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It’s fun to do something with your hands that isn’t just scrolling with your thumb zooming in on your nemesis’s new IG pic.

There's always the opportunity to doom scroll, but there are lots of very solid reasons to stay off your phone. You could bake your own bread, carve an adorable little bird, or even try out hand lettering. And if you try something and you don't love it, you can always move on to the next hobby! That's the beauty with hobbies. 

It comes with 6 sewing feet, a 3-piece needle set, a twin needle, 4 bobbins, a manual, and more.

Promising review (from a beginner): "So simple and easy to use and thread! I have three other machines that were given to me, but they are much too complicated for me. I saw a review on YouTube for this machine and absolutely fell in love with it. Buy it, you won't regret it." —Bodega Bwin

Promising review (from a sewing machine veteran): "Easy to thread, great selection of stitches. Over the years, I have gone through a few Singers. So this time I wanted to try Brother. I’m so happy I did! Definitely worth the price. It’s on the cheaper end and does well! My niece is 13, and it’s easy enough for her to start on as well." —tanya c

Get it from Amazon for $149+ (available in four bundle types).

Promising review: "Gift for a young lady who reads a lot to be with her beloved books. It’s stunning. Left the assembly up to her. Hah! It’s rather magical. Wish I had one for my bookcase now!" —Donna M.

Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in four styles). 

The kit's three paint-by-number canvases include two landscapes and one portrait of Bob. You'll also get an instruction sheet and a mini book all about Bob!

Promising review: "I have to admit I was skeptical because of the price and size. However, I got these for my husband for his birthday (he loves Bob Ross) and What a find!! We had so much fun mixing colors and painting. Would definitely recommend. The fact that they are small makes them even more special. I wish there were more to paint!" —slb m

Promising review: "Stephanie's artwork in this book consists of lovely floral and botanical quilt blocks and straightforward geometric designs. Both allow for simple coloring or the opportunity to experiment with a color palette without committing to large fabric purchase. The geometric designs take up the entire page primarily and the quilt blocks are 7.5" x 7.25".

The book itself is of nice quality. The paper is thick and could stand up to more than pencils and markers. The best part is that the pages are perforated!" —Julie V

Promising review: "Purchased a few of these to give as birthday gifts this summer for 9–11-year-olds and it was a HIT every time. Who doesn't love Squishmallows? I like that many of the newer Squishmallows are represented in the charms in this set. We also have a larger set that I bought for my own daughter about six months ago, but it only had the 'classic' squish as charms, this one is much cuter and has more variety in terms of beads." —Jenny M

Promising review: "Not only is this introductory book beautifully put together, but the author also helps you to build your own beautiful style! She provides easy-to-follow guides and plenty of room to practice. Overall, she provides the tools a new hand lettering artist needs in their toolbox and references for different alphabet styles that I continuously look at to practice lettering. I’ve been practicing lettering for awhile and have picked up a couple of books here and there to practice with, but this book really took my hand lettering to the next level physically and with confidence. I also really appreciate that the author used good quality paper to practice on, as I’ve used other books with poor quality paper that has ruined some of my pens. Definitely recommend this to any and especially new hand letterers!" —Melissa

Promising review: "Another stellar puzzle from Magic Puzzle Company, featuring high-quality pieces, a hidden final image, and a unique solving experience. The artwork is full of detail, making it an immersive and engaging build. The pieces fit together snugly, with no puzzle dust, and the final reveal adds an element of surprise. If you’re looking for a high-quality puzzle that’s more than just a standard jigsaw, this one is worth every penny." —Baloptimus

Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (and check out the assortment of Magic Puzzles for more options!). 

The author Rosie Grant collected 40 recipes from across the globe and interviewed the recipe creators' family members as a sweet (in more ways than one) tribute! 

Promising review: "This is an absolutely beautiful idea and a very well made and thoughtful cookbook with wonderful recipes. If you have ever loved to make cherished recipes that were handed down or wish you had a grandma that handed down family recipes to you then this is perfect for you. I especially love reading the touching stories about each person that goes along with them. It feels so much more special than googling a random recipe." —Alie

Promising review: "This is a must have. Best lazy bread making experience you’ll ever have! Put everything into one container and then cook it in the same container! When you wash it everything slips off with no scrubbing needed. The brioche recipe rivals fresh bread served at restaurants." —FutureMrsBLW

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

Promising review: "Came with all the gems 💎 and supplies needed to get this done! I only used one of the red sticky pads and hand-placed them one by one. It took me about a month and a half to complete because I did it on and off when I had free time. It is truly therapeutic and good for mental health, and super satisfying when completed! 👍" —Allyssa Allison

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 four styles). 

Promising review: "I absolutely love this sticker puzzle book. Illustrations are beautiful. Each puzzle has a written part of the story to go with it, so it reads like a super-mini story. The perforated pages come out without a hassle. Puzzle pieces are scattered about the page as one would expect from a puzzle. Quality is fantastic! I’m having so much fun with this. Highly recommend. I hope they create more of these." —joeschmoe

Get it from Amazon for $10.48 (also available in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz; Edgar Allan Poe, and The Great Gatsby).

