We’ve made trucks, trains, buses, boats, and even camper vans, and today we are adding to the vehicle collection! Add a little whimsy to your crafting endeavors, and make this 3D trolley car with me.
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Watch a short video of me putting this project together on Instagram.
3D Trolley Car
Materials
- Cardstock
- Hot Glue
- Precision Craft Glue or a Glue Stick
- Precision Craft Glue or a Glue Stick optional
- Decorative Ribbon optional
- A Cutting Machine or X-ACTO knife
- My Free Template
Instructions
- Use your cutting machine or X-ACTO knife, along with my template, to cut out all of the pieces of the 3D trolley car.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
- Start by layering the decorative panels on the trolley car frame. You can also layer together the headlight pieces and wheel pieces at this time.
Assembling the Undercarriage
- Take the undercarriage piece and fold along the score lines.The two sides of the undercarriage are similar, but the slits within the shapes are different. On the side that has four slits in the interior and only two on one side, connect the three wedge-shaped pieces (as shown in the second photo).Attach the wheels to the left and right sides of the two light brown wedge-shaped pieces (as shown in the third photo).Next, attach the two pieces of the trolley car frame together, fold along the score lines, and attach the ends together to form a rectangle.Use the tabs on the bottom to attach the trolley car frame to the other side of the undercarriage (there are slits provided for all four sides, but the ones that are hiding in the score marks may be hard to see at first).
- Take your two, brown pieces shown in the first photo and fold along the score lines.For the piece that has a curved side, fold that portion inward and attach the little tabs around the curved edge until the whole thing forms the shape shown in the second photo.Take that piece and attach it to the front of the trolly car by slipping the two main tabs into the slits provided, and gluing the little tabs to the surface of the undercarriage.For the other brown piece, attach it to the back of the trolley by gluing the little bottom tabs along the underside of the curved edge of the undercarriage. Then, glue the two side tabs to the back wall of the trolley.
- Now that all of the pieces are attached to the undercarriage, we can finish assembling that section. To do so, start by taking the little rectangular pieces (that have all of the little tabs on each end) and attach them along the curved edges of the undercarriage.Then, add some glue to all of the visible tabs, and fold the other side of the undercarriage over.This is also a good time to attach the decorative panels, as well as the headlights, to the front and back of the trolley.Next, take your rectangular box piece and fold along the score lines.Attach each of the tabs on the box to the interior until it forms a solid rectangular prism. Attach the whole thing to the underside of the trolley.Note: This piece is just there to help the trolley stay upright without putting too much stress on the little wheels.
Assembling the Benches
- Take your five bench pieces and fold along the score lines.The two benches that include legs are intended to sit in the back of the trolley. Attach those ones first. Glue the back of the benches to the inside of the trolley walls and use the little tabs at the bottom of the legs to attach the whole thing to the floor.Next, attach the other three benches by gluing the tabs to the inside walls near the three openings.
Assembling the Stairs
- Gather your six staircase pieces.Fold each of the dark brown stair pieces along the score lines. Glue the tabs to the inside of the shape to form four rectangular prisms.Attach two stairs to one of the blue pieces by gluing the ends to the inside of the two curved portions. One stair will attach to the bottom edge of the curved portions and the other will fall just under the bottom edge of the straight portion of the blue piece (see photo 3). Repeat with the second set of stairs.Attach the two staircases to either side of your trolly, just below the three openings.
Assembling the Roof
- Take your large, blue roof piece and fold along the score lines.Fold the side inward and use the little tabs to attach them all together in order to form a sort of pyramid shape.Then, use the tabs on the top of the trolley frame and the slits in the roof piece to attach them both together.
- Next, take your two red strips and attach them together. Fold along the score lines and attach the ends so that the whole thing forms a rectangle.Attach your red rectangle piece to the lone blue rectangle using the tabs/slits provided.Take your smaller, blue roof piece and fold along the score lines. Repeat the process of forming a pyramid shape by attaching the sides together. Do not attach the top flap just yet.Slip the remaining tabs on your red rectangle piece into the slits at the bottom of the roof piece and glue them down. Once that is attached, you can glue to top flap down.Attach the whole thing to the top of the larger roof piece.
Finishing Up
- Finish your cute 3D trolley car by adding some decorative ribbon or other personalized elements (if you so choose), and your project is complete!
Notes
View the full-size photo tutorial below.
Supplies
- Cardstock
- Hot Glue
- Precision Craft Glue or a Glue Stick
- Bone Folder (optional)
- Decorative Ribbon (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 of the 3D trolley car.
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 the decorative panels on the trolley car frame. You can also layer together the headlight pieces and wheel pieces at this time.
Assembling the Undercarriage
3. Take the undercarriage piece and fold along the score lines.
The two sides of the undercarriage are similar, but the slits within the shapes are different. On the side that has four slits in the interior and only two on one side, connect the three wedge-shaped pieces (as shown in the second photo).
Attach the wheels to the left and right sides of the two light brown wedge-shaped pieces (as shown in the third photo).
Next, attach the two pieces of the trolley car frame together, fold along the score lines, and attach the ends together to form a rectangle.
