From engraved cutting boards to festive centerpieces—practical, giftable ideas you can make on a TwoTrees CNC.
Celebrate Thanksgiving with CNC Creativity
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to make useful, personalized pieces on your CNC router. Whether you’re decorating your table, preparing gifts, or stocking an online shop, a CNC makes it easy to cut, carve, and engrave wood and other materials with repeatable accuracy.
New to CNC? The TwoTrees TTC series offers approachable setups for hobbyists and small workshops—capable of clean V-carving, pocketing, and even light 3D relief work.
10 Thanksgiving CNC Project Ideas
Each idea includes a quick brief, suggested materials, recommended bits/toolpaths, and a bonus tip to elevate the final result.
1) Engraved Wooden Cutting Board
Create a personalized cutting board with a family name, monogram, or turkey/leaf motif. Great as a host gift and ideal for quick production runs.
- Materials: Maple, walnut, bamboo blank (food-safe)
- Bits/Toolpaths: V-bit (60°/90°) for engraving; roundover on edges; shallow pocket for inlays
- Difficulty: Easy
- Bonus tip: Finish with food-safe mineral oil/beeswax. Mask before engraving if you plan to paint-fill.
2) Thanksgiving Centerpiece Tray
A shallow tray for candles, gourds, or dried leaves. Add a carved “Give Thanks” or leaf border around the rim.
- Materials: Baltic birch, walnut, cherry
- Bits/Toolpaths: Flat end mill (6–8 mm) for pocketing; ball-nose for fillets; V-bit for text
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Bonus tip: Use a ramped finishing pass to reduce tear-out on end-grain.
3) Pumpkin-Shaped Coasters
Simple and quick to batch—perfect for party favors or Etsy sets. Add line-art engraving or a small monogram.
- Materials: Bamboo or MDF (seal MDF)
- Bits/Toolpaths: 1/8" downcut for profiles; V-bit for engraving
- Difficulty: Easy
- Bonus tip: Nest tightly to minimize waste; use tabs for clean edges.
4) “Give Thanks” Wall Sign
Classic seasonal signage using bold typography and a carved border. Easy to paint-fill and finish.
- Materials: Pine, cedar, or reclaimed barnwood
- Bits/Toolpaths: V-carve for text; 1/4" end mill to profile; optional keyhole slot on back
- Difficulty: Easy
- Bonus tip: Seal raw wood before paint-fill to prevent bleed.
5) Turkey Napkin Rings
Small decorative rings shaped like turkeys or leaves. Great use of offcuts and faster to cut than 3D printed equivalents.
- Materials: 4–6 mm hardwood or acrylic
- Bits/Toolpaths: Small downcut for profiles; chamfer bit for edges
- Difficulty: Easy
- Bonus tip: Batch-cut and bundle as 4–6 piece sets
6) 3D Carved Leaf Relief Panel
Show off dimensional carving with layered leaves and subtle veins. Stunning as wall art or as an inset for a serving tray.
- Materials: Basswood, walnut, HDU foam (for paint)
- Bits/Toolpaths: Ball-nose (3–6 mm) for roughing/finishing; small tapered ball for detail
- Difficulty: Intermediate–Advanced
- Bonus tip: Use small stepovers (6–10%) for smooth finishes and less sanding.
7) Custom Spoon Rest / Ladle Holder
Functional, easy to personalize, and giftable. Add family names or a tiny turkey icon.
- Materials: Hard maple or bamboo
- Bits/Toolpaths: Pocketing with 1/4" flat end mill; roundover edges; V-bit for text
- Difficulty: Easy
- Bonus tip: Add a drip channel and soft cork feet underneath.
8) Pie Crust Embosser Stamps
Make reusable pastry embossers with leaf, wheat, or acorn patterns. Press into dough for instant festive designs.
- Materials: Tight-grain hardwood (sand smooth) or food-safe plastic
- Bits/Toolpaths: V-bit for detail; light passes to maintain sharp edges
- Difficulty: Easy
- Bonus tip: Round the handle edges for comfort; wash by hand only.
9) Candle Holders or Lantern Panels
Cut filigree panels or simple tea-light blocks. Add maple leaf cutouts or “Thanks” text.
- Materials: Birch plywood, walnut; flame-safe glass insert for lanterns
- Bits/Toolpaths: Small downcut for clean through-cuts; chamfer for edges
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Bonus tip: Seal the interior surfaces before assembly for longer life.
10) “Thankful Tree” Display
Freestanding tree with slotted branches and CNC-cut leaves that guests can write on. Packs flat for storage.
- Materials: 6–9 mm plywood (for tree); cardstock or thin wood (for leaves)
- Bits/Toolpaths: 1/8"–1/4" downcut for profiles; dog-bone fillets on slots
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Bonus tip: Add a small engraved base plaque with the year/family name.
Recommended Machines, Bits & Accessories
TTC 450 Pro
Compact, budget-friendly, and beginner-ready. Great for signs, coasters, and engraved boards.
TTC 450 Ultra
Balanced power and precision for mid-size trays, reliefs, and small production runs.
For fine engraving and mixed workflows, add a diode laser head to your router to mark graphics or cut thin veneers:
TwoTrees TC20 Laser Module (TTC 450 series)
Bit recommendations
- V-bits (60°/90°): Lettering, line art, embossers.
- Downcut end mills (1/8"–1/4"): Clean top edges on plywood and hardwood profiles.
- Ball-nose / tapered ball: 3D leaf reliefs and smooth contour finishing.
- Chamfer / roundover: Professional edges on trays and boards.
Finishing Tips for a Premium Look
- Sand progressively: 120 → 180 → 220 grit. Wipe with a damp cloth to raise grain; sand again.
- Seal before paint-fill: A clear sanding sealer or shellac reduces bleed on V-carved text.
- Food-contact items: Use mineral oil or a food-safe oil/wax blend; avoid film finishes on surfaces that touch food.
- Protect the bottom: Add felt or cork feet to trays and candle holders.
Turn Your Thanksgiving Projects into Gifts or Etsy Listings
- Batch efficiently: Nest parts tightly on sheet goods; standardize sizes for quick re-runs.
- Personalization sells: Offer names, dates, and monograms as add-ons.
- Photography: Natural light, neutral background, and context shots (on a table, by a place setting).
- Bundles: Coaster sets + matching sign; tray + candle holders; cutting board + embosser.
Ready to Make Your First Project?
Choose a machine and start carving today:
- TTC 450 Pro — compact and beginner-friendly.
- TTC 450 Ultra — great balance of speed and precision.
- TTC 6050 — larger work area for trays and signage.
- TC20 Laser Module — add crisp engraving and fine details.
New to feeds and speeds? Check out our Feeds & Speeds guide (internal link) and learn the basics of chip load and toolpath strategy.
FAQ
What file types work best for these projects?
For 2D profiles and V-carving (signs, coasters, napkin rings), use SVG/DXF. For 3D reliefs (leaf panels), use STL/OBJ. Most CAM packages import these formats easily.
Which machine should I choose?
TTC 450 Pro is great for beginners and small projects. TTC 450 Ultra handles larger trays and reliefs comfortably. Choose TTC 6050 for more workspace and batching.
Can I mix CNC routing with laser engraving?
Yes. Many makers route shapes first, then use a diode module to add graphics or fine text. See the TC20 Laser Module for the TTC 450 series.
What finishes are food-safe?
For cutting boards and utensil rests, use mineral oil or a food-safe oil/wax blend. Reapply periodically to maintain protection.
