It’s time to get out your hot glue gun, whittling knives, sewing machine or tanning supplies. The season of do-it-yourself gifts is upon us, and the library can help you create amazing gifts for friends and family, or a special little something for yourself.

On Dec. 9, we will be crafting all day in the Redmond Library, 827 Deschutes Ave. Join us for a wide variety of sessions for different age groups:

• Make a candy cane ornament, all ages, 10-11 a.m. (best for children).

• Draw a 3-D ornament using a 3Doodler pen, ages 9+, 10-11 a.m. (best for teens and adults).

• Personalized magnets, ages 9-plus, 10:30-11:30 a.m. (best for teens and adults).

• Make a bath bomb with experts from Avenue A Collective, adults, 10:30 a.m.-noon, registration required (best for adults, teens also welcome).

• Simple “stained glass” ornaments (using contact paper), all ages, 11 a.m.-noon (best for children).

• Sew a catnip filled toy for your pet, ages 9-plus, 11 a.m.-noon (best for teens).

• Gingerbread Workshop: Build a simple gingerbread house with graham crackers and royal icing, all ages, 1:30-4 p.m.

If you’d rather make interesting things on your own time, the library has you covered. Our selection on crafting, cooking and creating books and movies is extensive. Here are a few of our favorites:

“Beeswax Alchemy: How to Make your Own Candles, Soap, Balms, Salves and Home Décor From the Hive” by Petra Ahnert

Offers a basic introduction to the art of extracting and purifying beeswax, as well as countless ideas for what to make with it. These include skin care creams, candles, and other home products like beeswax ornaments and wax fabric.

“Food Gift Love: More Than 100 Recipes to Make, Wrap, and Share” by Maggie Batista

Features one hundred simple-to-make edible gifts from flavored butters and pickles to infused salts and desserts.

“Handmade Gifts” by Hannah Moore

Containing more than 70 projects, from candle making and crocheting to paper-crafts and baking, Handmade Gifts is the perfect guide to making handcrafted items that people will love.

“Made by Dad: 67 Blueprints for Making Cool Stuff — projects You Can Build for (and With) your Kids!” By Scott Bedford

Great ideas for building and making with the whole family.

“Make & Give: Simple and Modern Crafts to Brighten Every Day” by Steph Hung

A design-savvy craft book with 35 cute, simple projects that celebrate the people we love in the everyday moments. 

“Sewing Happiness: A Year of Simple Projects for Living Well” by Sanae Ishida

Twenty simple sewing projects are tied together with a thread of memoir that tells the story of how sewing brought Sanae Ishida profound happiness.

“Sewing School and Sewing School 2” by Amie Plumley

A great introduction to sewing for children, and pretty good for adults trying the craft out for the first time.

— Josie Hanneman is a community librarian at the Redmond Public Library. josieh@dpls.lib.or.usfa