As many of you are heading out to college this September, we wanted to take the opportunity to talk to you about how to decorate your space on a student budget!

The good news is, if you have a 3Doodler pen already, then you have a great tool on your hands that’ll allow you to create practical and personalized creations perfect for your new space.

Here is our list of favorite dorm projects to do with a 3D pen!

1. Create personalized wall decorations!

Wall Art

Chances are you’ll have plenty of bare wall space. This is where you could buy an expensive wall tapestry. Or you can use your 3D pen and our free stencil and Doodle your own!

You can download a free stencil for this project here. Check out the tutorial here

Cost of materials: $7.99 (1 25-pack of PLA filament)
Retail price: $39.00
Saved: $31 or 79%

2. Easily organize all of your cords by creating your own cord holder!

Cord Holder

Today everything needs a cord, especially at your desk. If you’re anything like us, they tend to get tangled up in one another and can clutter up your space pretty quickly. It’s easy to Doodle your own cord holders similar to these with your 3D pen, and stick them anywhere you want!

You can download a free stencil for this project here.

Cost of materials: $0.32 each (1 strand of filament)
Retail price: $4.99 each
Saved: $4.67 or 86%

3. Create the perfect accessory to hang all of your favorite photos!

Photo Hanger

Why buy an expensive photo hanger like this from the store, when you can create your own custom version that will reflect your personal style? This project will completely transform your dorm, and we love using it to store all of our favorite photos and memorabilia!

You can download a free stencil for this project here.

Cost of materials: $7.99 (1 25-strand pack of PLA or ABS)
Retail price: $21.51
Saved: $13.52 or 63%

4. The ultimate project to add that ambiance you never knew you needed!

Lotus Flower Lamp

Your friends will be completely envious of your dorm with the beautiful DIY version of this lotus light! Just add an LED candle in the middle to add a laid-back vibe to your room.

You can view the video tutorial here and download a free stencil for this project here.

Cost of materials: $14.99 (1 75-strand Collection of PLA or ABS)
Retail price: $83.71 each
Saved: $68.72 or 82%

5. Never lose your keys & keep your jewelry organized

Jewelry Tree

This jewelry tree is very simple to make, and it checks the boxes of being functional and decorative.

You can view the video tutorial here and download a free stencil for this project here.

Cost of materials: $9.99 (1 25-strand pack of WOOD filament)
Retail price: $20.98 each
Saved: $10.99 or 52%

6. A project inspired for the Doodler who appreciates minimalistic vibes!

Orb Lights

If you want an item in your dorm that pulls everything else together and adds style to your space, this orb light project is perfect for you! Grab a friend and you can finish the entire project in no time.

You can view the video tutorial here.

Cost of materials: $14.99 (1 75-strand Collection of PLA or ABS)
Normal price: $39.99
Saved: $25 or 63%

Overall, we saved a total of $154 (or 73%) on these 6 items!

Finding creative ways to save money is always something to be proud of! We hope you had fun getting inspiration from things you find in stores or online, and then trying to recreate them on your own at home. With 3Doodler don’t have to sacrifice substance and style for price, and each item you create is sure to be a conversation starter, just wait and see! We hope we’ve inspired you to be creative and try something new for your dorm room this year!

The post Ultimate College 3D Pen Projects That Will Transform Your Dorm Room first appeared on 3Doodler.

From hanging trees that transport the viewer into abstract forests, to arrays of ocean fish and bird wings that open up the dimensions of nature, Marc’s installation art is truly magnificent to behold. We had a chance to connect with Marc to hear more about the exhibition.

“At exhibitions, it is always very exciting how the visitors react to and interact with the artwork because the installations invite them to circle around, to kneel down or to stand on their tiptoes to catch more visual impressions. It is an exhilarating and emotional experience for me and for the visitors.”

Reflecting on this latest project, Marc noted that “Working with 3Doodler pens for the exhibition at the Maschinenhalle Scherlebeck Art Gallery was a big challenge for me. I had great ideas and have never worked with 3Doodler pens on this scale before.”

About Marc

The 44-year old contemporary artist, Marc Bühren, has been drawing and painting all of his life. Since he found the charcoal of his father as a three year old he has always been drawing.

