Store bought gifts, in this economy?! Instead check out this list of books for homemade gifts and cards. Included in this list is papercraft, knit, crochet, food, body and bath products that can be made for anyone on your list this season!
Creative Cut Cards
Lark Crafts
A beautiful handmade card makes any note feel like a gift! Using only specialty papers and a craft knife, crafters can easily create 35 elegant and quirky cards for every occasion. Ranging from adorable apples for a teacher s gift to a row of candles for birthday greetings, these spectacular projects cover almost every occasion. Begin simpler designs and work your way up to more intricate creations.
Read More View in CatalogSweet Christmas
Sharon Bowers
Sweet Christmas puts the holidays back into the family kitchen with 100 recipes and projects for holiday treats for parents and children to make together. The recipes are easy to make, don’t require special equipment, and are accompanied by lush color photographs. From real homemade candy (peppermint fudge, pulled ribbon candy, sugared pecans) to edible decorations for the tree (stained glass cookies, Rice Krispie snowmen, chocolate Santa mice) to handmade gifts for special people (golden caramel sauce, dark chocolate truffles, Christmas pudding bonbons), this beautiful and inspiring book even has recipes for Christmas morning: buttery pull-apart bread in a caramel glaze, sticky buns, orange-butter pancakes, and hot maple doughnuts.
Read More View in CatalogKawaii Crochet
Melissa Bradley
Create adorable characters from food and other everyday items, which make gorgeous gifts and perfect play sets. Plus, learn all the stitches and techniques you need to make the cutest crochet ever!
View in CatalogPocket Amigurumi
Sabrina Somers
20 lovable little amigurumi monsters to crochet and collect, from sprout-like sidekicks and spiky wolf companions, to leaf foxes and fiery cats!
View in CatalogMemories in Miniature
Pamela Frye Hauer
Creating small photo gifts and keepsakes that make BIG impressions The old adage is true - great things do come in small packages! Inside Memories in Miniature, you'll discover ways to incorporate photos and mementos into meaningful keepsakes, gifts and greetings that are small in scale but big in imagination, based upon the creation of accomplished artist Pamela Frye Hauer. Chapters organized by occasion make it easy to find memory crafts suited to specific situations, such as welcoming new babies, chronicling a child's growth, honoring relationships, designing home decor and creating playful tokens for parties and holiday festivities. For added inspiration, Pamela has included dozens of bonus tips and ideas for making even more "mini memories" using your favorite items and techniques. Inside you'll find: Hundreds of ideas for creating one-of-a-kind memory crafts, including mini scrapbook albums, magnets, party favors, snow globes, jewelry and more Step-by-step illustrated techniques for building and decorating your projects Full-color tool and supply galleries Comprehensive material and resource lists accompanying each project Efficient solutions for organizing your souvenirs and mementos Leave a lasting impression with handmade gifts that will surprise, inspire and always be appreciated. Because they are small in size and easy to make, you'll want to create these keepsakes in pairs so you'll have one to enjoy for yourself!
Read More View in CatalogBeautiful Paper Cutting
Lark Crafts
A collection of top-selected Etsy paper crafts features contributions by such names as Cynthia Shaffer, Ellen Deakin and Cecelia Louie and includes projects ranging from garlands to matryoshka dolls.
View in Catalog101 Weekend Cross Stitch Gifts
Lesley Teare
101 cross-stitch gift ideas include those for babies and children, wedding celebrations and anniversaries, special days to remember, celebrations throughout the calender,and Christmas. Each themed spread features photographs of the gift ideas using a selection of the cross stitch designs from the color charts pictured opposite.