Use the tabs on the bottom to attach the trolley car frame to the other side of the undercarriage (there are slits provided for all four sides, but the ones that are hiding in the score marks may be hard to see at first).
Assembling the Ends of the Trolley
4. Take your two, brown pieces shown in the first photo and fold along the score lines.
For the piece that has a curved side, fold that portion inward and attach the little tabs around the curved edge until the whole thing forms the shape shown in the second photo.
Take that piece and attach it to the front of the trolly car by slipping the two main tabs into the slits provided, and gluing the little tabs to the surface of the undercarriage.
For the other brown piece, attach it to the back of the trolley by gluing the little bottom tabs along the underside of the curved edge of the undercarriage. Then, glue the two side tabs to the back wall of the trolley.
5. Now that all of the pieces are attached to the undercarriage, we can finish assembling that section. To do so, start by taking the little rectangular pieces (that have all of the little tabs on each end) and attach them along the curved edges of the undercarriage.
Then, add some glue to all of the visible tabs, and fold the other side of the undercarriage over.
This is also a good time to attach the decorative panels, as well as the headlights, to the front and back of the trolley.
Next, take your rectangular box piece and fold along the score lines.
Attach each of the tabs on the box to the interior until it forms a solid rectangular prism. Attach the whole thing to the underside of the trolley.
Note: This piece is just there to help the trolley stay upright without putting too much stress on the little wheels.
Assembling the Benches
6. Take your five bench pieces and fold along the score lines.
The two benches that include legs are intended to sit in the back of the trolley. Attach those ones first. Glue the back of the benches to the inside of the trolley walls and use the little tabs at the bottom of the legs to attach the whole thing to the floor.
Next, attach the other three benches by gluing the tabs to the inside walls near the three openings.
Assembling the Stairs
7. Gather your six staircase pieces.
Fold each of the dark brown stair pieces along the score lines. Glue the tabs to the inside of the shape to form four rectangular prisms.
Attach two stairs to one of the blue pieces by gluing the ends to the inside of the two curved portions. One stair will attach to the bottom edge of the curved portions and the other will fall just under the bottom edge of the straight portion of the blue piece (see photo 3). Repeat with the second set of stairs.
Attach the two staircases to either side of your trolly, just below the three openings.
Assembling the Roof
8. Take your large, blue roof piece and fold along the score lines.
Fold the side inward and use the little tabs to attach them all together in order to form a sort of pyramid shape.
Then, use the tabs on the top of the trolley frame and the slits in the roof piece to attach them both together.
9. Next, take your two red strips and attach them together. Fold along the score lines and attach the ends so that the whole thing forms a rectangle.
Attach your red rectangle piece to the lone blue rectangle using the tabs/slits provided.
Take your smaller, blue roof piece and fold along the score lines. Repeat the process of forming a pyramid shape by attaching the sides together. Do not attach the top flap just yet.
Slip the remaining tabs on your red rectangle piece into the slits at the bottom of the roof piece and glue them down. Once that is attached, you can glue to top flap down.
Attach the whole thing to the top of the larger roof piece.
Finishing Up
10. Finish your cute 3D trolley car by adding some decorative ribbon or other personalized elements (if you so choose), and your project is complete!
The city that I live in actually did have a functional trolley system at one point in time. And if you drive through the historic town district, you can see the trolley tracks embedded in the road. Since that trolley is a remnant of the past, the only “real” trolley I’ve ever had the chance to ride has been at Disneyland—which is still a lot of fun!
I use Adobe Illustrator for all 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 making this 3D trolley car for yourself! I’d love to see your results, so be sure to show off your project by either sharing your work in my Facebook Group or tagging 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. 10 Comments on 3D Trolley Car – Cute Cut Files
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Maria Guzman
January 18, 2024 at 8:24 pm (8 months ago)Gracias 😊😊😊😊
Mandee
January 19, 2024 at 4:21 pm (8 months ago)You are very welcome, Maria! ☺️
jen
January 19, 2024 at 8:24 am (8 months ago)Oooh! makes me want to visit SanFran again.
thanks for sharing
Mandee
January 19, 2024 at 4:22 pm (8 months ago)I’ve always wanted to visit San Francisco!!
Helen J Roberts
January 19, 2024 at 9:57 am (8 months ago)I love this! Might have to tweek a bit to make it fit my Cricut Cuties, but they are going to do a San Francisco scene soon. Lol, thank you for another over the top file.
Zulma L Rivera
January 19, 2024 at 10:41 am (8 months ago)Esta precioso , Gracias por compartir . Un saludo desde Puerto Rico
Mandee
January 19, 2024 at 4:24 pm (8 months ago)You are most welcome, Zulma! I’m glad you like it. 💕
Mandee
January 19, 2024 at 4:23 pm (8 months ago)Awww, that sounds absolutely adorable!! Yes, it would probably need to be scaled up slightly for them, but if you have 12″x12″ paper, it shouldn’t be too hard to do. ☺️
Lori Lynx
January 19, 2024 at 7:09 pm (8 months ago)Beautiful. So, where’s Mr. Rogers and Daniel?
Mandee
January 24, 2024 at 8:59 am (8 months ago)I definitely did think of Mr. Rodgers when I designed this! I loved that show as a kid!!