25 Things For Anyone Who Wants A Hobby Beyond Watching Netflix

If your New Year's resolution is to give your streaming service a break, you might need a few of these.

1. A hand lettering book if you've ever wanted handwriting that makes peoples' jaws drop. Get ready for everyone you know to start asking you to write their birthday cards.

Amazon

Promising review: "Not only is this introductory book beautifully put together, but the author also helps you to build you’re 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 a while 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

Get it from Amazon for $17.99.

2. This Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 for anyone who's fascinated by photo prints but is lowkey intimidated by other super high-tech instant cameras.

amazon.com

The camera requires two AA batteries and comes with film packs of 40, 140, and 60.

Promising review: "I absolutely LOVE this camera! I decided I wanted to do a photo journal and wanted instant prints for the book. It took a couple of photos to figure out the settings, but I think I have it for the most part. The picture quality is fantastic when I do it correctly and the fact that it prints instantly is on the best. After I received mine, I went and bought another for my daughter." —Sarah

Get it from Amazon for $44.67+ (available in seven colors and as part of a 140 film pack, 40 film pack, and value film pack of 60 images).

3. Or! A Fujifilm X-T100 mirrorless camera if you're a little more practiced in photography and want to move up from your point-and-shoot camera. You can connect this camera to your phone and transfer pics using Bluetooth, which will make for some super quick Insta uploads.

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "This is an awesome beginner's camera for those who are looking to upgrade from the camera on their phone! It takes beautiful pictures in auto mode. I'm still learning the manual controls. I love the retro look and build of this camera. It's much more fun to shoot with than traditional Nikon or Canon cameras. I love the selfie flip-out screen, too. It's really fun to take selfies with my family." —Steven Reed

Get it from Amazon for $599+ (available in five colors and with a 50-230mm lens in black and silver).

4. A kombucha brewing kit because you're probably tired of spending $3+ on a bottle of kombucha every morning — so why not learn how to make your own?

amazon.com, amazon.com

The kit includes a one-gallon brew jar, pH test strips, a temperature gauge, brewing instructions, organic sugar, and kombucha cultures.

Promising review: "I've been wanting to try my hand at making kombucha for a few years now but was afraid of making it wrong and becoming deathly ill. Also, I admit, the Scoby kind of freaked me out. One of the blogs I follow recently reviewed this kit and I decided to go for it (and besides, paying upwards of $3.50 per bottle at the store was getting ridiculous). I am so happy I bought this kit! I'm currently brewing my second batch as my first batch came out awesome! I made a ginger/orange flavor and a strawberry/lemonade flavor from that first batch and they taste even better than what I can buy at the store. And no more fear of the Scoby! I actually enjoy looking at it daily to see what new changes have occurred overnight. I think it's safe to say I will never buy store-bought kombucha again!" —Cheflene

Get it from Amazon for $44.99+ (also available as a deluxe kit).

5. A BuzzFeed Tasty Cookie Club subscription so you can hone your baking skills in a non-intimidating way and become a master cookie maker almost overnight.

LG Tasty Cookie Club, Jasmin Suknanan / BuzzFeed

Every kit includes pre-measured ingredients, step-by-step recipe cards, and various baking tools.

I looove baking and got the chance to give the Fall Tasty Cookie Club box a try. This box included pumpkin spice cookie mix, icing mix, recipe cards, a silicone baking mat, and a cookie scooper. Making the cookies was super quick and easy — even though I mixed everything by hand because I was too lazy to take out my hand mixer — and I had six big sandwich cookies in under an hour. My family DEVOURED the cookies and wished we had more. And, if you want more than six sandwich cookies, you can just scoop out smaller balls of dough.

Get one box from the LG / BuzzFeed Tasty Cookie Club website for $29.99 (also available as a yearly subscription for $119.96).

6. A lip balm making kit you'll love if you're passionate about keeping your lips hydrated and want a unique way to upgrade your lip balm supply. Your friends and family just might stop buying their usual lip balms in favor of your homemade ones.

Amazon, amazon.com

The kit includes 15 lip balm tubes, four lip balm jars, four lip balm tins, four essential oils, a jar of shea butter, a jar of cocoa butter, 23 round and square labels, mica powder, beeswax, and three stirring sticks.

