I can remember the good old days when I was just getting started on my own. I did not have much money back then and sometimes, not much money nowadays. Every year when I made new friends and my extended family was growing, more and more names were getting added to my “Gift Giving List.”

As a devoted crafts person, I really enjoyed making my presents. This came in very handy and saved me lots of money when I did not have to purchase expensive store-bought presents. The people I gave presents from my heart, made by my hands, appreciated my efforts to gift them with custom made items.

When I discovered the joys of glass etching with Armour Etch, it was the answer to my prayers and to my limited budget. In the warmer months, I went out hunting every garage sale I could find for glass treasures I could decorate with Armour Etch designs. I even found a Thrift Shoppe in my area that is open all year round. I have purchased some very interesting items there for ridiculously low prices. Especially at the end of each month, when the Thrift Shoppe did their inventory clean out in preparation for the new month, prices really dropped.

January 1st, every year, I started creating new and exciting gifts, as it is never to early for a craft’s person to start making gifts and/or projects.

I saved large glass jars, like pickle jars, to decorate with etch designs. I painted the lids a solid color. When it was time to present a gift to someone on my list, I would bake cookies and fill my glass jar to the top. I finished off this heartfelt gift with a ribbon around the neck.

I found an assortment of flat glass ornament shapes on Etchworld.com. These glass shapes make great gift toppers. I have even etched the names of the person who was going to receive the gift and added them to the top of presents for identification.

Custom etched glass ornaments can also be a great present for many occasions, not just Christmas. They can also be bundled with suction cups for suncatcher display.

One thing I’ve learned is to purchase my glass shapes early in the year, as they sell quickly and tend to be out of stock the closer you get to the winter holiday season.

Article Posted: 02/15/2022 09:23:42 PM