When I was a kid, I used to take piles of hair ties and loop them together different ways. I made all sorts of things with it – my favorite was actually bracelets. But when I saw braided hair tie headbands all over my social media feeds, I knew it was time to revisit that!

Today I’ll be sharing FOUR fun ways to make these braided hair tie headbands. You’ll see presented in the photos and tutorial and another one in the embedded video tutorial. I just ran out of hair ties so I had to dismantle one to show you the last style!

That’s what’s so cool about theses hair tie headbands. There’s no gluing – it’s just looping. They are addictive and relaxing to make. They are inexpensive and look so cute with the different braids you can assemble. And you can even repurpose the hair ties a limited number of times (they do stretch out eventually).

Trying different methods of making braided hair tie headbands

I played with a few different methods of looping these. I wanted to show you just how much you can do with just two supplies. Yes, that is all you need. Two supplies and you have some really cool headbands with literally nothing else – not even glue!

1. The basic braid – front and top

The basic braid is the one that you may have seen the most. It requires a very basic looping method, where each hair tie is looped through the one next to it. You can make the braid portion (that’s formed by the looping hair ties) face forward or face up. We turned ours upward but I actually think it looks pretty cute facing forward, especially on hair that has more texture or volume.

2. The Cobra Braid – 2 Color

The Cobra braid looks like the classic cobra knot that I showed on these Gimp bracelets. They form the “braid” on both the front on the back, and on top you have a zipper-type look just like a Cobra knot would form. I like doing it with two colors – and specifically two shades of a single color – but you can definitely bring in more colors!

3. The Three Color Layered Braid

This method works best with three colors. You want an odd number so that you can cross over to the other side and get that criss-cross effect. And more than three will need to stretch too far.

Do it by looping each one with the next color, positioned on the opposite side of the headband.

4. The 3 Color ZigZag Braid

This one is pictured in the video only – I didn’t have enough ponies and wanted to try the style above as well so I did dismantle this one.

It’s accomplished by placing the ponies in two directions and looping each one over the next consecutive one on the other side for a zigzag braided effect. I did it with three colors but it can be done with any numer.

The best supplies to use for braided hair tie headbands

While there is some flexibility in the materials you use to make braided hair tie headbands, here are some pointers and key features for success.

Your pony holders

Your ideal pony holder is a no-crease small sized cotton pony holder that’s thick. This gives you good coverage while allowing for a tight “braid”.

While you CAN play with others (especially for the layered braid) you’ll want it to have these qualities.

The base headband

The base headband should be a rigid headband with a bit of width. While you can use metal headbands for this, you’ll need to go for a nice, wide one. My ideal headband for this is a rigid plastic one. You can also use satin covered ones.

I don’t recommend using one with teeth. It’ll be harder to move things around if you need to, and you’re anyway covering the teeth.

How to make braided hair tie headbands step by step tutorials

Supplies needed

• 32-35 hair ties per headband
• Rigid headbands

Watch the video

Watch the full-length video on YouTube if you prefer to learn that way! Or scroll down for written instructions with photos. The video shows four ways, the photos show three.

Process Breakdown

Method 1: Basic Braided hair tie headband

1. Wrap your hair tie around the headband in the spot where you want your braid to start. The headband should not go through the hole – you’re folding the hair tie in half over the headband.

2. Pull one side through the loop formed at the other side.

3. Pull through till it’s tight.

4. Continue adding hair ties this way until you reach the end of where you want the braid to be. All hair ties should be in the same direction for this style.

5. Start “braiding.” Pull your second hair tie through the loop of the first.

6. Grab the third and pull it through the loop of the second.

7. Continue doing this until you pull the last one through the loop of the second to last.

8. Pull that one over the end of the headband to sit next to the rest of that pony. Your “braid” is complete.

9. I find that when I make this style, I naturally make it along the side of the headband. This can look cute – it’ll face front when worn. But you can also turn it to sit on top of the headband.

Your basic braided hair tie headband is complete!

Method 2: two-color Cobra braided headband

1. Start looping ponies onto the headband in the same way. Only this time you’re alternating between two colors and alternating directions.

2. Keep going until you’ve covered the area you want your “braid” to cover.

3. You’ll be connecting the loops the same way you did above, only this time you’ll be doing it one side/one color at a time.

Finish it off the same way too.

Your cobra-style braided hair tie headband is complete!

Method 3: The Three Color Layered Braid

1. On this one, you’re alternating directions again, but alternating between three colors.

2. Work one color at a time and loop only the same colors together, zigzagging across the headband. Keep in mind that the first color you “braid” will show the least, and the last one will show the most, so choose which colors you want to be the most and least dominant.

Your layered braided hair tie headband is complete!

I really hope you enjoyed watching how to make braided hair tie headbands using these three easy methods! It’s such a fun addictive craft – perfect for sleepover parties, birthday parties (no dry time!) and just everyday accessory making.

If you enjoyed this, you can check out this DIY tiara headband tutorial too!

The post Braided Hair Tie Headbands – 4 ways! appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

A’s big brothers often have sleepovers, so when we were looking for a theme for A’s fifth birthday, a “sleepover” theme was the perfect choice! This unslumber party (or “sleepunder” party) was an absolute hit and such an adorable party.

The primary activity as well as party favor was sleep mask decorating with kids – we made this easy sleep mask craft that doubled as a party favor too.

This is a hit both as a party craft but also as something for kids to make at home, at sleepaway camp, or anytime this is a fit!

The kids absolutely loved it. It was very engaging, and they spent much longer on it than anticipated. In fact, they spent so long on it that I didn’t even have time to do all the planned activities!

And they wore them for the rest of the party, and some kids even wore them to school the next day (the kids ranged from 4-5 years old).

In this post, I’ll be sharing with you how to make this sleep mask craft (which isn’t much of a tutorial – it’s self explanatory) but also my tips for decorating them with kids and setting it up as a party activity.

Tips for sleep mask decorating with kids at a party

This makes such a good party activity because:

• There’s no dry time
• It’s open-ended – kids can really be creative
• It’s special – it requires specific supplies that are more affordable in bulk and isn’t just another thing they can make at home any time
• It doubles as a part favor.

Activity Setup and Guidelines

I decided to get a stick-on varsity initial to make it special and personalized for each kid. Make sure to get enough letters for each participant (I needed two packs of initials). You can purchase letters individually.

I also got a big pack of stick-on gems. These stuck really well and did make for a semi-permanent application (kids can pull them off but they won’t come off on their own.)

When the kids arrived, they each had a plate set up with their name, a mask, and the initial on it. The gem sheets were scattered across the table. Be generous with your gems – I regret not getting two packs. They’re great for other crafts too and inexpensive, and that way kids have more choices.

I find that having an open-ended (unguided) craftivity set up for kids right when they arrive is a great way to warm them up for an at-home birthday party. It helps them jump right in when they’re stil feeling a little shy and makes them excited about what’s to come.

Since everything is effectively a sticker, the kids just jumped right in and got VERY busy. They did not need any instruction at all. They were hypnotized by the activity, dedicating themselves fully to blinging their sleep mask crafts.

Just a quick seating tip: I seated the two friends who weren’t in her class next to A and the classmates together, just to make things less intimidating for those two.

Make sure to have a sample on the table for kids to follow (the upside down w “M” one you see was my sample).

Sending them home as favors

Especially when the activity doubles as a favor like by this Dog Man party – but even when it’s just a craft-heavy party – I like to have bags prepared in advance with the kids’ names.

That way, as they complete their crafts, I can simply slip it into their bags. Most of the kids wore their masks after but I did get bags for them regardless. The masks came in bags, but most of them tore when I took the masks out so I recommend getting separate bags.

Each bag was prepared with this laser heart keychain, and two scrunchies, and had plenty of space for the sleep mask crafts and the bookmarks they created (which I’ll share at a later date).

When they finished decorating the masks, they went to the reading corner (again, I’m going to share all the details in a later post) and I collected any masks that were left behind to put in their labeled bags.

The sticker was a Canva design (the same one I used for the invitation), printed on sticker paper.

You can see that the favor bags and labels were really inexpensive. While the sleep mask craft was a bit pricier, it was balanced out by savings in other areas, AND it was both the primary entertainment and the primary favor.

More tips for making a sleep mask craft

Whether you’re crafting this at home, at camp, at a party, or for any other occasion, I figured I’d share some tips and tricks for making this.

Embellishments and ideas

The only embellishments we provided were:

• An adhesive initial per person
• Sheets of adhesive gems.

That WAS enough, but if you’d like to offer more, here are some more ideas. Some are suitable for parties, and some should only be done in a one-on-one crafting scenario.

• Adhesive shapes – many initial sets come with more chenille style stick-ons. Those can be fun too, but you’ll still only want 1-2 per person.
• Adhesive patches – again, unless doing this at home, stick with adhesive, but you can get loads of embroidered patches for a cool look.
• Glue-on gems – you can do larger glue-ons but again, you’ll need more supervision with this and it’s best for when you’re just crafting at home.
• Buttons – bigger kids can sew on fun buttons.
• Paint markers or fabric markers – kids can color and decorate their sleep masks. Just test the markers in advance of the activity.

Favorite occasions and themes to make this craft

IF you spotted this craft not for a specific occasion, but just while browsing, here are some fun times to make them, besides for an unslumber party!

• An actual sleepover party
• A sleepover with one or two friends – you can get more detailed if you have an adult handling the hot glue gun.
• A take-home activity at a larger gathering, such as a school event
• This is so cool as a get-to-know-you icebreaker at sleepover camp
• Or if you’re having an overnight for day camp
• It’s cool for pajama day at any school or camp

How to assemble this sleep mask craft

The assembly process is very basic, but you’ll enjoy seeing the kids actually putting theirs together!

Pay close attention to my guidelines for the materials to use.

You’ll need

• Sleep masks: good quality satin ones make a big difference, especially if it’s a party favor. HOWEVER, the ones I got were adult sizes and too big for preschoolers. I did run them through the sewing machine for a second to take in the elastic at the back. You can also get adjustable ones.
• Gems: get enough gems in a good mix of shapes to go around – at least 2-3 sheets per kid. You’ll have extras for another project, but you want the kids to be able to choose.
• Initials: one for each kid. Double names still got one.

Tutorial

1. Stick the initial in the center of the mask.

2. Decorate with gems.

That is all! No dry time, just stickers. The kids had a blast! I hope you enjoyed!

The post Sleep Mask Craft – Decorating with Kids appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Since A was born, I’ve made her stacks of hair accessories. First I made her the cutest baby hair bands, then we moved on to endless clips for those little pigtails.

As she grew older, she decided that she liked headbands again. And while it hardly contains her hair, I decided to treat her to some new ones for Passover!

Today, I’m going to teach you how to make a simple DIY ribbon headband – in literally minutes. You’re using the ribbon to make a small rosette placed off-center on a stiff headband, for a gorgeous and classy accessory that can be customized as you wish.

You can add more style if you’d like with a button (more ideas below) and switch up the base headband to really make it your own.

Tips for making a DIY ribbon headband

Choosing your ribbon

Your best ribbons for making a DIY ribbon headband will be fabric ones, but the size and texture matters a LOT.

I started off with 1.5 inch chiffon ribbon and it came out fabulous. I pulled out a ribbon that I thought was similar, but I guess was closer to 2 inches, and it was just huge. This one was an organza one that was less stiff – and yes, the chiffon was quite soft, but still had enough structure to hold.

Think about it this way: your rosette will be almost double the size of your ribbon width. So a 1.5 inch ribbon makes an almost 3 inch in bow – which is quite large.

And while you’re scrunching it a bit and that gives it structure, if it’s too wide, the parts that don’t lay on the headband will be floppy, unless it’s a bit thicker.

Embellishing it

You might get a perfectly clean, scrunched center on your DIY ribbon headband, or you might not. Either way, it loos so pretty when you add a little something to the center! I added a big shiny gold button to mine that perfectly picked up the metallics from our bronze shimmery ribbon.

It was a holdover in my button box and it made this A’s favorite headband that she asks to wear every day.

You can pair other embellishments with the appropriate ribbons. Pair something more sporty with a felt pom pom, pair velvet with a rhinestone embellished piece, pair tulle with a crystal bead.

The base

For my base headband, I used two options. One was a fabric wrapped and padded thin headband. The other was a soft plastic black blank one. The problem was that the black one wasn’t sticking and I couldn’t figure out why!

