Resources
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Don't have your own machine? The best way to start laser cutting is with a laser cutting service.
Vector Etch is a laser cutting service for artists, makers and designers. Specialising in small, intricate laser cutting projects. Based in Australia, shipping worldwide. Send your PDF or AI files directly to Vector Etch.
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There's so many materials out there for cutting! You can buy colourful and glittery actrylics from My Little Acrylic Shop. Based un Australia, shipping worldwide.
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You’ve come to the right place! I teach artists and makers to turn their art and designs into wearable laser cut jewellery. You can learn online how to create your own custom designs right here at Lazer Design School.
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Adobe Illustrator
The industry-standard vector graphics software lets you create laser ready files easily and quickly.
Adobe have now released an iPad version of this program as well!
Adobe Illustrator is our number one choice for designing for laser cutting. There are other vector based software out there to use, but we find Illustrator best for automating layouts of your design files.
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Graphic Burger
Vector icons perfect for cut, etched or printed charms. Good variety, with most free or discounted. www.graphicburger.com
Envato Elements
A subscription to design resources including icons, illustrations, backgrounds and fonts. www.elements.envato.com
Maker Case
Easy website to make laser cut boxes, cases, etc. Type in your dimensions and it will give you a digital file to suit. www.makercase.com
Thingiverse
DIY laser cut projects. www.thingiverse.com
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Font Squirrel
Free resource for fonts and typefaces (all fonts here are Copyright free).
www.fontsquirrel.comMy Fonts
Fonts with purchasable licences for a variety of uses. Regularly has special offers, and discounted bundles/multiple font packs.
www.myfonts.comLost Type
A designer type foundry with beautiful fonts, all for a pay-what-you-want system for personal use and low cost for a commercial license.
www.losttype.com -
Vector Etch
For jewellery components, including links, jump rings, brooch backs, etc.
www.vectoretch.com.auBeads N Crystals
For beads, crystals, tassels, etc. Based in Brisbane, Australia.
www.beadsncrystals.com.au -
The same team behind Lazer Design School run laser cut earring making workshops all around Australia.
These workshops are hands-on so you can create with pre-laser cut pieces, so you can learn making techniques. You'll get a chance to make your own, customised earrings while learning about findings, paint pen application and all of the possibilities of laser cutting.
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Officeworks
Sell Uni Posca Acrylic paint pens at a good price.
www.officeworks.com.auIronlak
Quality acrylic paint (paint pens, sprays, etc).
www.ironlak.com
COMING SOON…Your one stop shop for all of the best paint pen brands, available in curated colour packs. Through running workshops all around Australia with Lazer Unicorn, we've found the best paint pens to use on your etched acrylic. Based in Australia, shipping worldwide.
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The Art Shed
For art supplies, best for low prices. Also typically sell blank skate decks. www.artshedbrisbane.com.au
Eckersley’s Art & Craft
Art and craft supplies. Typically have great service and product knowledge, so can be best for visiting in-store if you need help/advice.
www.eckersleys.com.au -
Fast Printing
For business cards, flyers, stickers, etc. Based in Sydney, Australia.
www.fastprinting.com.au -
Check out some of these great makerspaces around Australia (and the world) where you can utilise laser cutters, equipment and tools and create fun things all on your own.
Through our sister business, My Little Acrylic Shop, you can purchase all of your favourite materials that you order through Vector Etch in various sheet sizes, depending on your needs.
Even if you decide it doesn’t interest you in the long-term, we find that learning the process of how laser cutting works can empower you to have a better understanding of how to create designs which are more efficient.
QLD
The Edge
Based at the State Library of Queensland in South Brisbane, Brisbane City.
edgeqld.org.auHackerspace Brisbane (HSBNE)
in Eagle Farm, Australia.
hsbne.orgNSW
Makerspace
A community makerspace with creative studios and equipment for hire in Marrickville, Sydney.
makerspace.org.auSparkCC
SparkCC is a community of makers on the NSW Central Coast, in Somersby, NSW.
sparkcc.orgMakerspace Newcastle
Core Electronics Makerspace upskills makers with new ideas and methods which they can use to create something, even if it’s just for fun.
makerspacenewcastle.com.auVIC
Space Tank
A studio in Coburg, Melbourne.
spacetankstudio.com.auConnected Community Hackerspace
A community-operated workshop, where people can meet and work on technology projects in Hawthorn, VIC.
