Gifts for Pets and Pet Owners

 If you're giving gifts to someone with a pet, it can be fun to include the animal as well. Any pet store will of course have a multitude of toys and treats, and many grocery stores or supermarkets will as well. There are also myriad craft ideas online for inspiration!

TREATS

As with people, you need to be aware of allergies and intolerances for any edible gift. Also remember that many things people eat aren't good for animals. Most people know that dogs and cats can't eat chocolate, but fewer know that garlic, onion, and grapes are also verboten. Less commonly-kept animals, like fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, small mammals, and invertebrates have restrictions as well, and with most exotic pets being smaller than dogs and cats, smaller amounts of dangerous foods pose risk (the dose makes the poison). Larger animals like livestock can eat a lot of things out of the garden, but potatoes and rhododendrons are dangerous to them; horses are especially known for having delicate digestive systems. Other foods to watch out for include ones that contain xylitol (often found in sugar-free gum and peanut butter) or large pits and seeds like avocado (choking hazard), alcohol, coffee, tea, stems and leaves of potatoes and tomatoes, rhubarb leaves, mustard and apple seeds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, yeast dough, mushrooms, and foods with excessive fat, sugar, or salt. Especially for exotics, look up information specific to the species. Once you know you have a safe food in mind, run it past the pet owner to check for allergies.

Of course, there are lots of treats available at stores. If you have the time and ingredients, you can also make your own! Here are a few recipes:

Dog Treats

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Mix together 2 1/4 whole wheat cups flour, 1/2 cup powdered milk, 1 egg, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 3/4 cup beef bouillon or beef stock, and 1 tbsp packed brown sugar until well blended. Roll out dough onto floured surface and cut into dog bone shapes (or whatever shape you want). Bake for 30 minutes, cool on rack, and store in airtight container. Makes about 30-40 treats.

Cat Treats

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together 12 oz canned tuna, 1 egg, and 1 whole wheat cup flour. Form dough into small balls (cat-treat sized) and place on baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes until slightly browned. Let cool for at least ten minutes before offering to cat.

Recipes for reptiles, small rodents, herbivores like rabbits, carnivores like ferrets, and birds can be found at this great site: https://avianandexoticvets.com/recipes and some of my favorites are below.

Supercharged Salad (for reptiles)

Combine 1/2 c shredded raw green beans, 1/2 cup shredded raw pumpkin (or other orange-fleshed squash), 1 medium shredded raw parsnip, 1/4 cup minced raw melon, 1/4 cup raw diced carrot, and 1/2 cup alfalfa rabbit pellets (soaked in water to soften). Dust with multivitamin or calcium powder meant for reptiles.

Rodent Rhapsody (for mice, rats, cavies, etc)

Slice one baby carrot or small carrot stick so it can lay flat on a surface. Carefully scoop out a middle portion of the carrot, making it like a long shallow dish. Fill cavity with peanut butter, cream cheese, or other similarly-textured rodent-safe spread. "Plant" small rodent-safe treats like Cheerios or seeds in the cavity.

Raspberry Cookies (for rabbits or chinchillas)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mash 1/3 cup frozen raspberries, mix in 1-2 tbsp chopped fresh mint. Crush or grind 1/3 cup timothy hay-based rabbit pellets and 1 cup Weetabix cereal (do not use a coffee grinder that has been used for coffee; the coffee remnants will contaminate the pellets). Add dry ingredients to raspberry mixture and mix thoroughly. Drop by teaspoon onto parchment-paper lined baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until browned on the bottom. 

If the idea of making food is too intimidating, you can do a semi-homemade treat for hot summer months: simply freeze some store-bought treats you already know are safe in a bowl. The result is a large ice cube that the animal will have to lick or nibble to free the treats from, providing a refreshing drink and some mental stimulation. For warmer months, you can drill holes in a length of plastic pipe (be wary with gnaw-happy animals like rodents; they might eat the pipe) just the right size for treats to fall through--the animal will have to worry the pipe to get the treats out.

TOYS

When I was about six years old, I found an old tennis ball while out on a walk with my family. I took it home, wrapped it, and gave to our dog for Christmas. You don't have to wait for serendipity to provide you with a toy--most stores have dog and cat toys readily available, and it isn't too difficult to find toys for birds and small mammals. Pet stores and veterinary offices will cover more exotic animals.

You can also make toys. My kids have sewn little catnip pouches out of charm squares, stuffing them loosely with cotton and adding in a tablespoon or two of catnip. You could also knit a small ball, or attach some ribbon to a stick--just be sure any string, thread, yarn, or ribbon is very firmly attached, as cats are prone to eating loose string which can become tangled in their intestines. Another idea is stacking together cardboard pieces into a scratching post.

A worn-out t-shirt, towel, or pair of jeans can be cut and braided into a tug-of-war or chew toy for a dog. A rubber ball (big enough to not be a choking hazard) can be tied in an old sock. If you're really feeling creative about an idea for a high-energy dog, you can make a few obstacles for the dog to jump over or through!

Small animals like rodents, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates like places to hide and to climb. A little cave can be fun to decorate, provided you use materials that are safe for the animal. Rodents are known for chewing, amphibians absorb a lot through their skin, pine wood naturally contains oils that are dangerous for hermit crabs, water can dissolve toxins...be careful.

BEDS

Similar to small animals liking places to hide, animals like a comfortable place to sleep. Dog and cat beds aren't difficult to sew, knit, or crochet, though they can be time-consuming depending on the size of the animal. For cats and rodents especially, be aware of loose string or parts that can become loose with chewing: you don't want the pet to choke or get intestinal blockages. 

I knitted and felted the the bowl-shaped bed he's sitting in,
and helped my kids strip-quilt the blanket. (The fancy tuna was for his birthday.)

CLOTHES

Usually, pets don't really need--or want--clothes. But if an animal often accompanies its owner outdoors in inclement weather, a coat or booties (to protect paws from cold and from thawing chemicals that are used to melt snow and ice on roadways) might be warranted. Dogs are more likely that other pets to need accommodations like this, as most other pets either stay indoors or are bred to be outside (like livestock). If you have a friend who likes hiking with a dog, maybe the dog needs a raincoat--or a collapsible bowl for food and water!

