut. Unload you mat and remove all the card from the mat.

I like to give my projects a little more strength so I like to add in this step, as it gives the finished project more stability. Using the original image open the offset options and select internal offset. For my card I have set the offset to 0.03cm. This measurement is the thickness of your cardstock so you will need to adjust this to match your cardstock. Move the original image off the mat leaving the new slightly smaller image on the mat. Repeat the replicate steps above to give you two pieces as before.

For these pieces I used silhouette's chipboard and cut with the preset settings for this media.

Now we are going to make the piece that holds it all together. Applying these principles to any design will create a smooth edge on your 3D items. Firstly, decide how deep you would like the object to be and then create a rectangle 29cm long and as wide as you want to make you item, I want mine to be 3cm. Using the knife snip off an ear from both sides of the top two corners, this creates a glue tabs to stick each of our strips together. The angle of these cuts is not important.

Next use the polygon tool to create a triangle.

Line this triangle up with the straight edge of your rectangle. Keeping the triangle selected, use the replicate tool to create a row of triangles the same length as your rectangle. Drag a box round all your triangles to select them and move them so they overlap the rectangle you created. Select all on you mat and weld them into one piece. Repeat the triangles down the other side of the rectangle. This strip can be used for any items you want to make that have a rounded/curved shape, the greater the curve the narrower you should make your triangles to maintain a smooth finish.

Your finished strip will look similar to these strips depending on how small you have chose to make your triangles.

 

It is these triangles we will use to glue our pieces together 

 You may wish to simply use a number of these lengths to finish your project, but if you have straight sides on sections of your chosen image you will find that you get a stronger finish if sections of the glue strip are not serrated.
This is very straight forward to do, make a rectangle the same width as you strip and make it the same length as the straight part on your design. Then simply position this over one of the strips and weld into place.

move everything off the mat and bring in you clock face. With the face still selected use the ungroup function to separate the numbers from the circle. Cut the circle in white cardstock and the numbers in black cardstock or vinyl.

 Putting it all together

Now you have all the pieces you need follow the steps to construct your clock.

Glue the strip you created to the chipboard as shown. Making sure to follow the contour exactly. There should be no gaps between the pieces when you look from the inside.

Align the back piece and glue into position. I have used a strip or card cut to size to help support the inside while the glue takes hold. Remove the support when the glue is dry.

shape the next piece and fold up the tabs. Place the piece you have just made into the centre and glue into place.

fold up the end pieces and tuck the end in under the other strip. Glue in place.

Apply glue to each face taking care to glue the edges and apply the front and rear pieces. your clock is now ready to add the face of your choice

Here is a link to the complete file for those of you who just want to cut it out and make it.  3D clock download.

DESIGNS USED

Antique inspired clock hands Design ID #12326
Clock button  Design ID #50169

PRODUCTS USED