【3D Printing】 How One Kid Turned A 3D Printer Into A Family Business: The Story Of LittlePrintyCo
Mila discovered 3D printing technology, and her whole family began to enjoy the experience.
The family behind LittlePrintyCo: Guy, Cynthia, Mila (11) and Marlowe (13).
What I found by chance on Instagram wasLittlePrintyCo, a little girl around 10 years old, casually assembling blocks before going to school, as if it were the most normal thing in the world...
First thing in the morning, she checks her printers. Before leaving for school, she assigns new print jobs to each machine. After school, the real work begins. She packs orders, ties ribbons, and makes everything look beautiful. Then she helps her mom with inventory checks. Before bed, she checks everything again to ensure the printers are running smoothly.
The story you are about to read is this: One day after school, a girl brought home a small fidget spinner plate made by a classmate on a 3D printer. Three months later, her home had four Bambu Lab 3D printers, a viral Instagram account, and a company called LittlePrintyCo. Her parents had never even heard of 3D printing until Mila introduced them to this world.
"3D printing has made me realize that kids can actually create things that are useful and start a business. I hope it inspires other kids to try out their own ideas." - Mila
11-year-old entrepreneur Mila
| How it all started
Mila's parents, Guy and Cynthia, had never even considered 3D printing before. Then one afternoon, their daughter Mila came home with a small 3D-printed fidget spinner plate. It was made by a classmate on a Bambu Lab A1 3D printer. She excitedly burst into the house, showing them every detail and explaining how her friend's family made it at home. "How does a 3D printer make this?" "Can we design our own?"
Mila had always loved small, intricate things, and now she knew she could create anything she imagined herself. What happened next surprised even her parents. Mila didn't immediately demand a 3D printer; instead, she did her research. Then she announced she would buy one with her own savings. This money had been saved over years from birthdays, Christmas, and various events. She invested her money in something she truly believed in.
Author: What impressed us most was the thoughtfulness of her decision. Instead of acting impulsively, Mila began to research 3D printing as much as possible. She compared different brands and models, watched videos, checked prices, and learned about things beginners should look out for. Then she created a list for us and explained why she thought the A1 or P1S would be perfect for our home. As parents, seeing her initiative, enthusiasm, and desire to learn something new was incredibly reassuring. Soon after, she decided to start a brand called LittlePrintyCo, which led our family to explore deeply, research together, and make the best choice. This is one of the reasons why we chose Bambu Lab. We felt that for a family just starting this journey, Bambu Lab offered the best balance of quality, reliability, ease of use, and experience.
At the time of the interview, the family had four printers running in their basement, their Etsy shop was thriving, and their first market stall sold out completely. Their Instagram account went viral rapidly, increasing from 91 followers to nearly 20,000 in just a few days.
| What 3D printing brought to their family
As Guy shared their experience, he emphasized that this was less a business story and more a tale of how a family found a new way to connect.
Guy and Cynthia both work full-time remotely. Before starting LittlePrintyCo, while living under the same roof, they were each engrossed in different work. Now, they spend time together in the basement, discussing ideas, solving problems, and thinking about what to do next. Even their youngest daughter, Mila, is part of this circle. Their eldest daughter, who had been focused on volleyball, also gradually got involved.
"We spend significantly more time together than before," Guy says. "We're bouncing ideas off each other all day, talking about what to do next and what everyone wants. We never expected it to be like this."
At the same time, their two daughters are naturally developing skills at a young age that school lessons would never teach them. Much of what they're doing at their age is what most adults only learn in their first jobs.
Mila is learning how to communicate requirements to designers, review creative work, manage inventory, pack orders, and understand what customers truly need. Marlowe is practicing expressing herself in front of the camera and suggesting product ideas. They sketch out product ideas they want to create themselves, pass them to designers, and provide feedback on the final results.
One of LittlePrintyCo's biggest goals is for all four of us to understand every aspect of the business. So, each of us works in different departments of the company, learning side-by-side as a family. It's not just about selling products. It's about creativity, communication, teamwork, responsibility, and transforming ideas into real products that people love and connect with. - Cynthia's comment
Mila and Marlowe packing orders and checking inventory
| Mila's parents on "How 3D printing brought us together in unexpected ways"
Mila's parents: One of the sweetest memories is when Mila asked Marlowe, "Do you want to invest your savings in this business too?" Marlowe immediately replied, "No, I'm not putting my money in." Mila quickly said, "Okay... once my business gets big, you can help out for an hourly wage." :) We still laugh about that, especially since Marlowe changed her mind and decided to join the business soon after.
As parents, we are constantly amazed by Mila's confidence, initiative, and clear vision for the future. Watching both daughters naturally grow into different roles and support each other through the entrepreneurial process is undoubtedly one of the most meaningful parts of building LittlePrintyCo as a family.
"I thought it was just going to be fun, but it led to our family bonding and becoming more cohesive," Mila says.
| No longer "a 3D printer in the corner of a room"
Sisters Mila and Marlowe
"We have always been a very close family and enjoyed doing many things together. However, this project has brought a unique experience to our home. Now, we spend hours creating, imagining, discussing ideas, solving problems, and bringing dreams to life together. What's especially special is that each person contributes differently. With different ages, different perspectives, and different strengths, everyone is working towards the same goal. One person comes up with an idea, another refines it, another adds creativity, and another handles organization, ultimately creating something bigger together. This is perhaps the most wonderful part of this entire process.
For us, LittlePrintyCo is not just a company that prints products. It represents creativity, family, learning, belief, and an impetus for other families to start making things together. "
Follow LittlePrintyCo on Instagram at @littleprintyco. If their story inspires you, visit MakerWorld to explore thousands of free and beginner-friendly 3D models. These models are designed for you to easily get started from day one—no design experience required.
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