Digital Crafting
Explore digital tools, techniques, and inspiration for modern makers and crafters.
Explore Digital Crafting Topics
| Article | Description |
|---|---|
| 3D Printing for Crafters | An introduction to 3D printing for crafters. Learn the basics of how 3D printers work, common materials, and how to integrate 3D printed components into your handmade projects. |
| I Bought a Laser Cutter - What’s Next? | From unboxing to first cut. Safety, software, SVG design basics, and a plant stake as your first real project. Includes free SVG resources. |
| I Bought a CNC Router - What’s Next? | Tooling, feeds and speeds, software setup, and a beginner wood plant stake project to learn the full workflow. |
| I Bought a 3D Printer - What’s Next? | Bed levelling, slicer software, free model sources, and your first print: a personalised plant stake. |
| Creating Illuminated Acrylic Displays: LED Art for Makers | Master the art of creating stunning illuminated acrylic displays. Learn acrylic properties, LED integration, edge lighting techniques, circuit design, and fabrication methods to create luminous art and displays. |
| Free Design Tools for Crafters | No Illustrator? No problem. Explore powerful free tools that help crafters create, edit, and export SVGs and digital assets. |
| Free SVG Generator for Laser Cutting: MyLaserTools Complete Guide | Discover 40+ free SVG generators on MyLaserTools.com for laser cutting projects. Create connected text, ornaments, keychains, layered maps, and slice 3D models - all free for commercial use. |
| Free Customizable 3D Printing Models: MyLaserTools STL Generator Guide | Access free customizable STL files for 3D printing on MyLaserTools. Create personalized ornaments, cake toppers, and gifts with instant downloads - all free for commercial use. |
| Free SVG Files for Cricut: MyLaserTools Hack for Vinyl & Paper Crafts | Get free commercial-use SVG files for Cricut using MyLaserTools. Perfect for vinyl decals, paper crafts, ornaments, and personalized projects - the same SVG files work for everything. |
| Getting Started with Cricut | Unbox, connect, and start crafting fast with this simple Cricut setup guide. Great for new crafters or anyone upgrading tools. |
| How to Make Your Own SVG | Learn how to create your own custom SVG files for Cricut, Glowforge, or laser cutting using beginner-friendly design tools. |
| Introduction to Laser Engraving Design | An introduction to designing for laser engraving and cutting. Learn about vector vs. raster, file formats, and optimizing your designs for best results. |
| Organizing Digital Files | Keep your digital craft files easy to find, reuse, and back up with these practical folder strategies and naming conventions. |
| Print on Demand for Crafters | Launch your print-on-demand business with this comprehensive guide covering platforms, design tips, products, pricing, marketing, and avoiding common mistakes for craft entrepreneurs. |
| Creating Digital Patterns for Sewing & Embroidery | A guide to designing your own digital patterns for sewing and machine embroidery. Learn about software, file formats, and best practices for creating professional-quality designs. |
| Using AI in Craft Design | Explore how Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can revolutionize your craft design process, from generating unique patterns to assisting with complex layouts. |
Map Crafting: Laser, CNC, Cricut & Print
Turn any place into custom art with the free MyLaserTools Map Designer. These guides cover every method, from layered laser-cut relief to printed wall art.
| Article | Description |
|---|---|
| How to Print a Fancy Framed Map | Turn any city into gallery-grade wall art. Choose a fancy preset, tune the palette, export at print resolution, and frame it so it looks bought, not made. |
| Laser-Cut Layered Topographic Map Art | Make the classic stacked topo art: elevation contours of any mountain cut from thin sheets and glued into true 3D relief. Full cut-and-glue workflow. |
| Laser-Cut Bathymetric Lake Depth Maps | The cottage-classic depth chart: a shore plate on top, teal depth bands stepping down into the basin, and a deep navy floor at the bottom. |
| Laser-Cut Ocean Floor Relief Maps | Cut the continental shelf and sea floor of any coast, island, or reef as a layered teal relief from real ocean bathymetry. |
| CNC-Carved Topographic & Relief Maps | Take map exports onto a CNC router and carve terrain, lakes, and coastlines into solid hardwood. Depth-per-step math, V-carving, and toolpath tips. |
| 3D Printing Terrain & Relief Maps | Print terrain, lakes, and skylines as one stepped model. STL for single colour, 3MF for a multicolour depth ramp, plus print settings and finishing. |
| Turn Your GPX Track Into Map Art | Import a GPX file from Strava or Garmin and turn your run, ride, or hike into wall art. Framing, line styling, and exports for print, engraving, or layered builds. |
| How to Cut Custom Maps on a Cricut | No laser needed. Export a free, weed-friendly city map SVG and cut it on your Cricut for shirts, tumblers, laptops, and stencils. Full Design Space workflow. |
| UV Printing Full-Color Maps on Wood & Acrylic | Lay full-colour map ink straight onto wood or acrylic with a flatbed UV printer. The white-underbase decision, printing onto grain, and float-mounting. |
| Best Wood & Acrylic for Laser-Cut Maps | The biggest variable in a layered map isn’t the design - it’s the material. How thickness, wood species, and acrylic colour change the build. |
| How to Glue & Assemble Layered Map Stacks | Cutting is the easy part. Label, dry-fit, glue bottom-up, weight, and finish so a pile of nested plates becomes a clean, solid-looking relief. |
| Framing & Finishing Your Printed Map | The details that separate framed art from a poster taped to glass: mats, frames for the palette, mounting options, sizing, and captions. |