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.
1. A beginner's embroidery kit for adults to keep your creative juices flowing while a you watch the latest true crime doc on Netflix. Each kit comes with three easy designs on cotton cloth, a bamboo embroidery hoop, scissors, colored threads, embroidery needles, and instructions to get you up and running.
Promising reviews: "Amazing set!! This is soo easy to follow and I’d absolutely recommend it for beginners! I’ve NEVER done embroidery before and these designs are the first I’ve ever done. Each of the three designs comes with its own set of embroidery floss sets and three needles each AND they come with a detailed how-to paper for instructions on how to make each of the stitches needed for the designs. I’d absolutely recommend this for anyone wanting to start embroidering!" —Erika H
"It has everything you need and I’ve found it to be kind of relaxing to do and to see the colors come into life is really wonderful!" —Trace
Get it from Amazon for $18.99 (available in 11 different pattern packs).
2. A Nintendo Switch for the gamers who would love a little more mobility, even when in the ~zone~. This version of the Switch will allow you to disconnect the controllers from the main console and play with them separately.
BTW, you can also play your Switch on a TV!
Promising review: "Fun for the whole family. I love that Nintendo has the active games in addition to the traditional. We have family dance battles, the kids play Mario games and Fortnite, I can play games from my childhood with the NES and SNES options online, and I also bought the boxing game for myself! Easy to set up and get going!" —SHixson, Target Customer
3. A gel nail polish kit that comes with everything you'll need for salon-quality nails right at home. Will you ever want to go back to a real salon? Who knows. But you'll get nonstop compliments after each new mani. 💅
This is 19-piece set includes: six gel polish colors, two topcoats (glossy and matte), base coat, cuticle fork, push, oil, nail file, nail buffer, nail clippers, LED UV nail lamp, and MORE.
Promising review: "This is my first UV-cure gel polish kit and I don’t know why I didn’t buy this sooner! As soon as I received, I immediately tried five of the six included colors and they are gorgeous!! I did have to do two coats of the lightest pink for coverage and cured each coat for 60 seconds per the included instructions. I’m so pleased with everything else included. Goodbye, smudged, regular-polish, lasts-one-day manicures forever!" —AZ mama
Get it from Amazon for $37.99+ (available in 12 color sets).
4. A compact under-desk bike you'll be able to use while working and sitting down for hours. It has multiple resistance levels and gives you the chance to be active while answering emails!
It works with desks as low as 27 inches. If you're tall or you have long legs, you can still use it while working from the couch.
Promising review: "I've been using my DeskCycle for almost three years and I can't rave enough about it. I've become so accustomed to pedaling while I work that I find it difficult to sit still in situations where I don't have access to it (like meetings, for example.) It takes some getting used to in the beginning, but once it becomes habit you'll find yourself pedaling while creating spreadsheets without even thinking about it. I typically get anywhere between 50–70 miles in per day and have even inspired several people I know to get one of their own (one of my colleagues included.) I have one at home and one at the office — the one at home going on three years of use and it's still as quiet as the day I bought it (with daily use) and I haven't even had to change the batteries on the digital display yet...In short, highly recommended." —Jennifer Lankenau
Get it from Amazon for $149.
5. A needlepoint pillow kit available in totally adorable (and motivating) subject matter like hanging sloths and colorful unicorns. The next time someone compliments your accent pillows you'll be able to say, "Thanks, I made it myself!"
This kit has everything you need to complete the pillow — no sewing equipment needed! There's a large hole canvas with the stamped pattern, a large needle, colorful yarn, backing fabric, and pillow stuffing.
Promising review: "I really enjoy this DIY pillow kit. It's nicely packed and good quality. It helps me pass the days at home during the quarantine! It's really fun!" —Maya
Get it from Amazon for $39.90 (available in five styles).
6. A stunning, high quality Ordinary Habit puzzle that's so cute you could frame it — and I mean that literally, as it's an art-piece-turned-puzzle kind of scenario here. There's no doubt this beauty will hold your attention for hours. Just grab a glass of wine or the best cup of tea, and prepare to be entertained!
