How to Make a Personalized Glowforge Christmas Ornament

Today I’m going to teach you how to create a personalized Glowforge Christmas ornament. Using you’re Glowforge you can create personalized ornaments for yourself or anyone else on your gifting list!

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How to Make a Glowforge Christmas Ornaments

I am including the free SVG files so you can create your own Christmas ornaments and you can even customize all the text.

Whether your ornament needs to say Grandma, Nana, Mom, GG, Auntie, or anything else, you can use this SVG and customize it for your needs.

You can watch me make this project from start to finish by pressing play on the video below.

Supplies Used

I’m sharing all the supplies and materials I used. You can customize your materials depending on the look you’re going for with your ornament.

• Free SVG Files
• Glowforge Aura (or other laser)

Glowforge Proofgrade Materials

NOTE: I am using two different materials for my personalized ornament. If you choose to use the same material for both the jar and gingerbread men, I would paint or stain one or the other.

• Eco Thin Teal Acrylic
• Light Maple Plywood

Other Materials

• White Paint
• Glue
• Paintbrush
• Ribbon or Twine
• Gorilla Tape
• Masking (optional)

Preparing Materials for Cutting with Glowforge

On the supply list, you’ll see I have masking listed. Glowforge proofgrade materials already have masking on both sides. If the material you’re using doesn’t have a masking, I would recommend adding it to both sides before you cut.

Uploading Designs into Glowforge

Let’s head into the Glowforge software and look at how to upload the designs. If you haven’t already downloaded the designs, do that now.

Go to app.glowforge.com and then click on Start a New Project. Click the plus button to upload the design.

First, I’m going to upload the cookie jar. If you’re cutting different materials, you’ll follow the steps for each different material.

Click Upload, find the image on your computer, and upload the SVG. You’ll see the design in the program and you’ll want to resize the design to whatever size you want. You can click the bottom left corner and see the exact measurements in the Glowforge app.

Add Materials to the Glowforge App

I am using the Eco Thin teal acrylic and because I already added it to my Glowforge Aura the camera was able to pick it up. As soon as you add proofgrade materials to your Glowforge Aura, the camera is able scan it and it will show up on the screen in the app.

Adjust Cut Settings in the Glowforge App

Now that we have the SVG uploaded, we need to adjust the cut settings.

I want the outside of the cookie jar to be cut out and the inside markings to be scored.

The text will all be etched so let’s look at how to add the text.

Adding Text for Christmas Ornaments in Glowforge

I didn’t include the text with the SVG so you can customize the text for your needs. To add text, click the text button and then type out what you want it to say.

I typed “Grandma’s Perfect Batch” but you can change that to whatever works for you. “Gigi’s Perfect Batch”, “Mom’s Perfect Batch” or anything else.

Resize the text to fit onto the cookie jar and place it wherever you want it on the jar. I put my text at the top but you can add it to the bottom if you like it there better.

I also added the year to my Glowforge Christmas ornament.

Check all the cut settings one more time. The outside is set to cut, the inside lines are set to score, and all the text is set to engrave.

Click Print to send the design to the Glowforge.

Printing a Personalized Christmas Ornament with Glowforge

These Christmas ornaments do take quite a while to do on the Glowforge Aura. Make sure you stay by your Glowforge the entire time it’s printing.

When the printing is done, it will tell you right on the computer screen. Simply lift the lid on the Glowforge and remove the pieces.

You’ll repeat the process for the gingerbread men.

Upload the SVG, duplicate the design as many times as you need for your grandchildren or children, and then add the material to the Glowforge.

Add the names by clicking Text and resize each name to fit your gingerbread man. Make sure the cut settings are correct for the different layers and click Print.

Paint the Glowforge Christmas Ornaments

Now that we have the different pieces cut out it’s time to paint the details.

Do not remove the masking. The scored and engraved lines in the masking will act as a stencil for the details.

I am using regular paint and a small paintbrush. Try to avoid the edges and go over all of the details a few times.

I allowed each layer to dry before adding the next layer and ended up applying 3 layers of paint.

When the paint is dry it’s time to remove the masking.

The masking on the blanks can be difficult to remove. I’ve found using a strong grip tape like Gorilla tape helps grip the masking and lifts it right off.

How to Remove Masking from Details

Removing the large part of the masking was easy with the gorilla tape. The detail pieces can also be removed with the gorilla tape but if you’re having a hard time getting the masking without removing paint you can use a weeding tool to gently lift the tape.

I used the tape for everything except the inside of the letters.

How to Add Gingerbread to the Christmas Ornament

Here you can see how great all those painted details turned out.

Now it’s time to add the little gingerbread people! All I did for my gingerbread men was remove the masking. I didn’t add any painted details for these pieces.

To add the gingerbread men make sure that you remove the masking from the back as well as the front. You don’t want the gingerbread men to fall off the ornament because only the masking stuck.

You want to choose an adhesive that will work with the two materials you’re gluing together. I am using clear Gorilla glue to adhere the gingerbread men to the Christmas ornaments.

You can place the gingerbread men wherever you want in the cookie jar. Once they’re where you want them, set the ornament aside and allow the glue to dry completely.

Finish the Personalized Glowforge Christmas Ornaments

To finish off the Christmas ornament, we just need to add twine or ribbon to the top so we can hang it on the tree.

Now we have a finished personalized Christmas ornament made quickly with the Glowforge Aura.

This process can be used to make any type of personalized ornaments. There are a lot of options out there, this just scratches the surface.

Final Thoughts on Personalized Glowforge Christmas Ornaments

Now you know how to make your own personalized Glowforge Christmas ornaments. Using the process I showed you today you can make projects just like this in no time.

I love that projects like this make great gifts. Personalized ornaments can be made every year and changed to represent what is important to each person or family.

Preserve special memories that you can look back on every year. I know it’s one of my favorite parts of the holiday season for me.

I hope I’ve answered any questions you have about making your own personalized Glowforge Christmas ornaments. If you have any other questions, feel free to leave them in the comments and I’ll be happy to answer them for you.

Love this and want to print the instructions? Use the card below!