These adorable Minnie Mouse rings are a quick and creative laser craft project made from small pieces of basswood. With their simple silhouette and tiny size, they're perfect for using up leftover scrap wood from other laser-cutting projects.
In this tutorial, I'll show you how to make these laser-cut Mickey and Minnie Mouse rings using the xTool craft laser, from designing and cutting the wooden pieces to painting and assembling the finished rings. Make them Minnie Mouse rings by adding her signature bow, or leave the bow off to create a Mickey Mouse version.
They're a fun project for Disney fans, kids, parties, classroom gifts, or simply a cute little project to add to your laser-crafting collection!
What You Need / Materials
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- xTool M1 or xTool M2 craft laser
- xTool Studio software (FREE)
- 3 mm basswood sheets (for the ring)
- 1.5 mm basswood sheets (for the bow)
- Acrylic paint
- E6000 adhesive
Download Template
Laser Craft Project Notes
- For this project, I used 3 mm basswood for the Mickey Mouse ear ring and 1.5 mm basswood for the bow to keep the finished ring lightweight and relatively thin.
- You can make the entire project from 3 mm basswood if you prefer.
How to make Minnie Mouse Rings
Step 1: Import the design into xTool Studio
1) Download and import the template above and import it into xTool Studio.
2) Use the second sheet of the template ("Cut 3 mm Basswood") to cut out the rings (Power: 100%, Speed: 5 mm/s, Pass: 1).
3) Use the third sheet of the template ("Cut 1.5 mm Basswood") to cut out the bow (Power: 80%, Speed: 9 mm/s, Pass: 1).
Step 2: Custom size ring (optional)
🗒️ Note: The free template download has ring sizes from 4 to 9.5. If you require a size outside of that, follow the simple instructions below:
1. Measure your ring size
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| Create a circle in xTool Studio with the desired ring size diameter in millimeters (e.g., 15 mm). |
2. Make the outer ring
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| Create an outer circle with the desired ring size diameter in mm, and then add 4 mm (e.g., 15 mm + 4 mm = 19 mm). Align and center the inner circle to the middle of the outer circle. |
3. Make the ears
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| Make 2 identical circles that are 65% the size of the inner circle (e.g., 15 mm x 65% = 9.75 mm). Position them to the sides of the outer circle, overlapping. |
4. Unite the ears to the ring
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| Select the two ears and the outer circle. Click Combine > Unite. Cut as per machine settings on 3 mm basswood (suggested) |
5. Resize the bow
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| Copy the bow and resize it so that the width is 97% of the inner ring (e.g., 15 mm x 97% = 14.5 mm). Cut as per machine settings on 1.5 mm basswood (suggested) |
Step 3: Cut the Minnie Mouse Ring pieces
- Place your wood into the machine.
- Select your material settings. Choose the correct material setting based on your wood type and thickness.
- Position your design. Use the built-in camera function to place your design exactly where you want it on the material.
- Measure your material thickness. Use the auto-measure feature to help the laser focus correctly.
- Cut your wooden layers. Cut each layer using the suggested wood thickness.
- 1.5 mm basswood for the bows
- 3 mm basswood for the mouse ear rings
Step 3: Clean the laser-cut edges as needed
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| Remove the rings and bows from the xTool M1 laser cutter and clean the edges as needed. |
Step 4: Paint the pieces
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| Paint the rings and the bows using acrylic paint. Wait for it to dry. |
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| Optional: If you want to apply dots to the bows, I found that using a toothpick made more precise dots than a paintbrush. |
Step 5: Glue and assemble the rings
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| Glue the bows to the top of the mouse ear rings using E6000 adhesive or wood glue. |
Step 6: Package to gift, or wear it yourself!
Inspiration Behind the Project
These DIY Minnie Mouse rings were inspired by a Disney x Kate Spade collection I absolutely loved. While I adore Disney, wearing mouse ears outside the parks might be a bit much. This Minnie Mouse ring offers a fun way to express my love for Disney without being too overt.
If these rings look familiar, it's because I actually made a crochet Minnie Mouse ring previously. I loved the idea so much that I wanted to see what they would look like as a tiny wooden version. The rings are small enough to cut from leftover pieces of basswood, making them a great little project for using up scrap wood from other laser-cutting projects.
What started as a small craft experiment on my first craft laser eventually turned into a much bigger project. My kids and I ended up making more than 50 rings to give to their classmates and friends as small Christmas gifts. We made Minnie Mouse rings with the signature bow for the girls, and Mickey Mouse rings without the bow for the boys.
Once the pieces were cut, the girls helped paint, assemble, and package them individually. It became a fun, screen-free activity for the whole family and a pretty memorable Christmas craft project!
Creative Uses and Ideas
- Disney-Themed Party Favors: Make a batch for a Minnie Mouse birthday party or Disney-themed celebration.
- Classroom Gifts: A fun, inexpensive handmade gift for classmates, especially when made in larger quantities.
- Goodie Bag Fillers: Add a Minnie Mouse ring to birthday party favor bags or Disney vacation surprise bags.
- Disney Vacation Gifts: Make them ahead of a Disney vacation as a little surprise for your kids.
- Stocking stuffers: Their small size makes them perfect for Christmas stockings.
- Fun Jewelry: The simplest option! Add a subtle touch of Disney to your outfit without having to wear full-on mouse ears.
More to Love...
- Crochet Minnie Mouse Bucket Hat: Add some Disney magic to your outfit with this crochet Minnie Mouse bucket hat, complete with iconic ears and a cute bow.
- DIY Mickey & Minnie Mouse Santa Hats: Get festive with these crochet Santa hats featuring Mickey and Minnie Mouse-inspired details, perfect for Disney-loving families.
- DIY Floral Wire Mouse Ears: Make your own whimsical Minnie Mouse ears with this DIY floral crown tutorial, decorated with flowers and optional fairy lights.
Share Your Creation with Me!
Did you make this project? I'd love to see it! Please share it with me on Instagram and/or use the #onceuponacheerio hashtag.
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This is an original craft tutorial created by Juli Anne of Once Upon a Cheerio. Please do not claim this craft project or its digital files as your own. If you would like to share this project, please link to this blog post rather than reposting the tutorial on your own website. This tutorial and its digital files are for personal use only. Selling, redistributing, or sharing the digital files is strictly prohibited.
Disclaimer: This craft project is an unofficial fan-created design and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the respective copyright and trademark holders. All character names, images, and related intellectual property belong to their respective owners. This craft tutorial does not grant permission to reproduce, sell, or distribute copyrighted characters or related designs.
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