Engravers can save hundreds of dollars when the holiday season rolls around by creating personalized gifts. Using your skills to engrave a pendant, key fob, knife, or other small pieces, you can make unique and custom work that is just for that one special person.

Instead of buying something from a catalog or store for his father this year, Jake Newell decided to put his hands to good use. This folding knife features custom engraving by Newell specifically made for his father. Newell designed the layout, which features a left-facing pheasant with long tail feathers. The feathers reach into the area for the scrolls, allowing the two elements to blend together visually. The texture Newell created for the feathers is echoed in the shade lines of a flowing leaf element that continues right out of a large set of scrolls. Altogether, it's a perfect mix of animal and scroll for this present.

Jake also engraved several other gifts for members of his family, taking care to keep each person in mind. You can use your engraving skills, regardless of whether you've been engraving thirty years or three months, to bring joy to a loved one with a personal gift. If you are a beginner, try your hand at simple monograms. If you can knock out a monogram in no time, add a sparkling border to the piece to finish it off. The possibilities are endless.