Latest news with #CrayolaAirDryClay
Buzz Feed
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
33 Products To Prove You're A Cool Aunt
A kid-friendly 5-pound bucket of Crayola Air Dry Clay so you can all follow your inner pottery dreams without the gloppy mess or oven hassle. After you pull the clay out to shape it, it'll harden on its own — no baking or effort required! You can even paint over it when you're done and cherish the lil' knick knacks you made forever. Twister Splash, an updated version of everyone's favorite body-contorting game that'll shoot water at you unless you can cover the hole with your hands or feet. Everyone's gonna be EXTRA hydrated whether they wanna be or not!! A set of kid-friendly temporary hair chalk to turn yourself and everyone within reach into a sentient rainbow (pot of gold not included). Ocean Scene, a beloved stress relief coloring book for kids and adults from Coco Wyo, a brand that's made itself famous on TikTok for its cozy, relaxing, easy-to-draw themes. This one is full of happy little sea creatures frolicking in the water. 🌊. And a set of rainbow aesthetic coloring pencils for some extra adventurous artists who aren't afraid to shake things up — each pencil has a whole bunch of different shades woven into it, so you never know just *quite* what it will look like as you draw. It's worth the risk, though — the beautiful results speak for themselves! A "shark bites" mini hot dog mold sure to make ~waves~ when you show up to the family barbecue with the coolest snack of all. Sorry, pigs in a blanket — your time in the spotlight is over. NeeDoh Groovy Fruit, one of the many variations in the *elite* NeeDoh sensory fidget toy line that subtly says, "Yeah, your aunt is on TikTok, too, punk." This comes as an orange, banana, or a strawberry, and reviewers love that it doesn't have the kind of stickiness that picks up debris and makes it hard to clean. And a set of TikTok-famous Globbles, a stress-relieving fidget toy that will lead to pure, unadulterated MAYHEM. These colorful balls are squishy, stretchy, and stick to pretty much any flat surface you throw them at *without* leaving any messy residue. A mess-free, reusable Bluey aqua art pad for a deeply convenient, screen-free, portable way to keep kids occupied when you're on the move. A giant bubble powder kit, because why should Glinda and her giant bubble have all the fun?? Unleash your inner bubble powers and impress the whole neighborhood with your big beautiful planet-sized bubbles all summer long. Disney Princess Uno so the next time you Reverse Uno a family member so hard they cry you can turn on "Let It Go" and tell 'em the past is in the paaaaaast. A Lego-inspired brick waffle maker that's about to become the MVP of breakfast. Lego fans will love them for "building," waffle fans will love that they're small enough that they maximize crispy edges, and everyone will love that these are the perfect size to make whole breakfasts or eat as snacks! A color-changing LED flying disc to make it feel like you're tossing a lil' UFO back and forth, even in the daytime. Reviewers love how beautiful the colors are, and how durable the disc is despite all its glitz! A crinkle cutter tool for veggies, fruit, potatoes, and cheese that not only makes meal prep a breeze, but makes certain foods more enticing for the picky eaters in the fam. Everyone knows a squiggly-shaped thing tastes better than a regular shape ... it's just science! "The Peckish Pirates," a brand-spanking-new addition to the cult-favorite Magic Puzzle series so beloved on TikTok. Like the others before it, this isn't just a puzzle, but a whimsically illustrated, colorful journey — there are tons of Easter eggs in it, a collection of miniature scenes full of optical illusions and surprises, *plus* a magical twist at the end. Everyone will have to work together to find out! A light-up solar frog figurine for your garden or porch so every time the fam comes to visit, they'll have to give their regards to this croaky lil' fella first. A truly ginormous, cult-favorite beginner's art set that is truly a Mandatory Aunt Purchase if there ever were one. It includes just about everything you can think of under the artsy sun — which is astonishing considering just how high quality and affordable this set is, and how many different mediums you can make art with. A ~Magical Flame~ colorant you can use in your fireplace at home or in outdoor campfires to basically flex to your tiniest family members that you are, in fact, a wizard now. A set of reviewer-beloved chocolate bar molds to DIY bonkers chocolate bars together like your name is Aunt Willy Wonka. These are great for mix-ins like nuts and cereal, but also have enough depth for you to add fillings like peanut butter, jam, and caramel. A family-friendly DIY clay dish craft kit so you can use a rainy afternoon with the kiddos to create a cute trinket dishes you can use for jewelry, your keys, and other small baubles. A truly WILD pack of ~~zombie~~ plant seeds that grow into a plant that will literally PLAY DEAD whenever you touch it. Can't wait for your nieces and nephews to brag to their friends about their "aunt with the undead plant"! No alarm bells here, folks!! A magnetic rotating UFO-shaped Bluetooth speaker so you can have an ~otherworldly~ experience getting beamed up by your favorite bops (even if you have to endure the embarrassment of the younger set asking who the Spice Girls are). A super popular Slammo game set you should only buy if you're prepared for HOURS worth of showdowns in the backyard at every party and family hang you throw from now until eternity. This compact, super portable net ball bouncing game has all the same energy as volleyball, but without taking up nearly as much space. A "One-Step Tie-Dye Party" box full of everything you need to make your dizziest tie-dye dreams come true — this comes with 18 colors, rubber bands, gloves, and instructions so easy to follow that parents swear by it for kid parties. Bonus?? No need to presoak or prep fabrics before turning them into art — the colors are designed not to run on cotton, rayon, and wool. A zero-ink, app-enabled Kodak instant phone photo printer to essentially transform your phone into a Polaroid camera, but with the ability to pick and choose which photos you print. You can even tag in the fam to help edit photos within the app with fun little graphics and other personal touches! A set of cat-themed tarot cards purrrfect for swapping fortunes, complete with a guide on how to pull the cards and how to interpret them. (I'm pretty sure you just get mailed one of these for free when you become an aunt.) A portable "boombox" that's basically the version you know from the '90s with a MASSIVE update — this handy gizmo not only supports CDs and radio, but connects to Wi-Fi to play music and stream content on the screen, whether it's coming from Netflix, a DVD, or your phone. Go, little Bluetoothed boombox, go!! A unicorn head squirrel feeder because you know what kids really need for their development?? An aunt with mildly alarming hybrid creatures frolicking in their backyard. This is your task. Go forth, my friend. A "girl dinner" print that's actually just a warning to your siblings of what you plan on feeding their kids whenever you babysit. (Fries are a food group, right?) A ginormous "marshmallow cloud fleece" blanket you should only pull out for your nieces and nephews if you're prepared for them to burrow inside and never, ever leave. (Was this ... the plan all along??) Foldology, an origami puzzle game that's sort of like if a Rubik's Cube and origami set had a fun little brain-teasing baby. You have to fold the puzzle this and that, using creative problem-solving to complete the picture hidden in each puzzle. Each set comes with 100 (!!!) puzzles with difficulty levels from beginner to advanced, so everyone in the fam can get in on the fun. A fairy door garden kit you can install at the base of your very favorite tree in your backyard to let all neighboring fairies know they are always welcome in your space. ✨ (Don't worry about the fairies getting lost — these also glow in the dark!) And a Cool Aunt Energy hat because being a cool aunt isn't just a title, it's an entire lifestyle. 😎
Buzz Feed
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
30 Products For Anyone Who Wants A Cheap, Low Commitment Hobby
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Shopping · Skip the expensive pottery class and get this big ole $11 tub of air dry clay instead. 1. A copy of The Book of Myself: A Do-It-Yourself Autobiography in 201 Questions to give you just enough structure so you're actually motivated to sit down and write in a journal. This is an excellent way to preserve memories for yourself and loved ones! This book is a kind of DIY memoir — it goes through three phases of "Early," "Middle," and "Later" years, and has 201 different prompts based on your memories, experiences, and views on the world. Prompts include things like what you would have switched careers to midway through if given the chance, or a present you got from your parents that sticks in your memory, or who you think the funniest person in your family is. This also makes for a lovely gift for family members, so you can all preserve each other's memories! Get it from Amazon for $15.84 or from Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $18.60. 2. A mushroom growing kit that grows right there in the packaging, so you can add some sweet, sweet umami flavors to all your favorite dishes by sautéing, roasting, or air frying them up. Back To The Roots is a California-based small business founded by two college friends that specializes in indoor gardening kits with a mission to reconnect families to food. Check out a TikTok of the mushroom kit in action. Promising review:"This product has been so much fun to watch! I followed the directions, exactly as written, and the mushrooms began growing within 3–4 days. I will say that I did soak them for close to 10 hours before putting them back in the box to grow and I believe this helped a ton. I also kept the box inside by a window with the blinds closed in order for them to get indirect sunlight. The mushrooms grew tremendously for almost a week before they started to shrink so I clipped them to cook with and they were DELICIOUS! This was such a fun product and process to watch." — Steph A Get it from Amazon for $9.09+ (available in mini and oyster varieties). 3. A 5-pound bucket of Crayola Air Dry Clay to let you finally follow your inner pottery dreams without all the mess and effort of taking classes. After you pull the clay out to shape it, it'll harden on its own — no oven or any effort required! From there you can leave it as is or paint over it for a fun vibe. Psst — a lot of reviewers use silicone or plastic molds to get specific shapes! Promising review: "It's honestly just a really nice material to work with! If you want to create things with clay, this is definitely a good choice! It's definitely not for professional use, but I feel like that's a given? I mean, it is Crayola. But all in all, great for those who want to use it for fun!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $10.96 (available in three clay colors). 4. A beginner's guide to calligraphy that is far more thorough and specific about technique and ink types than other versions, and will have you writing inspirational messages to your friends and drafting fancy invitations to your dog's birthday party in NO time. Paper Peony Press is a Texas-based boutique publishing company that specializes in purpose-driven books. Promising review:"I've tried several instructional books on hand lettering. This book is the best by far. I won't say the names of the other books, but suffice it to say they are all at the top of the list when you search for hand lettering. It is the only book that gives practice for the base strokes and also discusses posture and how to hold the pen, and at what angle to the paper. It is also a lovely book to work with; nice art work/illustrations. I recommend this book to other beginners out there!" — Karen Rorick Get it from Amazon for $7. 