Handmade Gift 911

	Ballard Designs Memo Boards

Surrender, crafter.

You'll never finish knitting scarves for every member of your family.

Back away from the jigsaw and that unwanted spice rack.

And don't even think about rushing to the mall to find substitutes for all those amazing, easy gift projects you should have started in July.

You do still have time to present a present that is budget-friendly, attractive, unique, personal, practical, gender-neutral and guilt-inducingly "handmade": a large framed magnetic memo board and matching set of magnets.

Best of all, you can whip up a whole batch of these not-exactly-crafty goodies in one evening, from hitting the shops to wrapping the goods.

Hands Off

Now, if inspiration had struck sooner, you'd have had time to shop for and ship a memo board from several stores.

And if you're truly all thumbs, you still might, as long you don't mind paying express shipping charges.

Ballard Designs has several enticing models, including a jaw-dropping monster of a gold-framed corkboard ($499) to a more modest beadboard-trimmed blackboard ($49). Pottery Barn might still have its framed corkboard or chalkboard ($149) in stores if you're lucky. The Container Store has the usual suspects plus some with more personality, such as the recycled rubber bulletin boards ($24.99-$34.99) for eco-conscious gifting, or the "Translations" Japanese graphic art magnet board ($24.99) for your favorite manga fan. ...