It’s that time of year again! Whether you celebrate Solstice, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Year’s, or all of the above, when girls are exchanging gifts with those they care about. Before you take her to the mall, consider whether the recipients would appreciate a homemade gift.
People will treasure something she put her own time, effort, and creativity into as much or more than something that came from a store. And she’ll probably enjoy making them and saving money, too! Below are some homemade gift books for girls that give her ideas to get started.
- For the fashionistas on your gift list, check out Accessorize Yourself: 66 Projects to Personalize Your Look by Kara L. Laughlin, Jennifer Phillips, and Marne Ventura. It includes ideas for totally made-from-scratch projects like bracelets, belts, and handbags, as well as ideas for personalizing and “dressing up” clothing items like hats that you might already own.
- And while you’re busy accessorizing, stop by the hardware store for some duct tape and the library or bookstore and get started with Duct Tape Bags: 40 Projects for Toes, Clutches, Messenger Bags, and Bowlers by Richela Fabian Morgan. If you’re ready to move beyond a standard duct-tape wallet, this book includes patterns and step-by-step instructions for duct tape bags to fit any style!
Looking for a way to help a loved one treat herself? You’ll find 80 recipes for homemade spa products like bath salts, foot scrub, face masks, and mouthwash in Botanical Beauty: 80 Essential recipes for Natural Spa Products by Aubre Andrus.- Lazy Crafternoon: 50+ Fast, Fun Crafts to Create and Share by Stella Fields includes ideas for a wide range of tastes. Inside, you’ll find ideas for homemade journals, jewelry, decorated mugs, jazzed-up pencils and other school supplies, and more. There are even instructions for making fancy gift boxes for when you are ready to present your goodies to someone you love!
- Paper isn’t just for wrapping presents anymore! Check out Now I Can Paper Craft: 20 Hand-Crafted Projects to Make by Tansy Wilson for ideas on homemade cards, toys, decorations, jewelry, and even dishes using … paper!
- And if you find yourself digging through your box closet to find containers for your gifts, consider stashing some of those boxes to make into toys for the kids on your list! You can find ideas in Out of the Box: 25 Cardboard Engineering Projects for Makers by Jemma Westing. From robots to pharaoh costumes to racecars and pirate ships, you may never look at a box the same way again! This book also provides some great ideas for how to use all those boxes that pile up AFTER everyone’s presents have been opened!
- Do you know someone who loves dolls? Than she is sure to appreciate a gift created from Doll Crafts: A Kid’s Guide to Making Simple Dolls, Clothing, Accessories and Houses by Laurie Carlson. The book has ideas for making brand new dolls using materials like socks, spoons, and clothespins, or for making new clothes for already-beloved dolls. You can even give old dolls or dolls you buy from thrift stores “total makeovers” to create a one-of-a-kind doll for you or someone you love!
- Love the feel of something squishy in your hands? Turn that love into homemade gifts using Clay Lab for Kids: 52 Projects to Make, Model, and Mold with Air-Dry, Polymer, and Homemade Clay by Cassie Stephens. No need for a kiln or other fancy supplies — all the projects in this book use clay that dries and hardens on its own over time. If you don’t have clay, it even includes recipes for making it yourself! And of course, you’ll find tips on painting your creations, too!
Who doesn’t love a sweet treat? In Treat Yourself! How to Make 93 Ridiculously Fun No-Bake Crispy Rice Treats by Jessica Siskin, you can find ideas for creating marshmallow-cereal treats in shapes to suit any “taste” — from pizzas to skyscrapers to robots! These treats are so fun to look at that you might be hesitant to eat them! Take a photo first and then enjoy your delicious creations!- For an extra-heartfelt gift, consider making a homemade memory reel or other movie. You can find pointers in The Movie-Making Book: Skills & Projects to Learn and Share by Dan Farrell and Donna Bamford. You can also use the book for ideas on editing all the great footage you might capture during your family’s and friends’ holiday gatherings!
Do you have other ideas for homemade gifts? What are your favorite books or websites for inspiration? Will you try any of the books or ideas above? Leave a comment to let me know!
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