Augmented reality (AR) systems, devices, media, and methods are described for creating a handcrafted AR experience. The handcrafted AR experiences are created by capturing images of a scene, identifying an object receiving surface and corresponding surface coordinates, identifying a customizable AR primary object associated with at least one set of primary object coordinates, generating AR overlays including the customizable AR primary object for positioning adjacent the object receiving surface, presenting the AR overlays, receiving customization commands, generating handcrafted AR overlays including customizations associated with the customizable AR primary object responsive to the customization commands, presenting the handcrafted AR overlays, recording the handcrafted AR overlays, creating a handcrafted AR file including the recorded overlays, and transmitting the handcrafted AR file.