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

Each kit comes with a pottery wheel machine, a power adapter, eight sculpting tools, two paint brushes, three packs of air-dry clay, and 12 paints. 

Promising review: "I am amazed how well thought through this product is. It is very compact and has everything you need to get started and try your hand at pottery! My kids immensely enjoyed using it and were very excited with their creations. It's very compact, built with very good quality materials. The wheel is very stable, and you can control the speed as you get the hang of it. It's well priced for a starter kit and overall a great kit." —Synghal

Promising review: "This kit is fantastic! It comes with everything you need to create beautiful and unique jewelry dishes. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, making it perfect for all ages. The clay is high-quality and easy to work with, and the finished dishes are both functional and stylish. This kit is a great way to spend a creative afternoon and makes a wonderful gift idea. Highly recommend." —Funky Feedback

The company provides the paint and a code to use their tech to turn any pet photo into a "paint by number" template, so you will need a printer to generate the image! 

Promising review: "This was so much fun! I tried three different photos in the tool they give you. It shows you a preview of each painting, which is really helpful when deciding which image to go with. Not every picture came out as good, so definitely try a few! Easy to use, and fun to paint — excited to frame it! Actually have some paint left over and will try to do another one!" —Jonathon Kebert

Promising review: "This is so much fun and so relaxing. Even if you are a beginner, this product will help build some skills. The quality is the same as the food kit and worked great for me. I love that I can be creative and keep the patterns and make whatever I want. Absolutely brilliant concept and fun project. I made a crow from the owl pattern and plan to make a winter bird as well." —Lissa

It has enough supplies to make at least four little creatures. 

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 that’s 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!" —Kt

Check out a TikTok of the watercolor palette in action. 

Each set comes with a 100-color palette, a sketch pencil, a sponge, a swatch sheet, and three water brush pens. Pick up a watercolor paper pad because this medium requires special paper. 

Promising review: "I'm starting to hate TikTok because it's making me buy all these products, but I absolutely love this one!!! I travel for a living and love to paint and this set is wonderful. I love that it comes in a metal tin, so I don't have to worry about it breaking, like most plastic ones. The colors are vibrant and I love that there are so many within the container. The container itself is the size of two make up eye palettes, so you can definitely fit it in a purse or backpack. It comes with a swatch section too so you can paint the colors and compare later on when you paint. I'm a huge fan now of this brand." —pixxi88

Check out a TikTok of the Lego bouquet in action.  

Promising review: "This is a great gift for anyone who loves flowers. They are as sturdy as they get since they're Legos, and although they do take a while to build, it's a very fulfilling process. Love it and would set aside as something to gift to several people at any point. They look beautiful!!" —Gaby

Promising review: "I remember doing this craft in art class as a kid. I purchased this for a 5-year-old and she had a great time making paper that she is going to use as covers for books and other projects! Definitely recommend buying as a rainy day project!" —LB

The Cherry Blosson US is a North Carolina-based small biz. 

Promising review: "This is the cutest embroidery kit! I purchased this for my mom who's just been placed in a nursing home, and she loves cross-stitching. I can't wait for her to see this. I know she'll love it!" —Janae

Get it from The Cherry Blosson US on Etsy for $15.29+ (available in nine designs).

Promising review: "This was a perfect craft for me. The finished product is very appealing. It took only one evening plus 15 minutes to finish the next day." —zenMom

Get it from Amazon for $23.88+ (available in four designs).

Each package includes 720 pieces of wax seal beads in 24 colors, one wax seal stamp, one wax seal warmer, one sealing wax spoon, one set of tweezers, 10 tea candles, and two metallic pens.

Promising review: "I’ve been on a letter writing kick, and I thought that wax seals with throw it over the edge. I love this kit, it has everything you need to make your own wax stamp. I like all of the colors of wax that easily melts into its own pattern. I enjoy the creativity of making a special stamp for who I love. I bought extra stamps for variety, but I love what the kit contains. The wax melter is great, and it comes with a little spoon to melt the wax in and markers to color, and your embossed stamp to make it stand out. I have been getting it so many compliments on the wax sales that I’m sending with my cards and I am bringing back snail mail, one wax seal at a time." —Stina Garbis

Moonshandmadefinds is a San Antonio–based shop. 

Get it from Moonshandmadefinds on Etsy for $3 (available in six colors; also available as a download).

Promising review: "This was my first ever miniature project. The instructions were clear and all parts were present. If you are patient, you can do this. Very please with results. I continue to add little things as I find them in shops (like a welcome mat, a kitty, more baked goods)." —Basketball Mom

BeanDaikon is a Hanoi, Vietnam-based shop specializing in crafting kits.

Get it from BeanDaikon on Etsy for $34.66+ (available in a variety of colors).

Promising review: "I cracked it open and built a terrarium! I had the glass bowl and the cactus clippings on hand and hoped everything else would be there. Indeed, all you need including a little plant food and a brush. Took me hardly anytime at all and it came out great. Highly recommend as a fun craft for young and old alike." —Kimm Parker

Get it from Amazon for $20.95+ (available without a container or with a variety of containers).