FOR THE OWNERS

When I got my first dog as an adult (I had one as a kid, but my parents did most of the work), one of my aunts gave me a year's subscription to The Bark magazine, and a friend gave me a book about training scent hounds.

Because she's a redbone coonhound.
(I swear we didn't notice the sign until we looked at the picture later.)

If a pet owner is going out of town or is injured and you're willing and able to help out, you might offer to care for a pet for a time. Remember that some pets need much more attention and care than others, so don't commit if you can't do it. 

How does the pet owner show love for the pet? Some people might like books or movies related to animals like the memoirs by James Herriot, some might like household decorations, or jewelry, or calendars or artwork featuring their favorite creatures. Maybe a donation to a rescue group devoted to particular animals will be meaningful (especially in memory of a pet). If you see something that makes you think of a friend's beloved pet, go for it!

Gifts for Anniversaries

 Anniversaries are a great way to mark partners' commitments to each other. While the people celebrating the anniversary usually know each other well enough to find the right way to mark to occasion, it can be useful or fun to look to lists of "traditional gifts" for the different anniversaries, and brainstorm from there. As with any event when people exchange gifts with each other, the critical part is that all parties agree on the type and level of commemoration: whether everyone agrees to an exorbitant and opulent celebration, a small and intimate private function, or no acknowledgement at all--it's all good.

There are non-traditional ideas too. For example, items made in the year you were married (or when your relationship started) like wine or coins minted that year: give a penny for your first anniversary, a nickel for your fifth, and so on. Take a trip to a place that was special early in your relationship, or somewhere you've always wanted to go. Enjoy a recreation of the first meal you shared together. Set aside time to look through mementos of the time you've spent together. You can throw a party to celebrate with people important to you, or have an intimate evening alone. A vow renewal can be a lavish event or a few minutes set aside after a standard religious ceremony--I've attended both, the latter only because I happened to go to church that day, and both versions are touching. You can (several months in advance) request anniversary greetings from heads of state in some countries--check the relevant office's website for information on how to request a letter of congratulations.

First: Paper (traditional) or clocks (modern)
Books, letters, origami or other paper crafts, printed tickets to an event, stationery, magazine subscription
Promise of time--commit to spending time doing something with your partner

Second: Cotton or china
Anything sewn or otherwise handmade out of cotton; clothing, bedding, etc
Fancy meal on fine china dishes--either at home or a restaurant

Third: Leather or crystal/glass
Jewelry, clothing, accessories, shoes, etc made of leather
Personalized glassware, wine-tasting trip

Fourth: Fruit or flowers; or appliances
Plant a garden or fruit tree together, enjoy local produce at a farmer's market or locavore store, make a meal of local foods
Shop together for needed replacements, find useful accessories for current appliances, use current appliances for something you both enjoy (e.g.; cooking a nice meal)

Fifth: Wood or silverware
Buy or make a sculpture or home décor, take a trip to forest or museum that features wooden art, play a game with wooden pieces like Jenga, build something together
Enjoy a fancy meal with the "good" silver

Sixth: Candy or iron; wood
Candy bouquets, homemade candy, gourmet sweets; iron décor or garden art, tools
Buy or make a sculpture or home décor, take a trip to forest or museum that features wooden art, play a game with wooden pieces like Jenga, build something together

Seventh: Wool or copper; desk sets
Storebought or handmade wool clothing or accessories, wool craft supplies, a trip to the countryside or a farm (or if you already live on one, do you want a new sheep?); copper décor, cooking supplies, garden art, or tools
Monogrammed stationery, fancy pen or even an inkwell with a feather pen, computer accessories or upgrades

Eighth: Pottery or bronze; linen or lace
Storebought or handmade pottery for the kitchen, garden, or for décor; bronze tools or art
Table linens with monograms or other personalized touches, new clothing or accessories, décor

Ninth: Willow or pottery; leather
Storebought or handmade pottery for the kitchen, garden, or for décor; pooden furniture, walk through a forest or arboretum, woven basket filled with...anything! 
Jewelry, clothing, accessories, shoes, etc made of leather

Tenth: Tin or aluminum; diamond jewelry
Tins of gourmet food, homemade food wrapped in foil, trip to places where tin or aluminum souvenirs are made, equipment or tools made of tin or aluminum (lower-priced bicycles are often made of aluminum; perhaps a biking trip), metal container to hold...anything!
The obvious like rings, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces--or art or décor

Eleventh: Steel or fashion jewelry
Stainless steel kitchen supplies or tools, artwork, car accessories or a car trip
Jewelry for a night out, jewelry fashioned into artwork or décor

Twelfth: Silk or linen; pearls
Silk undergarments/lingerie, silk bedding, silk outergarments like ties or shawls, personalized linens
Jewelry, art, or décor with pearl or mother-of-pearl inlay; oysters, trip to a beach

Thirteenth: Lace, textiles
Lace lingerie or other clothing, lace-trimmed décor, "laced-up" shoes for a walk, anything wrapped in lacey doilies, lace-looking treats like delicate cookies
Monogrammed or otherwise personalized home décor, new clothing or other fabric-based home needs, shopping trip, fabric for crafts

Fourteenth: Ivory, gold jewelry 
Of course, it's best to avoid actual ivory as it should stay on the animals it comes from--but perhaps a trip to wildlife refuge or zoo or museum where the animals are found (ivory comes not only from elephants, but other animals including walruses, narwhals, and elk, plus extinct animals like mammoths and mastodons), or a trip to a concert hall, or to a museum that has ancient artwork is in order.
Aside from the usual jewelry like rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and watches, gold can be made into artwork and décor.