I have this exact puzzle from Ordinary Habit and let me tell you, puzzling is 10 times more fun when the image is so vibrant and unique. It's quite literally a piece of art, titled Troublemakers by Manuja Waldia. It's 500 pieces, and has sooo many small details you'll only notice once you start putting it together. And when I finished it (it only took two days due to excitement), it was absolutely stunning. On top of that, the physical puzzle pieces are sturdy, durable, and come with a pieces bag along with the aesthetically pleasing box. It's definitely one of my favorites and I highly highly recommend!
Ordinary Habit is a woman-owned business founded by mother-daughter duo Teresa and Echo Hopkins. The brand often collaborates with artists around the globe to create beautiful puzzles for people to enjoy at home. Additionally, Ordinary Habit also donates a portion of their proceeds to groups and foundations that support emotional and mental wellness! We love to see it 👏🏾
Promising review: "Ordinary Habit puzzles are truly the best puzzles out there. If you’re someone who appreciates a puzzle with beautiful images and each piece clicking together perfectly, you will love these. The boxes they come in are beautiful and look great on your bookshelf and the texture of the puzzle pieces themselves is soft and feels nice between your fingers! Again, if you appreciate a good puzzle, these are the best." —Emma G.
Get it from Ordinary Habit for $40 (also available in TONS more designs).
7. AND a puzzle plateau because it can hold puzzles as big as 1,500 pieces! It comes complete with four drawers so you can easily separate the edges from the rest (or whatever your puzzle organization process may be).
Promising reviews: "It is a big board, but I wanted something big enough for my 1,000 piece puzzles. This is it! Love the slide-out drawers to hold my pieces. Very efficient!" —D.T.
"Have used this numerous times and it work so well. We start a puzzle and are able to pack it up for another day to complete. The drawers on the side slide out. A great way to sort the pieces. We just lay a cloth over the pieces on the main board and put it underneath the couch." —Cartoongirl
Get it from Amazon for $59.99.
8. An at-home putting green perfect for when it's waaay too cold to hit the golf course, but you absolutely hate sitting around a twiddling your thumbs. It's great for a little (friendly) competition with friends and fam as it features three holes for practicing your game. It's even earned over 10,000 5-star reviews!
FYI, the putting green is 3 feet by 9 feet, so be sure your giftee has a place for it! It also features "sand traps" in the back to catch the overshot balls that are bound to happen.
Promising review: "Anyone who needs a true review from a real golfer, here it is. So easy to line up a putt and give yourself a true feel and a great line. I slapped down a chalk line for 6-foot putts. I wake up every morning and sink five in a row and go about my day. This has helped me soooooo much on the course. It’s made my short putts easy. The 1-star reviews here are jokes. Before I buy anything on Amazon I look at the reviews, especially the 1 stars to see what people have to say. But I went for it and this is a steal. My friend has a $200 setup and this exceeds it. It does the job and more. I have it set up on a wood floor and it rolls true. Buy it and learn the short ones. A 300-yard drive counts the same as a made 6-foot putt." —Thomas W. Matson
Get it from Amazon for $34.12+.
9. A set of fitness dice, also known as the less expensive personal trainer. You can use these babies when you know you want to workout but you just don't know what to do. And from what I've heard (aka reviews), it's great for keeping busy as you're just hanging at home and watching TV, too!
The set includes six dice (45,000 possible workout routines) and an instruction booklet.
Promising reviews: "This is not only unique, it's incredibly useful!!! I love the incredible variability of the exercises offered which require no equipment." —Brooks, Uncommon Goods Customer
"I bought this for myself and some for my sister. They've made my workouts a few times already in the last couple of weeks and they've been good workouts! It is fun, different, unique, and never boring." —SAP, Uncommon Goods Customer
Get it from Amazon for $18.26 or from Uncommon Goods for $19 (also available as Yoga Dice).
10. A calligraphy guidebook made for beginners. You'll keep yourself entertained while learning the basics of the beautiful font. Just be sure to have tons of stationary handy, because everyone is getting hand-made cards from now on!
Be sure to grab some brush pens to add some texture with your new calligraphy skills!
