📝 by Jaclyn Brzezinski Shumate of Chrysalis Studios 

 

Gift giving is one of my love languages — and one I hold close to my heart. While it’s often seen as the most materialistic of the five, I couldn’t disagree more. To me, giving gifts is an art form — a way of saying I see you, I know you, and you matter to me without needing the perfect words. A truly thoughtful gift reflects how deeply you understand someone’s heart — their quirks, their joys, their quiet dreams. Whether it’s a handpicked crystal necklace from my own collection, a beautifully bound book, or something handmade and simple, each gift becomes a little piece of love — wrapped in care, intention, and meaning.


 

Over the years, running my jewelry company has given me a front-row seat to what people really look for in a gift. Having made and sold over 75,000 handmade jewelry pieces on Etsy and Amazon, I’ve learned how to spot treasures that truly delight — whether it’s the perfect sparkle, a thoughtful detail, or a whimsical touch that makes someone’s face light up. This year, I’ve gathered a collection of 30 gift ideas — things I’ve personally loved, tested, and given to the people in my life who light me up in different ways. You’ll find a few of my favorite pieces from my own jewelry line, but mostly other treasures that made my loved ones smile this year. Think of this as your enchanted guide to finding the perfect something for everyone on your list!



 

The best gifts aren’t always the grandest — they’re the most specific. They whisper, “I thought of you when I saw this.” They say, “You’re one of a kind.” That’s why I believe the most meaningful presents come from knowing someone’s soul — not their wish list.



 

 

30 Tested & Loved Gifts for Every Personality Type in Your Life:

 

 

1. The Life of the Party (Always the first on the dance floor - and the last to leave 🥳✨)

 

The Gift: Disco Ball Christmas Ornaments

 

These ornaments are so much fun – I have these in 3 different colors and I’ve bought them for a friend as well. They adorn my tree and my mantel – they really give your Christmas décor that little extra oomph. And when the sunlight hits them during the day they spread a beautiful array of sun glints all across the ceiling which shimmer and dance! Anyone in your life that you consider hip & fun will certainly enjoy this glitzy Christmas themed gift!

 

🎁 Small affordable gift / under $25!

 

 

 

2. The Fidgeter (Can’t stop, won’t stop ✋🌀✨)

 

The Gift: Shashibo Shape Shifting Box

 

An award-winning fidget toy w/ 36 rare earth magnets. It comes in tons of different color pattern options and transforms into over 70 different shapes! Its an awesome sensory gift for kids & teens and beloved by all with ADHD! I’ve gotten them for all the kids and “big kids” in my life – I gifted one to my best friend’s husband last year for Christmas and she reports back that he plays with it all day every day while on the phone working remotely from home.

 

 

3. The Dreamer (Can name every constellation in the sky, but can’t remember why they walked into the kitchen five minutes ago🌙🪐😅)

 

The Gift: Aurora Borealis Galaxy Projector with Timer and Remote Control

 

I will admit that after first gifting one of these about 5 years ago, I loved it so much that we basically now have one in every room. I have also bought these for multiple family members, both kids and adults. Everyone loves these lights! They are so ambient, relaxing, and fun at the same time. They come with 15 sound settings such as rain, storm, birds, and insects and also hook up to your phone via Bluetooth to play your music along to the lights! These are soothing enjoyed solo for getting you out of a bad mood after a long day or fun for everyone at holiday festivities. For kids, its a dance party in a box and will also put them to sleep afterwards! They are a great versatile Christmas gift that most everyone can enjoy. 

