Fun Finds To Help You Get Creative: fabulous d.i.y kits, guides, & books

I am always on the lookout for new inspiration and now that the holiday season is bing thrust upon us I am seeking new ideas for holiday gifts, crafts, and maybe even some new ways to pass the time when the weather gets frightful! I fell in love with this stitching guide, the photography is wonderful, & inspiring. Definitely a perfect gift in itself when paired with the Stitch It Kit:

Sublime Stitching: Hundreds of Hip Embroidery Patterns and How-To By Jenny Hart, Alexandra Grablewski (photos) $13.57; Stitch It Kit by Jenny Hart $17.99 available @ amazon.com


I have long been a fan of knitting & crocheting kits. The trick is to find a kit or book that will inspire you enough to keep it from gathering dust on a shelf or cluttering a closet. I am confident these guides & kits will keep you interested in having some crafty fun:


top: D.I.Y.: Design It Yourself by Ellen Lupton $13.57 @ amazon.com; The Knit-It Kit for Kids: 10 Fun Beginning Knitting Projects $16.95 @ amazon.com; Knitting to Go Deck: 25 Chic and Easy Patterns $16.95 @ amazon.com; Cozy Crochet Kit: Simple Instructions and Tools for 25 Terrific Crochet Projects $19.87 @ amazon.com;

middle: Knit Knack Kit $17.90 @ amazon.com; Knitting Pretty $15.56 @ amazon; Speed Knitting: 24 Quick and Easy Projects $13.57 @ amazon.com; Holiday Knits: 25 Great Gifts from Stockings to Sweaters $13.57 @ amazon.com;

bottom: Martha Stewarts Holiday 2006 Handmade Gift Magazine (This year's issue includes 129 pages of crafts, recipes, knitting projects, wrapping ideas, etc.) on newsstands now!; Paper Craft Kit: Materials and Instructions for Beautiful Handmade Paper Creations $18.96; Amy Butler's In Stitches: More Than 25 Simple and Stylish Sewing Projects $16.47 @ amazon; The Sunlight Print Kit: Materials, Techniques, and Projects for Homemade Photography $15.61 @ amazon.com; Pin It