16-03-2025
27 Gifts From Uncommon Goods If You Want To Be Remembered As A Great Gift-Giver By Your Family
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.
From your cat-loving cousin to your gardening grandparent, here's what to get every single person in your family.
1. A set of mistaken lyrics coasters perfect for the family member who cannot exist without having the radio on at all times and has a killer sense of humor. Each of these cork coasters is emblazoned with the lyrics of a well-known earworm…except... not quite. In the immortal words of TLC: Don't call Jason Waterfalls.
I gave the classic rock set to my dad, to whom I owe basically my entire sense of musical taste, as a holiday gift several years ago. They were, in fact, a big, BIG hit. I dare you to look at these and not laugh. I DOUBLE dare you.
Promising review: 'Perfect gift! These make gifting SO EASY! Repeat customer here...I went with Greatest Hits for a team gift and boy were they a hit! Unique, fun, and great quality. I've also purchased these previously for holiday gifts for family.' — Robin
2. A Book Nook reading valet that'll make sure your bookworm of a grandparent never loses their place again. Not only that, but this gorgeous acacia wood stand also has a cup holder for a favorite beverage, room to rest a pair of reading glasses, and even a spot to keep phones and other distractions out of sight. Shhhhh. They're just getting to the good part.
Uncommon Goods
Promising review: 'Didn't know I needed this, but I did! This is so much more than a book stand and page saver! It provides a single spot for all the things we tend to surround ourselves with while reading. No more do I search for my glasses or coffee cup and I always know where my phone is when I read. Perfect retirement 'gift to self.'' — Besserk
3. A create-your-own-video-game set, if you've got a gamer in your family who's also a bit of a tinkerer. This neat-o kit includes everything they'll need to build their own handheld console — and get them started programming their own games. (Or they can just download some beloved classics if they'd prefer. It works either way!)
Uncommon Goods
Promising review: 'Great gift! Got way more than expected from this 'toy.' The recipient explained all the options and quality of it and jumped right into programming a maze game with a Pikachu character. They said the tutorial is super easy to follow, endless options, and fun! ' — Gifter
4. A Murder Most Puzzling jigsaw puzzle to give even the cleverest of puzzle-solvers a challenge. Not merely a put-the-pieces-together-and-voila puzzle, each of these picks — there are two to choose from — comes with a story and a ~mystery~. Then, after the 500-piece puzzle is fully assembled, your Poirot-esque parental unit will get to deduce precisely what happened from the completed image to crack the case. How diabolical!
Uncommon Goods
Promising review: 'Must-have!! Fun, relaxing, with an unexpected surprise! This item was a gift for my wife! She loved it! The unique, decorative, mysterious packaging was what caught my eye. We spent quality time together on the first puzzle, was quiet, relaxing, and fun!! We spent about three evenings on the first puzzle. We didn't know what the image was going to be until the end. Why do I keep saying the first puzzle? I bought the second one as well!! (A month later.) I recommend buying both at once! The second purchase was part of Valentine's Day to spend more quality time with my wife! Wife loves the book look packaging and looks great on our shelf.' — Unique Gift Shopper
5.
A 'roll to decide' adventure storybook, so you can on-ramp the littles in your fam to future DnD or TTRPG fun when they get a little older. This delightful storybook has them guiding Briar the elf through an exciting and perilous journey, with each step of the tale determined by a judicious roll of the dice. They'll be rolling for initiative in no time.
Uncommon Goods
Promising review: 'This was a big HIT! Got this as a gift for my niece, and she absolutely adored it!!! The number of options for each dice roll will ensure that she can read it repeatedly! It's a game and a story-building tool all in one.' — Liz
6. A soothing mental health embroidery kit just right for your craftiest and/or most anxious cousin. (Hey, sometimes the Venn diagram between those two things is just, y'know, a circle!) This kit provides everything they'll need to make one of two beautiful designs — and they'll get a lovely message of support from you, as well. Awwww.