Promising review: "I LOVE this book!! It's soo great for beginners! I’ve wanted to improve my penmanship and learn modern calligraphy and lettering for a long time. I thought I’d give this book a try and I’m so confident in my lettering now. I’m excited to create my own projects and show off my new skills!!" —KHenderson
Get it from Amazon for $6.99.
11. A Book of the Month membership for the folks who stay busy by *always* having a book in their hand and their next one already chosen. Book of the Month delivers titles from your favorite genres right to your door, and because it's a subscription, it's like getting the perfect surprise package every month!
Every month, you'll get to choose between five titles. Depending on how slow/fast you read, you can also opt to skip a month if you need more time to finish your current title.
BuzzFeed Editor Heather Braga absolutely loves having a Book of the Month membership: "My cousin gifted me a BOTM subscription many years ago and I've stayed loyal since! It's the only subscription service I've kept up with and gifted to multiple people. Each month your gift recipient will be permitted to choose from a selection of books (and more recently, audiobooks!), all of which are different genres. Then the book they select will be delivered to their door. Half of my beautifully color coordinated bookcase is filled with books from BOTM and I couldn't be happier!"
Get a subscription from Book of the Month for $49.99/three months.
12. And a waterproof Kindle Paperwhite when you want to read in the bathtub, in the hot tub, or just while you're moving around nonstop. It's got an adjustable built-in light and an anti-glare screen, so no worries about reading at night or out in the bright sun.
Promising review: "I love the fact that I can read on this Kindle in both daylight and dim light conditions. It is so light and compact, which makes it easy to hold, easy to travel with, and the battery lasts forever. I love it." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $129.99 (available in four colors and two sizes).
13. A cool blanket crochet kit for beginners that includes a darning needle, a blanket crochet pattern, 15 balls of colorful yarn, and an optional 5mm crochet hook. That's everything you need for this DIY project to be a success!
Wool Couture is a UK-based Etsy shop established in 2014 that specializes in knitting, crochet, weaving, and macrame craft kits.
Promising review: "OK so my advice is, don't buy this wool. You will become addicted to its luxuriously soft texture and sumptuous colors. I hadn't knitted in over 15 years, and boy oh boy, now I don't want to stop!...My 5-month-old won't sleep without being snuggled up in this blanket, and it's so warm and soft. Pay the extra money and get great quality wool that isn't blended with nasty synthetics. Honestly, if you're thinking about it, do it, just do it and thank me later!" —betzw2
Get it from Wool Couture on Etsy for $97.39+ (originally $114.58).
14. A collapsible treadmill complete with Bluetooth speakers and a handrail! This will make working out at home ten times easier because it doesn't take up much space and you can easily put it away when you're done — perfect for my WFH peeps whose "office" doubles as the living room, too.
Promising reviews: "This treadmill is great if you don't have a lot of open space. It runs well and is really cute too. We love the fact that the handlebar can be folded down, so if you don't want the bars on the side you can just fold it down. It's a great feature." —Jon Desimone
"If I could give this 10 stars I would. I LOVE to walk outdoors. During winter, the weather is not conducive...I searched for a SMALL treadmill that would fit in my bedroom but not break the bank. Took a chance of this GEM! I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! Fits perfectly in bedroom alcove, WORKS VERY WELL. It's made so you can folds & store, and folds easily... Seriously don't look at any other treadmills, you'll love this one." —DETAILS MATTER
Get it from Amazon for $325.99+ (available in seven colors).
15. A DIY candle kit that's super easy to complete and smells as good as they'll feel after creating something from scratch. Each kit comes with two ~glorious~ scents: Rose Tea and Lavender Vanilla.
This kit comes with everything they'll need: soy wax, a reusable mason jar, essential oil blends, four candle tins and wicks, crystal packs, and step-by-step instructions!
Urban Kangaroo is an adorable small business based in California that focuses on creating fun DIY kits! They've got everything from bath bomb kits, macramé plant hanger kits, and more.