In elementary school his aspiration of having a career as a painter was born. As a teenager, he completed a training in classical watercolor painting, and after graduation he studied communication design at the University of Wuppertal. Since 2008 he works as a full time artist at his studio in Dortmund. He teaches painting and drawing in his studio, at schools and at other institutions. In April 2017 he started working with 3Doodler pens.

Marc’s extraordinary masterpieces are truly amazing to witness. Does his work inspire you? Share your 3Doodler creations on social media to spread the inspiration.

For more artist spotlights and inspiration, be sure to check out our Instagram.

View Instagram

The post Artist Spotlight: Marc Bühren’s 3D Pen Landscapes first appeared on 3Doodler.

Perhaps one of the most memorable feminists over the past 50 years is Ruth Bader Ginsburg, an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States who passed away in September of 2020.

Ginsburg was known as “The Notorious RBG” for her passionate dissents. But today, we want to take a look at one of the creative ways that she found to express herself in a field dominated by men — no discussion required.

Redesigning a Judge’s Robe

RBG often said that a traditional judge’s robe was made with a man in mind, with the space around the neck meant to emphasize a shirt and tie. To put her feminine touch on this traditionally masculine piece of clothing, RBG began wearing decorative jabots, or collars, around her neck to bring some pizzazz — and femininity — to her own robe.

And while she may be best known for her lacy “dissent” collar, RBG actually had an impressive collection of unique jabots to help her creatively express herself without words.

From a pride collar, to a collar she reserved for oral arguments, to a majority collar meant for announcing majority opinions from the bench, she was a woman who understood that she could send a powerful, meaningful message without any words.

Create Your Own Collar

Imagine that you have been asked to design a custom jabot to represent yourself. What would the collar look like? Would it be colorful? Would it be made of shells, or jewels, or cloth? Would it be intricate, or would it be simple to look at?

Today, in honor of RBG and International Women’s Day which took place earlier this week, we challenge you to download one of these free stencils and create a unique collar that represents you. We’ve also included a short tutorial.

Share your own Dr. Seuss-inspired designs with us on social media on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram: @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate

The post How to Express Yourself Through Doodles first appeared on 3Doodler.

We created a few fun STEM activities to help your students get creative while celebrating Dr. Seuss. Check out our latest Dr. Seuss tutorial found in our content library and make sure you have easy access to your 3Doodler 3D Printing Pen that will help them “think and wonder, wonder and think.”

Create Crazy Hair for Thing One and Thing Two

Perhaps the most relatable characters from The Cat in the Hat were Thing One and Thing Two. The twins emerged from a box that the cat brought into Conrad and Sally’s home, and as soon as they were released they proceeded to make an incomparable mess. Thing One and Thing Two are well-recognized by their red jumpsuits, unruly blue hair, and penchant for mayhem.

While some of your students probably wish they could run wild like the twins, this activity will help them focus on letting their imaginations run wild instead. Download our free stencil and check out our tutorial on how to help your students create their own crazy hair.

Redesign The Cat in the Hat’s Famous Hat

Known for his red bow tie and his red-and-white-striped top hat, The Cat in the Hat is one of the most iconic characters in children’s literature. The cat is quirky, rebellious, and a little bit mysterious. Kids often wonder if he is a “good guy” or a “bad guy.” But, for better or worse, his character has become so well-known that it is now a mascot for Random House, the largest general interest book publisher in the world.

But what would the cat look like without his trademark hat? Encourage your students to create a new look for The Cat in the Hat. Start by modifying his hat — what would it look like if it was a baseball cap? A cowboy hat? Or, what if he wasn’t known for his hat, at all?

Doodle Yourself a Fancy Mustache Like The Lorax

Dr. Seuss’ favorite book (by Dr. Seuss) was The Lorax. And while it is a children’s book, it tells the very adult story of how humans are destroying the natural environment. It has been well-received by both teachers and students. In fact, in 2007, the National Education Association listed The Lorax as one of its “Teachers’ Top 100 Books for Children.”

Students seem to enjoy the kind-hearted Lorax. He is hard-working, optimistic, rational, understanding, trustworthy, and helpful — not to mention, he has an outrageous mustache that personifies these traits quite impressively. Ask your students which other characters in literature sport unique mustaches, and what traits they associate with those people — Jafar from Aladdin or Yosemite Sam from Looney Tunes come to mind.

Next, ask your students to doodle a new mustache for The Lorax. Does it change how they think of him?