Fifteenth: Crystal, watches
Jewelry, décor, vases, stemware, a meal at a fancy restaurant, artwork
Any time-keeping instrument, or a gift of time

Sixteenth: Coffee or tea (both traditional and modern)
Matching mugs, date to a coffee/tea shop, fancy brew, coffee/tea making machines or accessories, treats that go with the drinks (or other drinks like hot chocolate if coffee and tea aren't your...cup of tea)

Seventeenth: Wine and spirits (both traditional and modern)
Date to a nice bar, wine-tasting, tour of a brewery or winery, bottle of high-end alcohol (or other drinks like sparkling cider if alcohol isn't wanted or appropriate), picnic lunch with a toast

Eighteenth: Appliances (both traditional and modern)
Shop together for needed replacements, find useful accessories for current appliances, use current appliances for something you both enjoy (e.g.; cooking a nice meal)

Nineteenth: Jade (both traditional and modern)
Meal at any of the numerous restaurants with "jade" in the name, jade jewelry or art, jade-colored clothing or other items, bonsai jade tree, trip to a place where jade is a popular souvenir item

Twentieth: China, platinum
New dishes (especially if after two decades, yours need replacing), personalized dishes, figurines or other décor made of china
Art, jewelry, or décor made of platinum; music from a "platinum" record

Twenty-first: fire, as a theme (both traditional and modern)
Candle-lit dinner, date around a fire pit or at an open-flame grill, barbecue tools or foods, trip to see fire-related things like volcanos

Twenty-second: water, as a theme (both traditional and modern)
Visit to an aquarium or natural body of water like a lake or ocean, kayaking or canoe trip, drinkware, cruise, fountain for a garden or the home, swimming adventure like scuba diving or snorkeling, trip to a wishing well or fountain

Twenty-third: air, as a theme (both traditional and modern)
Balloons, trip on an airplane or hot air balloon, sky-diving or parachuting trip, something breath-taking or a way to indicate "you take my breath away"

Twenty-fourth: stone, as a theme (both traditional and modern)
Pizza or other food cooked on a baking stone, hot stone massage, rock climbing or similar adventure, go out for drinks "on the rocks," visit to a place with stone sculptures, precious stones made into décor or jewelry, stone artwork, a way to indicate "you're my rock," anything given in a stone box

Twenty-fifth: silver (both traditional and modern)
Anything wrapped in silver-colored paper, silver art or jewelry, silver décor or dinnerware

Twenty-sixth: art (both traditional and modern)
Handmade or storebought artwork, trip to an art museum, art classes to take together

Twenty-seventh: music (both traditional and modern)
Playlist of favorite or meaningful music, date to a concert or orchestra, new music equipment (either or listening or making your own), music lessons, a song you composed yourself

Twenty-eighth: linens (both traditional and modern)
New dining linens, new bed linens, a meal out at a fine restaurant, textiles for crafting, handmade linen items

Twenty-ninth: tools  (both traditional and modern)
Tools for any hobby or pastime: crafting, woodworking, cooking, et. al.; working on a project together, using your creativity and talent to create a gift

Thirtieth: pearl or diamond
Décor, art, jewelry, or home goods with pearl or mother-of-pearl; oysters, trip to a beach
Décor, art, jewelry, or home goods with diamond; diamond-tipped tools, trip to a museum with diamonds like the Smithsonian with the Hope Diamond

Thirty-first: travel/tourism (both traditional and modern)
Any trip near or far, items for traveling like new luggage or a travel toiletry set

Thirty-second: bronze (both traditional and modern)
Bronze artwork or décor, bronze jewelry, bronze home goods, bronze-colored clothing or accessories, anything wrapped in bronze paper, history lecture about the bronze age

Thirty-third: iron (both traditional and modern)
Iron décor or home goods, cast iron cookware, hobby items made of iron like golf clubs, a meal together high in iron, history lecture about the iron age

Thirty-fourth: food (both traditional and modern)
Any meal together, whether home or away, elaborate or simple; anything to make food

Thirty-fifth: coral or jade
Trip to a beach (bonus points if it has coral), a seafood meal, anything coral-colored or wrapped in coral-colored paper
A meal at any of the numerous restaurants with "jade" in the name, jade jewelry or décor, anything jade-colored or wrapped in jade-colored paper

Thirty-sixth: antiques (both traditional and modern)
Any vintage piece, décor reflecting important parts of the past, a trip to a place known for antique souvenirs, anything that fits in the theme of "old fashioned" including old fashioned doughnuts or the drink old fashioned

Thirty-seventh: books (both traditional and modern)
Autographed and/or first edition of a favorite book, e-reader, audio book to listen to while on a trip, a story you've written yourself

Thirty-eighth: luck, as a theme (both traditional and modern)
Shamrock or lucky penny or other symbol of luck, trip to a casino (as with any gambling trip, agree on an amount of money you're comfortable losing and take only that in cash to avoid temptation)

Thirty-ninth: laughter, as a theme (both traditional and modern)
Watch a comedy together, go see a comedian live, tell jokes together, reminisce over happy memories--and get ideas for making more

Fortieth: ruby (both traditional and modern)
Ruby jewelry or artwork or décor, a meal of red-themed foods like red wine and ruby grapefruits, a bouquet of red flowers

Forty-first: office or desk décor (both traditional and modern)
Personalized picture frames or pen holders, computer equipment, stationery

Forty-second: clocks or watches (both traditional and modern)
Personalized/engraved watch, artful wall clock, setting time aside for each other

Forty-third: entertainment, as a theme (both traditional and modern)
Take in a movie or a live show, have an entertainment date at home with popcorn and snacks

Forty-fourth: electronics (both traditional and modern)
Replace worn-out electronics or buy the ones you've always wanted, upgrade your electrical outlets or do other needed electrical work, "fun" electronics like digital photo frames or entertainment-themed devices

Forty-fifth: sapphire (both traditional and modern)
Artwork, décor, home goods, or jewelry with sapphire; blues or rhythm-and-blues concert, anything blue-colored or wrapped in blue-colored paper

Forty-sixth: games (both traditional and modern)
Any game to play together, attending a sporting event, a personalized treasure hunt, a murder mystery dinner theater or escape room date

Forty-seventh: garden or plants (both traditional and modern)
Walk through a garden or park, National Parks pass, gardening supplies, houseplants or garden plants or seeds, a bouquet of flowers utilizing flower messages (e.g.; red chrysanthemums symbolize "I love you")

