Making a memorial ornament with the Memorial Ornament Generator

Difficulty: easy. Time: 10 minutes design, 15-30 minutes making. Best methods: engraved/cut wood or layered acrylic, multicolor 3D printing.

A personalized ornament built around a circle or other ornament shape. Type a Name and a Message (press Enter for each new line), each with its own font, then pick a Symbol to sit above the text. Choose your Ornament Shape, set the Border, and pick Single Layer, Two Layer, or Three Layer: everything inside scales to stay within the shape.

Open the Memorial Ornament Generator

On this page (5)

1. Shape and text
2. Symbol and frame
3. Layers and export
Laser Cutting
3D Printing

What you need

Laser cutting: 3 mm laser-grade plywood for an engraved keepsake, or contrasting acrylic for a layered build
Assembly: 3M 467 tape or CA glue for layered designs
3D printing: any FDM printer, with a color swap for the front layer
Finishing: twine or ribbon for hanging

1. Shape and text

Pick the Ornament Shape (a circle or other ornament shape), then enter the Name (e.g. "Margaret") and a Message (e.g. "In loving memory"). Each line of the message is centered, and the name and message can use different fonts.

2. Symbol and frame

Choose a Symbol (a tree, dove, butterfly, or other remembrance symbol) to sit above the text, or clear it to let the text fill the shape.
Use Border Size to set the frame; the symbol and text shrink automatically so nothing crosses the edge.
Nudge Text Size and Move X/Y to fine-tune the layout.

3. Layers and export

Single Layer engraves the text and cuts the shape from one piece. Two Layer raises the front (symbol + text) on a solid backplate; Three Layer adds a separate text layer. Download the SVG for laser cutting, or set Extrusion Depth and export STL/3MF for printing.

Choose your build method

Laser Cutting 3D Printing

Laser Cutting

Laser cutting

Single-layer plywood is the quickest: blue paths engrave the text and symbol, red paths cut the shape.
For a layered keepsake, cut the backplate and the front from contrasting acrylic and bond with 3M tape.
Keep the ornament around 80-100 mm so the message stays readable.
Thread twine through the hanger hole to hang it.

3D Printing

3D printing

Export the 3MF and print flat: the backplate is one solid piece that holds the design.
For a two-layer print, swap filament at the front layer so the symbol and lettering pop.
Light infill is plenty: it only ever hangs from twine.