5. A beginner's embroidery kit for adults, so you can have something soothing to do with your hands while you marathong yet another podcast full of murder, murder, and a side murder. (At least now your stitching will be tighter than the main suspect's alibi!) Each kit comes with a simple design, a cotton cloth, a bamboo embroidery hoop, a little scissor, colored threads, embroidery needles, and instructions, so you should be raring to go when it arrives! Promising review:"I've never done anything like this before ... but I like to try new things, and I've just recently moved and wanted to decorate my house with some handmade decor. This kit is a great value for the price! It came with the hoop, more than enough thread, and two needles! The printed pattern is very clear and easy to follow, and the little sheet of instructions on what stitch to use and how to do it is clear enough (and anything I don't understand, I just watch a tutorial on YouTube). I'm about three hours into the project already, and I didn't want to put it down last night." — Abby 6. A "Through The Seasons" Reverse Coloring Book, which is a newer edition of the original Reverse Coloring Book that took the internet by storm — reviewers swear by this easy, calming artistic outlet to help ease their anxiety, relieve stress, and unleash their inner creativity without taking up too much brainpower. For those new to the concept — Instead of adding the color to these, you add the lines to create images within the colors. Sort of like a Rorschach test, but make it whimsical. Check out a TikTok of the reverse coloring book in action. Promising review: "Kendra Norton's beautiful art books, Reverse Coloring books, have changed my world! My whole life, I thought I was not creative and therefore, had zero artistic ability. Now, this has become my favorite form of artistic expression. I turn on music and/or an audiobook and allow myself to go for an adventure outside of my mind, beyond my mind, if you will. T his has become my favorite way to process through difficult emotions and experiences I'm working through." — K. DeWitt Get it from Amazon for $8.29. (Psst — check out these cult-fave black fine point pens for $8.99 on Amazon for a good doodling option!) 7. And a stress relief flower coloring book for adults so instead of trying to outrun your problems, you can out- color them, and have a bunch of darling pieces of art to show for it. Psst — you can pick up a cult-fave colored pencil set on Amazon for $11.98! Promising review:"Great stress reliever. Stimulates my creativity. I have taken pictures of what I colored and have made it my wall paper for my cellphone. Very glad I made this purchase." — Dawn62 Get it from Amazon for $7.39. 8. Wreck This Journal, a full color journal with prompts for you to write, paint, shred, and, in the words of Taylor Swift, "have a marvelous time ruining everything." Some of the prompts include one to close the journal and scribble on the edges; another to cut out colors from a magazine and tape them all over the page; another is a "Stain Log," which you can use to classify stains in your life, from red wine to nail polishes to food dyes. Basically, if you turn the page in this journal, odds are it's going to look *nothing* like it originally did by the time you're through. Get it from Amazon for $9.59 or Bookshop for $14.88. 9. A compact, beginner-friendly watercolor palette that comes with everything you need to start creating your own masterpieces, including 100 (!!) colors to choose from. Next stop, the Louvre. Each set comes with a 100-color palette, a sketch pencil, a sponge, a swatch sheet, and three water brush pens. Promising review:"Love collecting watercolor sets, and this one is amazing — so many exquisite colors to paint with. Creativity is everything, and imagination with all these colors is unlimited. Pure happiness!" — pve Get it from Amazon for $25.49. 10. Or a gorgeous pastel paint-by-number you can get in all kinds of intricate, deeply satisfying patterns for anyone who is looking for an activity that pairs perfectly with a screen-free night in. Each set comes with a detailed numbered outline, four brushes, and a set of numbered acrylic paints with extra to spare. Promising review: "Colorful and fun! This is the third paint-by-number I've done, and by far the most challenging. Lots of fine point detail, and the paint brushes included were adequate, unlike other PBN sets I've bought." — Emily cox Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in 12 styles). 11. Small Batch Bakes, tailor made for folks who live alone *or* for people who want to broaden their baking horizons, but don't want to deal with the mess of big batches (or the leftovers!). This book takes you through a bunch of delicious recipes for one to six people using minimal equipment, so you can have hassle-free treats and live your most delicious life. Kyle Books Helpfully, this book measures in grams *and* tablespoons, so you can bake however you prefer. Get it from Amazon for $14.54 or Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $23.24. 12. A sturdy, minimalist reading journal with such a comprehensive, satisfying design that you'll never bother with another again — this features space for 52 thorough book reviews, along with challenges and lists for Books I've Read, Finished, Favorites, Did Not Finish, Lent, and Borrowed. Kunitsa Co. is a small business that specializes in reading, exercise, and food journals. Promising review:"Very cute and fun way to track reading. I feel like it also motivates me to read because I have a written goal. I like being able to keep track of what books I read and when so I can remember to reread or recommend my favorites." — Jenna Borden Get it from Amazon for $22.95+ (available in six colors). 13. A compact, travel-friendly microwave flower press kit so you can preserve the beauty of the flowers you find on your adventures no matter where you roam, and keep them in a little flower press journal to admire. This is unique from other methods because the microwave makes it a minutes-long process instead of days, and helps preserve the vibrant colors! Microfleur is a small business that specializes in unique flower-pressing products. Promising review: "Such a unique and easy-to-use product. I preserve dried flowers in resin, and this has been such a time saver. In literally minutes, you have a perfectly preserved flower. I've never had any burned or overcooked flowers doing it this way and it definitely beats pressing them in a book. I can't wait to buy these as gifts for a few other plant lovers in my life." — Jessie Get it from Amazon for $36.99. 14. A teensy DIY cheese kit with everything you need to learn to make four batches of farmer's cheese and live your most delicious life in a half hour. Urban Cheesecraft/Etsy UrbanCheesecraft is an Oregon-based Etsy shop established in 2009 that specializes in make-your-own cheese kits in a variety of cheeses, including vegan options. Each kit comes with a cheesecloth, citric acid, flake salt, instructions, and "email support for life" — all you need is milk (and a mouth to consume it all). Promising review:"These kits are great gifts for the cheese lover and the person 'who's already got it all.' The packaging looks nice and gift-worthy and it's a perfect price range. I love that the recipient gets an experience as well as a tangible product and I can personally attest that the actual process is easy." — amyleannbohner 15. A paint-by-sticker set made up of vintage travel posters you can hang up on your walls when you're finished, essentially letting you travel the world without getting up from ye olde couch. Workman Publishing Each comes with 12 posters and the stickers to complete them, including iconic travel posters from gondolas in Venice to the pyramids in Cairo. Get it from Amazon for $11.23 or Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $15.80. 16. A beginner-friendly diamond painting coaster set perfect for anyone who has ever thought to themselves, "You know what the only thing better than cat coasters would be? Glittery cat coasters." The universe has delivered. Promising review:"The designs and colors are the same as shown on Amazon. Finished coasters sparkle, and the vibrant colors create eight very cute cats. There were plenty of beads to complete the project, and adhesion was excellent. Letters and numbers were sharp and easy to follow. I am delighted with these coasters." — PackLeaderJ Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in five styles). 17. And a DIY glass mosaic tile coaster kit to let you mix and match beautiful colors that go with your home's ~aesthetic~, plus unlock a cool new skill that will make you a VERY popular gift-giver on birthdays and holidays. Each set comes with enough materials to make four coasters. Promising review:"This is a very fun hobby to do at home both by yourself or with friends or family. It's fun and pretty simple to make. Just need to be very steady with your hands and take time. I received many compliments when I showed them to everyone. I might buy more later and do it again. I totally recommend it if you want a little hobby to do." — Lilylove75 Get it from Amazon for $22.99. 18. A Gaiam starter set for yoga complete with all the basics, including a yoga mat, a yoga block, and a stretching strap, so you can tune into free yoga classes you gain access to with the set. Achieving mindfulness and flow in a chaotic world? Bring it om. Promising review:"I am not very limber and I have chronic spine issues, so having a block and strap was essential for me to do yoga. Before using this, I always ended up hurting myself or feeling bad about myself because I couldn't complete the stretches and would just give up. This kit made everything go so smoothly; I can adjust the block or the strap to help me stretch without hurting myself (or falling over). And I highly recommend the sitting techniques in the DVD as well as the meditation." — blightheavy Get it from Amazon for $29.98. 19. A set of Shrinky Dinks sheets to transport you so immediately to your childhood pastime of Making Everything Very Small that you'll be gifting every single person you know a kitschy keychain against their will. Amazon If you are unfamiliar with this glorious witchcraft, Shrinky Dink paper lets you color designs on it that you can then cut out and bake to shrink them down, giving them a stained glass effect that makes them great for keychains, suncatchers, and little trinkets. Promising review: "Fun for ALL ages! Recently remembered how fun these were. I have a smaller daughter, so it gave me an excuse to buy these. They're secretly for me — half kidding. These are so simple to use and create great crafts. These will keep your little one's imagination going, occupied and helps practice fine motor skills. I would definitely recommend to ANYONE, not just little humans." — Alex Soper Get a 25-sheet set from Amazon for $13.47. 20. A unicorn slime making kit, because truly the most universal human experience is that deep down inside we all just want to stretch out a big ole glop of bright pink glittery slime. Amazon, Each kit comes with clear written instructions and access to video tutorials to make over 100 different kinds of slime, from unicorn slime to glitter slime to fluffy cloud slime to floam putty. You can personalize the colors, textures, add-ins, *and* the smell — the box comes with beads, scents, glitter, ink, foam balls, the ingredients needed to make the slime, and containers to keep it in. Promising review:"Purchased for daughter's birthday. She loves it. I was very apprehensive about letting her use slime but it has everything a parent could dream of to keep it all in one place and organized without the mess!" — Jay Get it from Amazon for $21.24 (available in two colors/styles). 21. A beginner's sushi-making kit to let you take the fate of your rolls into your own hands by working with whatever ingredients you have on hand, so you can have hours of delicious sushi experimentation. I'm definitely going to sushi jail for this, but I've started putting peanut butter in my avocado rolls (and sometimes adding this beloved truffle powder you can get on Amazon, it's so good I don't know what I HAVEN'T put it on!!!). Don't knock it until you try it. Anyway, each kit comes with two sushi rolling mats, five pairs of chopsticks, a paddle, a spreader, and a PDF of instructions, including recipes for six popular rolls. Promising review:"The entire Bamboo Sushi Kit is absolutely well made, easy to use, easy to clean, high-end restaurant quality, and durable. it was very nicely packaged, and instructions clear, in-depth and very easy to follow. No one (myself included) in my household has ever made sushi before but (thanks to the enclosed instructions), there were no issues making it. My daughter did an awesome job utilizing these products to make 'FISH-FREE SUSHI' with Pickled Ginger on top, was delectable! Loooooove it!" — Liza Get it from Amazon for $8.49. 