 

 

4. The Sweet-tooth (Finds joy in every indulgence, believes dessert is its own love language 🍫✨)

 

The Gift: Delectable Homemade Macarons in Assorted Flavors from Etsy

 

Honestly, who doesn’t love macarons? And with flavors like Sakura, Yuzu, Lychee, & Rose and adorable shapes like these little pearl adorned seashells as well as Unicorns, Santas, & Pikachus, who couldn’t resist? This little etsy shop in Oakland CA makes these fresh every week and ships them out priority mail to arrive to you within 2-6 days from shipment. You can choose boxes of 6, 12, 18, or 24 and mix and match your favorites from their extensive list of flavors. They arrive to me from CA to NC miraculously intact, wrapped in plastic in special macaron boxes, each nestled in its own little cubby! I have personally ordered from this shop many times over the last 10 years and have shipped them out as gifts around holiday time directly to my recipients and they are always a HUGE hit! You could honestly send these to anyone on your list in a pinch and they will ADORE you for it! :)

 

 

5. The Hippie Naturalist (Can identify every tree, butterfly, & flower on the hike, barefoot most of the time, loves a good 15 minute instrumental 🌿🦋✨)

 

The Gift: Real Ethically Sourced Butterfly Wing Necklace from Etsy

 

Real butterfly wings preserved and expertly embedded under magnified glass into beautifully crafted pendant necklaces. With tons of species options to choose from such as monarch butterflies, luna moths, blue morpho butterflies, sunset moths, and more, there is a whole rainbow spectrum of options! And the best part is no Butterflies are harmed in the making of this jewelry. All butterflies are raised on butterfly farms and sanctuaries and allowed to live their full lifespan, which averages about 2-4 weeks naturally for the majority of species. They are then collected and sold so that their beauty can live on! Chrysalis Studios is a member of the Rainforest Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the Rainforest and the many species that live within it, including the Blue Morpho Butterfly! Your hippie friend will adore this gift! 

 

6. The Skincare Aficionado (Somehow still has five steps left in their bedtime routine when everyone else is already asleep✨🧴😅)

 

The Gift: Truly Beauty’s “TikTok Viral” Unicorn Fruit Whipped Body Butter

 

This is the most creamy, light, luxurious and aesthetically pleasing body product I have ever used. The look, smell, and feel is so good, it really makes you want to eat it! It’s a luscious, candy-scented swirl of acai, vegan collagen, matcha and shea butter that deeply hydrates, soothes, and plumps skin all over. A really fun addition to your daily routine for keeping skin smooth and smelling sweet! I purchased these as stocking stuffer gifts last year and everyone raved about them!

 

🎁 Small affordable gift / under $25!

 

 

 

7. The Crystal Girl (Can tell you which crystal to use for literally anything & somehow convinces you smudging the apartment with sage is the best home security defense 🔮✨)

 

The Gift: Handmade Real Raw Moonstone Necklace

 

Raw rough chunks of real rainbow moonstone with black tourmaline mineral inclusions! Each stone is lovingly wire wrapped by hand. Chains are available in a myriad of lengths and metal color options, including hypoallergenic sterling silver and 14k gold filled. Moonstone is a naturally occurring semi precious gemstone which looks clear to white from some angles, and then from other angles, has an iridescent blue (and sometimes almost rainbow) sheen running thru it, also known as a "flash"! \ The Romans believed moonstone was actually crystalized rays of the moon! Many cultures have believed that moonstone harnesses the energy of the moon and passes that energy onto its wearer, bringing harmony, balance, and calm. 

 

 

 

8. The Christmas freak (You know, the one who starts playing Christmas music in October 🎄✨🎅)

 

The Gift: Set of 2 Rainbow Glittery Nutcrackers

 

So this one is a steal in my opinion! First of all, these colorful rainbow soldiers are the cutest nutcrackers I have ever seen! They’re 10” tall, glittery & fabulous – and only $20 bucks for a set of TWO!? I currently have these up on my mantle and have already purchased more for my sister and my mom. I honestly think this would make an awesome Christmas gift for a lot of people on your list, but it’ll be extra special for your lovable little Christmas Freak 

 

🎁 Small affordable gift / under $25!