hackmelbourne.orgFAB9
FAB9 is a makerspace that empowers makers in Footscray, VIC.
fab9.com.auSA
Makerspace Adelaide
Makerspace Adelaide is a community fabrication workshop providing affordable access to a variety of tools and equipment – from laser cutters and sewing machines to 3D printers and traditional hand tools.
makerspaceadelaide.orgSANE Makerspace
SANE is a massive community workshop space for making anything.
sanemakerspace.comWA
The Perth Artifactory
The Perth Artifactory is the Hackerspace/Makerspace in Perth. They currently occupy a large warehouse unit in Osborne Park and which is populated with tools, technology, desks and workstations.
artifactory.org.auTAS
Hobart Hackerspace
A community-operated workspace where people with common interests, often in computers, technology, science, digital art or electronic art, can meet, socialise and/or collaborate.
hobarthackerspace.org.au -
As is the case with most creative fields, there is always going to be some wastage from creating tangible objects. Old scratched pieces that are no longer usable or in style, off-cuts from sheets of acrylic, or broken parts that don’t fit in anywhere are all just a part of the business. Instead of popping these straight in the bin during your spring clean-out, why not check out these local Australian businesses that specialise in up-cycling and re-use of craft supplies and offcuts. If you have any suggestions or need for donations, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
QLD
Reverse Garbage Queensland Co-op Ltd. Woolloongabba (Brisbane). This is a not-for-profit worker run co-operative that promotes environmental sustainability and resource reuse. We collect high quality industrial discards, diverting them away from landfill and sell them at a low cost to the general public. We donate all of our off-cut scraps to here, so you might spot some familiar materials!
www.reversegarbageqld.com.auSewing for Charity, Waterford. This is a registered charity whose mission is to make and provide handmade items to those suffering from distress, health crisis or disadvantage and the communities that support them. They are passionate about reducing textile waste and wherever possible engage in sustainable practice by upcycling used textiles and offcuts to make handmade items for donation.
www.sewingforcharity.comNSW
Reverse Garbage. Marrickville (Sydney). A non profit creative reuse centre making a difference in the world by reducing waste and creating change in the way we look at resources. They sell materials low cost through their website and online store, as well as hosting workshops and donating materials as needed to the community.
www.reversegarbage.org.auVIC
Reverse Art Truck. Ringwood (Melbourne). A non profit organisation that collect rejects, seconds and factory offcuts for distribution to schools, early learning centres and the community, that would have otherwise gone into landfills – making them available for the greater community, art educators, artists and crafters of all types.
www.reversearttruck.comResource Rescue Inc. Bayswater North (Melbourne). A volunteer-run organisation committed to serving the community and providing education on the benefits of recycling and re-use. They aim to supply the educational community, artists and other resourceful people with discount craft supplies, and reduce the volume of industrial waste going into landfill and save our planet. Read more here.
www.discountcraftsupplies.com.auWA
REmida Perth Inc. West Perth. This company has grown from humble beginnings to a visionary leader in sustainable reuse, and has a rapidly growing community who want to embrace sustainable practises. Read more here.
www.remidawa.comSA
Puddle Jumpers. Glandore (Adelaide). Is a non profit, non-government organisation committed to responding to the social development needs of society’s most vulnerable children and young people; priority of our work is reserved for children who do not live with their birth parents. They accept some art and craft supplies for use with their art programs.
www.puddlejumpers.org.auTAS
Arts Parts Supply Shop, South Hobart. Arts Parts is a one stop supply shop brimming with materials suitable for creative projects including art and craft, fashion and jewellery making, event decorations and more. Their supplies are available for purchase from their Education Centre in South Hobart. They are always looking for donations of interesting off cuts and objects.
www.resource.coop/arts-parts-art-supply-shopEverywhere
Local schools and OOSH programs. Reach out to your local primary or high schools, as well as after school programs, to see if they accept donations of this kind. Art departments are often under-funded and lacking in art supplies.
Local artists. Reach out to local artists passionate about up-cycling and re-use on Instagram or Facebook in your area. Some artists are always looking for interesting supplies to make eclectic pieces with, and I’m sure would appreciate the donation.
Online marketplaces. Gumtree and Facebook are really easy places to list scraps and offcuts for people who are interested.