You'd think that by now I'd have run out of ways to recycle the same column idea every December, but I am relentless in my desire to tell you what to buy. Except this year. This year, it's all about the DIY attitude! That's right, we're going to talk about what you can make for the geek in your life. I touched on it lightly in last year's budget-friendly edition of the gift giving guide, and this year I'm going to expand upon it. Again with the recycling... First let's clear up a little misconception. Crafting something is not necessarily cheaper than buying something. Good-quality materials can set you back a bit, and then there's the issue of your time. If you go into this thinking that you're going to save a bundle, you may be in for a harsh surprise and a bit of frustration. To minimize this, I have a couple handy tips to offer: Make use of skills that you already have. If you've never crocheted before, you probably shouldn't set out to crochet dice bags for all seven players in your group. Estimate how much time each project will take. Add 50% to your estimate. You really do not want to be putting the finishing touches on your presents at 10:30pm on Christmas Eve. When possible, make use of materials you already have. Go through your stash and see if anything jumps out as perfect for that special someone in your life. You may still need to buy some supplies to round it out, but you'll save a little money this way, and make room in your collection for new supplies. It's a win-win. But what should you make? Well, the possibilities are endless, limited only by your skills and the fact that it's already December. Dice bags. They're great, because there are so many different techniques you can put to use. Knitting, crochet, leather-work, chainmail, embroidery, felting, and of course sewing. The one thing to keep in mind is that your geek may already have a special dice bag. I've been gifted with several lovely handmade bags over the years, and it's hard to decide which one to use. Hand-painted miniatures. I admit, I'm a bit hesitant on these. They're usually customized to the character, so then when your character dies, you're left with a lovely miniature that looks nothing like your new character. Customized Tote-Bags. Most craft stores carry plain canvas bags which can be decorated with painting, embroidery or applique. These sturdy totes are a great way to carry gaming books and bottles of Mountain Dew to the GM's house. Try to go with an embellishment that can survive machine-washing! Character portraits. This has a similar problem to the miniature, but it's still nice to have a memento of your favorite past character. And remember, portraiture isn't just limited to those who can paint or draw. You can create a polymer clay sculpture, render their character with a 3d drawing program, or do like a friend of mine does and create a doll in their image. Are you familiar with amigurumi? They're small plush crochet dolls. There are books and .pdfs of patterns to make these in numerous geek-friendly designs. Who could resist a chibi crocheted Cthulhu? No one, that's who. Jewelry. Admittedly, I'm biased on this one, because I'm a jewelry addict and I make a business of making and selling fantasy jewelry. But seriously. For all we geeks are portrayed as having no fashion sense and no concern for appearance, we do like nice things, sometimes even pretty things. And it's not just limited to girls. Many men will wear a nice chainmail or leather cuff, or a cool pendant on a thick chain or cord. Remember those blank cards? A lot of card games, like Munchkin and Apples to Apples, include blank cards that you can customize however you want. Sometimes you can even buy them separately. If you have a knack for drawing and/or humor, and good working knowledge of the rules of the game, you can fill up a few of those blanks and add a special touch to your friend's favorite game. Bookshelves. Are you more of a carpenter sort? Let me tell you, gaming sourcebooks are heavy! Over time, those cheap pressboard shelves from Target start to warp under the weight of so many hardbacks. Sturdy bookcases would be a boon to your gamer. Game room improvements. If you're even more of a handyman, perhaps your GM or host could use some work done on their game room. Fix that faulty wiring, install a ceiling fan, replace the dry-rotted weatherproofing around the windows. Or come over and help me mud and tape the drywall. Just saying... The Ultimate Gift. Give the gift of gaming! A well-crafted campaign for your favorite gamer(s). Run a solo game for your significant other. Finally teach your Mom how to play D&D. Give your GM a break and run a mini-campaign. Offer to demo a new game at your local game store, and/or run a D&D for Newbies game. Spread the geeky cheer. Well, that's it for this year. I'll see you in January!

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Copyright © 2009 By AJ Reardon E-mail AJ at: ErtheFae@aol.com Visit AJ at: www.erthefae.net