In pursuing crafts and such....lovely homemade gifts...one seems at loss at times in finding useful things to make for...MEN. This is what I am going to do this year;it may not be homemade but it will be home-assembled (smile.) I'm going to take a medium sized box...put in it a gallon of water, a couple of cans of fix-a-flat (Dollar General...$1 each...) an emergency blanket (Wal-Mart; $3 each,) a couple of small, pre-packaged snack items, a flash light (Dollar General again,) a box of bandaids, a small travel pack of cleansing wipes, aspirins. I will then tell them to put this in the trunk of their car...and emergency car kit!

-- Beth Weber (talmidim88@hotmail.com), September 17, 2000

Answers

Good idea! I gave such an emergency kit to my daughter when she was still in school. Along with many of the items you spoke of, I also included candles and matches in a waterproof container, bottled water that could go through freeze/thaw cycling, canned "Vienna Sausage" with peel off tops, peanut butter, soda crackers, some jerky, and some individually wrapped hard candies. I also included a tall juice can with some holes in it to place over one of the candles to use as a stove for melting snow. One of the sauage cans was to be used for melting the snow in.

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), September 17, 2000.

My husband loves the hooded ,zippered sweatshirt pattern I sewed for him out of camo polar fleece. He needs a new one this year because he's worn it out. Men love anything polar fleece, I think. Am I wrong, men?

-- Peg (NW WI) (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), September 17, 2000.

Hi Beth, you're on track! Found 'headlamps' at the discount for a few dollars each (you know, flashlights that go on your head, like a hat!) Golly! Can work on the car at nite with no hands, Mom! The boys (young and old) loved them! If you have a 'Dollar' store around, you can put together quite a nice package, for any occasion.

-- Kathy (catfish@bestweb.net), September 17, 2000.

Steve and I made a homemade inlaid checkerboard last year for his bro- in law. It turned out nice, but it took a LONG time. We made the checkers out of a dowel, painted with star on one side. And a slot on each side for their name, painted squares with letters. Men are hard to make things for, they seem to have everything. Good ideas here. We get to draw names for Christmas so we don't have to make something for everyone. I need one of those boxes in MY truck!

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@msn.com), September 18, 2000.

I am so surprised that more men haven't jumped on this post! I could sure use ideas for the men is my life. It is alway so easy for me to make or purchase great things for the girls and ladies but I am always "stumped" when it comes to the fellows! They must be tired of all the baked, canned and stirred goodies that I give!!! Come on fellows help us out here!

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), September 18, 2000.

A friend of mine is having his fiftieth birthday in a few weeks. I asked him what he wanted for his birthday. He said, "Something edible." I said, "What, you got an edible complex?" He said," Yeah, that's right -- I love my mother's cooking!"

-- snoozy (allen@oz.net), September 18, 2000.

AARRGGHh!! Talk about I-tella the Puns, that one just about killed me! DH's favorite gift from last year was a set that consisted of a long robe in fleece and matching lounge pants in flannel. Talk about your happy camper. Business vest patterns are fairly simple and can be made quickly, even if you do opt for tailored do dads like welt pockets, etc. A yard of uphosltry fabric will usually do the trick if you want something for dressy occasions (I made him one for the Messiah ballet out of an uph. fabric that had a cherub brocade pattern on it in a rich burgundy. Very handsome! Used a cheap nylon/acetate lining material for the rest and it was inexpensive and will hold up to washings. He was tres pleased. Although not homemade, per se, a gift cert. for a local wood working supply shop went over seriously well a few years back. Put the cert. in with a pattern for something you want built and you get two gifts in one. He gets tools - you get, well, whatever.

I find that lounging clothes go over real well, as all men love to hang around the house in comfy stuff, and everyone will be happier if its something you can stand to look at and not the same jersey and boxers he's had since high school. by the way, boxer patterns are also cheap and use little fabric, so you can splurge on the really good stuff. Maybe some fleece house socks to go with the boxers and robe, or some such. Men also appreciate those "service" coupons for backrubs and nights out, just like we do, and especially the ones for a dinner for two consisting of entirely his favorite foods. If you can't cook, even a dinner out is great if it's his pick. Perhaps a young son might like a homemade pizza party the night of the big game, to be catered by mom and dad, complete with all sorts of other homemade snacks like flavored popcorn and cookies, served up with juices and fruit drinks mixed up with sparkling water. How about father son matching game quilts for those chilly nights at the stadium? Fleece is a wonderful thing, and you can even find it in local and national team prints sometimes. If you can't, get the name of the fleece company and call to see if they have any such thing.

Men are easy to get for - just remember the three biggies: Attention, food, and acknowledgement of their interests. Cater to these and you'll pretty much have it covered!!

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), September 18, 2000.

I just have to ask this---what's LOUNGING?

-- Peg (NW WI) (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), September 19, 2000.

