I hope you are ready for a challenge because I’ve got one that will stimulate both sides of your brain today! Make this 3D chess board with me, and let’s play.
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Every household needs its own unique chess set, don’t you think? And this one is sure to stand out! It even includes little drawers for storing all the pieces.
The key to this project is patience: patience when setting up all those score lines, patience when waiting for your cutting machine to get around all those tiny details, and patience with assembling each and every one of those delicate chess pieces! So, don’t expect to head into this one and have it done within an hour, but do be ready to have an absolutely stunning, playable chess set when you’re finished.
Note: I try to design most of my files so that they can fit on 8.5″x11″ sheets of cardstock, but this project will require a few sheets of 12″x12″ cardstock.
Supplies
- Cardstock
- Hot Glue
- Precision Craft Glue or a Glue Stick
- Ribbon
- Decorative Gems (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 chess board 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.
Prepping All the Pieces
2. Layer together the pieces for the top of the chess board, the sides of the board, and the fronts of the drawers like so.
Assembling the Chess Board
3. Take the four side pieces and fold along the score lines. Attach the long tabs to the underside of the chessboard top, and the short tabs to the adjacent side piece. Be sure to attach the side pieces that include holes opposite each other.
Assembling the Drawers
4. Take the two, green drawer pieces and fold along the score lines. Attach the tabs inside to form a 5-sided box. Then, attach the drawer faces to the front, making sure to keep them centered. Add drawer pulls using a bit of ribbon and hot glue.
Take your two remaining large, green rectangles and attach them together. Fold the end strips inward along the score lines. Then, glue on the two skinny green strips and attach them to the other edges of the square. Fold along those score lines too. Place the whole thing inside the base of the chessboard, lining up the folded edges with the bottom of each side. (This piece will provide rigidity to your chess board and keep your drawers from sagging.)
Next, slide the drawers into the holes provided.
Assembling the Chess Pieces
5. Gather the cutouts for your chess pieces, and line them up with their matching pair. Sort out the round bases. The largest ones are for the king and queen, the middle-sized ones are for the bishops, knights, and rooks, and the smallest ones are for the pawns.
Match two pieces together and interlock them. Then, slide the bottom tabs into the slits of a circular base (one of the ones with an “X” in the center). Glue the tabs down, and then glue one of the solid circles overtop. Repeat the process with the rest of your chess pieces until they are all assembled!
Believe it or not, when I got the idea for this design, I figured that it would be one of my simpler 3D projects. And while the structure of this design isn’t my most complicated, all those delicate little embellishments certainly added more time to both the design and crafting phases of this project! But I just couldn’t help myself.
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 fun freebies available on my blog!
Enjoy putting my 3D chess board together. And don’t forget to share your elaborate finished project 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. 48 Comments on 3D Chess Board – Intricate Cut Files
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auntie em
June 16, 2022 at 6:16 am (1 year ago)This is just blowing my mind. The details, the precision, the fact that the pieces are 3D. Simply amazing! I don’t play chess but I can certainly appreciate the work you have put into this creation!
Thank you for sharing.
Mandee
June 16, 2022 at 10:08 am (1 year ago)Aww, thank you so much!! I’m glad you are able to get a feel for the love that went into this design. 😊
Susan Vogel
August 8, 2023 at 10:05 pm (4 months ago)Is there a tutorial for this?
Mandee
August 9, 2023 at 11:20 pm (4 months ago)At the moment, I just have the photo and step-by-step instructional tutorial that you see in the post. I may do a full-length video tutorial in the future, though.
Rita DeCook
June 16, 2022 at 7:12 am (1 year ago)This is amazing.
Mandee
June 16, 2022 at 10:08 am (1 year ago)Thank you so much Rita!
Nadia
June 16, 2022 at 7:13 am (1 year ago)che meraviglia!!!!!!
Mandee
June 16, 2022 at 10:09 am (1 year ago)Thank you Nadia!!
Helen J Roberts
June 16, 2022 at 10:13 am (1 year ago)What a great idea! I have some Gold and Silver vinyl I am going to lay on top of my cardstock before cutting the chess pieces and see if that works. I am going to make the base from some plastic cutting boards and vinyl. I hope to be able to leave the set out on our patio table. Thank you for this awesome design.
Mandee
June 16, 2022 at 10:49 am (1 year ago)Ooo, I like the way you think!! Those are fantastic ideas for making a more durable version of this chess set!
