If you’re looking for some fun projects that make great gifts, check out these ideas below that feature interesting products you can use in different awesome projects. You’re sure to find the perfect gift from one of these great projects!
Raspberry Pi NFC Minecraft Blocks with PN532 NFC Breakout
This is a really fun project that uses wireless NFC (near-field communication) tags to make paper Minecraft blocks that interact with the Raspberry Pi Minecraft world. For example place a wood block on the NFC reader and you’ll see it created in the Minecraft world!
Check out the full guide to build this project and learn about the hardware it uses like the PN532 NFC reader breakout board.
Another fun use for NFC tags is interacting with a NFC-equipped smartphone, like this NFC ring & fingernail project demonstrates. Using a tiny NFC tag you can log in and automate tasks on an Android phone–neat!
Techno-Tiki RGB LED Torch with Gemma & Trinket
This project shows you how to build beautiful LED torches powered by a Gemma or Trinket board that pulse and glow with different colors. You can even build them to be controlled with a small infra-red remote control. You don’t have to wait until the summer to use them either, just change the colors for any holiday throughout the year!
Check out the full guide to build this project. Along with the Gemma/Trinket you just need a mason jar, small strip of NeoPixels, and some clear vase filler beads to build a basic RGB LED torch.
The Gemma and Trinket are extremely versatile little boards that you can use for many other projects too. For example 3D print a beautiful glowing tree-topper star, make some celebration spectacles, or a fun pendent that plays sounds when you jump!
Bluetooth-Controlled NeoPixel Goggles with Bluefruit LE friends
This is another colorful project that shows how easy it can be to control something from a phone using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and the Bluefruit LE boards. With the Bluefruit LE app you can change the colors of these goggles right from your phone. There’s almost no limit to what you can control with Bluetooth Low Energy!
Check out the guide to build the project. The heart of this project is the Bluefruit LE UART friend that helps an Arduino or other board talk to Bluetooth Low Energy devices like a phone.
For another interesting use of Bluetooth Low Energy check out this great talking dog collar project. Using the same Bluefruit LE app on a phone you can trigger an Audio FX board to play sounds and give your pet a voice of its own!
We’re excited for the Holiday Season here at Adafruit, and we can’t wait to share that excitement with you! Stay tuned into the blog where you will find new, handpicked gift guides five days a week from November 9th through December 24th, 2015 alongside holiday themed tutorials and builds!
Free Deals
Adafruit offers exciting deals and free items when you shop with us. As of October 13th, 2015 we are currently offering:
- Adafruit Perma-Proto Half-sized Breadboard PCB – Single for order $99 or more
- Adafruit Trinket – Mini Microcontroller – 5V Logic for orders $149 or more
- Adafruit Pro Trinket – 5V 16MHz for order $249 or more
Adafruit Holiday Deadlines 2015
Here are your 2015 shipping deadlines for ordering from Adafruit. Please review our shipping section if you have specific questions on how and where we ship worldwide for this holiday season.
The Adafruit Shipping Department works hard to get your orders out as quickly as we can, but once they’re in the hands of our carriers they’re out of our control.
Carriers have been struggling to keep up with the sharp rise in online orders. UPS, FedEX, and USPS all experienced delivery delays over the last few years.
So all the Adafruit Shippers say: Please be sure you get your gifts early! Order as soon as you can! Once you place your order we’ll ship like the wind!
UPS ground (USA orders): Place orders by Friday 11am ET – December 11, 2015 – There is no guarantee that UPS Ground packages will arrive by December 24.
UPS 3-day (USA orders): Place orders by Thursday 11am ET – December 17, 2015 – Arrive by 12/24/2015.
UPS 2-day (USA orders): Place orders by Friday 11am ET – December 18, 2015 – Arrive by 12/24/2015.
UPS overnight (USA orders): Place orders by Monday 11am ET – December 21, 2015 – Arrive by 12/24/2015.
Please note: We do not offer Saturday or Sunday service for UPS or USPS.
Friday, Dec. 25, 2015, Christmas, no UPS pickup or delivery service.
Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, New Year’s Day, no UPS pickup or delivery service.
United States Postal Service, First Class and Priority (USA orders): Place orders by Friday– December 11, 2014 – Arrive by 12/24/2015 or sooner.
USPS First class mail international (International orders)): Place orders by Friday – November 20, 2015. Can take up to 30 days or more with worldwide delays and customs. Should arrive by 12/25/2015 or sooner, but not a trackable service and cannot be guaranteed to arrive by 12/24/2015.
USPS Express mail international(International orders): Place orders by Friday – December 5, 2015. Can take up to 15 days or more with worldwide delays and customs. Should arrive by 12/24/2014 or sooner.
Gift Certificates are always available at any time.
When in doubt contact us!
