Let’s Go Barbie — Make Stylish Accessories!

Posted on July 19, 2023December 11, 2023 by Vicki Grisanti

Barbie is a fashion icon and inspires us all to dream big. Now you can make stylish Barbie accessories with a 3Doodler 3D pen and tutorial!

Over the years, Barbie’s encouraged girls and women worldwide to express their personal style and to be anything they want to be. Barbie held careers in many different industries and represented all kinds of women while breaking fashion barriers.

Now, Barbie is about to hit the big screen in a new adaptation by Greta Gerwig that debuts on Friday, July 21.

It’s the perfect moment to dust off your Barbie dolls and create one-of-a-kind accessories with a 3D pen. Find out how Barbie got her start and explore 3Doodler’s project ideas!

Fashion Icon is Born

Ruth Handler, the co-founder of Mattel, found inspiration watching her daughter, Barbara, and her friends play with paper dolls. She could envision the girls playing with a more lifelike doll but met with resistance at Mattel.

A trip to Europe rekindled the idea after seeing a German doll in a toy shop. Handler quickly created a prototype for an 11.5-inch (29 cm) doll with movable limbs. She named the doll Barbie after her daughter and presented it at the New York Toy Fair in 1959.

From the beginning, fashion played a big part in Barbie’s storyline. Handler envisioned girls playing with the doll to imagine a future where they could be whatever they wanted at a time when many careers were closed to women. Clothes could transform any doll into a flight attendant, doctor, astronaut, or actress. An outfit could create a new look, lifestyle, or career. Anything a teen could dream up was now possible to imagine playing with Barbie.

In the 1970s, Mattel introduced Barbie’s signature pink color to market the doll to young girls. Today the deep pink shade is part of the official Pantone Color Chart designers and artists use.

Make Accessories for Barbie

Whether you’re creating a bright pink accessory or adding to another outfit, one thing is for sure; you can design all sorts of interesting and unique items for Barbie with a 3D pen.
Try your hand at a headband, necklace, or purse with an easy-to-follow tutorial and stencil. Choose a color from a selection of PLA plastic filament, grab your 3Doodler Create+ or 3Doodler Start+ pen, and get crafting.

If you’re feeling really creative, you could even design new clothes for Barbie and Ken. There’s no end to the possibilities.

And, if you’re looking to take the experience one step further, take a Barbie selfie and imagine yourself as part of the Barbie universe!

How has Barbie inspired you? What new accessories will you create? Share your creations with us at @3Doodler or #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate.

Upcycling for Earth Day!

Posted on April 12, 2023April 12, 2023 by Vicki Grisanti

Explore Earth Month projects and learn inventive techniques to maximize your creativity while keeping your environmental impact low by reusing everyday items.

We’re sharing how creators celebrate the planet by upcycling everyday materials to create impactful art. Turn ordinary objects and things around the house into cool, one-of-a-kind creations with 3Doodler project ideas.

Working for the Environment

The celebration of Earth Day began in April 1970 to push the federal government to tackle environmental issues. The response from the public was overwhelming, and in just a few short months, Congress authorized the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The EPA serves a vital mission to protect human health and the environment. The agency does so by developing and enforcing regulations, giving grants, conducting research, creating partnerships, and educating people about the environment.

In seeking to educate the public, the EPA provides several resources for teachers and students to explore. For example, there are tips on conserving energy at home, becoming a food waste warrior, understanding our connection to groundwater, or even making a disaster readiness plan.

These resources are a fantastic way to bring environmental issues to the forefront and bring about change.

Repurpose & Reuse Everyday Items

3Doodler is committed to inspiring creativity while working with the environment, not against it. Our plastics promise outlines our work to ensure our plastics are completely safe to use. 3Doodler Start+ plastics are eco-friendly, and ALL of our plastics are certified as recyclable.

Now that you know the materials you’re using are safe for you and the environment, let’s get doodling. This round-up of projects encourages you to reuse or repurpose things around you as you create in 3D.

Give New Life To An Old Planter

Plants and greenery are a natural way to contribute to environmental efforts. Adding them to your home can add a beautiful natural element. Pick up an old pot or vase and give it new life with a 3D design. Add simple flowers along the outside or trim with polka dots, vines, or other creative symbols. It’s a wonderful opportunity to refresh an older item for a new use!

Repurpose a Pot

Turn Cardboard Scraps Into Speaker

Cardboard is an amazing material to work with to augment your 3D creations. It’s recycling in action. Find a few pieces of cardboard and make a DIY phone speaker that rocks. Use your 3D pen to add details to the speaker in colors that complement your space. It’s a unique way to reuse cardboard and amplify the music on your phone. Time to turn up the volume!

Make a Speaker

Small blue flower on green leaf - 3D pen art

Transform Leftover Plastic

Collect doodled scraps as you create and learn to make new art with a few quick tips. From coasters to bowls and other eye-catching creations, there’s no end to what you can come up with using your plastic scraps. It’s a fantastic way to make the most of all your plastic. Play with different color combinations for your own truly unique recycled creations!

Create Beautiful Decor

Share your creations with us and tell us how you participate in Earth Month by tagging @3Doodler or #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate!

Experiment with Color: Viva Magenta

Posted on March 22, 2023March 22, 2023 by Vicki Grisanti

Creators use colors in unique and exciting ways to draw attention and spark conversation. The Pantone Color Institute announces a color of the year to inspire the design community and open a dialogue about color.

Viva Magenta, the 2023 color of the year, is a dynamic, vibrant hue that exudes joy and optimism. Explore the shade and grab your 3Doodler 3D pen to experiment with a bright, futuristic color palette.

Pantone

Color of the Year

Pantone began featuring the color of the year in 1999. New colors are announced in early December for the subsequent year. In choosing the color of the year, a group of collaborators and designers take input from various sources, including entertainment, fashion, travel destinations, new technologies, social media, and even sporting events that attract worldwide attention.

In addition, the team considered the public appreciation of nature represented by lifestyle trends, such as bringing natural elements into our homes, at work, and creating vital outdoor spaces. The color choice also reflects a celebratory atmosphere and our renewed enjoyment of traveling, sporting events, and other outdoor activities.

According to Pantone, Viva Magenta’s organic origins hail from the cochineal beetle. The insect produces cochineal extract and carmine. For centuries, the substances colored food, textiles, and even cosmetics.

Viva Magenta is a bright, celebratory color that connects us to nature. Colors like this inspire the imagination and help bring ideas to life. The color of the year typically influences fashion, beauty, interior design, and graphic design.