22. A delightfully wacky spin and paint art set that yes, is designed for kids, but will *absolutely* thrill any adult looking to make 2025 their unrepentant colorful chaos era. I'm not NOT saying your kitchen deserves to be revamped in bright rainbow neon splatter colors after you frame these gems .... Promising review: "I'm an adult artist. I got this on a lark to have some fun with it. I think a child would have a lot of fun with it. I've discovered you can use any tempera or acrylic paint (just put some in small squeeze bottles). I'm actually having fun experimenting it." — Lynn Get it from Amazon for $27.40. 23. A friendship bracelet making kit so you can live your best Babysitter's Club life and start sending them in personalized colors to everyone you know. Choose Friendship is a small business that specializes in friendship bracelet makers. Each set comes with the holder mount and 20 pre-cut threads in 10 colors as well as access to an online instruction manual for all kinds of different designs. Promising review:"I bought this for my daughter for a craft night. I made friendship bracelets when I was a kid but could not remember how to make them. This helped so much! I had to buy another one for me so we could work on them at the same time. Love this product!" — hollyhock Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in five styles). 24. Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions, a bartender-beloved book for beginner- to intermediate-level cocktail enthusiasts that breaks down six iconic "root" cocktails — the old-fashioned, martini, daiquiri, sidecar, whisky highball, and flip — to show you how to improvise and riff your own creations based on what combos work with the ingredients you have. Amazon Check out a TikTok of the cocktail book in action. Promising review:"This book has easily become one of my favorites. Great base knowledge and would recommend to anyone seeking to further educate themselves on spirits and cocktails. Even the first few pages is full of useful information. Purchase this for yourself or even as a gift. I cannot say enough good things about this book." — Adriana Get it from Amazon for $19.12. 25. A succulent monster needle felting kit that beginners especially love because there's no "wrong" way to make one of these little gremlins. Which is good, because you're about to be dealing with four or more of them, if you buy this kit. Amazon Woolbuddy is a small business that specializes in felting kits. Promising review:"I was really excited when I got this kit. It comes with all the tools you need, including a variety of colors, and it inspires such fun creature ideas! It also includes a QR code that takes you to several (short) tutorials for different shapes, and teaches you the basics of needle felting! I thought it was going to be much harder than it was. (You don't even need to watch the whole tutorial to pick it up.) I actually bought the same kit for a friend, who loved it also!" — David Get it from Amazon for $28.99 (available in five other kits). 26. A beginner's wood carving kit to get you started on an oh-so-satisfying, soothing hobby, so you can start gifting your loved ones with carved bluejays and cardinals in no time. Each kit includes two wood carving blocks (one cherry and one basswood), a carving knife, sharpening supplies, a template, and three types of sandpaper. Promising review:"The company is very supportive and their kit is great. It has everything you need to start working with wood. Additionally, I have really appreciated the professionalism and customer service received from them." — Sam Get it from Amazon for $27.99. 27. A crochet starter kit with clear, easy instructional videos to make two new tiny friends, because you can never have too many "coworkers" on your desk cheering you on. Promising review: "Great for beginners. I loved the YouTube step-by-step. I wouldn't have done it without that. Such a fun result. Super easy to figure out because of the videos." — Rachel Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available as elephants or leopards). 28. An origami starter kit so easy to use that it's perfect for kids *and* adults, guiding you through 38 different fun projects with clear, straightforward instructions and images. It even comes with high-quality origami paper to get you started! Amazon, Promising review: "This is everything you could want for an introduction to the art of origami! It has clear instructions, a variety of options and paper too! This has been an entertainment piece for the family for a few nights, as the kids want to try new projects each time. Fun for all!" — Bookbum Get it from Amazon for $12.71. 29. A light-up tracing pad for kids and adults alike — this lets you easily recreate illustrations so you can either practice to find your own style, or color them in to make your own *custom* versions. Some reviewers even use this as an easy way to practice calligraphy! Promising review:"I am a 30-year-old calligrapher and was in need of a light box. I needed a light box that fit into my budget and I didn't want to spend too much on one because I wasn't sure how much I would use it. This is by far one of the best purchases to add to my calligraphy arsenal!" — Placeholder Get it from Amazon for $27.29+ (available in two colors). 30. A DIY purse-making kit so the next time someone stops you on the street to ask where you got your bag, you can be like, "Oh this lil' thing? I made it myself.😊"
Buzz Feed
09-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
35 Products That Are Just Plain Fun To Have On Hand When Friends Visit
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Shopping · This DIY cheese kit that makes a batch in 20 minutes and this chaotic "Game of Life" card game are the vibes you bring to the function. 1. A set of vinyl coasters to give your coffee table a delightfully retro nostalgic touch *and* protect it from the perils of condensation mid-party. Amazon Promising review:"Good gift. Got these for my wife for her basement bar. They're cute on the pub table and great conversation pieces." — MJ Get it from Amazon for $14.99. 2. A set of espresso martini mix packets that make this cocktail staple a little TOO easy to recreate at home — all you need to do is add vodka (or tequila) and water, and BOOM. That's that you espresso. (Bonus: these only have 30 mg of caffeine, as opposed to 60 mg to 120 mg of a typical one!) Craftmix is a small business that specializes in instant drink mixers. Promising review:"The closest thing to creating a drink from scratch as you can get! Tried the variety pack and the espresso martini mix, and it was a hit with folks, and most couldn't believe it when I told them it came from a packet. Especially if you're thinking of hosting or making drinks in batches, Craftmix is a real timesaver. Would definitely recommend and plan on repurchasing for future get-togethers!" — Kenneth Walfred Fojas Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $16.99 (available in 11 other flavors and a variety pack). 3. The Game of Life Goals, the card game version of the OG beloved (if not very stressful) Game of Life board. This version rubs a little TOO close to your existential fright with the tagline, "You can't control the card you're dealt, but you can choose what to do with them!" (Or you can just cope by turning off autonomy on The Sims, you do you.) Amazon, This game requires two to four players, ages 8 and up. Promising review: "We love this game. All the kids are adults and we have a raucous time playing this. it is so much fun; great family fun. The pace is fantastic. Anytime we have a friend over, the first game goes a little slower but it doesn't take long to learn and develop strategies to win. Love this game!!!" — Kindle Customer Get it from Amazon for $5.19. 4. A 5-pound bucket of Crayola Air Dry Clay to let you finally follow your inner pottery dreams without all the mess and effort of taking classes. After you pull the clay out to shape it, it'll harden on its own — no oven or any effort required! From there you can leave it as is or paint over it for a fun vibe. Psst — a lot of reviewers use silicone or plastic molds to get specific shapes! Promising review: "It's honestly just a really nice material to work with! If you want to create things with clay, this is definitely a good choice! It's definitely not for professional use, but I feel like that's a given? I mean, it is Crayola. But all in all, great for those who want to use it for fun!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $10.62. 5. Hues And Cues, a DELIGHTFUL party game that's easy and fun to play no matter how well you know the other players. It comes with a board of 480 color swatches — the aim of the game is to make your friends guess which color swatch you're looking at with either one-word or two-word clues. Whoever gets the closest to the color in each round gets the most points! I played this at a friend's apartment with a mix of people I did and didn't know, and we all had a BLAST. It was a fun opportunity for us to reference hyper-specific things when trying to lock down a specific shade (if memory serves, "zombie Barney" and "aggressive banana" were the ones that got thrown around) and to get to know each other's tastes and ways of looking at the world. The rules and scoring system are super easy to learn, too, so there wasn't a big hurdle in getting everyone on board. I highly recommend for some good, wholesome, often laugh-out-loud party fun! Get it from Amazon for $19.99. 6. A marble board wire cheese cutter to serve as half decor, half kitchen tool, and 100% the biggest hit at any wine and cheese night when you let guests slice their own cheese with it. Amazon Check out a TikTok of the cheese slicer in action. Promising review:"My mother-in-law had purchased one last year, and I tried hers at Christmas and fell in love with how easy it was to use. We have a lot of get-togethers with friends, and cheese is a staple appetizer in our house. So, I purchased my own and have been using it weekly since. It cuts easily and is mostly easy to clean. Sometimes cheese gets stuck in the crack, but some scrubbing with a small brush usually does the trick." — Jessica Get it from Amazon for $17.64 (available in two colors). 7. Plus a Frenchie-themed cheese board for some top notch char-woof-erie at your next party. House Party 2K20 is a small business that specializes in unique serving accessories. Promising review:"I absolutely love this bulldog charcuterie board, it's the perfect size and it's made so well. All the dog lovers wanted to know where to purchase one. I used it twice already for two parties and it was a hit!" — RN79 Get it from Amazon for $24.95+ (available in two sizes). 8. Exploding Mantis, the cousin of the wildly popular, family-beloved Exploding Kittens game, except this one is a "colorfully cutthroat card game of rainbows and revenge." The objective is to get matching sets of cards by ruthlessly stealing from other players at top speed — it's a colorful, chaotic whirlwind for two to six players, age 7 and up! Amazon Exploding Kittens is a small business that specializes in unique family-friendly games. Promising review:"Got this game for my game loving 5-year-old. We play it almost daily with two to five players. So much family fun! The colors are fun and we love picking our favorite mantis of the day. The game moves quickly so everyone pays attention. Easy enough for a 5-year-old, but fun enough for an older crowd too!" — Schyler McNeil Get it from Amazon for $19.99. 