Fa la la la Felt: 45 Handmade Holiday Decorations
Christmas retro never looked so adorable. The adorable felt ornaments in this book would be fun for children and adults just learning to sew by hand. Practiced artisans could probably turn out a treeful in no time at all.
100 Easy Recipes in Jars
Do you need gifts for all of your kid's teachers, or the folks at your favorite non-profit group? This book can help with easy-to-make recipes for "gifts in a jar" such as spicy nuts, soup mixes with beans, popcorn spice, and cookie mix. Includes tips for decorating. And the best part is, these presents have an almost unlimited shelf-life so you can make them in advance.
FamilyFun Homemade Holidays: 150 Festive Crafts, Recipes, Gifts & Parties
Something for every winter holiday - Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa - therefore a good book for teachers, scout leaders, etc. So get out the glue gun and the glitter, by golly!
Country Living Deck the Halls: Christmas Notecards, Labels, Ornaments, and Other Festive Fun Projects
This book offers a chance "to turn inexpensive and overlooked materials into scene-stealing stars." Whimsical gift ideas include recycling old sweaters, handkerchiefs and brooches for new uses. The book even includes templates for Family Gift I.O.U.s and clip art for packages and letters. Lots of inspiration!
Simple Gifts: 50 Little Luxuries to Craft, Sew, Cook Knit
It's not often that a book about homemade gifts is described as "hip" by so many reviewers, so this must be a rare gem. From candy caramels to candles, this book is great for the modern experience of giving.
Holiday Recipes
This is a basic Christmas cookbook, and thus would make a nice gift in itself especially for a new bride or young adult who has just flown the nest. You can learn to bake holiday bread for the office party, make jello-salad or teriyaki wings for the family on Christmas Eve, and brew a cup of spice tea for yourself to enjoy while curled up by the fire. Or bake a batch of cookies for Santa Claus.
I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas: Gifts, Decorations, and Recipes that Use Less and Mean More
If you love wreaths made with pine cones and garlands of fragrant greenery, this book is for you. Easy earth-friendly crafts and recipes mingle with notes on green traditions around the world. And the author includes an extensive list of green organizations and resources to inspire you around the year.
Gooseberry Patch Christmas Book 13: Recipes, Projects, and Gift Ideas
This year's offering from the Gooseberry Patch series - Lucky 13 - continues the jolly tradition of recipes and gifts with excellent instructions.
Gooseberry Patch: Christmas All Through the House: Over 600 Holiday Recipes, Cheery Crafts and Easy-to-Make Gifts for Flurries of Fun!
And if you haven't been collecting the Gooseberry series for years, here's an all-in-one compilation of Christmas instructions, recipes, and decorating idea from Christmas past.
Priceless Christmas: Create a Joyous Holiday for Next to Nothing (Priceless Holidays)
Since so many families are still coping with economic hard times this Christmas, the word "Priceless" in the title has a powerful double-meaning. The joy is in the act of spending time with family, creating and giving. As the Grinch learned the hard way - "maybe Christmas itself doesn't come from a store, maybe Christmas means just a little bit more." That's why it's awesome that the author includes instructions for a "Whoville Party" your little ones will enjoy!
