Mark Score Lines for 3D Patterns using Your Cricut

Here is how I design 3D paper house patterns (SVGs) with score lines so they work in your Cricut or other automatic cutting machines. It makes more sense to explain the process in detail in one post so you can always refer to it later to figure out the score lines on the paper house patterns I design. Or really for any of my 3D paper craft patterns.

These patterns are based on programs that make SVG designs - Scalable Vector Graphics - designs that can be scaled up or down, made larger or smaller without losing detail. That's what allows you to choose the size of your design within the software.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

I must admit that the only cutting machine design software that I have any familiarity with is Cricut's Design Space. Mostly what I want you to see here is how to find and mark the score lines for my 3D paper craft projects. Other design software for other automatic cutting machines have similar options.

First, most of my paper house or 3D designs fit 8.5 x 11 inch paper

First off, I design my patterns to fit on a 8.5 x 11 inch paper or cardboard. Why? That's because that is what I have. The people in the office where I work save me lots of nice cardboard that is 8.5 x 11 inches. So each page of the design fits that size. I hope that works for you.

Here is a simple paper house pattern to demonstrate score lines

This is the Easy Paper House pattern before the score lines are marked. The pattern fits nicely on my standard size cardboard. Even the roof and chimney options fit nicely on one page.

That's the typical way my patterns look when they fit on this size paper.

And this photo shows the Easy Paper House with score lines marked and attached.

But what if the house is too big for one 8.5 x 11 inch paper or cardboard? Then we make what I call an inset house where a back piece is inserted into front piece. The Habitat Halloween House is one example because the front is 9 inches across. Below is the front of the Habitat Paper House

And here is the inset back piece with the glue tabs on each side.

Ok, so that is the general structure of all of my houses. Rarely there are different variations, but most of my 3D paper house patterns look like this when you import them into Cricut's Design Space. Now let's get to the score lines and how to mark them and attach them.

What about Score Lines? How do you ensure the design software understands score lines?

So how do you make sure the design software understands score lines? Because to Cricut's Design Space a line is a line and it is to be cut unless you make it very clear it is NOT to be cut. It's a bit of a challenge.

I'm going to use the Habitat Halloween House as the example for several reasons:

• It's my most recent house
• It is fairly complicated and needs a good explanation
• It's a good example to learn from

Here are the steps involved in cutting out the Habitat Halloween Paper House SVG Pattern in Cricut's Design Software

First import the SVG paper house pattern into your design software.

I import each sheet separately. Some of them take quite a while to cut so I work on other things while my Cricut Explore Air 2 is cutting things out.

Let's do the front of the Habitat Halloween House first. It includes some windows because that's what fit on the page.

Next ungroup to make the score lines and attach them to the house.

To do that, click the ungroup button at the menu on the right just under where it says layers and color sync. Below you see the Habitat Halloween House ungrouped. It's a subtle change on the screen.

You can tell it's not grouped because each piece that is to be cut out is separate. It's not under the overall same heading Habitat Spooky House.

Now find the score lines for this paper house pattern - the Spooky Halloween House for Habitat

It's a fairly complicated house (but isn't it cool?). That's why I want to include photos showing the score lines on the patterns in Design Space.

You can find the score lines grouped in one box. I always try to draw them with red lines so that they show up, but Design Space doesn't show them that way in this screen. And these lines are grouped with the main part of the house they below to.

See the lines in the menu below? The top 2 lines are cut lines. And the angled lines are the score lines for the roof an the sides. Now change them so Design Space understands what we want.

Now change the score lines so Design Space knows not to cut them out

Follow these photos to see how to do that.

First click on the area in the right menu in the score line section.

Now find the Linetype menu on the left upper section of Design Space.

These are your Linetype choices.

Notice the red box. That means that the area selected - the grouped scorelines - is red. That's why I try (but I don't always remember to do this) to make my score lines red.

Now click the Linetype Score

These are the changes on your screen when you do that. You actually see the score lines appear and the lines are marked score on both the left and right areas of design space.

And finally attach the score lines and the cut lines to the main body of the house

See the attach button at the bottom of the screen. That's what you click to attach these lines to the main house.

So that attaches both the cut lines and the score lines to the main body of the house and you can go ahead and make it.

And below you can see the other Habitat Halloween House paper pattern pieces with all the score lines changed and attached

Back inset piece with the front extension

Miscellaneous pattern pieces for the Habitat for Humanity House

Some score lines are not visible in this menu, but be sure to mark all of these lines as score lines.

And here is the only score on the main roof page which also has a set of wonky windows and door for the Halloween House. You can delete the wonky windows if you want to use the neater set on the page with the main body of the house.

Attach the cut lines on the shingles to the all the shingles by clicking attach. You don't have to ungroup this set of cut outs.

Now you don't have to do anything special for the Bat Wing fence. To make it strong, I generally glue two layers of cardboard together.

So that's how to specify the score lines in Cricut's Design Space. And you can see the score lines on the pattern pieces for the Spooky Miniature Halloween House for Habitat.

Subscribe to my newsletter and download the pattern for this house and many other free patterns from my Paper Glitter Glue Library.

One of my online buddies has numerous written and video tutorials on using the Cricut. You can find lots of great information on Jennifer's website - JenniferMaker.com.

Let me know if you have any questions. Email me at [email protected]

Thank you for reading.

Lucy