There are plenty of gift guides at this time of year, with plenty of the same kinds of presents: iPods, digital cameras, computer games… Wake me when it’s 2008, OK?
If you’re equally bored with the same old same old, check out this year’s creativepro.com gift guide.
Cuckoo Clock
$24 (All prices are in US dollars)
This modern take on a cuckoo clock is brilliant in its simplicity — the clock’s face is a 6" x 8.5" image printed on 100lb paper!
If you like the idea but not the image, design your own face and buy a clock motor and hands from a place like Klockit. It’s crazy cheap — you’ll find motors from $1.00 and a wide selection of hands from $1.05. I plan to make several of these for family and friends.
Speed Snoots
$10.95 to $22.95
The excellent Strobist blog introduced me to the ingenious inventions of David Honl. In keeping with the Strobist philosophy of doing photography on the cheap, the three HonlPhoto Speed Snoots are inexpensive yet highly effective. They concentrate the light from shoe-mount flashes for dramatic lighting results.
Assortments of Weird Stuff
Prices vary
Chris Brown calls his Urban Prairie design aesthetic "rockabilly for the eyes." At his online shop, you can buy vignettes and odd assemblages that Chris has put together. Most of it is not cheap, but it’s decidedly appealing. I recommend a visit if only to inspire you to make your own weirdly beautiful collections of stuff.
Diana Starter Kit
$50
The all-plastic Diana camera originated in the early 1960s and gained a following among photographers (professional and amateur) who loved its low-tech images. This new camera, the Diana+, reproduces those effects and adds a few new features: a removable lens, small aperture for pinhole images, two image formats (12 or 16 square shots), an endless panorama, a standard tripod thread, and a shutter lock. The starter kit includes books that immerse you in Diana history and images. Note that this is a film camera, not one of yer new-fangled digitals.
Foam Radio
$50
The foam encasing this AM/FM radio may not be much protection — I wouldn’t drop the radio from a tall building or take it in the shower, for instance — but it sure looks cool. The radio’s dimensions are a petite 5.5" x 4.4" x 2".
Red School Bag
$169
Japanese schoolchildren have used a similar backpack for decades. This larger version fits a 12" computer. I may have to downsize from my 17" laptop just so I can replace my current yawn of a messenger bag.
Stylish CD Holder
$25
Do you have CDs (music, data back-ups, client files) teetering in precarious stacks all over your office? Yep, me too. We can organize them in style with this powder-coated steel CD holder that holds up to 25 CDs.
Real Photo Postcards
$19.95
As the 19th century gave way to the 20th, Kodak introduced an easy, affordable camera that let ordinary people capture and print postcards. The book Real Photo Postcards includes 180 duotones that chronicle those beautiful (and sometimes bizarre) images.
Mailable Photo Frame
6 for $12
Consider this the 21st-century equivalent of the old-time postcards above. The Mailable Photo Frame’s clear plastic casing holds your 4" x 6" photo and includes a built-in stand that works horizontally or vertically. On the back, you can write the address and a short message. Because it requires only standard letter-rate postage, it’s also a cost-effective way to promote your business or send greetings.
3-D Doodle Kit
$9
Disappointed that the 3D version of Beowulf isn’t showing in your town? You’ll forget all about it once you create your own 3-D images. The kit includes 3-D glasses, one red pencil, one blue pencil, and a compass that holds the pencils close together. I am so getting one of these for myself — er, that is, for my nephew.
"Make My Logo Bigger Cream" Products
$3.99 to $13.99
In a recent newsletter, I raved about Agency Fusion’s Make My Logo Bigger Cream spoof. If you also enjoyed it, you’ll appreciate the spin-off products, ranging from boxer shorts to baseball caps to mugs.
Affordable Art
Thanks to the Internet, it’s never been easier for those who can’t afford gallery prices to find and buy art. You probably already know about online stores like Etsy and Supermarket, which represent many people. But don’t overlook individual artists’ sites. Here are a few I’ve found:
The Post Family
$10 to $30 per print
I’m crazy for the prints of old cameras created by "Rod Post" (also known as Rod Hunting). Most are signed and numbered limited editions.
Robin Rosenthal
$40
While the artist calls these "posters for kids," I call them "posters for adults who think letters and numerals can be art." Both Alphadot (24" x 36") and Counting Birds (18" x 24") are offset printed on acid-free, recycled, uncoated cover stock.
The Small Stakes
$25
Jason Munn, the man behind The Small Stakes, is an internationally recognized designer of book covers, album packaging, t-shirt designs, and silkscreened posters. I dare you to browse this site and not fall in love with at least one of the posters.
This article was last modified on December 17, 2022
This article was first published on November 27, 2007
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