Uncommon Goods
Promising review: ' Easy, therapeutic, and beautiful! I loved everything about this gift! The fact that it was a present from my bestie living states away, the ease of the kit (including everything you need!), the beautiful design, and the therapeutic rhythm of embroidering. Thank you!' — Liz
7. An illuminated 'doodle pillowcase' that'll give your favorite young artist a never-ending canvas to exercise their creative muscles. The blank space in the middle of the pillowcase reacts to light; just drawing on it with the included light pen — or any other flashlight-like light source — will result in a luminescent doodle that will glow for around five minutes. Then, after it fades, they can start all over again!
Promising review: 'Love this! Bought it for my 5-year-old daughter as a stocking stuffer — she LOVES it! She's taken to staying up a bit in her room at bedtime if she's not tired and this was the perfect thing for her to do quietly in the dark. And the best part is she's practicing her writing, drawing, even doing math problems. One of the best gifts this year! ' — Tara
8. A 'travel challenges' card deck, to spice up your globe-trotting brethren's travels. The 50 cards in this deck all hold one unique activity they can use to challenge themself in how they explore that day. It'll open up what traveling means for even the most experienced of trip-goers.
Uncommon Goods
9. Or a personalized National Parks scratch-off poster, if your adventurous sibling has made it their life's goal to hike through every National Park in the United States. With each visit, they can scratch off the corresponding spot on the poster to reveal a beautiful miniature illustration of that park by artist Alyssa Kauanoe.
10. A set of cryptid construction magnets for your cuz who's just, uh, super into weird stuff. (Hi, hello, it's me, I am that relative!) Imagine a classic Magnetic Poetry kind of situation, except instead of odd sentences and unusual turns of phrases, these mix-and-match magnetic bodies, heads, wings, horns, and more let your favorite oddball create all kinds of odd monsters and unusual creatures. Hours of fun? Heck yes.
Uncommon Goods
Promising review: 'Heavy duty, bright, and high quality — I would buy this again! My son-in-law (who has everything) absolutely loved this gift. He is a fun and quirky guy and plans to use it daily with his 21-year-old nephew who lives with him and his 8-year-old son. They all have a great sense of humor and couldn't wait to get it home and on their refrigerator.' — Andi
11. A 'Find My Behind' memory-matching game that'll have your niblings and their parents rolling with laughter. Because I mean… butts. Butts are always funny, no matter how old you get. And they're even funnier when you're trying to match, say, the front end of a squid with the back end of a baboon. A gag gift, perhaps, but one that will undoubtedly be appreciated by recipients of all ages nonetheless.
Uncommon Goods
Promising review: 'So funny and cute! I bought this matching game for my two nephews (5 and 4 years old). They love being silly and playing games together, so I thought a matching game would be perfect since they could play it independently. The fact that it was animals and it came with a built-in joke (butts) made it even better! When my sister got it in the mail, she said that she couldn't think of a better present for them! ' — Auntie Aubrie
12. A draw-your-own-comic-book kit sure to thrill the budding graphic novel fan in your family. Not only will they get to write and illustrate their very own comic book, but they'll also get to hold it, published and bound, in their own little hands when it's done. Bam! Pow! Amazing!
Promising review: 'My 13-year old daughter loves it!! I thought this was great idea when I saw it on your website, and I bought it as a Valentine's gift for my 13-year old daughter, who is a budding artist. She loves it, and can't wait to see her comic book in print!! ' — Lauren
13. A seed-saving kit, so your gardening grandparent will have the tidiest, most organized way to keep track of their gathered seeds. Whether they're a windowsill gardener or someone who's got loads of raised beds out back, they'll get tons of use out of this kit — and they'll also think of you each time their garden sprouts a new bloom!
Uncommon Goods
Promising review: 'Perfect gift for the avid gardener! I purchased this for a dear friend recovering from shoulder surgery, who also is a master gardener. Currently unable to garden, she uses her kit to organize previously gathered seeds in order to prepare for and plan her fall garden. She raves about how using the kit is improving her mood while healing, helping her dream of her future gardening endeavors, and staving off boredom in the meantime! Thank you!!' — Violet
14. A 'Mercury retrograde protection' candle because your astrology enthusiast auntie could definitely use something like this when everything feels a little…off. Soothing lavender, chamomile, and crystals (including blue kyanite and quartz stud) sit at the top of this beautiful candle, providing lots of calming vibes over its considerable burn time (60–80 hours). Breathe in…breathe out…There. Much better.
