3-D Printed Holiday Ornaments? Why Not. MakerBot is running a contest for designs for holiday ornaments that can be made with 3-D printers. The winner gets a trip to New York City and a chance to meet MakerBot's CEO.

By Catherine Clifford

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

It's not every year that advanced manufacturing geeks can get jazzed about decorating for the holidays.

But MakerBot is bringing together the world of 3-D printers and interior decorating. The New York City-based 3-D printer manufacturer has launched a contest for designs of 3-D-printed holiday ornaments.

The contest is co-sponsored by Studio 360, a public radio show hosted by Kurt Anderson. If the winner of the ornament contest is in the U.S., he or she will get a $1000 voucher to travel to New York City and participate in a live Studio 360 with Kurt Anderson event on Dec. 17 with the CEO of MakerBot, Bre Pettis. If the winner is located outside the U.S., then the winner will participate in the Dec. 17 event through Skype.

Related: Need a Prototype? 3-D Printers Coming to UPS Stores

"Ornaments are always fun to create and often have special meaning to individuals and families, so it will be awesome to create some favorite holiday ornaments or design new ones that can be shared on Thingiverse and 3-D printed to give to family and friends," Pettis said in a statement.

A winner will be selected based on the originality of the design, the appropriateness of the holiday theme and the viability for the design to be made with a 3-D printer.

Submit your design and see other ornaments on the MakerBot website here.

Related: Intel's Futurist: We'll Soon Be Living In Computers

Catherine Clifford

Senior Entrepreneurship Writer at CNBC

Catherine Clifford is senior entrepreneurship writer at CNBC. She was formerly a senior writer at Entrepreneur.com, the small business reporter at CNNMoney and an assistant in the New York bureau for CNN. Clifford attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. You can follow her on Twitter at @CatClifford.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Science & Technology

101 Small Business Ideas to Match Your Personality, Investment, Skills & Goals

Still stuck on what biz to start? Use AI to uncover 101 custom ideas aligned with your skills, values & lifestyle—plus a 90-day roadmap to launch with clarity.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Side Hustle

She and Her Sister Started a Side Hustle to Help People Elevate Their Homes — Now Their Brand Pulls In Hundreds of Millions: 'Get to Work'

When Lee Mayer moved from New York City to Denver, Colorado, she wanted to find an affordable, fun way to decorate her home.

Business Solutions

Access 25 Hours of AI Training for Less Than $20

This e-degree gives you hands-on AI training that's perfect for entrepreneurs wearing many hats.

Growing a Business

Why Storytelling (Not Selling) Is Your Most Powerful Branding Tool

A thought leader is a sum of their stories. Learn why sharing your unique thoughts, feelings and perspectives can help you stand apart from other experts in your field.

Starting a Business

How to Build a Side Hustle That Stands on Its Own — Without Burning Out

Ready to take your side hustle to the next level? This article shows you how to turn it into its own unique brand that gets noticed and grows on its own.