3D Hot Cocoa Mug Santa

Hello crafty friends!

Today I’m excited to share a festive 3D project that is perfect for holiday decorating, gifting, or displaying on a cozy winter tray. I’ll be walking you through how I assembled the adorable 3D Hot Cocoa Mug – Santa file from Lori Whitlock’s shop. It’s a fun and simple project that comes together beautifully with just a few supplies.

Let’s get started!

Supplies Needed

• 3D Hot Cocoa Mug – Santa SVG file  SVG  / SVG BUNDLE or SILHOUETTE

• Electronic cutting machine (Cricut, Silhouette, Siser etc.)

• Cardstock in red, white, black, skin tone, and accent colors or design paper.

• Adhesive (liquid glue or tape runner)

• Foam tape (optional for dimension)

• Ink or markers for light shading (optional)

Step 1: Upload & Organize the File

After downloading the SVG from the shop, I uploaded it into my cutting software.
The file comes in clearly labeled pieces, so I grouped by color to make cutting easier:

Step 2: Cut All Cardstock Pieces

I selected cardstock colors that matched the traditional Santa palette:

• Bright red for the hat, berries and saucer

• Black for the eyes

• design paper voor de mug

• Skin tone for Santa’s face

• White for beard, moustache, and whipped cream

• green for the leaves on the hat

After cutting, I grouped all the small Santa pieces so nothing got lost.

Step 3: Build the Mug Base

The mug structure is made from designpaper.

1. Fold all score lines to give the cardstock flexibility.

2. Add ink for shades.

3. Form the mug into a cylinder shape and the glue tabs together.

4. Glue together the circular base piece (saucer).
   

The structure comes together surprisingly easily—just take your time with the curved edges.

Step 4: Assemble Santa’s Face

I always start with inking the edges for shade

1. Glue the face layer with the black piece behind it in the hole in Santa’s beard.

2. Attach the moustache with foam tape on top.
   

3. Add the hat and pom-pom.

This layered section gives the mug its adorable Santa look and is best assembled while the pieces are flat.

Step 5: Attach the Handle

The mug handle is made from two layered pieces for stability.

1. Glue the handle layers together.

2. Curve it gently with your fingers.

3. Attach it to the mug.

A good tip is to hold each glued area for a few seconds to help it set firmly.

Step 6: Add the Cocoa & Whipped Cream Top

To create the “hot cocoa” look:

1. Glue the cocoa layer into the rim of the mug.

2. Add the whipped cream layer on top.
   

I used glue under the whipped cream to attach it.

Finished Project

And that’s it! Your whimsical 3D Santa Hot Cocoa Mug is complete. It looks adorable on a Christmas shelf, or you can fill it with wrapped candies or a small LED tealight for a cozy glow.

I am going to add some chocolate inside the mug and gift it to my youngest sons teachers.

I hope this tutorial helps you feel confident assembling your own festive mug. Happy crafting, and be sure to check out Lori’s shop for more holiday 3D projects!

XO Tamara