PlaqueMaker Blog

The scariest time of year is here, so dig up your gifts and costumes, and make the most of pumpkin season for Halloween. It’s a holiday that encourages families and kids to get creative, mischievous, and loaded up on candy. But there’s something for everyone, between ripe pumpkins, hayrides, and costume contests. We’ll help you find fresh ways to celebrate, from themed gifts to activity supplies.

The history of Boss’s Day is rooted in a family workplace, but it’s important to celebrate all strong leaders in the office, and practical gifts are often ideal. An effective boss with genuine leadership skills can make the workday much easier. They can improve your own abilities, and foster a healthy office environment. Whether you want to impress or recognize your boss, we’ll help you find the right balance between formal, creative and useful gifts.

As summer finally settles and the weather cools, it’s almost time to celebrate kickoff for the new football season and decorate the home to prepare for fall 2022. You might also have to begin harvesting the garden, and maybe add a few signs as fresh pumpkins and other treats ripen. We’ve got all the décor and gifts you need to welcome fall smoothly and warmly.

Even though National Clean Out Your Garage Day* isn’t until the weekend after Labor Day, the First Day of Spring is March 20, only 10 days away … and we all know what that means: spring cleaning.

Susie and her husband are building a new home. One of the materials they’re using on the exterior and main staircase is called Old Chicago Brick. “The story behind the brick is very interesting,” Susie says, “particularly since my husband is from Chicago.” The couple wants to share the history behind the brick with friends, family and future visitors to their new home, so they decide to create a custom plaque to mount on the staircase.

What’s the number one interior design trick of all time? The reflective aspect of light. Light makes a room feel larger and more comfortable, not to mention, brighter.

Now’s about the time you’re probably hard at work creating unique and specially made holiday gifts for your family and friends, right? Make sure to design a gift presentation that is equally as awesome.

What do you need to restore your well-being? A trip to the beach, the mountains, the desert or the plains? Kick boxing, yoga, a wine tasting or a good book? Researchers say it’s important to indulge in your favorite leisure activities to relieve stress, benefit your health and enjoy life more.

If you’re constantly asking, “Who am I?” and “Where do I come from?”, tracing your ancestry can be an exciting journey to finding the answers. This latest craze sweeping America is also an experience that sheds light on the history of many nations as well as genealogy, religion, politics and world events.

Thinking about how to decorate your table for Thanksgiving this year? Why not go for rustic chic using leather? And why not take it one step further … with a themed custom design all your own? PlaqueMaker can help.

Drink coasters are those (usually) square items placed under beverages. Also called a coaster, beverage coaster or beermat, they protect the furniture’s surface from moisture that could ruin the finish.

Whether you need a “Happy Halloween” sign for your business or want a fun, personalized way to greet your Trick or Treaters, look no further than our light up acrylic signs. The custom, frosted white engraving is illuminated with an LED strip available in white, blue, green or red colored lights. Made from .125-inch thick clear acrylic, also known as Plexiglass, Lucite, Acrylite and Optix, these signs can be custom-cut into fun shapes up to 24 by 18 inches in size, and come with a standard wall plug and a 12-foot cord (or you can upgrade to an AC battery pack). For indoor use only, various mounting options available, including holes for screws, suction cups or standoffs.

The earliest plaques are found in the 12th century throughout the Benin Empire in present-day Nigeria. Bronze and brass placards herald warriors and key battles fought on behalf of the kingdom. These are not unlike plaques we see today, paying homage to soldiers who died in the service of their country. Plaques are not just memorials but informational signs. For over 150 years, the blue plaques of London point out historical locations and the people who lived there. In the U.S., the National Trust for Historical Preservation bestows markers to buildings and places that gain National Registry status.

Since ancient times, the great artisans of Egypt, Assyria and Italy have been inspired by the special properties of glass to create attractive works of art. Glass can allow light to pass through it, giving it the ability to transform color and sparkle, bringing joy and happiness with just a gaze into its brightness.

Tracing your family tree is not only fun, it can turn up some exciting surprises. What if you have a Duke, Duchess or even a Queen in your lineage – how cool would that be? All your research efforts could also reveal a family crest or coat of arms. Displaying your family crest is a unique way to pay tribute to your heritage or, dare we say, to show off your ancestral roots. Giving the gift of a family crest or coats of arms custom engraved or full-folor printed on ornaments, picture frames or paperweights to relatives at your next reunion would probably be a much appreciated memento, too.

Consult an interior designer and they will tell you that the use of wood and natural light in your home has a beneficial effect on stress reduction, psychological health and well-being. Recent studies show home furnishings and décor made from natural wood, as opposed to more industrial or synthetic materials like steel, concrete or plastics, increases positive emotions. Participants commonly describe wood in rooms to be “warm,” “comfortable,” “relaxing,” “natural” and “inviting,” and appear to have a strong belief that the use of wood can help to create healthful environments.

Trying to enjoy your favorite pastime in a dusty old garage doesn’t cut it anymore with today’s homeowner. It may be why a growing number are re-imagining their garages into custom retreats. What was once unfinished space set aside for cars, lawn mowers and abandoned gym equipment is totally getting a makeover.

While many of PlaqueMaker’s products include freestanding display mechanisms built right into their design, others offer display options and upgrades just as good-looking.