Forty-eighth: home improvement, as a theme (both traditional and modern)
Depending on your budget and needs, anything from a new piece of home décor to a remodel--or just spruce up your house with a solid cleaning, either together or from a cleaning service

Forty-ninth: copper (both traditional and modern)
Home goods, tools, décor, jewelry, or artwork made with copper; anything copper-colored or wrapped in copper-colored paper

Fiftieth: gold (both traditional and modern)
Artwork or jewelry made with gold, gold-colored flowers, anything gold-colored or wrapped with gold-colored paper, anything that represents elegance and longevity

Fifty-first: photos or cameras (both traditional and modern)
Scrapbook or collage of treasured memories, professional portraits, a trip together (with a camera) to create memories

Fifty-second: bath or spa, as a theme (both traditional and modern)
Anything for a relaxing bath (alone or together) like fancy soap or a good book, spa day, new towels or other bath needs, heated towel rack

Fifty-third: plastic (both traditional and modern)
Just about any item can be made of plastic--including plastic gift cards to a nice restaurant

Fifty-fourth: glass (both traditional and modern)
Home décor, serving pieces, or artwork made of glass

Fifty-fifth: emerald (both traditional and modern)
Jewelry or artwork or décor made with emerald, trip to the Emerald City or Emerald Isle or similarly-named places, watching the Wizard of Oz, green tea, anything green-colored (including money) or wrapped in green paper

Fifty-sixth: day, as a theme (both traditional and modern)
Spending a day together, a movie date watching movies with the word "day" in the titles, remember the wonderful days you've had together--and make plans for more good memories

Fifty-seventh: night, as a theme (both traditional and modern)
Spending a night together, a movie date watching movies with the word "night" in the titles, a night out, star-gazing, anything for making sleep better

Fifty-eighth: faith and hope, as a theme (both traditional and modern)
If you're religious anything related to your faith will work, anything uplifting, trips to places that inspire faith and hope

Fifty-ninth: charity/love, as a theme (both traditional and modern)
Charitable acts you can enjoy together, donations that memorialize your commitment to each other like a donation of a park bench with your names on it

Sixtieth: diamond (both traditional and modern)
Artwork, jewelry, or décor with diamonds     

Gifts for Gardeners

If there's someone in your life you want to give a gift to who enjoys gardening, catering to that hobby is a great starting point. Some things to consider when picking a gift:

How big is the garden? Some are spread out over a person's entire property, some are in a side yard, and some are grown in containers on porches or countertops. All gardeners need to water their plants, but the size of the garden will mean that a watering can is better for some and long soaker hoses and sprinklers are better for others. Just about everyone with an outdoor garden could use sun protection. Many people will find gardening gloves and knee pads useful, but smaller or established gardens are less likely to need trowels and shovels. Gardens that take up only part of a yard are easier to maintain and look nicer with clear garden borders or even raised beds--talk with your recipient to see if those would make good gifts. People with container gardens have less space to work with, so new plants and seeds might not be as welcome, but perhaps some more containers are needed for new plants or ones that have outgrown their current containers. Terra cotta pots are nice for this: you can paint them to customize them for your recipient. Larger gardens can be time-consuming to care for--maybe the owners would like an automated watering system, or even just help and company while weeding. If there's room for more plants in any size garden, perhaps look for "fancy" ones like heirloom varieties or strains of flowers with especially striking patterns like galaxy petunias.

What is the garden for? For food, for relaxation, for landscaping, for beauty? Someone who grows food might appreciate complementary crops to grow, like herbs that can be mixed with the already-planted tomatoes to make sauces. If you're near a farmer's market, you might be able to find seeds or starts of local or heirloom plants--I like to find Walla Walla onions to grow over other varieties, for example. People who enjoy spending time in the garden might like garden décor like windcatchers or birdbaths, or some lawn furniture to sit in while appreciating the plants. You can make garden art, too: I helped my kids and my sister-in-law's kids make stepping stones for my mother-in-law to put in her garden. If someone has spent a lot of time and effort transforming an area into a garden, gifts that help keep it nice are great, like mulch and other fertilizer or weed control measures. 

What sort of climate does the garden grow in? Not all plants grow in all environments. An aloe vera won't do well outside in cold climates, and aquatic plants like lilypads are going to be tricky to grow in arid climates. Someone living in a harsher environment might like a greenhouse though, and they come in a variety of sizes. Local plants will be easier to care for and grow better than exotic ones, plus any with flowers will provide good food for local pollinators: bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and even some bats and other mammals will appreciate local plants along with your recipient. If you know someone whose garden needs extra attention, maybe you can offer to care for it when the person is on an out-of-town trip. 

How much access do wild animals have to the garden? If your recipient is tired of rabbits, deer, birds, or other animals sampling the garden, fencing or other deterrents are a good idea. I personally use a dog to keep mammals away from my garden (she doesn't mind the birds and neither do I), but you really ought to talk to people before springing pets on them! For something as permanent and visible as a fence, definitely consult with the gardener first. For smaller and shorter areas, a frame covered in chicken wire and placed over the plants makes it difficult for animals to get in, although depending on the size of the holes, small animals like wrens and mice can still slip in, and of course insects and other invertebrates can as well. Beneficial insects like ladybugs and praying mantids are a good offense as are beneficial nematodes, eating small creatures like aphids that would otherwise feast on the plants, damaging them. There are also sprays, storebought and homemade, that can deter animals. Certain plants, for example crocuses and bluebells, work well to keep animals like deer away too, and marigolds deter slugs and snails; a gift of those plants to make a border might be nice. Used coffee grounds add nutrients to the soil (fresh ones would be too acidic), deter pest insects, and attract worms--a friend of mine works at a coffee shop and often brings me used ground for my compost pile. Motion-activated sprinklers, lights, and sound equipment can also help. On the other hand, if your recipient doesn't mind "sharing" with the local wildlife, maybe you can look for something to encourage the animals: bird feeders, plants that pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies love, and places for them to roost like bird houses and bat boxes. A nice trail camera or traditional camera could work too.

