Paper Rocket Craft With Free Templates

This red, white and blue paper rocket craft is perfect for a Fourth of July table centerpiece. Once cut, you can have your kids assemble them. Learn how to download the free templates, cut and assemble them in just a few simple steps.

HOW TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE TEMPLATES

In this tutorial, I will show you how to make these paper rockets using pre-designed templates. You can use an electronic cutting machine (i.e. Silhouette Cameo or Cricut) or print off the PDF or PNG files to use as a template to cut the files by hand.

To download the free paper rocket files, subscribe at the top right sidebar or at the bottom of this post. I’ve also provided SVG, DXF, EPS, PNG, and PDF versions of the files to accommodate all cutting machine types.

After subscribing, you will receive an email confirming your subscription (check your spam or promotions folder if you don’t see it.) Once you confirm your subscription you will receive a “welcome email” with the password. Go to the library page and enter the password in the empty box located below the word “Password”. You can also access the library on the top menu bar any time you’d like with your password.

Please keep in mind that the password is case sensitive and does have spaces. Also, check to make sure your caps lock is turned off. If you have any problems, email me at laura@heartfilledspaces.com and I’ll do my best to help. Once in the library follow the instructions for downloading your free files.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure statement here.

HOW TO CUT THIS PAPER ROCKET CRAFT BY HAND

If you don’t have a cutting machine, you will want to open the PDF version of the files and print them on your cardstock. Then use a self-healing mat, straight edge and crafting knife to cut out the templates following the black lines on the template.

SILHOUETTE CAMEO CUT SETTINGS FOR PAPER ROCKETS

These cut settings are for 65 lb. card-stock using a new auto-blade. You’ll also want to use a light grip cutting mat. If you have not completed the download step, refer back to the DOWNLOAD THE FREE TEMPLATE section up above for instructions. Download the SVG files if you are using the Designer or Business Edition of Silhouette Studio. If you have the basic edition (free version) of Silhouette Studio download the DXF file. Note: Sometimes the DXF files open in the gray area surrounding your canvas. You may need to choose (CTRL -) that’s the Control Key plus the Minus Key, to zoom out and see the DXF file.

Open Silhouette Studio. Then choose File then Open and choose the PAPER ROCKET FILE you downloaded from the library to your computer. The files will be in the location you downloaded them to previously.

Change the score lines on the tab panels to a dashed line so they fold, but don’t cut. Go to the Send panel and change your cut settings to the following:

Card-stock Cut Settings

Blade: 5, Force: 30, Speed: 4, Passes: 1, Overcut: ON

Load your material on your light grip cutting mat and load it into your machine. Then press send.

CRICUT UPLOAD INSTRUCTIONS FOR PAPER ROCKETS

Open Cricut Design Space. Click upload on the bottom left toolbar. Then click upload image and then browse. Select the SVG version of the PAPER ROCKET FILE that you downloaded earlier from the library. If you have not completed the download step, refer back to the DOWNLOAD THE FREE TEMPLATES section up above for instructions.

Click open and rename the file and add tags if you want to. Then click save. Now select the file and choose Insert Images.

CRICUT DESIGN SPACE: CHANGING CUT LINES TO SCORE LINES AND ATTACHING LAYERS

Once the file is on your canvas, left click on it to select it. Then, right click on it and ungroup the layers. Now select the black lines in the layers panel (these are the score lines and there are 13 of them). Click on Linetype on the top panel and change the cut lines to score lines. Below is a screenshot of the SVG file. The yellow boxes indicate the layers that are changed from cut to score.

After you have created the score lines, highlight the blue layers and click on Attach at the bottom of the layers panel. Repeat this process for the red and then the white layers.

Now click Make It. In your preview panel you will have 3 mats. Change the material size for each mat to 8.5 X 11.

Note: If there are any black lines on a mat by themselves, you need to click cancel on the Preview (bottom right). Then back on your canvas, you need to find the score lines that are not attached. They will be towards the bottom in your layers panel. Then you can click Make It again and check your preview.

Look over the preview and click Continue. Turn on your Cricut machine. Select Cardstock (Medium) for your material. Load your card-stock onto a light grip mat and load the mat into your machine. Load your scoring wheel in the machine and press Go. Once it is done scoring, load your Fine Point blade into the machine and press go again. Repeat the process until all 3 mats are cut.

Below is an image of the files once they are cut.

HOW TO ASSEMBLE YOUR PAPER ROCKET CRAFT

Once your rocket pieces are cut out, assemble the stars in various patterns. You’ll also want to add your stripes to your white panels before assembling the rocket.

I ran my cut pieces through the Xyron Creative Station adhesive machine to turn them into stickers. A glue stick would also work well.

Add your colored pieces over the white pieces before you assemble them.

If using a thicker paper, you’ll need to use a hot glue gun to hold the 3D shapes together. I tried a tape runner and they eventually opened up again.

Take your main rocket piece (with five tabs) and roll it shut. Then close the short side with hot glue, so it’s rolled up like a toilet paper roll.

Next, fold the tab on the cone, add hot glue and close it.

Now fold the five tabs on the body of the rocket slightly inward. Add hot glue to each of the tabs and press the cone onto them. Hold it in place for a few seconds so the glue has a chance to cool.

Here is one of the finished rockets. The great thing about these patterns is that you can mix and match the cutouts to get a variety of different rockets.

For my project base, I used some painted tea tins with craft foam inside. I taped the wood skewers inside the bottom of the rockets. Then I added some stars to the chenille stems with the hot glue, curled the stems and taped them inside the rockets. Next, I pressed the skewers into the craft foam at different heights and angles. To finish off the the top of the tea tins I added shredded paper and curled up the paper scraps left over from the stripes. The leftover stars also work well as confetti.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Don’t miss out! Subscribe on the top right sidebar or bottom of this post to get my latest craft ideas, templates and home decor projects. Join the community and gain access to my free library of over 70 printables, templates and cut files; including these paper rockets.

FOLLOW ALONG ON PINTEREST

Do you like budget friendly home decor and crafts? Follow me on PINTEREST. Did you know that you can hover over any of the images below and save them for later? Just click on the red Pinterest button and save it to your Summer Decor, Paper Crafts, or Cricut board. It’s helpful to Pin It now and save it for later, when your ready to start your project.

The post Paper Rocket Craft With Free Templates appeared first on Heart Filled Spaces.