Some customers asked for a less fragile item, and for those I use a 6″ clear acrylic circle with a slightly rounded edge. The extra inch of space, plus the lack of a bevel, allows far more space for display and works well for multiple subjects, larger dogs, and even a full cat, not just the face.
The acrylic is lighter than the glass suncatchers too so isn’t likely to weigh down the suction-cup holder you might use on a window.
The acrylic costs less than glass, and shipping is a little less because it’s lighter. You don’t get that rainbow refraction from the bevel on the glass suncatcher but it’s a little less expensive all around, and sometimes that’s what counts.
Henry
Henry was a beloved community cat who everyone knew. He did have an “owner” but that family preferred he stayed outdoors. That gave Henry even more time to sit on a porch and look pitiful until someone came out with a dish of food and loads of affection.
When he died a friend commissioned me to paint his portrait for her and also wanted a second one for her friend, another of Henry’s big fans. This suncatcher features the pastel portrait, and I also sketched a charcoal portrait of the same pose.
Henry’s two portraits.
Shipping to your recipient
And as always if you’re sending this suncatcher to a friend, I can ship it to that person.
Custom Pet Memorial Suncatchers as Thoughtful Holiday Gifts
Custom Suncatchers in Glass or Acrylic
A suncatcher can hang on any window, or a mirror or any place you want to see the image of your beloved animal companion.
And they also make unique customized gifts even when they aren’t in sympathy for a loss.
What recipients have said:
“I have her suncatcher hanging in my kitchen window. I stand there and look at her every morning while I drink my coffee.”
Anonymous recipient, in person
I want to thank you for the very special, beautiful glass ornament suncatcher …It brought a tear to my eye that day and the day I hung it up in the sunlight. You really have a very special talent.
Anonymous recipient, in a letter
Ancient History
I began my design ideas for suncatchers the same way I did with many of my handmade gifts, wanting to see my art on gift items I saw in stores. In the early 90s I bought a 3.25″ x 3.25″ square bevel-edge clear suncatcher with a kitten etched in the center, which I not only liked but found inspiring. I had lots of pencil and ink sketches that would work on things like this. I held that idea all these years knowing I’d want my artwork on that beveled glass somehow, someday.
That etched kitten suncatcher from the early 90s is pretty battered by now.
And like most of my memorial gift items, my suncatchers began as personal gifts for friends who’d lost their animal companions. Using the standards I’d set up to create the images on my Custom Pet Memorial Votives I was ready to make good on that suncatcher idea.
Scroll down to read through information about each suncatcher
(I do seem to have a lot of gab around each of the products. I’m including customer feedback and results and experiences with customers at my vendor events and from sales in general to help you decide, especially if you are ordering a gift for someone else.)
I began with thick 5″ glass circles with a deep beveled edge, your animal companion’s image in the center, so that sun could shine through the bevel and refract light into rainbows.
Tuna, a 5″ beveled glass suncatcher.
Some customers asked for a less fragile item, and for those I use a 6″ clear acrylic circle with a slightly rounded edge. The extra inch of space, plus the lack of a bevel, allows more space for display and works well for multiple subjects, larger dogs, and even a full cat, not just the face. The acrylic costs less than glass, and shipping is a little less because it’s lighter, so it’s a little less expensive too.
Henry, a 6″ acrylic suncatcher.
I still wanted the square shape, though, partly to see my original idea, and to offer an alternative shape, and because not all images fit well in a circle.
The company I buy from has 4″ squares which would seem to have less presentation space than the 5″ circle so I debated, then bought some to work with. The outside dimension is smaller but the corners allow the image to be almost as large as the circle. Below is the square, modeled by Buckwheat, whose portrait I painted years ago and whose person encouraged me to use his image.
4″ square beveled glass pet memorial suncatcher.
I had another idea, of course…the company also carried a graceful arch-top rectangle I’d wanted to try but found they wouldn’t be carrying it after current inventory ran out.
I had been looking at their 3″ x 5″ rectangle and also debated because it’s a difficult shape to fit, but when the company suggested that shape as an alternative—all their customer service people use all their products so you get the best real advice—I decided to go with it.
The first time I offered one at the Blessing of the Animals that vertical rectangle was an instant hit and I had several orders. At one of my vendor events this summer a mother ordered two for her daughter to depict her daughter’s beloved hounds, growing older now, and both in upright sitting positions. Both dogs looked marvelous with the image focusing entirely on their tall, graceful sitting posture.
The image area on this shape is 2.25″ x 4.25″. This suncatcher is modeled by Pixie, a beloved rescue kitty of a friend in rescue who’s been the recipient of just about all my new ideas; there’s a lot of loss in rescue.