How particular is the owner about the garden? For example, I grow both food and ornamental plants. There are some fruits and vegetables I don't care to grow, but I'm open to planting almost any kind of flower or succulent or other decorative plant. Some people might have preferences for specific varieties, too: maybe Roma tomatoes are better than beefsteak or cherry. Maybe you love the garden gloves you use, but your recipient likes another. If you're concerned you might not pick the "right" plants or garden tools, a gift card to a garden store is a good choice. You can pair it with the gift of time: take your recipient to lunch, then head to the garden store together. 

Gifts for Athletes, Coaches, and Sports Enthusiasts

A person's hobby or passion is a great starting point for brainstorming gifts. For people into sports, whether they compete themselves or just like to watch, there are a lot of ideas.

SPORTING SUPPLIES

Athletes often go through a lot of supplies: athletic tape, pre-wrap, Band-Aids, and ice packs are a good bet for most. Healthy snacks and water are also a good idea, especially for long competition days. For outdoor sports, sunscreen or other sun protection is a must--people can get sunburned even on overcast days, and it's not uncommon for people to forget how well snow reflections UV rays and end up badly sunburned while participating in snow sports. Depending on how close to nature the outdoor sports get, bug repellant or antihistamine lotion could be good, too. While coaching cross country, I have twice been to meets where the race course ended up going by a hornet nest. Fortunately, the athletes who got stung weren't allergic (the one who was allergic had forgotten his sting kit the first time, but never did again!).

Most athletes have at least a few pieces of equipment they have to transport from one place to another. Whether it's a full set of pads for football or just specialized shoes for racing, it's nice to have a good, sturdy bag (handmade or store-bought) or other way to carry the things around. Some equipment is tougher to carry than others--poles for pole vault aren't heavy but are very long! If you find a creative solution, offer it. My track and field coach saw a large plastic pipe at a construction site while he was on the way home from work, pulled over, and asked how he could buy one. It was wide enough in diameter to fit several poles in, so while it was still a two-person job to carry the poles, they were no longer slipping around as we did. Heavy equipment like weights and throwing implements need very sturdy carrying cases; others might need very large ones. Most athletes have at least two layers for competitions, warming up perhaps in sweats and then competing in a shorts-and-t-shirt sort of uniform. If you're able, you can offer to watch the athlete's things during the competition. When I coached, I bought the team a backpack with lots of pockets to keep jewelry in, as it wasn't allowed to be worn during competition (I also bought pads and tampons to keep in it, given out at the discretion of the girls' team captain).

There is a plethora of sport-specific equipment. A track and field athlete might need replacement spikes to screw into her jumping cleats, a soccer player might need new shin guards, a volleyball team might need a new net. Corporate sponsors often help teams by purchasing uniforms or other supplies in exchange for having the company name advertised at games--plus it helps the often-young athletes learn valuable social, health, and time-management skills.

SPORTING SUPPORT

Athletes and coaches put a lot into their passion. Acknowledging their hard work is a great gift. By simply showing up to a sports event to watch your nephew pitch or your sister come in under par or your friend coach a basketball team, you're demonstrating that you appreciate that time and effort. 

My grandparents had a tradition: when one of their grandchildren earned a varsity letter, they'd buy that grandchild a letterman's jacket. I loved getting mine after working to earn it! 

Supporters might also bring healthy snacks like fruit, or water. Maybe a team has a tournament far away and needs to raise cash to fund the trip--spreading the word about the team car wash or other fundraiser is helpful, as is donating gasoline gift cards or other in-kind help. When I did high school sports, a teammate's parents took pictures throughout the season and gave each of us an envelope with a couple dozen pictures of our season highlights. I still have some of those pictures years later!

FAN GEAR

Someone who supports a team, whether playing the sport or not, is likely to appreciate items with the team's logo on it. You do need to be sure not to go overboard; most people don't like getting the same thing year after year or being defined solely by one aspect of a personality. But if you know someone would like a team shirt (and the person's clothing size!), or beer mug, or home décor object, or team-emblazoned household objects like cooking utensils, you're set. My husband loves the Green Bay Packers cheesehead my brother gave him for Christmas years ago. Maybe a book or movie about the team's history or triumphs exists, or team-themed food. They don't even have to be team-specific: Girl Scouts are told to suggest people buy boxes of cookies in colors that support local teams, like green Thin Mints and blue Trefoils for the Seahawks, Mariners, and Sounders here in the Seattle area.

If the team is local or will be playing nearby, a pair of tickets could be perfect. As with any time-sensitive gift, be sure your recipient's schedule and health allow for the outing. Some teams hold events (in their local areas) for meeting fans; that's another fun option.

A great piece of memorabilia is autographs. They can be pricey on websites like eBay, but that's not the only place to get them. Teams that hold events open to the public like picture days are a good place to find autographs. I've been able to get a few just by writing to the team or athlete and asking (include a self-addressed stamped envelope). My mom got me an autograph of an Olympic athlete the same way, by writing to the college where she now coaches. Keep your eyes open at sporting events: my brother and I have both been at track meets attended by Olympians who were happy to give us autographs when we asked. Another time, I was at the homecoming game for a college football team, and overheard two other people in the stands talking. I told them it sounded like they were reminiscing about having played and it turns out they were two of the more famous past players. They were flattered to be asked for an autograph, and gladly signed my ticket. Any sports fan will love having a piece of history!

Left to right: Stacy Dragila, Dave Johnson, Cliff McBride,
Spider Gaines, and Tommie Smith

Sewing Tutorial: Fidget Mats

I love the marble mazes I posted two months ago, but they might not be appropriate fidget toys if you need to worry about choking hazards--enough chewing can get the marbles out, and babies and some older people are going to chew. Here's an alternative sewing project for when that's a concern. It's also a great way to use up small amounts of fabric and ribbon.

No choking hazards here!

SUPPLIES

Four pieces of different textures of fabric
Six (or more) ribbons of different texture and width--none with wires
Fabric scissors
Regular scissors
Rotary cutter
Cutting mat with grid and ruler
Clean potato chip bag

Regular scissors lest your sewing ancestors haunt you
when it comes time to cut the bag.

