Amazon.com Review
Handmade gifts are of course so much more personal than store-bought items, and they're usually much less expensive. Crafters will find a bounty of gift-making ideas here, ranging from candles and pillows to nature crafts and kitchen items. Most projects range from easy to intermediate, and all are shown in color photos; the directions are adequate, though not exceptional. The "Under $10" promise is occasionally a bit misleading, since a number of the pieces utilize found items that the author assumes we've already got stashed away (lace doilies, wooden boxes, a kitchen stool), but some yard-sale foraging and creative recycling should yield any of these projects for minimal investment. Nothing is truly outstanding but the items are generally attractive. Styles tend toward country, though several projects (silvery distressed-finished frames, decorative-paper portfolio, jute-textured pillow, and velvet scarf) have a more sophisticated look. There's also a chapter devoted to kids' crafts. --Amy Handy