Gift Ideas

This year I'm not risking any late arrivals, and you don't need to either.

I have two left thumbs when it comes to anything crafty, and I approach making things “look pretty” more like a wrestling match than an afternoon of fun. But if I can do it, so can you. I have three tips that will take your special treats from baking sheet to gift-ready in no time flat. Before we get into specifics, my general advice here is to have a plan, and to have your plan before you go into the kitchen.

As a busy 20-something on a budget, I am always looking for thoughtful (yet simple), homemade gift ideas. The key here is that the project or recipe must truly be simple — something I can make with a few supplies, ideally in an hour or less. That’s where this framed Sunprint gift comes in. It’s a bit of a throwback, but its beauty is timeless. Sunprint Kits were originally developed in 1975 as teaching tools at the Lawrence Hall of Science on the UC Berkeley campus.

In the darker evenings of autumn, a candle’s light and warmth are welcome. Sure, you could go out and buy a box of tapers, but with just a few sheets of natural beeswax and a spool of wick, you can easily make your own candles at home. There’s no hot wax or dipping involved — this is an incredibly simple and quick project that’s sure to yield happiness for many winter nights to come. (Bonus: Beeswax candles also make great gifts!

Have you ever noticed that the nicest kitchen towels have a nifty little loop, perfect for hanging on a kitchen hook? It’s easy to add a loop to any towel yourself, making it that much more functional. Even better, this is a DIY you can knock out in all of a few minutes.