Promising review: "Bought a total of four kits for a girls retreat and the candles were such a hit!!! All of the scents smelled great and the activity was great to so together. Instructions were simple and the kits included everything we needed!!!" —Paige
Get it from Urban Kangaroo on Etsy for $41.35.
16. A roll of solid-color self-adhesive wallpaper for a fun room transformation from bland to gorge. And it's got a peel-and-stick adhesive in case you like to switch things up often.
Promising review: "This wallpaper is awesome....It was easy to apply, and remove and then reapply to match up the seams better. You don't notice the seams any more than any other wallpaper. It has a nice texture. It has measurements and a grid on the back which makes trimming it easy. I used my rotary blade to cut it and it went very smoothly. I've already purchased some more in a lighter color to put up on a bedroom wall. I would 100% recommend it!" —Rachel
Get it from Amazon for $5.99+ (available in 29 sizes and 43 colors).
17. Or marble contact paper you can use literally everywhere! Not kidding, this looks good on nightstands, countertops, picture frames, bar carts — the list is never ending. This will without a doubt keep you busy with DIY projects around the house.
Promising review: "I used a little more than one roll for a quick makeover on an ugly fireplace in a rental apartment. It's easy to cover the tiles with the film. It makes a huge difference for minimal effort/price." —Zhen
Get it from Amazon for $19.71+ (available in multiple sizes).
Learn more in our full write up on this DIY-friendly marble contact paper.
18. A gratitude journal that will help you embrace positive thoughts, gratitude, and applying change to get what you want (and deserve!) in your life. End your days by finishing the sentence "I am thankful for..."
By the way, this journal is a #1 bestseller with over 21,000 5-star reviews!
Promising reviews: "Just started using this journal after being in a bit of a funk at the start of this year. I researched many different journals but this was the only one that I felt was simple, that didn't make too many 'demands' on my time, that was straightforward, in short, exactly what I was looking for. It's a simple concept and I've only being doing it for a week but I find myself looking for things to be thankful for, find myself adding lines below the three provided and writing in the margins...all because I want to..." —SilkeyMilkey
"Each page has a quote about gratitude from different celebrities, authors, etc. and has seven entries for each day of the week that you can date (it’s not labeled by the days for you or anything but you can write them in if you want on the side or something). There’s 52 weeks and there’s a longer-entry prompt (one full page) after every 10–11 weeks. This gratitude journal totally exceeded all my expectations from the make to the page layouts... I totally recommend this for anyone looking to journal daily but not take up a lot of time; just five min of reflection and to write down three things you’re grateful for. No pressure, quick and easy. Happy gratitude journaling!" —Bee
Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in spiral-bound).
19. And an 18-piece set of 🌟top-rated🌟 fine-point pens specifically designed for planners and journals, so you can color code to your heart's desire.
These babies are designed not to bleed through thin pages!
Promising review: "Worth the money! These are absolutely amazing! I love the color varieties that come with it. The best part is how fine they write. Definitely will be purchasing them again when I use up all the ink!" —Becky Kasten
Get a set of 18 from Amazon for $8.99.
20. A pack of Monstera deliciosa seeds because there's nothing like growing your own plant baby from the very first stage. The joy of watching a tiny plant grow into something lush and green is unmatched!
You'll get 10 seeds in one pack. If you want something with a little variety, there's also a houseplant seed collection pack with five different plants!
Plantflix is a small business that's all about helping people grow their plant collection straight from seedlings.
Promising review: "Excellent product! Waited until my seedlings are a decent size to write this review. The seeds arrived very fresh and viable. I soaked them for 24 hours, then planted them in seedling trays on a heat mat, transferred each to a small pot as it sprouted. Three weeks later, 5 out of 10 have sprouted, and the biggest one is about to unfurl its first leaf (pictured). So cute! Highly recommend this store!" —Joanna Wang
21. Or a propagation station to growing new plants from the ones you already have. It's sure to keep you busy with all that pruning, and thanks to the clear glass, you'll actually get to see the roots grow! Simply trim your plant just below the nodes, place them in one of the vases, and fill with water.
