Summer may be winding down, but I am not quite ready to let the season go. So, today we are celebrating the season of sunshine with one more, adorable papercraft! Crank up the instrumental tunes, and make this super cute, 3D ice cream truck.
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I have been wanting to create an ice cream truck for some time now, and I’m so happy that I finally got around to it! Summer is my favorite season, and I’m always looking for ways to revel in this time of year. And, I mean, can it get more summery than this?
Follow along using the instructions below, or check out this tutorial video.
Supplies
- Cardstock
- Vellum (for the windows)
- Hot Glue
- Foam Tape
- Decorative Ribbon (optional)
- Bone Folder (optional)
- A Cutting Machine or X-ACTO knife
- My Free Template
How to Make It
1. Use your cutting machine or X-ACTO knife, along with my template, to cut out all of the 3D ice cream truck pieces.
Note: If you are using the SVG files that includes the score lines, don’t forget to set them as such in Cricut Design Space and attach them to their shapes before sending them through your cutting machine. I used a lime green color to mark the score lines, so hopefully that helps! If you’re having trouble with the score lines, check out this video.
Prep Work
2. Start by layering each of the decorative pieces together, and adding any hand-drawn elements that you’d like. Attach the vellum windows to the inside of the truck pieces. Position the white/gold sections, and layer the wheel pieces on top.
Attach your ice cream cone pieces together.
Then, fold and attach the awning and counter pieces. Use the slits provided to insert the tabs for the awning, and glue them to the inside. Attach the counter by gluing the long tab to the bottom edge of the rectangular opening.
Assembling the Truck
3. Take the top/front piece, and attach each tab to the perimeter of one of the side pieces. Glue each tab one at a time, and work your way around.
Then, before attaching the other side, insert the ice cream cones into the roof, and glue the tabs to the inside. Attach the opposite side of the truck.
4. With the front, top, and sides in place, attach your back piece, and the longer bottom piece like so.
Optional: For extra stability, assemble the little cube piece, and glue it to the bottom of the truck. This may be helpful if your wheels aren’t quite sturdy enough on their own.
Then, attach your decorative front pieces, including your front bumper and headlights. Attach the back bumper as well.
5. Finally, add any final embellishments you desire. Some small circle pieces are included to make a little bunting banner. Just fold them each in half, and glue them to a piece of ribbon or string.
I am so pleased with how this one came together! I am always looking for fun ways to add extra special details to my designs, and I think you’ll find that this project is full of them.
This ice cream truck would make a great centerpiece for a party, or a really fun craft to make with the kiddos! No matter how you put it to use, it is sure to be a hit.
Obviously, the ice cream counter is the main feature of this craft, but I really wanted this project to look great from all sides. That’s why I added the little ice cream sign, the giant cones on top, and the fun little bunting.
I use Adobe Illustrator for all of my designs, and a Cricut Maker to bring my creations to life. For tips on creating fun paper cuts like this one, see the FAQ section on my website. Also, be sure to check out the other 3D freebies available on my blog!
Enjoy making your very own, charming 3D ice cream truck. And don’t forget to share your lovely, finished creation with me on Instagram!
*This post contains affiliate links. By clicking through my links to make a purchase, you are supporting this blog and the hard work that goes into providing free, quality designs.
Mandee is a professional graphic designer, amateur bird watcher, and rollercoaster enthusiast. She is a wife to hardworking high school teacher and mommy to three adorable little humans. She fell in love with graphic design when she started working on a comedy website with a guy she met her freshman year of college. Design wasn’t the only thing she fell in love with, and they were married a year and a half later. She created Designs By Miss Mandee to be a place where she could merge her passion for design with her lifelong love of crafting. 27 Comments on 3D Ice Cream Truck – Summer Cut Files
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Kathy
August 25, 2021 at 6:41 am (3 years ago)Thank you so much for sharing your incredible creation. Your Ice Cream Truck is adorable. I love your color choices and your attention to detail is truly amazing.
