A lot of us are creative by nature. We love to make things and we love to gift those things to others. If you are a “maker of things” — or “maker” in common parlance — you likely have tools and machines around your house you can use to make something truly unique for your Valentine or for any other special occasion.
Here at CNET, we use myriad maker machines. From the latest Cricut vinyl cutter and the best 3D printers, to the high-tech world of laser cutters like the Glowforge, our workshops are littered with creative tools. We use them for testing, of course, but much of that testing is making beautiful things. Here is a list of some things we think would make an excellent gift that you’ve made yourself.Â
And if you don’t have the time to make these, we have a list of great last-minute digital and physical gifts you can grab too.
The best gifts you can make yourself
Using your Cricut to make mugs is simple. With some Infusible Ink sheets and sublimation mugs you can make your loved one mug for every occasion. I use the HTVRont tumble press for my mugs as it lets me press two at a time. These mugs can be as simple or complex as you like. You can even use Infusible Ink pens to hand draw images you want to press on a mug if you really want to make it personal.
There are many tutorials online about how to grab a chunk of Google Maps data and turn it into a laser-etchable image. We used this one, which was very thorough. It uses an online app called Snazzymaps, which has a handy set of image-optimization tools to turn any Google map data into laser-ready art.Â
These coasters can be all of the same location or different locations that mean something to you and your Valentine. We used the Glowforge to make these, but any laser that can etch can make them too. You could even make these on slate coasters. That would look amazing.
These beautiful roses by Lytta are 3D printed…
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