Holiday Crafts

Looking for some craft ideas for the upcoming holidays? Look no further than the library. We have plenty of craft books to choose from. Here are just a few of the titles available.

Halloween:

-- Artful Halloween: 31 Frightfully Elegant Projects by Susan Wasinger - These 30+ costume, pumpkin, and home-decorating ideas are not just beautiful--they are scary beautiful. From unique pumpkin decorations to a “blood”-splashed dinner-party centerpiece to a Yard Specter made from two poles, a string of lights, and torn, draped fabric, these creepy but stylish Halloween projects will give your home a spooky, sophisticated look . . . with gothic flair!

-- All You Frightfully Fun Halloween Handbook by Carole Nicksin - From adorable pumpkin families and classic jack-o-lanterns to down-right scary giant spiders (eek!), the All You Frightfully Fun Halloween Handbook packs in more cute and creepy crafts for tabletops, porches and yards than you'll have room to display. The best part? Every idea comes with simple instructions and a clear list of budget-friendly supplies you'll find online or at nearby stores.

-- Best of Halloween Tricks & Treats from Better Homes and Gardens - Cool ideas for a personalizing any Halloween party From spooky to whimsical and everything in between, this all-new edition of Best of Halloween Tricks & Treats is a treasure-trove of neat ideas and helpful how-tos for adding a personal touch to Halloween parties and celebrations.

Thanksgiving:

-- Thanksgiving Day Crafts by Arlene and Herbert Erlbach - Using these easy-to-follow directions and traceable patterns, readers can make their very own miniature pilgrims, a leaves-in-the-wind glitter globe to give to someone special, pumpkin napkin rings to help decorate the table for a Thanksgiving feast, and more!

-- Martha's Classic Thanksgiving by Martha Stewart - This DVD covers the traditional Thanksgiving basics plus offers more ideas for those interested in trying something new. Includes turkey, stuffing, side dish and dessert recipes, centerpiece, table setting and decorating ideas and Thanksgiving crafts for kids.

--Thanksgiving Crafts by Jean Eick - Through easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step illustrations, this book shows readers how to make Thanksgiving crafts and decorations using everyday objects and craft materials. Activities and games are also included, as well as a brief description of the holiday.

Hanukkah:

-- Hanukkah Crafts by Karen E. Bledsoe - Provides information about the origin and customs of Hanukkah, ideas for celebrating this holiday, and directions for making such crafts as a dreidel mobile, holiday cards, and candle candy holders.

-- Happening Hanukkah: Creative Ways To Celebrate by Debra Mostow Zakarin - Explains the history and customs connected with Hanukkah and provides ideas and instructions for making greeting cards, gift wrappings, presents, decorations, and holiday foods.

Christmas:

-- Have Yourself a Very Vintage Christmas: Crafts, Decorating Tips, and Recipes, 1920s-1960s by Susan Waggoner - Inspired by the most sought-after treasures from the 1920s through the 1960s, Waggoner recreates a tempting array of decorations and provides step-by-step instructions that allow anyone to deck their halls with cellophane wreaths, glittered glass ornament balls, beaded bell garlands, and whimsical, tinsel-bedecked treat cups.

-- Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Ornaments to Make: 101 Sparkling Holiday Trims -The wondrous assortment of handcrafted trims in this book provides hundreds of ideas to spark your creativity. The step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and patterns ensure each beautiful Christmas ornament you make is filled with the beauty of the season.

-- Christmas Crafts by Fay Robinson - Using these easy-to-follow directions and traceable patterns, you can make a stuffed snowman to keep you company on cold nights, a photo frame to give to a friend, some evergreen boughs to decorate your home, and more!

Kwanzaa:

-- Kwanzaa Crafts by Judith Hoffman Corwin - Kwanzaa Crafts offers creative projects for making a Kwanzaa place mat and candle holder, and other Kwanzaa symbols, and for holiday decorations, gifts, games, and wonderful treats to eat.

-- Kwanzaa Karamu: Cooking and Crafts For a Kwanzaa Feast by April A. Brady - Kwanzaa Karamu is full of fabulous foods you can make for a Kwanzaa feast or for your dinner tonight. Its pages are packed with easy-to-make crafts for Kwanzaa time and for all the year-round.

--Post by Tracy

National Craft Month

According to the Craft and Hobby Association, over 56% of American households are making crafts. My household is one of those! I've been making different kinds of crafts for over 20 years; many of them, I have taught myself how to do. When I was in high school I started sewing, and kept up with that well into my 20s. While I was in college, I picked up counted cross stitch and crocheting. And then in my 30s, I started scrapbooking. Sewing and crocheting fall by the wayside much more often than the others, although I still enjoy doing them. Of them all, though, cross stitch is my favorite craft. Most of the items I have created, I have given away to friends and family. The most recent was a cross stitch done to commemorate the birth of my great niece. It took me longer than I had planned, but I was very happy with the outcome.

For those of us who enjoy doing crafts, we all have different reasons for doing them -- but I think that most of us do it because we find it relaxing. And for many of us, it's a way to be creative and make something out of nothing. Even if we are following someone else's pattern, we still have the power to make it into anything we want.

So in the spirit of National Craft Month, why not take up a new hobby or pick up one you used to do?  Below are some websites and books to help you get started!

Here are just a few of the books available through the library for a variety of crafting interests:

The BurdaStyle Sewing Handbook by Nora Abousteit with Allison Kelly

Simplicity: Simply The Best Sewing Book: The Essential Reference For All Home Sewers

Teach Yourself Visually Crochet by Cecily Keim and Kim B. Werker

Crocheting For Dummies by Karen Manthey

Knitting 101: Look, Learn, Create by Carri Hammett

Knitting Stitches Visual Encyclopedia: 350 Stitch Patterns, Edgings, and More by Sharon Turner

100 Cross Stitch Patterns to Mix-and-Match by Jane Greenoff

Not Your Mamma's Stitching: The Cool and Creative Way to Stitch It To 'Em by Kate Shoup Welsh

Quilting Step by Step by Maggi Gordon

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Quilting Basics by Laura Ehrlich

Bead Jewelry 101: A Workshop In A Book by Karen Mitchell

Scrapbook Workshop: The Best Techniques From Your Favorite Scrapbook Bloggers edited by May Flaum

Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts by the Editors of Martha Stewart Living

Just Duct Tape It by Patti Wallenfang

This is just a small sample of the books available throughout the Allegheny County Library System. If you don't see what interests you here, simply go to The Catalog and do a Subject search on your favorite craft.

General Websites for information and ideas:

Michael's Craft Stores 

Jo-ann Fabric and Craft Store 

Pat Catan's Arts and Crafts 

Martha Stewart Crafts - The queen of just about everything craft-related, her site offers a lot of interesting project ideas.

DIY Network - Crafting - DIY Network is usually associated with DIY remodeling projects, but they also have shows about crafting. The site includes links to many projects.

Craftster - This is an online community where people share hip, off-beat, crafty do-it-yourself projects.

Sewing - Here you will find free projects for sewing and other crafts along with Learn to Sew articles.

Dollar Store Crafts - Like making something out of those great dollar store finds? Then this is the site for you. It's filled with projects of all different types and for all kinds of budgets.

All About Crochet - This site has links to a lot of patterns, videos, and instructions for beginners.

Crochet Pattern Central - An online directory with links to thousands of free crochet patterns and tutorials. There are also sister sites for Knitting, Cross Stitch, Tatting and Embroidery.

Knitting Help - Provides free videos to learn how to knit

Happy Crafting!

-- Post by Tracy