From Overwhelmed to Empowered: My 3D Printing Journey
Christmas 2018, my husband gifted me a 3D printer. At the time, I had no idea what to do with it, let alone where to start. It sat in the box for a week, staring at me, daring me to figure it out. I was curious and nerdy, but between chasing my two toddlers and the sheer intimidation of this mysterious machine, I kept pushing it off.
When I finally set it up, I turned to Google, expecting to find a simple guide. Instead, I stumbled upon an entire universe of 3D printing: endless websites filled with free and paid models, troubleshooting tips, tutorials, forums, and communities of people designing and printing incredible things. It was exhilarating… and completely overwhelming.
I explained to my then three-year-old son that this magical machine could turn digital designs into real objects. His response was immediate and full of that unshaken childhood confidence: “Print me a cat.” No hesitation. No doubts. Just pure excitement at the possibilities. We scrolled through Thingiverse, found a design, and hit print. Watching that little plastic cat take shape was fascinating. For several weeks after that I printed a few toys, a phone stand, and then let the printer collect dust.
Then one evening, everything changed.
I was reading my kids favorite book: The Incredible Story of the Giant Pear by Jakob Martin Strid, and I had a sudden realization—what if I could bring their favorite story to life? What if I could create a tangible, 3D-printed version of the giant pear, complete with all its tiny furniture and beloved characters? The thought electrified me. That was the moment I truly understood the power of 3D printing.
I didn’t want to just print other people’s designs anymore, I wanted to create my own!
So, despite having no experience in 3D modeling, I dove in. I experimented, failed, retried, learned, and slowly, I transformed from a passive consumer into a creator. The more I designed, the more I realized: it was limitless.
Fast forward to today, 3D printing has become woven into my family’s daily life. This passion has not only kept me sane through the chaotic, exhausting, and beautiful struggles of motherhood, but it has also ignited something incredible in my children.
They see the world differently.
To them, nothing is “just an idea” anymore. Their core belief is that if they can dream it, they can make it. They understand how something evolves from a sketch on a napkin to a tangible product. They think like designers, engineers, and problem-solvers.
Even my three-year-old knows that if he imagines something, we can find a way to create it. They aren’t held back by the limiting beliefs that so many adults wrestle with. They don’t see obstacles, only possibilities.
3D printing isn’t just about making fun trinkets. It’s a skill that can shape the future, whether in design, engineering, space exploration, medicine, or entrepreneurship. It’s a gateway to innovation. And the best part? Anyone can do it.
Many people have embraced 3D printing as a hobby, while others have turned it into a career, some by selling on Etsy, offering printing services, or some developing their own products.
For me, 3D printing has become the ultimate tool for prototyping ideas.
I’ve already submitted some of my inventions to major companies for review and potential licensing, and I continue working on new concepts. I hope to share them here by the end of 2025, depending on a licensing contract allowance.
That gift in 2018 wasn’t just a 3D printer, it was an invitation into a whole new way of thinking, creating, and seeing the world.
Do you have a product idea but unsure how to create a professional prototype to pitch to investors? Or maybe you own a 3D printer but need help designing your model? I can help bring your vision to life!
Schedule a free consultation phone call here, before the phone call please email me a signed NDA that I can sign and email back to you.