Turns out it was actually silicone. Silicone is a nonstick surface – hot glue simply will not hold.

If you have silicone coated headbands, you can try other glues, but I’d actually suggest making a felt circle and sandwiching the headband between the rosette and the circle, gluing the circle to the rosette on either side of the headband. It’ll be able to slide around but not while worn.

Or, just stick to fabric coated ones. You can also get flat foldover elastic or pantyhose style headbands to turn these into infant headbands. Read reviews so you’re getting good, soft ones and not stiff ones.

How to make a DIY ribbon headband

Supplies

• Fabric Ribbon – something like 1.5 inch with frayed edges is perfect
• Fabric scissors
• A button for the center
• Needle and thread
• Base headband (avoid silicone/nonstick textures)
• Hot glue gun – I used Surebonder’s Hot Glue Pen for this.

Watch the video

Watch the full-length video on YouTube if you prefer to learn that way! Or scroll down for written instructions with photos.

Process

1. Cut your ribbon to about 18-24 inches, depending how full you want your rosette to be. Thread your needle and knot the end. Start sewing a running stitch along the edge of your ribbon (but not too close – leave about 1/4 inch “seam allowance”. You’re just going in and out. The distance between your stitches and stitch size will determine the size of the cinches.

Every few stitches, push back and gather the ribbon – meaning, pull the running stitch tight so it gathers the fabric at that end.

2. Keep going until you reach the end and thread through your starting point once. If you’re finding that it’s full enough and you have extra ribbon, simply trim the excess and proceed with this step.

3. Thread through the center a few times – just sewing the ends together in a few directions around that center point.

4. When you’re done, finish off your thread and trim. Glue a button or other embellishment over the center.

5. Glue your rosette to the headband base.

Your DIY ribbon headband is complete! What kind of fun accessory do you want me to show you how to make next? Comment below!

Yield: 1

How to Make a Ribbon Flower Headband

Active Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Estimated Cost: $5

Craft the easiest and prettiest DIY ribbon headband in minutes!

Print

Materials

• Fabric Ribbon - something like 1.5 inch with frayed edges is perfect
• Fabric scissors
• A button for the center
• Needle and thread
• Base headband (avoid silicone/nonstick textures)
• Hot glue gun - I used Surebonder's Hot Glue Pen for this.

Instructions

1. Cut your ribbon to about 18-24 inches, depending how full you want your rosette to be. Thread your needle and knot the end. Start sewing a running stitch along the edge of your ribbon (but not too close - leave about 1/4 inch "seam allowance". You're just going in and out. The distance between your stitches and stitch size will determine the size of the cinches.
Every few stitches, push back and gather the ribbon - meaning, pull the running stitch tight so it gathers the fabric at that end.

2. Keep going until you reach the end and thread through your starting point once. If you're finding that it's full enough and you have extra ribbon, simply trim the excess and proceed with this step.

3. Thread through the center a few times - just sewing the ends together in a few directions around that center point.

4. When you're done, finish off your thread and trim. Glue a button or other embellishment over the center.

5. Glue your rosette to the headband base.

Your DIY ribbon headband is complete! What kind of fun accessory do you want me to show you how to make next? Comment below!

Notes

If you have silicone coated headbands, you can try other glues, but I'd actually suggest making a felt circle and sandwiching the headband between the rosette and the circle, gluing the circle to the rosette on either side of the headband. It'll be able to slide around but not while worn.

I started off with 1.5 inch chiffon ribbon and it came out fabulous. I pulled out a ribbon that I thought was similar, but I guess was closer to 2 inches, and it was just huge. This one was an organza one that was less stiff - and yes, the chiffon was quite soft, but still had enough structure to hold.

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

The post DIY Ribbon Headband appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

A DIY Leather Wristlet Keychain is one of those tiny projects that makes everyday life feel a little more hands-free. A wristlet keychain is a short leather loop that slips over your wrist, with your keys attached at the end, so your hands stay free while you juggle coffee, kids, groceries, or all three.

It also makes keys just plain easy to find. Instead of fishing around in a bottomless bag, you’ve got a loop you can grab in one second. And because it looks polished (even when it’s made from scraps), it’s a sweet, practical gift that doesn’t feel last-minute.

If you’re new to leather or faux leather, don’t stress. This is a no-sew project that uses basic tools and scrap materials. You’re basically cutting a strip, folding it, and crimping hardware in place. It’s beginner-friendly and budget-friendly, I promise.

Before you start, choose a design that fits your hand and your hardware

The best wristlet keychain is the one that feels good on your wrist. Too small, and it’ll pinch, or won’t slide on easily. Too big, and you might just lose those keys. The “sweet spot” is usually a loop that slips over your hand without effort, then sits comfortably at your wrist.

Here’s the simple way to think about sizing: Start from your bangle size. Then, add a couple of inches. If you like it roomier (or you want it to slide on fast), go a bit larger.

Your hardware choice changes the whole build, too. A classic key ring is sturdy and simple. A swivel clasp (like I used) is great if you want to clip it onto a bag strap or switch key sets. Choose this if you’re selling your final product.

Leather thickness matters more than you might think. Stiff, thick leather can feel uncomfortable. If you’re working from a scrap bag, that’s fine. Just match your plan to what your leather can comfortably do. For mine, I chose two pieces of fun, colorful, and super soft leather. For more scrap-friendly ideas, this list of leather scrap crafting inspiration is full of quick wins.

Picking the right leather (scraps are perfect)

For beginners, look for leather that folds without cracking. You’ll usually run into two types: vegetable tanned leather (often stiffer and better for stamping) and chrome-tanned (often softer and more flexible); PVC or PU leather sheets make a great flexible alternative. Either can work here, as long as it bends nicely.

A good thickness range for this project is about 2 oz to 5 oz (roughly 0.8 to 2 mm). Very thick leather can be frustrating because it may not fit into standard ribbon crimps, and it can leave bulky ends.

Quick test: fold a corner over with your fingers. If it creases neatly and doesn’t show tiny cracks, it’s probably a good candidate.

How to size your strap so it feels good on your wrist

Measure around the widest part of your hand (usually over your knuckles with your thumb tucked in), or measure the loop size you want. Add a little breathing room, about 1-2 inches, so it slides on easily.

Add another half-inch for the hardware.

Example: if you want an 10-inch finished loop, cut about 10.5 inches of leather (then you can trim a touch shorter before crimping if it feels oversized). It’s easier to shorten than to magically add length, so don’t cut too aggressively at the start.

Hardware options and what to buy if you are new

The easiest hardware for a no-sew leather wristlet keychain is a ribbon crimp (also called a ribbon clamp), though advanced makers might prefer a saddle stitch using waxed thread. The width of the crimp should match the width of your leather strip. If your strip is 1 inch wide, buy a 1-inch crimp. The thickness matters too, since some crimps are shallow. You can also get dedicated key fob hardware.

If your crimp cuts it a little narrow, you’ll be able to work with it, by try to get as close as you can.

For the key attachment, you can use key fob hardware like a split ring, a lobster clasp, or a swivel clasp. A jump ring is optional, but handy if you want a little extra movement between parts.

Two mistakes to avoid: buying a crimp that’s too small (it won’t close cleanly), and using a flimsy key ring that bends open over time.

Tools and setup tips that make the project look clean

A clean result comes from two boring things that help a lot: a steady surface and a straight cut. Set yourself up at a table with good light, and put down a cutting mat. Leather can shift while you cut, so it helps to secure it with masking or blue painters tape and take your time.

You don’t need fancy leather tools to make a wristlet that looks giftable. At a basic level, you’ll want a ruler, a sharp blade, and pliers. That’s it.

If you enjoy the process and want to upgrade later, there are some nice extras: a strap cutter for perfect strips, a mallet if you decide to stamp the leather, a hole punch (useful if you ever add rivets), and edge paint or burnishing supplies. Even a tiny bit of leather conditioner can make scraps look richer.

One safety note from someone who’s cut “just one more strip” while tired: keep your fingers out of the cut path, and use slow, controlled pressure. Leather is tough, and blades slip when you rush.

If you want to see ribbon crimps used on a leather project in a slightly different way, this magic leather braid bracelet tutorial is a great visual reference for how crimps should close.

Cutting safely and getting straight edges without special tools

Tape the leather down to your cutting mat so it can’t wiggle. Use a rigid metal ruler if you have one, since plastic rulers can get nicked by blades. For even easier straight edges, try a rotary blade if available.

Make light passes with your craft knife instead of trying to cut through in one go. Think of it like slicing a bagel, gentle pressure, repeat, and you get a cleaner edge. Keep your non-cutting hand well away from the ruler edge. You can also score it with the ruler and finish the cut with scissors, but work slowly, with very sharp scissors if you do it like this.

Easy finishing touches that upgrade the look

Round the corners with scissors if you want a softer, store-bought feel. Rub the edges briskly with a cloth to smooth fuzz, then add a tiny dab of leather conditioner and buff it in. For a pro touch, run an edge beveler along the edges before burnishing them smooth.

If you have edge paint, use it, but don’t feel like you need it. A neat cut and rounded corners already do a lot.

How to make a DIY Leather Wristlet Keychain

This is the part that feels like magic. You start with a plain strip, and a few minutes later you’ve got a wristlet keychain you’ll use every day. Go slow on the cutting, and take two seconds to check the loop size before you crimp it shut. That tiny pause saves a lot of frustration later.

Supplies Needed

• Leather scraps (I’ve found good packs of this at Michaels and Blick)
• Cutting mat
• Cricut Maker – just make a rectangle to your chosen dimensions in Cricut Design Space (optional for precise digital cutting)
• If cutting with a Cricut: Strong grip mat (for stabilizing leather during Cricut cutting)
• If cutting with a Cricut: Knife blade
• Masking tape
• Rigid ruler
• Craft knife or rotary cutter
• Ribbon crimp (to match the width of your wristlet keychain) or dedicated key fob crimps
• Key fob hardware (key ring or clasp)
• Pliers – you can get specialized key fob pliers with crimps or just use chain nose pliers (for secure assembly of ribbon crimps)
• Optional: jump ring (additional key fob hardware), edge finisher, heat transfer vinyl, EasyPress Mini, etc.

Watch the Video

Watch the full-length video on YouTube if you prefer to learn that way! Or scroll down for written instructions with photos.

Step by Step tutorial

1. Choose a ribbon crimp that matches your strap width and has enough depth for your leather thickness (test-fit the leather inside before cutting everything).

2. Tape leather scrap to cutting board (or strong grip mat if using Cricut Maker).

3. Use ruler to cut to size (1 inch by the circumference of your final strap, plus half an inch); or send an SVG file through Cricut Design Space.

4. If your knife isn’t sharp enough to go through on one run, you may want to score it and finish the job using scissors.

5. Cut the corners a bit if needed to fit the ribbon crimp. Optional: Decorate the strap with heat transfer vinyl using an EasyPress Mini, or stamp it, before assembly.

6. Connect two ends with a ribbon crimp and attach the key fob hardware.

7. Before you fully flatten the crimp, slip the loop over your wrist to check the fit, then squeeze the crimp firmly with pliers until it feels solid and doesn’t gap.

Conclusion

A DIY leather wristlet keychain is one of those quick projects that feels like a little victory. It’s fast, forgiving, and a smart way to use scraps that would otherwise sit in a drawer. You’ll end up with something that’s actually useful, which is my favorite kind of making.

Once you’ve got the basic version down, try small upgrades: add a tassel, use leather letter stamps for initials, color edges with sharpie markers, or switch hardware colors (gold, silver, black) to match your bag. For care, keep it as dry as you can, and condition lightly if it starts to look brittle.

Make a second wristlet keychain while your tools are already out; it’s the easiest way to build a gift stash. If you want another keychain-style idea, grab leather needles and a stitching pony for sewn leather goods; or if you’re not up to that, this personalized leather keychain tutorial is a fun next project to try.

The post DIY Leather Wristlet Keychain (No-Sew, Beginner-Friendly) appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

I made these when I first got my Clawlab tufting kit and discovered the hard way that you can’t really reuse all the extra primary cloth that sits around the main project. So when doing smaller project like the tufted initials I made in my Clawlab review, any extra fabric needs to be reused around the main fabric, befor removing it from the frame.

These DIY mini tufted hearts are perfect for using up that extra material. It can be fun to make, and even to finish off however well you want to do that.

