Santa Express Box Card with Eclipse Lettering from the Train Box Card by Simply Crafty SVGs

Hello, Janet here with a new folding 3D Christmas card. I've used the SVG file for the Train Box Card from Simply Crafty SVGs to make a fun Santa Express card.

My inspiration came from the Santa Special at our local stretch of the restored Royal Deeside Railway (I live in the northeast of Scotland).  I was drawn towards the plaid (tartan) patterns in the Echo Park 'A Perfect Christmas' digital paper pack, and as the Santa in the matching elements pack reminded me of the one on the train, I used them to decorate a Santa Express Box card.

I've also been massively impressed by the lovely examples of eclipse lettering around at present, and so set out to use some eclipse lettering on the side of the box card.

These instructions are for the Silhouette Studio Designer Edition software, but can no doubt be replicated in other cutting software.


Materials Used:
American Crafts textured card in White, Black, Ladybird, and Grass
Pearl cardstock in Silver and Dark Grey
Silver glitter paper
Beacon Zip Dry Adhesive
Black adhesive foam pads
Silhouette Cameo
Colour printer
Black adhesive gems

Files Used:
Simply Crafty SVGs Train Box Card

Other Digital Files:
A Perfect Christmas Paper Pack #2 by Lori Whitlock for Echo Park
A Perfect Christmas Element Pack #2 by Lori Whitlock for Echo Park
LW Bubble Letter Font by Lori Whitlock


Preparing the Patterned Parts

Load the plaid pattern and chalkboard labels papers into the Silhouette Studio software (with the Designer edition the papers can simply be dragged into the patterns folder in the library). Fill the side and back panels with the plaid pattern.

Create a panel by subtracting small circles from the corners of a rectangle. Type the word 'Santa' in LW Bubble Font and centre it in the panel (a clear fill and a line thickness of zero ensures it will cut, but not print). The word 'express' was typed below and filled with cream and green to print, but not cut.

Trace the Tree Panel from the labels paper, and the Santa PNG from the elements pack.

Place all the patterned pieces onto a Print & Cut virtual mat and send to the printer, then cut with the Silhouette.

(Optional) Use markers to carefully add colour to the edges of the cut pieces.

Cutting the Other Pieces

Cut the remainder of the file pieces from coloured cardstock, with copies of the Santa word and a slightly enlarged copy of the new panel from green cardstock.

Card Assembly

Both written (PDF) and video instructions are available for this file and it is very straightforward to put together. Assemble the card base and then decorate the panels, leaving the wheels, lights and Santa eclipse panel until the other panels have been applied to the card base.


The Eclipse Santa Panel

Adhere the plaid Santa panel to the plain green panel together with the centre pieces from the letter 'A's. Stack the letters and adhere each layer using liquid glue. Adhere the stacked letters into the holes in the Santa panel and your eclipse lettering is complete!


Adding Santa

Stick the two Santas back-to-back. Trim off the upright post from all the window pieces. Trim off the lower part of Santa's body and push his head and arm through the window from the back and adhere him behind the window. Trim off the parts of the body which show on the left-hand side.

Bend the Santa's face, hat, and arm gently forward.

Finishing Touches

Add the lights and wheels, giving extra dimension using adhesive foam pads.

There are so many options for decorating this Train Box card, maybe I'll try out Thomas and friends for boy's birthday cards next year!


Bye for now,
Janet, DT Member Simply Crafty SVGS


Blog: Crafting Quine 
Instagram: @CraftingQuine



Simply Crafty SVG Files:
Train Box Card