Mother's Day Heart with Moving Hands
Instruction
I created a unique Mother's Day gift that can be personalized for up to 6 kids.
I use Lightburn, so the working files are for that.
I also added an SVG of all the parts in case anyone wants to use XCS to make it.
Open up the program of your choice. I used Lightburn (LB). Insert the heart design of your choice. I chose this one because it allowed me to engrave words in the middle.
Enter your text. I chose a common saying for this one and signed it "Love Your Helping Hands". Once you have your text created, choose a font that looks the best for the space.
Because this is a moving craft, there needs to be a front and a back to hold the moving parts in. I created a back in the same outline shape as my front heart. You could do a bigger heart if you wanted it to stand out.
The middle of this craft is the moving base. This family had 6 children, so I needed to create 6 slots for the arms to fit into. You will also need to make sure they are close enough to the edge, but not so close that you can see the circle at the end of the stem.
The parts that fit into the moving base I call "stems". To start making a stem, I create a circle that fits barely inside the base slot.
Once I have the correct sized circle, I use the node editor to pull out the stem part away from the circle. I don't need to move it far since I'll be shaping it in the next step.
Use node editor to pull the stem out far enough so that the hand will be able to move freely from the heart.
Once you have the stem pulled out far enough, you need to shape the stem to fit the hands you will be adding.
Once you have all stems made, you can place the moving base and stems over the back to make sure they are fit correctly.
This is a diagram of the back and moving parts to show how it will look once it's cut and ready to build.
Find a handprint and outline it. You want the handprint to score and the outline to cut. To make it more personal, you could get actual handprints and scan them then convert them.
Add the children's names to each handprint. You can use different fonts to signify different personalities.
Line up the handprints with the stems. Using boolean union, join the stems and hand outlines.
Make sure all the parts line up and that all hands are set in the direction you want them to be.
Make a final check that everything lines up by placing all parts together.
Line up the red parts to fit material. This may mean that some of your parts are upside down.
Line up white parts to fit on material. This may mean that some of your parts are upside down.
Paint the wood. I painted both sides, but you can just paint one if you wish. Make sure paint is dry.
Place red material on the honeycomb and align it with your laser. I use my square to help me.
Run the tool paths for the red material.
This is what your red pieces should look like.
Place white material on the honeycomb and align it with your laser. I use my square to help me.
Run the tool paths for the white material.
This is what your white parts should look like.
Glue your moving base to your back using the score lines to get it placed correctly.
Once the glue is dry, place your stems/hands in the correct slots. DO NOT GLUE.
Glue the front piece to the moving base. Make sure it is aligned with the back. DO NOT GET GLUE ON THE STEMS/HANDS!!
Add the twine or string.