Crafty gift ideas the whole family would love

The next time a loved one throws herself a pity party, pay attention. You may actually get clues for holiday gift giving.

Complaints like, “I’m spending a fortune on cosmetics,” “My neighbor has the same scarf I just bought,” or the classic, “I’m totally stressed,” all point to the same thing.

Your buddy could use a hobby.

Hobbies allow people to master skills, alleviate tension and save money by making things they might otherwise spend a small fortune on, such as jewelry.

Hobbies like knitting give individuals a sense of accomplishment and purpose, says Mary Colucci, executive director of Gastonia, N.C.-based Craft Yarn Council of America. Knitting allows makes a fashion statement.

“Regardless of their reasons, [knitters] all find the process of working with their hands satisfying and relaxing,” she says.

What’s more, learning a hobby doesn’t require any special talent or aptitude. Genuine interest is all that required.

To give a great hobby gift, match your friend’s interests with a craft or handiwork. Once you make a suitable connection, assemble a gift package that includes an instructional book, DVD or magazine and useful accessories to get started.

To help you plan, here are tips on some top hobbies and how to create a gift package for the budding hobbyist in your life… and perhaps even for yourself.

Scrapbooking

This is the ideal hobby to help whittle down the stacks of snapshots many people cram into drawers or archive on computer hard drives.

“It’s for folks who take lots of pictures but never get around to putting them in an album,” says Julie Sturgeon, who recently launched Creative Resort, a studio for paper crafters and other hobbyists in Indianapolis.

“Scrapbooking gives added value to the photos and it’s an entertaining way to get a handle on your memories,” says Sturgeon.

“It’s not about being perfect,” she says. “It’s about storytelling, not fine art.” Kristin Degnan, spokeswoman for the Craft & Hobby Association, Elmwood Park, N.J., agrees. “Every beginner should know that there are no mistakes when it comes to creativity,” she says.

A prime reason people participate in crafts like scrapbooking is to express their creativity, according to the CHA’s 2006 Attitude & Usage Study. Degnan advises that beginners visit their local craft stores to explore the ideas and options that come with the world of scrapbooking, and to also consider taking advantage of the classes that most stores offer.

Gift ideas for beginning scrapbookers:

“The Complete Practical Guide to Scrapbooking” by Alison Lindsay (Lorenz Books, 2007), “601 Great Scrapbook Ideas” by Memory Makers (2007), or “Creating Keepsakes” magazine
• A scrapbooking class or series of classes at a local crafts store
• Ripping rulers (rulers with patterned edges so you can rip the paper edges into different shapes)
• Rub-on alphabet letters in various fonts
• Buttons
• Silk flowers

  Herb growing

  Herbs are prized for their beauty, scent and flavor – they “add so much color and fragrance,” explains Kathi Keville, director of the Nevada, Calif.-based American Herb Association, not to mention the possibilities they present when using them in culinary delights.

  During the summer, herbs are a welcome addition to the garden, “enhancing your landscape and cooking,” Keville says. As they bloom, their flowers can be used as garnishes for food, in dried flower arrangements or to flavor homemade or store-bought vinegar.