Read More View in CatalogHow to Doodle Everywhere
Kamo
Anyone can doodle—and this book proves it! Your intrepid doodling guide Kamo is the author of many bestselling drawing guides, and in this one she shows you how to create simple doodles anywhere using just a ballpoint pen. You'll learn to use Kamo's motto: "Once you know the basics, you can draw anything!" This book provides hundreds of examples showing you how to create doodles that are lively and entertaining in three easy steps. Unlike fine-art or manga drawings, there are no rules and no fancy techniques. All that's needed is a free hand and a free spirit! This book makes an ideal gift for doodlers of all ages, beginners and amateurs alike. It shows you how to doodle anywhere—at home, in the office and on the go—on loose scraps of paper or in a notebook. Learn to use your decorative doodles to dress up and enliven things you use everyday—from letters, gift cards and invitations to journals, appointment books, household labels, business cards and scrapbooks. Doodles are useful and fun—and their applications are endless!
Read More View in CatalogSimply Stitched Gifts
Cynthia Shaffer
Rev up the sewing machine, because these 20 fresh and modern projects make perfect personalized gifts. Ranging from wall art to tote bags to baby accessories, they feature free-motion stitching, as well as a variety of mixed-media techniques—including painting, layering, and journaling. An ample introduction to the basics encourages creative exploration with fabric.
Read More View in CatalogEdible DIY
Lucy Baker
Edible DIY may not be the first book for crafty cooks and burgeoning urban homesteaders, but it is the easiest. Based on the popular Serious Eats column by the same name, Edible DIY includes 75 recipes divided into five chapters: Crunchy, Boozy, Sweet, Spicy, and Jars. With plenty of packaging tips throughout, Edible DIY is the perfect solution for making inexpensive edible gifts in your own kitchen with everything from Chocolate-Peppermint Marshmallows and Coconut Granola to Homemade Sriracha and Espresso Barbeque Sauce. Illustrated with inspirational full-color photography throughout.
Read More View in CatalogWrap It Up!
Mary Engelbreit
Presents a variety of ideas for handmade gifts, including picture frames, vases, ribbon bags, aprons, napkins and rings, garden hats, drum boxes, and gourd nut bowls, and suggests imaginative ways to wrap them!
View in CatalogLast-Minute Knitted Gifts
Joelle Hoverson
Today's knitters are chic, smart-and busy. Although they love to knit and enjoy making gifts for family and friends, they're constantly faced with the challenge of finding enough time to actually finish what they've started. Last-Minute Knitted Gifts solves this problem. Joelle Hoverson, owner of Purl, the hip knitting supply store in downtown Manhattan, has designed more than 30 fun, fresh, beautiful patterns, most of which can be made in less than ten hours—some in as little as two! Known for her keen sense of color, Hoverson includes instructions for classic gifts like baby booties and bonnets, sweaters, and scarves, plus imaginative options like a cashmere tea cozy, a felted yoga mat bag, floor cushions, and a poncho—surely something for everyone on the gift list. And to make each present extra-special, Hoverson offers easy tips on how to incorporate knitting and other yarn embellishments into the gift wrap.
Read More View in CatalogSew With Me
Brandy Nelson
Stitch in Style with Adorable, Easy Projects Make every day a crafting bonanza with this inspiring and helpful guidebook packed with 60 projects. These accessories, toys and decorations are as easy to create as they are fun to wear and display! Grab an adult to help you get started, then you’re off sewing adorable crafts you can personalize with your favorite colors and fabrics. Make cool stuff with your friends, such as hair and fashion accessories, and decorate your room your way with personalized pillows and throws. Become the most stylish kid at school with a homemade notebook cover and a pencil pouch. There are so many projects to choose from, such as: · Watermelon Tote · Happy Face Coasters · Animal Sleep Masks · Pom-Pom Throw · Unicorn Mane Scarf · and so much more! Easy-to-follow instructions make this book a great place to start for beginners. With the projects divided into three skill levels, it’s a cinch to find one that’s just right for you. Beginner projects use only hand stitching, intermediate ones combine hand stitching with easy machine sewing and advanced ones use only a machine. Filled with pictures, friendly advice and cutout templates, this will become your favorite activity book for playtime.