I had these in mind at first as a party favor for my daughter’s birthday party. We did a sleepover themed party for her, and I thought the “rug” was kind of cool for that. But in the end I went with wooden heart keychains.

These are really fabulous for Valentine’s Day too as little Valentines to hand out, as filler sales items for craft fairs, and as small gifts.

Top Tips for making DIY Mini Tufted Hearts for Keychains

Here are some steps and strategies for making these keychains. Read through for successful crafting right off the bat.

Tips for making this using scraps around a project

Since this was born as a “primary cloth scraps” project, these tips focus on reusing those scraps.

• Don’t remove your primary cloth from your frame after you complete making your project. Leave it in place and work around the project.

• Leave a couple of inches of space around all the borders of your main project – and an extra inch around the hearts (each heart). I made mine too close on this one and learned that the hard way. You need some excess to cut it out and fold it over.
• Working on smaller pieces can actually be harder. Do this once you’ve practiced.

Of course, you don’t need to make this as scraps, but these rules generally apply even if you’re setting up a new project to make these mini tufted hearts.

Do you need a tufting gun to do this?

This tutorial DOES use a beginner-friendly and portable tufting gun setup. You can try similar methods using hook rug for a more hands-on and intricate craft.

Finishing the back

My Clawlab kit came with special rug backing fabric. I chose not to use this. I wanted mine to feel soft on the other side as well.

I finished mine off with soft felt. I definitely recommend using something like felt if you’re making keychains. For coasters, the backing fabric is perfect. I’ll share more variations below but definitely let me know in the comments if you have more ideas for finishing off mini tufted hearts.

Tips for success

I’ve shared some tips specific to using the border, but general tufting skills will help you go a long way here.

• Tension is everything. After you’ve worked a whole project on your cloth, you may want to re-adjust the tension before you start using your scraps.
• Work on a slow speed. Keep in mind that the smaller your design is, the more curves, and the harder it’ll be. While I always work slow for outlining, I often speed it up for filling. For these mini tufted hearts, I did not do that – I kept things relatively slow.
• Keep your tufting gun straight – don’t tilt it up or down.
• Since these are looked at right up close, you definitely want to keep your stitches tight. If you look closely at my images, you’ll find that a lot of them (especially the earlier ones that I made) have white gaps where the primary fabric shows through. To avoid this, make your lines of stitches tight.

Variations on these mini tufted hearts

There are so many different way to craft these. Here are just a snippet of the ideas I have. Definitely drop a comment if you have any others you’d like to share with the crafting community!

Not just keychains

I made these as keychains with little kids in mind. Here are a few more ideas:

• Glue magnets (keep these FAR away from children) to the back and then cover with felt for super cool “invisible” locker magnets.
• Make them in a 4 inch size and shave them flat to use them as coasters. Use carpet backing to make them non-slip.
• Make two identical / mirrored ones ones (you an cut a template from cardboard to trace – and mirror it). Glue them back to back or stuff them to make a cute little plushie.

Adding a little detail

I trimmed some in pink and filled them with purple since I ran out of pink yarn. They look so cute but they weren’t filled in enough close to the border. Adding a border trim is a cute idea if you do it right.

You can also add cute little features like button eyes, googly eyes, stitched or tufted mouths, patterns/stripes, and more!

I trimmed mine using a pair of fabric and detail scissors. If you have a carpet trimmer, go ahead and use that. On such a small project, the easiest way to really get that detail in and carve it is with scissors – by hand! Sit, relax, turn on music or a podcast and take your time with it.

How to make DIY mini tufted hearts

What you’ll need

• A tufting gun and frame
• Primary cloth
• A permanent marker
• 8 ply tufting yarn
• Latex carpet adhesive
• A spreader tool for applying your adhesive (I used a scrap of cardboard which worked for a small craft like this one)
• Good fabric and detail scissors
• Hot glue gun – read my recommendations for the best glue guns for crafts here.
• Felt
• Keychain – split ring, plus screw eye, and pliers to connect it.

Watch the Video

Watch the full-length video on YouTube if you prefer to learn that way! Or scroll down for written instructions with photos.

Step by Step Directions

1. Start by outlining your hearts. Make sure to leave generous space both for finishing your hearts and your main project.

2. Carefully tuft the outline of your hearts.

3. And fill them in! Work slowly and make your stitches tight to avoid gaps.

Some of these are too close together – leave space on your hearts.

4. Pull out any long hanging starting/finishing strings. Carefully remove the tufting cloth and trim it. Apply generous glue to the back of your hearts.

Apply your glue in a thick, even layer.

5. Allow your glue to dry according to package directions. It should be dry but tacky. Separate your hearts leaving 1/2 inch to an inch border.

6. Cut notches around the excess fabric. Cut a notch at the bottom peak and the top dip of the heart. Cut small notches around the curves.

7. Work very carefully with your hot glue gun here – you may want to put on heat resistant gloves. Carefully fold over and glue down the border fabric.

8. It’s time to clean up your mini tufted hearts! I started by defining the outline shapes, and trimming any unevenness from the front.

9. Then, for those with a border, I pushed back the border color and trimmed around the inside color to define it.

10. When you’re happy with it, apply some glue to the part where you want the keychain, and glue a screw eye so that the eye sticks up and the screw is on the heart. The screw part provides resistance vs. using a regular eye pin.

11. Then, hot glue your heart to a felt backing. Put your glue right on the border of the tufting fabric so you completely cover it.

12. Fold back the felt and trim around the heart.

13. Attach the keychain hardware to the screw eye. Your DIY mini tufted hearts are complete!

What will you be making with your DIY mini tufted hearts? Comment below!

The post DIY Mini Tufted Hearts appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Thinking about trying rug tufting at home? This Clawlab review covers the tufting gun, the aluminum frame, and a real project making tufted initials for my kids. When you’re done, check out my LaserPecker LX2 review too! The kit was gifted, and this post includes affiliate links.

In this Clawlab review, you’ll get a clear understanding of my take on setup, ease of use, and what to expect as a first-time tufter.

Some highlights of what you’ll see below include:

• Fast tension on the frame
• A one-hand gun that feels like a lot like a glue gun
• Smooth speed control
• Critiques of a few missing extras – like a yarn mount and a shearing tool.

If you want a compact setup that stores easily, this is a strong option for small rugs and wall decor. I’ll also share tips that saved my second take, like using latex carpet adhesive instead of thin craft glue.

First, you may prefer to watch the in-depth video review to see it in action:

What you get in the Clawlab tufting kit, and what you still need

The Clawlab tufting kit comes ready for a first project, and the differenet tools feel thought out. The frame focuses on tension and portability. The gun focuses on handling and – portability too! It all fits into a streamlined workflow you can pack away and use even if you do not have a dedicated craft room.

In the box: gun, frame, cloth, backing, yarn

• Tufting gun with USB-C to USB-C cable, a power brick, and an EU adapter
• Sturdy aluminum frame with side clamps and a rolling feed bar
• Starter piece of monks cloth (primary cloth), about 36 inches wide
• A piece of carpet backing
• 10 smallish balls of 8‑ply tufting yarn
• Several wire threaders
• A hard case for compact storage

The power cable is long, which helps if your outlet is not close by. The case keeps everything together between sessions.

If you want just one of the elements, you can get them individually – or as a set. Get the Clawlab Tufting Gun, the Clawlab Frame, or the all-in-one Clawlab Kit.

Supplies you’ll probably want to get in addition

• Latex carpet adhesive, not thin craft glue. I tried Mod Podge first. It was too runny, soaked in, and cost more per ounce than proper adhesive. The right glue makes a big difference. I used this latex carpet adhesive.
• Extra monks cloth. The Clawlab cloth gripped better than the generic roll I tried. If you can, get the tufting cloth from Clawlab.
• Backing materials: felt, or felt plus cardboard for stiffness – this is optional. The kit comes with rug backing cloth, but if making something like wall art or other small projects, felt is a great option.
• Fabric scissors, like these sharp fabric scissors
• Rug shaver or shears for finishing
• Markers for sketching your design
• Optional: a projector for transferring and tracing designs.

The included 8‑ply yarn are the ideal weight for your tufting, but it really just comes with a practice amount, so I recommend stocking up on much more yarns.

Thinner acrylic yarns from your stash can work if you double thread them. You’ll use more yardage when you do that.

Who it’s good for

This kit is a great fit for beginners, casual makers, and sellers of small rugs or wall art who want fast setup at home. It is great for small spaces since the gun packs into a case and the frame stores flat. It is less ideal if you need very wide pieces in one pass or want built-in yarn management. You can go long, but you’re limited to the width of the kit. It is good for pros too who don’t need anything wider than the existing width.

Clawlab Frame review: fast tension, solid clamps, easy storage

The frame is where setup stress usually lives when starting out with tufting. Clawlab’s easy to use frame eliminates that. It clamps to a surface, feeds the fabric with a rolling bar, and locks tension with simple knobs. That means you can get the fabric tension tight without wrestling nails or re-stretching again and again.

Setup and clamping in minutes

The side clamps grab a counter or table with a decent lip. Rubberized feet help the frame stand and prevent sliding.

Once it is clamped, it stays put under pressure – even if you’re pushing your gun into it. I mounted it on my kitchen counter and was tufting within minutes. If your desk has drawers right below the work surface, pick a surface with a few inches of depth so the clamps can have what to hold onto.

Tension knobs and rolling feed explained

The top bar has hook and loop to grab the monks cloth.

You roll the cloth onto the bar, seat the rod in the side notches, then feed it down through the upper and then lower bar slots. Pull about 7 cm of cloth through before you lock it. That little bit matters.

After that, crank the lower knob, make sure it clicks into place. Attach the fabric to the side bars and then crank the top knob. Keep turning until the fabric sounds tight when you tap it. You want that crisp, drum-like feel. It’ll take you a try or to to totally get the hang of it but once you do, it’ll be super easy.

Portability and build quality

The frame is thick aluminum, so it is sturdy but still light enough to carry with one hand. I could move it along with the gun in the other hand without a problem. It stores flat and slides behind a shelf or into a closet. If you do not have a craft room, that portability matters.

Limits to know before you buy

You need full-width cloth to get side-to-side tension, and you will use a few extra inches to lock it in. The width is fixed, not modular. If you plan to do very wide pieces in one pass, that is a constraint. The cloth edges can fuzz a bit when you clamp and release. That is normal for tufting and not a flaw in the frame.

Clawlab Tufting Gun review: one-hand control, quiet power, smooth results

The gun changed the way tufting felt in my hands. Most guns are bulky and two-handed. This one grips like a full-size glue gun, which makes it less intimidating. It is still weighty and solid, just simpler to hold and steer.

Ergonomics and handling

The plastic shell encloses the metal mechanism, so there are fewer exposed parts to catch on things. The one-hand grip is friendly if you deal with wrist or elbow issues. Tendinitis keeps me from lots of crafting experiences, and Clawlab makes tufting still be accessible for me.

Keeping the barrel straight does have a short learning curve, since two-hand models force that alignment. After a few practice passes, straight lines felt natural.

Speed dial and noise

A color bar on the back shifts from green to blue as you twist the dial. There is no numeric readout, but you can count clicks if you care. I outlined on a slower speed, then bumped it up for fills to get tight, even loops. The motor is quiet for a tufting tool. It gets louder when it hits the cloth, but it is still within pleasant ranges for heavy crafting.

Threading, yarn, and tension tips

You thread the gun with the included wire tool. Keep the gun off while threading – I kept forgetting to turn mine off but it seemed to power off on its own.

Leave plenty of yarn slack so the gun can feed smoothly. Before gluing, you’ll want to just yank out those hanging starting threads. 8‑ply tufting yarn fed best. If you use thinner acrylic, double thread it so the pile is full. There is a built-in tension adjuster on the gun, but beginners can leave it alone at first.

Real use: curves, outlines, and jams

Outlines were clean, and the gun handled tight curves nicely. A lighter one-hand body makes it easier to rotate your wrist around a bend without moving your whole body. I had no jams AT ALL while testing. Every hiccup came down to yarn issues, like a knot in the skein or not enough slack. I was absolutely amazed at how smooth the experience was for a beginner.

The hard case keeps the gun, threaders, and cable together so nothing wanders off between sessions.

Hands-on test: tufted kids initials, step by step

For the test project, I made letters for my kids to hang on their walls. I finished four letters total. The A used peach, purple, and orange blocks. The J used orange, green, and yellow to match my redhead’s vibe. I backed the letters with felt and used cardboard in some for extra stiffness.

