Get Ahead on Your Holiday Gifts!

The holiday season is here! For many of us this is a time when we get to see and celebrate with loved ones that we may not see regularly throughout the year. While it can be a very exciting time of year, it can also be a very hectic time filled with worries about what gifts to give friends and family.

While store bought gifts are nice, handmade gifts can be special too. They can be personalized and contain more meaning because the effort you spent making them will show. Handmade gifts are also budget friendly and can look just as nice or, in some cases, nicer than something you would buy in the stores.

To make your own handmade gifts check out some of the great craft books and cookbooks in our collection to see some ideas of gifts that you can make for family and friends. You do not have to be super artistic or a craft wizard to make many of these gifts, you just need some time and patience to follow the step-by-step directions.  

For the knitting enthusiasts: check out Knitting Without Tears or Yummy Yarns, both books contain easy to make projects that your friends and family will enjoy. For those of you who would like to make something a little bolder, how about giving tie-dye a try? Anyone who came to our summer tie-dye event will tell you that tie-dyeing is as easy as can be and if you use a pattern from Contemporary Dyecraft your project may end up looking professionally done. You can also learn how to make a dreidel pin or Kiddush Cup Necklace in Crafts for Hanukkah or create decorations and games in Chanukah Fun.

You can never go wrong with a baked good to bring to a holiday party or give as a gift either. Check out Baking for Gift-Giving for the basics. If you are heading to a cookie swap be sure to take a look at Step by Step Christmas Treats and Christmas Cookies. Also, if you are heading to a Hanukkah celebration try The Children’s Jewish Holiday Kitchen for recipes on Potato-Vegetable Latkes and Chocolate-Covered Matzahs. Yum!

Lastly, don’t forget to finish off your gifts with homemade wrapping and greeting cards! Making Great Bags, Tags, and Boxes will get you started on how to create your own unique and personalized wrapping. For inspiration on how to make your own cards try looking at Making Greeting Cards with Creative Materials to help you create one of a kind cards that your friends and family will love. 

Good luck with your holiday gifts and remember to stop by and ask the library staff if you need help finding any of the books mentioned above.

Season’s Greetings!