BONNERS FERRY — For many, the holiday season is not quite the same without gifts made by hand, and given to the people they care about.

Cyndi Clark wanted to offer a low-cost, handcrafted opportunity for her friends and family to be creative for Christmas. She looked at it as a social time to relax and enjoy each others company, and catch up. On Friday evening, Dec. 6, Clark was able to accomplish that goal downstairs at the United Methodist Church.

In the past, as an elementary school teacher, Clark used to have a dozen craft projects for her students to create and pass on as gifts.

“I missed all the festivities with a group of creative people,” said Clark. “It was a joy to bring that back to my life.”

Seventeen people, from age 10 to around 80 years old, all latched on to Clark’s idea and came to be a part of the crafting evening, Holiday Papercrafting Make & Take, making cookie/candy gift containers, bottle tags, pill box treat containers, gift card holders, gift bags and tags, little red pickup trucks, and more.

“There was plenty of chocolate to add to the projects and to consume along the way,” said Clark.

A happy buzz in the air as people worked on their projects, and the smiles on faces, was evidence of Clark’s success in bringing together the even that she envisioned.

“This is fun,” said Cheryl Jackson while working on projects with her 10-year-old daughter, Sophia.

“It is fun and I am not creative enough to come up with things like this by myself,” said Miranda Cowell, who was there with her family.

The event took place over a two-hour time period, allowing people to arrive at their convenience and work on however many projects as they wanted.

“It was a no stress opportunity to create as many projects as one wanted and time allowed,” said Clark. “It was fabulous that we were able to use the church basement with plenty of room for everything without feeling bunched up.”

Clark said she was pleased with the turn out, there was a lot of laughter and friendly comradery, and that the attendees seemed pleased with their projects.

“I’m planning another opportunity for Valentine’s Day,” said Clark. “It’s nice to give someone you love something that you made!”

For the people attending, it was not only a fun event and social time, but they walked away with hand made projects that they could gift to the special people in their lives.