Crafters, rejoice! Whatever your preferred handicraft, you can probably find a highly-rated Kindle book for it—and many are FREE for Amazon Prime members to borrow! For example:
Beyond The Square Crochet Motifs: 144 circles, hexagons, triangles, squares, and other unexpected shapes (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $9.99) – From Amazon:
There’s a lot to love about the classic square crochet motif. But if it’s hip to make squares, imagine the excitement of making circles, stars, triangles, and hexagons. Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs introduces crocheters to more than 150 designs of every size and shape. Full-color photographs capture the intricate details and color work of each motif, and clear step-by-step instructions are presented in both text and visual formats. With its unexpected range of shapes, designs, and color ideas, Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs will keep enthusiasts happy for a very long time!
Big-A** Book Of Crafts (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $14.99) – From Amazon:
The Big-Ass Book of Crafts is packed with ideas for sprucing up your living space; concocting fabulous, all-natural body products; designing your own unique stationery; and creating countless other crafts that will convince your friends and loved ones that you’re the secret love child of Martha Stewart (only much, much cooler).
Forget crocheted doilies and itchy knit sweaters — TLC’s While You Were Out top designer Mark Montano has created stylish and imaginative projects that range from a Warhol-esque Ultrasuede iPod case to photo-adorned boxer shorts to African mask patio chairs to wooden night-light boxes. Divided into sections that include Outdoorsy (ideas to enhance your backyard), Dishing It Out (decorating plates using different techniques), You’ve Been Framed (innovative picture framing ideas), and Can I Have a Light? (creating and decorating lamps, lanterns, and chandeliers), it’s as entertaining to read as it is endlessly inspiring. With more than one hundred and fifty inventive and fun projects, The Big-Ass Book of Crafts is the perfect activity book for readers of every mood, budget, and skill level.
Big-A** Book Of Crafts 2 (5/5 stars, currently priced at $9.99) – Amazon reviewer L.S. Smith says:
This book is cover-to-cover clever with frequent flashes of genius thrown in to surprise and amaze even the most hardcore crafter. Well organized into 21 categories, this book features a mind-boggling collection of attractive, inventive, and exciting projects that will keep you busy creating for ages. Whether you want to make yourself a sassy new scarf, spice up your decor and lighting, embellish a pair of dancing shoes, or create a gift that sure to please, you will find inspiration and more in this book.
The best part about many of these projects is that you can make them with materials you probably already have on hand, so dive right in and start a project, any project. You’ll be treated to an array of clear, colorful photographs, a comprehensive materials list, step-by-step instructions, and Mark’s advice and insight on how to get more fun and fabulousness (is that a word?) out of the time you spend crafting.
Beaded Allure: Beadweaving Patterns for 25 Romantic Projects (5/5 stars, currently priced at $9.99 and currently FREE to borrow for Amazon Prime members) – From Amazon:
Add a romantic twist to your creative time with Beaded Allure. Inside you’ll find projects and techniques to give your beadweaving the soft and romantic aesthetic you’ve always dreamed of. Author Kelly Wiese will lead you through the ins and outs of variety of stitches, and you’ll use those stitches in 25 step-by-step projects.
– 10 beadweaving stitches and techniques detailed enough for beginners, yet still a great reference for more seasoned beaders.
– 25 projects have detailed instructions—including clear step-by-step photos—that beaders of all skill levels can complete.
– Easy to find tools and materials means you can get started today creating these beautiful necklaces, earrings and bracelets.
Hankie Couture: Hand-Crafted Fashions from Vintage Handkerchiefs (5/5 stars, currently priced at $8.25) – From Amazon:
A stunningly original collection of doll-sized fashions–everything from pajamas to wedding gowns–meticulously crafted from vintage handkerchiefs. Accented with slyly witty Hankie Couture girl “philosophy,” this book is a stylish showcase of 125 unique fashions and accessories. It is also a how-to guide that allows you to transform treasured heirlooms or colorful flea-market finds into one-of-a-kind fashion ensembles.
Whether it’s a floral sundress that fans out as it twirls, an apron dress with a scalloped border, or a neatly pin-tucked linen dress with pearl buttons, the book encompasses a seemingly infinite variety of exquisite dresses. Neither crafters nor doll collectors have ever seen a book like this, making Hankie Couture a uniquely irresistible challenge to crafters. And with its beautiful design and kitschy lifestyle advice, this makes a great gift book.
100 Easy Recipes in Jars (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $3.99 and currently FREE for Amazon Prime members to borrow) – From Amazon:
The most innovative way to give gifts from your kitchen. 100 Easy Recipes In Jars is a collection of easy to make, delicious jar recipes that will make a big dent in your holiday gift giving list. 100 Easy Recipes In Jars includes recipes for cookies, beverages, bars and snacks. There is also a tasty assortment of muffins, breads and hearty soups that everyone will enjoy.