9. A bottle of truffle-infused clover honey so decadent and delicious that it will get passed around your kitchen faster than the juiciest gossip anyone's got. Promising review:"Here's what you do for starters: Slice a baguette. Add a slice of blue cheese. Toast in the oven or air fryer. Drizzle with this truffle honey to finish and impress your guests. They'll think you're a genius." — T. A. Get it from Amazon for $22.99. 10. A "Through The Seasons" Reverse Coloring Book, which is a newer edition of the original Reverse Coloring Book that took the internet by storm — reviewers swear by this easy, calming artistic outlet to help ease their anxiety, relieve stress, and unleash their inner creativity without taking up too much brainpower. The best part is, you don't need a ton of colored pencils to do it as a group — everyone just needs a pen! For those new to the concept — Instead of adding the color to these, you add the lines to create images within the colors. Sort of like a Rorschach test, but make it whimsical. Check out a TikTok of the reverse coloring book in action. Promising review: "Kendra Norton's beautiful art books, Reverse Coloring books, have changed my world! My whole life, I thought I was not creative and had zero artistic ability. Now, this has become my favorite form of artistic expression. I turn on music and/or an audiobook and allow myself to go for an adventure outside of my mind, beyond my mind, if you will. T his has become my favorite way to process through difficult emotions and experiences I'm working through." — K. DeWitt Get it from Amazon for $8.29. (Psst — check out these cult-fave black fine-point pens on Amazon for a good doodling option!) 11. A set of Shrinky Dinks sheets to transport you so immediately to your childhood pastimes of Making Everything Very Small that you'll be gifting every single person you know a kitschy keychain against their will. Amazon If you are unfamiliar with this glorious witchcraft, Shrinky Dink paper lets you color designs on it that you can then cut out and bake to shrink them down, giving them a stained glass effect that makes them great for keychains, suncatchers, and little trinkets. Promising review: "Fun for ALL ages! Recently remembered how fun these were. I have a smaller daughter, so it gave me an excuse to buy these. They're secretly for me — half kidding. These are so simple to use and create great crafts. These will keep your little one's imagination going, occupied and helps practice fine motor skills. I would definitely recommend to ANYONE, not just little humans." — Alex Soper Get a 25-sheet set from Amazon for $13.92. 12. A mini ice cream maker from BuzzFeed's Tasty line that easily churns out ice cream with your favorite flavor-and-topping combos in 20 minutes flat. If I were the Nutella, peanut butter Ritz crackers, and/or the Girl Scout cookies in my fridge right now, I'd be verrrrrry nervous about this gizmo. 😈 Promising review:"Only had it a few weeks, but so far I've made Nutella ice cream, vanilla frozen yogurt, and my latest masterpiece: dulce de leche peanut butter swirl! Three words: taste bud paradise! This pint-sized wonder churns out three to four servings of pure bliss. It's like having your own little ice cream parlor tucked away in the kitchen!" — Stephanie R. Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in two colors). 13. And a splurge-worthy Ninja Creami that lives up to all the hype and THEN some — this has seven presets so you can indulge in the creamiest gelato, most refreshing smoothies, and most decadent ice creams you've ever had, right from the comfort of your own home. It even comes with compatible storage pints and lids, in case you don't finish it all on the spot! Check out a TikTok of the Ninja Creami in action. Reviewers with dietary restrictions and preferences love being able to customize their own treats, and many point out that this will likely *save* you money, with the cost of specialty ice creams these days! Promising review: "This is my favorite gift. I use it at least five times a week. The size of the containers is perfect for when you want a sweet treat, and I love that you can control the consistency and softness of the way they come out. Fairly easy to clean as well." — Luke Johnson Get it from Amazon for $186.99. 14. A shaker of Thin Mint seasoning you need to buy as a favor to all your taste buds immediately. Allow me to paint a picture for you: Thin Mint coffee, Thin Mint pudding, Thin Mint popcorn, Thin Mint anything your dessert gremlin heart desires. I stared at this for months online before caving and buying it, and when I tell you!! It jazzes up my morning coffee in a way that makes my little '90s baby heart sing. I've also loved it on Greek yogurt, oatmeal, and mug cakes. Plus, when I am feeling lonely for a real Thin Mint, and we're not in Girl Scout cookie season, I'll shake this on an Oreo Thin to stave off the despair. Get it from Amazon for $4.98. 15. Oprah's The Life You Want: 100 Questions Everyone Should Ask, a set of conversation cards to help you start thoughtful conversations with friends and families to help you connect and make meaningful memories out of your time together. Amazon This was featured on Oprah's Favorite Things for 2024 — check out more of Oprah's picks on Amazon's gift shop! The one hundred questions are often open-ended and thoughtful, like "What would it take to feel truly rested?" and "What doorway is open to you?" making it an ideal set of cards for journal prompts, too! Get it from Amazon for $34.95. 16. A wireless, Bluetooth-enabled karaoke mic you can sync with preeeeetty much anything, including speakers, players, or downloadable singing apps. Now everyone can reenact Wicked from the comfort of your living room! Promising review:"You don't understand, TikTok made me obsess over this microphone. As a 30+-year-old woman, I resisted purchasing it. I finally broke down and bought it because it was haunting me in my sleep. I'm so glad I did. When I am in a bad mood I start karaoke in my house and am instantly better. It has 'ruined' my teenage son's life because my performances can be heard through his Xbox microphone. This is a must-have product." — Zane A. Undercoffer Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in 15 colors). 17. A reviewer-beloved electric fondue set for an investment in your future happiness, because I'm hard-pressed to think of anything a vat of melted cheese and chocolate *won't* fix. Kusini is a small business that specializes in kitchen products. Promising revie w: "I absolutely love fondue and this made at-home fondue easy and mess free! Warms up quickly and holds the perfect amount of fondue plus dippers." — Ruby Pagel Get it from Amazon for $27.99. 18. A Lego-inspired brick waffle maker that's about to become the MVP of breakfast hangouts. Lego fans will love them for "building," waffle fans will love that they're small enough that they maximize crispy edges, and everyone will love that these are the perfect size to make whole breakfasts or eat as snacks! Promising review: "My boys loved this! They were excited to see lego waffles and had fun building with them and eating them." — Emily Get it from Amazon for $39.99. 19. Yardzee, a jumbo dice game that boldly asked, "What if we took Yahtzee and made it ginormous?" This set includes six (lightweight!) giant dice, a storage bucket, and double-sided scorecards to play over 20 ridiculously fun outdoor games with the whole fam. Bonus: reviewers mention using it as game room decor when it's not in use, since it has such an elevated look! Swooc Games is a small business that specializes in unconventional, giant games for home and outdoor use. Promising review: "Our family loves Yahtzee, but Yardzee was so much more fun! It is like a giant lifesize game. It was so much fun to play outside as a family. We had ages 7–65 playing and enjoying the game. As a homeschooler, I also love that it sneaks in math and writing." — The Waldock Way Get them from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in two dice sizes). 20. And a ridiculously fun Tiki Toss ring game so you can humble your jock friends REAL fast — this game is super easy to set up and learn, but tricky enough to get juuuust right that it will even the whole playing field. Reviewers love that is is a fun-for-all-ages game (but aren't not using it as a a drinking game too 👀 ). Amazon, Tiki Toss is a small business that specializes in family-friendly games for home and outdoor use. Promising review: "We all love this game. Everyone who comes over cannot stop playing Tiki Toss. So simple and so fun. Quality and design of product is fantastic. Also makes a great gift." — jzek Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in two sizes). 21. An ankle skip ball for kids *and* adults so you can work up a sweat reliving the best part of the '90s with your pals and uphold tradition by teaching every child in the vicinity how to use it, too. Promising review: "Hi millennials with babies, lol. Loved these as a kid? Or like me — always wanted one and never got one? Well, now's your chance. It's very similar to the ones popular when we were kids, and lights up. My baby loves to watch my daughter use this. My husband loves to skip-hop with it, too, and omg, that's worth the full price of this toy each time. This toy has paid for itself five times over with the laughter and fun it's caused." — Kassy Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in four colors). 22. A sushi-making kit perfect for beginners or intermediate sushi makers, so you can finally mix and match the exact ingredients your adventurous heart desires. I'm definitely going to sushi jail for this, but I've started putting peanut butter in my avocado rolls. Don't knock it until you try it. Anyway, each kit comes with two sushi rolling mats, five pairs of chopsticks, a paddle, a spreader, and a PDF of instructions, including recipes for six popular rolls. Psst — if you REALLY want to level up your homemade sushi game, I highly recommend adding this truffle seasoning on Amazon for $13.09! It tastes so startlingly decadent. I've been ordering it for years to put on my avocado rolls and shiitake rolls when I order sushi. Promising review:"Received this the other day and the wife and I had our own sushi night at home...I did not realize there were two mats in the package which was a nice little surprise... everything is made of good quality materials, easy to use and a good fun activity for date night at home. I will be getting a few more as gifts for a few product, received it quickly and for the price you cannot go wrong." — Timothy J Stegner Get it from Amazon for $9.99. 23. A magnetic rotating UFO-shaped Bluetooth speaker so you can have an ~otherworldly~ experience getting beamed up by your favorite bops. Promising review: "Bought as a gift, but I will get one for myself. I was totally surprised at the quality of the speaker part of this. Got it for my grandson for Christmas. He set it up while here after opening, and we listened to Christmas music all day." — Dawna324 Get it from Amazon for $99.99. 24. A compact, beginner-friendly watercolor palette that comes with everything you need to start creating your own masterpieces, including 100 (!!) colors to choose from. Next stop, the Louvre. Each set comes with a 100-color palette, a sketch pencil, a sponge, a swatch sheet, and three water brush pens. Promising review:"Love collecting watercolor sets, and this one is amazing — so many exquisite colors to paint with. Creativity is everything, and imagination with all these colors is unlimited. Pure happiness!" — pve Get it from Amazon for $29.99. 25. A set of rainbow wineglasses to really get some adorable bang for your buck, because there's no way you won't use them as decor whenever you're not sipping sparkling rosé from them. Amazon Check out a TikTok of the rainbow wine glasses in action. The Wine Savant is a New York-based small business established in 2017 that specializes in unique, quality drinkware and accessories. Promising review: "Love these! Wasn't ready to splurge on Estelle stemmed glasses so I got these instead. I've run them through the dishwasher once so far and they held up fine. Glass is thin near the top which I love in a wineglass. I would recommend!" — Tricia Get a set of six from Amazon for $49.99. 26. Or a set of delightfully dainty butterfly wineglass markers so everyone knows exactly which glass is theirs, lest it fly away in another guest's hands. 