Crafty folks actually like to get their hands dirty, which makes them a particularly difficult bunch to buy holiday gifts for. Whether the DIYer in your life fancies paper crafts, sewing, knitting or home-baked treats, a roundup of goodies sure to come in handy come project time:
Paper Source, a Boston-based stationery boutique, has a variety of paper flower-making kits which include materials and instructions to make 10 six-inch blooms. DIYers will surely master the technique and replicate on their own. Kits, including Candy Shop Magnolia pictured here, are $14 at paper-source.com.
Crafters get a kick out of putting their on stamp on their work. Anything that’s personalized makes a thoughtful gift. Custom self-inking stamps from PSA Essentials are a lovely way to marry the best of both worlds. Available to order in single initials or monograms in several designs and ink colors for around $42 (depending on your design) at The Writing Place, 97G Main Street, Stony Brook; Lion in the Sun, 314 Main Street, Huntington or roomservicehome.com.
Every crafter appreciates a sharp pair of scissors. Martha Stewart's all-purpose pair are extra-heavy with adjustable tension to accommodate thicker cuts. They're packaged with a blade guard in a storage-gift box. Available for $19.99 at Michael's retail locations or marthastewartcrafts.com.
Personalized satin ribbon from Williams-Sonoma can be used to trim handmade cards, wrapped gifts and homemade treats. It's sold in 15-yard rolls in red or white satin, in three different widths. $29 at williams-sonoma.com.
Crate & Barrel's winter-themed cookie cutters includes 10 tinplated shapes, including winter clothes, snowman, star, sleigh and snowflake. The set is boxed and bowed for easy gifting. $24.95 at Americana Manhasset or crateandbarrel.com.
Crafters appreciate books about their hobbies and kits that will help them learn something new. Of the many new DIY titles from Chronicle Books, the Cath Kidston Mending Kit includes everything needed to repair clothing and household items--including a seam ripper, sewing kit, tape measure, scissors and 32-page illustrated how-to booklet tucked inside a pretty cloth case. It's $24.95 at select booksellers or chroniclebooks.com.