Promising review: "Gorgeous! Perfect for propogating plants or throwing in small flowers. You have to put this together yourself, but it's easy with the instructions. In order to clean the glass, you have to take all of the pieces off the rod at once, so you will need a helper. There are rubber stoppers in between each glass, which keep them in place." —Paulina
Get it from Amazon for $22.98.
22. A fun coloring book complete with adorable animals and 52 pages of yummy cocktail recipes to recreate. Now that's busy time well spent.
23. A 12-piece ceramic, nonstick Caraway cookware set, because cooking can be made even more fun and entertaining with some cute, top-notch equipment. The sauté pan alone is 100% worth the investment because of how many things you can use it for! Bonus points: this entire set is oven-safe and have nontoxic coating.
I own the cream-colored sauté pan from this set, and OMG the hype is absolutely real. This cookware is gorge in person, but I love that it's actually non-stick! It's so easily to cook on, it's easy to clean, and it's cute enough to leave on top of the stove for all (i.e. me) to see. I'd say it's definitely worth the investment!
Learn more about this cookware set in our full Caraway Pan Set review!
This set includes a 10.5" frying pan, 3-qt. saucepan and lid, 6.5-qt. Dutch oven and lid, 4.5-qt. sauté pan and lid, four modular magnetic pan racks and a canvas lid holder with hooks.
Get the 12-piece set from Amazon for $355.50+ (available in six colors) or straight from Caraway for $395 (originally $545; available in 10 colors).
You can also shop the pots and pans individually on Amazon or Caraway starting at $85.
24. A vintage camper birdhouse that you build all on your own! It's the perfect DIY project and perfect balcony/patio decor all in one. You can build this for all the little birdies to enjoy.
This adorable birdhouse is from Nashville-based small business, One Man One Garage. They sell SO many great pieces that would make lovely gifts. Seriously, go check out their entire Etsy shop to see all of the wonderful things they're creating.
Promising review: "That was a really fun little project! It felt delicate and I thought I was going to break it while snapping pieces into place... but it held stpastrong! Can’t wait to put it outside for the birds in the springtime." —Jennifer
Get it from One Man One Garage on Etsy for $10+ (available in two colors).
25. A portable ping-pong set to turn any boring ole table into a ping-pong masterpiece. When you pull this out, your friends will come flocking to play!
Each set comes with two paddles, two balls, and a net that can attach to the sides of most tables.
Promising review: "Best buy during quarantine. This has provided so much fun and stress relief for our family during this time. Seems study and well-made." —Myss76
Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in two styles).
26. A pack of *reusable* stencils that'll take any wall, floor, fireplace, or kitchen counter to new level. If you love spending your time doing home projects, you've got to try these!
Promising review: "Great stencil that comes out amazing when done!!! My only recommendation would be to wash your stencil frequently as you use it or the pint builds up and causes the paint to bleed under the stencil a bit. Overall easy to use and looks beautiful!!" —KSerrano
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in 20 designs).
27. An indoor herb garden for those who love gardening, but don't have the yard to do so. This garden comes with six seed kits and has a built-in LED grow light to help them flourish indoors.
The six seed kits includes Genovese and Thai basil, parsley, dill, thyme, and mint.
Promising reviews: "Great for small spaces and black thumbs! This is amazing. I've wanted to have a little garden in my apartment forever but have killed every herb plant I've bought from the store. Aerograden is so simple. You just plug it in, add water, plant food, and the pods. The garden does everything else for you. Very low maintenance. All you have to do is add plant food every two weeks and change the water once a month. I started my garden and two days later one of the lettuce pods I bought separately sprouted. I look forward to seeing the changes in my garden every morning." —MsResponsible
Get it from Amazon for $89.95+ (available in four sizes and three colors).
28. A mini donut maker so you're able to make your favorite treat whenever you want. This cool appliance can make seven donuts at once, so when you think about making the dough and decorating when they're made, your afternoon is officially booked.
Promising review: "I got this product and immediately made banana donuts from some overripe bananas I had. They came out absolutely perfect and LOVE how easy it is to use and how fast it cooks!! Pipe the batter in and in two minutes donuts are done!! They really are mini, too, so you can pop a couple in your mouth any day!! I’d definitely recommend this to everyone!!" —Cindy Woods
Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in five colors).
