Greetings from TechCrunch’s 2020 Holiday Gift Guide! Searching for the perfect presents? We’re dedicated to assisting you! Throughout November and December, we will be publishing a series of gift guides. Our complete collection of guides is available here.

Tools and supplies for crafting and do-it-yourself projects make excellent gifts at this time. Many of us are spending more time at home, and the days can sometimes feel indistinguishable. Consider giving your loved ones the opportunity to discover the joy of creating! Alternatively, if they are already skilled makers, provide them with resources to expand their capabilities and produce even more creations.

This can provide a welcome change of pace, potentially introduce a new talent, and offer a sense of accomplishment when they can proudly say, “I created this!” Furthermore, the act of making things is inherently rewarding.

We have assembled a diverse selection of items that should appeal to the creative individuals in your life. Some are specialized kits designed to introduce a possible new interest; others are versatile tools that will be valuable for all their future DIY endeavors. We hope you enjoy browsing!

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A Dremel kit

Dremel Stylo+ kit. Image Credits: Dremel

Having a Dremel on hand is consistently useful when undertaking home do-it-yourself projects. Furthermore, a vast selection of attachments and carving tools expands its capabilities to cover a wide variety of applications. The Dremel 2050 15 Stylo+ kit is designed to be lighter and more comfortable to hold than standard Dremel models, and it comes with the accessories needed to begin projects like wood sculpting, glass engraving, leather finishing, and numerous other creative endeavors, allowing the user to personalize a multitude of items.

Price: $49 on Amazon

Soap making kits

Bramble Berry soap making kits. Image Credits: Bramble Berry

The process of crafting cold process soap can be a highly enjoyable and fulfilling experience. However, those new to soap making may find a list of ingredients – encompassing lye, various oils, fragrances, and colorants – somewhat intimidating. Bramble Berry offers introductory kits designed to simplify the start of this hobby, providing everything a recipient will require. These kits also thoughtfully include safety goggles, a crucial component when working with lye, and a precise digital scale.

Beginner-level kits feature options like lavender and orange scents, while more experienced soap artisans can explore kits that allow for the creation of marbleized, swirling designs.

Price: $60 to $150 from Bramble Berry

Cricut Explore Air 2

For those involved in crafting and do-it-yourself projects, the Cricut is likely a familiar tool, but for others, it’s essentially an automated cutting machine.

While that’s a simplified explanation, the Cricut is a device that precisely and quickly cuts highly detailed designs. Tasks that would take many hours to complete manually, and potentially cause hand strain, can be accomplished in just minutes with a Cricut.

Beyond cutting, the Cricut’s functionality expands with interchangeable tools. You can switch the blade for a pen to draw or write, or utilize a scoring tool to prepare paper projects for folding. This versatility allows for the creation of items like greeting cards, gift boxes, personalized t-shirts, stickers, and a wide variety of other projects. I (Greg) recently received a Cricut machine for review and it has been in near-constant use ever since.

The Explore Air 2 represents the company’s current mid-range offering, capable of cutting materials such as paper, vinyl, cardstock, poster board, and various fabrics, among other thin materials. The included design software is surprisingly robust, and an optional subscription service provides access to pre-designed artwork for those who aren’t yet ready to create their own. It features built-in Bluetooth connectivity for control via iOS or Android devices and can accommodate materials up to 12 inches in width. For existing Cricut owners, mats (adhesive sheets used to secure materials during cutting) and supplies like vinyl or cardstock make excellent gifts. 

(Individuals considering laser cutting may find the underlying principles remarkably similar. However, due to the safety training required for laser cutters, I’m hesitant to suggest them as gifts without proper instruction. The skills learned with a Cricut – working with vector graphics, optimizing layout, and understanding material properties – are readily transferable to laser cutting.)

Price: $180 from Amazon

Electric Eel Wheel Nano

Electric Eel Wheel Nano spinning wheel. Image Credits: Dreaming Robots

Are you searching for a gift for someone passionate about knitting, crochet, or weaving? If they enjoy working with yarn, they may be interested in exploring the art of spinning their own. For a friend intrigued by spinning but hesitant to invest in a traditional, full-size spinning wheel, the Electric Eel Wheel Nano offers a perfect introduction. Naturally, they will also require fiber to practice with. The Woolery’s hand spinner bundle provides five distinct types of wool, allowing them to discover their preferred material.

Price: $110 for the Electric Eel Wheel Nano | $70 for the wool bundle

Caran D’Ache Neocolor II

Caran D’Ache Neocolor II water soluble pastels. Image Credits: Caran D’Ache

The Caran D’Ache Neocolor II pastels offer a uniquely enjoyable artistic experience. Initially, artists can apply either a delicate wash or a substantial amount of color. The pigment can then be blended and manipulated, similar to the process used with oil pastels. Subsequently, applying water with a brush transforms the work into a brilliant and lively painting. These pastels demonstrate versatility, functioning effectively on a variety of surfaces beyond paper, such as glass and fabrics – allowing for creative projects like covering designs on fabric scraps which can then be permanently fixed with heat from an iron.

Price: Available from $14.99 for a set of 10 colors on Amazon

Apple Pencil

This gift is particularly suitable for individuals who currently own a newer iPad model – or for whom you are considering purchasing one. An Apple Pencil can significantly enhance their creative capabilities. It allows for activities such as developing sketches within Procreate (which also makes an excellent separate gift!), recording dimensions in the Notes application, and designing vector graphics for projects like cutting, etching, or custom t-shirt creation. A high-quality stylus offers a substantially improved experience compared to using a finger directly on the screen.

Price: $99 to $129 from Apple, based on the specific model chosen.

Macrame kit

Modern Macrame’s plant hanger kit. Image Credits: Modern Macrame

Macrame plant holders are currently a popular and useful decorative item. The craft is also quite simple to pick up. The beginner-level kit from Modern Macrame provides all the necessary materials for someone to get started, such as cord, decorative beads, and instructions. For those who don't have houseplants, or share their home with pets that might be inclined to nibble on greenery, a kit for creating a wall hanging could be a better choice.

Price: Kits are available from $36

Robotime puzzles and miniature houses

Robotime miniature house kit. Image Credits: Robotime

Are you searching for a unique gift for a friend or family member who enjoys the satisfaction of completing jigsaw puzzles? Consider exploring the offerings from Robotime. This brand specializes in intricately designed wooden puzzles constructed from a lightweight plywood material, as well as remarkably detailed miniature house building sets.

Price: Wooden puzzles begin at $10.99 | Miniature house kits are available from $31.99