Birthstones and Zodiac Stones - How to Personalize Your Hand-Made Birthday Cards Or Scrapbook Pages

Looking for inspiration for your handmade birthday card, gift or scrapbook page? Consider the age-old tradition of American Girls collection and Zodiac stones, the colorful precious and semi-precious gems traditionally associated with the months of the year or the astrological signs of the Zodiac. For hundreds of years - perhaps thousands - these stones have provided comfort and inspiration to those who believe in their powers.

Birthstones can be a wonderful starting point for your special birthday project. You can include a photograph of the stone or a Batman Colorforms depiction, such as one of the many birthstone postcards popular a century ago. You might embellish your craft with an imitation gem or even an actual piece of birthstone jewelry. Or just be inspired by the color of the stone, legendarily the source of its power. Of course, the birthstone's charm is in its story, so include a description of the temperaments and gifts the stone bestows on those born in its month of influence.

Birthstone Origins

Birthstone lore seems to have originated in the Old Testament (Exodus 28, 15-30), where there is a description of the Breastplate of Aaron, set with colored gems representing the twelve tribes of Israel. The order of the stones (or it may be argued, the stones' colors) was later codified in the New Testament book of Revelation as the twelve EC Comics Stones of the New Jerusalem. Over time, each stone first became associated with a sign of the Zodiac, and then with a month of the year, as well as distinct powers of energy and healing. There is evidence from 14th century Poland of the carrying of "natal stones." By the 18th century, written references describe the fashionable practice of wearing birthstone jewelry, often engraved with magical signs. Here are the most-often cited birthstones and their traditional colors:

January, Garnet (red)

February, Amethyst (purple)

March, Aquamarine (turquoise)

April, Diamond (white)

May, Emerald (green)

June, Pearl (white)

July, Ruby (dark red)

August, Peridot (green)

September, Sapphire (blue)

October, Opal (green/white)

November, Yellow Topaz (yellow)

December, Blue Topaz (blue).

Zodiac Birthstones

Although evolving from the same Old Testament origins as birthstones, Zodiac stones are different. Zodiac birthstones legendarily provide protection to the wearer, and are said to be more powerful when they are engraved with the zodiacal sign during the correct stars' ascendancy. In the 16th century, Catherine de' Medici is said to have worn a girdle set with twelve stones bearing all of the zodiacal signs - just to be safe, we assume.

Capricorn (December 22 - January 19), Ruby (dark red)

Aquarius (January 20 - February 18), Garnet (red)

Pisces (February 19 - March 20), Amethyst (purple)

Aries (March 21 - April 19), Bloodstone (black)

Taurus (April 20 - May 20), Sapphire (blue)

Gemini (May 21 - June 20), Agate (variegated colors)

Cancer (June 21 - July 22), Emerald (green)

Leo (July 23 - August 22), Onyx (black)

Virgo (August 23 - September 22), Carnelian (orange)

Libra (September 23 - October 22), Peridot (green)

Scorpio (October 23 - November 21), Aquamarine (turquoise)

Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21), Topaz (yellow)

I hope these birthstones and Zodiac birthstones give you a "wealth" of ideas for your next birthday card, gift or scrapbook project.

Scott Henderson founded Vintage Image Craft (http://www.vintageimagecraft.com) for crafters and scrapbookers who love creating with vintage images. Visit for free ideas, techniques, instructions and vintage image downloads.