As a girl, the adults in my life gave me the gift of creativity: They taught me how to build forts, carve woodblock prints, and sew a simple stitch. These are gifts that last a lifetime–and ones I hope to pass on to my own kids. Toward that end, here are six kits for the budding DIYer.
Above: Purl Soho’s fun and easy kits–embroidery, sewing, weaving, and knitting projects, make your own stuffed animals, and more–are the sort that design-savvy grownups might actually want to have in their homes. (Sorry. I know it’s not about us, but in this case, everybody wins.) I had a hard time choosing between the Linen Aprons and the Hand-Embroidered Barrettes–until I came across this Simple Stitched Hot Pads Kit. For $68, your child gets the makings for 12 hot pads: That’s less than $6 a piece.
Above: This five-inch Fox is part of Kirikí Press’s Animal Embroidery Kit menagerie available on Etsy–there’s also an equally winning squirrel, raccoon, owl, and sloth. Designed by Toronto artist Michelle Galletta, each set includes a screen-printed design, floss, and stuffing to create own companion using basic and intermediate embroidery; $18.
Above: Become a landscape artist with Scenic Stamp Sets from Yellow Owl Workshop. Choose from farm, circus, city, sea, beach, jungle, or the Winter Stamp Set, shown here, $24.50 each, including five stamps.
Above: The perfect stocking stuffer for crafty kids, Etsy seller Furze Chan’s animal puppet kits include paper parts, joints, and a stick. You supply the scissors and glue. Sold individually ($8; the Penguin is shown here) or as a Set of Four Puppets ($30). There’s also a bear, wallaby, fox, sheep, monkey, and rabbit.
Above, top and bottom: French artist Nathalie Lété’s Large Watercolor Set includes 24 unusual colors in an old-fashioned metal box with one of her paintings on the lid; $25 from Alder & Co.
Above: Something for the DIY woodland princess or elf? Acme’s Woodland Crown kit features velvet leaves and spun-cotton mushrooms; $25.
For more ideas, see our Guide to Handmade Presents for Children and consider creating alongside them with Gifts for the Crafty Gardener.
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