40th Birthday Gifts to Make

Knit a scarf for your favorite about-to-be-40 year old.

Handmade gifts put a personal spin on a 40th birthday gift. Decide the best way to approach the type of gift depending on the recipient's personality. Is he going to appreciate an "Over the Hill" gag gift or should you go for something classy or timeless? Plan your gift once you've figured out what kinds of gifts will be most appreciated.

Humorous Gifts

Make a "40 Sucks" lollipop arrangement. Place floral foam in the bottom of a basket or bowl. Arrange 40 lollipops in the foam, like a flower arrangement, then tie ribbon around the basket. Buy large, swirled lollipops in several colors for the most impact. Another sweet idea is to bake fortune cookies and fill them with quotes about turning 40. Consider: "40: Old enough to know better. Young enough to do it anyway," "I'm not 40. I'm only $39.95 plus tax," or "Better Over the Hill than Under It." Wrap the cookies in a Chinese takeout container.

Crafted Gifts

Fashion-forward 40 year olds can appreciate a hand-knitted scarf, beaded jewelry set or canvas tote bags for library books or shopping. Match the gift to the recipient's style. If she is career-minded and wears classic suits to work, design a jewelry set that is understated but versatile. Scarves for men or women can be made out of chunky, colorful yarns for the artistic-type, or soft angora yarns for the romantic. Be sure to sew your tote bag with extra-wide straps for better weight distribution in the shoulder.

Scrapbooks

Collect pictures of the recipient from throughout her life. Choose a theme, like all pictures where she is smiling, or all vacation photos, or make a general scrapbook of her life. Place the photos in an archival scrapbook, using archival and acid-free glues and papers. Decorate the scrapbook as you choose, but make sure you label each picture with a thought or memory about your friend. Make sure to set aside an evening after you've given the gift to sit down and go through the pictures together.

References

• Homemade Gifts Made Easy: Homemade 40th Birthday Gifts
• Celebrations: 40th and 50th Birthday Gift Ideas