Read More View in CatalogZakka from the Heart
Minki Kim
Add peace to your busy life with a cozy afternoon of zakka sewing. Stitching in her signature style, Minki Kim is back with sixteen whimsical crafts for your must-sew list. With a number of techniques, from quilting and wool appliqué to embroidery, there’s something for every sewist! Advance your skills by installing a variety of zipper styles, bag handles, and hardware. From purses to pouches, these useful handmade gifts are ideal for gifting—and perfect for keeping!
Read More View in CatalogSimple Gifts
Worick
Heartfelt + handmade = the perfect gift. In Simple Gifts, Jennifer Worick offers step-by-step instructions for creating easy and inspired handmade gifts that won’t break the bank. Learn how to stitch a wine bag for your favorite foodie, sew pajama pants for a tried-and-true friend, roast coffee beans for an office pal, or felt a ring for your sweetheart. Also included is Jennifer’s helpful, witty advice on choosing the right gift for anyone-man, woman, or child-and how to wrap up your present with style. From a sweet knitted apron to a hand-embroidered handkerchief, personalized note cards to soothing natural lip balm, a quilted baby blanket to a manly wooden toolbox,these heartfelt, handmade gifts are certain to wow and touch your loved ones.
Read More View in CatalogQuick and Easy Knits
Search Press STUDIO
The book covers a wide variety of themes from Christmas knits, baby bootees, phone covers, mug hugs, headbands and scarves, so there is something for everyone to enjoy. Knitting continues to be a very popular craft, and this book has a very wide appeal both to beginners and more accomplished knitters. This book represents amazing value, comprising 100 projects from some of our best-selling knitting authors. The book covers a wide variety of themes from Christmas knits, baby bootees, phone covers, mug hugs, headbands and scarves, so there is something for everyone to enjoy. Knitting requires very little in the way of tools and materials, which are widely available from major yarn stores and are relatively inexpensive. The techniques used in this book are simple enough for experienced beginners to master, and easy for more seasoned knitters. Special stitches used are explained in detail, and yarns are described in generic terms, so that readers can use what is available to them, wherever they live. The projects are satisfying to make and can be made as gifts for special occasions and celebrations to family and friends.
Read More View in CatalogGifted
Mags Kandis
There's nothing quite like receiving a handmade gift, and your family and friends will love being on the receiving end of these handmade designs. Designer Mags Kandis inspires with this delightful collection of beautiful and colorful little projects for you to knit, crochet, and felt. From wearable accessories such as hats, mittens, scarves, socks, and wraps to home decor including a tea cozy, pin cushion, needle case, and laptop cover, these 30+ pieces are sweet, lively and add a little joy to every household. Each project features creative embellishments and personal touches, including beading, buttons, needlefelting, applique, and embroidery. Mags also shares her recipes for easy food gifts and simple sewing projects such as sewn fabric gift bags and sachets to pair with fiber gifts. Directions for making these little add-ons that make a gift personal and extra-special are scattered throughout the book. Gifted will inspire you to grab another ball of yarn and invest a little time and love to create something special for someone special.
Read More View in CatalogFood Gift Love
Maggie Battista
A gorgeous and engaging cookbook by a rising star of the blog world, with more than 100 recipes for simple, special food gifts with unique wrapping ideas for each.
View in CatalogBound
Rachel Hazell
An accessible collection of creative bookbinding projects using different techniques for cutting and folding as well as stitches such as ladder, string of pearls and chain. Projects include The Slit Book, A Concertina with Pockets and Multi-Section Softback, which can then be developed further to create unique and personal handmade notebooks, books and keepsakes that are not only fun and satisfying to make, but also make wonderful gifts. So whether you have already tried your hand at bookbinding or are a complete beginner, let Rachel's knowledge and passion inspire you to explore the many possibilities of bookart.
Read More View in Catalog