BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Read More

You can totally entertain yourself without solving puzzles.

As a Deputy Editorial Director for BuzzFeed’s shopping team, I love to get into the weeds of why a product’s worth the money by deep diving into customer reviews, and product-testing as much as possible.

So you can't really turn off your brain. But there are certainly some activities and hobbies you can pick up that'll light up the positive parts of your brain instead of reminding you of work or other ~things~ going on IRL. I present to you stickers to "build" 3D rooms, a monochrome coloring book that'll eliminate your hunt for colored pencils, and even a Play-Doh bouquet building kit. 

Psst — parents really love this as a "calm down" moment for their kiddos! 

Promising review: "This little cloud guy is adorable and squishy! His face is very sweet, and the color morphing is great. I really like it’s calming, and even if you don’t use it for meditation, it’s a cute night light." —RgHound

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).

Promising review: "The stickers are unique and beautiful. The pages on the back of the stickers are equally as stunning. Get it!" —k80

Get it from Amazon for $23.26 (also available in a second version).

Also check out a Taylor Swift Eras-inspired sticker book.

The kit includes the Play-Doh and tools to make the bouquet. 

Promising review: "They love it? Great for summer crafts for a 10-year-old and a 4-year-old!" —Eric

Get it from Amazon for $39.97 (also available in another color). 

Check out a TikTok of the 3D sticker book in action. 

Promising review: "This sticker scene was so much fun to put together and surprisingly relaxing. It kept me entertained and gave me a nice break from constantly scrolling on my phone. The stickers are cute, the scenes are enjoyable to create, and it feels rewarding to see everything come together. If you’re looking for a simple hobby that helps you unwind and stay off social media for a bit, I highly recommend giving this a try!" —Michico 

Promising review: "I bought one of these many years ago and love mine. I just bought this one for a friend as a gift. She loves it! This item is of great quality. Perfect size to do quick, creative work. This board helps a person come into the present. Let the world melt away while they use it. Before you know it, time has slipped by, and the calm has set in. It may be perfect at the office! Definitely would have people stopping by to chill for a minute! (Just a thought.) I would imagine this would be calming for kids, too! Get one for yourself. Leave the world behind." —ClearlyLiving

And in case you don't already have a good set, here's a colored pencil set on Amazon for $9.99! 

Promising review: "I LOOOOVE this coloring book! So many cute pages and perfect for spooky season. If you love Halloween and coloring cute images, then this is the book for you. Has a variety of pages and all have the perfect thick lines we all love in coloring books! Add to your cart now!" —Sagrario

Promising review: "SUCH a great introduction to color by numbers! Lots of cozy, peaceful scenes to pick from, and the book size is great for carrying around with you. All you need is a small packet of Artistro black acrylic markers, and you're set! They don't bleed through either, thanks to the thick, one-sided paper. It's also super fun to slowly reveal the whole picture by coloring in only the areas with the 'O.' I can't wait to work through this one and invest in more of these books! Well worth the money if you want a relaxing new hobby!" —Sabrina

It comes with detailed instructions, two wooden pressing plates, six layers of pressing boards and other tools you'll need (think scissors, sponges, drying plates, etc). Oh, and reviewers say it's easy to take on the go. 

Promising review: "My kids love to pick me flowers, and I love to keep them forever. We have made bookmarks for teachers, and I have even purchased this for other moms who have kiddos who love to pick flowers. Super easy to use and a fun time for everyone!" —Missy Lovell

Get it from Amazon for $18.89+ (available in two colors). 

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: "I loved the kits! Very easy to assemble the easels. The painting is beautiful, and all of the colors, brushes, and assembly parts were there. I’ll definitely consider them again for my next painting event." —ChayilD

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in 10 other styles). 

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 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 $23.99 (also available in three other designs).

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

Choose Friendship is a small business that specializes in friendship bracelet makers. 

Each set comes with the holder mount and 20 pre-cut threads in 10 colors as well as access to an online instruction manual for all kinds of different designs.

Promising review: "I bought this for my daughter for a craft night. I made friendship bracelets when I was a kid but could not remember how to make them. This helped so much! I had to buy another one for me so we could work on them at the same time. Love this product!" —hollyhock

Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in four styles). 

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: "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

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 five styles). 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 $32.99+ (available without a container or with a variety of containers).

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!"

BuzzFeed Shopping contributor 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 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

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.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.