Spark Bright Ideas

Exploring the uses of color and testing new techniques is all part of the design process. This week we’re sharing a gorgeous charm bracelet in bright pink to reflect the color of the year. Make the bracelet and add a selection of charms that reflect your personality.

Charm bracelets have evolved but always stay in style, given their versatility. Test out different colors and make a monochromatic style with all pink, or design the bracelet in one color and charms in other shades to make them pop.

Create one for yourself or gift one to a friend or family member. Follow the tutorial to see how easy it can be to create in 3D!

See the Tutorial

Share your creations with us and tell us how you are experimenting with color in your 3D designs — @3Doodler or tag #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate!

Quick Tips to Support Social-Emotional Learning

Posted on March 8, 2023May 5, 2023 by Vicki Grisanti

A little time goes a long way to make social-emotional learning strategies stick!

Students benefit when they learn to manage their emotions, set and achieve goals, feel and show empathy for others, and create strong relationships.

As adults, we use these skills daily, so it makes sense to give students a chance to test their social-emotional strategies during the school day. And best of all, it’s often more manageable than it seems to incorporate a few social-emotional learning opportunities into a traditional lesson. Best of all, students walk away with more than just a good grade but tips they can use for life.

National SEL Week — March 6-10

The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) offers comprehensive educational resources and research to support students, teachers, and parents.

CASEL recommends three daily practices that help support students in their SEL growth. The signature practices are very straightforward and include the following:

Three Daily SEL Practices:

Welcome Inclusion Activity – Builds community to tackle the word ahead. Examples include whole group meetings, morning circles, and peer-to-peer work.
Engaging Strategies – Offering interactive and reflective moments. Examples include partner discussions, private think time, or brain breaks.
Optimistic Closure – Highlights a sense of accomplishment and supports forward thinking. Examples include a one-minute accolade or a shared takeaway.

Test out these social and emotional learning tips in recognition of National SEL Week from March 6-10, 2023. The week will culminate with SEL Day on Friday, March 10, to showcase these tools’ powerful impact in uplifting hearts and connecting minds — the theme for this year’s week of activities.

Doodling Activities to Support SEL

It’s easy to see how working in 3D could be leveraged to support CASEL’s three daily practices in unique and creative ways. For example, a class could work together on a large 3D printing project as a welcome activity, or students could create individual items to share with a larger group in a morning circle activity. Doodling also provides a fun outlet for students to enjoy while using interactive and reflective moments or even acting as a brain break. Lastly, it’s fantastic to wrap up a lesson, like the ones featured below, with a key takeaway or accomplishment.

This week, explore the following lessons and recognize the value of social and emotional learning!

Grade K-2: Stone Soup

3D pen art: Small chocolate fish on K2 DoodleStoneSoup main.

Stone Soup is a classic children’s story in which a hungry stranger convinces people in a small village to contribute food to make a meal everyone enjoys and serves a moral regarding the value of sharing.

The class will hear the original tale and learn about the value of working together. Then, students will be able to create their own doodled stones using the chosen nouns. Working with a partner, they will create four different story stones. Finally, students will use their story stones as writing prompts, incorporating them into a simple story with a beginning, middle, and end.

Get the Lesson

Grade 3-5: Puppets and Props Story Retelling

In small groups, students will enact a scene from a book with the class. But, with a unique twist, they will create and use doodled finger puppets to share their story with the class. Retelling a story is a fantastic way to build language, speaking, and listening skills. Plus, working together and having an opportunity to design with a 3D pen offers a creative outlet that students will enjoy. The final puppet shows will reflect an understanding of story structure, sequence, and reading comprehension.

Get the Lesson

Grade 6-8: 3Doodler Stop Motion

Stop-motion animation is a fantastic way to teach students about story structure, think creatively, and work together on communication and teamwork skills. Students will work in pairs or small groups to identify fictional themes in this activity. Next, they will choose a scene representing the theme and doodle their characters and props in 3D. Once ready, they will enact the scene and create a stop-motion animation. The experience will help students build confidence and share their ideas as they work with their peers.

Get the Lesson

National SEL Week is an opportunity to recognize the value of social-emotional learning and find ways to incorporate it into your day. Tell us how your classroom incorporates SEL and tag us @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate.

Honoring the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Posted on January 11, 2023January 11, 2023 by Vicki Grisanti

The civil rights movement was a fight for equality for African Americans under the law in the United States. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led the movement along with other civil rights activists in the 1950s and 1960s.

Revisit the history of the moment and engage students in an important classroom discussion about the work of Dr. King and other civil rights leaders. As you explore historic events, consider creating the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, which was the site of the Selma-Montgomery March in 1965.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks at the 1955 bus boycott. (National Archives)

Civil Rights Movement

Slavery was abolished at the end of the Civil War, but it didn’t end discrimination against Black people in the United States. The fight for equality would begin in earnest in the mid-20th century and continue for the next two decades.

After reconstruction, the South implemented a series of “Jim Crow” laws to erase gains made after the Civil War. The laws restricted voting rights for African Americans, banned interracial relationships and allowed businesses to separate clientele based on race.

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white male passenger on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Police arrested Parks, and word of her situation spread quickly, igniting a series of protests. As a result of her act, Parks is known as the “mother of the modern-day civil rights movement.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the March on Washington.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In response to Parks’ arrest, Black community leaders in Alabama formed the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA). Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led the MIA, a role that put him front and center in the fight for civil rights.

Through King’s leadership, the African American community experienced more progress toward racial equality in 13 years than in the past 350 years. Dr. King took inspiration from his faith and the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi to lead a nonviolent resistance that included protests, grassroots organizing, and civil unrest.

King was elected president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957 to provide organizational leadership to the civil rights movement. In 1963, he led a coalition of groups in nonviolent protest in Birmingham, Alabama. The brutality that ensued by the city’s police force led to national outrage. Later that same year, King led the March on Washington, where he gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech to an audience of a quarter-million people.

King became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 at 35. Also, in 1964, due in part to the March on Washington, Congress passed a landmark Civil Rights Act ending legal racial segregation in the U.S. Congress passed the Voting Rights Act a year later, in 1965, a result of the Selma to Montgomery, AL March for Voting Rights.

The Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama.

Relive a Moment in History: Selma to Montgomery

In January 1965, Dr. King led a coalition of activist groups to call for voting rights in Selma, Alabama, where despite repeated attempts, only two percent of Black voters were registered. The campaign saw mass arrests but little violence until February. Then, in Marion, Alabama, state troopers joined local police to break up a march. A state trooper shot a protester who later died from his wounds.