Promising review: "This kit is simple, fun, and organized. The tutorial is easy to read, and I can see that people really put effort into making this kit. This is my first time making DIY lip balms and I was worried at first because I'm not really good at making stuff but I'm really satisfied with the result and how they look all together. I think I also can use leftover essential oil for another batch. I'm so excited to use the lip balms I made!!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $42.85.

7. A bullet journal set that's perfect for beginners who want to start their own journal but don't want to spend hours trying to free-hand pretty banners and illustrations.

amazon.com

The kit includes a notebook, 15 Fineliner pens, five reusable stencils, six sticker sheets, six Washi tape rolls, and one black gel pen.

Promising review: "This is my first bullet journal and I cannot begin to explain how great this product is, the journal itself feels amazing and the pages are thick too so I won’t worry about the pen bleeding thru. When I would buy other journals I wouldn’t know where to begin but with this, I know what I want to do! For the price, it’s unbelievable what you get!" —Alysha Foster

Get it from Amazon for $25.99 (available in seven notebook colors).

8. Embroidery floss for anyone who's ever tried to sell homemade friendship bracelets when they were in middle school. Re-creating your favorite patterns might make you re-live those colorful, string bracelet days.

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "These are definitely worth it considering the quality and shades of colors — you get colors from light pastels to black. It's easy to make bracelets with these and they don't fray." —Emily patricia ulatoski

Get a pack of 50 from Amazon for $4.99.

9. A hot sauce making kit that'll probably make you never want to buy from the grocery store ever again once you learn how to make your own special sauce tailored to your spice preferences.

amazon.com, amazon.com

The kit includes three glass bottles, four squeeze bottles, a 2-inch funnel, an apple cider vinegar bottle, a spice blend, two pairs of gloves, five pH strips, and Ancho Pasillas, Chipotle, and Habanero bags.

Promising review: "I bought this product as a gift for my s/o since he loves to cook and loves all things spicy. We were not disappointed!! The packaging was cute and making the hot sauce was something fun and different to enjoy together. Having this kit it made it so easy!!!!!! All of our friends heard about our hot sauce-making adventure and want to know where to get a kit for themselves. Everything is included — tiny glass storing bottles, the spices, little squeeze bottles, and tiny fill-in labels. He absolutely loved this gift and I can’t believe I got it for the price that I did, considering everything that’s included." —Sam

Get it from Amazon for $41.82.

10. A bonsai tree starter kit if you want a stress-free way to get started with germinating your own little tree, even if you've never done it before.

amazon.com

The 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, one pair of tweezers, one bamboo rake, one bamboo brush, one bonsai scissor, and an instruction book.

Promising review: "This was a great purchase and the detailed instructions were all I needed to get these trees going! My biggest problem has actually been figuring out how to deal with the saplings that grew too tall too quickly and are struggling to support their own height/weight! Of all of the problems one could have with buying tree seeds through Amazon, that is certainly a good problem to have. As someone without a green thumb, I would've been happy to even have one sapling to work with, so this product has more than met my expectations and hopes." —Paul

Get it from Amazon for $27.99.

11. Orrr, a book on How Not To Kill Your Houseplant so you can learn how to be a better plant parent even if you've already killed more than your fair share of succulents.

Amazon

Promising review: "This is a really great guide to houseplants. I am an experienced outdoor vegetable gardener, who has never had much success with houseplants. The only one I've ever been able to keep alive is George, my un-killable Aspidistra (Iron Plant). Now I have a little forest of air cleaning plants, succulents, retro 70's plants (rubber plant, and swiss cheese plant), and even two indoor banana trees — all healthy and happy. Even George is happier than ever, with new leaves. Thank you!" —Jo

Get it from Amazon for $11.82 (also available as a Kindle version).

12. This mozzarella and ricotta making kit so you can seem ~extra fancy~ when you serve your guests *homemade* cheese with their crackers.

Amazon, amazon.com

The kit includes citric acid, cheese salt, vegetable rennet, butter muslin, a thermometer, and a recipe booklet — you must have your own milk on hand to make the cheese.