Uncommon Goods
Promising review: 'I've already bought a second one! I got one of these candles as a gift two years ago and burned the whole thing (lasted way longer than I expected). I liked it so much I ordered another one for myself, AND tracked down the artisan and ordered several other candles from her personal shop. It has a lovely earthy smell that will make any space feel cozy without being overpowering, and it seems to create some good vibes as well.' — Jill
15. A treasure-hunt-in-a-box tabletop game that will utterly transform family game night. Part role-playing game and part home scavenger hunt, Madok's Interactive Treasure Hunt will allow up to four players to take on the roles of a team of swashbucklers set on unearthing a priceless pirate treasure. Yo ho ho and all that!
Uncommon Goods
Promising review: 'Great idea for a group! I bought this mystery game for us to do with the family over Christmas. My grown kids don't have much to do in our very small town, and it's not like I can arrange play dates anymore!! Everyone really got into the story, and it really needed all of us to solve. I'll absolutely purchase another for our holiday next year.' — Mom
16. A clever tea mug, because we all have at least one family member who always, without fail, answers the door with a soothing 'I'll put the kettle on, dear,' right? More than just a beautiful piece of handmade stoneware, it's also got a cute little pocket perfect for stashing used tea bags in. Just, y'know, in case they can't get to a bin immediately. Or if they just can't bear to throw a bag away without having gotten at least three cups of gradually weakening tea out of it. We all have our foibles.
Uncommon Goods
17. A color-in snuggle buddy for the creative kiddo who also loves to cuddle. This soft, stuffed bear comes with 10 double-sided fabric markers for them to unleash their most colorful impulses — and even better, both the bear and the markers are washable, so after a trip through the washer, it'll be all ready to color in again.
Uncommon Goods
Promising review: 'Great for any kid that loves to color! This item was so cute. I bought it for two of my nieces and they both instantly went to work coloring them in and loved them. ' — Aunt Lauren
18. An 'Is Your Cat Trying To Kill You?' card game, because even the most ardent of cat people know that their cats are, in fact, always — always — secretly plotting their demise. Your cat-loving cousin absolutely needs a card-based checklist aimed at helping them figure out precisely how fiendish their own fuzzy friend is. Trust me. (Source: Me; my cat is a maniac.)
Uncommon Goods
19. Or, a deck of 'How To Speak Dog' cards, if your family's resident animal lover is more of a dachshund devotee than a calico enthusiast. Packed with 100 cards full of tidbits about behaviors and breeds, this fun little deck will help them decode and read their furry companion's every mood.
Uncommon Goods
Promising review: 'Such a great gift! Friend recently got a new puppy (her first dog!) and loved this as a pupwarming gift. She said it was 'perfect.' Very fun idea for a new dog parent.' — Anna
20. A recycled wine bottle serving platter for the relative who always hosts ALL the big family gatherings. There's even an included cheese knife made out of the bottle's cork! Family reunion weekend is going to have one heck of a charcuterie board this year.
Uncommon Goods
Promising review: 'It's a unique and well-made item. Very cute too! This is a great gift idea for a family wine lover! He loved it and looks forward to serving cheese on it at our next wine get-together. ' — Betschind
Price: $24 (available in two colors)
21. An 'instant spa' set to soothe your stressed-out sibling and remind them that it's okay to take some time for themself! This ultra-relaxing box is packed with lavender-infused self-care treats ranging from shower steamers to body butter that'll treat them to a calming day of chill. The gift of relaxation is truly one for the books.
Uncommon Goods
Promising review: 'Great gift for her! Bought this as a gift for someone special, the scent alone after opening let me know it was worth it. Rave reviews on everything included in the set, perfect gift idea! ' — KR
Price: $55
22. A set of pickleball paddle earrings that'll make the day of your loved one who has recently discovered they live, breathe, and bleed pickleball. These super cute earrings let them wear their love for the sport right on their ears — and who knows? Maybe they'll even help them connect with other pickleball players!