🦋 Amazon Promising review: "I keep a few of these on hand for quick last-minute gifts. The small packaging will even fit inside a large greeting card, no need to wrap!" — mf Get a set of 10 from Amazon for $8.69. 27. A rotating disco ball diffuser because sometimes "come on Barbie let's go party" secretly means "come on Barbie let's diffuse some citrus essential oils and do some self-care." This lil' bub will give you the best of both worlds. Check out a TikTok of the disco ball in action, make sure to grab them some essential oils for the full experience! Read more about aromatherapy and stress and tension at Johns Hopkins. Promising reviews:"I absolutely LOVE my disco ball diffuser! It brings me joy. The diffuser works great and has timed options. You can use the disco ball without diffusing too. Lots of pretty color-changing options or you can have it cycle through all of the colors which is what I choose to do. There are two spinning modes too…slow and fast or you can set it to not spin at all. Get one. You WON'T be disappointed!! 🪩🫶🏼😍" — Heather Get it from Amazon for $39.97+ (available in two sizes). 28. A shaved ice and slushie maker so everyone can relive their childhood pastime of dyeing their tongues a zillion delicious colors after taking one of these to the face. Bonus: a lot of reviewers use these for ~boozy~ slushies. Promising review: "Great little crusher. Perfect for summer drinks. Bits of ice are large enough that ice doesn't melt right away after I filled the glass with cola, and the perfect size for those of us who like to eat crushed ice after the drink is gone." — Linda Stroupe Get it from Amazon for $39.99. 29. A teensy DIY cheese kit with everything you need to make four batches of farmer's cheese and live your most delicious lives in a half hour — a perfect "appetizer" activity if you're hosting a dinner party! Urban Cheesecraft/Etsy UrbanCheesecraft is an Oregon-based Etsy shop established in 2009 that specializes in make-your-own cheese kits in a variety of cheeses, including vegan options. Each kit comes with a cheesecloth, citric acid, flake salt, instructions, and "email support for life" — all you need is milk (and a mouth to consume it all). Promising review:"These kits are great gifts for the cheese lover and the person 'who's already got it all.' The packaging looks nice and gift-worthy and it's a perfect price range. I love that the recipient gets an experience as well as a tangible product and I can personally attest that the actual process is easy." — amyleannbohner 30. Plus a set of wineglass charcuterie toppers to create the ultimate wine-and-cheese night vibes — especially vital for guests who love to mix and mingle, but need at least one hand free for hugging and gesturing wildly about how obsessed they are with cheeses from Trader Joe's. Amazon Promising review: "These are so cute! I hosted a wine tasting at my house and the coasters fit into many different wineglasses. I had about three to four fairly decent size chocolates on top. These were a hit and everyone thought they were in a nice restaurant with the setup!!" — Melanie M. Get a set of four from Amazon for $9.99. 32. "The Secret Soup," yet another addition to the cult-favorite Magic Puzzle series so beloved on TikTok. Like the others before it, this isn't just a puzzle, but a whimsically illustrated, colorful journey — there are tons of Easter eggs in it, a collection of miniature scenes full of optical illusions and surprises, *plus* a magical twist at the end. You'll have to solve the puzzle to find out! Check out a TikTok of the magic puzzle in action. Promising review:"This puzzle was delightful from start to finish. The oddly shaped pieces, the story being told within it, the surprise ending puzzle, the checklist hunt, the mobility of the sections, and the characters and design all gave it — and me! — such life. Regular puzzles tend to bore or frustrate me but each time I worked on this I was full of joy." — Brittany Get it from Amazon for $22.99, and check out the rest of the Magic Puzzle lineup for more options!. 33. A beginner's butter churner complete with a recipe book so you can finally become the captains of your own condiment ships. Your fridges will be full of so many butters (raspberry butter! truffle butter! CHOCOLATE BUTTER!) that there won't be enough bread in the world to satisfy you. Amazon, Promising review:"I am delighted with this product. The accompanying instructions were very helpful. I made my first hand-churned butter, which I consider being a homage to my grandparents, who were dairy farmers. The process is really surprising when the butter seizes up — I think it was very important to me to see and experience that moment. Subtle, but crucial... At any rate, I used it, cleaned it, so have experienced both. I don't think you'll be disappointed with this little yet sophisticated butter churn." — Nanci Hamilton Get it from Amazon for $44.50. 34. A set of silicone teacup cupcake liners so you can have your cake and "drink" it, too. Reviewers loved these for tea parties and cupcake-decorating parties! Promising review: "Perfect size and color — so cute! My cupcakes did not stick. I did NOT spray the cups with anything. They were the perfect size. Fluffy. Nonstick. Lightweight. I received several compliments. The cupcakes popped right out of the cups. This brand was perfect! I'm truly impressed." — Denise Mendez Get a set of six from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in white and pink, plus sets of 12 and 24). 35. An elegant stacking game to serve both as a conversation piece at the party and as decor to make you look like an oh-so-sophisticated tastemaker. Amazon Promising review: "Splurged a little. We like board games a lot, and have a cabinet to store them, and I wanted some nice pieces to display on top. This was a wonderful, on the hunt for more beautiful pieces but this is elegant and it feels expensive." — Rutva Get it from Amazon for $47.95. Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Buzz Feed
22-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
30 Products For Anyone Who Wants A Hobby That Won't Break Their Budget
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Shopping · You'll be making a family of little crocheted critters with this starter kit in no time. 1. A copy of The Book of Myself: A Do-It-Yourself Autobiography in 201 Questions to give you just enough structure so you're actually motivated to sit down and write in a journal. This is an excellent way to preserve memories for yourself and loved ones! This book is a kind of DIY memoir — it goes through three phases of "Early," "Middle," and "Later" years, and has 201 different prompts based on your memories, experiences, and views on the world. Prompts include things like what you would have switched careers to midway through if given the chance, or a present you got from your parents that sticks in your memory, or who you think the funniest person in your family is. This also makes for a lovely gift for family members, so you can all preserve each other's memories! Get it from Amazon for $16.50 or from Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $18.60. 2. A mushroom growing kit that grows right there in the packaging, so you can add some sweet, sweet umami flavors to all your favorite winter dishes by sautéing, roasting, or air frying them up. Back To The Roots is a California-based small business founded by two college friends that specializes in indoor gardening kits with a mission to reconnect families to food. Check out a TikTok of the mushroom kit in action. Promising review:"This product has been so much fun to watch! I followed the directions, exactly as written, and the mushrooms began growing within 3–4 days. I will say that I did soak them for close to 10 hours before putting them back in the box to grow and I believe this helped a ton. I also kept the box inside by a window with the blinds closed in order for them to get indirect sunlight. The mushrooms grew tremendously for almost a week before they started to shrink so I clipped them to cook with and they were DELICIOUS! This was such a fun product and process to watch." — Steph A Get it from Amazon for $19.99. 3. A 5-pound bucket of Crayola Air Dry Clay to let you finally follow your inner pottery dreams without all the mess and effort of taking classes. After you pull the clay out to shape it, it'll harden on its own — no oven or any effort required! From there you can leave it as is or paint over it for a fun vibe. Psst — a lot of reviewers use silicone or plastic molds to get specific shapes! Promising review: "It's honestly just a really nice material to work with! If you want to create things with clay, this is definitely a good choice! It's definitely not for professional use, but I feel like that's a given? I mean, it is Crayola. But all in all, great for those who want to use it for fun!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $10.62. 4. A beginner's guide to calligraphy that is far more thorough and specific about technique and ink types than other versions, and will have you writing inspirational messages to your friends and drafting fancy invitations to your dog's birthday party in NO time. Paper Peony Press is a Texas-based boutique publishing company that specializes in purpose-driven books. Promising review:"I've tried several instructional books on hand lettering. This book is the best by far. I won't say the names of the other books, but suffice it to say they are all at the top of the list when you search for hand lettering. It is the only book that gives practice for the base strokes and also discusses posture and how to hold the pen, and at what angle to the paper. It is also a lovely book to work with; nice art work/illustrations. I recommend this book to other beginners out there!" — Karen Rorick Get it from Amazon for $19.99. 5. A beginner's embroidery kit for adults, so you can have something soothing to do with your hands while you marathong yet another podcast full of murder, murder, and a side murder. (At least now your stitching will be tighter than the main suspect's alibi!) Each kit comes with a simple design, a cotton cloth, a bamboo embroidery hoop, a little scissor, colored threads, embroidery needles, and instructions, so you should be raring to go when it arrives! Promising review:"I've never done anything like this before ... but I like to try new things, and I've just recently moved and wanted to decorate my house with some handmade decor. This kit is a great value for the price! It came with the hoop, more than enough thread, and two needles! The printed pattern is very clear and easy to follow, and the little sheet of instructions on what stitch to use and how to do it is clear enough (and anything I don't understand, I just watch a tutorial on YouTube). I'm about three hours into the project already, and I didn't want to put it down last night." — Abby 6. A "Through The Seasons" Reverse Coloring Book, which is a newer edition of the original Reverse Coloring Book that took the internet by storm — reviewers swear by this easy, calming artistic outlet to help ease their anxiety, relieve stress, and unleash their inner creativity without taking up too much brainpower. For those new to the concept — Instead of adding the color to these, you add the lines to create images within the colors. Sort of like a Rorschach test, but make it whimsical. Check out a TikTok of the reverse coloring book in action. Promising review: "Kendra Norton's beautiful art books, Reverse Coloring books, have changed my world! My whole life, I thought I was not creative and therefore, had zero artistic ability. Now, this has become my favorite form of artistic expression. I turn on music and/or an audiobook and allow myself to go for an adventure outside of my mind, beyond my mind, if you will. T his has become my favorite way to process through difficult emotions and experiences I'm working through." — K. DeWitt Get it from Amazon for $8.29. (Psst — check out these cult-fave black fine point pens for $8.99 on Amazon for a good doodling option!) 