In response to the death, activists set out to march from Selma to Montgomery. While Dr. King was in Atlanta, Hosea Willams and John Lewis led the march. The marchers made their way through Selma across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. A blockade of state troopers and law enforcement officers ordered the marchers to disperse. When they refused, the troopers attacked the crowd with clubs and tear gas. Television coverage of the event, “Bloody Sunday,” as it became known, sparked national outrage.

On March 21-25, 1965, Dr. King participated in a federally sanctioned march from Selma to the steps of the capitol in Montgomery, Alabama. President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 with Dr. King and other civil rights leaders on August 6, 1965.

Make a bridge through history by recreating the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 3D. It’s an opportunity to learn from events of the past and understand the legacy of Dr. King and other civil rights leaders. The 3Doodler tutorial and stencil provides a straight-forward way to recreate this historic bridge.

Share your experience with us and tag @3Doodler or #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate on social.

The Nutcracker Comes to Life in 3D

Posted on December 15, 2022December 15, 2022 by Vicki Grisanti

The Nutcracker is a timeless holiday fairytale ballet that mesmerizes audiences with beautiful music, an enchanting story, and colorful costumes.

However, the first performances of the Nutcracker were not well-received by audiences and even the composer, Tchaikovsky, found it lacking. Travel back in time and see how this ballet made its way to becoming a holiday classic and bring your own Nutcracker to life with a 3D printing pen and filament.

The original ballet at the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg. Credit: Corbis/Bojan Brecelj

Book to Ballet: The Nutcracker and the Mouse King

E.T.A Hoffmann is the author of “Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” which was later adapted by the French writer Alexandre Dumas to become the tale as we know it today. Hoffman’s story centered around a little girl, Marie, and her Christmas toys. Marie frets over a beautiful toy nutcracker that broke. As she goes to check on it late one night, she finds the nutcracker has come to life. And, so begins a story within a story of armies of mice and toy soldiers.

Alexandre Dumas made the original version lighter and less scary. Dumas changed Marie’s name to Klara and her visions became sweeter and more childlike. Her family was not as harsh and in all the tale took on a more appealing tone. In 1892, the director of the Russian Imperial Theatre commissioned Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky to write a ballet using Dumas’ version. And in so doing, The Nutcracker was born.

The ballet was not a great success at first. Reportedly, audiences were dismayed that the ballerina did not dance until the second act and that so much focus was given to children. Still, Tchaikovsky’s score was captivating and lent itself to new renditions of the ballet.

A Holiday Tradition with Universal Appeal

The performances of the Nutcracker have evolved over time with much to celebrate among audiences young and old. A magical world that comes to life on Christmas with young children, families, toys, snowflakes and candy, all set to Tchaikovsky’s perfect score. The ballet has become a holiday season staple, complete with toy soldiers, a sugar plum fairy, and a snow queen.

As the popularity of the ballet grew, so did the production of nutcrackers to give as gifts and keepsakes. The Steinbach family of Germany is credited with honing the craft of designing and producing wooden nutcrackers of all shapes and sizes. The Steinbachs began as hand-making nutcrackers 200 years ago and all the manufacturing of these figures is still located in Marienberg in the Ore Mountains in Germany. According to German legend, these wooden dolls bring good luck and protection to a family and its home.

3D Nutcracker Takes Shape

There really is no better time to test your 3D skills and craft a nutcracker for the holidays. We’re sharing a new Nutcracker tutorial to guide you through the steps to bring the main character in this magical holiday fairytale to life with your 3D pen.

Get started today with your Create+ 3D Printing Pen, Create+ Plastic, and a paper towel. The techniques in this tutorial could be used to bring other characters from this holiday classic to life too. Share your final design with us @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate!

Turn Classic Sports Into Interactive 3D Games

Posted on November 16, 2022December 28, 2022 by Vicki Grisanti

As the weather cools, take classic games like soccer, football, and basketball to the next level with 3D designs you can enjoy indoors!

Many sports were meant to be played outdoors, but when the rain sets in or courts aren’t available, you can take the fun indoors. Create games with your 3D pen and get a few friends together to test their design skills. This week we’re exploring three classic sports!

Let the Games Begin: American Football

The game we currently refer to as football started as a mashup between soccer and rugby in the United States. The first football game was played as an intercollegiate sport between Rutgers and Princeton on November 6, 1869, in New Jersey. Teams at elite colleges and universities across New England took up the sport in the 1870s.

Walter Camp, known as the “father of American Football,” played halfback and served as the team captain for Yale as an undergraduate from 1876-1881. Camp’s position as captain enabled him to guide the game’s rules for the newly formed Intercollegiate Football Association (IFA). He instituted two significant changes. He did away with an opening “scrummage” and required that a team give up the ball if it failed to move down the field a certain number of yards or “downs” as we know them today. Camp added several other improvements, such as the 11-man team, the quarterback position, the line of scrimmage, and the scoring system.

In 1920, the American Professional Football Association was established, later known as the National Football League (NFL). Football remains one of the most popular sports in the United States.

Try out a tabletop version of the game with friends. It’s much easier to play and a fun way to pass the time. Now, you can create a version to play at home using your 3Doodler 3D printing pen.

Watch the Tutorial

Credit: Wikipedia Commons, Bob Thomas/Popperfoto/Getty, and The New York Times

One Game, Many Names: Football or Soccer

Football, or soccer, is the most popular game in the world based on the number of participants and spectators. Given the game’s simplicity, teams form quickly and play on everything from official playing fields (pitches) to gymnasiums, parks, playgrounds, streets, and even at the beach.

Modern football as we know it today traces its roots to Britain. It was there in the 19th century that independent schools took up the sport and attempted to codify the rules. Printed rules were distributed in 1863 by the newly formed Football Association. By 1877, 43 clubs were participating in a cup competition. National leagues in other countries started quickly and created their own cup competitions. In 1904, representatives from seven European countries gathered to establish the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).

Today, FIFA includes 211 member associations, making it larger than the United Nations. Member associations must accept FIFA’s authority, adhere to its laws, and provide the infrastructure to support the sport. The World Cup, FIFA’s premier month-long tournament, will take place in Qatar, with 32 countries competing from November 20 to December 18, 2022.

While watching the World Cup matches, doodle your own soccer ball. Go with the more traditional black and white, or mix it up with color combinations of your design.