Share your own Dr. Seuss-inspired designs with us on social media on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram: @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate

The post 3 Ways to Celebrate Dr. Seuss in your Classroom first appeared on 3Doodler.

Here is a round-up of some of our most popular Valentine’s Day stencils, templates & tutorials. Tag us on social and let us know which one is your favorite!

Geometric Heart: Building positive relationships with others is more important than ever. Create your own 3D geometric heart in your favorite color and style. You can even draft a note to place inside the heart!

1. Print out the stencil for our Geometric Hearts
2. Assemble the pieces to form one heart
3. Tag your creation onto a gift, a sweet treat, or a flower bouquet. Doodle someone’s name on the heart for a personal touch!

3D Heart Garland: Here’s a template you can use with your 3D pen to add some festive flair to your home office, your classroom, or general living space.

1. Print out the stencil for our 3D Heart Garlands
2. Doodle the pieces in a variety of festive colors
3. Attach your hearts to some string, twine or fishing line
4. Hang!

Valentine’s Day Cupcake Liner:

1. Print out the stencil for our Cupcake Liner and cover the front and back with clear tape
2. Cut the stencil out and tape into shape
3. Doodle directly on the stencil until it is all filled in
4. Add a few finishing accents in other colors
5. Peel the stencil off
6. Add it to your cupcake!

Valentine’s Day Cupcake Toppers:

1. Print out one of our Cupcake Topper stencils
2. Doodle a message
3. Secure it to a toothpick and insert it onto the top of your cupcake!

Sharing is caring, so please post some of your Valentine’s Day Doodles on Instagram or Twitter! @3Doodler #3Doodler

Share on Twitter

The post DIY Valentine’s Day Projects Roundup first appeared on 3Doodler.

In recognition of Braille Literacy Month and in remembrance of Louis Braille, who was born on January 4th, 1809, we are pleased to share a snapshot of the incredible work that teachers and students did to transform storybooks using their 3D pens in support of the blind and visually impaired as part of 3D Giving Day.

Support for the Visually Impaired

3D Giving Day is a unique opportunity to bring together students and creators from around the world to use 3Doodler pens and transform the pages of storybooks into tactile, 3D learning tools, giving the visually impaired a new way to connect with literature.

In partnership with the Build a Better Book project, based at the University of Colorado Boulder, 3Doodler was able to reach out to invite students and their teachers to help support people with visual impairments as well as other learning disabilities. Together, we encouraged middle and high school youth to develop their hands-on tech skills and learn about their community as they design and create accessible, multi-modal picture books, graphics, and even games that people can experience through touch.

Here is a message from a member of the after-school program at CCHY in Picayune, Mississippi, explaining 3D Giving Day, in her own words.

Teachers, students, and creators across the country made picture books more accessible with images that readers could touch and feel to trace the outline of images or text. The opportunity to combine touch and sensory experience through tactile books ensures that blind and low vision individuals can access classic stories in new, imaginative ways.

Here are just a few examples that were submitted to 3Doodler by participating schools around the country.

The finished products were donated to libraries, hospitals, and preschools with blind and visually impaired programs in December 2020.

As part of an ongoing effort to provide students with the appropriate tools to learn from home due to the current pandemic, the picture books were adapted for at-home use to ensure that education and collaboration would continue to thrive.

Creative Freedom Through Accessibility

3Doodler is committed to making our products accessible to all users, lowering barriers and obstacles, and putting the power of creativity into the hands of more people.

Recognized by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), one of the UK’s leading sight loss charities and the largest community of blind and partially sighted people, 3Doodler incorporates unique features to help users navigate their 3D pens and offers audio files for additional orientation.

The post Tactile Tech Builds Community & Awareness for the Visually Impaired first appeared on 3Doodler.

The 3Doodler Start in Classroom

Schools across the globe encouraged outdoor learning this year to reduce the spread of the pandemic and students couldn’t be happier. In fact, many schools are looking to keep outdoor learning experiences in place even as temps dip and winter weather moves in.

“They’re seeing the outdoors around them and it brings relevancy to what they’re studying,” said Cindy Soule, a fourth grade teacher in Maine, in a recent article. “They will remember that forever.”

Encouraging students to explore the outdoors and apply real-world concepts to their work is easier than you might think with a few new lessons we’re excited to share.

Ellen Peterson, a science teacher at Smithfield Middle School and frequent Doodler, offers up her wintry mix of new lessons designed for students in grades 6-12.