The recipes use simple ingredients to create a homemade meal or snack that’s as easy to use as a store-bought mix. You do the hard part, while the recipient sits back and enjoys. As an added bonus, readers have access to more than 2000 online labels and recipe cards to decorate and personalize their handcrafted gift. These handsome, professionally designed templates can be used to add a personal touch and create a one of a kind gift that will be the highlight of any occasion.
Basic Soap Making: All the Skills and Tools You Need to Get Started (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $13.77) – From Amazon:
This book features hundreds of step-by-step, full-color photographs that illustrate exactly how to make cold-process soap. It contains instructions on molding soap, cutting bars, creating original recipes, packaging gifts, and more. It includes a chapter on constructing a soap mold, liner, and cutter at home. Readers will learn the basic four-oil soap recipe, which can then be enhanced with additives such as oatmeal, fragrance oils, colored swirls, two-tone nuggets, and moisturizing butters.
Celebrate great fabric by using every scrap. Are scrap piles wreaking havoc in your sewing space? Not sure what to do with all those tiny bits of gorgeous prints you hate to part with? Modern quilters Amanda and Cheryl share a passion for scraps-they’re here to help you get creative and sew new life into every last little piece. Your Sunday mornings just got a whole lot cozier! 16 bold and scrappy quilt projects include piecing, appliqué, and improvisational work. Ideas for how to adapt patterns for your own personal “Sunday morning” style. Tips for effectively cutting, storing, and organizing your scraps. Explore what makes a quilt “modern”.
Soft + Simple Knits For Little Ones (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $9.99 and currently FREE for Amazon Prime members to borrow) – From Amazon:
This book is packed with tons of bright and cute handknits to make for the special little ones in your life, whether you’re a beginner or an expert knitter. Best of all, every design is functional and touchable, guaranteed to get plenty of use and love. From a cozy stroller blanket with clever ties and a pocket for a small stuffed bear, to a cotton rollneck sweater with an intarsia giraffe, this book has something to make any wee one happy.
Inside Soft + Simple Knits for Little Ones, you’ll find:
– an easy-to-follow illustrated techniques section that will teach beginners knitting basics
– patterns for irresistible toys, including a trio of hand puppets, lovable fairy dolls and a castle purse complete with a cast of royal finger puppets to fit inside
– patterns for comfy, fun clothes babies and kids will actually want to wear, like a stylish and warm swing jacket with matching mittens, a fleecy-soft shark sweater and even a foxy stole for pint-sized fashionistas
These knits are so fast and easy, you can create a soft and simple gift in a single afternoon. Get started today!
Colorwork Creations: 30+ Patterns to Knit Gorgeous Hats, Mittens and Gloves (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $11.99 and currently FREE for Amazon Prime members to borrow) – From Amazon:
The gorgeous and cozy projects in Colorwork Creations simply beg to be knit. Choose from more than 30 hats, mittens and gloves that pair traditional Sanquhar knitting motifs with birds and beasts of the woodlands. Small enough for a quick-knitted gift, but precious enough to cherish forever, these pieces will will delight and inspire for years to come.
Colorwork Creations features:• Over 30 stunning patterns, ranging from ski hats, chullos and tams to flip-top mittens, knit in a wide variety of luscious yarns and colors.• Full-color charts showcasing traditional colorwork motifs and original designs inspired by creatures of the forest: nuthatches, butterflies, reindeer and more.• Detailed patterns, techniques and tips for stress-free knitting. An innovative “finger-to-cuff” construction method for mittens and gloves makes sizing and construction a breeze.• Options for mixing and matching motifs for truly unique and customized creations.Your adventure begins here: take a journey through colorwork with woodland-inspired knits.
Simply Beautiful Beaded Jewelry (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $9.99 and currently FREE for Amazon Prime members to borrow) – From Amazon:
If gorgeous beaded jewelry always catches your eye, you’ll love making (and wearing!) your own necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Simply Beautiful Beaded Jewelry includes 50 projects plus variations in designer Heidi Boyd’s simply elegant signature style. Inside you’re bound to find plenty of designs to strike your fancy as well as a helpful section that shows you the basic supplies and techniques you’ll need to get started. As an added bonus, many of the projects have variations in different colors and styles to help you customize your jewelry to your personal style.
Just think how proud you’ll feel the first time you can answer, “I made it myself” to a compliment on your fabulous new multistrand necklace or your sparkling, swingy crystal earrings. With Simply Beautiful Beaded Jewelry, it truly is easy to get started–in no time at all you’ll be showcasing your own original beaded creations and making them as gifts.