 

 

 

9. The Movie Buff (Can quote every line, rates life events like film reviews, and thinks popcorn counts as a food group. 🍿🎬✨)

 

The Gift: Buddy the Elf car window sticker AND 6 foot tall photorealistic weighted inflatable

 

Okay so this one is a two parter (or you can always gift one or the other!). The sticker is only about $15 while the inflatable is about $70. We have both of these ourselves and have also bought them as a gift for a Will Ferrell fan but really, EVERYONE loves him. Kids in the neighborhood stop and ask if they can take photos with “Buddy”. Drivers on the road honk and wave. It’s just a wholesome good time.

 

🎁 Small affordable gift / under $25!

 

 

10. The DIY Crafter (Thrives on making things by hand, generally covered in paint, glue, or glitter - often all three ✂️✨)

 

The Gift: Set of 24 Dual tip Metallic Acrylic Paint Pens

 

These are gorgeous, luxurious, shimmery metallic paint pens that will really level up any craft project or even just jazz up their adult coloring book sessions. I got these for an art project of my own and fell in love! Works on paper, fabric, wood, rock, stone, glass, etc. 

 

🎁 Small affordable gift / under $25!

 

 

 

11. The Hipster Husband (He’s got a beard that could double as a pillow, lives for craft coffee, ironic tees, and obscure bands no one else has heard of ☕🧔✨)

 

The Gift: Effortlessly Cool Holiday Button-downs

 

As the wife of an avid funky t-shirt & button-down guy, I have scoured the internet for the coolest button-downs. This has to be the funkiest button-down brand out there. If holiday kitsch isn’t his thing, they’re got everything from shark prints to dinosaurs to dragons to Vikings, in addition to all the traditional florals but in exceptionally cool and dazzling artist-designed patterns. Each shirt can even tell you which artist designed it! These are super high quality shirts crafted from top materials and made to last!

 

Christmas Holiday button down:

Thanksgiving Holiday button down:

12. The True Crime Podcast Junkie (Falls asleep to murder podcasts, trusts no one, and could probably solve a cold case faster than the local police. 🔎☕🕵️)

 

The Gift: Lightweight Foldable Wireless Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphones

 

As a crime junkie myself, I purchased these for myself and I absolutely adore them! My BEATS earbuds are cool and all but they are uncomfortable after awhile, expensive, and super easy to lose! I cannot tell you how many times I have had to ask the people behind me on an airplane if they can help me find my earbuds that just dropped on the floor and rolled down the aisle! These are so comfortable, its like you’re not wearing anything at all, and SO easy to keep track of. With pure bass sound, bluetooth, speed charge, & 76H Battery Life, and at around $60 bucks, they can’t be beat (no pun intended)! 

 

 

13. The Bug Collector (Finds beauty in all creatures, will absolutely NOT squash that spider for you, but is always bringing dead things home from their nature walks🐞🔍✨)

 

The Gift: Real Insect Collection Shadowbox

 

Chrysalis Studios creates stunning real butterfly and insect artwork, beautifully displayed in unique shadow boxes. From smaller curated collections to large, museum-quality mosaic pieces, the artwork showcases hundreds of species from all around the globe. Pieces range in size from affordable and under $200 to over $3,000 if you’re looking to splurge! It’s the perfect gift for any insect enthusiast! Even better, all insects are ethically sourced. Insect farming supports rainforest preservation and helps maintain natural butterfly habitats. Local communities are encouraged to cultivate plants and raise insects instead of clearing land for cash crops, making each piece both beautiful and sustainable!

 

 

14. The Girl Dad (Somehow knows all the lyrics to “Frozen”, inexplicably always has glitter in his beard 🎀💪✨)

 

The Gift: Dad Bod Apparel “Support Your Local Girl Dad” T-shirt

 

My husband was actually gifted this shirt by our Brother-In-Law and its now his favorite shirt. I cannot tell you how many people have asked me where we got this shirt! It comes in 3 color ways (military green, black, and mauve) and offers sizes small thru 3XL! Plus its family owned and operated in Northern CA so you’ll be supporting a small business!