Pixie, a 3″ x 5″ beveled rectangle glass suncatcher.
Thoughtful Holiday Gifts
The rectangle and square are just as popular as the original circle and all make thoughtful holiday gifts whether as a memorial or for the person who loves to see their pet on everything.
Standard with each suncatcher
I use my skills as an artist in traditional media and on computer to remove backgrounds, touch up lighting and composition, and add a background color or pattern that complements the subject (see Choosing a Photo…).
A sympathy card is also included. The one shown below is available with every suncatcher. You can visit my page of Animal Sympathy Cards to see a selection of others. If I am to ship directly to the recipient you can give me a note which I will write inside the card.
Love Never Ends note card
The price includes shipping, whether to you or your recipient, or if you are an animal professional to your practice or drop-shipped to your client, within the continental US. I have rates for international shipping.
I include a care and use card with each suncatcher. This card has a link to this website.
Little extras
Adding an extra subject, a special background pattern like a favorite blanket or chair are extra, usually no more than $10 per addition. Adding a name or other brief text is optional and is included.
Suncatchers are kept in confidence
I photograph each Suncatcher I make for my records and to keep the details of what it looked like for my reference. I never use a custom memorial item in any public venue, whether for display or self-promotion, without permission of both the giver and the recipient.
Order a Custom Suncatcher
Visit Suncatchers to order your thoughtful holiday gifts. As I mention above with the notecard, if your suncatcher is a gift for someone else I can ship it to them with a note from you.
All images and content are copyrighted and may not be used or reproduced in any way without my written permission. Please contact me if you are interested in using any of my content.
I began my design ideas for suncatchers the same way I did with many of my handmade gifts, wanting to see my art on gift items I saw in stores. In the early 90s I bought a 3.25″ x 3.25″ square bevel-edge clear suncatcher with a kitten etched in the center, which I not only liked but found inspiring. I had lots of pencil and ink sketches that would work on things like this. I held that idea all these years knowing I’d want my artwork on that beveled glass somehow, someday.
That etched kitten suncatcher from the early 90s is pretty battered by now.
And like most of my memorial gift items, my suncatchers began as personal gifts for friends who’d lost their animal companions. Using the standards I’d set up to create the images on my Custom Pet Memorial Votives I was ready to make good on that suncatcher idea.
Scroll down to read about how I developed the Custom Pet Memorial Suncatchers and information about the use of each shape with photos, and about ordering a suncatcher for yourself, a friend, or a customer of your practice or business.
All suncatchers range between $25.00 and $30.00 including shipping.
Adding an extra subject, a special background pattern like a favorite blanket or chair are extra, usually no more than $10 per addition.
Further customization by adding a name or brief text is included in the price.
I can ship a suncatcher to your recipient with a note from you at no extra charge.
Custom suncatchers also make unique customized gifts even when they aren’t in sympathy for a loss.
The original round Custom Pet Memorial Suncatcher
I wanted a piece of glass with a generous beveled edge that would cast rainbows when the sun shone through it the same as my little one did. Clear beveled glass pieces, preferably predrilled, were surprisingly not easy to find as many were too small for a nice-sized image and few were beveled, but I finally found a 5″ circle with 3/16″ thick glass and a deep beveled edge at least a 3/8″ wide. This glass feels substantial in your hand and the bevel is generous, the image is a good size.
I made a few for friends, then made a quantity of them for my longtime customer who owns the pet cremation business where I’ve taken my cats for the past 20 years, and I manage her website, photograph urns and events and provide design and promotional services.
We host a Pet Memorial Sunday celebration each September and I make a custom gift for each person who has RSVP’d. The suncatcher idea proved to be popular right away.
5″ beveled glass suncatcher.
Planning the square Custom Pet Memorial Suncatcher
I still wanted the square shape, though, partly to see my original idea, and to offer an alternative shape, and because not all images fit well in a circle.
The company I buy from has 4″ squares which would seem to have less presentation space than the 5″ circle so I debated, then bought some to work with. The outside dimension is smaller but the corners allow the image to be almost as large as the circle. Below is the square, modeled by Buckwheat, whose portrait I painted years ago and whose person encouraged me to use his image.
4″ square beveled glass pet memorial suncatcher.
And working out the rectangular Custom Pet Memorial Suncatcher
I had another idea, of course…the company also carried a graceful arch-top rectangle I’d wanted to try but found they wouldn’t be carrying it after current inventory ran out.
