| Looking for inspiration for your handmade birthday | | | | March, Aquamarine (turquoise) |
| card, gift or scrapbook page? Consider the | | | | April, Diamond (white) |
| age-old tradition of birthstones and Zodiac stones, | | | | May, Emerald (green) |
| the colorful precious and semi-precious gems | | | | June, Pearl (white) |
| traditionally associated with the months of the | | | | July, Ruby (dark red) |
| year or the astrological signs of the Zodiac. For | | | | August, Peridot (green) |
| hundreds of years - perhaps thousands - these | | | | September, Sapphire (blue) |
| stones have provided comfort and inspiration to | | | | October, Opal (green/white) |
| those who believe in their powers. | | | | November, Yellow Topaz (yellow) |
| Birthstones can be a wonderful starting point for | | | | December, Blue Topaz (blue). |
| your special birthday project. You can include a | | | | Zodiac Birthstones |
| photograph of the stone or a vintage depiction, | | | | Although evolving from the same Old Testament |
| such as one of the many birthstone postcards | | | | origins as birthstones, Zodiac stones are different. |
| popular a century ago. You might embellish your | | | | Zodiac birthstones legendarily provide protection |
| craft with an imitation gem or even an actual | | | | to the wearer, and are said to be more powerful |
| piece of birthstone jewelry. Or just be inspired by | | | | when they are engraved with the zodiacal sign |
| the color of the stone, legendarily the source of | | | | during the correct stars' ascendancy. In the 16th |
| its power. Of course, the birthstone's charm is in | | | | century, Catherine de' Medici is said to have worn |
| its story, so include a description of the | | | | a girdle set with twelve stones bearing all of the |
| temperaments and gifts the stone bestows on | | | | zodiacal signs - just to be safe, we assume. |
| those born in its month of influence. | | | | Capricorn (December 22 - January 19), Ruby |
| Birthstone Origins | | | | (dark red) |
| Birthstone lore seems to have originated in the | | | | Aquarius (January 20 - February 18), Garnet (red) |
| Old Testament (Exodus 28, 15-30), where there is | | | | Pisces (February 19 - March 20), Amethyst |
| a description of the Breastplate of Aaron, set | | | | (purple) |
| with colored gems representing the twelve tribes | | | | Aries (March 21 - April 19), Bloodstone (black) |
| of Israel. The order of the stones (or it may be | | | | Taurus (April 20 - May 20), Sapphire (blue) |
| argued, the stones' colors) was later codified in | | | | Gemini (May 21 - June 20), Agate (variegated |
| the New Testament book of Revelation as the | | | | colors) |
| twelve Foundation Stones of the New Jerusalem. | | | | Cancer (June 21 - July 22), Emerald (green) |
| Over time, each stone first became associated | | | | Leo (July 23 - August 22), Onyx (black) |
| with a sign of the Zodiac, and then with a month | | | | Virgo (August 23 - September 22), Carnelian |
| of the year, as well as distinct powers of energy | | | | (orange) |
| and healing. There is evidence from 14th century | | | | Libra (September 23 - October 22), Peridot |
| Poland of the carrying of "natal stones." By the | | | | (green) |
| 18th century, written references describe the | | | | Scorpio (October 23 - November 21), Aquamarine |
| fashionable practice of wearing birthstone jewelry, | | | | (turquoise) |
| often engraved with magical signs. Here are the | | | | Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21), Topaz |
| most-often cited birthstones and their traditional | | | | (yellow) |
| colors: | | | | I hope these birthstones and Zodiac birthstones |
| January, Garnet (red) | | | | give you a "wealth" of ideas for your next |
| February, Amethyst (purple) | | | | birthday card, gift or scrapbook project. |