101 Christmas Crafts: Ornaments, Decorations, and Gifts (Pat Richards Crafts Collection)

Traditional, rustic, or whimsical---whatever your preference, you'll find ornaments, decorations, and gifts to craft aplenty in this good-looking book. For an elegant Christmas, make a Victorian garland; ornaments of ribbons, lace, beads, and silk scraps; decoupaged serving plates; or a brocaded stocking, table runner, or eyeglass case (psst!--the secret to the quick and inexpensive brocade-style look is finding old neckties in the right colors). For gifts, consider bejeweled frames or a beaded eyeglass chain or key chain. If homespun is more to your liking, try the countrified-looking ornaments, garlands, placemats, dishtowels, and assorted trinkets (delightful hobby horses, gingerbread people, mitten-shaped appliques, and snowmen abound). Perhaps someone on your list would love the elaborate-looking (but easy to make) folk-art-style appliqued jacket, which starts life as a plain sweatshirt (so it's inexpensive, too). Or, for a "wild and wacky" Christmas, how about colorful craft-foam animals, a lamé-dotted tree skirt and stocking, a clock bedecked with fish cutouts, bath-mitt puppets, a bright fleece hat and scarf, or an appliqued vest (another great sweatshirt project). With so many ideas, complete instructions, good color photos, and lots of variety, 101 Christmas Crafts offers something for crafters of many tastes and skill levels. --Amy Handy