You've stalked well, you've made contact, you've bartered and shopped and crafted and baked your way to a (series of) fun-filled packages, you've gathered all the supplies to make a stunning impact, and as you're putting together your ultimate package, you realize...

This is kind of disjointed. And there's no big beautiful wonderful focal piece that shouts "I LOVED WITCHING YOU!"

Now, it's hard to pull something perfect out of your hat this late in the game, but it's possible. It's better if you plan ahead sometimes, but other times you only get your stroke of inspiration on this when your witchee makes a chance comment (ie, "I've really always wanted to speak German," "I've always wanted to learn to knit," "I wish I knew how to keep my tomato plants alive and thriving through to harvest," "I wish I had more inspiration cooking dinner for my brood," "I wish I could get this website done so I can finally open my product line up to the world," etc) 3/4 of the way through the round.

I've found that the things that I and other witches have done that made the best centerpieces, by and large were acts of love rather than objects. Some, like beautiful BPAL storage boxes and The Perfect knitted item or jewelry piece, are physical objects that symbolize this love. Others, like lifetime darning services, language/crafting/etc lessons, and graphics design for eir etail business, are intangible. By and large, they are all obtainable with fairly little monetary output, if you're willing to put in the effort, love, and networking.

Say there's an object, like a box or a necklace, that you have the skills but not the materials to make. Second-hand shops, yard sales, and barter are your friends!

Say there's an object that you can't make, but you know other witches who do. Barter barter barter! Services are good for bartering, too. I'll bet there's a jewelry maker or a knitter or a woodcrafter out there who would make your witchee a gift in exchange for a nice big box of salted caramels or vegan cupcakes or... you get the idea.

Traditionally understood crafting skills aren't the only ones that are good for this. I took my prior knowledge of Etsy and the help-for-Etsy-startup information I'd gathered when I'd been designing my own Etsy store, added some basic graphics manipulation skills (seriously, very basic - I just used some pictures of her products, an image from her web page, a white background, and the Paint program that comes with Windows), a bit more research, and some of my time setting the whole thing up, and made Coldie her Etsy store (and a primer for getting up and running with it), which she'd been wanting to start up for some time. She already had the business, making jewelry for people and advertising by word-of-mouth. I supplied the Round Tuit, and now she's got an Etsy store, which expanded her earning potential quite a lot.

Total monetary output: $0. Impact on my witchee and her life: Priceless.

Also, let's say you speak a language or are good at a skill your witchee would like to better emself with. Even long-distance, lessons in these things are possible. Got a digicam with a video function? Make videos of yourself saying basic things in the language, or demonstrating techniques for the skill. Make a modular primer, burn it to CD, draw some pictures, scare up some materials from your stash. Offer to correspond via email/video/audio (on CD if necessary) with your witchee to help em through the learning curve.

Total monetary output: low. Impact on your witchee's life: Priceless.

Or, make a cookbook on CD that your witchee can print out, or use water-resistent cardstock and a sewing needle to make a lay-flat hard-wearing print version.

Believe me. With health problems, insomnia, four kids, couple's therapy, home reconstruction, and a demanding career, I know about being busy. But there are ways to turn a few minutes here and there and that beautifully burgeoning heart of yours into an incredible, low-cost, high-personal-value focal piece, and really do your witchee justice. Think hard about your skills, ask around, watch your witchee's posts, and you can find the inspiration and resources you need.

Happy witching!