Mandee
August 25, 2021 at 9:29 am (3 years ago)Aww, thank you very much Kathy!! 😊
auntie em
August 25, 2021 at 8:43 am (3 years ago)What a sweet project! (no pun intended! lol) Not only is the truck itself adorable but the details you have added like the hearts on the hub caps and the lights, the sign on top and adding the pom-poms just makes it perfect! Thank you so much for sharing! 🙂
(Now I want some ice cream!)
Mandee
August 25, 2021 at 9:29 am (3 years ago)Me too! Ice cream for breakfast is acceptable, right??
So glad you like the design! 😊
Terry
August 25, 2021 at 9:10 am (3 years ago)This is amazing! Thanks so much!
Mandee
August 25, 2021 at 9:30 am (3 years ago)You are very welcome Terry!
Shirley
August 25, 2021 at 10:09 am (3 years ago)Oh my gosh!! I love this so much! I will definitely be doing this! Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing you amazing work with us!
Mandee
August 26, 2021 at 9:41 am (3 years ago)Thanks for your kind words Shirley!!
Catherine McCrory
August 26, 2021 at 5:14 am (3 years ago)Wow!! That is adorable!! It looks so much better than the ice cream truck that drives by my house almost every day! LOL I told my 6 yr old son that if you hear the ice cream truck playing music, it means they are out of ice cream! LOL
Mandee
August 26, 2021 at 9:41 am (3 years ago)Oh my gosh, that is genius!! 😂
Monalisa
August 26, 2021 at 8:55 am (3 years ago)This is amazing and so cute! Thank you for sharing your beautiful projects!
Mandee
August 26, 2021 at 9:41 am (3 years ago)You are very welcome! I’m so glad you like it. 😊
Jutta Carstensen
August 27, 2021 at 3:16 am (3 years ago)WoW……..Wahnsinn, echt toll, ganz ganz lieben Dank.
Das werde ich auf jeden Fall nachwerkeln 🙂
viele Grüße Jutta
Mandee
August 27, 2021 at 9:49 am (3 years ago)Thank you! Have fun putting it together!!
Rebecca ekstrand
June 30, 2024 at 8:38 am (3 months ago)Hi I love the ice cream truck is there any way I could buy the die
Mandee
July 5, 2024 at 12:40 pm (3 months ago)Hi Rebecca, you can get the cut file by downloading it to your computer. Just click on the “download” button below the main image in the post. For more detailed instructions, check out my FAQ page.
Saskia
August 27, 2021 at 8:28 am (3 years ago)Thank you so much for sharing!
Mandee
August 27, 2021 at 9:49 am (3 years ago)You are very welcome! Glad you like it. 😊
Sheri Thomas
August 28, 2021 at 11:23 am (3 years ago)Thank you so much for sharing this file. It is just adorable! All the little details are so cute! I love ice cream!
Mandee
August 30, 2021 at 11:54 am (3 years ago)I’m so glad you like it! Ice cream really is the best!!
CYNTHIA CUNHA
August 29, 2021 at 12:18 pm (3 years ago)Thank you for sharing this awesome ice cream truck. I cannot wait to try this!
Mandee
August 30, 2021 at 11:55 am (3 years ago)I’m glad you like it! Have so much fun putting it together!!
Dallas Walker
September 27, 2021 at 7:59 pm (3 years ago)Thank you for sharing this adorable ice cream truck. I am looking forward to making this … I going to try and make this off the mat ! , would like suburb as a wall art :).
Natasha
June 20, 2022 at 9:50 pm (2 years ago)Hi. This ice cream truck is too cute! Unfortunately, when I tried to print the PDF, they only thing that showed up on the paper was the web address at the bottom of the page. I would really love to make a few of these. Any idea why it won’t print?
Mandee
June 22, 2022 at 10:46 am (2 years ago)Hmm, that is really strange! I’m not really sure why that would be happening. Maybe try closing out your program, re-downloading the files, and give it another go.
Kathy Kauth
July 11, 2022 at 8:08 pm (2 years ago)we are doing a food truck vbs this summer so I just made one and I love it. thank you so much for sharing.
Mandee
July 12, 2022 at 10:43 am (2 years ago)That’s awesome! I’m so glad you were able to put my design to good use.