Watch the Tutorial

From Peach Baskets to Global Sport: Basketball

Basketball is the only widely recognized sport with American origins. In the winter of 1891, a classic New England storm was brewing and James Naismith was looking for ways to keep his students busy indoors.

As a 31-year-old graduate student and physical education teacher, Naismith was teaching at International YMCA Training School or Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts. He wanted to create a game that could be played indoors with many players and offer plenty of exercise. He approached a school janitor to get two boxes. Instead, he got two peach baskets. Undaunted, he quickly nailed the peach baskets to either side of the gymnasium balcony. The students played on teams attempting to get the ball in the other team’s basket. The first game ended in a brawl, but students were so taken with the new sport that Naismith continued refining the rules.

Fast forward to 1946, when Boston Garden owner Walter Brown saw an opportunity to host basketball games at ice hockey arenas. As a result, Brown established the Basketball Association of America, which would later merge with the National Basketball League to create the National Basketball Association (NBA). Today, the NBA is a global organization with a presence in 215 countries and territories.

Gather friends and craft a basketball in 3D with our easy-to-follow stencil and tips. It’s a fun and creative way to honor the sport and celebrate the history of basketball.

Watch the Tutorial

It’s game time! Create one or all and celebrate sports with 3Doodler. Share your designs with us @3Doodler.

Lessons in Creativity: ELA & Literacy in 3D

Posted on October 5, 2022November 8, 2022 by Vicki Grisanti

Finding new ways to differentiate classroom content to appeal to all learners is a tough task. Adding a dose of creative exploration can help inspire even the most reluctant learners. This set of ELA lessons offer a little something for everyone with a good amount of flexibility to adapt to the needs of each student.

Each of these lessons was curated by our community of teachers who took care to align to content standards. So, while students are busy creating mini masterpieces, you know they are also gaining critical content and learning to apply it through a project-based experience.

Each lesson is set for a grade level span and offers resources to tailor it further. So, are you ready to teach compound-words, character trait development, and even the vocabulary and elements from the periodic table in 3D? Let’s get started!

Grade K-2: Compound Words

Understanding compound words can help build student confidence, improve vocabulary, and expand literacy skills. There are various ways to tackle this topic from worksheets and crosswords to more hands-on fun pairing words together. Take this lesson off the page with a 3Doodler method to explore compound words. First, students work in pairs to form compound words. Each partner will create a stencil to illustrate one of the words in the compound word and doodle it. It’s a creative, memorable way to understand a new concept and increase vocabulary.

Colorful 3D pen masks on a detailed wall design

Grade 3-5: Developing a Character

Character development is a critical skill to master as students explore short-form narratives and fictional writing. By understanding a character’s actions and emotions, they build comprehension too. Working together, in this lesson, students will create a story character and related characteristics. Next, they will be able to bring their character to life in 3D. Finally, they will write a short narrative based on inferences. Expanding on this experience, the Kennedy Center offers a unique spin that encourages students to dramatize their character for an audience.

Grade 6-8: Elemental Superheroes & Supervillians

Integrate arts, science, and ELA in a unique lesson that will have everyone excited to participate. While this lesson focuses on science by studying the periodic table, it also encourages literacy, language, art skills. Students work together to research and write about an element on the periodic table. Then, using a 3Doodler 3D pen, they will design a superhero or supervillain mask to illustrate the qualities of their periodic element. Add to the intrigue by having each team of students create a riddle to have their peers guess which element the mask represents. Look at comic book characters through the years and see which ones were actually based on periodic table elements!

Show us how you bring creativity to the classroom with hands-on ELA lessons and activities tagging @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate.

Get Microscopic with 3Doodler

Posted on June 8, 2022November 8, 2022 by Vicki Grisanti

As we enter summer and the prior school year starts to fade, you are no doubt ready for some much-needed R&R. Or perhaps you’ve signed up to run a STEM camp, art camp, or even music summer camp. Whether you are at home, or at camp, both settings provide an excellent opportunity for some low-stress, hands-on STEM fun with 3Doodler that will keep your creative juices flowing and prevent summer learning loss.

We’ve rounded up a couple of lessons that illustrate how STEM activities, through art and design, can present science in ways that excite both scientists and non-scientists. And if you are interested in seeing more lessons from our library, check out our full stack of resources here.

Building Blocks that Build Life

As we alluded to in the title of this week’s blog, we’ve pulled together some lesson plans that have you exploring a world you would normally need a microscope to see. With 3D printed models, we are able to observe characteristics of objects that can traditionally be more challenging to comprehend through 2D worksheets or textbooks.

This week, we’re looking at some of the most basic building blocks of life – Atoms and Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells. Scientists estimate that a 150-pound human body contains about 6.5 octillion atoms. That’s a lot of matter!

An Atom

A Cell

Not only will your students have a better understanding of atoms and prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, but their final creations will be truly beautiful to look at and discuss once the builds are complete. And to accompany these lessons, we’ve also put together a step-by-step tutorial to show you visually how to create an Atom. This tutorial will walk you through how to create your own Atom using just your 3D pen, so you can get creating whenever inspiration strikes. And rest assured, there are also step-by-step lessons on building the Prokaryotic Cells and Eukaryotic Cells that are linked within both lesson plans.

Don’t forget to share your Atoms and Cells with @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate. Looking for other summer camp ideas? DM us and let us know!

The Rodeo Isn’t Just for Cowboys Anymore

Posted on March 23, 2022November 8, 2022 by Will Insull

Although you’ve likely heard of a rodeo before, you might not have visited one in person. Or for that matter, live in a state where the rodeo is woven into popular culture the way that it is in Texas, Kansas, Utah, Iowa or Colorado, just to name a few. So here at 3Doodler, we are bringing the rodeo to you with some fun facts, history, and Doodle ideas that’ll put you in the mood to rope a cow or a horse in no time!

When was the first rodeo?

The first official rodeo was in 1869 in Deer Trail, Colorado, when two groups of cowboys from neighboring ranches met to settle an argument over who was best at performing everyday cowboy tasks, including breaking wild horses, which is today’s bucking bronc riding event. Although this is said to be the first organized rodeo, many others claim that title for their own rodeos in other parts of the US, including Cheyenne, Wyoming, in 1872; Winfield, Kansas, in 1882; and Pecos, Texas, in 1883.

What’s something about the rodeo you might not have known before now?

At its launch, the rodeo was a fairly non-discriminatory sport, open to Hispanics, African Americans, Native Americans, and women contestants in an era when racial and gender discrimination were commonplace. Women competed in many events at mixed-gender rodeos well into the 1930s. During this time, ladies often competed against men and often beat men at a variety of rodeo events.

