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A little something for anyone itching to make, bake, grow, stitch, sculpt, or stare wistfully at the moon.

I'm a Resident Writer on BuzzFeed's shopping team who loves finding products that are delightfully strange or useful (or both).

Use your favorite fruit juice or experiment with fresh fruit, then adjust the sweetness to get the finished cider exactly how you want it. The kit includes step-by-step instructions designed to make fermentation beginner-friendly; mix everything up, let it bubble, chill it, and enjoy.

Brewsy is a small business that specializes in affordable, app-enabled cider, wine, and mead kits. Note: You have to provide your own jug or juice bottle (there's one on Amazon if you don't already have a vessel large enough!). 

Promising review: "I've been interested in making my own wine for a while, but getting started can be costly and time-consuming. This kit is a great way to get started for very little money or time. The instructions are easy to follow, and the ability to use any juice at all means you can make some really unique flavors. I have already made one batch of wine using grape juice because I didn't want to get too wild on my first batch. It was sweeter than most red wines I've bought, but tasted great, and the alcohol content was at least 12 percent. I base that on my body's reaction after drinking two glasses. I recommend these for yourself or a friend, I think it's a great buy and product." —Maximillion M. 

Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in cider, mead, and wine varieties). 

Each bookmark comes with a different design, plus the gems, applicator pen, glue, and tray needed to complete it. 

Promising review: "When my granddaughter comes, I always buy her a craft for how to sit and do. She absolutely loves this. Kept her busy for hours and very inexpensive." —Arlene  

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in 12 designs).

The clear sheets can be decorated with permanent markers, cut into whatever shapes you want, and baked into smaller, sturdier creations with a stained-glass-like finish. 

Promising review: "Fun for ALL ages! Recently remembered how fun these were. I have a smaller daughter, so it gave me an excuse to buy these. They're secretly for me — half kidding. These are so simple to use and create great crafts. These will keep your little one's imagination going, occupied and helps practice fine motor skills. I would definitely recommend to ANYONE, not just little humans." —Alex Soper

Get a 25-sheet set from Amazon for $14.45. 

It comes with three packs of air-dry clay, eight sculpting tools, 12 paints, and brushes, giving you everything you need to shape and decorate small projects right out of the box. The removable wheel plate and splash pan also help contain the inevitable clay carnage when you're done.

Promising review: "I am amazed how well thought through this product is. It is very compact and has everything you need to get started and trying your hand at pottery! My kids immensely enjoyed using it and were very excited with their creations. It's very compact, built with very good quality materials. The wheel is very stable and you can control the speed as you get the hang of it. It's well priced for a starter kit and overall a great kit." —Synghal

Get it from Amazon for $45.59 (also available in purple). 

Each box can produce up to two crops, with around 3–4 servings per harvest, and comes prepped with mushroom spawn, growing medium, instructions, and a mister. It grows indoors year-round with indirect light and is backed by a grow guarantee if nothing sprouts.

Back To The Roots is a California-based small business founded by two college friends that specializes in indoor gardening kits with a mission to reconnect families to food.

Check out a TikTok of the mushroom kit in action. 

Promising review: "Easy to grow. Purchased these for my children for an experiment. They love them deep fried and sautéed. Great value, great activity for young and old. Even for my daughter who could kill grass by simply looking at it was amazed when hers grew big and strong. We had success without hardly following the simple directions of soaking for 6–10 hours and spraying daily. They still grew well! Even after a few days of neglect." —HoneyHideout

Get it from Amazon for $21.86 (also available in a two-pack). 

Check out a TikTok of the reverse coloring book in action. 

Promising review: "Kendra Norton’s beautiful art books, Reverse Coloring books, have changed my world! My whole life, I thought I was not creative and therefore, had zero artistic ability. Now, this has become my favorite form of artistic expression. I turn on music and/or an audiobook and allow myself to go for an adventure outside of my mind, beyond my mind, if you will. This has become my favorite way to process through difficult emotions and experiences I’m working through." —K. DeWitt

(Psst — check out these cult-fave black fine point pens for $6.99 on Amazon for a good doodling option!) 

The clay comes in a resealable bucket, so you can keep unused portions fresh for future projects instead of trying to use the whole five pounds at once. 

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

Get it from Amazon for $13.58 (available in white and terracotta, and in three larger sizes).