Plan and sketch mirrored letters

Sketch letters on the back side of the cloth. The loops face the opposite side, so mirror anything directional, like J. Use a ruler for clean block shapes, or use a projector if you want perfect curves and angles. Mark color zones before you start if you plan a color-blocked letter – if you’d like to be very intentional with it. I just winged it.

Outline slow, fill fast for clean loops

Keep the barrel straight and move forward steadily. Do not tilt. Outline first on a low speed to stay on the line. Then fill on a higher speed in tight rows. Keep the rows close for a denser pile. Always keep a lot of the yarn pulled loose so it doesn’t resist the tufting and fail.

Glue, back, and trim for a clean finish

Use latex carpet adhesive and spread it with a scraper or a piece of cardboard. Let it dry fully before trimming. For wall decor, felt makes a neat back, and a layer of cardboard helps the piece stay flat. Trim strays with scissors. A rug shaver will clean the surface faster and crisper than scissors alone.

Results, timing, and cleanup

Each 10 to 11 inch tall letter took about 15 minutes to tuft once set up. Expect yarn fluff on the floor. That is normal. You will use more cloth than the letter size to lock in tension across the frame. That means that you might have some waste. I tufted a small project between the letters (which I’ll share with you) to avoid waste.

The final letters looked bright and bold. After glue and a quick trim, they were ready for hanging.

Conclusion

If you want an easy entry into tufting, this Clawlab review points to a smart pick for a beginner tufting gun and frame.

Pros include fast tension on the frame, portable build, one-hand lightweight gun, quiet motor, smooth results, tidy case. Cons include a fixed frame width (standard for frames but I’d love to see them make it adjustable), no yarn mount, and no shearing tool in the kit.

For first rugs, small wall pieces, and custom initials, it hits the sweet spot of simplicity and control. Add latex carpet adhesive, extra monks cloth, felt backing, and a rug shaver to your list. Ready to try it? Check the current price for the Clawlab Kit, or choose the Clawlab Frame or Clawlab Tufting Gun on their own.

The post Clawlab Review: Tufting Gun and Frame for Beginners (With Kids’ Initials Project) appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

It’s amazing to me that I haven’t even finished sharing my daughter’s dress up party from last year (you can see our dress up station here) and I’m already working hard on sharing her next birthday – a sleepover party! I designed this heart keychain laser file as a fun and inexpensive party favor to hand out, however, I figured I need to share it in time for Valentine’s Day because it’s perfect for that!

These are so quick and easy to engrave, cut, and put together and they use inexpensive basswood plywood sheets. And yes, you can also use acrylic! But I’m getting ahead of myself – let’s go through the details of this heart keychain laser file so you’ll know how to use it well!

How to Use This Heart Keychain Laser File

Laser Cutting them

These are designed for laser engraving and cutting. I used my LaserPecker LX2 – my full-sized Diode laser engraver. You can read my full review of the LaserPecker LX2 here and of course, I’ll share full tips for how to do it below.

Ultimately, laser engraving these gives you a ready-to-go result. You just pull them off the engraver, assemble them in minutes, and you have a finished product. It’s the best way – but not the only way to use this heart keychain laser file.

Cricut Crafting Variations

You CAN Cricut craft these! If you have a Maker, use the knife blade to cut it from wood. You can use a pen to draw the design right onto wood (I share how to do this in this or balsa wood Cricut tutorial). The design an outline so it’ll go over the whole thing twice – which will make it nice and bold.

Cricut cutting wood is quite inefficient but doable, so definitely opt for a laser if you can!

Some more ideas for how to Cricut craft this heart keychain laser file:

• Engrave leather bookmarks with the details, and cut them from leather. You may want to mirror the design as well to make it two-sided for added sturdiness.
• Cut the design from vinyl and attach them to round acrylic keychain blanks. You can make a two layer design with the details. You will need to remove the hole.
• Slice the details from the base design and make it from vinyl on a keychain blank. You’ll once again need to remove the hole.
• Same as the above – but try it from stiff felt and glue it onto a wooden keychain base.
• Engrave the design using your Cricut on an acrylic keychain blank (learn how to engrave acrylic on the Cricut here.)

There are so many ways you can use this heart SVG – you’ll just need to be a bit more creative!

More ways to finish them off

I added tassels that actually came with my acrylic keychain blanks to these. They are simple leatherette tassels – and yes, you can make your own leather tassels too!

Some more ways to finish this off and make it polished:

• Paint the wood before cutting and engraving. Use basic acrylic paint. I kind of regret not doing this.
• You can stain and/or seal your keychains after as well. If painting, use a thin wash and make sure it doesn’t fully color the insets.
• Leave it unfinished and let recipients color it themselves with paint markers (this is great if you’re making this for a party!)
• Use fun colorful keychains.
• Add hanging beaded charms to the keychians.

I made this on a whim with what I had but you can absolutely craft it cooler than I did!

Cutting this Heart Keychain Laser File on a Laser Engraver

I used my LaserPecker LX2 to engrave and cut these and I have so many tips for how you can do this. I used this laser as the best suited for the job, because it has a large bed, and as a gantry laser, you get good smooth cuts. In addition, the air assist feature helps minimize charring that often happens on wood.

Which type of laser can cut these?

Any Diode, CO2, or UV laser can cut wood. If crafting from acrylic, Diode lasers work beautifully on many shades of red and pink (read: which colors acrylic can a Diode laser cut for more tips on doing this).

A gantry style laser (the kind with a large bed and a module that moves around on a track) is better suited to cutting jobs than a galvo (the more compact kind where the laser moves around using mirrors – like the LaserPecker LP5 I reviewed here) because you get a straight-down cut, vs. the angled cut on a galvo.

It’s small enough that you CAN cut it on galvo lasers, and there are no parts that need to fit together. So it’ll cut very nicely on both types, although more efficiently on a gantry.

More cutting tips and tricks

While I made some mistakes on earlier rounds and did better on later rounds, I figured I’d offer you feedback on how to better cut this. If you’re new to laser engraving, I recommend you read my tips and guide for engraving wood with a laser where I share so much advice.

Meanwhile, here are some pointers:

• Score don’t engrave – on my earlier ones, I engraved the design. On later ones, I scored it. This moved so much faster and made a better line, while still retaining all the detail. Since the details are quite fine, it didn’t look outlined.
• Air assist – I sometimes forget to turn on air assist. If you have that feature, it can get you such a fabulous, clean finish, without charring.
• Secure your wood – If cutting multiples, it’s always worth taping or clamping down the wood you’re working with, just in case it shifts.
• Paint first – as I mentioned above, I regretted not adding a couple of coats of paint to the wood before cutting and engraving.
• Mask your wood – If you don’t have air assist, masking the wood with masking tape sheets first can help get you a cleaner cut. You may need to adjust your settings a bit to get the result you want through the tape.

How to make your keychains using the Heart Keychain Laser File SVG

This tutorial is based very specifically on how I crafted it. Of course, adjust for any of the variations I shared above.

Supplies Needed

• 3mm Basswood Sheets
• Laser Engraver (I used the LaserPecker LX2)
• Keychains
• Pliers
• Tassels

Process

1. Upload your file to your laser software and resize it to the size you want. Set the outline and hole to cut. Set the internal design to score.
2. Prep your wood as needed, load your wood, preview, and make sure that your environment is safe – properly ventilated, no laser light leak, etc. Engrave and cut your wood.
3. Remove your cutouts. Attach a tassel and keychain.

Your heart keychains are complete! I hope you enjoy this FREE heart keychain laser file and SVG!

Download your free heart keychain laser file

To download, fill out the form below. You’ll be signed up for our free newsletter – unsubscribe at any time in the footer of the emails. I respect your privacy and the law and won’t share your information with anyone.

The post Heart Keychain Laser File SVG (Free Download) appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Today I’m sharing a personal perspective and feedback of the LaserPecker LP5 vs. xTool F1 Ultra since I’ve been privileged enough to thoroughly review both of these impressive machines. Each one is suited better to a specific user, so I figured I’d share the side-by-side so that you can know which is better for you! This post contains affiliate links. Both machines were gifted, however, I’ve long fulfilled my obligations to the brand and am writing this simply to help you choose.

xTool F1 Ultra vs LaserPecker LP5: Real-World Side-by-Side Guide

Trying to pick between the xTool F1 Ultra vs LaserPecker LP5 and feeling stuck? You are not alone. Both feature similar specs making them sound like identical twins – but their physical characteristics are different enough that there is probably one that’s more suited to our needs. My goal today is to help you figure that out based on my real-life testing.

Both machines have dual-laser technology, packing a 20W diode laser and a 20W fiber laser into one galvo machine, so on paper they look very similar – and indeed, they perform similarly. Yet, due to small differences in software, hardware, and accessories, they both have very specific advantages and disadvantages.

This guide is based on real-world testing, similar to what you’ll see in the full xTool F1 Ultra dual fiber & diode laser review and the detailed LaserPecker LP5 20W fiber & diode laser review.

We will put the two side by side and look at how they compare in size and safety, software experience, speed and batch work, metal cutting and engraving, portability, and price. By the end, you’ll know which one fits you better, whether you want a semi-stationary small “laser studio” with bulk production capabilities, or a compact portable setup for shelf storage or onsite engraving, that can still handle serious materials.

Quick Overview: xTool F1 Ultra vs. LaserPecker LP5 At A Glance

Before getting into deep specs, it helps to know who each of these dual-laser technology galvo machines is built for. The way you plan to use your laser will usually make the decision pretty clear, so we’ll start by exploring it from that perspective.

If you are also curious how the F1 Ultra compares to xTool’s smaller F1, you can check the full xTool F1 vs. F1 Ultra comparison later for even more context on their lineup.

Who Each Machine Is Best For

Let’s look at the kind of person or business that usually clicks with each machine, starting with how you plan to work day to day.

xTool F1 Ultra: Best For Large Orders and Batch Production

Small jewelry makers who want real metal capabilities in-studio, as well ad deep embossing

If you sell metal jewelry and want the ability to deep emboss and cut metal on a slightly larger machine, the xTool F1 Ultra is more efficient than the LaserPecker LP5. Its 20W fiber can cut thin brass and other metals, and it can carve metal deep enough for things like wax seal stamps, coins, or filled engraves. While the LP5 can do that, the F1 Ultra by default sends the file and maintains a better connection for longer tasks. The camera makes placement easier, with lower risk of ruining pricey materials. And I found that it was better at fine detail on complex embossments.

Etsy and event swag sellers who need fast batch personalization

The xTool F1 Ultra is for people who want to engrave a lot, very fast. The galvo head is tuned for speed, and the larger enclosed work area plus optional conveyer let you batch wood tags, coasters, keychains, and jewelry blanks. Think bit swag orders, or busy Etsy shops where you run the same design on dozens of items in one sitting. The conveyor with automatic camera placement is where this really shines, but features like “double tap to repeat task” help as well.

Crafters who want one enclosed “laser studio”
If you want one main machine that lives on your table and safely handles wood, acrylic, coated metals, leather, slate, clay, and more, the xTool F1 Ultra is a strong pick. The fully enclosed design by default, built-in safety features, and camera make it friendlier if kids wander into your space or if your work area is in a shared room. The LaserPecker LP5 has this with an optional add-on.

Side‑hustlers planning to grow
If you see your laser work turning into a real side business, the xTool F1 Ultra scales better for small business applications. The autofocus features, camera alignment, and batch tools help you move from “trying this out” to “running orders every week” without feeling stuck babysitting every job.

Users who care less about portability and more about scale
The xTool F1 Ultra is heavier and more of a semi-stationary desktop laser engraver. Its footprint is still quite small (without the conveyor, which can be easily removed as needed) You can move it if you need to, but it really shines as a compact, semi-permanent setup that trades portability for power, work area, and deep metal work.

LaserPecker LP5: Best For Portability, Smaller Spaces and Lower Budgets

People in small spaces who need a compact engraver
If you live in an apartment, use a tiny craft corner, or work from the kitchen table, the LaserPecker LP5’s small footprint and lighter weight are a big advantage. It can tuck onto a shelf when not in use and still give you dual laser power when you need it.