 

My husband and daughter pictured below! :)

 

 

 

15. The CottageCore Chic (Lives for floral dresses, cozy knits, exotic teas & charcuterie boards, basically snow white with a cheese tray 🍵🧀✨)

 

The Gift: Luxurious Velvet Tablecloth

 

Velvet is back in for 2026 and this luxurious, while simultaneous cozy-feeling, tablecloth is on trend and the perfect vibe for the holidays - especially in olive green! A great holiday gift your homebody friend will love to ring in the New Year with!

 

 

 

16. The Surprise Lover (Loves surprises so much they’d happily unwrap a mystery box labeled "definitely not a trap” 🎁 🎉 🧩)

 

The Gift: Best Selling Handmade Crystal Jewelry Mystery Box (with 5 stars on Amazon!)

 

For your fun-loving friend who can’t get enough surprises! These mystery boxes are extra special because you get to choose your favorite stone colors, size, and chain length. So even though it’s a surprise, it’s guaranteed to fit and match your style. You can pick anywhere from 1 to 5 mystery items per order, making it easy to treat yourself or check off multiple gifts at once. Keeping a 4.5-star review score on Amazon is tough for any product, but for surprise items that customers don’t even see until they unwrap? That’s impressive! Starting at under $25, these mystery boxes are a steal. Or go for the 5-item option and score five gifts in one swoop! They get cheaper the more you buy :)

 

🎁 Small affordable gift / under $25!

 

 

 

17. The Netflix & Chill Friend (Professionally wrapped in blankets, fueled by snacks, and convinced that “just one more episode” is a legitimate life plan. 🛋️📺)

 

The Gift: Burrito Blanket

 

This one doesn’t require a whole lot of explaining lol. Its a silly and lighthearted tortilla shaped gift that your couch-potato friend will find hilarious! And they will think of you every time they cuddle up with it. They also have waffles and pizzas if that’s more your style.

 

🎁 Small affordable gift / under $25!

 

 

 

18. The Style Icon (the friend whose always on trend and perfectly put together even when they “just rolled out of bed”👗💄✨)

 

The Gift: Bohemian Gemstone Long Fringe Statement Earrings

 

These edgy extra long fringe earrings are handcrafted in your choice of gold or silver along with your choice of gemstone including labradorite, moonstone, black spotted moonstone, ametrine, rose quartz, jasper, malachite, lapis lazuli, blue lace agate, etc! They are the perfect statement earrings that can be worn to a fancy gala or to dress up a t shirt and jeans for a effortlessly cool look. Earring hooks are hypoallergenic and great for sensitive ears! Everyone will be asking you or “your friend” where you got these!

 

19. The New Parents (Operating on coffee, baby spit-up, and sheer willpower, they now consider a five-minute shower a luxury spa day ☕🍼✨)

 

The Gift: Realistic Phone & Remote Control Baby Toy Set

 

Just trust me when I say every new parent needs this. It doesn’t matter how many flashy expensive new toys you purchase for your baby, their #1 top interest will still be #1 your phone and #2 the TV remote. Going ahead and getting them their own replicas now before they start screaming for yours is an amazing investment and a great gift for parents for under $25! They light up and play animal sounds & sing songs, both in English and in Spanish. Also, its hilarious when people come over and try to use the baby remote to change the TV and it makes a pig “oinking” sound instead.

 

🎁 Small affordable gift / under $25!

 

 

 

20. The Baby (Master of chaos in a onesie 🍼👶✨)

 

The Gift: Automatic Battery Operated Bubble Machine

 

All kids love bubbles but babies are especially FASCINATED! Its battery operated so you can take it wherever and it has a large soap reservoir so it lasts a long time! We use ours at parties, for outdoor photo shoots, and even in the middle of the kitchen when our baby needs a good distraction from relentlessly trying to eat the dogs food..

