Thinking of giving a bibliophile friend a coveted new book this Christmas? Make your present even more special by pairing it with one of these customized crafts.
Give a beautiful book along with a handmade tassel-topped bookmark in complementary colors. Make tassels with metallic and cotton embroidery floss, silk bead cord, and fine silk thread.
A bookplate indicates a volume's rightful owner -- and helps to ensure its safe return from borrowers. It also adds a personal touch to a treasured book, and requires little time to make. Why not box a stack of blank bookplates and gift-wrap them for a friend?
Bibliophiles with extensive libraries often find their favorite books covered by dust. Surprise the reader in the family with homemade linen dust shields for the bookshelf.
It's never too early to begin a child's library, and a set of classics -- from Peter Pan to Mother Goose -- is sure to be appreciated in the reading years to come. To personalize a gift of books, include a set of handmade bookplates.
A good read always makes a nice gift, but why not make it good-looking too? Use rubber stamps to decorate the edges with a design or message, adding a personal touch to any tome. To ensure a happy ending, hold the pages together as you stamp.
Giving a novel or book of poems is even more meaningful when paired with personalized bookplates, inscriptions pasted inside books to identify their owner.