7. And a stress relief flower coloring book for adults so instead of trying to outrun your problems, you can out- color them, and have a bunch of darling pieces of art to show for it. Psst — you can pick up a cult-fave colored pencil set on Amazon for $11.98! Promising review:"Great stress reliever. Stimulates my creativity. I have taken pictures of what I colored and have made it my wall paper for my cellphone. Very glad I made this purchase." — Dawn62 Get it from Amazon for $7.39. 8. Wreck This Journal, a full color journal with prompts for you to write, paint, shred, and, in the words of Taylor Swift, "have a marvelous time ruining everything." Some of the prompts include one to close the journal and scribble on the edges; another to cut out colors from a magazine and tape them all over the page; another is a "Stain Log," which you can use to classify stains in your life, from red wine to nail polishes to food dyes. Basically, if you turn the page in this journal, odds are it's going to look *nothing* like it originally did by the time you're through. Get it from Amazon for $9.19 or Bookshop for $14.88. 9. A compact, beginner-friendly watercolor palette that comes with everything you need to start creating your own masterpieces, including 100 (!!) colors to choose from. Next stop, the Louvre. Each set comes with a 100-color palette, a sketch pencil, a sponge, a swatch sheet, and three water brush pens. Promising review:"Love collecting watercolor sets, and this one is amazing — so many exquisite colors to paint with. Creativity is everything, and imagination with all these colors is unlimited. Pure happiness!" — pve Get it from Amazon for $39.99. 10. Or a gorgeous pastel paint-by-number you can get in all kinds of intricate, deeply satisfying patterns for anyone who is looking for an activity that pairs perfectly with a screen-free night in. Each set comes with a detailed numbered outline, four brushes, and a set of numbered acrylic paints with extra to spare. Promising review: "Colorful and fun! This is the third paint-by-number I've done, and by far the most challenging. Lots of fine point detail, and the paint brushes included were adequate, unlike other PBN sets I've bought." — Emily cox Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in 12 styles). 11. Small Batch Bakes, tailor made for folks who live alone *or* for people who want to broaden their baking horizons, but don't want to deal with the mess of big batches (or the leftovers!). This book takes you through a bunch of delicious recipes for one to six people using minimal equipment, so you can have hassle-free treats and live your most delicious life. Helpfully, this book measures in grams *and* tablespoons, so you can bake however you prefer. Get it from Amazon for $16.19 or Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $23.24. 12. A sturdy, minimalist reading journal with such a comprehensive, satisfying design that you'll never bother with another again — this features space for 52 thorough book reviews, along with challenges and lists for Books I've Read, Finished, Favorites, Did Not Finish, Lent, and Borrowed. Kunitsa Co. is a small business that specializes in reading, exercise, and food journals. Promising review:"Very cute and fun way to track reading. I feel like it also motivates me to read because I have a written goal. I like being able to keep track of what books I read and when so I can remember to reread or recommend my favorites." — Jenna Borden Get it from Amazon for $22.95+ (available in six colors). 13. A compact, travel-friendly microwave flower press kit so you can preserve the beauty of the flowers you find on your adventures no matter where you roam, and keep them in a little flower press journal to admire. This is unique from other methods because the microwave makes it a minutes-long process instead of days, and helps preserve the vibrant colors! Microfleur is a small business that specializes in unique flower-pressing products. Promising review: "Such a unique and easy-to-use product. I preserve dried flowers in resin, and this has been such a time saver. In literally minutes, you have a perfectly preserved flower. I've never had any burned or overcooked flowers doing it this way and it definitely beats pressing them in a book. I can't wait to buy these as gifts for a few other plant lovers in my life." — Jessie Get it from Amazon for $36.99. 14. A teensy DIY cheese kit with everything you need to learn to make four batches of farmer's cheese and live your most delicious life in a half hour. UrbanCheesecraft is an Oregon-based Etsy shop established in 2009 that specializes in make-your-own cheese kits in a variety of cheeses, including vegan options. Each kit comes with a cheesecloth, citric acid, flake salt, instructions, and "email support for life" — all you need is milk (and a mouth to consume it all). Promising review:"These kits are great gifts for the cheese lover and the person 'who's already got it all.' The packaging looks nice and gift-worthy and it's a perfect price range. I love that the recipient gets an experience as well as a tangible product and I can personally attest that the actual process is easy." — amyleannbohner 15. A paint-by-sticker set made up of vintage travel posters you can hang up on your walls when you're finished, essentially letting you travel the world without getting up from ye olde couch. Workman Publishing Each comes with 12 posters and the stickers to complete them, including iconic travel posters from gondolas in Venice to the pyramids in Cairo. Get it from Amazon for $11.89 or Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $15.80. 16. A beginner-friendly diamond painting coaster set perfect for anyone who has ever thought to themselves, "You know what the only thing better than cat coasters would be? Glittery cat coasters." The universe has delivered. Promising review:"The designs and colors are the same as shown on Amazon. Finished coasters sparkle, and the vibrant colors create eight very cute cats. There were plenty of beads to complete the project, and adhesion was excellent. Letters and numbers were sharp and easy to follow. I am delighted with these coasters." — PackLeaderJ Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in five styles). 17. And a DIY glass mosaic tile coaster kit to let you mix and match beautiful colors that go with your home's ~aesthetic~, plus unlock a cool new skill that will make you a VERY popular gift-giver on birthdays and holidays. Each set comes with enough materials to make four coasters. Promising review:"This is a very fun hobby to do at home both by yourself or with friends or family. It's fun and pretty simple to make. Just need to be very steady with your hands and take time. I received many compliments when I showed them to everyone. I might buy more later and do it again. I totally recommend it if you want a little hobby to do." — Lilylove75 Get it from Amazon for $22.99. 18. A Gaiam starter set for yoga complete with all the basics, including a yoga mat, a yoga block, and a stretching strap, so you can tune into free yoga classes you gain access to with the set. Achieving mindfulness and flow in a chaotic world? Bring it om. Promising review:"I am not very limber and I have chronic spine issues, so having a block and strap was essential for me to do yoga. Before using this, I always ended up hurting myself or feeling bad about myself because I couldn't complete the stretches and would just give up. This kit made everything go so smoothly; I can adjust the block or the strap to help me stretch without hurting myself (or falling over). And I highly recommend the sitting techniques in the DVD as well as the meditation." — blightheavy Get it from Amazon for $29.98. 19. A set of Shrinky Dinks sheets to transport you so immediately to your childhood pastime of Making Everything Very Small that you'll be gifting every single person you know a kitschy keychain against their will. Amazon If you are unfamiliar with this glorious witchcraft, Shrinky Dink paper lets you color designs on it that you can then cut out and bake to shrink them down, giving them a stained glass effect that makes them great for keychains, suncatchers, and little trinkets. Promising review: "Fun for ALL ages! Recently remembered how fun these were. I have a smaller daughter, so it gave me an excuse to buy these. They're secretly for me — half kidding. These are so simple to use and create great crafts. These will keep your little one's imagination going, occupied and helps practice fine motor skills. I would definitely recommend to ANYONE, not just little humans." — Alex Soper Get a 25-sheet set from Amazon for $17.98. 20. A unicorn slime making kit, because truly the most universal human experience is that deep down inside we all just want to stretch out a big ole glop of bright pink glittery slime. Each kit comes with clear written instructions and access to video tutorials to make over 100 different kinds of slime, from unicorn slime to glitter slime to fluffy cloud slime to floam putty. You can personalize the colors, textures, add-ins, *and* the smell — the box comes with beads, scents, glitter, ink, foam balls, the ingredients needed to make the slime, and containers to keep it in. Promising review:"Purchased for daughter's birthday. She loves it. I was very apprehensive about letting her use slime but it has everything a parent could dream of to keep it all in one place and organized without the mess!" — Jay Get it from Amazon for $28.99. 21. A beginner's sushi-making kit to let you take the fate of your rolls into your own hands by working with whatever ingredients you have on hand, so you can have hours of delicious sushi experimentation. I'm definitely going to sushi jail for this, but I've started putting peanut butter in my avocado rolls (and sometimes adding this beloved truffle powder you can get on Amazon, it's so good I don't know what I HAVEN'T put it on!!!). Don't knock it until you try it. Anyway, each kit comes with two sushi rolling mats, five pairs of chopsticks, a paddle, a spreader, and a PDF of instructions, including recipes for six popular rolls. Promising review:"The entire Bamboo Sushi Kit is absolutely well made, easy to use, easy to clean, high-end restaurant quality, and durable. it was very nicely packaged, and instructions clear, in-depth and very easy to follow. No one (myself included) in my household has ever made sushi before but (thanks to the enclosed instructions), there were no issues making it. My daughter did an awesome job utilizing these products to make 'FISH-FREE SUSHI' with Pickled Ginger on top, was delectable! Loooooove it!" — Liza Get it from Amazon for $9.99. 22. A delightfully wacky spin and paint art set that yes, is designed for kids, but will *absolutely* thrill any adult looking to make 2025 their unrepentant colorful chaos era. I'm not NOT saying your kitchen deserves to be revamped in bright rainbow neon splatter colors after you frame these gems .... Promising review: "I'm an adult artist. I got this on a lark to have some fun with it. I think a child would have a lot of fun with it. I've discovered you can use any tempera or acrylic paint (just put some in small squeeze bottles). I'm actually having fun experimenting it." — Lynn 23. A friendship bracelet making kit so you can live your best Babysitter's Club life and start sending them in personalized colors to everyone you know. Choose Friendship is a small business that specializes in friendship bracelet makers. Each set comes with the holder mount and 20 pre-cut threads in 10 colors as well as access to an online instruction manual for all kinds of different designs. Promising review:"I bought this for my daughter for a craft night. I made friendship bracelets when I was a kid but could not remember how to make them. This helped so much! I had to buy another one for me so we could work on them at the same time. Love this product!" — hollyhock Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in five styles). 24. Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions, a bartender-beloved book for beginner- to intermediate-level cocktail enthusiasts that breaks down six iconic "root" cocktails — the old-fashioned, martini, daiquiri, sidecar, whisky highball, and flip — to show you how to improvise and riff your own creations based on what combos work with the ingredients you have. Amazon Check out a TikTok of the cocktail book in action. Promising review:"This book has easily become one of my favorites. Great base knowledge and would recommend to anyone seeking to further educate themselves on spirits and cocktails. Even the first few pages is full of useful information. Purchase this for yourself or even as a gift. I cannot say enough good things about this book." — Adriana Get it from Amazon for $19.12. 