Whether you’re a DIYer or designer, a craftsman or a maker, you’ve probably heard of Glowforge®. If not, it’s a machine that can cut, engrave, and print on a wide variety of materials, such as leather, wood, and acrylic. Technically, the Glowforge® is a CNC laser cutter engraver, but the company refers to it as a 3D laser printer. Whatever you want to call it, you can use it to create custom signs and designs, jewelry, accessories, home goods, personalized items, artwork, furniture, and much more. The machine is similar to a Cricut (the Cricut uses metal blades to cut, whereas the Glowforge® uses a laser). That laser can handle thicker materials making it more accommodating for crafters and professionals alike. Both machines use the SVG file format to print but make sure any downloadable files used are labeled for the Glowforge® or as a “laser ready SVG file” when searching for Glowforge® project ideas. Being able to create hundreds of projects from hundreds of materials makes this machine limited only by your imagination. Here are just a few Glowforge® project ideas to give you an idea of what it can do.
Create a Name Board for Your Entryway
Use a bright acrylic cast color and etch your family’s name on it. The craft can be hung in your foyer or displayed prominently at a family reunion or at a wedding reception. Beyond name boards, try house numbers or street address, or a board game, such as hangman or tic tac toe and leave with dry erase markers to inspire some screen-free play.
Organize, Organize, Organize!
Use the Glowforge® to precisely cut and engrave acrylic for any organization project that would be perfect for home, school, or work. Create a pen organizer for your desk, a cleaning caddy, jewelry rack, toothbrush holder, tool holder, calendar or to-list, etc. Acme’s Glowforge®-compatible acrylic sheets are available in a variety of colors (black, white, blue, yellow, green, red) as well as clear to coordinate with any décor theme.
DIY Wall Shelving
Make a blank wall pop with bright, colorful shelves. Acrylic, wall mounted wall shelves in a wave of rainbow hues will accent the walls in a child’s bedroom, or a few jewel-toned floating shelves will add a modern pop of color to living spaces in a home or retail store. Need art to place on the photo ledges? Acme’s cut-to-size acrylic will allow you to create custom acrylic photo frames for your artwork.
Pet Projects
A few Glowforge® project ideas for pets include: a bowl stand for your pet, an engraved name tag, or even a pet house! A clear acrylic stand for your dog’s food bowls elevates feeders while matching modern décor. You can customize the stand to fit the height of your pet and cut just the right size holes to fit your pet’s food and water bowls. An ambitious cat owner may create a clever climbing wall with wall-mounted cat bed cubes with acrylic windows.
Create Custom Jewelry
Whether creating for yourself, friends, or to sell at a boutique or craft fair, designing jewelry with the Glowforge® has limitless potential. Make custom acrylic earrings, cuff bracelets, and bangles. You can use the Glowforge® to make an earring tree to use as a display at a show or as an organizer at home using acrylic sheets as well.
While Glowforge® sells their own Proofgrade® materials, including acrylic, so does Acme Plastics! Our Glowforge®-compatible acrylic sheets are available in a variety of colors (black, white, blue, yellow, green, red) as well as clear to coordinate with any décor theme. What will you be making? Give us a call with how we can help.
