NEXT UP: Collage Your Next Birthday Gift

Are you one of those people who loves figuring out the perfect gift to give to your friends?

Ew. Really? I am so not. In fact, deciding what to get my friends for their birthdays stresses me out. A Starbucks Gift Card? Too impersonal. A bracelet? Too pricy. A lifetime supply of perfectly ripened bananas? Too weird to get for anyone but myself (but a dream-come-true for me!).

So more often than not, I rely on my creative skills to make homemade gifts for my friends. It's really a foolproof strategy. If they like it, they worship your artistic abilities and brilliant idea. If they don't like it, they won't be able to say anything because it would mean personally offending the giver. The birthday prince/princess can bash a store-bought scarf or plastic iTunes gift card all they want, but insulting handmade goods is always a no-no. Am I right or am I right? (Correct answer: I am right.)

Several of my girl friends have received collages from me over the years. Creating a collage of your friend's interests--whether with magazine cutouts and puff-paint or with a simple ball-point pen--creates a keepsake that shows off....I mean, showcases...how much you know about your bud. Below are some of my collage creations:

In the same vein, I also created a movie collage for a Secret Snowman Holiday Gift Swap. My friend Erin B. fought for this one. I was just happy that I had contributed a gift that someone really loved! (At this year's Secret Snowman, my contribution was Chocolate Lip Smackers from CVS. Things have gone downhill.)

Recognize these movies?

Of course, if you don't have time to put together a collage, a Starbucks Gift Card is not such a bad idea. Any time's a good time for an extra hot tall decaf two-pump skim chai tea latte. Just sayin'.

What's your go-to last-minute birthday gift? What's the best birthday gift you've made or received?

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