Chrismons: A Journey from Childhood to Craftsmanship
I do not know if it is a generational thing or not, but I still remember making Chrismons as a child in Sunday school. Like many churches at the time, we created these ornaments from Styrofoam and plenty of gold glitter for the church Christmas tree.
For reasons I still cannot fully explain, those childhood memories have stayed with me throughout my life.
Years later, in my mid-thirties, I began sketching ideas for my own Chrismons.
In those days, I really had no way to turn these drawings into finished ornaments. So the sketches were simply filed away for another day.
After retiring, I purchased my first hobby laser and began learning graphic design and laser engraving. I had long since lost track of my early sketches but my desire to make Chrismons still remained. I began designing and making simpler laser-cut Chrismons featuring the traditional white and gold accents.
As my skills improved so did the possibilities. What began with Styrofoam and glitter, continued through sketches decades ago, basic symbols has now become a collection of handcrafted laser-cut ornaments.
Each ornament is carefully designed to capture the rich biblical symbolism found in the pages of Scripture. Every piece is individually designed and hand-painted in the traditional Chrismon white and gold color scheme, complemented by stained natural wood and detailed laser engraving.
Each ornament measures approximately 3 inches in diameter (or 3 inches tall for the oval designs) and can be displayed either on a Christmas tree or year-round on one of my handcrafted display stands.
A carefully selected Bible verse is etched on the reverse side of every ornament to capture my inspiration for the symbology and the letters:
TGBTG
(To God Be The Glory)
which is my guiding principle behind every project created in Don’s Hobby Shed.
I invite you to explore each Chrismon inspired ornament on my website for additional information.
My hope is these ornaments not only celebrate the richness of God’s Word but also encourage reflection on the biblical truths they represent.
Meet the Maker
Welcome to Don’s Hobby Shed!
I’m a retired mechanical engineer who enjoys combining faith, craftsmanship, and modern technology to create unique Christian ornaments.
Every ornament begins right here in my hobby shed.
What started as a retirement hobby quickly grew into a workshop filled with laser cutters, 3D printers and design software. While the tools have become more sophisticated over the years, the goal has remained the same—to create meaningful Christian symbols that honor Christ and can be shared and enjoyed by others but above all else:
TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
I do not sell these ornaments but I do give them away. Obviously, I am limited in time but if you are interested in one or two please reach out to me via the contact button at the top of the page.
God Bless!