Users who want a handheld option for large or fixed items
One of the LaserPecker LP5’s standout strengths is the handheld mode. You can bring the laser to the object, not the other way around. That helps if you want to engrave furniture, wall signs, bricks, or anything too big or fixed in place. You set it on the surface using the cone or stand, then engrave right there.

Anyone who needs a travel‑friendly laser with a carry handle
If you go to markets, pop‑ups, maker events, or work between locations, the LaserPecker LP5 is easier to move. The carry handle and lighter body make it much more portable. It pairs well with a laptop and a compact purifier setup so you can engrave names or small designs on the go.

Crafters who engrave many materials but don’t mind manually placing items
The LaserPecker LP5 is great if you want to engrave lots of different materials like wood, black acrylic, leather, coated metals, and some metals with the fiber, but you do not need extreme deep embossing or thick metal cutting. You can still do beautiful metal marking and lighter engraving, which is enough for many gifts, tags, and jewelry top layers. While it can do thicker cutting and embossing, it doesn’t transfer the file automatically and hold the connection well for those kinds of jobs – you’ll need to export to a USB.

Users who like flexibility between enclosed and open setups
With its optional enclosure and open handheld mode, the LaserPecker LP5 can switch between safer, contained engraving and “anywhere” engraving on large pieces. The cover on the cone is magnetic and can easily be removed. If you want that flexibility more than a big fixed work area, it leans in your favor.

In short, the xTool F1 Ultra fits best if you want a small but serious studio machine with deep metal ability and fast batching. The LaserPecker LP5 fits best if you need a compact, portable, and flexible engraver that still handles real materials without taking over your space.

The xTool F1 Ultra runs a generous few hundred dollars (or even a thousand – depending on sales) more for the baseline machine, with the main tradeoff being the LCD display with internal file storage and the camera.

Key Specs and Hardware: Power, Size, and Build Quality

Before you get into software, presets, or fancy accessories, you need to know what you are actually buying in hardware. On paper, the xTool F1 Ultra and LaserPecker LP5 look very similar with their dual-laser technology, but the way their power, size, and enclosures are put together makes them feel different in daily use.

Laser Power, Beam Type, and What That Means For Materials

Both machines give you a dual-laser setup:

• 20W blue diode laser
• 20W fiber laser (around 1064 nm)
• Both are galvo lasers, so mirrors move the beam instead of a gantry sliding a heavy head. That translates to very fast engraving over a relatively small area.

This setup provides strong materials compatibility across a range of projects. Keep in mind these numbers are based on user feedback and brand testing, it’s not a concrete number but it’s there to give you a general idea of what the LaserPecker LP5 vs the xTool F1 Ultra can do.

From real-world style tests:

• xTool F1 Ultra diode
  Handles typical diode jobs like wood keychains, signs, cake toppers, and black acrylic jewelry very well. Users have cut up to around 12 mm basswood and 12 mm black acrylic with multiple passes, which lines up with projects like detailed wood earrings and acrylic laser earrings.
• LaserPecker LP5 diode
  Also strong for wood, bamboo pens, leather, cork, and black acrylic. It can cut basswood up to about 20 mm and black acrylic up to around 15 mm, making it a solid choice if most of your work is non-metal materials with good materials compatibility.

Where the two really stand out is the fiber side:

• F1 Ultra fiber performance
  • Can deep engrave and emboss metals instead of just marking the surface. Automatic internal file storage supports this more efficiently than remote file transfer. Can cut thin metals, such as about 0.4 mm brass and very thin sterling silver. Great for:
    • Deep fill engraves on pendants and bracelets, wax seal bases and coins, thin metal inlays that sit inside wooden pieces
  It is not a heavy industrial metal cutter, but for small-scale jewelry and inlay work it hits a sweet spot.
• LP5 fiber performance
  • Also handles deep embossing on brass, including things like challenge coins or signet-style surfaces. Connectivity is an issue unless you transfer files to a USB (included).
  • Rated up to about 1 mm brass cutting, but the focus is still on precision engraving rather than production cutting.
  • Excellent for precision engraving:
    • Detailed line art and logos on stainless steel and brass
    • Marking and text on jewelry blanks
    • Clean metal tags and plates

If you mostly engrave wood, leather, and acrylic, both machines feel similar. If you care a lot about metal work, the F1 Ultra handles harder tasks better, with better connectivity for complex tasks.

If you are new to lasers and want a feel for how diode power behaves on wood, this guide to engraving on wood with a laser is a helpful companion read.

Work Area, Height Capacity, and Curved Object Support

The galvo heads are similar in speed, but how and where you can place items is very different, especially when considering the working area.

xTool F1 Ultra work area and height

• Enclosed workspace with a larger working area than the LP5’s standard setup.
• Plenty of room for:
  • Coasters and small signs
  • Stacked jewelry trays
  • Tumblers and mugs on a rotary
• The interior height lets you fit taller objects without removing the enclosure.

On top of that, xTool adds hardware to stretch its reach:

• RA2 Pro rotary lets you engrave bottles, tumblers, mugs, and other cylindrical items with wraparound designs.
• Conveyor accessory turns the machine into more of a mini production line. You can feed dozens of small items across the belt, which makes sense for larger batches of tags, tiles, or small panels.

The built-in camera and software tools help with:

• Visual placement on the bed
• Curved surface assists for cups and uneven pieces
• Auto-fill patterns to quickly populate multiple blanks

That combination makes the F1 Ultra feel like a fixed-bed production machine in a compact body. It’s really a powerhouse with bulk orders thanks to this.

LaserPecker LP5 work area and height

The story is different with the LP5:

• The base engraving area on the stand is smaller than the F1 Ultra’s internal bed.
• Height is more limited when you use it like a regular desktop machine.

However, the LP5 pulls ahead in flexibility of positioning:

• The head can be used handheld, with a cone that rests on the surface.
• You can place it on:
  • Furniture pieces
  • Large signs or doors
  • Bricks, walls, or floors
• As long as you can get the laser, venting, and power to the item, size of the object is almost unlimited. Only the engrave area is fixed.

With the optional enclosure:

• You gain a camera preview, which helps for placement on small items and safer enclosed work.
• The enclosure does not yet support automatic curve mapping. So engraving on curved cups or odd shapes inside the box takes more test runs and manual tweaks compared to the F1 Ultra’s curve-friendly features.

In short:

• Choose F1 Ultra if you want a larger fixed work area, taller object support, and strong camera tools, especially for batch work and curved drinkware.
• Choose LP5 if your priority is flexible positioning on big, awkward, or fixed objects, and you do not mind a smaller fixed bed.

Size, Portability, and Enclosure Design

Even with similar laser power, the two machines feel very different when you look at the bodies and enclosures.

xTool F1 Ultra: bigger desktop “laser studio”

• Larger desktop footprint with a full metal and plastic enclosure.
• Weighs more and has no carry handle, so it is meant to live in one place most of the time. Carrying it by hugging it around the body is possible but tends to displace the protective shield.
• You can still move it between locations if you:
  • Save the original packing foam
  • Treat it like a delicate but compact appliance

Because the fiber path is fully enclosed, you do not have an exposed glass fiber cable to worry about. That makes it safer to transport than many traditional open fiber systems, where one bad kink can kill the laser.

The enclosed body also pairs nicely with:

• The conveyor for batch production, turning it into a serious small-scale production tool.
• An external air purifier, which keeps fumes under control when you use it heavily on wood, leatherette, or acrylic. If you are curious about that type of setup, the post on laser engraving leatherette walks through a very similar environment: Laser engraving leatherette tips and ideas.

Overall, the F1 Ultra fits best as a semi-permanent desktop machine that focuses on power, work area, and safety rather than easy travel.

LaserPecker LP5: compact and travel-friendly

The LP5 goes in the opposite direction.

• Compact main body that takes up a small slice of desk space.
• Built-in carry handle, so you can pick it up like a small toolbox.
• Several ways to set it up:
  • Handheld cone for on-surface engraving
  • Adjustable desktop stand
  • Optional full enclosure for light-safe desktop work

That mix makes the LP5 shine if you:

• Pack it for markets, pop-ups, or craft fairs
• Offer on-site engraving at events
• Work from a kitchen table or a shared space and need to put it away when you are done.

When you add the full enclosure, a few things change:

• You get better eye safety and a cleaner desktop workflow.
• The unit becomes bulkier, closer to a traditional desktop engraver in footprint. It’s still a bit more transportable than the F1 Ultra.
• You lose some of that ultra-compact feel, similar to how the F1 Ultra is always a desktop unit and never truly “tiny.”

So in practical terms:

• Pick the xTool F1 Ultra if you want a sturdy, enclosed desktop machine that feels like a small laser studio with batch options.
• Pick the LaserPecker LP5 if portability, a carry handle, and flexible setups matter more than having a huge fixed work area.

Real World Performance: Speed, Materials, and Project Types

Specs look nice on a chart, but what really matters is how these two lasers behave once you start feeding them wood, acrylic, leather, and metal. Thanks to their galvo systems, engraving speed stands out right away for quick results on real projects. This section walks through practical use so you can picture what your own projects would look like on each machine.

Engraving Wood, Acrylic, Leather, and Everyday Craft Materials

Both machines use their 20W diode lasers for most classic “craft” projects, like signs, earrings, tags, and gifts. The big difference is how fast they clear a batch and how friendly they are for repeat work. How well connection is maintained/offline capabilities also is a big deal with deeper, tougher engraves.

On the xTool F1 Ultra, the diode:

• Cuts thick basswood and black acrylic cleanly with the right passes
• Handles simple wood shapes and earrings without trouble
• Engraves bamboo smoothly for things like tiles, bookmarks, and small signs
• Marks leather bracelets well, though genuine leather creates plenty of smoke and you’ll ideally want to choose tooling leather for best results.

Users have found that very complex wood cuts sometimes need dialed-in settings or an extra pass, but for basic shapes, stud earrings, and charms, it does a solid job. Pairing it with a good purifier, such as the system covered in the xTool SafetyPro AP2 air purifier review, makes a big difference when you run wood and leather often. The Ultra’s enclosed body plus external filtration helps keep fumes more contained than an open diode on a stand.

On the LaserPecker LP5, the diode side is also strong:

• Cuts basswood up to around 20 mm and thick black acrylic
• Engraves bamboo pens for quick gifts or event work
• Handles wood plaques and simple signs
• Marks leatherette patches and faux leather very nicely

Because the LP5 is often used in more open setups or handheld mode, you notice fumes quickly. Good venting or a compact purifier is just as important here.

For everyday craft materials, the two machines are very close in capability. Where the F1 Ultra pulls ahead is on speed batching flat pieces. The enclosed bed, camera, and workflow tools make it easier to drop in a tray of wood tiles or acrylic blanks and run fast, repeatable jobs. Even without the conveyer the “double tap start to repeat task” feature makes batch processing a cinch.

The LP5 can hit similar quality on single items, but feels more like a “one at a time” engraver for crafts.

Metal Engraving and Cutting: Jewelry, Tags, and Gifts

Metal is where these dual-laser machines start to separate in personality. Both have 20W fiber sources, so both can handle metal engraving on real metals, not just coated tumblers.

On the xTool F1 Ultra, the fiber laser is tuned for deep, detailed metal work:

• It can deep engrave aluminum bars, brass hearts, and sterling pendants so you can fill the recess with ink, enamel, or paint.
• Thin brass sheets can be cut into charms, inlay pieces, and small tags. Real-world tests show it handles around 0.4 mm brass well for jewelry-sized parts.
• With careful settings and good fixturing, it has cut very thin sterling sheet, especially in lighter gauges. Taping the metal down to the honeycomb or base is important so it does not warp as it heats.

This kind of deep engraving lets you create things like:

• Fillable name necklaces and bar bracelets
• Wax seal bases, coins, and medallions
• Layered metal over wood bookmarks or tags

You can see many of these project types in the in depth xTool F1 Ultra review, where tests focus heavily on jewelry and small metal blanks.

The main difference in functionality is that the xTool F1 Ultra automatically transfers files to the machine and works from that local storage. This makes it efficiently continue working your complex job, even when the laptop disconnects.

The LaserPecker LP5 holds its own on metal as well:

• The fiber laser can deep emboss brass, which is great for challenge coins or signet-style pieces where you want raised or recessed designs.
• It is rated to cut brass up to about 1 mm. That extra thickness is handy if you want more substantial coins, badges, or stiffer charms.
• It engraves stainless steel, aluminum, and silver cleanly for logos, text, and decorative patterns.

