Just in time for the holidays and to possibly catch some Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals, we've compiled a list of six amazing maker-inspired gifts.
In the spirit of sharing, we have a little something for everyone (even the littlest makers). One thing you won’t see on this list is the newest gaming consoles such as the Playstation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S. We all know these are the hottest tech items this year and no one wants to be that obvious!
YEG Made
Edmonton is so cool it needed two recommendations in this category. Plus it's even cooler to shop local as much as possible and support Edmonton businesses.
Cubos ($40-180)
Cubos is a local company (by Anson Wong) with a lot of heart and a gorgeous selection of wooden heirloom quality toys. From baby rattles to shape sorting toys, these toys are made with natural wood and you even have an option to custom engrave your gift! A maker dream come true while supporting local.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition (approx. $80)
A list of local tech and maker gifts would not be complete without something from Edmonton’s own Bioware. “Mass Effect Legendary Edition will include single-player base content and DLC from Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3, plus promo weapons, armors, and packs—all remastered and optimized for 4K Ultra HD.” Look for Mass Effect Legendary Edition in Spring 2021.
Favourite Robot
iRobot Root ($270)
From the creators of our favourite robot vacuum, comes a new robot that makes coding easy and natural for kids ages 6 and up. This little bot is a powerhouse of abilities that help kids learn coding through drawing, music, touch, light and sound. With the ability to navigate vertical magnetic whiteboard surfaces, this little bot has stolen our hearts.
Groovy Sounds
BOSS RC Loop Station ($160 - $750)
From a single loop petal to the five-loop tabletop station, BOSS RC loop stations have something for every musician. Whether you are beatboxing (boots and cats anyone?) or laying tracks with a host of instruments, the looper will provide ample opportunity to bring your musical game to the next level. Need more convincing? Book a time in the revitalized Milner Makerspace recording studios and take the BOSS RC-505 Loop Station for a spin.
Keyboard Computer
Raspberry Pi 400 ($135-300)
Raspberry Pi has come out with an incredibly compact solution to you computing needs. It’s a computer in a keyboard but also so much more! Raspberry Pi has incorporated their Raspberry Pi 4 into a keyboard for a compact cool factor beyond belief. They also kept the GPIO pins accessible for protyping beyond desktop needs. Bet you never thought your computer could do that!
Big Spender
Glowforge ($2,500 to $7,000)
Do want to bring your maker game to the next level? The Glowforge might just be for you! Glowforge is a CNC laser cutter engraver, or 3D laser printer, that is small enough to fit on a desktop and so user friendly that anyone can create gorgeous projects.
The Glowforge might not be within your budget right now with the current economic situation, but it's always nice to dream big and put it on your wish list.
If you are not quite ready to start with 3D laser printing, why not try out 2D design with the Cricut Maker and other vinyl cutting services available at the in the Milner Makerspace? Bonus, the price tag is much lower as you only need to pay for the materials you print.
Learn more about all that our EPL Makerspaces have to offer and stop by to gather gift ideas for your big and little makers.
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