The thumb piano is made from natural air-dried wood with steel keys and has a curved hand-rest design for more comfortable playing. It also comes with an instruction book, carrying bag, and cleaning cloth, and its compact size makes it easy to keep nearby for spontaneous little music breaks.

Promising review: "This is an excellent kalimba and I highly recommend it. I'm not a robot or a paid promoter. I'm a professional musician educator. The kalimba came in perfect tuning, well-boxed, plus with all precision tuning tools and playing instructions. And all for only $25. I give it 6 stars." —Matt Leach

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

It includes two beginner-friendly recipes to get you started, plus an organic spice blend you can tweak and experiment with until you find a flavor you love. 

Fermentaholics is a small business that specializes in pickling and kombucha starter kits. 

Promising review: "This kit is great for first timers or experienced, and makes DELICIOUS pickles, or pickled anything for that matter. Pickles, carrots, onions, asparagus. The instructions are easy to follow and understand. Will be buying as gifts for my pickle loving friends and more for myself. Makes me want to try the other products this company offers." —KelF

The book combines classic activities with new color-focused prompts, including mixing shades, choosing colors by chance, and weaving with strips of bright paper. It turns creativity into something playful and low-stakes, with zero pressure to make anything look polished or precious.

Promising review: "Absolutely love this journal! So so soooo many activities to keep you busy, and the supplies you need are just everyday household items! very fun and engaging, and helps get rid of perfectionism. Also keeps your mind off anxiety and stress. Very helpful and I really love it! The activities vary from sew this page, infuse this page, drop a journal from a high place, freeze this page, press flowers, poke holes in this page, and so much more! There are even activities and a cutout postcard on the cover jacket. So fun and engaging! Hours worth of activities to do. Worth the money!" —Squishmallows101 

The recipes use minimal equipment and span classics and more unexpected flavors, including chocolate and cherry, white chocolate and lemon, peanut butter, ginger, oat and raisin, and coconut. You’ll also find vegan recipes and options for certain allergies and intolerances.

Promising review: "Edd Kimber is so creative with his bakes and this book is full of fun and interesting cookie recipes. love the flavors in this book...subtle and layered. Baking small batches is surprisingly liberating. Most ingredients are on hand and I'm not stressing about what to do with large quantities of cookies. With small amounts, it feels easier to play and experiment." —Monica

The coated glass lens helps sharpen images, while the star filter creates four-beam flares around small light sources and bulb mode lets you play around with light trails at night. The Premium Kit also includes yellow and blue filters, a cable release, wrist strap, and a waterproof case that can go about 5 meters deep.

Note that film isn't included, and this will also need a AAA battery.

Promising review: "This camera came with a lot more accessories than I was expecting. It’s great quality and opened a world for me in capturing photos. I’ve been bringing this camera to concerts with me, and with the included bag, it fits in my pocket with no problems! I started looking into various film types to capture different aesthetics, lighting, etc., that are recommended for concert environments, outdoor scenery, and more, and I can’t wait to continue using this camera. Can’t recommend enough!" —Jackson McKee

Get it from Amazon for $89.99 (available in six colors).

One 10-ounce batch of cream makes roughly half a cup of butter, plus leftover buttermilk you can save for pancakes or baking! After rinsing the finished butter in ice water, you can mix in salt, herbs, honey, or any other flavorings you like.

Promising review: "I am delighted with this product. The accompanying instructions were very helpful. I made my first hand-churned butter, which I consider being a homage to my grandparents, who were dairy farmers. The process is really surprising when the butter seizes up — I think it was very important to me to see and experience that moment. Subtle, but crucial... At any rate, I used it, cleaned it, so have experienced both. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with this little yet sophisticated butter churn." —Nanci Hamilton

This kit provides you with a banneton basket, a dough whisk, a dough cutter, five blades (with a leather cover) for designs, a bowl scraper, a scoring lame, and even a cleaning brush. You can also use the recipe book to try out different loaf recipes or to get a better understanding of every tool.  

Promising review: "This is just what I was looking for to start my sourdough bread journey while healing from a surgery and on leave from work. It kept me busy, and I still use it today. Great quality, durable items." —joanne 

Get it from Amazon for $17.97+ (available in two banneton basket shapes and in gift sets).

The kit comes with an ergonomic crochet hook, a yarn needle, stitch markers, eyes, colored yarn, and enough stuffing for six plants. 

Step-by-step instructions and video tutorials walk complete beginners through each project, while the smooth, non-splitting yarn is designed to make learning easier. You also get 40% extra yarn in every color for inevitable do-overs, plus access to email and text support if a stitch has you questioning everything.

