Free gift basket idea

Maybe you fantasize about being the next Iron Chef or you're a genius with a Singer Quantum. Or perhaps your nickname is Jewel since you're the princess of accessorizing. Even if you'd rather be soaking in a bubbly bath, we have awesome ideas for presents that will have your personality stamped on 'em beside the bow. No experience necessary.

SEW SAVVY

Everybody knows sewing isn't a granny thing anymore, so we're gonna show you how to turn a piece of fabric into a piece of fab!

Even if you've never sewn a thing in your life, these projects are easy enough for beginners. So break out the needle 'n' thread, and we'll have ya in stitches....

A poncho with puncho

Pick out a funky piece of 2-yard fleece so there's no need to hem. Have the clerk precisely cut each piece (a half yard for small, 3/4 yard for medium). Fold fabric in half (print side under), measure a one-foot neck opening from the fold, and pin. Stitch a shoulder seam from the pin to the end of the fabric. Turn right side out. Bravo! You have a poncho that drapes to one side. For extra zip, add fringe.

Pillow talk

Clear out the T-shirt drawer, and make tiny-tee toss pillows. Turn the shirts inside out, and stitch the sleeves and bottom hemlines shut. Leave collars open, turn right side out, and stuff with fluff. Sew the necklines closed with an over-and-under stitch.

Here's a bright idea

Use up fabric scraps for custom switchplates. Cut fabric to fit, apply decoupage give to both sides of the plate, and press the fabric on the plate and around the edges, smoothing out wrinkles with your fingers. Use an X-acto knife (carefully!) to cut an X in the center opening, and fold excess fabric into the back of the plate. Use the point of the knife to poke out the screw holes. Let dry overnight.

TOTALLY WIRED

If you're the bud who's always bejeweled, impress your friends with some handcrafted gems. Make hand-beaded jewelry or even a little sparkle for their bedrooms.

For a couple bucks at the craft store, pick up some wire and a bucket of beads. Or be the queen of recycling, and dig through your jewelry box for cheap costume pieces you never wear anymore (that earring you can't find the match to, the elastic necklace from third grade). plastic elastic necklace from third grade). Unstring, and have a bowl to catch the beads. Hit your family's basement workshop for wire pieces and, while you're down there, borrow a pair of needle-nosed pliers and wire cutters. No cutters? Toenail clippers can snip most jewelry-gauge wires.

All choked up

Use 24-gauge wire to make classic choker and bracelet sets (shown below). Just string the beads onto the wire and, when done stringing, attach clasps (purchased from the craft store or swiped from your jewelry box). Here's a quickie clasp-attaching lesson: String the clasp onto the wire, form the wire into a small loop with the pliers, then wrap wire around the base of the loop until secure.

Bangin' bangles

Twist 14-gauge wire into spiral formations to bang out copper (or whatever metal) bangle bracelets assembly-line style. These babies are so easy, you'll be able to produce them in quantities for the whole posse. Try to give each one a unique edge to match your pal's persona. Over, the-top swirly red for your flashy friend (above). Simple gold with tiny pink beads for the girly girl. Got it?

Super-duper beadmobile

Start with a foot-long string of chain link, and attach two pieces of 14-gauge wire (one at the top, one at the middle) by twisting the wire onto the chain until secure. Use the pliers to loop the ends of the wire into spirals. String beads onto five sections of a smaller gauge wire, and loopy-loop the ends around to secure. Hang one string of beads onto the ends of each 14-gauge wire base, and hook one to the very end of the chain. Add a piece of wire to the top of the chain, and make a loop for hanging. Pin a piece of costume jewelry between the two tiers. Bling!

It's a smashin' box

Give your friends something snazzy to stash goods in. Just use decoupage glue to paste newspaper or magazine clippings on a $2 wooden box.

CUISINE QUEEN

Itchin' to get into the kitchen? Everybody makes cookies, so why not do something a tad different? Sugar or spice? Your choice, chef.

Go a little nutty this year. We've got an easy-breezy brittle recipe (right), or spice things up by layering nuts in a tall jar. Scoop in piles of cashews, almonds, macadamias, walnuts, pumpkin seeds or whatever you please. Include some o' this....

Shake 'em bake 'em nuts

Heat oven to 300 degrees. Put two tablespoons of butter on a jelly roll pan, and stick in the oven until melted. Remove, and shake on 1/4 teaspoon each of garlic powder and seasoned salt, along with a few dashes of hot sauce. Swirl in the pan until mixed. Add four cups of any nuts, and toss to coat. Bake 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle on three tablespoons of Worcestershire, and bake 15 minutes more. Let cool completely.

21st-century peanut brittle

1 cup sugar * 1/2 cup light corn syrup * 1 cup roasted peanuts * 1 tsp. butter * 1 tsp. vanilla * 1 tsp. baking soda

Grease a cookie sheet--generously! Mix corn syrup and sugar in microwave-safe dish, and nuke on high four minutes. Stir in peanuts (careful--hot!), and microwave three minutes until light brown. Add butter and vanilla, stirring well, and microwave one minute. Sprinkle baking soda into the mixture. Stir until light and foamy. Spread thin onto cookie sheet. Let cool completely before breaking into pieces.

Spiffy spice art

Funnel spices into a small jar in layers. Here are some sweet and spicy suggestions ...

* Hot tamale chill powder, cumin, ground red pepper, onion powder, ground black pepper

* Sweet as pie cinnamon, sugar, nutmeg, ginger, allspice

BATHING BEAUTY

You love to languish in a tub of bubbly stuff and want your friends to indulge? So be it.

Make your own designer bath stuff for a fraction of department store prices. Just turn your kitchen into a lab, and consider it a science project.

Peppermint soaps

Instead of spending moolah on soap molds, start saving any small round-bottomed plastic containers that might be getting tossed out. (For example, sour cream containers are perfect; just be sure to clean them thoroughly before using as molds.) Get a brick of white, scent-free glycerin soap from the craft store. Break it into chunks, and put it in a plastic bowl in the microwave on high at 30-minute intervals until melted. Add several splashes of peppermint extract or essential oil and a few drops of vanilla. Pour about one inch of soap mixture into each mold. Put in a drop or so of red food coloring, and mix thoroughly for pink or stir ever so slightly with a toothpick to get a swirly effect. Let soaps harden before removing from molds. Wrap up in sheer fabric or cellophane like candies, and let your girls know these treats aren't edible!

Holiday bathtub bulbs

No need to unwrap this gift. These sachets are for tossing straight into the tub. Take squares of any meshy fabric (you want it to be porous), and spoon scoops of oatmeal or dried lavender onto the centers. Gather up the edges, and tie with ribbon. These are for one-time use only--they can get moldy if used repeatedly, so add a tag that says so. And you might want to be generous, and give two or a few to each friend.

Bathtime bonus

Give a deserving bud a spa-day-at-home. Fill a basket with washcloths, candles, soaps and such. We scored at the dollar store--this bath ensemble was a mere $10.