Rodeos Today

Known by rodeo fans as the “Daddy of ’em All,” Cheyenne Frontier Days is the world’s largest outdoor rodeo.

In late February and into mid-March over 1.5 million people are attracted to Houston, Texas, the site of the world’s largest indoor rodeo.

Let’s Bring the Rodeo to You

So, if you can’t make it to a real rodeo this year, we thought it would be fun to bring the rodeo home to you. All you need is your 3Doodler 3D printing pen and some plastic to create a 3D cowboy of your own. When you’re finished, these creations make great additions to your kids’ action figure collection.

Don’t forget to share the influential and powerful woman in your life with @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate.

Celebrating International Women’s Day

Posted on March 8, 2022January 3, 2025 by Will Insull

International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.

Here at 3Doodler, where half of our team is made up of women, we wanted to take a moment to highlight just a few of the incredibly talented women who have achieved great things with our 3Doodler 3D printing pens. From high-end fashion pieces to life-size cow sculptures (and everything in between), we’ve seen remarkable works over the years.

Women Creators

If you follow 3Doodler on social media, you’ve likely come across Rachel Goldsmith before. Rachel has created a name for herself by painting using a 3D pen, PLA filament and a blank canvas. Beyond her canvas creations, she recently mesmerized us with a piece she did for CowParade NYC 2021. We watched in awe as Rachel showed us the art of doodling hair out of PLA filament, not to mention the life-sized fiberglass highland cow she created for the exhibit. She did a wonderful job at documenting her process. We can’t wait to see what Rachel will create next. Follow along on her next project via her Instagram.

Cornelia Kuglmeier has been a cornerstone of our doodling community with her prolific work that turns fantasy into reality. You might even recognize some of her amazing Doodles on our Instagram. Connie is a 3D pen artist and educator, whose techniques are some of the most advanced we’ve come across. In addition to the content she posts on her Instagram, she’s posted some incredibly detailed and helpful tutorials on her YouTube channel that dive into tips and tricks for better doodling.

Stéphanie Santos is a European fashion designer who uses 3Doodler 3D pens to create clothing and jewelry inspired by nature. Using her background in art, fashion, and biofabrication, she has created a visionary collection of clothing and jewelry with our 3Doodler Start+ and Create+ pens. The series was inspired by her passion for sustainability. All of the 3Doodler filaments are either eco-friendly or recyclable, which makes an excellent material for her work. Interested in learning more about Stéphanie’s work? Check out our artist highlight.

Alanna Baird describes herself as a Jill of all trades as she has dabbled in many mediums of art. “I make large art structures with my pen, which I love doing, but the most memorable build was doodling my 6-year-old grandson’s drawings for walls, roof parts, windows, and doors to assemble a small structure for our stick-drawn people to play in. Drawing from his imagination knows no bounds!” Currently, the ability to incorporate shadow into her work is very exciting as it adds additional elements for her to play with. Alanna’s work is currently on exhibit at the McCain Art Gallery in Florenceville-Bristol, New Brunswick, Canada.

Mira Zwillinger is a luxury brand led by mother-daughter fashion designers, Mira and Lihi Zwillinger. As one of the leading couture houses in Tel Aviv and sold at prestigious boutiques worldwide, the brand focuses on creating made-to-measure gowns using the finest fabrics and materials with an emphasis on delicate handwork and detailing. A recent collection of theirs showcased gowns that used hand-crafted doodled elements including stunning, intricately doodled 3D floral appliques were applied to organza, silk tulle, and lace.

From Action to Doodle

So today, join us by posting a photo of you crossing your arms in solidarity, with the hashtag #BreakTheBias, to stand with gender equality this International Women’s Day.

To aid you in participating in this cause, but with a creative twist, we have this tutorial that will walk you through how to doodle your own #BreakTheBias pose using a photograph.

Don’t forget to share the influential and powerful woman in your life with @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate.

4 Valentine’s Day Projects to Impress

Posted on February 9, 2022November 8, 2022 by Will Insull

What sweeter way to surprise that special someone than with a handmade gift? Not only will these ideas mean more, but they also won’t break the bank (sorry Hallmark). Because let’s face it, chocolates, roses, off-the-shelf cards, and oversized teddy bears are all so cliche.

Whether or not you celebrate big on February 14th, we’ve pulled together some fun heartfelt Doodling activities for you to tackle this month. So grab your 3Doodler 3D pen, some filament, and let’s craft a few gifts from the heart.

Printable templates to lift your creations off the page

Heart-Shaped Cookie Cutters – This Valentine’s day, up your game with some freshly baked cookies. Not just any cookies, these bad boys have a customized shape thanks to your Doodled cookie cutters. Doodle yours now and get baking.

Doodled Orchids – Flowers can bring a smile to almost anyone’s face, but what better way to go the extra mile than to Doodle your own orchids arrangement? Not only will they last longer, but they’re truly one of a kind.

Geometric Heart – Edgy, artistic, and anything but conventional, this simple yet beautiful geometric heart design is perfect for all skill levels. Doodle your own geometric hearts now with this easy to follow stencil.

3D Heart Garland – Looking to upgrade your Valentine’s Day decorations? Try Doodling this heart garland. This design is fun and festive way to brighten up any locker, classroom or bedroom.

3D pen refills that will make your heart skip a beat

To help give you that extra encouragement to take part in these DIY projects, we will be running a plastic promo Feb 10-15. Be sure to head on over to our Deals page to score 20% off on select plastic refills!

Don’t forget to share your Doodled Valentine’s Day with @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate.

Exploring the Phases of Earth’s Closest Neighbor

Posted on January 19, 2022November 8, 2022 by Will Insull

How many times have you looked up in the sky and seen a different shaped moon? Chances are if you look close enough, you’ll see how every day of the month the moon looks slightly different than it did the day before. Whether you are a parent or a teacher (or both) moon phases can be an exciting topic to explore with kids. When you get to bring the moons to life in 3D with your 3Doodler 3D printing pen it’s a tangible experience that helps lock in everything your learning. So grab your 3Doodler Start+ or Create+ 3D printing pens and let’s get learning.

The 8 Phases

There are eight phases of the moon, in order: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent. The cycle repeats once a month (every 29.5 days). Although there are eight phases of the moon we are going to mostly focus on the four that are the easiest to see with the naked eye. This video creates a good visual of what is going on.

If you want to see another perspective of the moon check out this view of the moon Doodled by the artist Ricardo Martinez.