Brenda West
June 16, 2022 at 10:35 am (1 year ago)This is outstanding! My grandson plays Chess … I’m thinking about Christmas!
Can you tell me what weight and type of paper you used?
By the way, I love all your things, they always make me think … I’m going to make that!
Mandee
June 16, 2022 at 10:52 am (1 year ago)Yay! I’m sure your grandson will love it!!
The cardstock I use varies greatly. I tend to purchase packs of paper when they are on sale. Most of the cardstock I use in my projects is 65lb, but some of the ones I used in this project are a little heavier (particularly the glitter cardstock).
I’m so glad you enjoy my designs, and I’m glad they get you in the mood to craft!!
SusyC
June 16, 2022 at 11:33 am (1 year ago)Wow! Amazing. Thank you.
Mandee
June 17, 2022 at 10:31 am (1 year ago)I’m glad you like it!!
Nicole
June 16, 2022 at 12:19 pm (1 year ago)My goodness! This is so incredible!
Mandee
June 17, 2022 at 10:32 am (1 year ago)Thank you Nicole! You are too kind. 😊
Clara Ramos
June 16, 2022 at 12:27 pm (1 year ago)Beautiful and amazing. Thanks for share.
Mandee
June 17, 2022 at 10:32 am (1 year ago)You are very welcome Clara!
Michele
June 16, 2022 at 1:40 pm (1 year ago)This is really fantastic! I’m not great at chess, still very much a beginner, but creating this awesome project will inspire me to practice more. Thank you!!
Mandee
June 17, 2022 at 10:33 am (1 year ago)I’m quite an average chess player myself, but it’s certainly fun! Enjoy putting this project together!!
Marianne Wrenn
June 16, 2022 at 1:56 pm (1 year ago)An another amazing piece I’ve been itching to do an Alice in Wonderland inspired theme party as was my favorite book growing up i like to make this as a table center piece.
Mandee
June 17, 2022 at 10:34 am (1 year ago)Ooo, how fun!!
Donna
June 16, 2022 at 3:13 pm (1 year ago)You never cease to amaze me with how talented you are. Every one of your designs are impressive. Thanks for sharing your talent with us!
Mandee
June 17, 2022 at 10:34 am (1 year ago)Aww, thank you so much Donna! You are very sweet. 😊
Shaista
June 16, 2022 at 3:48 pm (1 year ago)Just WOW
Mandee
June 17, 2022 at 10:34 am (1 year ago)Thank you so much!
Jan Perry
June 16, 2022 at 3:51 pm (1 year ago)Wow! I love this! and I know just the right person to make it for – so it will be giving twice! Thank you so much x
Mandee
June 17, 2022 at 10:35 am (1 year ago)Yay! I’m so glad you have someone in your life who will enjoy this. ❤️
Vee
June 16, 2022 at 5:18 pm (1 year ago)Miss Mandee
I love your creativeness. You always seem to amaze me. I love this as well as your other crafts. I get so excited when you post and create new 3d projects and I look forward to what’s next.
Mandee
June 17, 2022 at 10:35 am (1 year ago)Aww, thanks Vee! I’m so glad you enjoy my 3D projects!!
Dallas
June 16, 2022 at 7:01 pm (1 year ago)Wow … I’m thought about cutting everything out of strong cardboard, covering the board in some fabric and vinyl, the pieces in felt adding some bling or holographic or some kind of vinyl. I would like the chess board to be used with joy and A LOT of disagreements!!
Thank you so much for sharing your talent, many blessings.
Mandee
June 17, 2022 at 10:37 am (1 year ago)Ooo, I love all of those ideas! And if there’s one game that is sure to cause some disagreements, it’s chess!!
Anna
June 16, 2022 at 11:44 pm (1 year ago)Amazing!!! You are so creative! Love this and love the fact that you are willing to share this design. Thank you!
Mandee
June 17, 2022 at 10:37 am (1 year ago)You are very welcome! I’m glad you like it. 😊
Ali van den Berge
June 17, 2022 at 1:27 am (1 year ago)This is amazing!! How beautiful, thank you so much.
Mandee
June 17, 2022 at 10:37 am (1 year ago)You’re welcome!!
Phyllis
June 18, 2022 at 3:02 pm (1 year ago)Great design! Any thoughts on the smallest this could be made? I’m thinking 1:12 scale dollhouse size. Would it be possible?