Uncommon Goods
Promising review: 'Absolutely adorable! These earrings are a winner!! As a pickleball fanatic, I knew I had to have these. I loved them so much, I purchased a pair for a pickleball friend as a gift, and she loved them, too! ' — Mander
Price: $34+ (available in gold or silver)
23. A homemade limoncello-making kit for your sib who studied abroad in Italy and still talks about it to this very day. (Yes, years later. It was a formative experience, after all!) This kit includes all the equipment needed to brew up a batch of the bright, lemony liqueur — just add the ingredients — and in no time, they'll be sipping their favorite digestivo and reminiscing about those beautiful Tuscan sunsets.
Uncommon Goods
Promising review: 'Awesome gift and homemade limoncello! This limoncello kit was a gift for my dad for Father's Day. He had been wanting to try making limoncello for a while, and this was perfect to start, since it includes everything necessary to make it! The packaging has the instructions printed right on it and really simple — perfect for anyone to give it a try. The supplies included are wonderful and will definitely hold up to plenty of use. I highly recommend this kit!' — Shannon
Price: $55
24. Or, a Killer Cocktails recipe book to spice up your true crime podcast-obsessed grandparent's next happy hour. From the hosts of the Criminalia podcast, Holly Frey and Maria Trimarchi, this clever little book packs tons of knowledge along with recipes for loads of delicious cocktails and mocktails. You're never too old for a good sip 'n' learn!
Uncommon Goods
Promising review: 'Excellent mocktails, too! Great and fascinating book and recipes, but also 10/10 for providing so many mocktail options throughout! Got this as a present for a friend who's hoping to have a child in the next year and that made it an extra perfect present.' — Gracie
Price: $29
25. A pair of personalized hometown map glasses for your geographically-minded cousin who has deep, deep ties to their hometown — whether it's the one they grew up in or the one they adopted later in life. If where they're from is a huge part of their personality, they'll definitely get a kick out of being able to enjoy their favorite beverages out of a glass etched with a map depicting it — right down to their very own street.
Uncommon Goods
Promising review: 'Fun gift! I bought a set of the wine glasses for my brother and sister-in-law who live in Aiken, SC. First, I was thrilled I could select Aiken, because it isn't a huge city. They loved them — were even able to find the street where they live on the glasses. This is such a fun, personal gift. I'm thinking of doing more of these next year.' — Great Sister
Price: $54 (available in three glass types)
26. A history-by-mail subscription that'll bring your history buff uncle's obsession to life — literally. Every month for a set period of time, they'll receive a letter— in the actual! mail! — with a reproduction of an actual primary document along with tons of contextual info about an event of historical and/or cultural significance. Who doesn't want to receive, say, letters from Albert Einstein's personal correspondence in the mail?
Uncommon Goods
Fun fact: If you know and love someone who's kind of a perpetual student even if they've been out of school for years, these by-mail subscription services are also available for some highly specific interests, such as National Parks history, sports history, and — my personal favorite — urban legends.
Promising review: 'Excellent gift! I'm always looking for something different, especially for our adult family members. We got this subscription for our nephew, who is just starting his career as a history teacher. He was really excited about it and shared it with another teacher already. ' — The lover of history
Price: $42+ (available in 6-, 12-, or 24-month subscriptions and four volumes)
27. And finally, a hilarious tea towel or two your favorite birding enthusiast relative will not be able to stop laughing over. What? They're just birds. Y'know. Long-tailed tits. Blue-footed boobies. Get your mind out of the gutter, Aunt Mabel. (*wink wink nod nod*)
Uncommon Goods
Promising review: 'Incredible! Well-loved, hilarious gift. Purchased as a gift for my mother for Christmas — was a hit with her and the entire family. Will be coming back to purchase more for future presents. Great size, quality, and texture!' — Fowl Lover
Price: $16 per tea towel (available in two designs)
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
