Are you looking to add a bit of homemade glitter, twinkle and shine to your holiday celebrations? The San José Public Library has over 150 do-it-yourself Christmas decorations titles that will show you how to make festive ornaments, centerpieces, origami and other crafts, keepsakes and holiday dishes.

Here is a brief look at some of the newer additions to this collection:

While I am familiar with the expression “don’t judge a book by its cover,” 55 Christmas Balls to Knit: Colorful Festive Ornaments, Tree Decorations, Centerpieces, Wreaths, Window Dressings looks like a lot of fun and the men on the cover are wearing the dapperest sweaters. I also like the idea of knitting holiday decorations. Knitting the Christmas balls requires experience with double pointed needles and it is a manageable way to learn or to practice your Fair Isle knitting skills. The patterned charts are knit in a red and white color scheme, but you may substitute in your own color yarn.

While I’ve included a second knitting book, you don’t have to knit to enjoy 'Twas the Knits before Christmas. This book tells the traditional story “Twas the Night  Before Christmas” and includes images of knitted characters throughout in colorful, full-page illustrations. Patterns are included to knit Saint Nicholas, his reindeer, Christmas dolls and more from the story.

Debbie Macomber is best known for her works of heart-warming fiction featuring small town life, family and friendship. Her recently published, Debbie Macomber's Christmas Cookbook, has also been well-received and includes her favorite recipes, crafts, decorations and gift wrapping for the winter holiday season. Macomber fans will enjoy her personal anecdotes introducing each section of the book in which she shares the origins of her holiday traditions.

As it has become increasingly popular to go green and adopt ecologically and financially sustainable practices, Anna Getty’s, I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas: Gifts, Decorations, and Recipes That Use Less and Mean More, is a welcome addition to our collection of Christmas decoration books. If you are seeking out ideas to green your winter holiday celebrations, Getty’s book contains a variety of sustainable, elegant practices and traditions including how to choose a tree, homemade craft ideas, post-holiday recycling and holiday recipes.

Christmas Gifts from the Kitchen is a handsomely photographed book with a variety of recipes ranging from cookies and cakes to candies, savory treats and preserved delights. Also included are ingenious packaging ideas for personalizing your homemade treats.

Are you planning to “go green” this Christmas? Do you want to economize by making your own greeting cards, tree ornaments, and gifts? San José Public Library branches have many books available to create Christmas crafts for all ages. A keyword search using “Christmas crafts” gives a results list for you to select from a variety of titles. Library staff will be glad to assist you if you need help to search the catalog and to place a request when your neighborhood branch doesn’t have that ideal book on the shelf. Customers may have up to 5 requested items at any time.

The San Jose Mercury News would like to see ornaments made by children. Snap a picture of a handmade ornament and send it to Joan Morris, jmorris@bayareanewsgroup.com. Tell her about who made it, how it was made, and why it’s special to you.  Deadline is 5 p.m. Dec. 8. You must include your name and contact information. Photos of as many as possible of the entries will be published on Dec. 17.