Mandee
June 20, 2022 at 10:02 am (1 year ago)Thank you! Ooo, I’m not sure. You could always combine some of the decorative layers, though, and make them into a “print then cut” piece instead of cutting out all the little details. That could help when sizing it down really small.
Christina
June 18, 2022 at 11:10 pm (1 year ago)Hi Miss Mandee , today i am going to get the paper first laminated both sides its a soft but durable plastic. hope my machine can then cut it . your design on all project make me want to see the next one .You really inspire a lot of people. Thank you so much for giving and share to us you do have a good heart.
I am trying to design my own home and i can see this is not so easy it took a lot of time and you do have to love it before you can start it.
Mandee
June 20, 2022 at 10:04 am (1 year ago)Lamination is a great idea! I’m sure the machine can handle it, with the correct settings.
You are too kind! I’m so glad you enjoy my work and look forward to my projects!! ❤️
Vanesa
July 3, 2022 at 8:36 am (1 year ago)Te admiro profundamente, este trabajo es exquisito. Muchas gracias por compartirlo, no juego al ajedrez pero invita a realizarlo igual!. Simplemente gracias por todos tus trabajos.
Mandee
July 6, 2022 at 10:12 am (1 year ago)Aww, thank you so much for your kind words! That means a lot. ❤️
Carol Jenne
July 10, 2022 at 1:38 pm (1 year ago)Miss Mandee – thank you for this wonderful 3D project.
Do you be any chance have a video on assembly. I’m confused on where some of the pieces go on the chess board. Or even in the instructions how the assembly goes – it seems like I have more pieces than I should…
thank you again – can’t wait to get this together – love chess
Mandee
July 11, 2022 at 10:44 am (1 year ago)Hi Carol! Sorry, I don’t have a video tutorial for this project, unfortunately. But feel free to email me at mandee@designsbymissmandee.com if you have questions about specific pieces or part of the process (and then you can attach pictures). I am happy to help if I can!
Carol Jenne
July 17, 2022 at 12:23 pm (1 year ago)I can’t paste my pictures. Need help with the instructions for the 2 large rectangles and the 2 skinny strips. Not understanding how these go together and can’t see a pic in your instructions for theses pieces. My draws warped- had to redo those. Also didn’t understand the centering part for the draws. Now I got it that they have to be centered horizontally and vertically. Not even with the bottom of the draw. This will be wonderful once I get how it all goes together. Thank you for your help.
Mandee
July 19, 2022 at 10:05 am (1 year ago)Hi Carol! Hopefully you saw my email. But just in case someone else is struggling with the same issue, here is my response:
“Those two rectangular pieces you have will overlap each other to make one large square (for the underside of the chess board). The two, thin strips will connect to your large square, and be used to attach to the interior of the sides. Basically, you are just making a little platform for your drawers to rest on as they slide into the chess board. If you didn’t include these pieces at all, it wouldn’t be the end of the world: the drawers would just sag a little bit.”
Corinne
January 20, 2023 at 11:21 am (11 months ago)Hi there! First I want to say thank you so much for sharing your amazing designs for free!! We used the ice cream truck design to make a school project for my daughter 🙂
Next, I need a little help lol. I am brand new to Cricut, got it for Xmas, but I’m getting the hang of it quickly (esp with the help of your easy to understand files)! I am using Cricut kraftboard for this so it would be sturdier, and I’m on the layer with the super intricate designs all the way around the top. That’s the darker brown layer in your model. I’m using the fine point blade as instructed by cricut for the material, just replaced the blade, and the cricut keeps completely butchering this cut! Is the material just too thick for it? Wrong blade? Maybe I should make that layer out of something else instead? I feel like the fine point isn’t cutting the kraftboard very cleanly in general, but that’s what the machine said to use..
Thanks for your help and for this! My husband is very excited that I’m building him a chess board 🙂
Mandee
January 24, 2023 at 9:24 pm (10 months ago)Hi Corinne! Thanks so much for your kind words!! It really means a lot to me. And I’m so glad that you were able to put my ice cream truck to good use already.
Hmm, I haven’t used Cricut Kraftboard myself, but I would imagine that it is probably similar to chipboard. If that is the case, then it likely won’t cut well with intricate layers. If I were you, I would probably save the kraftboard for the light brown layers in the design, and maybe even simplify them even more (getting rid of any small holes in the designs for the side pieces). The, I would cut the delicate layers out of paper and mod podge them on top.
Best of luck! This is kind of a tricky project, so I commend you for trying it this early on in your Cricut journey!!