One practical point with the LP5: long, deep emboss projects run smoother when the file is loaded and run from USB, not streamed over Wi-Fi.

That avoids lag between layers and keeps multi-pass jobs more consistent. If power is lost in middle, you’ll need to restart the job. Whereas on the F1 Ultra, the file is sent to the machine’s internal storage automatically. And if power is lost immediately it continues the job. This is mostly relevant with longer, deeper projects and not noticeable on everyday tasks.

For both machines, it is important to set expectations. Neither one is a heavy industrial metal cutter. They are best at:

• Small jewelry pieces like pendants, bars, charms, and earrings
• Keychains, bookmarks, and luggage tags
• Nameplates, dog tags, and custom labels
• Personalized gifts and keepsakes that need engraving more than brute-force cutting

If metal is only part of your shop, and you also do a lot of wood, acrylic, leather, and coated tumblers, the xTool F1 Ultra’s dual laser inside one enclosed body is a strong advantage. You can stay on a single machine and switch between diode and fiber without changing setups.

If you focus heavily on metal embossing and do not mind a more open or portable setup, the LP5 offers very respectable depth and cutting on brass, with the bonus of handheld flexibility for larger objects.

Speed, Batch Production, and Business Use

Both machines are galvo lasers, so they move the beam with mirrors instead of sliding a heavy head around. That alone makes them feel fast, with engraving speed up to 10,000 mm/s. Text, logos, and simple art that might take minutes on a gantry laser often finish in seconds here.

The xTool F1 Ultra is built around batch production and production-style setups:

• The optional conveyor feeder accessory can feed dozens of small items in one run, like wood tiles, tags, or keychains. You set up the design once, align with the camera, then let the conveyor advance each piece.
• The built-in camera and Auto Streamline Production tools let you place one design, then auto-populate an array across a grid of blanks.
• The threaded grid bed with L brackets makes it easy to pin down jigs or use a simple corner fence. You drop your product into the brackets, tap the repeat task button, and run the same job over and over.

This combination turns the F1 Ultra into a compact production station for small business applications, such as:

• Name tags and place cards
• Wood or acrylic earrings in sets
• Wholesale batches of logo keychains or bottle openers
• Branded metal business cards

The LaserPecker LP5 is more about flexible small runs and on-site work, especially given its larger working area in certain setups:

• It also has a threaded base and L brackets, so you can jig items for repeat engraving, especially when using the stand.
• Its software can auto fill rows of items across the defined work area, which helps when you want to engrave several small blanks at once on the base.
• What it lacks is a conveyor-style system, so you still handle most batching by moving items manually.

Where the LP5 shines is live personalization:

• You can pack the compact unit, stand, and cone and bring it to markets, pop-ups, or store events.
• It works well for engraving pens, wallets, phone cases, and small metal items while customers wait.
• The speed from the galvo head means you can engrave short names or simple icons quickly enough to keep a line moving.

If your goal is factory-style batch output from your desk, the F1 Ultra is the stronger choice. The conveyor, camera-driven workflows, and enclosed bed all point to volume production, boosted by superior engraving speed.

If you care more about smaller runs, mobility, and on-the-spot personalization, the LP5 has the edge with its portable body and handheld engraving, even if you give up some of the high-throughput batch tools that make the F1 Ultra feel like a tiny production shop.

Software, Workflow, and Ease of Use

How each machine feels to use day to day depends a lot on the software, camera tools, and how quickly you can work safely without babysitting every step. This is where the xTool F1 Ultra and LaserPecker LP5 start to pull apart in real-life workflow, even though the hardware looks similar on paper.

xTool Studio vs. LaserPecker Design Space (Plus LightBurn)

Both brands ship their own software, and both are capable, but the experience is different, especially in terms of software integration. Just a heads up: both are constantly updating and releasing new software, and both recently overhauled to a completely new version. However, xTool does seem to be five steps ahead of LaserPecker where software is concerned.

xTool F1 Ultra: xTool Studio
xTool Studio is the main software and feels fairly friendly even if you are newer to lasers.

Key strengths:

• Helpful material presets for common woods, acrylics, leathers, and metals, so you are not guessing every single setting from scratch. They have a HUGE library of presets, so you’ll likely find what you’re looking for – or something similar enough as a starting points.
• Solid image conversion, so you can take photos or simple graphics and get engrave-ready art without needing a separate design app.
• Multiple project tabs, which is a big deal in real workflows:
  • Prepare the next project while working on the first.
  • Set up multiple names for separate personalization
  • Process a few clients at once.

Paired with the F1 Ultra’s smart camera, xTool Studio gives you:

• A live top view of the bed.
• Accurate drag-and-drop placement right on jewelry blanks, tags, or tumblers.
• Autofocus features based on the camera and distance, which cuts down on manual fiddling.

If you want a deep dive into software behavior on smaller galvo units, the in‑depth xTool F1 Laser Engraver review gives a good sense of how xTool’s software flows, and the F1 Ultra builds on that with a better camera and more tools.

Overall, xTool Studio feels like it was built for crafters and small businesses. You can still design in Illustrator or another program, but if you just want to set text, drop a logo, and engrave, xTool Studio is easy to live in.

LaserPecker LP5: LaserPecker Design Space

LaserPecker Design Space works, but it is not as polished, partly due to less seamless software integration. They are improving the software, and their latest version is vastly improved.

Where it does well:

• Good image conversion, especially if you are starting from photos or basic art.
• A surprisingly strong built‑in clipart library, which is handy for fast gifts, simple icons, and filler designs when you do not want to design from scratch.

Where it feels awkward:

• The settings panel is clumsy. Controls are packed into one side panel and the workflow feels a bit stop and go.
• Some important tabs and options are hidden behind extra clicks, so you spend time hunting for controls that you use often.
• During light preview (framing), you cannot move your artwork. You have to:
  1. Stop the preview.
  2. Adjust the design or position.
  3. Run the preview again. That back and forth adds friction, especially on detailed alignment jobs.
  4. Or move the product itself, which is frustrating if placement was just-just to begin with.

Their new software improvements did help and you’ll find that it’s much more usable than it was – they’re listening to feedback. They have a fledgling materials library, offering starting points for some materials, but they need much more for it really to be effective.

The software is very usable once you get used to it, but there is more of a learning curve. You will get your settings dialed in, you will learn its quirks, but it is not as smooth out of the box as xTool Studio , where software integration shines for everyday tasks.

LightBurn on both of them

There is a workaround to the LP5 issues: LightBurn compatibility for the diode laser.

• If you already know LightBurn, this is a comfort zone.
• You get more advanced layout tools, better node editing, and a familiar workspace.
• The catch: LightBurn only talks to the diode side, not the fiber. You still rely on LaserPecker Design Space for fiber projects and deep metal engraves.

xTool’s F1 Ultra is also LightBurn compatible.

So side by side:

If you want a smoother all‑in‑one experience, the F1 Ultra plus XCS wins. If you care more about portability and already live in LightBurn, the LP5 gives you that, as long as you accept that fiber jobs still go through LaserPecker’s software.

Camera Features, Framing, and Curved Surface Tools

Being able to see your work area is a big confidence booster, especially when you are engraving small, expensive blanks. This is one area where the differences show up quickly.

F1 Ultra camera and framing

The F1 Ultra has a built‑in 16 MP camera inside the enclosure. That gives you a sharp overhead image of:

• Jewelry blanks – especially small work.
• Bar pendants
• Coasters
• Tumblers or cups on a rotary

In xTool Studio you can:

• Drop your design right where you want it on the live photo.
• Zoom in to place tiny text on a small pendant.
• Use autofocus features so you do not guess height.

On top of that, the camera powers smart tools:

• Autofill for batch jobs, where you set one design and the software populates it over multiple blanks on the bed or conveyor.
• Software updates are rolling in features for curved surfaces, like cups and rounded items, including advanced 3D Curve™ Engraving capabilities. That means the system can better handle distortion and focus as the curve moves away from center.

In real projects, this matters when you:

• Align text on a skinny bar pendant without wasting blanks.
• Center a logo on a stainless cup without running three test cups first.
• Engrave a grid of tags or coins and trust placement from run to run.

Framing on the F1 Ultra also feels smoother. You can run a light outline, nudge the design, and frame again quickly, all without feeling stuck in one mode.

LP5 camera and framing

The LP5 handles this differently.

• The camera only comes into play when you use the full enclosure, since the camera is built into that accessory, not the core head.
• Inside the enclosure, you get a top-down preview image of your work area, which is very handy for placing designs on small items.

However:

• The current camera tools do not offer curve mapping or advanced curved surface support. If you want to engrave cups or rounded items, you rely more on test frames and careful positioning. The rotary extension is more important, even when doing a simple front-only design.
• The image is more of a placement aid than a deeply integrated system like the F1 Ultra’s camera.

Both machines offer light preview or framing modes, which outline where your design will land. The key difference:

• On the F1 Ultra, you can preview, tweak, and preview again in a pretty fluid loop.
• On the LP5, you must stop the preview before you move the design. That extra step slows down alignment, especially when you are trying to get small artwork centered on a narrow surface.

For real projects, imagine:

• Trying to center initials on a bar pendant.
  • F1 Ultra: drop the art on the live camera view, quick frame, small nudge, frame again, engrave.
  • LP5: preview, stop, adjust, preview again, repeat until happy.
• Placing a logo on a metal cup.
  • F1 Ultra: camera view plus rotary support gives you a good starting point with fewer dry runs.
  • LP5: still doable, but involves more trial framing and physical alignment.

If perfect placement on small items is a big part of your workflow, the F1 Ultra’s camera plus software feels more dialed in. The LP5’s camera inside the enclosure helps, but it is not yet at the same level in terms of curved tools and fluid framing.

Learning Curve, Safety, and Maintenance

Both machines are powerful lasers, not plug-and-play office printers. They are absolutely approachable for beginners, but you should expect some learning and a bit of care.

Learning curve on each machine

• F1 Ultra
  • xTool Studio is easier to learn for many crafters, especially if you have used design software or a cutting machine before.
  • Material presets, camera view, and autofocus features help you get usable results quicker.
  • You still need to run test swatches for your favorite woods, acrylics, and metals and record your own settings.
• LP5
  • LaserPecker Design Space works but feels less intuitive. Expect more trial and error with the interface itself.
  • The strong clipart library and image tools help you get designs running even if you are not a designer.
  • LightBurn compatibility for the diode helps if you already know that software, but you still have the brand app to learn for fiber jobs.

If you want a sense of how much testing goes into dialing in materials, especially acrylics on a diode, the post on which acrylic colors a diode laser can cut shows the kind of test grids and tweaks you will do on either machine.

Safety on F1 Ultra vs LP5

Both machines need the same basic safety steps:

• Wear laser-safe goggles any time the beam is exposed or accessories leave the cover open.
• Use good ventilation or an air purifier, especially for wood, leather, and acrylic.
• Never run them totally unattended, especially on long cut jobs.

How they handle light containment:

• F1 Ultra
  • Has a fully enclosed design with safety features like a laser-safe cover. I did experience a bit of light leak on this one.
  • This feels better for home studios or permanent customer-facing spaces where you cannot control who walks in.
• LP5
  • The head has a magnetic orange safety shield that blocks some light while you work. However, since it relies on the height of the laser head, which is set by the focus parameters, there is light leak.
  • There is an optional full enclosure with:
    • Magnetic front and back doors for longer items.
    • An auto stop if a door opens during a job.
  • In handheld or open-stand mode, there is more light leakage around the work area, so goggles are non-negotiable.

So if you want a set-it-on-the-desk, mostly enclosed setup, the F1 Ultra feels safer and more self-contained. If you need open, flexible setups, the LP5 can do that, but you must stay on top of goggles and line of sight.

Basic maintenance and care

Neither machine asks for complex maintenance, but a few habits keep results clean:

• Clean the lens regularly
  • Both come with a lint-free cloth.
  • Wipe soot and dust from the lens cone and any protective glass so the beam stays sharp.
• Check vents and fans
  • Make sure exhaust paths on the F1 Ultra and enclosure vents on the LP5 stay clear of dust buildup.
  • If you use an external air purifier, replace or wash filters on schedule.
• Secure materials well
  • Use honeycomb bases, pegboard-style plates, or L brackets.
  • Tape thin metals down so they do not curl as they heat during deeper cuts or embossing.
• Keep a settings log
  • Write down power, speed, and pass counts that work for your woods, leathers, and metals.
  • Both machines benefit from this, and it saves you a ton of time and scrap material over the long run.

