A handmade gift does not have to connote dried macaroni and Elmer’s. While this may have worked in elementary school, there are other ways to exercise your creativity and make a great gift in the process.

Handmade gifts can offer a little extra something that doesn’t always come with a purchased gift. You don’t have to look very hard to find ideas, supplies or the facilities needed to create your masterpieces. The Workspace in the Memorial Union and Kil’n Time Studio are two places to let your creativity run wild. In addition, Hobby Lobby sells a wide variety of supplies and kits that are bound to suit any handmade gift-giver. These options are fun – and often easy on the pocketbook.

The Workspace

Located in the basement of the Memorial Union, the Workspace provides an inspiring atmosphere for gift-making. At the Workspace, you can sculpt on the potter’s wheel, make jewelry, screen-print and create glass works. The Workspace also has a wood shop, a darkroom and sewing machines available for use.

The student staff is on hand to help people with projects. The Workspace is open Monday through Thursday, 2-10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m.; and is closed during holidays and university breaks. The cost of using the Workspace is $3 per day for students and $4 for nonstudents. More information can be found on its website, www.mu.iastate.edu/workspace.

Kil’n Time Studio

If you want to paint pottery, fuse glass or make a mosaic, Kil’n Time Studio, 330 Main St. Suite 101, is the place for you. Blank canvases come in all forms here: bisque mugs, platters, pet dishes, vases, business card holders, picture frames and other pieces of pottery. After being hand-painted, the pieces are fired and available for pick-up in a week.

Jill Jensen, co-owner of the studio, said people with all levels of expertise come in, and employees are available to teach customers a variety of painting techniques.

Glass fusion is a new project the studio offers. This technique is suitable for making such varied objects as trivets, vases and picture frames. Smaller pieces of glass are laid over the base glass, and the pieces fuse together when fired. The result is an intricate design of colored glass.

Pottery pieces range in price from $4 to $75, and a glass-fusion piece costs anywhere from $10 to $75, in addition to the $8 studio fee. The studio fee is included in the cost of mosaic pieces. Kil’n Time is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. every day, except Thursdays, when it stays open until 8 p.m., and Sundays, when it closes at 5 p.m. For more information and photographs visit the studio’s website, www.kilintime4fun.com

Hobby Lobby

Whatever your budget, skill level or timeline, Hobby Lobby can be a one-stop shop for handmade gifts. For do-it-yourself givers, the aisles of Hobby Lobby, 620 Lincoln Way, can provide a plethora of ideas and inspiration for projects.

If you are short on time, one of Hobby Lobby’s scrapbooking kits may be the solution. The kits display a variety of themes and include the supplies needed to asmble a scrapbook. The only thing you need to add is the pictures you want to use.

Handmade cards also make for quick and easy gifts. Hobby Lobby sells card-making kits and the supplies and embellishments needed to make your own cards.

Ben Horst, store manager, said Hobby Lobby employees have a working knowledge of the different departments and are often crafters and artists themselves. They can help customers find what they need to put together their handmade gifts. The store is open 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday through Saturday and is closed on Sunday.