Around this time of year, for the last few years, I’ve put together a list of ideas for crafty Christmas gifts for either yourself, children or anyone else amongst friends and family who might enjoy art and crafting through the holidays, and into the year ahead. It’s starting to feel like a bit of a tradition and I really enjoy looking back over the year and reflecting on our projects, what worked (and what didn’t!) and especially in terms of materials, what we’ve found really useful or possibly even game-changing.
Previous year’s lists can be found here, here and here.
All of the items listed on those blogs will still be relevant and handy, and indeed, I still find that craft supply gifts don’t always have to be new or novel – the basics can be just as appreciated as gifts, and go a long way in terms of value for money, usage and projects that they’ll eventually be used for.
Having said that, we also love to explore different creative activities, and occasionally we do discover new and inexpensive tools that quickly become invaluable, long lasting, and things we use over and over again… If you’re after some last-minute ideas for some crafty Christmas gifts the following list offers some suggestions for supplies and materials that might complement your existing collection 😊
Foldable, portable storage box with wheels – this super-handy box can be used to store materials at home in a handy, mobile way if you don’t have a dedicated craft space, transport your craft supplies to clubs and groups, or even take with you camping or on holiday! And when not in use, it packs down really neatly to be stored in the cupboard alongside all your supplies…
Single hole punch – really useful for navigating different shapes and angles, and hole positions when a regular hole punch can’t reach the space you would like to make a hole through. I don’t actually have one and it’s been on my own wish list for ages!
Sepia pens – my daughter found some sepia outlining pens earlier this year and enjoyed drawing with them for a new effect, and giving depth to some of her portraits.
Art Picture/Storage Frame – young children can be prolific in their drawing, colouring and mark-making! And it can be tricky to know what to do with all those works of art… these storage/display frames are wonderful for keeping lots of wonderful artworks and displaying on a rotating basis. It’s possible to make your own DIY versions from recycled card, but having a beautiful frame like this is a lovely way to show appreciation for your little ones’ creativity 😊
Small/Mini Sewing Machine (tweens/teens) – as older children begin to explore different materials, including fabrics and as they grow in confidence using different tools and bringing different 3-dimensional project ideas to life a sewing machine can be very handy. We found that a small, inexpensive sewing machine can be great for beginning/practicing and it’s possible to create a number of simple projects with it. There are plenty of mini/starter machines for around £40. I’m not sure how long-lasting they are compared to a normal machine, but they do work!
Embroidery hoops – I have found these to be useful for so many different projects other than embroidery, and very handy to have around, in a variety of sizes. I’ve used them in here, and here in craft projects as well as in groups and for activities like sharpie tye-dyeing. You can use them for embroidery projects too, of course!
Transparent stickers – butterflies, flowers, foliage… these have been super popular in our house for the last few years and are great for decorating and embellishing projects, but also for art/bullet journaling and decorating diaries & planners, phone cases/laptops (or indeed any surface!)…
Digital Download Junk Journal Papers – this is one of our recent discoveries since we’ve been doing a bit more art journaling over the last couple of years… there are lots & lots of different themes to choose from on sites such as Etsy and can be an inexpensive (and resource-saving) way to find fun papers to print, cut and add to your projects. It can feel a little less wasteful than a book of papers that sits at the bottom of a drawer for years as you’re only buying/printing according to need/specific use.
Posca Paint Pens – I often list acrylic paint pens, as they are super useful and can be used on so many different surfaces. Needless to say, it’s not essential to buy the most expensive brand. However, POSCA pens are a real treat to work with, and since they do cost a little more… it’s a great one for the Christmas wish list 😉 It’s possible to buy them individually in stores like Hobbycraft, so you could even just buy a few favourite colours to add to existing supplies.
Pencil cases/organising pouches – as the different collections of pens seem to grow along with the children, I’ve gifted a variety of different pouches over the last few years that have been very popular and used for organising and transporting different categories of pens/stationery. It doesn’t have to be a pencil case, but could be something sold as a make-up purse/pouch that can be used for pens and stationery instead.
Zebra Midliner Highlighters – informed by my own teens that these are the go-to highlighter pens this year, they’re good for school work etc, but we also find them handy for journaling, art journaling and bullet journaling. There’s a great range of colours, and they have both a wide and fine point on each pen.
Friendship Bracelet Kit – great for slightly older children/tweens/teens and is a timeless, enduring popular activity that is also purposeful as kids enjoy giving the bracelets as gifts of their own. There are plenty of kits out there to choose from, or you could invest in some embroidery threads and a good instruction book.
Alphabet Stamp Set – super handy to use across a range of projects, from painting, collage to journaling/art journaling, and fun to use with different colour ink pads too (just remember to clean between use!).
Good quality Art Book/Sketch book – whilst it might seem counterintuitive to have a quality art book for young children’s art whilst they are still exploring, having a good art book can serve as a lovely record/keepsake, a bit like a photo album. You could choose to stick-in favourite pieces drawn on paper, if you’re not sure about a younger child motoring through all the pages of a quality art book!
Koh-I-Noor Magic Eraser – sounds like a small thing – but this is a really good eraser! Leaves no marks, long lasting, easy to hold/use (firm, no bending), and pretty!
And as ever, the basics, especially consumables like drawing pencils, paints and paintbrushes, good marker pens, cartridge paper, good strong-bond glue, pritt stick, mod podge, water colour paints & pencils, note books/sketch books/bullet journals, air dry clay, polymer clay and so many more, can make welcome gifts too. If possible, look out for art materials that are of mid or higher quality as they tend to last longer and go further, as well as providing more satisfaction, meaning that they are a better investment in the long-run. It’s also great to support local, independent art suppliers if possible.
I hope this list has been useful! Wishing you plenty of calm and cosy crafty moments over the festive period!
© 2024 Abigail Cole
For more creative ideas visit PowerWood’s creative corner by Abigail and Abigail’s own creative website: www.forgetfulfairyartstudio.com