Promising review: "It comes with everything you need to get started, including easy-to-follow instructions. As someone new to crochet, I found the materials and tools high-quality and perfect for learning. The kit is well-organized, making it easy to dive right into projects, and the step-by-step guide is super helpful. It's a great kit for adults looking to pick up a fun and relaxing new hobby. Highly recommend for anyone wanting to start crocheting!" —heidi vanderlee 

Here's a TikTok that shows how to play. In short, you pick a 2D or 3D puzzle from the guide and set it up to match the image. Start the timer and work to solve the puzzle with the remaining pieces. When done, stop the clock and record your time. Friends can challenge each other, or you can play solo to try and beat your own best score. It requires AAA batteries, so be sure to grab some!

BuzzFeed Shopping contributor John Mihaly has this to say about this game: "We love the classic version in our home, and it's been in heavy rotation since we got our hands on it. The object of the game is to finish a puzzle using all 12 Kanoodle pieces. The 2D version lies flat, while the 3D version (you can play both with this set) requires you to build a pyramid of pieces. Simple, fun, and challenging (harder puzzles reveal fewer pieces to start)."

Promising review: "Very easy to use and fun for all ages. Great gift idea and is small and compact, so you can take it anywhere with you!" —Jocelyn

The set comes with prisms, crystal beads, moons, stars, suns, chains, hooks, and connecting pieces that you can mix into your own designs. 

Promising review: "I absolutely love this kit! It is so fun to create sun catchers for my garden and to place in windows. I can gift them to friends and family. It is a great value, and the quality of everything is awesome!" —lad

The clay is oven-bake and designed to stay vibrant once cured, and the kit includes hypoallergenic hooks, jump rings, backs, carving tools, display cards, and storage bags. A detailed guide walks you through shaping and baking, while the mix of cutters makes it easy to experiment with different styles.

Promising review: "I was not sure if I would enjoy this hobby, so I started with this kit. I'm so glad I did. This is something I truly love, and now I can invest a little more time and money in better-quality clay and maybe some more high-quality utensils. But this was certainly not a waste of money, and I especially appreciate the cutters and hole punchers. The clay is decent, and the tools are fine for how inexpensive this kit is." —Amazon Customer

The set includes grout, plenty of pre-shaped glass tiles, a bamboo base, and both written and video instructions. Finished projects are waterproof and frost-resistant, so they can double as coasters, garden decor, or a handmade gift that looks much fancier than your actual effort level would suggest.

Promising review: "This is one of the most rewarding crafts I've ever done. It did not take much time, and the results and beautiful. We used a hammer to break up extra tiles to fill the empty space and still have tiles left for another project." —Sara G. 

Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in two kit options).

The cards are printed on thick, uncoated paper that works with pencils, markers, pens, and watercolor, and the included palette poster can help inspire your color choices. The set also comes in a magnetic keepsake box for storing your finished deck.

Promising review: "These were a big hit as a gift for my cool friend. It’ll definitely be a big project to complete but very fun." —Jenzygriffin

Get the set from Amazon or Anthropologie for $23. 

It comes with two eyepieces for wide and close-up viewing, a full-height tripod, finderscope, star diagonal, and a padded backpack that keeps everything portable. You also get access to Starry Night software, which can help identify celestial objects and plan what to look for next.

Promising review: "If you're thinking about getting a telescope, this is a great place to start. Very fun to learn how to use and performs really well. Hardest part about this is the tripod — it can be unstable and hard to pinpoint something and keep stable with the tripod, but other than that, it's a lot of fun." —Marcus almaguer

The kit comes with three different numbered canvas designs, seven paint pots, a mini brush, and an easel.

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

Each plant comes in its own buildable terracotta-colored pot, and the finished set works as cute coffee table, shelf, or desk decor. It’s part of Lego's Botanical Collection and includes both printed instructions and a digital version in the Lego Builder app.

