I hope your typing skills are up to stuff, because today’s papercraft will be a test of both your crafting capabilities and your talent as a typist. So, gather up some pretty paper and make this 3D vintage typewriter with me!
Like this design? Consider leaving a tip to show your support.
Can you believe how cute this turned out?? Me either. I really wasn’t sure if this one was going to live up to the expectations I had in my head, but it did! And I couldn’t be more pleased.
I have been wanting to create a typewriter like this for a long time now (it has been on my idea list for probably two years). So, when one of my patrons suggested the idea of a typewriter project recently, I knew it was time to make it happen!
Follow along using the instructions below, or check out this tutorial video.
Supplies
- Cardstock
- Hot Glue
- Precision Craft Glue or a Glue Stick
- An 8″ Lollipop Stick
- Foam Tape (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 vintage typewriter pieces.
I have included debossing lines in this design in order to indicate where all of the keys are to be placed, but feel free to set them as score lines if you don’t have a debossing tool, or delete them if you don’t have either type of tool. The lines are helpful for this project, but not 100% necessary.
This design also includes print-then-cut elements. But, if you don’t have access to a printer, you can just delete the type layers and write the text in by hand later on.
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, and a bright blue to indicate the debossing lines, so hopefully that helps! If you’re having trouble with the score lines, check out this video.
Prepping the Pieces
2. Start by finding all of your gold embellishment pieces and attaching them to their corresponding pink pieces, like so.
Assembling the Back & Sides
3. Take the back piece and fold along the score lines. Take the small, rectangular pink piece and slip the tabs into the corresponding slits. Glue the tabs to the inside. The other sections of this piece will form a “U” shape and eventually house the cylindrical carriage piece.
Next, attach one of your side pieces by gluing the long tab to the inside of the back. Fold in the top flap, and use the tabs provided to glue it to the top edge of the previous piece. Repeat with the other side piece.
Assembling the Top, Front, & Bottom
4. Curve the rectangular black and silver pieces and attach them together. Use the little tabs to attach the whole thing to the curved edge of the first piece.
Next, take the front piece and fold along the score lines in an accordion pattern. Attach the whole thing to the front of your project, starting with the top and working your way down. Be sure to keep your “stairs” as even and straight as possible as you go along.
Finish creating the structure of your typewriter by attaching the bottom piece, and folding the decorated edge in front.
Assembling the Keys
5. Use the guidelines provided to place your keys evenly along your typewriter “stairs.” Feel free to use my photos, or your own computer keyboard, as a cheat sheet for what order to place your keys in (or put them in whatever order you like—it’s your typewriter after all)!
Assembling the Typewriter Carriage
6. Take the large, black piece and roll it up into a cylinder. Glue the long edge tab to the inside and fold the little tabs inward.
Next, attach a circle (with a hole) to each end of your cylinder.
Make two more, narrow, cylinders by curling the thin, black strips into rings and attaching the end tab on each one. Fold the little tabs inward and attach a circle to each side (one with a hole and one without).
Final Assembling
7. Attach your carriage cylinder with a lollipop stick. Push the stick through one of the side holes in the typewriter, then through the two holes in the cylinder, and then through the other side hole.
Attach the narrow cylinders to each end of the lollipop stick with hot glue.
Finally, add your lever by attaching it to the top/back of the piece, and wind your paper around your carriage.
As you can see, I have incorporated some pre-made little sayings for the typewriter paper included in this project, but I also added a blank sheet if you want to make your own version. I incorporated perforation marks in the paper so that you could potentially use them as little notes that you could tear out and keep as you pull the paper through. Though, I would suggest using a thinner paper (something more like copy paper) if you want to use it in this way.
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 vintage typewriter together. And don’t forget to share your retro, 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. 15 Comments on 3D Vintage Typewriter – Intricate Cut File
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Pete
July 13, 2022 at 6:50 am (11 months ago)very nice, will have to find all my fancy cardstock for this one.
Mandee
July 13, 2022 at 10:40 am (11 months ago)This one definitely calls for a fun cardstock!!
Nicole
July 13, 2022 at 8:46 am (11 months ago)I raced home to download this! I will literally be rushing through my chores to make this. This is so beautiful and exciting! Thank you so so so much!
Mandee
July 13, 2022 at 10:40 am (11 months ago)Haha, crafting as a motivation to finish housework—I approve! Glad you like the design!! 😄
Helen J Roberts
July 13, 2022 at 12:18 pm (11 months ago)Great design! How about an old fashion telephone and calculator to complete the office? Love all your designs.
Nicole
July 13, 2022 at 3:02 pm (11 months ago)Ohhh what a cool concept!
Mandee
July 14, 2022 at 9:27 am (11 months ago)Man, those would both be great!! I’ve thought about doing a retro telephone before, but was too intimidated by the idea. I definitely need to re-visit that one!
Helen J Roberts
July 27, 2022 at 8:33 am (10 months ago)Intimidated? You? I hope you realize that you are unique in your ability to take an everyday item and make it into a beautiful craft item. You are too talented to think that anything is beyond your scope and ability. You, Mandee, are inspirational!
Mandee
July 27, 2022 at 11:00 am (10 months ago)You are going to make me cry Helen. You are too sweet!
Deb
July 13, 2022 at 1:03 pm (11 months ago)Wow – this is so impressive!!! Thanks for all your great designs!
Mandee
July 14, 2022 at 9:27 am (11 months ago)Aww, thank you Deb! 😊
Rebecca
July 13, 2022 at 2:45 pm (11 months ago)Love this one!! Can’t wait to make it. The paper options are running through my brain at full speed now!!
Mandee
July 14, 2022 at 9:28 am (11 months ago)I can’t even tell you how many paper combinations I went through before deciding, haha! Best of luck to you!!
auntie em
July 14, 2022 at 10:46 am (11 months ago)Miss Mandee, you mentioned in one of your comments you hadn’t tackled an idea because you were too intimidated. Some how I don’t believe you could ever find anything intimidating. When I look all your amazing and beautiful creations, it just blows me away. Thank you so much for sharing these fantastic files!
Mandee
July 19, 2022 at 10:03 am (11 months ago)Aww, thank you so much—you flatter me! Believe it or not, there are definitely project ideas out there that I do find intimidating. I’m so glad you enjoy my work!