25. A succulent monster needle felting kit that beginners especially love because there's no "wrong" way to make one of these little gremlins. Which is good, because you're about to be dealing with four or more of them, if you buy this kit. Woolbuddy is a small business that specializes in felting kits. Promising review:"I was really excited when I got this kit. It comes with all the tools you need, including a variety of colors, and it inspires such fun creature ideas! It also includes a QR code that takes you to several (short) tutorials for different shapes, and teaches you the basics of needle felting! I thought it was going to be much harder than it was. (You don't even need to watch the whole tutorial to pick it up.) I actually bought the same kit for a friend, who loved it also!" — David Get it from Amazon for $24.99. 26. A beginner's wood carving kit to get you started on an oh-so-satisfying, soothing hobby, so you can start gifting your loved ones with carved bluejays and cardinals in no time. Each kit includes two wood carving blocks (one cherry and one basswood), a carving knife, sharpening supplies, a template, and three types of sandpaper. Promising review:"The company is very supportive and their kit is great. It has everything you need to start working with wood. Additionally, I have really appreciated the professionalism and customer service received from them." — Sam Get it from Amazon for $38.93. 27. A crochet starter kit with clear, easy instructional videos to make two new tiny friends, because you can never have too many "coworkers" on your desk cheering you on. Promising review: "Great for beginners. I loved the YouTube step-by-step. I wouldn't have done it without that. Such a fun result. Super easy to figure out because of the videos." — Rachel Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available as elephants or leopards). 28. An origami starter kit so easy to use that it's perfect for kids *and* adults, guiding you through 38 different fun projects with clear, straightforward instructions and images. It even comes with high-quality origami paper to get you started! Amazon, Promising review: "This is everything you could want for an introduction to the art of origami! It has clear instructions, a variety of options and paper too! This has been an entertainment piece for the family for a few nights, as the kids want to try new projects each time. Fun for all!" — Bookbum Get it from Amazon for $12.49. 29. A light-up tracing pad for kids and adults alike — this lets you easily recreate illustrations so you can either practice to find your own style, or color them in to make your own *custom* versions. Some reviewers even use this as an easy way to practice calligraphy! Promising review:"I am a 30-year-old calligrapher and was in need of a light box. I needed a light box that fit into my budget and I didn't want to spend too much on one because I wasn't sure how much I would use it. This is by far one of the best purchases to add to my calligraphy arsenal!" — Placeholder Get it from Amazon for $25.99. 30. A DIY purse-making kit so the next time someone stops you on the street to ask where you got your bag, you can be like, "Oh this lil' thing? I made it myself.😊" Beablinger is a small business that specializes in DIY projects. Promising review: "I loved putting this purse together! It was so much fun! The final product looks exactly like the picture. As a beginner, the instruction video on YouTube was very easy for me to follow. I would buy this again in a heartbeat!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $19.88 (available in seven colors). Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Buzz Feed
09-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
28 Products For Anyone Who Wants A Cheap, Low Commitment Hobby
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Shopping · Skip the expensive pottery class and get this big ole $11 tub of air dry clay instead. 1. A copy of The Book of Myself: A Do-It-Yourself Autobiography in 201 Questions to give you just enough structure so you're actually motivated to sit down and write in a journal. This is an excellent way to preserve memories for yourself and loved ones! Hachette Books This book is a kind of DIY memoir — it goes through three phases of "Early," "Middle," and "Later" years, and has 201 different prompts based on your memories, experiences, and views on the world. Prompts include things like what you would have switched careers to midway through if given the chance, or a present you got from your parents that sticks in your memory, or who you think the funniest person in your family is. This also makes for a lovely gift for family members, so you can all preserve each other's memories! Get it from Amazon for $14.42 or from Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $15.81. 2. A mushroom growing kit that grows right there in the packaging, so you can add some sweet, sweet umami flavors to all your favorite dishes by sautéing, roasting, or air frying them up. Back To The Roots is a California-based small business founded by two college friends that specializes in indoor gardening kits with a mission to reconnect families to food. Check out a TikTok of the mushroom kit in action. Promising review:"This product has been so much fun to watch! I followed the directions, exactly as written, and the mushrooms began growing within 3–4 days. I will say that I did soak them for close to 10 hours before putting them back in the box to grow and I believe this helped a ton. I also kept the box inside by a window with the blinds closed in order for them to get indirect sunlight. The mushrooms grew tremendously for almost a week before they started to shrink so I clipped them to cook with and they were DELICIOUS! This was such a fun product and process to watch." — Steph A Get it from Amazon for $19.99. 3. A 5-pound bucket of Crayola Air Dry Clay to let you finally follow your inner pottery dreams without all the mess and effort of taking classes. After you pull the clay out to shape it, it'll harden on its own — no oven or any effort required! From there you can leave it as is or paint over it for a fun vibe. Psst — a lot of reviewers use silicone or plastic molds to get specific shapes! Promising review: "It's honestly just a really nice material to work with! If you want to create things with clay, this is definitely a good choice! It's definitely not for professional use, but I feel like that's a given? I mean, it is Crayola. But all in all, great for those who want to use it for fun!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $10.96. 4. A beginner's guide to calligraphy that is far more thorough and specific about technique and ink types than other versions, and will have you writing inspirational messages to your friends and drafting fancy invitations to your dog's birthday party in NO time. Paper Peony Press is a Texas-based boutique publishing company that specializes in purpose-driven books. Promising review:"I've tried several instructional books on hand lettering. This book is the best by far. I won't say the names of the other books, but suffice it to say they are all at the top of the list when you search for hand lettering. It is the only book that gives practice for the base strokes and also discusses posture and how to hold the pen, and at what angle to the paper. It is also a lovely book to work with; nice art work/illustrations. I recommend this book to other beginners out there!" — Karen Rorick Get it from Amazon for $19.99. 5. A beginner's embroidery kit for adults, so you can have something soothing to do with your hands while you marathong yet another podcast full of murder, murder, and a side murder. (At least now your stitching will be tighter than the main suspect's alibi!) Each kit comes with a simple design, a cotton cloth, a bamboo embroidery hoop, a little scissor, colored threads, embroidery needles, and instructions, so you should be raring to go when it arrives! Promising review:"I've never done anything like this before ... but I like to try new things, and I've just recently moved and wanted to decorate my house with some handmade decor. This kit is a great value for the price! It came with the hoop, more than enough thread, and two needles! The printed pattern is very clear and easy to follow, and the little sheet of instructions on what stitch to use and how to do it is clear enough (and anything I don't understand, I just watch a tutorial on YouTube). I'm about three hours into the project already, and I didn't want to put it down last night." — Abby Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in 11 different patterns). 6. A "Through The Seasons" Reverse Coloring Book, which is a newer edition of the original Reverse Coloring Book that took the internet by storm — reviewers swear by this easy, calming artistic outlet to help ease their anxiety, relieve stress, and unleash their inner creativity without taking up too much brainpower. Amazon, For those new to the concept — Instead of adding the color to these, you add the lines to create images within the colors. Sort of like a Rorschach test, but make it whimsical. Check out a TikTok of the reverse coloring book in action. Promising review: "Kendra Norton's beautiful art books, Reverse Coloring books, have changed my world! My whole life, I thought I was not creative and therefore, had zero artistic ability. Now, this has become my favorite form of artistic expression. I turn on music and/or an audiobook and allow myself to go for an adventure outside of my mind, beyond my mind, if you will. T his has become my favorite way to process through difficult emotions and experiences I'm working through." — K. DeWitt Get it from Amazon for $8.29. (Psst — check out these cult-fave black fine point pens for $6.99 on Amazon for a good doodling option!) 7. And a stress relief flower coloring book for adults so instead of trying to outrun your problems, you can out- color them, and have a bunch of darling pieces of art to show for it. Psst — you can pick up a cult-fave colored pencil set on Amazon for $8.99! Promising review:"Great stress reliever. Stimulates my creativity. I have taken pictures of what I colored and have made it my wall paper for my cellphone. Very glad I made this purchase." — Dawn62 Get it from Amazon for $7.39. 8. Wreck This Journal, a full color journal with prompts for you to write, paint, shred, and, in the words of Taylor Swift, "have a marvelous time ruining everything." Some of the prompts include one to close the journal and scribble on the edges; another to cut out colors from a magazine and tape them all over the page; another is a "Stain Log," which you can use to classify stains in your life, from red wine to nail polishes to food dyes. Basically, if you turn the page in this journal, odds are it's going to look *nothing* like it originally did by the time you're through. Get it from Amazon for $9.19 or Bookshop for $14.88. 9. A compact, beginner-friendly watercolor palette that comes with everything you need to start creating your own masterpieces, including 100 (!!) colors to choose from. Next stop, the Louvre. Each set comes with a 100-color palette, a sketch pencil, a sponge, a swatch sheet, and three water brush pens. Promising review:"Love collecting watercolor sets, and this one is amazing — so many exquisite colors to paint with. Creativity is everything, and imagination with all these colors is unlimited. Pure happiness!" — pve Get it from Amazon for $29.99. 10. Or a gorgeous pastel paint-by-number you can get in all kinds of intricate, deeply satisfying patterns for anyone who is looking for an activity that pairs perfectly with a screen-free night in. Amazon, Each set comes with a detailed numbered outline, four brushes, and a set of numbered acrylic paints with extra to spare. Promising review: "Colorful and fun! This is the third paint-by-number I've done, and by far the most challenging. Lots of fine point detail, and the paint brushes included were adequate, unlike other PBN sets I've bought." — Emily cox Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in 12 styles). 