Before you do a Print and Cut project, you need to calibrate your machine. This step was actually very problematic and I couldn't get the machine the read the sensor marks (the "L" shapes in three corners). Here's a few tips in case you run into the same problem:
- Download the calibration sheet directly from the Cricut site (make sure none of the "L" shapes are cut off by your printer
- Make sure your printer is not set to "Fit to a page"
- Turn off any overhead lights. Ambient light makes it difficult for the sensor marks to be read properly.


Once you have calibrated the machine,

1. Download the Cricut 3D Gingham Tree image here.
2. Upload the image into Cricut Design Space as a simple image and erase the white space
3. Save the image as a Print and Cut image.
4. Select the image and insert it onto a blank canvas in Cricut Design Space. Edit the image size to 2.5" wide x 3.53" high. Copy and paste so that you have four trees on the 8.5"x11" page.
5. Click Go and then print the images on your home printer.

6. Attach the printed paper to the Cricut mat. Insert the mat and click Go to cut the images.
7. Remove the excess paper. Remove the cut images from the mat.



Tip: to remove the cut images from the mat, I find it easier to flip the mat upside down and slowly roll the mat back as you hold onto the cut image.


8. Use a scoring tool to score a line down the middle of each tree.
9. Fold each tree with the pattern on the inside
10. Take two trees and glue one half of each together. The trees are symmetrical so you the edges should line up perfectly.
11. Take a loop of ribbon and tape or glue it to the back of the paired trees.
12. Take the remaining two trees and also glue one half of each together.
13. Take both pairs of trees and glue them together. You will end up with a tree with four sides.



And that's it! You can hang the trees on your Christmas tree or use them in a vignette (you can omit the ribbon loop).

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