2008 Woodie Awards
Great gift ideas even for thrifty shoppers
On a budget this holiday? There are plenty of creative ideas to either create your gifts this holiday or learn where to shop when the cash isn't flowing.
Adria Eichner
Issue date: 12/14/04 Section: Features
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The year's hottest holiday gifts are usually fun, fascinating, innovative and....expensive. Many of these gadgets would put the often money-strapped college student into debt for months to come. Fortunately, there are more and more great holiday gifts that will bring joy to anyone's face while keeping some extra money in their pocket. It is often the unique, creative and crafty gift that will leave a lasting impression. Crafts are a sure winner when it comes to holiday gift giving. These special works of art show that they are worth a little extra time and effort. Some people are afraid that giving a homemade gift will make the giver look cheap or stingy.
To solve this troubling dilemma, take a walk up Market Street to The Painted Plate. Here there are hundreds of ceramic items ranging from mugs and plates to decorative figurines and flower vases. All of these items are displayed in their unpainted form so that the buyer can choose exactly which one will impress their loved one. After a piece is selected, a table is set up with paints, stencils and brushes that will be used to create the perfect painted masterpiece. If anyone's creativity and art skills are slightly lacking, there is a talented staff that is more then willing to assist in any way possible. After painting your pottery, you can expect to wait about a week for the piece to be heated and finperished. The cost of the pieces varies greatly, but a mug or salt and pepper set can be purchased for less then fifteen dollars while a large vase will run much higher. There is also the additional cost of heating the piece, which is half of the cost of the pottery. Still, a beautiful pottery display can be created for well under twenty dollars, and the impression that it will leave is certainly worth every penny.
Another crafty idea is to create decorative soaps. This sounds difficult, but in reality it is very easy. A simple trip to A.C. Moore or Frank's will be enough to get all the necessary supplies for probably about twenty to twenty-five dollars. Soap is actually sold in bulk, along with various scents and dyes. Choosing which mold to use can often be the most dif- ficult task since there is so much variety. After the soaps cool down, decorative paper and ribbon can be used to further enhance the creative gift. This gift can take care of several people on a holiday list since one block of soap yields well over twenty or thirty final products. These soaps are the perfect gift for almost anyone since smelling good is something that is universally appreciated.
To solve this troubling dilemma, take a walk up Market Street to The Painted Plate. Here there are hundreds of ceramic items ranging from mugs and plates to decorative figurines and flower vases. All of these items are displayed in their unpainted form so that the buyer can choose exactly which one will impress their loved one. After a piece is selected, a table is set up with paints, stencils and brushes that will be used to create the perfect painted masterpiece. If anyone's creativity and art skills are slightly lacking, there is a talented staff that is more then willing to assist in any way possible. After painting your pottery, you can expect to wait about a week for the piece to be heated and finperished. The cost of the pieces varies greatly, but a mug or salt and pepper set can be purchased for less then fifteen dollars while a large vase will run much higher. There is also the additional cost of heating the piece, which is half of the cost of the pottery. Still, a beautiful pottery display can be created for well under twenty dollars, and the impression that it will leave is certainly worth every penny.
Another crafty idea is to create decorative soaps. This sounds difficult, but in reality it is very easy. A simple trip to A.C. Moore or Frank's will be enough to get all the necessary supplies for probably about twenty to twenty-five dollars. Soap is actually sold in bulk, along with various scents and dyes. Choosing which mold to use can often be the most dif- ficult task since there is so much variety. After the soaps cool down, decorative paper and ribbon can be used to further enhance the creative gift. This gift can take care of several people on a holiday list since one block of soap yields well over twenty or thirty final products. These soaps are the perfect gift for almost anyone since smelling good is something that is universally appreciated.
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