CrystalPlus.com- Personalized Awards & Gifts

An award or trophy looks only as magnificent as the material that it is made of. When looking to purchase a trophy or plaque, you will find that the three most commonly used materials are wood, metal and glass (regular or crystal). Every material has its own pros and cons.

The most important thing during any purchase is the budget. Wood and metal trophies tend to be more expensive than their crystal counterparts. Also, despite being cheaper, it is not uncommon to see a wider range of choices in glass and crystal, than in metal or wood. Custom pieces are also less expensive for glass trophies.

Any trophy or award is bound to have some writing engraved on it. In metal and wood, the engravings tend to fade over time. However, in glass and crystal, the writing is etched on more permanently and never fades. The maintenance required is another important factor as well. Metal and wood trophies need to be cleaned and polished regularly, whereas a simple dusting will suffice for a crystal award. Wooden plaques are also susceptible to termites, while a metal trophy composed of inferior materials will rust over time. In contrast, glass or crystal is immune to any kind of deterioration.

Just before Mothers’ Day, shops everywhere are filled with gifts and gift ideas. With so many options to choose from, it actually becomes quite difficult to pick a present. Here are a few ideas that will help you narrow down the decision making process and help make your mother very happy on her special day:

– Spa Certificates: Being a mother is a very stressful job. Help her deal with the stress by providing her with a day at the spa. A whole day of being pampered and refreshed will help relieve any stress and will make her feel like a million bucks.

– Brunch/Dinner: As anyone can tell you, it’s not the gift itself that counts, but the thought that goes behind it. A gift doesn’t necessarily mean something tangible that can be held; it can also be something much more. As the pace of society gets faster, it becomes harder to spend quality one-on-one time with an individual. Dedicate Mothers’ Day to spending as much quality time with your mother as possible. Taking your mother out for brunch or dinner is a good present not just because of the excellent food, but the time that you spend with her.

– Personalized Crystal Gift: You can put down a personalized message on a card, but paper deteriorates over time. However, a glass or crystal gift will last forever and remind your mother about how you feel, every time she looks at it.

Everyone likes to get an award to have their achievements recognized. The pride one feels every time one looks at their awards is a priceless feeling; especially if it is a crystal award sitting and gleaming on the mantelpiece. However, the joy can quickly turn to sorrow when you realize that the trophy has developed a crack in its glass surface. Thankfully, there are ways to repair the crack without having the need for any professionals to intervene. The following steps will enable you to remedy the problem and make your crystal award look as good as new: – The first step is to buy a packet of glass glue. Crystal is a kind of glass with definitive refractive properties, so it is okay to repair cracks in crystal using glass glue. They are relatively cheap and can be purchased in any home improvement or stationary store.

– Glass glue usually comes in a tube form. Pierce the top of the plastic tube-end with a pin. Thinly apply the glue over the surface of the crystal where it has cracked. Instead of squeezing out a bunch of glue at once, squeeze slowly and go over the affected area as many times as required. Glass glue is just as strong as superglue, so keep it off your skin.
– The glass glue will require some time to seep into the crystal and harden. Leave it aside for up to two hours where no one can disturb it and is relatively dust-free. As the glue hardens, it will repair the crack.

As any employer can tell you, the key to keeping an employee happy and motivated is to recognize their contributions and achievements. Rewarding an employee with a token of appreciation goes a long way in making them happy and securing their loyalty. Here are a few ideas for items that can be awarded to employees and won’t break the bank:
– Gift Certificates: Let the employee choose a gift certificate from a range of options. Gift certificate companies have dedicated corporate accounts and supply a wide variety of experience certificates at a bargain price. Let you employee enjoy an adventurous day of skydiving or a relaxing day at the spa.

– Extended Vacation: Your employee may not admit it, but the favourite thing they like about their job is the vacation from it. So it would figure that nothing would make employees more competitive than the possibility of winning a few extra days of vacation.

– Glass or Crystal Trophy/Award: No token of achievement can offer the same level of satisfaction as an award or trophy. An engraved glass or crystal award is not only elegant, but allows the employee to proudly display their achievement. There are many online retailers who can provide customized glass and crystal trophies and there is always something in the catalogue for every budget.

An award or trophy looks at its best when it has been well maintained. The most effective way to maintain a glass or crystal award is to clean it regularly. Observing a frequent cleaning schedule will ensure that your awards and trophies are always gleaming and remain a source of pride and inspiration.

The first step in the cleaning process is to lightly dust the award with a soft dry cloth. This will remove any latent dirt before applying the cleaning agent. If possible, use a can of compressed air to blow of any extra dust that may have gotten into any nook or cranny.

You will find people recommending white vinegar as a cleaning agent. Vinegar in itself is too acidic and can corrode the surface. In order to neutralize some of the acidity, the vinegar will need to be dilute with water. However, if the solution is too diluted, then it is worthless as a cleaning product. The safest bet is to use a commercial glass cleaner; the same cleaner that you use for your glass windows can be used to clean crustal and glass awards.

Do not apply the cleaner directly on the glass surface; spray it onto a soft cloth and then use the cloth to wipe the award or trophy. Make sure you do not put the award in direct sunlight right after cleaning, as it may cause streaking on the glass surface. If the award has any wooden or metal components, clean them separately with a different cloths and apply appropriate polish.

