home-made gifts.....

LizD_2

Can anyone recommend any of the many books on making homemade presents?
I'm looking for craft-type ones ideally. Also any gift-wrapping books?

Possibly more of a shopping question, but please let it stay for a while as OS-ers are so lovely and helpful and resourceful???!! :money:

ChocClare

A shopping question? Shock horror!!!!:eek:
Try out your local library - there are loads of crafts books in mine and it's not all that big - plenty of inspiration for free!

Or type your request into Google - I'm always on the lookout for crafty bits and pieces for Rainbows/Brownies, and there are millions of sites. You could start with this one http://familycrafts.about.com/od/giftstomake/ - no pictures, but there's gift wrap there as well...

LizD_2

any other sugestions, anyone?!

scuzz

Try somewhere like an Ottakars if you've got one near you. They tend to have the more "obscure" books

moggins

Try the book people, they frequently have some lovely craft books at very good prices. I've got a few from there and also charity shops.

Queenie

moggins wrote:

Try the book people, they frequently have some lovely craft books at very good prices. I've got a few from there and also charity shops.

I'll second charity shops!!!!

Only this week I picked up two really good Readers Digest Books (one on needlework, covering all aspects and one on sewing) both @ £2.50

Few weeks ago I picked up another 'craft' book for 75p

Strangely enough, I find books in the library, read them, put them on my mental wish list if they are good, then *boof* I stumble across them weeks later at charity shops!

Picked up a whole binder collection of craft mags (the sort that some poor soul invested weeks and weeks and weeks - not to mention £££'s - collecting) for just £3!!!

Also, check out 2nd hand book shops. Some of the books can be a bit '70's in their project illustrations, but, it doesn't take much to adapt the colourways/embellishments to this decade/century

On the gift wrapping front, I have a book bought years ago that shows ingenious and basic ways to wrap gifts stylishly and amusingly. I have yet another that has box templates in that can be enlarged to suit many shapes and sizes.

Much depends I suppose on the type of homemade gifts you want to give. Are you interested in needlecrafts?
Paper crafts?
Foodie crafts for presents?
Body/bath lotions and potions?
Herbal crafts?
Quilting?
Scrapbooking?
Cross stitch?
Paper mache?
Jewellery?
Typical Bazaar/Fete style gifts?
Glass decorating?
Decoupage?
Macrame?
Woodwork?
Beadwork?

If you can narrow down the type of craft you are interested in, we might be able to be more specific. Also, are you looking for a 'beginners' style or intermediate style?

Would love to be of more help, if I'm able

moggins

5 books that I can recommend (but I found them all in Charity Shops) are:

Christmas Doughcrafts
Creative Christmas Gifts
Country Wisdom
Creative Crafts
Microwave Craft Magic (which I've just discovered I have two of)

ChocClare

Liz, I've just noticed you live in Christchurch. Christchurch Library is great, but if they aren't what you want, then why not pop over to Hobbycraft in Longham and browse their books (I usually sit on the floor and read them shamelessly)? Philately on Pokesdown Hill is also good although I wouldn't be so inclined to read without buying there! If you're up at Castlepoint, then Strouden Library has a brilliant crafts section, and Charminster Library round the corner in Strouden Road (Avenue?? - the one just past the crematorium, anyway!) isn't bad either. Even if you can't get a Bournemouth Library card (and I don't see why you shouldn't be able to, as I can get a Christchurch Library one) you can always browse...
For "bits" for your crafts, I'd recommend The Treasure House in Southbourne Grove or Craft Daft on Iford roundabout. Eight Bells (I think it's called) by Christchurch Priory also sells a few bits and pieces round the back past the tacky tourist stuff. And of course Hobbycraft, though I always think they're a bit pricy.

LizD_2

thanks for your replies, everyone!

Queenie - I'm interested in all sorts of crafts, which is a bit of a double-edged sword! :rolleyes:
Currently, I do a lot of cross-stitch, although it takes ages to do a decent sized design, I also dress make. I have done photography in the past (but don't have a darkroom to process film). I sometimes paint as well.

Chocclare - I'd forgotten about Strouden Library, used to live behind Castlepoint but the library was never open when i wasn't at work, does it have more regular hours now?

tim_n

Soap! Very easy to make if you're careful, just caustic soda, olive oil and water!

http://forum.downsizer.net/viewtopic.php?t=3343

http://forum.downsizer.net/about8434.html&highlight=soap

ChocClare

Hi Liz, sorry, didn't notice your question. I know what you mean about Strouden Library but it's practically always open now - see this link with opening times: http://www.bournemouth.gov.uk/Residents/Libraries/A_Library_Near_You.asp