Crafty rules   ● Think small. Don't start something too big or difficult.   ● What can you really do? Be honest with yourself about your abilities and stay within your skills.   "If you really can't sew," Darcy Christensen says, "don't think you're going to learn before Christmas."   ● Simplicity. Remember that more is not always better.   ● Professional guidance. If you're convinced that you're completely craft inept, have a professional help you. Places such as Paint Yourself Silly (6546 E. Tanque Verde Road, Suite 130, 885-4755); Making Memories Unforgettable (3837 E. Broadway, 319-5886, and 9431 E 22nd St., 731-8000); and A Backdoor Bead Co. (6174 E. Speedway, 745-9080 and 7250 N. La Cholla Blvd., 742-0377) allow you to make pottery, scrapbooks and jewelry, respectively, right in the store.   ● Get a glue gun. "This requires no skill," Christensen says.   ● Practice. Take your first shot on something you don't plan to give, so if you make mistakes it doesn't matter.   ● Look for books at the library. Check magazines and other publications for ideas.   ● Give a gift of time. If you can't put together a model car, wash someone's car instead.   ● The Y chromosome. When you're trying to put together a gift for a guy, don't forget to check out hardware stores.     Get started   If you're not experienced with making presents, the idea can seem pretty overwhelming. Lily Depka, experienced crafter, offers these suggestions to guide you through the process in six easy steps.   1. Figure out what activity appeals to you. Do you like baking? Painting? Découpage? You won't want to spend time doing something you hate.   2. Consider taking a class to learn how to perfect said activity. Michaels Arts & Crafts (multiple locations, check phone book for listings) has classes on just about everything, and Tucson Parks and Recreation also offers classes. You can take a look at the guide at www.cityoftucson.org/parksandrec online.   At the very least enlist the help of someone who's familiar with your chosen method of working, perhaps a friend or craft-store employee. Depka says you shouldn't start a project until you've asked for at least a bit of advice.   3. Identify the recipient's interest. Does she love music? Horses? Reading? The beach? Steer the project in that direction.   4. Determine the amount of time, as well as the likely cost, of the gift. This is where seeking advice becomes important.   5. Buy/gather the necessary supplies. Think creatively. Consider using stuff you already have. If time is an issue, ask about time-saving products, such as ribbon that already has adhesive attached.   6. Get to work! (Only three more weeks till Christmas Eve.)     Make an ornament   ● Whether the kids make them as gifts for grandparents, or you add them to ribbon as a decorative element when wrapping gifts, these ornaments are quick, easy and from the heart. Lily Depka, who works at Michaels, shows how.     A SIX-PART SERIES   ● Our six-part series will profile a different aspect of the gifting season each week.   l Last week: Avoiding the crowd   l Today: Gifts from the heart   l Week 3: Shopping local   l Week 4: Gifter-giftee miscommunication   l Week 5: Last-minute shopping   l Week 6: Post-Christmas sales and returns   On StarNet: Check out previous Guide to Gifting stories. www.azstarnet.com/ sn/ent_shopping

Think back to the best Christmas gift you've ever gotten. Chances are, you loved it because it came from someone's heart, not because of a high price tag. Despite that, most givers try to express their feelings by spending lots of money. The average American will dish out about $1,000 on Christmas gifts, according to the American Research Group. Darcy Christensen says that money is likely going toward gifts that won't be remembered. Christensen, for one, would like to see less focus on buying and more on giving gifts with feeling. "I don't think people need more stuff," she says. "People need things that are more meaningful." That may seem cliché, but Christensen lives by the idea. She knits, cooks, makes scrapbooks and scans photos to make unique candles. In the past, she's découpaged boxes, sewn bags, made vases - the list goes on. "At this point, people would be insulted if I bought them something," Christensen says. Creating gifts is a time-consuming process, and many people don't think they have the time - or talent. Artistic skills don't matter, she says, because ultimately, a handmade gift means more because of the extra commitment. Lily Depka, who teaches classes and leads demonstrations on holiday crafts at Michaels Arts & Crafts, agrees. One of the best gifts she ever made was easy and came just after the death of her mother-in-law, who collected handkerchiefs. Depka took the handkerchiefs and made little angels to give to the family. Some of her most treasured gifts are the sloppily made pieces her children gave her when they were young. "I'm not sure if it boils down to being sentimental. I still have a little ornament my daughter made in the second grade," she says. "It was a pill bottle." The crafty women point out that a gift from the heart should reflect the recipient's - not the gift giver's - interests. "You have to stretch your imagination," Depka says. "I have a friend who loves the ocean. She lives in Tucson. If I can make her an ornament that has seashells in it and use a ribbon the color of the ocean, that's pretty special for her." If the idea of making something even as simple as an ornament leaves you at loss, take heart. There are ways to give meaningful presents without covering yourself in ribbon or paint. Cortnie Short suggests putting together a gift basket for the person. She says all you have to do is pick a theme that pertains to the giftee, pick out a few items and package them creatively. For example, a basket for someone who loves the movies could include a present placed in an empty popcorn tub. Adding something that you've made yourself is essential, and something as simple as homemade cookies count, Short says. And the recipient will love the basket because it's obvious some thought went into it. "It's just this huge thing that you didn't just put something in a box and wrap it," she says. "It's an easy way to jazz up a plain or inexpensive gift." Cooking gifts can go beyond cookies, too. Everyone loves to eat, and food gifts work particularly well for those you don't know as well. For those who still can't come up with a good project or who are just too intimidated by the idea of crafting something handmade, Christensen has one more piece of advice: Give the gift of time. Literally. She suggests doing an activity with the person or offering to take on a task they particularly dislike or need help with. "Anyone can wash a car," she says. Men tend to particularly love to receive this sort of gift, she says. For a boyfriend who might not appreciate a jewelry box or hand-dipped candle, plan a date or join him on one of his favorite activities. In the end it's not about the perfect gift. It's about making something that, at its essence, says you care. "They appreciate it," Depka says, "because they do take into consideration the time and effort that goes into it."