Glowforge: How to Make a Personalised Medal

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Whether you’re new to Glowforge, or an experienced Glowforge crafter looking for something new, this personalised medal project might just be exactly what you’ve been looking for! Ideal to make for Father’s Day, or as a gift for any other occasion, this step-by-step guide will show you how to create something spectacular for someone special.

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Project by Hobbycraft Artisan:

Katherine Printall

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You will need

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Glowforge Plus 3D Laser Printer

Is $ 6,825.00 , was $ 7,395.00

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Glowforge Proofgrade Maple Hardwood 6 x 12 Inches

Is $ 19.00 , was $ 28.00

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Is $ 19.00 , was $ 28.00

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Original Hi-Tack All Purpose Glue 115ml

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Is $ 6.49

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Red Satin Ribbon 15m x 20mm

Is $ 1.49

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Glowforge Aura Craft Laser

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How to make

You Will Need

* Access to a Glowforge

* Glowforge Medium Maple Hardwood

* Acrylic paint in Green, Red, and Blue

* Paint Brushes

* Red ribbon 15m x 20mm

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Free Templates

Medal Template Download

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Step 1

To begin, download the free Dad Medal files and open the Glowforge homepage on your device. Place the Glowforge medium maple hardwood on the honeycomb.

Step 2

Click on 'Create a new design’ on the left of the screen, then click on 'upload file’ and select the Dad Medal file. Arrange the pieces on the preview of the maple hardwood.

Step 3

The Glowforge will pick up Glowforge Proofgrade materials from the label and apply the cut and emboss settings automatically.

Top Tip: If you’ve got a piece of Glowforge Proofgrade material without the label on it, go to the materials button in the top left of the screen (it will say ‘unknown’) and select your Proofgrade material from the list.

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Step 4

Click ‘Print’ and press the flashing button on your Glowforge.

Step 5

When it is safe to do so, remove the maple from the Glowforge and put a piece of thick card in. It’s a good idea to peg it down to stop it from being blown away by the fan.

Top Tip: You can download a free file for the pegs from the Glowforge forum in the Beyond the Manual section.

Idea_glowforge-how-to-make-a-personalised-medal_step5.JPG?sw=680&q=85

Step 6

Ungroup all the artwork (command+shift+G for Mac or shift+ctrl+G for PC) and delete everything except the base of the medal. Click on the layer on the left of the screen and change it from cut to score and click draft. Click print and press the button your Glowforge when it flashes.

Step 7

Take the base of the medal that you cut from the maple hardwood, open your Glowforge and place the medal face down on the card, lining it up in the scored outline you just made. This will ensure that the medal is lined up correctly as doing it by eye with the preview in the Glowforge software isn’t accurate.

Step 8

Click ‘T’ on the toolbar at the top and type in ‘Love from’ in the box that says ‘your text here’. Choose a font and size that you like, the one used in this example is Grandstander, 12pt. Repeat for your child’s name.

Step 9

Select both lines of text, click on the align tool in the bottom left corner and then click ‘align centres’, then move them to the middle of the medal. If you move them around over the medal, a horizontal dashed green line will pop up when they’re aligned horizontally and a vertical one when they’re aligned vertically.

Step 10

Delete the medal, click print and press the button your Glowforge when it flashes. Take it out when safe to do so.

Step 11

Take the mask off the base of the medal, the ‘world’s best dad’ and areas of the globe that will be green.

Step 12

Paint the hearts on the base of the medal red, the ‘world’s best dad’ white, and the unmasked part of the globe green. Remove the mask from the rest of the globe and paint the remaining areas blue.

Step 13

Place the globe and ‘world’s best dad’ face down on your work surface and squeeze Hi-Tack glue onto them. Avoid the edges as you don’t want it to squeeze out. Stick the globe to the base of the medal and the ‘world’s best dad’ on top of the globe. Leave overnight to dry.

Step 14

Cut a length of red ribbon about 65cm – 70cm, thread it through the slit in the top of the medal and stick the ends together with a small piece of double-sided tape and it’s ready to wear!