Layered Sand-Fill Ornament – A Little Memory You Can Shake

Add a little movement and meaning to your décor with our Layered Sand-Fill Ornament — a beautifully crafted, multi-dimensional keepsake designed to hold more than just memories.

This unique ornament features multiple precision-cut layers, including an engraved text and iconography top layer, with a clear chamber beneath it. Inside, you can add sand, glitter, crushed shells, tiny beads, or other meaningful fillers to create a personalized “shaker” effect.

Give it a gentle shake and watch the materials shift and settle behind your engraved design — like a tiny memory in motion.

Piece 5 – Back Panel

Recommended Materials:

• 1/8" Baltic Birch Plywood (most common, easy to paint or stain)

• 1/8" Clear Acrylic (for a fully see-through ornament)

• 1/8" White or Colored Acrylic (for a clean, modern look)

• MDF (paint-grade option)

Tip:
If using sand as filler, wood backs create a warmer look. Clear acrylic backs create a floating sand effect.

Piece 4 – Spacer (Sand Cavity Layer)

Recommended Materials:

• Clear Acrylic Ring (most durable and cleanest result)

• MDF Ring (budget-friendly option)

• Pre-applied 3M 467MP or 468MP adhesive sheets on both sides

• Double-sided adhesive sheets cut to match spacer shape

Tip:
Acrylic spacers prevent sand dust from shedding like MDF can. If using MDF, seal edges first.

Piece 3 – Clear Scored Acrylic Layer

Recommended Materials:

• 1/16" Clear Acrylic (ideal thickness)

• 1/8" Clear Acrylic (if you want extra rigidity)

Purpose:

• Holds sand in place

• Provides score marks for positioning the decorative layer

• Keeps the cavity sealed

Tip:
Use cast acrylic for cleaner laser engraving and scoring.

Piece 2 – Engraved & Cut Decorative Layer

Recommended Materials:

• 1/8" Baltic Birch (best for engraving detail)

• 1/8" Acrylic (clear, white, or colored)

• Two-tone engraving acrylic (for high contrast)

Design Notes:

• Can be a “floating” center design

• Or welded and cut to the outer circle

• Keep detail thickness at least .06"–.08" for durability

Piece 1 – Image Layer

Recommended Materials / Methods:

• UV printed acrylic

• Sublimation on coated acrylic or MDF

• DTF print applied to acrylic

• Printable vinyl applied to clear acrylic

• 1/8" Baltic Birch

Tip:
If using clear acrylic for the image layer, reverse print (mirror) the design so it’s viewed correctly from the front.
Assembly Instructions

After cutting the five pieces, you will have the following components:

Piece 5 – Back Panel
This is the back of the ornament. It can be made from wood, acrylic, or clear acrylic if you would like the back to be see-through.

Piece 4 – Spacer
This piece creates the cavity that will hold the sand. It has 3M adhesive applied to both the front and back surfaces.

Piece 3 – Clear Acrylic Layer
This clear acrylic piece contains score marks that help position the next layer correctly during assembly.

Piece 2 – Engraved & Cut Layer
This is the decorative cut and engraved piece.
Depending on the size of your graphic:

• The design may “float” in the center of the ornament, or

• It may be welded and cut to the outer circle.

Piece 1 – Image Layer
This is the top image layer of the ornament.

Assembly Order

Assemble the pieces in the following order:

5 → 4 → 3 → 2 → 1

(Start with the back panel and stack upward to the image layer.)