The art of gift-giving is a delicate combination of understanding the recipient, blending creativity with practicality, and adding in a dash of surprise. Gift giving season can give your brain a time of it for sure. But don’t worry! The key to unlocking the perfect gift lies in keeping an open mind and knowing where to look.

Let’s look to Etsy, the global online marketplace for unique and handcrafted items. Shopping on Etsy is fun, easy, and an opportunity to discover gifts that are not just items, but treasures filled with meaning and love.

Gifts that are off the beaten track are always a fun surprise. The best gifts are things the recipient didn’t even know they wanted! Let’s find some gift that help you with your lists (of gifts to give and to receive!)

1: Have a friend who just can’t let go of Halloween? Help them keep ghosties around a little while longer with this cute felted wool ghost snowman stack.

2: I love sets like these mini snowflake ornaments. You can give them as one gift or break them up as little gifts for a group of people, like neighbors, teachers, or co-workers.

3: These snowflake earrings are handmade so, just like real snowflakes, each one is unique!

4: Holiday smells don’t always have to be pine and citrus. This hot cocoa soap warms up winter hand washing in a different way.

5: Colder, drier weather can do a number on skin. If this organic hand balm is good enough for nurses, I bet it can hold up to most anything!

6: Brighten up their holiday display with this handblown glass tree.

7: Baking can be a little intimidating. This pottery bread crock makes fresh bread an easy task. Recipes are included!

8: Help them keep their adventures front of mind with this customizable mini push pin map.

9: One of the gift categories I think Etsy does really well is DIY kits. This stuffed octopus DIY kit looks so cool! It even comes with wire you an add to be able to position the arms.

10: I love the unique, delicate detail on this beeswax candle. Its shape would bring some height to a mantle arrangement.

11: This quirky trinket dish would help them start the day with a smile.

12: Who doesn’t love donuts? These donut earrings give you a lot of options. Not only can you choose the donut type, you can choose dangle/french hook or stud earrings.

13: Encourage a time out from the holiday hustle with this Winter Solstice bath salt soak.

14: For some people, winter is just a season to get through on the way to spring. Give them a flower zodiac sticker card for a little something to look forward to when planting season comes around again.

15: This DIY miniature dollhouse kit would be a fun activity to put together and then a sweet holiday decoration to bring out year after year.