DIRECTIONS

Cut the ribbon into four-inch (10 cm) long pieces. If you only have a small amount of ribbon, three inches  (7.5 cm)will suffice, but four is easier to work with.

If possible, have each ribbon a different texture than the other.

Using your regular scissors, cut the potato chip into a ten inch by ten inch (25 cm) square. The bag should already have been wiped clean and run through the dishwasher or washing machine. You can also use any sort of bag with the same feel as a potato chip or buy crinkle paper outright.

USE REGULAR SCISSORS, NOT FABRIC SCISSORS

Next, cut three of your fabrics into three-inch (7.5cm) wide by nine-inch (23 cm) wide strips, and the fourth into a nine-inch by nine-inch (23 cm) square. 

I used fleece, a silky piece, and minke for the strips,
and flannel for the square.

Now you should have six lengths of ribbon, one chip bag square, three strips of fabric, and one square of fabric. Time to start assembling the fidget mat.

Ready to go

Sew the strips along the long edges with the right sides facing, to make them into a square.

I chose to order them fleece, silky, minke

Square up the edges.

See-through rulers with grids are the best.

Fold the ribbons in half and pin then around the perimeter, leaving a little bit of each raw each hanging over the side, to ensure they get caught when you sew them in place.

You can sew them in right now and remove the pins,
or after the next step and just take extra care to watch for pins when turning.

Layer your pieces with the chip bag on the bottom, fabric square right side up, strips with ribbons right side down. 

The bag might try to curl, which is why having it bigger than
the fabric pieces is nice.

Pin or clip the pieces together and sew around the perimeter, leaving a space open for turning.

If you haven't already sewn in the ribbons, watch for those pins.

Trim the extra edges of the chip bag.

USE REGULAR SCISSORS. DO NOT USE FABRIC SCISSORS.

Trim any bulky pieces of ribbon and fabric as needed.

Back to fabric scissors.

Use a zig zag to top stitch the perimeter...

The ribbons are very secure now!

...and the seams between the strips, and you're done!

This also helps the chip bag piece stay in place.

Now the fidget mat is ready to be played with. The bag inside the fabric makes a fun crinkly noise when bent or squeezed, and the ribbons and fabric provide a variety of textures to rub.

Disposing of Leftover Supplies

 There will always be some sort of clean up involved in making gifts. Whether it's tossing the wrapping a craft kit came in, straightening up the kitchen after baking, or figuring out what to do with the rest of the yarn, there will be something. What can you do with the leftovers?

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

Having less mess in the first place is a good start. When possible, look for supplies with less packaging material. Make a half-recipe instead of a whole if it will make too much. Buy a smaller skein of yarn or a smaller cut of fabric (but do make sure you have enough to finish the project!). The twelve-pack of paint might be cheaper per tube than the six-pack, but if you're not going to use the other colors, you haven't really saved money. 

But you will usually have something left over. Maybe you made a birthday cake that only called for egg whites--but you can add the yolks to your breakfast eggs, or freeze them to use in future recipes. Lots of food leftovers like this can be frozen: diced vegetables for soups or roasts, berries for pies, cookies that are already baked or the dough itself until you're ready to bake it. Small amount of yarn left over from a bigger project are great for making smaller ones like hats, gloves, and scarves. They can also be combined to make something larger, like a multi-colored blanket. 

A variety of hats made from remnants of larger products

The random and varied colors make beautiful stripes.

The same goes for fabric scraps. I keep my partially-used fabric in a basket, using bits at a time for things like purse pockets or strip-quilted pot holders until there's just a bit left. Then I either cut it down into a charm square or into a strip three inches wide and add it to my coil of strips...

My current collection

...And the charm squares can be used for various projects, while the strip coil eventually becomes a jelly roll quilt.

I almost have enough for a second quilt!

A block of wood you used half of can probably be used again. A used piece of embroidery stabilizer can be torn in half, flipped around, and sewn together to make a big enough piece for a second embroidery piece. When you finish a project, take a look at the pieces left over. Can they be used again--and how annoying will it be to store them? If there are good useable pieces but you don't want to store them, you might be able to donate them--more on that in a moment. 

And when you do get down to just scraps, it's time to dispose of them. Some can be recycled in curbside recycling, like paper, plastic, and metal items. Check with your waste disposal because there might be restrictions about the specific types of material. For example, shiny papers might not be accepted. Flimsier plastic like the kind plastic bags are made from shouldn't go in most curbside recycling, but grocery stores often have collection bins for it. Fabric, yarn, and similar items can be bagged, labeled as "scraps," and given to Goodwill and other places to be sold to fabric recyclers.

There, it will be shredded for use as rags or furniture stuffing.

Or you can make your own stuffing.

Leftover pieces of wood from woodcrafting that are too small to be used can be used for kindling or might be suitable for yard waste, provided the wood is free of dangerous chemicals. Yard waste or composting is also excellent for food scraps like egg shells, used coffee grounds (they attract worms and repel slugs and snails), and food-soiled paper like the paper towel you used to smear butter on the side of a baking dish. Check with your local waste management as the rules vary.

DONATE

Maybe you have half a yard of fabric, a stack of craft paper, a few spools of ribbon, or a large jar of beads left after a project, maybe you were given craft supplies that aren't useful to you, or maybe you just changed your mind about pursuing a particular craft. Either way, you find yourself with supplies you don't have a use for and don't want gathering dust. You can donate those. Lots of secondhand stores take craft supplies, and so do crafting guilds. For example, a crochet guild near me takes donated yarn to make items for charity. Schools, especially for younger grades, often like art supplies; as do daycares, Sunday schools, after-school clubs, summer camps, and Scout groups. Some will even be willing to come to you to pick up the items. Groups like BuyNothing are a great way to offload your wares: you can list what you want to give away and people will come pick it up from your door.