I had been looking at their 3″ x 5″ rectangle and also debated because it’s a difficult shape to fit, but when the company suggested that shape as an alternative—all their customer service people use all their products so you get the best real advice—I decided to go with it.
The first time I offered one at the Blessing of the Animals many people found that vertical rectangle very attractive and I had several orders.
The image area on this shape is 2.25″ x 4.25″. This suncatcher is modeled by Pixie, a beloved rescue kitty of a friend in rescue who’s been the recipient of just about all my new ideas; there’s a lot of loss in rescue.
Pixie, a 3″ x 5″ beveled rectangle glass suncatcher.
The rectangle and square are just as popular as the original circle.
What recipients have said:
“I have her suncatcher hanging in my kitchen window. I stand there and look at her every morning while I drink my coffee.”
Anonymous recipient, in person
I want to thank you for the very special, beautiful glass ornament suncatcher …It brought a tear to my eye that day and the day I hung it up in the sunlight. You really have a very special talent.
Anonymous recipient, in a letter
And they don’t have to be memorials
Custom suncatchers also make unique customized gifts even when they aren’t in sympathy for a loss. One of the suncatchers ordered at the Blessing of the Animals was a Fathers Day gift for a friend’s husband for a kitty who is very much alive.
A suncatcher can hang on any window, mirror or any place you want to see the image of your beloved animal companion.
Standard with each suncatcher
I use my skills as an artist in traditional media and on computer to remove backgrounds, touch up lighting and composition, and add a background color or pattern that complements the subject (see Choosing a Photo…).
A sympathy note card is also included. The one shown below is available with every suncatcher. You can visit my page of Animal Sympathy Cards to see a selection of others. If I am to ship directly to the recipient you can give me a note which I will write inside the card, otherwise I send you a blank card for your personal use.
Love Never Ends note card
The price includes shipping, whether to you, your practice or business, or drop-shipped to the recipient, within the continental US. I have rates for international shipping.
I include a care and use card with each suncatcher. This card has a link to this website.
Little extras
Adding an extra subject, a special background pattern like a favorite blanket or chair are extra, usually no more than $10 per addition. Adding a name or other brief text is optional and is included.
Suncatchers are kept in confidence
I photograph each Suncatcher I make for my records and to keep the details of what it looked like for my reference. I never use a votive in any public venue, whether for display or self-promotion, without permission of both the giver and the recipient.
Order a Custom Suncatcher
Visit Suncatchers to read about all the shapes and order yours. As I mention above with the notecard, if your suncatcher is a gift for someone else I can ship it to them with a note from you.
All images and content are copyrighted and may not be used or reproduced in any way without my written permission. Please contact me if you are interested in using any of my content.
My display and tent at the Blessing of the Animals, 2025.
I made a quick video of my display at the end of the Blessing of the Animals yesterday, 30 seconds so it could easily fit most social media formats. Ran out of space on my phone to make a longer one! So here we are:
“We’re getting ready to pack up at the Blessing of the Animals today. The weather turned out beautifully and I got to see old friends I haven’t seen for a while, and talk to a lot of people about my Custom Pet Memorial gifts and non custom remembrance gifts, including the fact that they can just be nice gifts for people who like their animal companion’s image on things.
I’ve linked above to each of the custom pet memorial and non-custom pet memorial items and gifts you see here. Soon enough I’ll have a better video to present these items. For now, here’s the one I shared on social media yesterday.
All images and content are copyrighted and may not be used or reproduced in any way without my written permission. Please contact me if you are interested in using any of my content.
I’ll feature all my Custom Pet Memorial and non-custom pet remembrance gifts, and animal portraits. Hosted by The Creatures of the Creator 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Unity Presbyterian Church, 1146 Greentree Rd., Green Tree
I’m a member of this pet loss support group at a local church. I’m so happy to be a part of this event to celebrate our animals.
I’ve been busy creating some new Custom Pet Memorial items that I’ll share after this event is over…because I’m still working on them today!
I’ll have my Custom Pet Memorial items:
Custom Pet Memorial Votives
Several styles of Custom Pet Memorial Suncatchers
Custom Pet Memorial Garden flags
Love Never Ends garden flag
Non-custom pet memorial remembrances:
Non-custom votives
Non-custom pet remembrance garden flags
Non-custom remembrance keepsakes
Love Never Ends votive
Star of Wonder Votive
Love Never Ends garden flag
A selection of Animal Sympathy Cards.
Custom Commissioned Portraits samples and Gift Certificates.
All images and content are copyrighted and may not be used or reproduced in any way without my written permission. Please contact me if you are interested in using any of my content.
