Laser Project Ideas for Schools, Clubs, and Organizations

Laser engraving projects are an exceptional way to engage students, support charitable initiatives, and add a professional, personalized touch to organizational events.

Whether you’re aiming to spark creativity in your classroom, raise funds for a worthy cause, or enhance the appeal of your organization’s materials, laser engravers like the xTool F1 Ultra make it easier (and more fun) than ever. 

 We’ll share some ideas, samples, and even our settings! 

Getting Started Laser Engraving is Simple 

• To kick things off, get your template and engraving settings dialed in. Set up a text field within your software where students can easily input their names or custom messages.  
• Save your project file for future use, ensuring consistent results every time. 
• Consider using a jig to position your object on the laser machine to simplify the process of swapping out items.   
• Let each student change their name in the template, and position the text as needed. (The xTool F1 Ultra makes this super easy with the camera feature.)  
• Let them run the project.  

xTool F1 Ultra

Education Package with Air Purifier, Safety Glasses, & Material Kit

• Dual Laser System
• Materials Kit
• Engrave, Emboss, Cut
• Air Purification Unit

Get Yours Now

Laser Project Ideas  

Creative laser engraving projects offer students the chance to blend artistic expression with practical skills, fostering both creativity and technical proficiency. These ideas can inspire students and bring unique, personalized touches to everyday items and special occasions. 

Personalized Writing Tools 

• Pencils: Personalize wooden pencils with names, slogans, or favorite quotes. 
  • Laser: Blue Diode Mode: Engrave Power: 85 Speed: 350
  • Not all pencils are created equal; settings that work perfect on one color (or brand) of pencil may not give the same effect on another.
• Pens: Transform wooden or painted metal pens into unique, personalized writing instruments by laser-engraving students’ names or meaningful messages. (Regular plastic pencils can be lasered, but tend to melt more than engrave.)
  • Same with pencils, your settings will vary from item to item. Plan on using one as a test to get your settings dialed in.
• Erasers: Even erasers can be personalized with students’ names, turning everyday tools into special personal items. 
  • Laser: Blue Diode Mode: Engrave Power: 45 Speed: 200 Crosshatch with 2 passes

Organizational Accessories 

• Pencil Boxes: Where are students going to stash all those personalized writing tools?  In a personalized pencil box, of course!   
• Bookmarks: Produce custom bookmarks from thin wood or durable cardboard, perfect for encouraging reading and marking pages with style. 
• Custom Rulers: Engrave names or graphics on rulers, or use blank pieces of wood (or metal) to engrave the measurement marks to make rulers from scratch.   

Memorable Keepsakes 

• Keychains: Craft custom keychains engraved with names, initials, logos, or creative designs on materials such as wood, leather, acrylic, or metal. 
  • Laser: Blue Diode Mode: Engrave Power: 85 Speed: 1000 – these took about 1 second to do!

• Journals and Notebooks: Elevate journals and notebooks by laser engraving personalized covers featuring students’ names, inspirational quotes, or intricate artwork. 
  • Laser: Blue Diode Mode: Engrave Power: 90 Speed: 600 (results may vary depending on the color and thickness of the cover)

Practical and Stylish Add-ons 

• Leatherette Patches: Customize hats, backpacks, jackets, and more with laser-engraved leatherette patches, ideal for teams, clubs, and special events. 
  • Laser: Blue Diode Mode: Engrave Power: 75 Speed: 500

• Luggage Tags: Luggage tags can be great to personalize backpacks with names or custom graphics. Make a batch for teams, clubs, or events.  

Signs and Plaques 

• Signs and Nameplates: Make custom signage for the school or classroom.  Include motivational slogans, stylish fonts, and mascot designs. 

• Award Plaques: Handing out certificates is a great way to acknowledge achievements. You know what’s better?  An engraved wooden plaque!  Step up you game and make your awards extra special – again, you can make a template like in the above image and just change the text if you need to do these for a group.  

Artistic Expressions and Gifts 

• Artwork and Decorations: Produce intricate artistic pieces or decorative wall hangings from materials such as wood, acrylic, canvas, or cardboard to brighten spaces. 
  • Metal Sign:
    • Laser: IR Mode: Engrave Power: 80 Speed: 1000 (Lighter portions were multiple passes of medium power at a high speed)
    • Laser: IR Mode: Engrave Power: 95 Speed: 500 (Darker portions were multiple passes of high power at a slower speed)
  • Wooden Sign: Laser: Blue Diode Mode: Engrave Power: 90 Speed: 1000 (additional passes were done to make the “Stars” darker)
• Ceramic Mugs: Mugs are timeless.  Use these for fundraisers, Mothers/Fathers day gifts for kids to take home, etc.  Use the F1 Ultra’s curve feature to make sure your design looks great on the mug!    

• Laser: Blue Diode Mode: Engrave Power: 50 Speed: 300 (note for white mugs you’ll want to use marking spray. We use this one.)

Laser engraving offers tons of options for schools, charities, clubs, and organizations. By integrating these projects into your programs you’re fostering creativity, pride, and community spirit while providing unique, beautiful, and practical items.

What to Engrave on (and where to find it)

Your laser most likely came with a small sample pack, and most manufacturers offer items known to work with their machines. Our xTool education package came with an entire sample kit full of coasters (wood and slate), keychains, rings, earrings, necklaces, coins, patches, etc.

This made it easy to get started, since they also provide settings for each of the materials (and the settings are everything.) For these keychains and leatherette patches, we just needed to look up the code on the bag and the settings were imported right into the XCS software. (These are the same items you’ll find engraved above.)

While a sample pack may be enough to get started and gain some confidence, there’s only a few of each item included. You’ll probably want to tackle some other projects or experiment with different materials. You can get materials directly from xTool, which is a safe bet since you know these items will engrave well.

If you’re looking for other sources, you can find laser blanks for just about anything online. A quick look on Amazon and you’ll all kinds of ideas; wood, leather, acrylic, jewelry, aluminum cards and tags, you name it. You may be able to find things cheaper on sights like Temu, just be sure to read the reviews before ordering and check out shipping time!

Here’s our secret weapon: You can find an abundance of items at your local dollar store. You can buy enough of a single item for an entire class or fundraiser, and the items are inexpensive. This is a great source for mugs and drinkware as well as classroom supplies like pencils, erasers, and notebooks.