29. A Sculpd pottery kit for the creative folks that love making things! This set gives you free range to make cute vases, planters, candleholders, bowls, etc. — all without a kiln. Instead of buying something you need, grab the tools to make it yourself!
Every Sculpd kit comes with two packs of premium air-dry clay, a step-by-step beginners pottery guide, carving, shaping, and cutting tools placed in a tool bag, white waterproof paint, waterproof glossy and matte varnish, two paintbrushes, and a smoothing sponge.
Sculpd is a small business that's all about inspiring and motivating everyone (especially beginners!) to dip their toes in the pottery art form..
30. A Five-Minute Journal that won't only help you plan for the week, but also provides you with motivating daily affirmations and prompts. I'd say realigning your mindset in only five minutes is definitely time well spent.
By the way, this journal is also made of 100% recycled paper!
Promising review: "If you follow the instructions on this journal (don't skip the preface) you will start to change your way of thinking. Along with changing my eating habits and trying to appreciate the little things my life has been less stressful and I see myself being more positive. My resolution/goal this year was to cut out toxic people and toxic things and be more positive. This journal is one of the tools helping me achieve that. Thank you!" —Hb4139
Get it from Amazon for $24.13 (available in three colors).
31. A high-density round foam roller you can use while watching TV, waiting for dinner, or chatting on the phone. It comes in tons of fun color combos and will actually really help you pre- and post-workout, too. This baby comes in various sizes so you can easily target stiff areas, as well as help you massage your calves and quads after an intense leg day sesh.
Promising review: "Have back, hip, etc. issues? These rollers will feel like a massage, pushing the lactic acid out, opening the lymph glands, circulating blood to the sensitive areas. Depending on the pressure can feel like a deep tissue massage. Our athlete daughter plays a Division I sport and the whole team uses them before and after training. They are instrumental in recovery. These are nice and firm, roll easily. I purchased both the 2' and 3'. The 2' is good for thighs, calves, upper back, shoulders, arms and it easy to switch from side to side. The 3-foot covers a whole body roll, side body, two legs at a time thighs to toes, buttocks to heel, length of single leg, or a complete back roll. Will not slip on you and comes in fun colors. Great when you are in front of tv or just during or prior to a meditation session." —CharmedTote
Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in four sizes and eight colors).
32. A DIY doormat kit so all your visitors see how artistic you are before even entering your home. You've got five sayings to choose from, too. From a simple "Hello" to a cheeky "Did you text first?"
This kit comes with everything you'll need: a coir doormat (18"x30"), a reusable stencil, disposable tape measurer, two-piece paint brush set, black permanent paint, and written instructions for guidance.
Nickel Designs is a small business based in Ozark, Missouri that creates custom, hand-painted doormats OR gives you the tools to do so yourself!
Get it from Nickel Designs on Etsy for $35.99 (available in five sayings).
33. A GameStop Xbox Game Pass Membership to have access to more than 100 games a month, for no extra cost. Play your favorites nonstop or discover something new! If anyone ask if you're busy this weekend, just say you've already got plans. 🎮
Promising review: "Pass includes a ton of titles even many new releases...way better than buying and selling a game back every week." —OMGFireballs
Get a three-month membership from GameStop for $44.99 (also available in a one-month subscription for $14.99).
34. A cool pasta art kit because sometimes, just making spaghetti and meatballs is a little too quick and easy. This kit will help you get creative in the kitchen, and comes complete with a pasta wheel, a dough cutter set, flour, and four different flavored/colored powder!
Get it from Uncommon Goods for $45.
35. 642 Things To Draw — a guide that gives you tons of new ideas on what to draw. It's the perfect way to fill time and you get to practice your artistic skills!
Promising review: "This is a great sketchbook. For the unaware people who say it’s just blank pages with words, it’s more than that. I’m one of those people who likes to draw and sketch. Sometimes I feel like I’ve drawn everything. This book gives that little impromptu challenge to draw something specific when I feel I don’t know what to draw." —Choosey One
Get it from Amazon for $13.25.
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.