Nothing says holidays quite like gift-giving anxiety. Wrestling with who to get things for and what to give them can be overwhelming. To make your season of winter festivity easier, we’ve rounded up a mix of twelve projects old and new to replace your choice paralysis with last-minute-building-panic.
Puzzle boxes
First up, 3D printed puzzle boxes. Iโve given boxes like these away for a few years now, and theyโre always a hit. If you donโt know what to get someone and need to class up cash or gift codes, a puzzle box makes opening a gift into a whole experience. Last year I watched this nested puzzle boxย make its way around the room as everyone challenged themselves to open it long after the recipient got their prize. This maze box by djedje is faster to open and looks nicely refined. If youโre really crunched for time, this vase mode-optimized puzzle box prints out quick.
Golden Caddy A-Go-Go cocktail
I like giving away food and drinks becauseย I knowย theyโll become fond memories, not extra clutter. You could make the syrup for this New Year’s cocktail and deliver it as a kit, or whip up a batch to bring a festive flavor to your own party.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle ornaments
Homemade ornaments are fun because you can add your own personal touch. Plus theyโll get brought back out of slumber each year, so you get extra points annually. These TMNT ornaments may be the best effort-to-impact ratio ones Iโve seen.ย You can give them as a set of four. Or if your familyโs more traditional than whimsical, make them a bunch of Raphael.
Christmas ball with intersecting diamonds
3D printed ornaments are a quick way to bust something out for people with trees who youโve forgotten to shop for. If this isnโt the first time youโve turned to your printer to cover your crimes, youโll need an extra-stunning model to impress them. An intricate Christmas ball with intersecting diamonds might be just the thing.
Stunning gingerbread brownstone
There are sensible, achievable projectsย that will turn out great on the first try. Instructables user kitchentablescrapsโ gingerbread brownstone is probably not one of them. But itโs so stunning that even though weโve featured it before, itย must be shown off againย so that the right person sees it and has a chance to build even more imposing edible architecture.
Christmas gnome brownie bites
You arenโt required to make a dish for every party from scratch, but dressing up a premade one can help ensure you don’t bring the same plate as someone else. These Easy Christmas Gnomes use brownie bites as a time-saving base. They look both adorable and delicious, two critical food criteria.
Giant Lego wreath
Winner of “the holiday 3D print that made me smile the most,” this Lego Wreath by MagnumDanger brings me joy every time I see it. Thereโs somethingย simplyย delightful about giant toys, and the Lego-style assembly instructions kick it over the top.
Snowflake dreidels
If youโre going to play Dreidel, itโs only fitting that you make one yourself. Itโs in the song, after all. This dreidel design by Hank the Goose adds a snowflake pattern for a flairย ofย winter festivity. I hope it isnโt long before someone prints one out of clay.
Harry Potter floating candles
Some of the best decorations span more than one holiday. Floating candles inspired by Harry Potter not only add an enchanted touch to a Christmas tree, but are appropriate to display October through December.
Twinkling branches room divider
But if three months isnโt long enough to show off all your hard work, this Twinkling Branches Room Divider works any time the days are cold and evenings are dark. Winter is filled with light festivals just for projects like these.
Oxocard tree topper
This list wouldnโt be complete without a festive animated LED tree-topper.ย Built with theย small but slick Oxocard, this light-up star can be built in a few hours, and itsย simple code can be customized on a mobile device in seconds. It’s anย elegant blend of high-tech LED wizardry in a traditional form.
3D Printed Toys for Tots
Itโs too late to sign up for 2024, but Iโm including it partially as a reminder to myself for 2025. IC3D’s fantastic Annual 3D Printed Toys for Tots Program turned makers into elves and created over 130k toys for the charity Toys For Tots in 2023. If you have extra time on a printer going into the holidays, this seems ideal. And if you want to contribute without a printer, you can also submit a toy design and have your model featured.
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