DIY Engraved Cutting Board

With so many weddings around this time of the year and spring, I start to try to think outside the box with wedding gifts. Being a crafter/DIYer, I try to think of USEFUL handmade gift ideas for my friends and family. So I got to thinking while at Ikea and picked up this inexpensive cutting board then headed home wondering how I could make use of it. You see those gorgeous fancy cutting boards personalized with monogramming and engraved names for sale online for $50-$100, why not be able to do it yourself!? Today I’m going to show you how I used the Dremel® Micro™8050 to make a DIY Engraved Cutting Board…a perfect gift for a friend or family member, as well as a perfect gift for you because the Dremel® Micro™8050 does just about everything you would need as a crafter or DIYer!

Here’s what you need:

• Dremel® Micro™8050
• Cutting Board from Ikea
• Hazel and Ruby Stencil (or other stencil, as desired)
• Pencil

I started by using my stencils to lay them evenly across the area I wanted to engrave. I like using Hazel and Ruby’s stencil masks because they are lightly sticky and stay in place nicely.

We decided to put our last name on this cutting board because it makes a nice serving tray and cutting board…so it will be a nice focal point for having guests over.

Next I took my pencil and traced along the edges of the letters carefully…then removed the stencil masks when I was done.

After the stenciling was finished, the fun began…we got to play with our new tool. We practiced on a scrap piece of wood for a few minutes, then using the engraving piece we started tracing the letters into the wood.

It was really easy to use, but it does require a very steady hand so the tool doesn’t get away from you and mess things up.

My husband even wanted to try it out and work on it a bit (men and their tools!).

Once we had engraved everything we stepped back and enjoyed our work. I’m really happy with how it turned out and can’t wait to make more items with this feature and the others!!

It literally took 30 minutes to do and, once you buy the tool…the cost of actually making these gifts is under $10-$15!! Not bad!!

Light and easy to handle in tight spaces, the Dremel® Micro™8050 is packed with features that have crafters, hobbyists and DIYers in mind: soft grip, LED front-end lighting to illuminate projects, a docking station that continually charges, and an 8V Max Lithium-ion battery. You can purchase the Micro 8050 online at Amazon.com and HomeDepot.com for $89 USD. For more information on Dremel products, project ideas and problem-solving tips, visit www.dremel.com.

Dremel wants to celebrate its fans’ brilliant projects, work and ideas! Now through October 12, share, tweet or post photos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram that depict your brilliant ideas using the hashtag #MyBrilliantIdeaSweeps for the chance to win weekly prizes, including free tools and handmade gifts, or the grand prize: a custom-engraved Honda scooter and a Micro 8050. Visit www.facebook.com/dremel for rules and to learn more.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.