I gave him a rock tumbler (small machine with a container that will then turn constantly until turned off) for Christmas. It came with (or you can buy, or just find outside small rocks in your driveway) semi-gemstones-quartz, tiger's eye,obsidian, eg. An amount of these are put into the container with water and powdered grit . Then you turn it on and let it tumble. After a few days, you remove, rinse, add a finer grit, and repeat. There were 4 degrees of grit, and we are now on the final step of polishing them with the last. When done, they are rounded, and shiny, and he can make jewelry or just keep the finished ones.
I had done this in scouts with my son long ago. Next batch will be some from a gem show that I got a while ago. Here is some info.
( My sil keeps asking why we're doing something that takes so long. Ah, the instant gratification people!)
Here is a site for some info:
http://geology.com/rock-tumbler/
Jo

LOL- One of my BIL's use to ask me that about cross-stitching. We would sit on the porch on Sunday afternoons and while visiting, drinking coffee, I would CS. At the end of a few Sundays, I ask him what he had to show for the last Sunday evenings,...I had a pretty picture of a porch and he had nothing to show for his time...I will check out your link, but show us his/your finished gems. I would love to see.-Toogie

ok but put on the coffee to be there by supper time hugs

You could always make an experimental batch with each one, and then wash it up and repackage it...just in case, you know. :)

If I did buy them, I think I would need to do just that, as I wouldn't be able to wrap them for christmas in those falling apart boxes. If they were here they would just think it was ours and be none the wiser....I still would have the problem of being 1 short,as we have 3 kids.

Would the store order another ice cream freezer (or two) for you if you assured them that you would indeed buy it? It might be worth looking in to. Paying in advance helps these things as well. Good luck there!!

Oh, my son's favorite ice cream flavor, bar none, is black licorice. I use an entire jar of the paste or gel food coloring to get it all the way to black, and then licorice/anise extract. The black tongue and face are half the fun of that ice cream. :)