Frozen Bubbles & Bubble Wands – (Grades 6-8)

Students will delight in this hands-on experiment with a cool twist! Designing your own bubble wand in 3D is a fun, creative, and easy way to boost learning outcomes and study changes in temperature. Using the scientific method, students will make hypotheses, track their observations, collect data, and record their findings. Freezing the bubbles either in dry ice or during a quick trip outdoors enables students to measure their bubbles for added experimentation and study. What did the class learn about the “perfect” bubble?

Platonic Solid Snowman Math Challenge – (Grades 9-12)

In this lesson, students will research and study the Platonic solids with an opportunity to apply their learning and craft their own model in 3D. Once their research is complete, students will choose 3 platonic solids that they learned about to construct a snowman with the 3Doodler Create+ pen. At the end of the lesson, students report their findings and share their snowman creations. How many different snowmen designs can they create?

Winter is a fantastic time of year for outdoor exploration and providing new creative hands-on learning opportunities.

What other hands-on lessons do you have planned in 2021? Share your fun classroom lessons and designs with us by tagging: @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate

The post Forecasting a Wintry Mix with New Lessons first appeared on 3Doodler.

We’ll explore different cultures and holiday traditions with a fun assortment of 3D designs you can create on your own with your 3Doodler pens and our stencils!

Together we will travel to Mexico, Israel, the Philippines, Sweden, and the United States. Holidays traditions vary from country to country and we’re excited to see your designs as we criss-cross the world this holiday break.

Once you’ve Doodled your way across the globe, consider your own family traditions and take a turn at designing your own creations to represent your favorite holiday activities or memories to share with family and friends.

Poinsettia

Originating in Mexico, the poinsettia or Flores de Noche Buena (Spanish for “flowers of the holy night”) was introduced in the U.S. in 1828 by the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett. According to a Mexican legend, there was a girl who could only offer weeds as a gift to Jesus on Christmas Eve. When she brought the weeds into a church, they blossomed into these beautiful red plants. The poinsettia flower is part of Christmas Eve celebrations in Mexico to this day. Check out our Poinsettia tutorial and create your own!

Hanukkah Menorah

Hanukkah, which means dedication, is an eight-day Jewish celebration that begins on the 25th of Kislev which is the ninth month on the Hebrew calendar. The menorah, the Hebrew word for lamp, has nine branches, one for each night of the Festival of Lights, plus a shamash, meaning helper or attendant, which is lit first and then used to light the other candles. Often called the Festival of Lights, the holiday is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, traditional foods, games, and gifts. Create your own menorah using this tutorial to celebrate these Jewish traditions.

Giant Star-Shaped Lantern

The city of San Fernando in the Philippines draws crowds each December for its Giant Lantern Festival. The local townspeople create colorful intricate lanterns and compete for the best lantern before they are exhibited in the city. The lanterns evolved from the Filipino Catholic tradition of building small, colorful lights to illuminate the procession to Christmas Eve mass. The lanterns today feature a lengthy light show set to music and are giant—measuring approximately 20 feet tall with as many as 10,000 light bulbs. Join in the celebration this season with a star-shaped window pendant, or star-shaped lantern, and delight your friends and family with the novelty of a new tradition. For additional guidance we created a Star Window Pendant tutorial as well as a Star-Shaped Lantern tutorial.

Yule Goat

In Sweden and across northern Europe, people celebrate the holidays with Yule festivals that coincide with Christmas celebrations in December. One of the more common traditions in Sweden is the Yule goat, which was believed to deliver presents. In fact, folklore suggests Santa Claus would ride a goat instead of his sleigh! Small goats made of straw are still one of the most popular Christmas decorations in Sweden. For additional guidance, we created this Swedish Goat Tutorial.

Rudolph

Our holiday journey ends with the time-honored story of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. In 1939, Robert L. May wrote the story of Rudolph for Montgomery Ward, a department store in Chicago that wanted to pass out free coloring books to children during the holiday shopping season. Montgomery Ward printed more than two million copies of Robert L. May’s book that year. He got letters from children, teachers and store managers from across the country. Nearly a decade later, May got the rights to the story and evolved it into a song with help from his brother-in-law who happened to be a songwriter. Enjoy a nostalgic holiday tradition and share the story of Rudolph complete with your own Doodled version of the world’s most famous reindeer.

