Printer Claus Spreads 3D Cheer To Neighbors On Broadneck Peninsula

Since early 2022, an anonymous Broadneck Peninsula resident has been sparking joy with whimsical 3D plastic toys left secretly around Cape St. Claire and nearby parts of Arnold and Annapolis.

Neighbors in the “I Live in Cape St. Claire” Facebook page have named the generous toymaker “Printer Claus,” while others call the stealthy giver “Summer Santa.” But very few know the individual’s true identity, and the Severna Park Voice is committed to keeping it that way so that the mystery and magic are not spoiled for anyone – including Claus, as we will call them.

In early 2022, before gaining any notoriety or nicknames, Claus decided to take up a new hobby and purchased a 3D printer. The hometown Kris Kringle discovered that there are people online who share their 3D designs to be downloaded, and as Easter approached, one design in particular struck the hobbyist’s fancy.

“One day I found this model called ‘Easter cats,’ and somebody had created a set of egg-shaped cats with little tails and different facial expressions, and I got this idea where I thought it would be cool just to go ahead and make a few and hide them around the neighborhood, and just leave them for people to find,” Claus said.

Fifty-five Easter cats were printed and distributed, and people started posting their discoveries on Facebook.

“They seemed so excited, and so happy and thrilled to find these little plastic surprises, that I went ahead and I kept doing it,” Claus shared of the inception of a massive, years-long 3D printing endeavor.

Over the years, Printer Claus has discreetly gifted 3D prints made from downloaded designs that range from a recent batch of “sploot” dogs to cats, sloths, chickens, sea turtles and countless holiday-themed decorations.

Claus hasn’t kept count of how many have been sprinkled across town, though the estimated total is between 2,000 and 4,000. Production has slowed, but there are still about 30-50 treasures to be found each month.

Despite the popularity of the captivating creations, Claus desires to remain anonymous for a simple, wholesome reason: “Because it’s not about me. I have no interest whatsoever in any kind of recognition. It comes under the category of ‘random acts of kindness,’ and random acts of kindness are best done anonymously in my experience,” Claus said.

As Christmas approaches, Claus is working on this year’s holiday 3D prints. More sploot dogs are on the way, along with Christmas trees and perhaps a reprise of snowmen, Santas or wreaths.

Some of Claus’ creations have found their way into local businesses including Rise Up Coffee in Arnold and The Big Bean in Annapolis. Because it’s iconic to the area, Claus’ favorite creation to date is a happy crab with eyes on stalks and little legs that move.

The location of the workshop where the magic happens remains a mystery, but Claus did share a behind-the-scenes peek at how the 3D prints are made. The printers – Claus now has two, since demand soared in years past – use spools of plastic about the diameter of spaghetti noodles. The machines melt the plastic to just the right temperature and deposit it onto the build surface in layers until the 3D creation is complete.

Claus primarily uses a plastic called PLA, which is made from corn starch or sugarcane. Unlike a petroleum-based plastic, it is a renewable material that won’t last forever.

Over the years, community members have expressed elation at finding Claus’ unexpected gifts. Neighbors have posted sentiments on Facebook including, “My boys were over the moon excited to find not one, but TWO of Printer Claus’ gifts today on our walk!” “Made my day Printer Claus!!! Thank you for spreading magic!!!” “Even old people like us enjoy a present from Printer Claus, thank you!” and “Oh Printer Claus, you are such a lovely soul!”

Not surprisingly, several have even commented how their video doorbells failed to capture footage of treasures being left on their property – but like Santa Claus, Printer Claus does their work stealthily and sometimes under the cover of darkness.

While many people in the community have expressed joy in discovering the treasures, the ongoing project has brought Claus great joy, too. The gift-giver is grateful for everyone who has looked for the toys, shared them with others, and distributed them when demand was high or when Claus sustained a foot injury.

“The reason I do it is actually a little bit selfish because it makes me feel good. And one of my favorite prayers, which I think a lot of people know, is the prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi … there is a line in there that says, ‘For it is in giving that we receive.’ And I’ve experienced directly how that works,” Claus shared from the heart. “I consider it to be kind of like a law of the universe. Whatever I put out into the universe, I’m going to get back. If I put out love, I’m going to get love back. If I put out blessings, I’m going to be blessed. … So there’s an aspect of this that’s connected to my spiritual practice. And it’s really cool just to be able to do something like this and see how people react on Facebook and how happy it makes them.”

Claus will be busy in the days ahead printing small plastic objects of delight, and if you’re on the Broadneck Peninsula, you might just be in the right place at the right time to discover one for yourself.