 

 

 

21. The Busy Toddler (Expert in chaos management, snack negotiations, and spontaneous dance parties.🎨✨)

 

The Gift: Magical Dancing “Hypno-Squid” Toy

 

I have never been so pleased with a toy I’ve purchased, ESPECIALLY one under $10! This thing is bizarrely fascinating – not just for kids but for everyone lol. Somehow my husband, my parents, and I all ended up sitting at the dinner table after we had finished eating (and after the baby had went to bed mind you) just watching this thing go, mesmerized by its twirling tentacles someone artfully balancing on the table while it danced away in circles to its own little rhythmic beat. I don’t know how it works, all I know is we all agreed it’s the coolest little toy we’ve ever seen and it would make a spectacular affordable gift for any little kid in your life.

 

🎁 Small affordable gift / under $25!

 

 

22. The Dreaded Teen Boy (He’s cool but insanely hard to shop for, he loves anything that feels techy, adventurous, or a little bit mischievous..😎🎮)

 

The Gift: TOSY Color-Changing LED Flying Ring:

 

Okay, so these are just plain cool. I’ve bought a couple of these for my best friend’s teen sons and I still have one in my amazon cart for my husband as well! It won TIME’s Best inventions for 2024. It’s a game changing super bright flying disc with 16 Million adjustable colors. Any teen boy will love it!

 

 

23. The Spoiler-In-Chiefs (Armed with candy and zero regard for bedtime rules🍬👵👴✨)

 

The Gift: Extra Large Touch Screen Digital Picture Frame

 

Friends & family can send photos to the frame directly from the free app on their phone! We got these for both my parents and my husbands parents and they are such a hit! You can easily add friends to the frame in the setup so that other people have access to send photos to the frame whenever the mood strikes them. My husband and I can easily update our parents with new photos of our babies almost effortlessly  – instead of texting them the photos we simply send them from our photo library to the frame app and it automatically updates the frame with the new photos. We get excited texts from the Grandparents letting us know that their frames have updated and that they love the new pics! You can hang this up on the wall and set it on a timer to automatically wake up each morning and turn off each evening. It can also play videos!

 

 

 

24. The Interior Decorator (Measures twice, rearranges thrice, and judges every throw pillow like it’s a high-stakes competition. 🛋️🖼️✨)

 

The Gift: Handmade Unique-shaped Botanical inspired Contemporary Wool Area Rug

 

This is a simply fantastic rug – and something I gifted myself! We have ours in the foyer area when you first walk into the house. It really makes a statement. I love the colors and the interesting irregular shape. This would make an awesome gift for someone who loves unique home décor and statement pieces. While a little on the pricey side, if you’re looking to shell out a couple hundred bucks, it’s a truly quality piece and worth the money!   

            

 

 

25. The World Traveler (Accumulates passport stamps like trophies, can’t resist a hidden alleyway, collects beautiful treasures from every country✈️🧳💛)

 

The Gift: Turkish Moroccan Mosaic Glass Bedside Lamps

 

My parents’ entire house burnt down last year around Christmas-time and with it, everything they ever owned. I was 9 months pregnant at the time and went into nesting mode overdrive – re-decorating our guestroom in record time in order to make it feel as cozy and homey as possible so that they could stay with us while insurance sorted out a temporary rental home for them. In addition to brand new bedding in tranquil tones, a large flatscreen, new dressers & bedside tables, an assortment of new clothes, cozy feeling artwork from Etsy, a small Christmas tree, and some DIY craft projects I put together myself, we got them these ambient bedside lamps, one for each side of the bed. They added such a calming vibe to the guestroom, providing dim relaxing lighting and a glowing warm feel at the same time. My mom cried when she saw the room. These lamps helped to provide some small comforts at a tragic time and I really recommend them as a gift for anyone who enjoys a worldly bohemian vibe. They are beautifully crafted and feel as though they were just picked up on trip to a Moroccan bazaar.