Good ideas w/ the truck kits. Guys are easy to buy for. Most fellas I know like usefull stuff, Like tools, just about anykind. None of those one size fits all magic wrenches. Just plain stuff. Channel locks, 25 or 30' tape measure, shovels, log chain, jumper cables. 4 way lug wrench, Any kind of specialty tool for any particular hobby, Big bandanas (Dollar store), Those big padded socks, boots, overboots, New Bibs to wear for dress up, blue jeans, shirts (I like a heavy denim, wink wink), Fishing or hunting stuff (the list is endless for those 2 areas alone), If you can afford it a good cordless drill is a good thing (even if he's already got one, just try to make them compatible if you can). The baked goods are always a hit.

That's the best I could do for right off the top of my head. Now whose going to send this list to Queen Buffness for me? I really have been a good boy, Honest I have!

-- John in S IN (jsmengel@hotmail.com), September 19, 2000.

John and Ken, what would you need or want that would be homemade (anything) or handcarved or made using wood? (not counting food)(not bought in store). Give us some ideas.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@msn.com), September 20, 2000.

Sear's has a nice wall clock made to look like a saw blade that looks great in the woodshop. It was a real hit! A crafty person could easily make one.

-- Sandy (smd2@netzero.net), September 20, 2000.

Lounging - the act of sitting around looking more worn out from work than you really are in the hopes that your chores will get themselves done by persons more susceptible to guilt than common sense. Also known as couch testing and carpet field inspections.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), September 20, 2000.

It's midnight and I just got home from the job. Clocked in at 6 am. Been a lo o o o ng week. haven't checked in here for a few days. OK, another off the top of the head speed run before bed. Wood, homemade.... How bout Boxes, Decorative or packing crate type things to keep your countryside in. Bookshelves. Picture frame w/ Shania Twains picture in it. Signs, lots of stuff you could do w/ signs, If you can hand letter nicely or paint.

Now keep in mind I'm not the clever one at our house. Queen Buffness usually comes up w/ this stuff and I have to make it. This is kind of a stretch here.

Wood burning stove. I made one out of green hickory that burned almost 5 hours one time! Wall or freestanding coat/hat rack. My brother made a nice wall type with railroad spikes to hang coats on. Tool boxes or nail/screw boxes, the ones w/an old piece of heavy broom handle on it that look like old carpenter tool carriers w/dividers for different size nails. Tool boxes w/ a lid w/ handles on the ends would be nice. Put all the truck/car goodies in that. Chop box for camp kitchen. Kindling box. OK I'm stuck on boxes here and it's time to go to bed. Maybe somebody else would like to pick up and run w/ it here.

Just thought, look in some places like "Build it Better Yourself" or go to the library for some plan type books. Cold frames? Divider bins for the root celler. Also try to scrounge wood from old places. It's free a lot of the time and works up nice. I have a box (again w/ the boxes) made from a solid oak barn beam 14" square. sawn lid and hallowed out.

-- John in S IN (jsmengel@hotmail.com), September 23, 2000.

Thanks, I think we made 3 boxes last year for Christmas presents. We used Luan for the top decoration, cut in pieces like a puzzle (deer w/hills behind/tree) and then stained pieces different shades of brown and put back together, and glued on top of box lid. Pretty easy, with a scroll saw. We have made wall pictures this way too. I quess we need to get started pretty soon for this year.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@msn.com), September 24, 2000.

If your husbands or you hunt, keep the squirrel tail or some deer hair to the side. Let dry. The following year you can use the hair for jigs (fishing lures). You can even die the hair red or yellow. They are real cheap to make. You do need to purchase a mold. You can pick these up at fish and tackle store. And watch their faces at christmas time?

-- Judy (allsmile@ctnet.net), September 24, 2000.

Hey, The other year my son and I made the husband a rack to hold fishing rods. They were always falling all over the place. We mounted it in the spare bedroom/computer room. It holds around 6 rods. Also made a rack to hold the cross bows for my brother. (he likes to hunt deer with a bow).

Took an old mailbox and post and put it at the edge of the garden for my father who keeps his gloves and some small tools and a knife and twine for holding up plants in it during gardening season. He loves it because he does not have to carry them around, and they are always close to the garden for use.

Beth (NC)

-- Beth (NC) (craig@icu2.net), September 24, 2000.

I saw a neat gift idea for anyone, male or female. You put rice in a nice fabric bag, sew it all up, then heat it tin the microwave and use it as a foot warmer or heating pad. They work great. You can make the bag out of any nifty fabric.

-- Michelle in Wa (thepieplace@techline.com), November 09, 2000.

Hi everyone-

I need a little advice as well. Im in need of some crafty ideas for a house warming gift. Im going to visit a friend of mine who is a MALE and potential love interest. He owns a construction business and he virtually knows how to fix anything - which is pretty cool because his house is awesome- he sent me pictures of some finished jobs. Anyways, is this a stupid idea? :

Items i made from scratch soap body cleanser toothpaste and mouth wash shampoo aftershave

(assuming this stuff I make is really good)

(im thinking of other things to add - if you have any ideas or recipes let me know)

Packaging ideas would be one (which i just thought of that is a little stupid - but Im asking anyways) a small tool box to put this stuff in

-- Layla Sarvinaz (Laelah52@aol.com), January 04, 2002.