Promising review: "I bought this because I have always wanted to make cheese. I decided to try it while my grown son and his girlfriend were visiting and we made cheese together. We had so much fun and I am still making my own cheese. These instructions are clear and the kit has everything you need except the pot, and I bought additional utensils to use with it." —Renee Martin

Get it from Amazon for $29.95.

13. A set of crochet yarn and hooks because nothing makes time fly faster than cable stitching yourself a nice, soft scarf.

Amazon

The set includes 24 balls of acrylic yarn, two crochet hooks (sizes H and J), two weaving needles, and seven ebooks.

Promising review: "I'm a beginner at crocheting and these are the perfect size for a four-row granny square. The yarn is very easy to work with, and it came with the perfect size hooks for a newbie like myself. I've glanced at the books, and they look like they are helpful." —S. Tiller

Get it from Amazon for $12.97.

14. An extra-thick yoga mat for anyone who's always wanted to increase their strength and flexibility whether at home or in a class setting.

Amazon

Promising review: "This mat is incredibly cushioned, which for me is of major importance. I have bad knees, and regular mats are never cushioned enough for me. I bruise easily, but this seems like it will prevent any sort of bruising or soreness on my knees or hips. And, this mat has an awesome grip — no more sliding or falling due to instability issues caused by no traction. I look forward to being able to do the exercises without fear of a few routines again!" —Billie

Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in seven colors).

15. A gin making kit so you can finally learn how to make your own bottle after years of talking about how you'll get into it "soon."

Amazon

The kit includes two glass bottles, a fine stainless steel strainer, a stainless steel funnel, a tin of juniper berries, and a tin of botanical blend.

Promising review: "This is a great introduction to gin making. It's a great starter for anyone interested in mixing and creating their own gin. We made two styles with grapefruit and one with lemon. This kit is great as a gift for Mother's day, recent grads, and all occasions really." —GrandVizier

Get it from Amazon for $41.25 (refill kits are also available in original blend, smoky, and spiced).

16. This 1,000-piece puzzle you can easily incorporate into some daily me-time. Pro tip: When you're done, glue the pieces down onto thick cardstock so you can have a collection of your finished masterpieces.

Amazon

Promising review: "This is a great puzzle! The pieces come in many different sizes and shapes, unlike a normal puzzle. I did think it was going to be hard because of the fact that the pieces were so different but I finished this puzzle in a week, which is normally longer than it takes me, but it wasn’t too hard. The pieces all fit together very well and I gave it to my sister for Christmas and she loved it!! I love this puzzle and recommend it!" —bzholly

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (also available as part of a bundle with a blanket).

17. A soap making kit for a ~sweet-smelling~ way to de-stress (and have tons of cute, little gifts to give away as a result).

Amazon

The kit includes shea butter soap base, four fragrances, four liquid dyes, two plastic molds, a pouring pitcher, two stirring sticks, a mixing bowl, and four soap boxes.

Promising review: "I was looking for a craft project to do with my 9-year-old nephew on rainy summer days and found this kit included everything needed for soap making. He opened the package and was so excited we were making soap in the first five minutes! The instructions were easy to follow and the colors were beautiful. We loved the lavender and grapefruit mint scents. The end product was lovely. I'm glad I ordered extra soap base because he is now on a mission to make soaps this summer for all his holiday gift-giving." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $49.99.

18. An adult coloring book that'll let you take a trip back in time to elementary school when you'd basically hoard coloring books and spend hours a day bringing flowers and elephants to life.

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "I am a coloring book nerd and I love this book. It's such a fun thing to do as a retired person. It keeps me calm and busy. If you like to color, this book is for you." —AW

Get it from Amazon for $6.98.

19. A crossword puzzle book you can solve IRL if you love figuring out words but don't want to pay for the puzzle subscription on your phone anymore.

Amazon

Promising review: "There are few challenges, but if you like filling in puzzles fast, or are a beginner, you're rusty, this one might be for you. I was thinking as I was doing it, that it would be fun to do as a group with children. There are lots of opportunities to learn/review words and facts such as state capitols and such." —K. Johnson

Get it from Amazon for $11.14.

20. A (really pretty) sewing machine because not only will a basic knowledge of sewing serve you well during the most unforeseen situations, but you might also have so much fun that you'll want to start stitching every fabric you see.