 

 

 

26. Your Sister Who Blames Everything On Her Zodiac (because obviously Mercury had to be involved✨🪐🔮) 

 

The Gift: Real Crystal Tower LED Lamp

 

Your crystal / zodiac buds will freak over these gorgeous crystal towers on LED light bases. Each tower is unique and available in an assortment of stones such as amethyst, citrine, fluorite, rose quartz, and clear quartz. Lots of different sizes and price ranges depending on what you plan to spend.

 

 

 

27. The Potter-head (Still waiting for their Hogwarts letter⚡🪄✨)

 

The Gift: Harry Potter Hogwarts Express Christmas Toy Train Set

 

This is the perfect gift to set up around the Christmas Tree for the Harry Potter enthusiast in your life! It has authentic train sounds, LED lights, & real water vapor smoke effects. It easily runs on a phone app via Bluetooth. We have created a Harry Potter Christmas Village at our house and this train is the star!

 

 

28. The Gilmore Girls Guru (Runs on coffee, sarcasm, and small-town drama; speaks faster than most people can think ☕ 💁🏻✨)

 

The Gift: Gilmore Girls Dragonfly Inn Keychain

 

This is such a sweet and sentimental little gift for a fellow Gilmore Girls lover. The front of the keychain says “Dragonfly Inn Stars Hollow, CT” and the back says “Where you lead I will follow”. An adorable gift for the sister, mom, daughter, or friend that you love to watch Gilmore Girls with - they will think of your sweet gesture every time they pick up their keys. My friend and I have matching ones!

 

🎁 Small affordable gift / under $25!

 

 

 

29. The Team Edward Loyalist (Still waiting for a brooding vampire to show up in a Volvo 🧛🚗)

 

The Gift: Twilight New Moon Eyeshadow Palette & Makeup Collection

 

We all know someone who still watches twilight as their nostalgic comfort movie / guilty pleasure (and that someone might just be me). Anyway, this is a fun kitschy tribute to the Twilght films with product color names such as “Runs with Vampires” and “Bella! Where the Hell Have You Been, Loca?”. Besides all the sillyness, these are actually beautiful well-made products. The eye shadow palette has gorgeous shimmering fall colors and the lip kits are creamy and rich. I was gifted this by my best friend (who happens to work for me). She would joke that if she ever comes in for work and I have Twilight on in the studio that something bad must have happened because its one of my go to nostalgic comfort binges.

 

 

 

30. The White Elephant / Yankee Swap / Gag Gift (The best time of year, when everyone tries to out-weird each other with gifts👽🤪)

 

The Gift: Color Changing Toilet Night Lights with Motion Activated Sensor

 

Okay, so just here me out here lol. I originally ordered these for a “white elephant” gag gift where you swap silly items for under $15. However, it ended up being the most sought after gift! Everyone wanted one. Afterwards I ordered another for our bathroom and its actually pretty awesome! Its motion activated and lights the bathroom up just enough when you get up in the middle of the night so that you can see what you are doing without having to turn on super bright lights. The color changing aspect is just plain fun! Kids and adults alike love it. We have now purchased one for every bathroom in our house and gifted them to various friends and family who have asked where we got them as well.

 

🎁 Small affordable gift / under $25!

 

 

 

✨In a world that moves too quickly, giving thoughtfully is a way of slowing down — of saying, I took the time to see you. Whether you’re wrapping up a rose quartz crystal pendant for your best friend who needs something to lift her up after a breakup, gifting your witchy mom a handmade crocheted hat with bats on it you found on Etsy, or even overnighting your sister’s favorite tea to her via Amazon (sometimes the devil you know is the quickest.. lol), selecting something small and whimsical that just feels right for that person, every gift carries your energy and love with it.

 

This season, let’s give with intention. Let’s choose gifts that spark wonder, warmth, and connection — because the most magical presents are the ones that remind us we’re loved, seen, and deeply known.

 

Happy gifting!

 

xo Jaclyn