How to make a DIY handlettered scroll artwork with your Cricut. A cute “Dear Santa” letter for the letters to santa mailbox.
I recently wrote about how much I love the Hearth and Hand collection at Target, and I kept coming back to the Letters to Santa mailbox I found there. I wanted a tiny handlettered scroll to tuck into the slot. I’d seen several decorative scrolls on Instagram, but many were expensive. So I decided to make a compact version with kraft paper and my Cricut.
I bought a roll of kraft paper knowing I would only need a small piece, but I also like having kraft paper on hand for gift wrap and other projects.
What you’ll need
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Kraft paper (a roll works well)
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X‑Acto knife
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Yardstick
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Cricut Explore Air 2 or Cricut Maker
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12×24 cutting mat (if available)
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Cricut 1.0 pen (or similar pen for your Cricut)
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Sharpie (if you prefer handlettering instead of using the Cricut)
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String or craft rope
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Tape and double-sided tape
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Letters to Santa mailbox (or similar decorative mailbox)
Measure twice, cut once.
Start by measuring the slot on your mailbox with a yardstick. You want the finished scroll wide enough to sit in the slot but with a bit of space on either side. My largest mat is 12×24 inches, so I cut my kraft paper to 8×24 inches. Place the kraft paper on the mat, making sure it lies straight.
You have two options for lettering: use the Cricut writing feature with a pen, or handletter with a Sharpie. I don’t have strong handlettering skills, so I used my Cricut.
Open Cricut Design Space and lay out your design. I picked a script font called Ballarea to match other items in my home. I ungrouped the letters, adjusted spacing manually, then used the weld tool to join words together into flowing lines.
Change your settings in Cricut from Cut to Write
In Design Space, switch the layer from Cut to Write in the layers panel. Double‑click the layer to open attributes, select the pen icon, and choose your pen type. I used a Black 1.0 medium tip pen and positioned the artwork about 14 inches down the artboard to leave room for rolling the paper into a scroll.
On machines like the Explore Air 2, install the pen in the accessory clamp. Press firmly until it clicks into place. The font I chose didn’t include a filled style, so the Cricut wrote the outlines. After the machine finished, I went back over the outlines with the same pen to fill them in—much easier and more consistent than freehand filling.
When the writing is complete, prepare a piece of craft rope for hanging. Cut the rope to the desired length and tie the ends to form a loop. Position the knot against the kraft paper where you want the top fold to be and secure the rope by folding the paper over it and taping the fold in place.
Roll the paper gently from the bottom up so the scroll stops just before the lettering. Apply double‑sided tape to the inside of the rolled section and press firmly to keep the roll in place, taking care not to create creases.
Place your mailbox where you want it on your shelf, slide the bottom of the scroll into the slot, and measure where to mount the nail to hang the looped rope. Use a small wire nail or hook to hang the rope and display your scroll.
This craft only took about 30–45 minutes from start to finish; the design stage was the most time-consuming. It looks charming and feels like a quick, satisfying weekend project. I’m already thinking about making a larger handlettered scroll next.
A friend joked that the letter should say our cat Zoey is on the naughty list because she likes to hang out in the Christmas tree. I liked the playful idea and made the wording cheeky—an inside joke that gave the scroll personality. Of course, Zoey tried to join in while I was crafting, so it felt fitting.
I’m thrilled with how this turned out. After watching years of home makeover shows, I felt a little like Joanna Gaines, channeling that simple, rustic style. Don’t let price tags stop you—use your tools and creativity to make something special. This project is an easy, affordable way to add handcrafted charm to your holiday décor and could be a fun weekend craft for you too.