I hope you have been practicing your penmanship because today we are taking things back to the era of handwritten correspondence. So, gather up your stationery supplies and make a charming, vintage letterbox with me!
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Watch a short video of me putting this project together on Instagram.
Supplies
- Cardstock
- Hot Glue
- A Lollipop Stick
- Precision Craft Glue or a Glue Stick
- Bone Folder (optional)
- Decorative Gems (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 pieces for your vintage letterbox.
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.
Layering Your Pieces
2. Layer all of the decorative panels like so. Note that the back piece will have a large decorative panel on the backside and three smaller, more elaborate, decorative elements on the front side (top).
Assembling the Door
3. Use the two slits on the left side of the front piece to attach your door. Glue the tabs to the inside.
Next, take your two, small brown pieces. Slip the rounded piece with a hole in it into the slit in the rectangular piece. Glue the tab down.
Then, line it up with the latch portion of your door, and attach the whole thing to the front of your letterbox.
Assembling the Structure
4. Take the four rectangular side panels of your letterbox and use the tabs to attach them to the back portion of your letterbox. Attach the left/right side pieces before attaching the top piece, so that you have a reference for where to line that section up.
Note: Be sure that the left and right sides are attached correctly. The hole in each side should be in a position to line up with the top/front of your letterbox once assembled.
Fold each of the slides inward, and use the tabs to attach them together.
Assembling the Postal Flap
5. Take your postal flap section, and attach it to a lollipop stick with hot glue.
Slide each end of the lollipop stick through the holes in both sides of your letterbox.
Take the two, small circle pieces and attach them to each end of the lollipop stick with hot glue.
Final Assembly
6. Fold the tabs on the front portion of your letterbox, and carefully attach it to the rest of the project.
Add any final decorative embellishments that you so desire, and your project is complete!
4″x6″ cards slip into this letterbox easily (like the ones shown in the photos), but it also fits 5″x7″ cards as well! So, whether you simply want to make this project for aesthetic purposes, or plan to utilize it at an event, like a Bridal Shower, it will be able to hold any standard-sized card.
I was a little hesitant about these paper colors at first, but I honestly love how they came together! I think they really add to the vintage vibe of the piece! If you are curious, the patterned paper I used is from The Paper Studio, and the set is called Floral Farmhouse.
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 this pretty little vintage letterbox together. And don’t forget to share your lovely 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. 6 Comments on Vintage Letterbox – Intricate Cut File
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auntie em
February 22, 2023 at 9:28 am (1 month ago)This is so sweet! Perfect for a shower to put the cards in or for a birthday. Thank you so much for sharing your lovely ideas! <3
Mandee
February 22, 2023 at 12:29 pm (1 month ago)Thank you Auntie Em! I’m so glad you like it!! 😊
Caz Smith
February 25, 2023 at 3:44 am (4 weeks ago)Hi I have just got this file..But i use silhouette portrait..When open all lines are cut lines..no dashed/score lines..for the folds..just watched video but is cricut instructions
Mandee
March 1, 2023 at 10:30 am (4 weeks ago)Hi Caz. Sorry you are having trouble. I’m not familiar with Silhouette software, but I have been told that their system doesn’t support score lines created outside of the software. It was quite a while ago that I was told this information, though, so it could be different now. I would reach out to Silhouette to confirm. Otherwise, I do include a version of the file within the download that doesn’t have any score lines to worry about, just in case!
Jennifer L Cooley
March 1, 2023 at 4:54 pm (4 weeks ago)I absolutely love this and making 2 for weddings. I can I change POST to CARDS?
Mandee
March 7, 2023 at 10:10 am (3 weeks ago)Yay! Have fun making them.
You should be able to do that in Cricut Design Space, but it will take a little work. You would need to be able to convert the text to shapes and then use the slice feature.