a photo of a hand holding up a library craft kit under a glass cloche

Book Fetish

Bookish DIY Kits To Buy and Make for Holiday Gifting

Rachel Rosenberg Oct 10, 2022

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Rachel Rosenberg

Senior Contributor

Rachel Rosenberg has been writing since she was a child—at 13, she was published alongside celebs and fellow teens in Chicken Soup For the Teenage Soul 2. Rachel has a degree in Creative Writing from Montreal’s Concordia University; she’s been published in a few different anthologies and publications, including Best Lesbian Love Stories 2008, Little Fiction, Big Truth’s Re/Coded anthology and Broken Pencil magazine. She also appeared on the Montreal episode of the Grownups Read Things They Wrote As Kids podcast. Her day job is as a Children’s Librarian, where she digs singing and dancing with small humans.

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It can be hard to choose gifts for friends and family — a person’s home library is such a unique expression of their interests and taste. Book lovers can be the pickiest readers. Even with years of reader’s advisory skills, actually buying someone a book can be a daunting task. After all, I myself have very specific taste and would prefer to choose my own books. For me, the difference between a book I like and a book I want to own is so hard to discern — it’s just in its voice, a subtle sense that I’ll want to read this again someday and recapture that same feeling. But finding a meaningful gift for someone who cherishes books doesn’t have to be a challenge; after all, there are tons of rad DIY kits with bookish bents.

There is a myriad of engaging options out there for cross-stitching bookmarks, binding journals, and even creating book nooks. These kits are thoughtful and fun ways to show that you care. On top of that, crafts can be cathartic, and who doesn’t need a relaxing and restorative hobby to fight against the trash fire that is modern life?

These bookish DIY kits will busy hands, relax minds, and provide a much-deserved sense of accomplishment. These recommendations have been chosen because I’d be jazzed to work on them, so I hope you find them as whimsical and enticing as I do.

Kits For When Your Friend Is a Bit Fancy

Bookbinding Kit ($61): This is for the ultimate book nerd in your life. It comes complete with endpapers, glue, man-made leather, book boards, thread, backing material, endbands, book needle, foam brush, and a handy instruction booklet.

Starry Night Wax Seal Stamp Kit ($5): I bet most bookworms dig the idea of being able to dramatically seal handwritten letters with a wax stamp.

Bookshops and Libraries Model Kits

Image of DIY Miniature Model Library Bookstore Kit by HandsCraftUS from Etsy

Model Bookstore Kit ($43): This is the cutest lil’ bookstore, and I love the DIY kit’s nuanced details of multicoloured shelving units, patterned spine labels, and the comfy mess atmosphere.

Handmade Booknook Kit ($66): This is a 3D puzzle that will give any bookshelf some extra oooooo-factor.

Bookshelf and Chair Model Kit by MyPapercutForest on Etsy

Library craft kit ($51): Just looking at this makes me want to sit down, take off my glasses, and read. I don’t have glasses, but I wish I did so I could take ’em off for this very purpose.

Book Nook Diorama ($79): This DIY kit will give you a gorgeous model library with Beauty and the Beast vibes.

Cat Store Owner Book Nook ($108): Another adorable book nook, this time with cat business owners!

Cross-Stitch Bookmark kits

a photo of a Book Cross Stitch Bookmark Kit that says, "When on book closes, another one opens."

Another Book Cross-Stitch Bookmark Kit ($16): Cross-stitch is an easy craft for novices to dive into. It’s true: I do cross-stitch, and hand-eye coordination is definitely not my forte!