If you don't want to donate the raw materials, you can make items to donate. My knitting guild donates cold-weather items to various groups every December, often made from yarn that was donated to us. Some guilds will work together on a big project like a giant quilt, and raffle it off for a charity event. I like to knit, but I already have blankets, and don't really like to use hats or scarves, but I can knit things to give others. I've also made toys for my church's Angel Tree--groups like are a good place to donate decorative or useful handmade items, for that extra special touch to a gift for someone in need. 

One surprising place that often accepts handmade gifts is food banks. Not all will, but many like to have items for their clients to "shop" from so their clients can give birthday or holiday gifts. Along the same lines, some food banks are able to accept homemade and homegrown food. Always check before you bring the food, because the rules vary.

...OR SELL

There's nothing wrong with making some money. If you have a large amount of craft supplies and want to see if they'll fetch a nice price online or at a yard sale, go for it. I find that eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist have about equal success for selling craft supplies. I give any item I list a time limit of a month or two, and if it hasn't sold in that time, I donate it. I personally wouldn't do a yard sale just for craft supplies, but if I happened to be about to have a yard sale, I'd check my supply stash to see if I wanted to try to get rid of some of it. 

My knitting guild has a fun strategy: anyone who wants to can bring leftover craft supplies to show, and anyone who wants to buy it pays what she feels is a fair price, and the money goes to our charity fund. We've been able to give quite a bit local charities this way.

MAKE SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Very small bits of craft material can be made into something completely different. A bit of yarn or strip of fabric makes a nice string to wrap a present. Scraps from various types of projects, especially if they're in fun colors, look nice in a vase, jar, or ornament. The last bit of paper from making cards could be used for origami, or to make a gift tag. 

Don't keep leftovers forever and certainly don't horde them. Just give them a bit of thought before you get rid of them. Some things will be destined for the landfill, but more than you might expect can be used for something else, or recycled.

Making Gifts with Kids

Most hand-made gifts that an adult might make can also be made by a child, given enough patience on the part both the child and the adult helping. Here are some ideas for gifts more with children in mind.

Check the library or a book store for ideas too; 
there are tons of craft books for kids.

CRAFT KITS

You can find craft kits just about anywhere, from dollar stores to craft stores to impulse buy sections of grocery stores. Suncatchers; modeling kits for soaps, candles, ornaments, candies; stepping stones; beading and jewelry; yarn, sewing, and other needlecraft; even baking kits--baked goods are an excellent gift for kids to help make, because even a very young child can help put sprinkles on cookies or stir a batter. Craft kits come with everything you need already in them, making them a convenient way to get all your supplies. Well, everything except patience and cleaning supplies...

You can also get ideas from the kits--maybe you have the supplies on hand already! 

TOOTHPICKS, POPSICLE STICKS, CLOTHESPINS, AND OTHER WOOD IDEAS

Little pieces of wood are great for crafts. Provided they're smooth (i.e.; no splinters), your child can use them to make flowers, butterflies (with dyed coffee filters), model planes, bookmarks, frames, and even 3D shapes like bird feeders or pencil holders. You'll also need things like paint, glue, and twine for lots of projects. Let your child's creativity lead the way!

SALT DOUGH, CLAY, PLASTER, AND OTHER SCULPTING MATERIALS

Most kids love molding and sculping shapes. While it can get messy (have them work outside, in a garage, or over spread out newspaper or junk mail ads), it's a fun way to help kids create a gift. Materials that will harden and be water-proof are good for coasters, stepping stones, and even cups, plates, and bowls so long as there are no toxic materials that can leach into food. Be sure to give these sorts of creations with instructions to hand-wash!

You can buy ready-made clay or make your own. Salt dough is popular and easy: 1 part salt, 4 parts flour, 1.5 parts water; bake the creations for two to three hours at 250F; let cool; paint. A tip: kneading salt dough is an excellent way to find paper cuts you didn't know you had. Wear gloves if you have any scratches!

Good for handprints, paw prints, any shape you have a 
cookie cutter for, and 3D objects.

There are also pottery studios that can fire higher-quality clay in a kiln, and place to paint sculptures and other pottery. At both types, you'll need to be able to get back to the studio in a week or two to pick up your finished pieces.

FILLING CLEAR VESSELS

I've most commonly seen this idea used for Christmas ornaments, but you can also make suncatchers and curios. All you need is a clear glass or plastic item and something pretty to put inside. They can be filled with ribbon, fabric, crinkle paper, silk flowers, Easter grass, colored sand, or glitter. You can drip some acrylic paint in the bottom and tip them upside-down over a paper cup until dry, letting the paint swirl around the inside. You can also paint the outside or help kids make designs with their fingerprints.

There are more shapes available that spheres,
and other sorts of containers like fancy jars.

You can also fill a jar or other container with dry ingredients for cookies or other recipes. This past Christmas, one of my kid's friends gave us plastic Christmas ornaments filled with hot chocolate powder, crushed candy canes, mini chocolate chips, and marshmallows: fancy hot chocolate!

JEWLERY AND SIMILAR DECORATIONS

Beads made from various materials, ribbon, charms, embroidery floss, jewelry wire, fishing line, maybe some chain links or earring hooks and needle-nosed pliers: have some on hand, and your child can make something as simple as a necklace with a single charm on it, or weave an elaborate friendship bracelet, or make a hair bow, craft a keychain, or even create a windchime. Be aware of choking hazards and keep an eye on things to avoid spills, and see what creations your child comes up with!

KEEP IT SIMPLE

Maybe you want something easy, something that can be done in few minutes and that your young child can handle without making a mess or getting frustrated. There's nothing wrong with a simple wildflower bouquet or a card with a picture your child drew. A painting on a piece of cardstock, felt, or thin foam makes a nice bookmark or frame for a picture! If you're already making cookies, let your child add some food coloring to part of the dough, cut some shapes, or add sprinkles or frosting. 

If your child wants to make a present for someone, gauge your child's patience, attention span, and motor skills and help guide toward a suitable craft. It might get messy, but your child will have fun and enjoy making something special to give to someone special.

Sewing Tutorial: Sleeping Mask

 My daughter had a great idea: sleeping masks as party favors for a sleepover. They're not hard to make either! You can even embroider a fun design on the fabric prior to cutting and sewing.

