Your library offers resources like Creativebug and Universal Class for video tutorials, as well as physical and digital magazines for ideas. You can also browse through our collection for more inspiration.
Sweet and Savory Treats
If you enjoy giving food as gifts, your library has tons of cookbooks to help. Whether you’re making pies, BBQ sauce or fancy coffee mixes, we’ve got you covered. One of my favorite cookbooks for special treats is “Baking With Mary Berry.” Mary Berry, the British queen of baking, shares recipes she makes at home. I’ve made and gifted her brandy snaps and ginger snaps, and her Christmas pudding is a personal favorite.
Sewn Gifts
If you want to make eco-friendly gifts, author Alicia Steele encourages using sustainable fabrics in her book “Eco-Chic Bags.” She shows you how to make totes, purses, sandwich bags and more. The instructions are easy to follow with clear images, making it a great place to start if you’re new to sewing.
Another fun option is “Animal Friends to Sew” by Sanae Ishida. The book includes cute projects like a magnetic fishing game and bean bag animals for cornhole. You can also sew a hooded animal cape for kids to wear after bath time or for dress-up. The instructions are simple and all the templates are provided.
Carpentry Gifts
We have books on woodturning, wood burning, and other woodworking projects, like “Small-Scale Woodworking Projects for the Home” by Roshaan Ganief. This book includes great ideas for gifts, such as frames, signs, jewelry and planters. The directions are clear, but make sure you know your way around tools like table and scroll saws to stay safe.
If you have children on your list, “Making Wooden Toys” offers delightful toys that ‘stack, tumble, whistle and climb.’ I think my favorite is the Takataka, featuring a small doll that careens down a pegboard course making a delightful clatter to the bottom. There is a merry-go-round, a cube puzzle, and ten other toys sure to please.
Fun, Unusual Gifts
Sometimes, you want to give something unique, especially for a friend with an interesting hobby. We have books on making cosplay costumes, where you can craft props like space guns or sonic screwdrivers out of recycled materials. Start with “The Beginner’s Guide to Cosplay Armor & Props” by Joyce
For cat lovers, check out “Cat-Hair Hats for Cats.” This fun book teaches you how to make tiny hats out of cat hair (yes, really!) by brushing the cat and collecting the hair. The authors show how to felt the hair into hats that cats barely notice, and they even give photography tips to capture the funny results.
If you’re into building, “Rubber Band Engineer” by Lance Akiyama is perfect. You can make things like slingshot rockets and robotic arms using rubber bands, clothes pins and paint stirrers. Just make sure to include safety rules when gifting sharp or flying objects, and get ready for some fun tinkering!
Something For Every Skill Set and Interest
Making homemade gifts is a thoughtful way to show you care, and your library has all the resources you need to get started. Whether you’re crafting sweet treats, sewing eco-friendly bags, woodworking, or creating something truly unique, there’s something for everyone. These personalized gifts are not only meaningful but also fun to create. So, dive into the library’s vast collection of books, classes, and magazines, and get inspired to make this holiday season extra special with gifts that come from the heart.