Neither the xTool F1 Ultra nor the LP5 is truly plug-and-play. You will:

• Run test grids.
• Tweak focus.
• Figure out which woods burn darker.
• Learn how your favorite metals behave.

The good news is that both are very approachable for newer laser users. The F1 Ultra makes the early steps smoother with its software and camera, while the LP5 trades a little ease of use for portability and flexibility. If you are willing to learn and test, either can become a reliable workhorse in your setup.

Price Comparison, Value, and How To Decide Between xTool F1 Ultra and LaserPecker LP5

Once you understand what each machine can do, the next question is simple: will it actually earn its keep? Price alone does not tell the full story, so it helps to look at both upfront cost and long term value side by side.

Cost, Accessories, and Long Term Value

Both sit in the higher tier of hobby and small business lasers because you are getting two serious lasers in one body: a 20W diode and a 20W fiber. That dual setup is what lets you engrave wood, acrylic, leather, and coated items, then switch to real metal work on the same machine.

The F1 Ultra usually comes in higher on the price ladder, especially if you buy it as a full setup. Once you add the conveyor feeder accessory for batch work, the RA2 Pro rotary for tumblers and cups, and an air purifier, you are squarely in “small studio” territory, not starter toy. For a casual hobbyist that may feel like overkill. For a seller who wants to run lots of orders, those extras turn into real production value because they save hours of handling and setup on every batch – and allow you to take more jobs.

Of course, you can buy the initial unit first and accessorize later.

The LP5 is often the more budget friendly entry, especially if you start with the core unit and stand. The starting price on the base machine is significantly more affordable. You can add only what you need, such as the enclosure for safer indoor use or a slide extension when you are ready. That modular approach fits better if you are testing the waters or have a tight budget but still want real diode and fiber power. However, you won’t be able to add the more advanced file storage and camera features that the F1 Ultra affords you.

On either machine, running costs are not about the power bill. The lasers themselves are efficient. Most of your costs come from:

• Materials like brass sheet, sterling silver, hardwoods, and acrylic.
• Time, including design, setup, test cuts, and cleanup.
• Air filtration and venting, such as filters for a purifier or vent ducting.

This is why accessories that shorten your time per piece matter so much. The F1 Ultra conveyor and camera tools can cut the handling time per blank when you are engraving a tray of wood tiles, acrylic earrings, or metal tags. The LP5’s handheld mode does the same in a different way, because you can engrave items where they already are, like furniture, pre-installed signs, or large boards, without building complex jigs.

To figure out value, it helps to do some quick math on payback with real products, especially for small business applications. For example:

• Deep engraved brass hearts, stamp bases, or inlay pieces can sell at a solid margin, since you are adding both design and function.
• Sets of wood and acrylic earrings can be cut in batches, then finished by hand. A single sheet of quality acrylic can turn into many pairs.
• Personalized metal jewelry, like the pieces in this DIY mom necklace laser SVG tutorial, can command higher prices because buyers pay for both the material and the custom touch.

You do not need a massive catalog to make a laser pay for itself. If you choose 3 to 5 core products that you know sell well, then build your workflow around them, it becomes much easier to see whether a higher upfront cost makes sense. The F1 Ultra shines when you want to push volume on those products. The LP5 shines when you want flexibility and portability around them.

Decision Checklist: Which Laser Fits Your Space, Skills, and Goals

Choose the xTool F1 Ultra if you want an all in one, enclosed desktop laser engraver that feels like a compact laser studio. It fits best if your main workspace is fixed, you like the idea of closing the lid and keeping light and fumes contained, and you want a camera view that makes placement on tiny jewelry blanks and tags feel low stress. Its larger working area supports batch production on jewelry and metal work while still handling wood and acrylic without switching machines. The fiber side is strong enough for deep engraves on brass and thin silver, while the diode manages wood earrings, signs, and acrylic charms. If you plan to batch produce items for a shop, markets, or events, the conveyor, camera, and smoother software help you move from one-off gifts to real production.

Choose the LaserPecker LP5 if you have very limited desk space and need a compact engraver with a handle that emphasizes portability. It is easier to store, lighter to carry, and can move between home, studio, and events without a lot of fuss. If you like the idea of handheld engraving on large or already installed items, such as furniture, wall signs, or bricks, its cone and handheld mode make that practical. The base unit already covers a wide mix of materials for more engraving than deep metal cutting, and the optional enclosure gives you a safer desktop setup later on. This path fits better if your business is built around on-the-spot personalization, smaller runs, and mobility rather than heavy batch work on a fixed bed.

In the xTool F1 Ultra vs LP5 decision, remember that there is no single perfect laser for everyone. The “right” choice is the one that matches your space, your comfort level with software, and the kind of products you actually want to sell, whether that is metal jewelry, wood decor, acrylic keychains, or live engraving at events.

Conclusion

In the xTool F1 Ultra vs LP5 comparison, both machines harness dual-laser technology, with the xTool F1 Ultra leading in engraving speed, but they shine in different roles. The xTool F1 Ultra feels like a mini production station, with its larger enclosed work area, camera tools, conveyor option, and deep metal engraving that suits jewelry makers and small studios. The LaserPecker LP5 trades that fixed-bed production style for a compact body, handheld mode, and carry handle, which suits people who engrave on-site, work in tight spaces, or move their setup often. Side by side, the F1 Ultra wins on batch speed, enclosed safety, and smooth software, while the LP5 wins on portability, and flexible setups, as long as you are fine with a quirkier brand app.

Before you choose, look at your budget, space, and main project list. If you picture trays of tags, earrings, and metal blanks running from one place, the F1 Ultra fits better. If you picture engraving pens at markets, names on wallets at events, or designs on furniture and large signs, the LP5 is a better match. Pick the laser that fits how and where you plan to use it most, and you give yourself a tool that can grow with you, open new product ideas, and turn your favorite projects into real income.

Need more help? Let me know your unique circumstance and I’ll help you figure it out!

The post LaserPecker LP5 vs. xTool F1 Ultra: Which 20 Watt Fiber and Diode Laser is Better? appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

I’ve been wanting to try crafts that turn plastic lids into sort of buttons, and I figured that winter is the perfect time to give this a try with a plastic lid snowman craft!

This is such a fun and forgiving craft. It’s open-ended, leaving room for creativity. It’s really easy – no special skills required. It doesn’t require you to be precise or get it perfectly right. There are no measurements, there is no template because there is no need for one!

Tips for crafting a plastic lid snowman

Since this is so open-ended, I figured I’d share some general tips for crafting plastic lid snowmen, and some fun ideas I had in mind for them.

Dressing it up

One of the most creative parts of this is dressing up your plastic lid snowmen. This makes it actually a really fun workshop activity, since you can teach the basic process of creating the plastic lid snowmen, and then offer various odds n ends to decorate it.

I created two of these to show you two different ways you can finish them off.

On one, I added earmuffs using faux fur scraps. I used felt to connect the two muffs, but you can also use a chenille stem. That might look cooler as you can allow it to stand up a bit.

For the nose, I used a flat bit of felt but you can also see how I did the nose on my snowman peg dolls for another way to craft a carrot nose from felt.

On the other one, I decided to make a beanie using a scrap of wintry fabric. I cut it into shape and rolled up the bottom, gluing it in place for the turned up rim. Pom poms make this project shine. The carrot nose is a “front view” – I used a tiny orang pom pom for that.

I definitely recommend getting creative with these and dressing them up as you see fit. You can also use a swatch of fabric for the scarf and beads or buttons fly for the buttons. I didn’t add a face (I wanted to keep it simple) but you can make that by gluing on small beads or drawing it on with a fabric marker. You may want to test the marker for bleed first.

Finishing it off

There are so many different ways you can use plastic lid snowmen – and these are just a few.

Turn it into an ornament – glue on a folded over ribbon to the top back to turn it into an ornament.

Use it as a plush figure – I honestly had it in mind originally just as a little toy that kids can play with, kind of like a mini “pet snowman”.

Add it to a keychain – While it’s pretty large in size, I think it would make a fun addition to a backpack for the season. I’d probably add a keychain by gluing on a small loop made from felt to the top back and using that to connect to keychain hardware.

Put it in a winter sensory bin – I ended up using this as part of a sensory bin featuring 2-ingredient fake snow.

What you need to craft a plastic lid snowman

• Two sizes of plastic lids – I used one from a liter bottle of seltzer, and one from a Stonyfield yogurt smoothie.
• White cotton fabric
• Polyfil fiber
• Fabric scissors
• Washable fabric marker
• White thread and needle
• To decorate it – assorted fabric and felt scraps, buttons, pom poms, etc.
• Ribbon
• Hot glue gun (check out my best hot glue guns for crafts here)

How to make a plastic lid snowman

1. Place your plastic lid on white fabric and make a circle around it. Be generous. You want it to be larger than the cap all around by roughly the height of the cap.

2. Cut out your circles.

3. Create a running stitch all around the perimeter of your circle using a needle and thread.

4. Pull it slightly so that the circle cups.

5. Stuff some Polyfil into your bottle cap.

6. Place the cap open-side-down on the circle. Try to shove all that Polyfil under.

7. Gently pull your thread to fully cinch the edge of the circle around the cap.

8. Stitch in and out of the cinched threads a few times to secure the two sides together, knot and trim.

9. Repeat with the second bottle cap.

10. Glue the two bottle caps together, one on top of the other.

11. Tie a ribbon scarf around the neck. Glue to secure if you’d like (do this if it’ll be getting any real active use).

12. Dress your bottle cap snowman up! I cut a triangle of felt for a carrot nose, bits of faux fur and felt for earmuffs, and beads for buttons.

On the other, I made a beanie using corduroy scraps (roll up and glue on the bottom) and a pom pom, added a tiny pom pom nose, and buttons for buttons.

I hope you enjoyed making a bottle cap snowman! What’ll you be using yours for? Comment below!

How to Make a Bottle Cap Snowman

Active Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Difficulty: Beginner

Estimated Cost: $1

This adorable little bottle cap snowman is such a fun recycled craft to make for winter! Turn these into ornaments or little dolls for pretend play. They're easier than they look.

Print

Materials

• Two sizes of plastic lids - I used one from a liter bottle of seltzer, and one from a Stonefield yogurt smoothie.
• White cotton fabric
• White Polyfil fiber
• Fabric scissors
• Washable fabric marker
• White thread and needle
• To decorate it - assorted fabric and felt scraps, buttons, pom poms, etc.
• Ribbon - 1/4 inch grossgrain ribbon is perfect - or get bundled scraps for projects like these, like I do!
• Hot glue gun (check out my best hot glue guns for crafts here)

Instructions

1. Place your plastic lid on white fabric and make a circle around it. Be generous. You want it to be larger than the cap all around by roughly the height of the cap.

2. Cut out your circles.

3. Create a running stitch all around the perimeter of your circle using a needle and thread.

4. Pull it slightly so that the circle cups.

5. Stuff some Polyfil into your bottle cap.

6. Place the cap open-side-down on the circle. Try to shove all that Polyfil under.

7. Gently pull your thread to fully cinch the edge of the circle around the cap.

8. Stitch in and out of the cinched threads a few times to secure the two sides together, knot and trim.

9. Repeat with the second bottle cap.

10. Glue the two bottle caps together, one on top of the other.

11. Tie a ribbon scarf around the neck. Glue to secure if you'd like (do this if it'll be getting any real active use).

12. Dress your bottle cap snowman up! I cut a triangle of felt for a carrot nose, bits of faux fur and felt for earmuffs, and beads for buttons.

On the other, I made a beanie using corduroy scraps (roll up and glue on the bottom) and a pom pom, added a tiny pom pom nose, and buttons for buttons.

Notes

There are so many different ways you can use plastic lid snowmen - and these are just a few.

• Turn it into an ornament - glue on a folded over ribbon to the top back to turn it into an ornament.
• Use it as a plush figure - I had it in mind originally just as a little toy that kids can play with, kind of like a mini "pet snowman".
• Add it to a keychain - While it's pretty large in size, I think it would make a fun addition to a backpack for the season. Add a keychain by gluing on a small loop made from felt to the top back and using that to connect to keychain hardware.
• Put it in a winter sensory bin - I ended up using this as part of a sensory bin featuring 2-ingredient fake snow.

