Easy Engraving Tutorial: DIY Gift Ideas for the New Year

Ready to welcome the new year – 2026? A new year, a new look! It's time to prepare a unique New Year's gift for your family and friends. Still struggling to decide whether your recipient will prefer new clothes or new headphones? Both are great, but the most heartwarming gift is a craft item you've personally engraved. As engraving becomes a popular hobby, more and more people are trying to create simple yet meaningful works at home. Actually, getting started isn't as complicated as you might think. With the right materials and projects, a small home engraving machine is sufficient for most basic creations.

Metal Engraved Pendants

Metal engraved pendants are a great engraving project for beginners. The finished product is small and exquisite, and has strong commemorative value. Common materials include stainless steel, brass, or aluminum sheets, which have smooth surfaces and moderate hardness, suitable for practicing line control.

Before officially engraving, you can first use a pencil or fine-tipped marker to write your name, initials, or year on the metal surface. Keep the content simple; simplicity is more appealing. When carving, start from the middle of the stroke and slowly advance along the existing markings, avoiding applying too much force at turning points.

The key to carving lines is "steadiness," not "speed." After completing each line, pause briefly to observe the evenness of the depth before deciding whether to deepen it further. For metal materials, occasionally using a pneumatic carving machine to handle finer strokes or edges can result in cleaner lines, but a slow overall pace is still recommended. After completion, lightly sand the edges with fine sandpaper and wipe clean before using it as a keychain or bag charm.

Wooden Photo Frames

Wooden photo frames are a practical and decorative carved gift, perfect as New Year's keepsakes for family or friends. Choose fine-grained linden or birch wood, as these are less prone to splintering and easier to control the carving direction.

Before starting, determine the location on the frame to be carved, usually a corner, the bottom edge, or the back. Keep the text brief, such as a greeting, date, or name. Before carving, observe the wood grain; carving with the grain will result in smoother lines and reduce unnecessary chipping. When carving wood, don't aim for deep cuts; focus on natural lines. Gently push the carving knife, letting the lines follow the wood grain for a soft, handcrafted effect. For more even lines in details, you can use a pneumatic carving machine, but don't cover the entire process; retaining some handcrafted marks adds warmth. After finishing, simply wax or apply a layer of wood oil for a warmer, more refined feel to the frame.

3D Apple Wood Carving

3D wood carving is the most fun of the four gift options, and the apple shape itself carries auspicious meaning, making it perfect for a New Year's theme. Choose a small piece of wood with a near-rounded shape; perfect regularity isn't necessary.

Before carving, sketch the basic outline on the wood with a pencil to establish the apple's proportions. Don't rush into carving details in the first step; instead, gradually shape the apple by cutting away excess material. This stage emphasizes observation and adjustment, not speed.

Once the basic outline is complete, slowly work on the recesses, stem, and surface curvature. The angle of the carving knife should be constantly adjusted according to the shape to avoid creating harsh, flat surfaces. For areas requiring repeated adjustments, using a pneumatic carving machine can save effort, but it's still recommended to complete the work in stages rather than finishing it all at once. During final sanding, transition from coarse sandpaper to fine sandpaper; the apple's curves will gradually become smooth, making the finished product a perfect desktop ornament.

Hollow Bookmarks

Hollow bookmarks are lightweight yet highly designed carvings, practical and space-saving, making them ideal as a small gift for friends. Materials can be thin wood sheets or softer metal sheets, depending on personal preference.

During the design phase, the hollow pattern should not be too complex; simple geometric shapes, leaf outlines, or text outlines are suitable. First, draw the complete pattern on the material, then start carving from the inner areas gradually. This prevents the edge structure from becoming fragile too early.

Patience is especially important when carving hollow structures. Remove as little material as possible each time, maintaining the integrity of the edges. Stop frequently during the process to check the overall strength and prevent breakage due to excessive thinning in certain areas. For finer internal lines, a light use of a pneumatic engraving machine can result in cleaner cuts, but it's still recommended to manually refine the edges afterward for a smoother overall feel. Finally, simple sanding and finishing of the corners completes a lightweight and unique bookmark.

Engraving is a process of slowing down and having a dialogue with yourself

While engraving, you'll find that in the repeated outlining, refining, and sanding, each mark reflects your current state of mind, gradually giving the work its own warmth. This is why these simple little gifts feel especially sincere at a special time like the New Year.

No matter what craft you choose to engrave, it doesn't need to be perfect. What truly matters is your willingness to spend the time and effort to make it for someone. When the gift is handed to the recipient, those small, irregular, slightly unfinished lines will become a unique mark.