GRAB BAG

CHOCOLATES: Signature Oval, $55, Julia Baker Confections

WHAT HAPPENS: Make the chocoholic on your list positively swoon when you offer these beautifully crafted confections.

WHAT WORKS: This handsome chocolate-brown oval box begs to be saved and used to store mementos. But the real treat is the sweet treasures within. The slippery smooth passion fruit cream tucked inside dark chocolate makes for a unique flavor combination, and for those who are serious caramel addicts, the truffles filled with the liquid gold and studded with crushed English toffee are worth your firstborn.

WHAT DOESN’T WORK: Not everyone wants to spend $55 on just over one dozen chocolates. Those who do, however, will be deliciously rewarded.

WHAT YOU’LL GET: Inside the pretty box you’ll find a selection of lovely chocolates that include three hazelnut truffles that don’t have much in common with the uber-sweet variety usually found. These have a fairly thin center holding a fresh hazelnut. The square, vividly painted chocolates come filled with buttery ganache with flavors ranging from Irish Creme to raspberry.

TO BUY IT: Available through www.juliabakerconfections.com.

MINI WATERCOLOR SET: Tuscany Landscapes, $14.99, Faber-Castell

WHAT HAPPENS: You can encourage the budding da Vinci in your life with this miniature watercolor kit.

WHAT WORKS: Unlike paint-by-numbers sets, these small canvases depicting Tuscan country scenes allow more creative leeway when it comes to applying watercolors. And the Tuscany landscapes come with Aquarelle water pencils that contain the watercolor paint. Simply shade with the pencils, then blend using a damp brush. You can mix and match the pencils for custom colors.

WHAT DOESN’T WORK: The four pre-printed canvases measure 3 inches square, so they’re not for those who can’t see small objects well.

WHAT YOU’LL GET: The kit includes one practice canvas that measures 4 inches by 5 inches. It comes in handy so that you get to practice blending and coloring before you start on a print. The set also includes five watercolor pencils, a sharpener, one watercolor brush, four foam mounting boards and ribbon to hang your artworks.

TO BUY IT: Available at most Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Superstores as well as online through www.joann.com.

COLLAR STAYS: 12-gauge collar stays, $29.50, Bird Dog Bay

WHAT HAPPENS: If you’re looking for a clever and useful stocking stuffer for the guy with everything, look no further than this shotgun shell.

WHAT WORKS: We like that the stays come in three different sizes and that the real shotgun shell provides a handy way to keep them from getting lost when they’re not in use. The stays themselves are great looking and work beautifully to keep men’s collars in perfect shape. They make an ideal gift for a sportsman who’s also a natty dresser.

WHAT DOESN’T WORK: A small cork is used to plug the open end of the shotgun shell and it doesn’t fit as snugly as it could.

WHAT YOU’LL GET: The case is made of a real, de-primed 12-gauge shotgun shell and holds a dozen stays made of 22-carat gold-coated stainless steel. You get two pairs of 3-inch stays, three pairs of 2 1/2-inch stays and one pair of 2-inch stays.

TO BUY IT: You can order the stays through H. Stockton at Lenox Square mall, 404-233-1608.

CLEAR TAPE: OneHanded invisible tape, 97 cents, Duck Tape

WHAT HAPPENS: You know the pre-wrapping ritual: You pull out a dozen or so little strips of tape that you then stick to the edge of the kitchen table so they’re easy for you to pluck when you need them as you’re wrapping endless holiday gifts. It works fine until they all curl under the table and you can’t find them. This tape eliminates that hassle.

WHAT WORKS: The dispenser is small enough to fit comfortably in your hand, allowing you to easily apply a strip of tape to the package without letting go of the paper. You can maneuver the tape around corners or oddly shaped items. And since you’re not handling the tape, it doesn’t get smudged with fingerprints, which makes your packages look a lot nicer.

WHAT DOESN’T WORK: There’s a bit of a learning curve when it comes to cutting the tape. You have to give your wrist a slight twist for a clean cut. Practice once or twice before using it on a gift. My first few tries resulted in a bit of torn paper from the cutting blade because I pressed too hard.

WHAT YOU’LL GET: The tape comes in matte acetate or crystal clear versions that rest in a lightweight plastic dispenser. The tape measures 3/4 inches wide and 300 inches long.

TO BUY IT: Available at mass merchandisers and office supply stores.

RAZOR DRYER: Razor Pro, $29.95, BB&L Innovations

WHAT HAPPENS: When you use a razor, the blades tend to corrode and get dull when they’re left exposed to moisture. Dry the blades with Razor Pro and you could extend their shaving power.

WHAT WORKS: Essentially, this is a blow dryer for your razor. It’s easy to use. After using your shaver, rinse it in hot water, shake off the excess water and place the razor, head down, on the pad and press to activate the fan. The unit automatically shuts off after two minutes. It’s supposed to work with any standard or disposable razor.

WHAT DOESN’T WORK: I had two problems with Razor Pro. First, it works better with a razor that has a slim head. When I tried it with a wider razor, it never really dried, even after several tries. The other problem I had was that the unit worked sporadically after a couple of tries. So, I replaced the batteries and still had the same results. The fan simply stopped working long before its two-minute time period.

WHAT YOU’LL GET: The lightweight plastic unit runs on two AA batteries, which aren’t included. It’s about 4 inches long and just over 3 inches high. The little fan that dries the razor head hums as it’s working, and the sound is about as loud as an electric toothbrush. The unit I reviewed was made of black plastic and the photo on the Web site only shows a white one, and when you order, it doesn’t give you a color option, so I’m not sure what you’ll get.

TO BUY IT: Available online through www.razorpro.net.

All prices are manufacturers’ suggested retail price.