Wishing all of a Doodlers a bright holiday season and happy new year! Share your creative holiday traditions and your designs with us by tagging us: @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate

The post Travel The World Without Leaving Home This Holiday Break first appeared on 3Doodler.

The 3Doodler Start Learn from Home Pen Set is a finalist for STEAM Toy of the Year. 3Doodler’s Start Learn from Home Pen Set engages kids’ imagination as they express their ideas visually with the press of a button. This open-n-go toolkit provides a creative outlet for at-home learners to make art, design objects, and build real working models that demonstrate their understanding of STEAM concepts.

Cast your vote for 3Doodler’s Start Learn from Home Pen Set now through January 5, 2021! Winners will be announced at a virtual celebration on February 12, 2021.

Vote Today

The post Vote 3Doodler for 2021 Toy of the Year first appeared on 3Doodler.

“Do you have any lessons where you find student engagement to be down? This is a great place to offer an activity with the 3Doodler pens. It can be the smallest project, but it will give new life to the lesson in the learners’ eyes.” -Velvet Holmes

Velvet Holmes, district technology literacy specialist, believes it is her role to encourage learners to take risks and think outside of the box.

We had the opportunity to speak with Velvet about using technology in the classroom. In the interview, she shares tips on keeping students engaged, and as a bonus she has created three low-prep lessons that you can start using today.

I have been an educator for 25 years, the past 22 serving in information technology literacy in the Oregon School District of Wisconsin.

My role is district wide, so I work with K-12 staff and students to integrate technology meaningfully into their classroom curriculum.

I am passionate about encouraging learners to take risks, even if it means they fail.

That failure teaches them. I often answer questions with a question.

Students feel frustrated sometimes, but it helps to walk them through a thought process. Once they know I will not give them an answer, they take the time to problem-solve and build confidence as they answer their own questions.

It is important to me to be a strong female role model for my learners that are interested in STEAM. Most of my focus lies in Computer Science and coding, where the female voice is missing.

I invested in a few 3Doodler Start pens several years ago, and now I have a full cart of them! Giving learners immediate power to create is priceless. In a world that is so busy, it is nice to put a 3D pen in a student’s hand and let them quietly take the time to express themselves.

We do a project called “City X” which is about building a community away from earth.

Each citizen in the community has a different problem. Each person has to come up with an invention that has not been created, and students use the 3Doodler pens to make a prototype.

In Math, they build a community of stores with the 3Doodler pens, create a budget and work to find the area and perimeter of the store.

When using the 3Doodler pens, the students are quiet and happy Doodling.

The 3Doodler pens are amazing tools for mental health and being in one’s own mind. Students are inspired to create by seeing other Doodles, too!

Do you have any lessons where you find low student engagement? This is a great place to offer an activity with the 3Doodler pens. It can be the smallest project, but it will give new life to the lesson in the learners’ eyes. As you move through the design process, the 3Doodler pens are great tools for students to mock up prototypes and see an immediate visual of their creative idea.

I use a mobile cart to travel from class to class with the pens.

To ensure our students treat the materials with respect, I share a life rule from a fellow teacher: “Keep a neat appearance, keep your belongings in order, and pick up after yourself.”

When our learners understand this expectation, they take ownership and ensure that things are put away, plugged in, and tidy.

I truly believe this sense of responsibility builds community and student engagement, while allowing time for me to teach!

New Lesson Plans for Elementary and Middle School

STEM: 2D vs 3D Bubble Wands

Time: One 60-minute session

Skill: Beginner

Grades: 3rd to 5th

Learners will plan and create a two dimensional bubble wand using 3Doodler pens. They will test their wand to see the shape, size and number of the bubbles that come out. They will then create a three dimensional shaped bubble wand and see if that changes the bubble sizes, shapes, and quantities.

3D Geography: My Land

Time: Two 40-minute sessions

Skill: Beginner

Grades: 3rd to 5th

Learners will use their knowledge of landforms to create a paper map with a compass rose and key. The map will include at least one 3D landform, made with the 3Doodler pen.

History: First Nation Symbol

Time: Two 40-minute Sessions

Skill: Beginner

Grades: 6th to 8th

Learners will plan and create a meaningful symbol to represent the Wisconsin-native First Nation group that they researched. They will showcase this symbol as part of their presentation and gallery walk.

The post History: First Nation Symbol first appeared on 3Doodler.