DIY-Do It Yourself

The joy making something with your own hands is something everyone should experience. Sometimes we might use materials that we can find around our home, other times we have to go out and buy the materials (or search for them). Here are some books that might inspire you to make or create things. These books might even provide ideas of things you can make for other people to give as gifts. So go ahead, give it a try!

Cooking

Cooking up a storm / Sam Stern, with Susan Stern

Designing Clothing/ Jewelry

Hardwear : jewelry from a toolbox / Hannah Rogge

Rip it! : how to deconstruct and reconstruct the clothes of your dreams / Elissa Meyrich

99 ways to cut, sew, trim & tie your t-shirt into something special / Faith Blakeney

Sew subversive : down & dirty DIY for the fabulous fashionista / Melissa Rannels, Melissa Alvarado, Hope Meng

The hip handbag book : 25 easy-to-make totes, purses, and bags / by Sherri Haab

Fashion DIY : 30 ways to craft your own style / Carrie Blaydes and Nicole Smith

Second-time cool : the art of chopping up a sweater / Anna-Stina Lindén Ivarsson

Knitting

Teen knitting club : chill out and knit / Jennifer Wenger, Carol Abrams, Maureen Lasher

Knitgrrl 2 : learn to knit with 16 all-new patterns / Shannon Okey

Photography and Making Movies

My so-called digital life : 2,000 teenagers, 300 cameras, and 30 days to document their world / created by Bob Pletka

Duct Tape

The jumbo duct tape book / Jim and Tim

Ductigami : the art of the tape / Joe Wilson

Got tape? : roll out the fun with duct tape / Ellie Schiedermayer

Drawing Manga/ Creating Graphic Novels

Making comics : storytelling secrets of comics, manga and graphic novels / Scott McCloud

Fantasy! cartooning / Ben Caldwell

Manga Mania: Chibi and Furry Characters: How to Draw the Adorable Mini-Characters and Cool Cat Girls of Japanese Comics

Household Repairs

Popular mechanics when duct tape just isn't enough : quick fixes for everyday disasters / by C.J. Petersen