New Moon

During a New Moon, the moon is located between the Earth and the Sun, and as a result, isn’t visible to the human eye. The New Moon is considered “new” because it marks the start of the lunar cycle. It represents new beginnings, rebirth, potential, and stillness.

Waxing Moon

A waxing moon is the period of time when the moon appears to slowly grow fuller and bigger. This period includes the phases of waxing crescent, first quarter, and waxing gibbous. The waxing moon represents growth, personal development, decision-making, and progress.

Full Moon

Also known as the harvest moon, the full moon holds much power. During this time, the moon and the sun sit on opposite sides of the earth, lending the moon its bright, circular appearance. The full moon represents illumination, clarity, and completion.

Waning Moon

When the moon is waning, it appears to fade gradually from the sky (though of course, it’s always there). A waning moon includes the phases of waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent. It symbolizes letting go, releasing, retreating, and surrendering.

So tell us, do you have a favorite moon phase? A fun discussion topic can be explaining which phase is your favorite, and why / how you got to that decision. But enough talking, let’s get hands-on with this subject!

STEM Moon Project

Now that we’ve learned about the different phases of the moon, it’s time to create our own 3D versions. Use this week’s stencil and tutorial to create your own moon diagram that’ll demonstrate your understanding of the different phases of the moon.

Don’t forget to share your moons with @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate.

New Year’s Eve Festivities!

Posted on December 29, 2021November 8, 2022 by Will Insull

Can you believe it’s already the end of 2021?

At the end of every year, we like to get nostalgic for a minute and revisit some of the best moments and Doodles from the past year. As schools re-opened their doors this year, we saw elementary, middle, and high school students return to using 3Doodler in the classroom, with classes ranging from science to the humanities. In May we revamped our Start+ and Create+ plastic refill assortment bringing you new colors and form factors. Finally, in July we launched the 3Doodler Start+, an improved 3D printing pen for our youngest creators – which absolutely took off this holiday season. We’ve been hard at work planning for 2022 and we can’t wait to see everything our community creates next year!

To help you celebrate the New Year in style, we’ve collected a few celebratory stencils and tutorials that will add a pinch of creativity to your festivities as you prepare to ring in the New Year!

Stencils

Anyone else a part of a book club or reading group? There’s no better time to devour a new book than during the holiday break or with the start of a New Year! Follow our stencil to create a festive bookmark in your favorite colors

Add a celebratory twist to your New Year’s Eve party plans. Bake some cupcakes and then finish the look off with these DIY cupcake topper stencils!

Looking to decorate your space in a way that will have you pumped up for the big ball drop? Use this stencil to create 2022 decals that will look good just about anywhere!

Whether you are laying low, facetime with friends, or celebrating as a group – be sure to capture the moment! A photo booth is a fun and memorable way to share New Year’s Eve with the people you love – even those that aren’t always fond of being in front of the camera. This stencil and your creativity will ensure you have all the fun props on hand to finish the look!

Tutorial

Add the ultimate accessory to your NYE outfit with these goofy and festive glasses. Because life’s too short to take yourself so seriously. So ring in the New Year in style with this tutorial!

Don’t forget to share your New Years’ decorations with @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate.

Let’s Play a Game! ♟?

Posted on November 17, 2021November 8, 2022 by Will Insull

Board games are an informative aspect of childhood. Learning how to follow rules, work as an individual and a team player, develop strategy, and just interact with others in a competitive and fun setting.

Popularity Spike

We’ve seen a resurgence in the popularity of board games. This can be linked partially to the pandemic and the need for people to stay inside. It also has to do with what board games have to offer, skill-building opportunities, and human interaction. Board games allow kids to learn skills like teamwork and strategy in a safe environment. The environment in which these games are played also helps prompt human interaction and confrontation, as opposed to say, video games, where human interaction is very limited.

In addition to the increase in popularity, board games are also getting a facelift. More and more games are being restored and modernized. This evolving idea of what a board game can be will help keep board games relevant for younger, more digitally savvy generations.

Playing Games through the Centuries

Board games have been around almost for the entirety of humankind. Classical board games are divided into four categories of game: race games (such as Pachisi), space games (Tic-Tac-Toe), and games of displacement (Chess). The longest-running game is called The Royal Game of Ur. Still played in India, this game has been around for more than 2000 years and is even older than Backgammon, commonly referred to as the oldest board game.

All board games, while different, also share some commonalities. Most are played on a table or other flat surface, with a game board and pieces, and obviously, they have an objective or goal that players are working towards to win.

Board games are a great reason to gather the family or classroom together for some friendly competition. As families and friends come together for the holidays, consider pulling out a game to play as a way to bring people together and of course scratch our competitive itch.

DIY Chess – 3Doodler Style

Our DIY Doodle Challenge this week is in honor of National Board Game Day on November 19. Recreate the Queen’s Gambit for yourself with a tutorial and stencil that’ll get you creating your own unique chess set – from scratch! This project will leave you with a fully functional chess set and a board (if you need it). It’s a fun activity that will no doubt impress friends and family as you gather for some friendly competition.

Don’t forget to share your catapults and other STEM day activities with @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate.

Fine-Tune Your Doodling Technique

Posted on August 18, 2021January 2, 2025 by Will Insull

Have you ever seen a Doodle and wondered how someone created it? Today, we help solve that problem by walking through several advanced techniques that’ll take your Doodling to the next level.

What You’ll Need

In this blog, we’ll be focused on techniques using our Create+ and PRO+ 3D printing pens. In addition to one of these pens, you will also want to have our Create+ PLA and Create+ ABS filament on hand. These are two different types of filament for the Create+ and PRO+ pens, and while they may look the same at first glance, they both have very different attributes and can be manipulated in different ways.

PLA

PLA is a plant-based, non-toxic material and is recyclable & eco-friendly. You might even smell something sweet while Doodling, that’s because PLA is a corn-based material that emits a sweet, sugary smell as it heats up. PLA is very versatile and can be used on paper, glass, cloth, and metal surfaces.

PLA is unique because even after it has been extruded you have five to six seconds where you can still manipulate it. Even after it’s cooled, you have other techniques at your disposal that allow the plastic to be reshaped. Using a hairdryer, you can heat up certain parts of your Doodle to soften the filament and reshape it, without affecting your entire creation.

For more complex projects you can even use your oven to heat PLA filament. This technique will cause the entire Doodle to melt together. This technique should only be used when you are okay with melting your entire creation, as you’ll use any of the typically Doodle lines that you see after extrusion. You can also use this technique to change the transparency of the Doodle, like in this video where a telescope lens needs to be heated up to help it come together and become transparent.

