Laser Engraving

Coaches play a huge role in kids’ lives. Beyond teaching skills and strategy, they model teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. When the season wraps up, finding a gift that truly shows appreciation can feel challenging. That’s where custom laser engraving comes in. One of my recent projects at Clocktower Creations focused on creating custom stainless steel tumblers for kid’s coaches, each engraved with the school’s mascot logo and the coach’s name. The result was a practical, personal, and long-lasting gift that reflects both school pride and gratitude. Why Personalized Coach Gifts Matter Coaches volunteer countless hours running practices, organizing games, and encouraging young athletes. A personalized gift shows that their effort didn’t go unnoticed. Unlike generic gifts, engraved items feel intentional and thoughtful, especially when they include a name or school logo. Laser engraving allows that personalization to be permanent. Names won’t fade, logos won’t peel, and the gift can be used daily — whether at practice, work, or home. That’s why tumblers are one of the most popular choices for coach gifts. The Project Details For this project, the client wanted something that felt both professional and personal. Each stainless steel tumbler was engraved with: The school’s mascot logo, reinforcing…

Corporate holiday gifts are a long-standing tradition — a way to show appreciation, strengthen relationships, and leave a positive impression heading into the new year. This season, I partnered with the Raymond James team at Capitol Private Wealth to create a personalized gift that blended elegance, usefulness, and Nebraska pride. Their idea was simple but sophisticated: 30 large brass-colored stainless steel bowls engraved with their company logo, each to be filled with locally made Bakers Candies Nebraska Chocolate. With the right engraving, these bowls would become keepsakes their clients could enjoy long after the holidays. This project was a perfect example of how laser engraving can transform everyday items into high-end corporate gifts — and how thoughtful branding elevates the overall experience. Turning Stainless Steel Into a Holiday Showpiece The bowls provided by the Raymond James team had a gold/brass appearance but were actually stainless steel with a brass-colored coating. Because coatings vary in composition and thickness, they also react differently when marked with a fiber laser. That’s why the team supplied a test bowl before dropping off the full batch. This allowed me to experiment, adjust laser power, speed, and frequency, and provide them with sample engravings showing different visual…

Recognizing employees for their dedication and years of service is one of the most powerful ways a company can build loyalty and celebrate success. Recently, I had the pleasure of partnering with Maggie Griffin, founder of Volleyball Club Nebraska (VCN) — a former Husker National Champion and professional volleyball player — to create something special for her team. Maggie needed six custom tumblers for an upcoming ceremony honoring VCN employees who have been with the organization for five or more years. The catch? She needed them by the end of the week. With her brand materials in hand, a tight timeline, and a clear vision, we collaborated to make it happen — and the finished tumblers turned out beautifully. Quick Turnaround, Lasting Impression Projects like this highlight one of the key advantages of working with a local engraver — flexibility and speed without sacrificing quality. Maggie reached out needing the tumblers completed within just a few days, and thanks to my inventory of high-quality tumblers on hand, I was able to meet her deadline. She provided the VCN logo and detailed brand guidelines, which allowed me to ensure the engraving perfectly matched her organization’s identity. Using my design software, I…

Custom engraving has the power to elevate an already impressive handcrafted item into something unforgettable. That was certainly the case with a recent collaboration between Clocktower Creations and local bladesmith Andrew Munger of Nebraska Edge & Tool Co. Andrew is known for his high-quality hand-forged knives, and for this project, he was creating something truly special — three custom knives to be gifted from a father to his three sons for the opening of deer season. Each knife featured a handle made from deer antler and carried personal meaning. What Andrew needed was professional engraving to add both his company logo and the sons’ initials to the blades. These finishing touches were essential to complete the set — and he had a tight deadline to meet. This project was a perfect example of how engraving can add craftsmanship, personalization, and lasting value to already exceptional handmade work. A Collaboration Between Nebraska Makers One of the things I love most about this project is that it highlights the strength of Nebraska small businesses working together. Andrew forged the knives by hand, creating beautifully crafted blades paired with deer antler handles. For the finishing touches, he partnered with another local artisan —…

Every engraving project presents its own unique challenges, but some stand out not only for their technical demands — but also for the meaning behind them. Recently, I had the pleasure of working on a very special request: engraving saint names on small brass hand bells for a family ceremony. This project combined careful setup, fine-tuned laser adjustments, and a deep sense of purpose. The finished bells turned out beautifully and served as lasting keepsakes for a meaningful occasion. A One-of-a-Kind Request A client reached out with a heartfelt idea — she wanted several 2-inch brass hand bells engraved with the names of saints for an upcoming family ceremony. Each bell would represent a different saint, making them not just decorative but symbolic. To ensure the project went perfectly, she even provided a sample bell for testing. That allowed me to experiment with the setup, engraving depth, and laser focus before working on the final pieces. While the bells were small, their curved surfaces presented a big challenge. Brass can be tricky to mark evenly, especially when the engraving area curves away from the laser’s focal point. The Engraving Process After evaluating the best way to secure the bells for…

