I was working at a Bible camp and it was hosting a recognition banquet. One of the co-directors asked if I could come up with an idea that was better than 8 X 10 Certificate of Appreciation. I found a log slice on the grounds and went to the crafts cabin and got a few wood burners. I made one and they loved it. I ended up doing 20!! Life wasn't the same after that. I had fallen in love!
The Beginning
As you can see, these rounds were between 1 1/2 to 2" thick. They were oak and they were HARD, They were unevenly cut with a dull blade and I sanded for hours. I took this picture with some unusual burning aids; hot water bottle, exercise balls, anti-inflamatory cream,etc. :P
Massive Oak Rounds
After I had finished one with the little inexpensive hobby burner and after my first experience with carpel tunnel, that stack suddenly looked humongous!!!
Second Award; Camp Bench with Logo and Staff Signatures
When he was a young man, he served on the camp staff. I acquired a camp staff picture on which there were autographs and copied them onto a portion of the bench on which he sat for many a meal while serving there in the late 60's.
45 Year Old Bench
Much of the bench was rotted. We cut a portion of it and put on new legs. What a truly unique and thoughtful way to recognize his many years of service at and for the camp! If you have an idea, I would love to work with you. These gifts make me just as happy as the recipient. They are a joy to create.
Appreciation Wood Pieces
Here are a couple more plaques. The one on the right has been stained with Honey Pine.
Backside of One Appreciation Plaque
This is a plaque for the person who was their current Activities Director at that time. It was her final year. Before presented, it was stained with Honey Pine. No enlargement available.
Appreciatiion Plaques From Felled Wood on the Camp Grounds
What made these plaques truly special was that they were from wood that was found on the camp grounds. Many of these people not only made substantial monetary donations, but spent many weekends working on the grounds and on cabins they had adopted. It only takes a little time and a little thought to create a memorable gift to honor those who have worked so hard for you and/or your organization. Getting some ideas to share with me?
What kind of wood surfaces are available?
In addition to the wood surfaces I have in stock, there is also a large selection available from suppliers such as Walnut Hollow. To view the types of surfaces available for your project idea, please click on the image to the left.
How can I choose a font?
By clicking on the image to the left, you will be able to peruse a very large selection of font types. You can even try your text in the font you like by clicking on "Custom Preview" on the right with the magnifying glass.While I can burn almost anything, some are just too fine or too ornate to do with the burner.The more detailed the font, the more time intensive the project. If cost is a major concern, that is definitely something to keep in mind. For questions about pricing, see either FAQ on the side menu bar or in the Help section.
It is very easy these days to get ideas for your own sign. A simple way to get inspiration is to type "free clip art" into the address window and click enter. You will find many sites on your results page. I like to start with Bing images. Once I type in Bing Images, I simply choose a subject. The image to the left is one picture result after searching "state symbols" on Bing Images. To enlarge the image to the left, simply click on it. To go to Bing Images home page, click on this text.> Bing Images Home Page <. Once there, type in the image name you would like to peruse.
The Process For Creating Your Sign
Click on the image to the left to view the process involved in creating your custom sign.