ABS

When it comes to drawing in the air, ABS is your filament. ABS cools down faster than PLA allowing you to draw in the air with ease. After extrusion, you have about three seconds before the filament to harden. Once hardened, ABS will easily peel off of paper or stencils, and can bend with ease. Given how quick it cools / hardens, ABS can be easier for beginner Doodlers wishing to draw in the air. Unlike PLA, ABS does not have a sweet smell. ABS also cannot be heated up and manipulated after extrusion, so if you decide to try out any of the above-mentioned heating techniques, make sure you are using PLA!

Nozzle Set

An additional tool you can use to help shape and construct your extruded plastic is our nozzle set. This Set includes a ribbon tip, square tip, triangle tip, a super fine 0.5mm nozzle, and thicker 1mm and 1.5mm nozzles. It also includes a smoothing tool that clips onto the end of each nozzle, allowing you to smooth over or create contours and details on your Doodles. These Doodles below help show some of the different techniques possible with the nozzle set.

Let’s practice!

In order to become a pro Doodler like @Connie__doodles, @riikc.art, and @artistrachelg – you’ll need practice. So we thought, what better way to work on your Doodling techniques than by creating some miniature food replicas. Similar to cooking or baking, the more you practice the better you become. So let’s put those fine motor skills to the test and Doodle some food! Use this stencil to turn these pretzels and then Doodle some pretzels.

Whenever you’re up for a challenge, check out this week’s tutorial. We walk you through how to Doodle up a delicious mini 3D burger. Get practicing and showcase your amazing dinner Doodles. Additionally, we have a great collection of fun and advanced techniques on our website so you can take any Doodle to the next level.

Don’t forget to share your miniature dinners with @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate.

Fly Your Flag

Posted on June 16, 2021November 8, 2022 by Will Insull

Flags are symbols that can represent a lot of things, from a group of people to a geographical place. In honor of International Flag Week, let’s explore the meaning behind some of the most common categories of flags.

Country Flags

Did you know that June 14, 1777 marks the day the United States adopted its flag? Let’s take a look at some of the symbolism behind the American flag. For any of our readers from other countries, we encourage you to do some research on your own country’s flag, before Doodling it using our free stencils, and then share it with us on social media!

Called “Old Glory” or “The Stars and Stripes,” the American flag is made up of shapes and colors that represent our country. Fifty stars represent the 50 states of the Union, while 13 stripes represent the original 13 Colonies. Red is a symbol of hardiness; white symbolizes innocence; and blue represents vigilance, perseverance, and justice.

Overall, the flag means a lot of different things to different people. It is used to display our nationalism and to symbolize freedom. We have even established some rules on how to display the flag to ensure we’re showing it the respect we’ve ascribed to it.

State Flags

The inventors of 3Doodler (Maxwell Bogue and Peter Dilworth) built the first 3Doodler prototype in Somerville, Massachusetts. As a nod to our Massachusetts roots, we’ll take a look at the flag of Massachusetts. Did you know that each state in the United States has its own flag, which represents the ideologies and history of that particular state?

In Massachusetts, the flag is white with the state’s coat of arms emblazoned on both sides — the shield depicts an Algonquian Native American holding a bow and arrow. The arrow is pointed downward to signify peace. A white star with five points appears next to the figure’s head, signifying Massachusetts as a U.S. state. Above the shield is the state military crest.

Each of these symbols means something important to residents of Massachusetts, and they display their state flag proudly.

Fun fact: State flags are typically displayed in the order they were admitted to the State of the Union.

Symbolic Flags

There are many types of symbolic flags that your children or students may have encountered. For example:

A white flag has become representative of surrender, truce, or a desire to start to pursue negotiations.
A red flag is a metaphor for a problem that requires attention. It is also a literal flag that might symbolize danger from wildfires or dangerous water conditions at the beach. Not to mention, it indicates live fire at a shooting range.
Checkered flags are used in car races to show that a car has crossed the finish line.

Flags Representing Groups of People

Another type of flag is that which represents a group of people, such as prisoners of war (POW flag) or people of a certain religion (check out the history of the Christian flag or Tibetan prayer flags). As June is LGBTQ+ pride month, we’ve been particularly interested in exploring the LGBTQ+ pride flag, which represents lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) pride and social movements.

There are many different versions of the LGBTQ+ pride flag, and these mean different things to different people. We Doodled a version of the pride flag, below, to celebrate acceptance, equality, and inclusivity.

Activity: Design Your Own Flag

Last year, we showed learners how to create a model of their country’s flag for Flag Day. Not only did they deliver, but they made us think.

If they can create a model of their own country’s flag, what’s to stop them from creating individual flags that represent who they are as people?

Think about walking your children, students or campers through the following exercise:

If you were to create your own flag, what would it look like?
What colors or symbols would you use?
What would you want your flag to represent?

After your learners have visualized and Doodled their own flags, encourage them to come together as a group to discuss what the flags mean to them. Then, string the flags together and hang them proudly in your classroom — after all, when students show us who they are, we need to celebrate that!

Whatever flag you fly, fly it with pride and share what you came up with @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate.

Buggin’ Out this Summer

Posted on June 2, 2021November 8, 2022 by Will Insull

Bugs! They come in all colors, shapes, and sizes. We’re sure you’ve noticed that, for better or for worse, some some bugs get more hype than others. Let’s take a look at some examples below.

LADYBUGS: Did you know that ladybugs are considered lucky? This is probably because they eat other types of bugs that feast on crops, so farmers find them very useful. In fact, some people say that counting a ladybug’s spots is an easy way to determine how many years of luck they will enjoy in the future.

Encourage your students to make their own luck by doodling a ladybug with their 3D pens.

BEES: According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, up to 94% of the Earth’s flower and seed-producing plants depend on bees and other animal pollinators to live. Yet, the bee population has been dying off at a rate of 29% per year since 2006. Since bees play such an important part in our ecosystem, many people are becoming alarmed and working now to “save the bees.”

Learn what your students can do to help via these tips.

CICADAS: Billions of Brood X cicadas emerged across the eastern US in May 2021. The large-scale event happens every 17 years. When the insects do appear, they make an impressive amount of noise.

Remind your students that Cicadas are not harmful to humans or animals.

We’re Bugging Out!

Feeling a little creeped out with all of this bug-talk? You’re not alone. One of the most common types of phobia is entomophobia, an extreme fear of insects. But while some people “bug out” at any mention of bugs, most kids think that bugs are awesome!