Amazon

Promising review: "I love this machine! I took a very basic sewing class about 10 years ago and I was intimidated to try again but this machine is so easy to use. I love the needle threader, the extra feet, and the automatic bobbin drop-in feature. The stitching is nice and even. All over, it is a great machine for beginners." —Andrea W.

Get it from Amazon for $76.

21. A DIY slime making kit if you're tired of looking at YouTube tutorials and having the constant urge to play with soft, stretchy goo that you didn't have — until now.

amazon.com

The kit includes a bottle of laundry detergent, two bottles of white glue, two bottles of clear glue, a bag of foam beads, two vials of color-changing powder, two vials of pearl pigment, fruit decals, two vials of glow-in-the-dark powder, a vial of instant snow, six glitter jars, five bottles of food coloring, three packets of air dry clay, two measuring cups, storage containers, four spoons, and mixing sticks.

Promising review: "My daughter loves making slime. I bought this because I was tired of all dealing with the different recipes she found on YouTube. This kit has everything you need. There are many unique colors and things you can add to the slime. The included measuring cups and mixing bowls are nice so you don’t have to use your cooking utensils for the slime. I would buy this kit again." —Stylish Intellect

Get it from Amazon for $24.95.

22. This beginner ukelele that's perfect for anyone who's ever wanted to learn a new instrument but doesn't want to spend hundreds of dollars for a guitar or clarinet.

amazon.com, amazon.com

The kit includes a ukelele, a carrying bag, an instruction guide, access to free online lessons, and access to a smartphone app and tuner.

Promising review: "I bought this for my pops as a Christmas gift so he could start learning to play the ukulele. It's great for beginners! The box it comes in is great, it's sturdy, and the carrying case is of good quality. The directions for tuning were a little confusing so we ended up YouTubing it, but there are great videos out there! If you are serious about learning the ukulele, this is a great starter, but buy a tuner!" —Lindsey

Get it from Amazon for $59.99+ (available in four finishes/designs, three sizes, and as a soprano, concert, or tenor ukelele).

23. A step-by-step coloring book so you can up your stick-figure game by learning techniques for creating more detailed animal drawings.

Amazon

Promising review: "I bought this book for my 6-year-old twin granddaughters. But I love it too! We are all learning to draw animals this way. One of my granddaughters is a fan of horses and she drew a passable horse based on the instructions. I will be using this book for a long time, and so will they. In fact, once you see how it's done, you can figure out how to use the same technique for different animals that aren't in the book. Just visualize the parts of the animal and the proportions of the parts to each other. Draw the basic shapes, then add the details. I recommend this highly." —Ginger Cookie

Get it from Amazon for $7.82+ (also available for the Kindle and in library binding).

24. A sushi making kit that'll introduce you to the magic of sushi making without feeling like you need to be a certified chef. You'll be rolling rice and seaweed in no time!

amazon.com, amazon.com

The kit includes a detachable sushi mat, a non-stick paddle, and a sushi roll cutter.

Promising review: "Oh my gosh I love this little gadget. I've attempted sushi rolls in the past and failed. This thing makes perfect rolls. I'm glad I spent the money and invested in this. I love how easy it is to use. You shouldn't be disappointed." —A. Leggitt

Get it from Amazon for $19.95.

25. A build-it-yourself computer kit that's perfect for kids who love computer games and are interested in learning a little more about technology.

amazon.com

The kit includes a wooden computer case and LCD display, a Raspberry Pi 3 Project board, an SD card, cables, buzzers, sensors, switches, LED lights, a USB mouse, a Raspberry Pi edition of Minecraft, and laminated blueprints for assembly.

Promising review: "Our 8-year-old daughter had the best time building this and learning about computers. She loves Minecraft and when my husband saw this online, he thought it would be great and educational. I love how it works and how it uses her problem-solving skills, along with technical skills to make it work. Brilliant all around!" —night9x

Get it from Amazon for $262.42.

You trying to convince your friends and family to start one of these new hobbies with you:

E!

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Looking for more great Amazon finds? Check out some of our favorite cheap things to buy on Amazon, some of the weirdest things on Amazon you might actually want, or read through all the rest of our incredible Amazon product recommendations.

Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? Check out all of BuzzFeed’s gift guides!

BuzzFeed