With the holidays just around the corner, this post will be all about gift ideas that you can make yourself or buy.  The majority of these ideas are pretty generic and gemstone or crystal related, for a more personal item will you need to know the persons likes and dislikes, fashion sense and colors that they prefer.

  • Zipper Pulls for jackets, coats, purses, backpack or anything else that a beaded bobble can clip to.  http://www.mytymebeads.com/Project.htm
  • Wine glass charms - I know these have been done to death, but make your own and make them personal.  Here is a tutorial from the Rings and Things site:  http://www.rings-things.com/Projects/68002-35.htm
  • Wine bottle charm - I haven’t seen these, but did find a reference to them.  Would be a great idea for anyone who likes to have blind wine tastings with friends.  The charms could be numbered for easy identification after the tasting.
  • Wine bottle stopper - What do you do with the left over wine that you didn’t drink for dinner.  We have several stoppers and one of my favorites is a stopper that a friend made that has a gemstone cabachon on the top.  This site has some wonderful instructions on how to make a wood turned wine bottle stopper.  http://www.yoyospin.com/stop/index.html
  • Gem Stone Tree - These are fun and easy to make.  Very unique gift and not something that everyone has unless it is my mother who has one in every room of her house.
  • Beaded Eyeglass holder - I’m challenged with this daily.  Since having eye surgery I find that one pair of readers isn’t enough.  I need one by my computer, one in the kitchen, one in the living room and one in my craft room.  I could make it easier if I just hung a pair around my neck.
  • Crystal ornaments - So many wonderful colors of crystals are available and in quite a good selection of shapes.  Buy a few, string them together with eye pins and hang a hook on the end.  These will sparkle and shine on any tree.  Too pretty to put on a tree, hang them in a window or make a mobile out of them by using some filiment (fishing line).  http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jsp?storyid=/templatedata/bhg/story/data/BeadedSnowflakes_080205.xml
  • Crystal plate - Okay this isn’t something to make, but is beautiful to look at.  When I talk about a crystal plate I wasn’t referring to something you eat off of.  A crystal plate is a rock with crystal pointers imbedded in a matrix.  The most common ones are clear, amethyst and citrine, but you can find mineral specimens in almost every color.  Some people believe that having an amethyst pointer plate in their home will bring harmony to those living there.  I just like them for their beauty.  They can be placed anywhere in a home and look especially good in a bookcase.  You can also try placing them in the bathroom.  They make great base rocks for the gem trees also.  http://www.mamasminerals.com/page/MM/CTGY/RAMMIN

I would like to add more ideas and instructions on how to make the gifts, so calling all you crafters out there.  I have the instructions for the gem tree, what can you provide?