Ever since Toy Story 5 came out, Lilypad has quickly become a favorite character in our house. Like many Pixar movies, you somehow end up with a soft spot for a character you least expect. Inspired by my kids’ adoration for Lilypad, I started brainstorming ways to transform her into a handmade toy.
That question led me to create this Toy Story 5 Lilypad shaker using the xTool M2, a craft laser cutter and diode laser engraver. With layered basswood, a little acrylic paint, and some creativity, let me show you how I brought Lilypad to life as a shaker toy in this tutorial.
What You Need / Materials
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- xTool M2 craft laser
- xTool Studio software (FREE)
- 1.5 mm basswood (front and back layers)
- 3 mm basswood (middle shaker frame)
- Acrylic paint
- E6000 adhesive (or wood glue)
- Shaker filler (glitter, sequins, beads, stars, etc.)
- Clamps (optional, but recommended if your wood isn't perfectly flat)
- Scissors
- Clear plastic packaging with a transparent display window or overhead transparency sheets
Download Free Template
Laser Craft Project Notes
- For this project, I used 1.5 mm basswood for the front and back layers to keep the finished shaker lightweight and relatively thin. However, if you prefer, you can make the entire project from 3 mm basswood for a sturdier finished piece.
- The middle/shaker frame layer was cut from 3 mm basswood, creating a deeper cavity that can hold more shaker filler.
- I repurposed clear plastic packaging with a transparent display window. It's an easy way to recycle materials while creating a crystal-clear window for the shaker.
Finished Size
- My finished Lilypad shaker measured approximately 7.5 x 7 cm (2.95 x 2.76 inches).
- Consider making it a different size by resizing your vector in the software.
How to Make the Lilypad Shaker
Step 1: Design the Layers
Start by importing your SVG/XS file into the xTool Studio. When designing my Lilypad shaker, I intentionally arranged the pieces in the file to make the most efficient use of my material and minimize waste.
My Lilypad shaker is made from several layers:
- Back layer - provides the base of the shaker
- Shaker frame / middle layer - creates a cavity where the shaker filler will move around
- Clear plastic sheet - covers the opening and keeps the filler contained
- Top layer - adds the detailed nd finished look
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| Top Layer |
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| Shaker Frame / Middle Layer |
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| Back Layer |
The xTool M2 makes it easy to assign different operations, like cutting, engraving, and scoring, to each layer. If you download my xTool XS file, you'll notice that I have organized the color layers by operation:
- Red layers are set to cut
- Green layers are set to engrave
- Blue layers are set to score
This makes it easy to see which parts of the design will be cut all the way through, which details will be engraved, and which areas will only receive a light scoring mark to help with assembly or painting.
Step 2: Cut the Wooden Pieces
- Place your wood into the machine.
- Select your material settings. Choose the correct material setting based on your wood type and thickness.
- Resize your design if needed. Make sure the design fits your piece of basswood. If resizing is needed, make sure you apply it to all layers together so that every piece remains proportional.
- 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 front and back layers
- 3 mm basswood for the shaker frame layer
After cutting, carefully remove the pieces from the machine and check that all the layers fit together properly. Make sure you have all the cut pieces before moving on to the next step.
Some of the pieces, like the dot inside the eye, are small and might seem like scrap at first, but we will use them all. So don't accidentally toss them!
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| I temporarily taped the pieces together so I don't lose any pieces. |
Step 3: Paint the Pieces
Once all the wooden pieces have been cut, it's time to bring Lilypad to life with some color! Although the xTool M2 can print full-color designs using the optional inkjet module, I chose to hand-paint this project using acrylic paint. I enjoy adding the details myself, and it also helped save ink.
Here are the colors I used for each piece and layer:
- Eyes: Paint the eyes black. I painted the whites of the eyes and the small highlight dots white.
- Letters: Paint the "Hi!" lettering cutouts white. These will be glued inside the shaker window.
- Back Layer: Paint the back piece blue, but only up to the area where the screen display will be visible. The rest of the piece will be covered by the other layers.
- Front Layer: Paint the main Lilypad body a bright kelly green.
- Frog Feet: Paint the feet green to match the body.
- Tongue: Paint the tiny tongue pink/red.
- Shaker Frame: Before assembling, paint the small mouth cutout area on the shaker frame. When the top layer is placed on top, this section will show through as part of Lilypad's mouth.
Allow the pieces to dry completely before assembly.
Step 4: Assemble the Shaker
Now it's time to assemble all the layers and bring Lilypad together! Before gluing, I recommend doing a quick dry fit of all the pieces to make sure everything lines up properly.
1. Glue the "Hi!" lettering to the base layer
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| Glue the small "Hi!" letters onto the back layer where the lettering has been scored. This will help position the letters correctly. |
2. Attach the shaker frame to the base layer
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| Glue the shaker frame layer onto the back piece, making sure it's aligned with the edges. This creates the cavity where the shaker filler will sit. |
3. Add the eye whites and sparkle
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| Glue the eye whites and highlight dots to the base layer. |
4. Glue the clear plastic window to the back of the top layer over the screen opening.
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| Cut your clear plastic sheet to fit the screen opening of the Lilypad. Glue the clear plastic sheet onto the back of the top layer. |
5. Add shaker filler.
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| Add your chosen shaker filler into the open cavity. Be careful not to overfill. The pieces need room to move around! |
6. Attach the top layer to seal the shaker. Use clamps if necessary.
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| Apply glue to the top layer (avoiding the transparent plastic screen) and place it onto the shaker frame. Press gently to make sure all the pieces are securely attached. Use clamps if necessary. |
7. Add the finishing detail, including Lilypad's tongue and the small frog feet.
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| Once dry, give your shaker a little shake and watch the glitter move around! |
Watch the Behind-The-Scenes (Craft Vlog)
Bringing Lilypad to Life
I had so much fun making this Lilypad shaker inspired by the newest character from Toy Story 5. If you haven't seen the movie, Lilypad is a frog-shaped tablet introduced as Bonnie's new favorite toy, creating a fun contrast between classic toys and modern technology.
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| (Photo Credit: Pixar) |
I'm a little embarrassed to admit that devices had already invaded our home long before Toy Story 5 came along. Like many families, we've had our fair share of conversations about screen time, so watching the movie definitely hit close to home.
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| (Photo Credit: Pixar) |
As with so many Pixar films, though, you somehow end up developing a soft spot for the characters you least expect. My girls absolutely fell in love with Lilypad, and my youngest has been quoting lines from the movie ever since. I can't tell you how many times I've heard her say "Hi, I'm Lily. Let's play! So long, toys!" around the house!
One of my favorite things about being a maker is that I get to bring ideas to life. Whether I'm crocheting a character or designing a laser-cut project, I love the creative process of making something with my own hands. Being creative has me often asking, "Can I make this myself?" instead of searching for it in a store. There's something incredibly rewarding about taking an idea and turning it into a one-of-a-kind creation.
I hope this tutorial inspires you to create your own Lilypad shaker toy and maybe even sparks a few ideas for your next laser-cut project. Happy making!
Tips for Success
- Paint before assembling the shaker. It's much easier to paint each individual layer before everything is glued together
- Test-fit every layer before gluing. This will help ensure that all of your pieces are aligned properly before committing to adhesive.
- Don't overfill with glitter. Less is more! Leave more room inside the cavity for the shaker filler to move around freely.
- Allow the glue to dry completely before adding your shaker filler. This prevents the filler from sticking to any excess glue that may have squeezed out around the edges during assembly.
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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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