Winning any award or trophy is a matter of pride and an award is something that you will cherish forever. Glass and crystal have become the prime materials that awards are made of. In order to ensure that your awards continue to look as good as the day you got them, it is important to maintain them. Here are a few tips on how to maintain your crystal and glass awards:

– Dusting: Never underestimate the importance of a good dusting. Dust build-up can often cause the crystal or glass to get foggy. Additionally, any dirt on the surface may cause scratches. An everyday dusting might be going a bit over the top, but it is a good idea to have the awards dusted frequently.

– Handling: Avoid trying to handle the glass or crystal as much as possible. If the award comes with a metal or wooden base, hold the award at the base. If you see any smudges or fingerprints after handling the awards, use a piece of soft-cloth to wipe it gently off; any amount of latent moisture will give the glass a foggy appearance.

– Enclosure: The best way to prevent dust from accumulating and letting anyone handle the award is to put it in a glass enclosure. Not only will the award still be on display, but you will also protect it from any harm; it is a lot harder to knock a trophy down if you can’t actually reach it.

Graduation is one of the toughest occasions to buy a present for someone. Ideally, a recent graduate wants either a job or a vacation. Realistically, you probably won’t be providing either of these two things. However, your graduation gift should still reflect the fact that graduation is one of the biggest milestones in life. Here are a few ideas for graduation gifts:

– Gadgets: Youth and the love for technology and gadgets go hand in hand. There is always some gadget that a graduate desires most above all. Not only will it be a thoughtful gift, but something functional as well.

– Personalized Award: The downside of gifting gadgets is the price factor. Technology is not cheap and it can really pinch your wallet if you have to buy the latest gadget. One gift that can suit all budgets is a personalized award.

T-Shirts, coffee mugs, and mouse pads with personalized messages are too common and don’t seem fit to be presented as gifts for an occasion like graduation. However, a glass of crystal award or trophy makes a much more elegant statement. They can be functional as well, by incorporating things like clocks or picture frames. You will always be able to find an online retailer who can provide you with a wide variety of choices to fit your budget.

No competition is complete without presenting an award to the eventual winner. Whether it is a sporting event or an award for best employee, some kind of trophy is always expected. Here are a few things to consider before you decide to order a trophy:

– Budget: It is quite easy to go overboard financially while looking through the trophy and awards catalogue. It is best to fix a pre-determined budget and stick to it. You may find that retail stores may have a very limited range to choose from when shopping on a budget. Browse through the catalogues of online retailers and you will find a plethora of choices.

– Occasion: It is very important for the award to reflect the occasion it is being presented at. It wouldn’t make much sense to get a heart-shaped trophy for the winning team of a football tournament. Similarly, if you want are going to present an award to your star employee, why not get a star-shaped award. Put the same thought into buying an award or trophy that you would when buying someone a present.

– Ornamental or Functional: An award is not just ornamental, but can be functional as well. It is possible to have awards made that can incorporate clocks and photo frames. A functional award is more likely to be appreciated on a daily basis.

No matter what your father may enjoy, you can always find him a present for Fathers’ Day. Step away from the boring ties that dads usually get and think out-of-the-box with these gifts:

– Day of Adventure Gift Certificate: Has your dad ever thought about sky-diving, bungee jumping, white water rafting, or learning to drive a race car with tips from an experienced race car driver? If yes, then this is the perfect gift for your father. Turn his dreams into reality by buying a gift certificate for a day-long adventure.

– Golfing Lessons: Most dads are too proud to get golfing lessons, even if they desperately want them. Save your father the turmoil and buy him golfing lessons for Fathers’ Day. When his friends ask, he can always tell them that he couldn’t turn down a gift from his own child. As his game improves, he will thank you with every swing (a swing that’s remarkably better now thanks to the lessons).

– Engraved Crystal Trophy: Giving your dad a cup or mug that says proclaims him to be “Worlds’ Best Dad” is a standard gift that almost every dad has come to expect. Do the unexpected and give him with an engraved crystal trophy instead. Not only will he not be forced into giving up his favourite coffee mug, it will also not be out away in a cupboard. Instead, he can proudly display it on the mantelpiece.

It was the Roman poet Ovid who once said, “Acceptissima simper munera sunt auctor quæ pretiosa facit.” i.e. those gifts are ever the most acceptable which the giver makes precious. A person receiving a gift can often tell the amount of thought that went into the purchase of the gift. An ideal gift often reflects and appeals to the personality of those receiving the gift. Here are a few ideas on how you can add that personal touch to a gift:

– Gift cards: Some people can be very hard to buy for. Or it may simply be that you are not very good at buying something for someone else. Whatever the case maybe, gift cards are the ideal solution. You can purchase gift cards for most major store chains and even restaurants and cafes. Malls offer gift cards as well, which can be redeemed at any establishment within the specific mall. This way you can assure yourself that the money has been spent on something that the person really wants.

– Engraved Gifts: What better way to personalize a gift than to engrave it. Glass or crystal pieces can be engraved with a message to convey your thoughts to those receiving the gift. There are a number of stores that offer engraving services. However, these stores usually have a limited range of gifts to choose from. An online retailer will be able to provide you with a wider range of gifts to choose from and can also offer different kinds of engravings.