Try to guess her favorite animal.

SUPPLIES

Elastic (I used 1/2' wide knit)
Less than a fat quarter's worth of flannel
Tracing paper or similar

Washed, ironed, and all the boring prep, of course.

DIRECTIONS

Take a couple measurements of the person you're making the sleeping mask for: temple-to-temple around the front of the face, and temple-to-temple around the back of the head. For my late-elementary aged child who wears a size 12, those measurements were 9 inches (23 cm) and 15 inches (38 cm).

Next, cut a template for the mask, making it a touch longer than your first measurement.

You could just do a rectangle, but a little shaping is nicer.

Fold it in half and check for symmetry, trimming if needed.

Trace the mask template on your flannel (if you want an embroidery design, do that prior to cutting) and cut out two per mask. Also cut a piece of elastic the length of your second measurement.

If you have embroidered something, be sure to center it.

I found that a 10x10 inch (25x25cm) square was 
a great size for hooping for embroidery,
and yielded fabric for one mask.

Now, layer the two pieces of flannel and the elastic. The flannel will be right sides together with the elastic in the middle. Be careful to place the elastic so that it will be evenly attached on both sides AND so that you won't sew over more than just the two spots where it will be attached (at either temple). Pin or clip the layers in place.

The elastic just barely extends past the edges of the flannels.

Now, sew around the perimeter, leaving a little space for turning.

Be sure you catch all layers, especially where the elastic is.

Turn right side out, iron, and top stitch around the entire perimeter.

I made this seam narrower than the previous one.

Another quick press with the iron and some thread trimming, and you're done!

Good night!

In-Kind Charitable Gifts

I've mentioned before that money is a great thing to donate to charities, as they can use economy of scale and other resources to stretch their dollars further. But plenty of charities accept in-kind donations, and many people prefer to give something tangible.

HOW TO PICK A CHARITY OR CAUSE

There are so many important charitable causes. Which ones you want to donate are up to you: different people have different priorities and different interests close to their hearts. Start with thinking of what group you want to support: the homeless, veterans, nursing home or memory care residents, people with special needs, hospital patients, marginalized or minority groups, abuse survivors, refugees, animals? What sorts of causes are important to you: conservation, disease research, literacy, youth development? 

 

Some of these groups have well-known, established groups. Others might be harder to find charities for. If you can't find a local, national, or global group, you'll need to investigate further. I find that asking schools, craft guilds, shelters, and the government offices that arrange social services are good places to start. For example, the McKinney-Vento Act provides certain guarantees for US public school students in unstable living situations, and a school district's McKinney-Vento liaison may be able to advise you what donations are needed or what organizations support the district's students. 

NEW OR USED?

Some charities are able to accept gently-used donations, especially ones that sell items in second-hand stores. If you're going through your home and find you don't need some of the clothing, household goods, tools, furniture, or other things, there is probably a charity that can accept them if they're in good condition and clean. Donating worn-out items just means the charity needs to spend its time and resources disposing of them. If you're not sure if your item is too used, think about why you're getting rid of it. Is it the wrong size, a duplicate item, a book or sports equipment you've barely touched, something you changed your mind about? Is it something you don't want to be pack for a move simply because it takes up too much room and you can buy another later? Probably fine. Is it torn, frayed, stained, missing parts, or not working right? Probably not (although Goodwill and other places can take worn out clothing to sell to textile recyclers, and pet shelters can often take old blankets or towels to use as animal bedding). Popular charities that accept donations include Goodwill, St. Vincent de Paul, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and the Salvation Army. Some will even pick up at your home! Charity shops sell items to support their specific causes; look into what you might be supporting to see what causes are close to your heart.

Other groups must insist on new items. For example, some children's hospital maintain a wishlist of items that can be donated, and due to the fragile health of many patients, it's simply safer to pass on used items. And for reasons I hope are clear, donated underwear should always be brand-new.

Food drives are another example of in-kind donations. Often, you can request a list of greatest needs, which helps the food banks not be overloaded on certain items and low on others: it could be frustrating to have a glut of pasta but no sauces to put on it. Food banks usually are also able to accept diapers, toiletries, pads and tampons, and first aid items. Some can also take kitchen items like plates, cups, cutlery, can openers, and cooking pans and utensils; and some accept toys and cold weather accessories like hats. Expired food and food with damaged packaging (e.g.; dented cans or opened bags) cannot be accepted, and while some food banks can take fresh or frozen fruits, vegetables, and meats or even home-grown food, call first and ask about the food bank's capacity for these non-shelf-stable items.

HANDMADE OR STORE BOUGHT?

If you like to make things, there are many charities happy to accept your creations. Like to knit or crochet? Extreme weather shelters and groups like Joy of Sox and Stand up for Kids are often happy to accept knitted socks, hats, scarves, mittens, and other cold weather gear (store bought items are also welcome). Want to make something bigger? Project Linus collects crocheted, knitted, woven, tied fleece, and sewn blankets to give children in hospitals. There are likely to be many local charities as well. Quilting, knitting, crochet, and other craft guilds are great places to ask for ideas, as are local churches and food banks. You can also look into donating handmade crafts to charity auctions.

Don't have the time, material, skill, or inclination to make something, but still want to give? That's fine too! Around the holiday season, it's common for churches, schools, and other charities to set up Angel Trees or Advent Trees. These allow you to pick the (anonymous) profile of someone in need to buy presents for, which can range from a special toy to new clothing to household appliances, so you can choose what fits your budget and what's on your heart to give. The profiles have information to guide you, like favorite colors, clothing and shoe sizes, and biggest needs and wants. When I was growing up, my parents would have my siblings and me pick profiles for children our age, which made for a fun family tradition. Other groups like Toys for Tots show up around the same time, collecting new items that will be given to those in need. You can also contact schools, churches, community resource centers, homeless shelters, pet shelters, and charities to ask if there's a person or family in need of anything, and purchase from that wishlist.

There are lots of way to help those in need, and lots of items to make or buy. Decide what causes are important to you, and see how you can help.