Here are 25 cool things about bugs from National Geographic Kids. And here are a few more interesting facts about bugs we recently learned:

Bug Facts

The fruit fly was the first animal to be sent into space!
A cockroach can live for up to a week without its head
A dragonfly called the globe skinner has the longest migration of any insect — 11,000 miles back and forth across the Indian Ocean
The praying mantis can see in 3D

Black and yellow yarn created using a black 3D pen.

Cicada Mania

In the summer of 2021, Cicada Brood X will emerge from the ground in 14 different states in the eastern US. Soon billions of Cicadas will be filling the air with their buzz-saw sound calls. So we thought it would be fitting to challenge everyone to Doodle a realistic Cicada of their very own!

Download this free stencil of a cicada to help your students Doodle an amazing bug of their own. Check out our full tutorial on how to Doodle a 3D cicada here.

Announcing New Color Bundles

To get this project off to a flying start, 3Doodler has developed some exciting new color bundles for you to explore. From neon hues to vibrant metallic tones, and many colors in between, we can’t wait for you to go bug-eyed at the deals we created to help your students bring their ideas to life.

Use the Space Bundle to Doodle a glow-in-the-dark firefly
Use the Metallic Bundle to recreate the shiny jewel beetle
Use the Highlighter Bundle to design their own bioluminescent railroad worms

The possibilities are endless. We’re also offering two mystery bundles at even steeper discounts for those of you who enjoy being surprised!

Again, what better way to celebrate the new color options than to doodle your favorite bugs — or create new variations? Download our bug stencil today and use your favorite new plastics to trace and embellish your own creepy crawler.

Whether you decided to “fly by the seat of your pants,” or follow our tutorial on how to create a 3D paper airplane to the letter, we want you to share what you came up with @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate.

Creating Top Flight Paper Airplanes

Posted on May 26, 2021November 8, 2022 by Will Insull

It’s amazing what you can do with a simple sheet of paper. But, perhaps one of the more entertaining projects is folding — and flying — a paper airplane.

This is a fun activity any day, but paper airplane enthusiasts fly especially high during the month of May in celebration of National Paper Airplane Day.

Many schools, museums, and other organizations celebrate this end-of-month “holiday” by sponsoring paper airplane competitions where participants must fold their own paper airplanes. Winners are determined by the distance their paper airplane flies, as well as how long it can stay in the air.

How far can you throw a paper airplane?

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the farthest distance that anyone has thrown a paper airplane to date is 226 feet, 10 inches. You can watch that video here.

At 3Doodler, we’ve long been interested in helping your creativity take flight. In fact, we’ve walked you through creating your own 3D airplane and 3D helicopter in previous posts.

We’ve even shown you how to create a 3Doodler plane that actually flies!

Today we wanted to kick our efforts up a notch by creating the most fabulous paper airplane that the world has ever seen. What could be better than a traditional paper airplane? A real-life Doodle of a paper airplane!

Check out our new tutorial on how to Doodle a 3D paper airplane

Fly Now

Prefer to read up on paper airplanes before you dive in? Here are some awesome books about paper airplanes for your enjoyment:

Books about paper airplanes:

The Great Paper Caper by Oliver Jeffers
Cherry Blossom and Paper Planes by Jef Aerts
Paper Planes by Jim Helmore

A DIY Feeder that Brings all the Birds to the Yard

Posted on April 14, 2021November 8, 2022 by Will Insull

Spring has officially sprung, and the 3Doodler team has found some exciting new ways to connect with nature — including birding. The National Audubon Society has some great tips on birding with kids, and we can vouch for the fact that birding helps kids to embrace their inner ornithologist and fall even deeper in love with science.

Aside from the gorgeous sounds that birds use to communicate, we’ve recently been inspired by the interesting colors and patterns that mark the birds around us. A bird’s colors and patterns are an important way for it to:

Attract possible mates
Identify its own species
Hide from predators

Today, we thought it would be fun to work together to Doodle a bird feeder using your 3D pen, which you can use to attract local birds in your backyard! Here is a free bird feeder stencil for you to download here.

After you’ve printed the stencil, take a look at the different parts of your feeder and plan out which colors you want to use for each section. Did you know certain birds are attracted to certain colors? We chose red for our feeder. Use your 3D pen to trace each section, paying attention to the number of pieces required for each section. Once all of your pieces are Doodled, it’s time to assemble! You can follow along with our step-by-step tutorial here.

Once you’ve assembled your feeder, fill it with your bird food of choice and hang it in your backyard. Make sure to put it somewhere that you can easily see from a window, porch, or favorite outside spot so when the birds discover your creation you’ll have a front-row seat.

Need something to do while you wait? Doodle a bird using one of our handy templates here or here. If you’re having trouble coming up with birds to Doodle, think about the types of birds that have caught your eye in the past. What color feathers are most appealing to you? Why?

Not feeling inspired by the birds you’re seeing outside? Not a problem!

You’re probably familiar with a lot of different kinds of birds. Think about recreating some pretend birds like Big Bird, Tweety Bird, or Toucan Sam. Or perhaps you could design your own Mockingjay, as in The Hunger Games book series by Suzanne Collins.

Did you Doodle your favorite bird, or create an entirely new one? Share your design with us @3Doodler #3Doodler #WhatWillYouCreate

DIY Valentine’s Day Projects Roundup

Posted on February 11, 2021November 6, 2022 by mcdoodle

Share the love this year with these fun Valentine’s Day themed projects. Simply download, print and get to Doodling! Creating something handmade to give to that special someone can be a fun creative activity for you, and a much appreciated gesture to the recipient.

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!

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

Heart Garland: A room filled with 3D pen art, featuring a cascade of hanging hearts.

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.

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

Four cupcakes with unique toppings on a table - 3D pen art.

Valentine’s Day Cupcake Liner:

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

3D pen art: Cupcake with red scales and heart toppings

Valentine’s Day Cupcake Toppers:

Print out one of our Cupcake Topper stencils
Doodle a message
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

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Tactile Tech Builds Community & Awareness for the Visually Impaired

Posted on January 27, 2021November 8, 2022 by mcdoodle

3Doodler is proud to raise awareness and create accessible ways for visually impaired individuals to interact with art, literature, and symbolism.

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.

"In a challenging year, we are grateful that so many teachers and students stepped up to support their local community with picture books to aid the blind and visually impaired."-Maxwell Bogue, Co-Founder at 3Doodler

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.