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

The post Plastic Lid Snowman – Ornaments or Little Dolls! appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

If you’re ready to up your small business game, stay tuned as I share with you how to craft gorgeous newsletters that subscribers will WANT to read, as well as a review and overview of how I use it. This post has been sponsored by Flodesk and contains affiliate links. It is a service that I personally use and pay for monthly!

Over the course of running this blog, I’ve built up an email list of over 90,000 subscribers that is now a core part of my business. Thanks to the generosity of Flodesk, my current email marketing platform that I’ve been with for a few years, I am now able to share some email marketing tips for creative entrepreneurs.

Whether you run a craft business, a blog, or any other type of small businesses, I’m excited to share with you why I’m still with it (my longest sticking with any newsletter service) as well as some tips.

Before we start, just a heads up: if you use my code MOMSANDCRAFTERS you get 25% off your first year of Flodesk!

Why your business NEEDS a GOOD email list

As a fellow creative, it can be so hard to reach people. We’re expected to be everywhere at once. And just when we think we made it big on a platform, the algorithms change.

The truth is that social media relies on virality. What small businesses need is consistency. Consistent cash flow. Consistent traffic. And while viral sellouts can be really cool, they are often unsustainable, misleading, and unreliable.

That is why I will swear up and down by having a solid email list. While your email list can be variable with reach, it does not depend on virality. It is a stable foundation to any business when powered by a reliable email marketing platform.

Why I’m using Flodesk since 2020 – and not planning on switching

Yes, I’ve been using Flodesk since 2020! Before that I used MailChimp and CovertKit for a couple of years each. I’ve been with Flodesk for the longest, and I hope this shines some light on why.

My experience switching

When I was first building up my email list with other services, I was told that my emails need to be “plain text”. That means, no frills bells or whistles. The truth is, as a creative, that is just the wrong approach for me. My readers are creatives too. They need pretty.

When I switched to Flodesk, I was amazed at how easy it was to create gorgeous email designs with the drag and drop builder and easy to use interface. But I was concerned with reach.

However, what I found was that as soon as I verified my domain (which was easy using their instructions) my reach only improved.

My newsletter model is mostly free printable crafts that readers download. I found that the forms were so easy to customize to look great on my website. My emails still mostly use the plain text format but within a pretty framework.

And when I do want to create a much nicer “specialty” newsletter I can do that too, within minutes, thanks to Flodesk’s beautiful templates and email templates.

Favorite features

There are so many cool features to Flodesk, and they’re constantly evolving. I’m going to highlight a few of my favorites.

Besides the extremely clean aesthetic overall, the uncluttered design and feel that keeps my scattered brain focused, here are some fabulous features.

Email marketing

There are so many email marketing tools within Flodesk. Here are a few favorites:

• Link Actions – when a reader clicks on a link I can add or remove them from a segment based on that (Flodesk’s Link Actions make this seamless). I use that to segment my readers based on craft interest with excellent segmentation capabilities, so that I know which ones like crochet, which ones prefer paper crafts, and which ones enjoy basically every craft I share.

• Integrations – Since I also use services like Grow, integrations make things work seamlessly.
• Automations – Flodesk features visual workflows that give you the ability to have automated workflows, all arranged in a very visual flowchart. This is a set-up-and-go strategy to work harder rather than smarter.
• Branding and Favorites – There are many tools to help assemble beautiful emails quickly, including branding features, the ability to save styles, and the ability to save blocks to favorites.

I’ll be sharing actual email marketing tips using these tools shortly.

Flodesk Checkouts

While I was already a Flodesk customer, they started offering Flodesk Checkouts. I was unsure about it but decided to give it a go, and yes, it’s at least paid for itself. It’s perfect for e commerce businesses selling digital products like subscriptions, digital products, freebies, services, courses, and more.

Some of my favorite features are:

• You have a tabbed view of the sales page, the product page, and the product delivery. Instead of having to set up each thing individually, it’s all in one tabbed view.

• Super fast transition for customers, one of the main reasons I use Flodesk Checkout for larger products that require more of a sales page to showcase them is to ease the customer’s workflow for better conversions. While I CAN create a landing page on my blog and link it to an e-shop listing, each time the page needs to load I risk losing the customer. Flodesk Checkout moves really seamlessly through the process.
• Plug-and-go templates, each sales page is really ready to go, including the post-sale download page. Just plug in the new info.
• Customization – There’s lots of low-tech, highly visual customization that can be done.
• Upsells, it also seamlessly integrates upsells (that is, “add-ons” that can be included in a product). On my e-shop I never converted upsells, no one actually bought them. On Flodesk Checkout, people often do if it’s planned to work well with the initial offer.

Practically Speaking: How I use Flodesk + Email Marketing Tips for Creatives

I use Flodesk almost daily, whether it’s setting up a form, sending out a newsletter, or offering a new bundled listing.

I’ll share below how I PERSONALLY use it but also some additional ideas for different business models using this email marketing platform.

Getting Subscribers

People always ask me how I get subscribers and there are two aspects to it: getting people to sign up for a newsletter, and the technical part of it.

Opt-in Incentives

Hands down the most effective way to get people to agree to have you in their inbox is to offer them some value in exchange! My personal strategy is by offering free downloads. Since I sell lots of templates in my Etsy and other ecommerce shops, I’m offering real value when I share something that’s free.

Email-blocking craft templates also serves as a copyright and hotlink protection to protect my intellectual property (and is in fact why I first started doing this.)

But what if you’re not a blogger like me? The trick is to offer something that directly solves the problems of your target subscriber.

Here are some more ideas for opt-in incentives:

• For those who own your own ecommerce site, consider a pop-up form with a small discount for those who join. You’ll see many retailers do this and it’s highly effective. In fact, it’s the reason I am personally on so many email lists! It allows you to retarget those who have been seriously considering buying (they wouldn’t have joined your list for a discount if they weren’t already thinking about it).
• For Etsy shop owners of digital products, offering a free sampling of what you might have in your shop. If you sell crochet patterns, offer one for free. This should be a good one but not a top seller; in fact, go for something relatively simple. I personally have craft templates and coloring pages as my incentive.
• For Etsy shop owners of physical products, while you CAN take the approach of a shop discount, it’s not as effective when you can’t just have a pop up on the site when people are already shopping. You can run giveaways via social media or advertising to encourage sign-ups.
• Overall, giveaways are a good strategy that I’ve used in the past as well. The trick is to offer things that aren’t universal; rather, those that are very specific to your product line or business.

Signup Forms and Landing Pages

Now let’s talk about the technical aspect: how people can sign up. Flodesk offers different types of sign up forms and landing pages.

The landing pages are really a key component here. For those who don’t have a dedicated site, having the ability to build a nice landing page helps you avoid all those technical details.

You can use both standard form pages or Checkouts to deliver a free download. Checkouts is ideal for higher-value offerings where you want to share more details about it. For on-site discounts, a pop-up is very effective.

Flodesk’s form styles include:

• Link in Bio (no need to pay for a separate service!) You can see mine here.

• Popups – my favorite for ecommerce discount opt-ins
• Inline – what I typically use for free templates on craft tutorials

• Full Page – this is like a mini landing page. I’ve also used it as a shorter opt-in for a free offering that isn’t necessarily attached to a blog post. It’s good to have just to refer people to a “sign up here” page. See mine here.
• Video Popup or Full Page – These are great for webinar offerings or to create a person-to-person message encouraging people to join.
• Spinner – Great for ecommerce – and you can do both a discount and a giveaway opt-in simultaneously.
• Countdown – for limited time or timed offerings. These create a sense of urgency that encourage signups.

There are so many options and each one is so easy to set up because of Flodesk’s plug-and-go options.

After you set up a form, you can choose from a “thank you” note, or direct subscribers to a specific page.

You’re previewing the form as you design it – no coding skills needed. Here’s what it looks like as I design it on the backend:

And here’s what it looks like on my site:

Crafting Gorgeous Newsletters

Of course, there’s the ability to craft newsletters – but again, with plug and go templates from Flodesk.

I send out newsletters every time I publish a new post. I also send out some seasonal updates. Since I share content in many different categories, I segment my readers based on which forms they signed up with, and when I send broader seasonal updates to larger parts of my list, I can also further segment them based on which posts they click.

So if I have someone sign up for an adult coloring page, I’ll send them adult coloring page updates. But when I send my winter newsletter and they click on a different paper craft, I can segment them as also interested in paper crafts.

Flodesk’s templates are actually sorted by goal of the email – not by style. I think that’s pretty cool. Categories include “share news, welcome, inspire, say thanks, make money…” I stick to plain text for my very content-focused business, but I also do add some visuals. I suggest using A/B testing on subject lines or visuals, by sending to different segments, to optimize open rates and engagement.

They have gorgeous signature options, and I always have an embed of my Instagram account at the bottom. I also use their buttons to allow those who don’t really want to read to easily find my post. I add things like this to my favorites and styles to let me craft newsletters quicker.

I set my brand colors as favorites so that I can stay consistent, and things like button styles, font styles can be saved to favorites to further streamline the newsletter creation process – even when designing from scratch.

The email creation works with a block-based format. Blocks include ecommerce embeds, countdowns, polls (which can be used for segmentation) and more.

I can keep on talking about how to use Flodesk’s email features for days but I’ll leave you to experiment more for yourself! It’s a standout email marketing platform for creative businesses.

Automation

An extremely powerful way to use Flodesk and in general to use email marketing for creative businesses is with automation. It’s called working smarter not harder.

Flodesk’s workflow automations are their automation tools. Once again, they have templates for delivering a freebie, re-engagement, abandoned carts, post-purchase, event follow-up and so much more. These automated workflows can power email sequences to deliver free downloads, onboard new subscribers and let them learn about your brand, or even remind them with the abandoned cart feature, which is great for improving sales in e commerce businesses.

One of the most powerful tools for sellers is the “abandoned cart” feature. This reminds potential buyers that they haven’t purchased yet, and offers an additional opportunity to get them to seal the deal with a coupon code. Flodesk’s seamless Shopify, Wix, and ThriveCart integration makes this even easier to set up even if you’re not using Checkouts.

It can also be used to let new subscribers learn about your brand and warm up to it a bit before starting to sell to them. And I use it a lot to deliver free downloads.

Using Checkouts for Bundle Offerings

I always found building sales pages for my digital product bundles to be SUCH a tedious task.

I like to bundle some of my digital products – offering it at a steep discount for a “buy them all” type of bundle on a specific topic. This is a win-win: it helps me convert larger sales than the small digital sales offer, and it allows those who use these crafts regularly an easy one-and-done download for big value.

However, to really educate potential customers on what they’re buying, I provide a detailed landing page with all the offerings. Creating this has always been a bane in the side of my existence – something I’d spend a fortune hiring out for subpar results.

Flodesk Checkouts solved that for me, and now that’s how I always sell my bundles. It’s really easy to set up and I’m able to offer more of my digital products bundled because of that.

It’s also a tool I plan to use in the future for a super easy subscription setup. Again, the logistics of setting it up is what has stopped me from creating this resource, and with Flodesk Checkouts it’s just so much easier.

How to Save while using Flodesk (Exclusive Discount Code)

Newsletters are one of those tools that should pay for themselves. However, if you’re starting out, Flodesk pricing offers an affordable way to get going, and you may need a little help at first.

The good news is that if you use my code MOMSANDCRAFTERS you get 25% off your first year of Flodesk!

You’ll find that Flodesk is a really valuable email marketing platform. It’s one thing to get a customer or reader for the first time. Once you have a person’s eyes and ears, keeping them is an efficient way to market. In fact, most people don’t purchase something until it’s familiar, that is, until they’ve heard of or seen it three times.

Having a newsletter allows you to remarket to the same people WITHOUT additional ad spend. But Flodesk also has tools to retain those who don’t actually sign up but just visit your built-in sales pages using Meta Pixel for retargeting.

So if you’re ready to easily craft beautiful business emails, whether you’re a YouTuber or blogger, a craft seller with your own site, an Etsy seller, or any creative entrepreneur, go ahead and give it a go!

I have a feeling that like me, you’ll be happy you did, especially as the algorithms change their mind once again.

Don’t forget to use my code MOMSANDCRAFTERS to get 25% off your first year!

The post How to Craft Gorgeous Newsletters – Flodesk Review appeared first on Moms and Crafters.