Promising review: "Fantastic tool to get the creativity going again. Not just for those with experience writing — good for beginners too." —Lynne Navarro 

This book is only 5.4 inches tall, so it'll easily fit in a stocking — many reviewers on Amazon said they purchased as a stocking stuffer!

BuzzFeed Shopping contributor Jonathan Mazzei says, "My girlfriend got me this book as a gift a few years ago, and it turned out to be even better than I expected! The prompts are super fun, and help you to think outside of the box even during those moments when you feel like you have no ideas. It's great to casually doodle in while passing time since you don't have to think of what to draw, but it also can be really helpful when brainstorming for creative projects. My girlfriend is a visual artist and graphic designer, and she loves using it to play around with ideas and make her think of things she never would have thought of without it. Plus, it's small and super portable! Highly recommend!"

My former colleague Rachelle Yang is also a huge fan: "I've made a lot of unnecessary purchases in my life, but this is one of the best ones — I use it so much, it's starting to feel like a necessary purchase. Let me preface this by saying that I did not draw that pic above; I can't take credit for it. Whenever I have my friends over, I hand them this book and let them draw something in it (hence the amazing drawing of the house in space), and everyone loves it, even if they don't have a single artistic bone in their body. I spend so much time drawing silly little pictures that my screen time has actually gone down. It's so entertaining, and it truly amazes me how much joy can come from a book that's the size of my hand. " 

Each kit includes seven beeswax sheets with six lavender flowers, two cinnamon sticks, two dried orange slices, burlap thread, white lace, cotton wicks, two decorative bees, and instructions. Candleology is a small business!

Promising review: "I purchased this set for our Hanukkah celebrations this year and made the candles with the kids. Super easy directions, and we love the outcome (pictured above, right)!" —Amazon customer

And while you're at it, pick up a guide on how to read tarot.

Promising review: "These cards are great! As someone who owns more than a couple of tarot decks, the card stock on these is superb for the price. This deck is friendly and has a very aesthetically pleasing color palate — even some of the darker cards of the deck are rather light hearted. The images themselves are fantastic, cute, colorful without overdoing it, and harmonious and for the most part true to the tarot and not too gimmicky. My only gripe is that the images don't always lend themselves to intuitive interpretation, however this deck comes with a guidebook so it's not that big of a turnoff. The guidebook itself is great and includes interpretations for upright and reversed cards. I haven't used it for a reading yet because i just got it today, but I am more than pleased with this purchase. If you like tarot and you also happen to like cats get this deck!" —A. Asher

Promising review: "I'm so happy with this buy. I feel like I'm making great memories with my children. It is easy to use and clean I even make eggs, bacon and other foods on it." —Valerie G.

Promising review: "I bought this to make some fettucine. So easy to use it's not funny. I didn't use the pasta recipe in the book but used my own. Easy to assemble...put handle in first section to thin it out followed instructions and got to level 5 thickness (perfect). Then moved handle to the other section where I put through the fettuccine bit. Would definitely recommend this to anyone. This is the second time I have ever made pasta (first time I prepared and rolled myself and the rolling took forever. This machine saved masses of time when I didn't have to roll. Fast delivery and packaged well. We also googled many pasta makers and this one had top ratings." —Jo from New Zealand

Promising review: "I bought this, the tea leaf book, and a palmistry hand and I have to say it lived up to my expectations. Very informative, and looks great with my collection! I had previously owned the tarot kit and I knew I had to have this to go with it. A wonderful addition to my collection, and great for my tiny dorm room. The book jacket was in great condition, but be careful combining orders as the jacket on my other order came slightly bent. Overall, I am very happy with this!!!" —Meagan

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! Finally, I highly recommend this set. It comes at a small cost but don't let that deter you — the quality and overall aforementioned features is undoubtedly above and beyond excellent, thus (IMO), it is the perfect product! Loooooove it!" —Liza

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

Psst — if you're looking for even more places to start your yogi journey, try Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube. She has a complete playlist for yoga for beginners, and organizes routines by length so you can pick them based on whether you have 10, 20, or 30 minutes to spare.

Each kit includes four types of organic seeds (Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine, Black Poui, Norway Spruce, and Flame Tree), four biodegradable growing pots, four expanding-soil discs, four bamboo plant markers, one bonsai clipper, and an instruction booklet.

Promising review: "I love this. My bonsai has already sprouted and it's coming along nicely. The best thing about this product is the customer service. They actually take an interest in how things are going and are willing to help you through anything. They respond personally, no form letters, and they give heartfelt responses to your questions and comments. This is definitely one of my best purchases." —G Eckberg

So what are those root cocktails? The old-fashioned, martini, daiquiri, sidecar, whisky highball, and flip. 

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 it 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

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Elizabeth Lilly is a deputy editorial director with more than a decade of lifestyle journalism spanning a range of subjects under her (tool) belt that includes four and a half years at a home improvement magazine. So she has well-informed opinions on tubing mascara, but can also install a friend’s window AC unit before brunch. When she's not working, she's plotting her next trip (and how to pack carryon-only for it), catching the latest horror movie, picking up a stack of library books, or convincing friends to go see the latest museum exhibit. 

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.