Veterans Day is a time to honor the brave men and women who have served our country — those who dedicated their lives to protecting our freedoms. For families, finding meaningful ways to remember and celebrate their loved ones’ service can be deeply personal. Recently, I had the privilege of working on a project that beautifully captures that spirit of remembrance: engraving the names and dates of two veterans on the spent shell casings from their military funerals. These shell casings hold profound meaning. They represent the honor, service, and sacrifice that define a veteran’s life and legacy. By engraving these casings with precision and care, I was able to help preserve that meaning for generations to come. A Project That Honors Service and Sacrifice For this project, a customer reached out with two brass shell casings from military funeral services. They wanted the names and dates of their veteran grandfathers engraved — a simple yet powerful tribute that would transform each casing into a keepsake. Using my fiber laser, I carefully engraved each detail onto the brass surface, ensuring clarity and permanence while maintaining the respectful appearance these pieces deserve. The result was both understated and elegant. Each engraving…

When it comes to team pride, there’s nothing quite like having custom gear that unites everyone — and looks great doing it. Recently, I had the opportunity to work on a fast-turnaround project for the Southeast Community College (SCC) Women’s Golf Team. The coach reached out needing a set of personalized tumblers featuring the school’s logo and  “Women’s Golf”. With a golf tournament approaching and limited time, I jumped into action. Fortunately, I had navy blue 20oz tumblers on hand — the perfect match for SCC’s school colors — and I was able to complete the project within just one day. The result? A set of sleek, professional tumblers that showcase school pride and provide practical use for players and coaches alike. Why Custom Tumblers Are a Hole-in-One for Team Spirit Custom tumblers are one of the most popular engraving requests I receive at Clocktower Creations, and for good reason. They’re durable, stylish, and practical for everyday use — making them an ideal choice for teams, schools, and organizations looking to promote unity or brand recognition. Whether it’s for a sports team, booster club, or local business, engraved tumblers offer: Durability: Laser engraving permanently etches the design into the surface…

When it comes to golf, every detail matters — from the perfect swing to the tools and accessories that make each round memorable. That same attention to detail applies off the green too, especially when it comes to customized golf accessories. One of my latest projects here at Clocktower Creations was a great example of this: engraving custom brass ball markers for a fantasy golf league using my fiber laser. The client provided 2025 Masters ball markers and wanted their league’s name and the year engraved on the back. The result? A set of sleek, personalized markers that celebrate both the sport and their friendly competition in true style. In this post, I’ll talk about how laser engraving can add sophistication and meaning to golf accessories, why it’s perfect for leagues, gifts, and events, and how a project like this one ties in with the growing trend of customized gear in the golf community. The Appeal of Custom Golf Accessories Golf has always been a game of precision and pride. Whether you’re a casual player, part of a league, or an avid collector of golf memorabilia, custom accessories help express that passion. Items like engraved golf ball markers not only look…

When it comes to making a lasting impression at trade shows, conferences, or any business event, branded items are a tried-and-true method to keep your company top-of-mind. While there are many promotional products out there—ranging from pens to tote bags—few options combine functionality, quality, and eye-catching design as effectively as laser-engraved tumblers. One of my latest projects here at Clocktower Creations was creating 12 custom laser-engraved Stanley 40oz tumblers for Custom Concrete Specialists from Seward, Nebraska. The results were both practical and visually striking, giving them an edge at their upcoming trade show. In this blog post, I’ll discuss the benefits of laser-engraving branded merchandise, why tumblers make fantastic promotional items, and how a project like this can help businesses stand out. I’ll also share some details about the specific work I did for Custom Concrete Specialists. Finally, I’ll wrap up with how you can incorporate similar strategies to elevate your own brand presence. Why Laser Engraving? Laser engraving is a precise and versatile method that uses a high-powered beam to etch designs onto various surfaces. Whether you have items made of metal, glass, plastic, or even wood, laser engraving can create crisp, permanent markings that won’t peel or fade.…

When it comes to celebrating a retirement, few gifts carry as much sentimental and symbolic value as something personalized. A well-chosen, engraved item can serve as both a token of appreciation and a lasting reminder of years of dedication and craftsmanship. One of my latest projects at Clocktower Creations was a perfect example — a custom-engraved Estwing bricklayer’s hammer for General Excavating (GE) to honor one of their longtime employees, Ken, for his service from 2008 to 2025. This project combined precision engraving with personal meaning, turning an everyday tool into a keepsake that reflects a career built on hard work, pride, and skill. Why Personalized Retirement Gifts Mean So Much After years of service, a generic plaque or gift card doesn’t quite capture the significance of a career’s worth of contributions. Personalized retirement gifts, on the other hand, celebrate both the individual and the journey. By engraving names, dates, logos, or personal messages, you create something that feels thoughtful and truly one-of-a-kind. At Clocktower Creations, I’ve worked with many businesses and families who want to express gratitude in a meaningful way. Whether it’s a laser-engraved tool, a plaque, or a keepsake box, adding that personal touch transforms an object…