11. Small Batch Bakes, tailor made for folks who live alone *or* for people who want to broaden their baking horizons, but don't want to deal with the mess of big batches (or the leftovers!). This book takes you through a bunch of delicious recipes for one to six people using minimal equipment, so you can have hassle-free treats and live your most delicious life. Helpfully, this book measures in grams *and* tablespoons, so you can bake however you prefer. Get it from Amazon for $16.19 or Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $23.24. 12. A sturdy, minimalist reading journal with such a comprehensive, satisfying design that you'll never bother with another again — this features space for 52 thorough book reviews, along with challenges and lists for Books I've Read, Finished, Favorites, Did Not Finish, Lent, and Borrowed. Kunitsa Co. is a small business that specializes in reading, exercise, and food journals. Promising review:"Very cute and fun way to track reading. I feel like it also motivates me to read because I have a written goal. I like being able to keep track of what books I read and when so I can remember to reread or recommend my favorites." — Jenna Borden Get it from Amazon for $22.95+ (available in six colors). 13. A compact, travel-friendly microwave flower press kit so you can preserve the beauty of the flowers you find on your adventures no matter where you roam, and keep them in a little flower press journal to admire. This is unique from other methods because the microwave makes it a minutes-long process instead of days, and helps preserve the vibrant colors! Microfleur is a small business that specializes in unique flower-pressing products. Promising review: "Such a unique and easy-to-use product. I preserve dried flowers in resin, and this has been such a time saver. In literally minutes, you have a perfectly preserved flower. I've never had any burned or overcooked flowers doing it this way and it definitely beats pressing them in a book. I can't wait to buy these as gifts for a few other plant lovers in my life." — Jessie Get it from Amazon for $36.99. 14. A teensy DIY cheese kit with everything you need to learn to make four batches of farmer's cheese and live your most delicious life in a half hour. Urban Cheesecraft/Etsy UrbanCheesecraft is an Oregon-based Etsy shop established in 2009 that specializes in make-your-own cheese kits in a variety of cheeses, including vegan options. Each kit comes with a cheesecloth, citric acid, flake salt, instructions, and "email support for life" — all you need is milk (and a mouth to consume it all). Promising review:"These kits are great gifts for the cheese lover and the person 'who's already got it all.' The packaging looks nice and gift-worthy and it's a perfect price range. I love that the recipient gets an experience as well as a tangible product and I can personally attest that the actual process is easy." — amyleannbohner 15. A paint-by-sticker set made up of vintage travel posters you can hang up on your walls when you're finished, essentially letting you travel the world without getting up from ye olde couch. Workman Publishing Each comes with 12 posters and the stickers to complete them, including iconic travel posters from gondolas in Venice to the pyramids in Cairo. Get it from Amazon for $11.23 or Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $15.80. 16. A beginner-friendly diamond painting coaster set perfect for anyone who has ever thought to themselves, "You know what the only thing better than cat coasters would be? Glittery cat coasters." The universe has delivered. Promising review:"The designs and colors are the same as shown on Amazon. Finished coasters sparkle, and the vibrant colors create eight very cute cats. There were plenty of beads to complete the project, and adhesion was excellent. Letters and numbers were sharp and easy to follow. I am delighted with these coasters." — PackLeaderJ Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in five styles). 17. And a DIY glass mosaic tile coaster kit to let you mix and match beautiful colors that go with your home's ~aesthetic~, plus unlock a cool new skill that will make you a VERY popular gift-giver on birthdays. Each set comes with enough materials to make four coasters. Promising review:"This is a very fun hobby to do at home both by yourself or with friends or family. It's fun and pretty simple to make. Just need to be very steady with your hands and take time. I received many compliments when I showed them to everyone. I might buy more later and do it again. I totally recommend it if you want a little hobby to do." — Lilylove75 Get it from Amazon for $22.99. 18. A set of Shrinky Dinks sheets to transport you so immediately to your childhood pastime of Making Everything Very Small that you'll be gifting every single person you know a kitschy keychain against their will. Amazon If you are unfamiliar with this glorious witchcraft, Shrinky Dink paper lets you color designs on it that you can then cut out and bake to shrink them down, giving them a stained glass effect that makes them great for keychains, suncatchers, and little trinkets. Promising review: "Fun for ALL ages! Recently remembered how fun these were. I have a smaller daughter, so it gave me an excuse to buy these. They're secretly for me — half kidding. These are so simple to use and create great crafts. These will keep your little one's imagination going, occupied and helps practice fine motor skills. I would definitely recommend to ANYONE, not just little humans." — Alex Soper Get a 25-sheet set from Amazon for $13.91. 19. A unicorn slime making kit, because truly the most universal human experience is that deep down inside we all just want to stretch out a big ole glop of bright pink glittery slime. Amazon, Each kit comes with clear written instructions and access to video tutorials to make over 100 different kinds of slime, from unicorn slime to glitter slime to fluffy cloud slime to floam putty. You can personalize the colors, textures, add-ins, *and* the smell — the box comes with beads, scents, glitter, ink, foam balls, the ingredients needed to make the slime, and containers to keep it in. Promising review:"Purchased for daughter's birthday. She loves it. I was very apprehensive about letting her use slime but it has everything a parent could dream of to keep it all in one place and organized without the mess!" — Jay Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in three styles). 20. A beginner's sushi-making kit to let you take the fate of your rolls into your own hands by working with whatever ingredients you have on hand, so you can have hours of delicious sushi experimentation. I'm definitely going to sushi jail for this, but I've started putting peanut butter in my avocado rolls (and sometimes adding this beloved truffle powder you can get on Amazon, it's so good I don't know what I HAVEN'T put it on!!!). Don't knock it until you try it. Anyway, each kit comes with two sushi rolling mats, five pairs of chopsticks, a paddle, a spreader, and a PDF of instructions, including recipes for six popular rolls. Promising review:"The entire Bamboo Sushi Kit is absolutely well made, easy to use, easy to clean, high-end restaurant quality, and durable. it was very nicely packaged, and instructions clear, in-depth and very easy to follow. No one (myself included) in my household has ever made sushi before but (thanks to the enclosed instructions), there were no issues making it. My daughter did an awesome job utilizing these products to make 'FISH-FREE SUSHI' with Pickled Ginger on top, was delectable! Loooooove it!" — Liza Get it from Amazon for $9.99. 21. A friendship bracelet making kit so you can live your best Babysitter's Club life and start sending them in personalized colors to everyone you know. Choose Friendship is a small business that specializes in friendship bracelet makers. Each set comes with the holder mount and 20 pre-cut threads in 10 colors as well as access to an online instruction manual for all kinds of different designs. Promising review:"I bought this for my daughter for a craft night. I made friendship bracelets when I was a kid but could not remember how to make them. This helped so much! I had to buy another one for me so we could work on them at the same time. Love this product!" — hollyhock Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in five styles). 22. Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions, a bartender-beloved book for beginner- to intermediate-level cocktail enthusiasts that breaks down six iconic "root" cocktails — the old-fashioned, martini, daiquiri, sidecar, whisky highball, and flip — to show you how to improvise and riff your own creations based on what combos work with the ingredients you have. Amazon Check out a TikTok of the cocktail book in action. Promising review:"This book has easily become one of my favorites. Great base knowledge and would recommend to anyone seeking to further educate themselves on spirits and cocktails. Even the first few pages is full of useful information. Purchase this for yourself or even as a gift. I cannot say enough good things about this book." — Adriana Get it from Amazon for $19.12. 23. A succulent monster needle felting kit that beginners especially love because there's no "wrong" way to make one of these little gremlins. Which is good, because you're about to be dealing with four or more of them, if you buy this kit. Amazon Woolbuddy is a small business that specializes in felting kits. Promising review:"I was really excited when I got this kit. It comes with all the tools you need, including a variety of colors, and it inspires such fun creature ideas! It also includes a QR code that takes you to several (short) tutorials for different shapes, and teaches you the basics of needle felting! I thought it was going to be much harder than it was. (You don't even need to watch the whole tutorial to pick it up.) I actually bought the same kit for a friend, who loved it also!" — David Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in six kits). 24. A beginner's wood carving kit to get you started on an oh-so-satisfying, soothing hobby, so you can start gifting your loved ones with carved bluejays and cardinals in no time. Each kit includes two wood carving blocks (one cherry and one basswood), a carving knife, sharpening supplies, a template, and three types of sandpaper. Promising review:"The company is very supportive and their kit is great. It has everything you need to start working with wood. Additionally, I have really appreciated the professionalism and customer service received from them." — Sam Get it from Amazon for $32.99. 25. A crochet starter kit with clear, easy instructional videos to make two new tiny friends, because you can never have too many "coworkers" on your desk cheering you on. Promising review: "Great for beginners. I loved the YouTube step-by-step. I wouldn't have done it without that. Such a fun result. Super easy to figure out because of the videos." — Rachel Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available as frogs or leopards). 26. An origami starter kit so easy to use that it's perfect for kids *and* adults, guiding you through 38 different fun projects with clear, straightforward instructions and images. It even comes with high-quality origami paper to get you started! Amazon, Promising review: "This is everything you could want for an introduction to the art of origami! It has clear instructions, a variety of options and paper too! This has been an entertainment piece for the family for a few nights, as the kids want to try new projects each time. Fun for all!" — Bookbum Get it from Amazon for $12.71. 27. A light-up tracing pad for kids and adults alike — this lets you easily recreate illustrations so you can either practice to find your own style, or color them in to make your own *custom* versions. Some reviewers even use this as an easy way to practice calligraphy! 28. A DIY purse-making kit so the next time someone stops you on the street to ask where you got your bag, you can be like, "Oh this lil' thing? I made it myself.😊"