Promising review: "The attention to detail in each plant design is truly remarkable. From the delicate petals of the tropical blooms to the spiky allure of the arid cacti, every element captures the essence of its real-life counterpart with stunning accuracy. One of the highlights of this set is the variety it offers. Whether you're drawn to the vibrant hues of tropical flowers, the unique allure of carnivorous plants, or the rugged beauty of arid flora, there's something here to cater to every botanical taste. It's also a fantastic décor piece. We built this set during a long cruise recently and gave them as gifts to the Cruise Staff, since they are not allowed live plants in their cabins. It's a thoughtful gesture that allows recipients to indulge their love for both LEGO and botanicals in a single package." —Joshua Githens

Promising review: "I first saw this book on TikTok and decided to look more into it. I purchased four total because I know some people holding onto things that are difficult to let go of. It’s a great way to look at things from a different perspective and truly hold yourself accountable to different things in your life. I love what it stands for, and I look forward to when I burn mine after I’m done. Self-love, self-care, and meditation for a better state of mind tomorrow are always the goal. I definitely recommend it to those susceptible to change and the willingness to try things differently." —Brent Helm

This kit comes with 139 pieces, but requires craft glue to stick all the small details together and two AAA batteries for the LED lights. 

The wooden pieces come pre-cut and pre-colored, with most parts designed to snap or slot together, so it’s approachable even if miniature building is brand new to you. 

Promising review: "I gave my wife one of these for Christmas, and she absolutely loved it! She's kind of a bookworm, so this was perfect for her bookshelf. It was fun to build and pretty simple to assemble. Putting the individual books together was a bit daunting, but the final product made it all worth it. As for quality, the pieces are very thin and sort of fragile (but that's the case with most DIY models), but overall, pretty solid in construction. Well worth every penny, and kept my wife busy for a month! My only real gripe about it is that the light switch is in the bottom back of it, so turning it on and off can be kind of a pain, having to pull it out of the bookshelf every time. Otherwise, it was a successful purchase, and the perfect gift! I'd recommend it to anyone!" —Amazon shopper 

Get it from Amazon for $32.99 (available in 16 designs). 

This is the first of three numbered volumes in the Murdle series, which also includes several themed spin-offs.

Promising review: "Murdle: Volume 1 is such a clever collection of puzzles. It feels like solving a mystery, a logic grid, and a game of Clue all at the same time, and I love that I get to play detective instead of just reading about one. The puzzles start out approachable and then gradually get trickier, which makes it easy to warm up and then really sink your teeth into the harder cases. The tone is light and playful, with quirky characters and fun little details that keep each mystery from feeling the same as the last. I especially appreciate that I can pick it up for a quick puzzle or spend longer working through a tougher one, so it fits into whatever kind of day I’m having. If you enjoy logic puzzles, brain teasers, or classic whodunits, this is a fantastic and satisfying way to keep your brain busy. I’m already planning to grab the next volume." —michael rizzo

It has a 3/5 difficulty rating and can be played solo, with a partner, or as a group, with hints available online if your detective instincts start betraying you.

Promising review: "I am relatively new to cold case games and have only played 1–2 other ones before this. I had SO much fun with this game! I love the packaging and really appreciate that it has an 'evidence checklist' so that you can ensure you have everything you need to solve the case. I played solo over the course of about a week or so because I'm a working woman with a family. It is very pause-friendly. I'd spend about an hour or so with it and then set it down for a few days to get back to my everyday life. I like that there are hints online and I tried avoiding them as much as possible and, to be honest, I didn't really feel like I needed them a whole lot to solve the case. It was still challenging all on its own. Not too difficult that you wanna throw your evidence in the air and say 'forget this!' The price for this game is unbeatable and I would recommend for anyone who wants something a bit perplexing and enigmatic to escape to if you're tired of mind-rotting in front of the TV or doomscrolling." —Adrianne P

The image is packed with tiny details to hunt for as you build, and the set comes with two art posters so several people can work from the reference at once. 

Promising review: "Another stellar puzzle from Magic Puzzle Company, featuring high-quality pieces, a hidden final image, and a unique solving experience. The artwork is full of detail, making it an immersive and engaging build. The pieces fit together snugly, with no puzzle dust, and the final reveal adds an element of surprise. If you’re looking for a high-quality puzzle that’s more than just a standard jigsaw, this one is worth every penny." —Baloptimus

Get it from Amazon for $25 (and check out the assortment of Magic Puzzles for more options!). 

The set includes pre-cut felt leaves, four pots, bands, chalks, and the supplies needed to customize each arrangement. The finished succulents work as colorful desk, shelf, or windowsill decor. 

Promising review: "I didn’t know what to expect from this but it will greatly exceed anyone’s expectations. The materials are great quality, very easy to use, meditative, and [it's] really cool to see what you can make. —Hazel

Promising review: "Received this the other day and the wife and I had our own sushi night at home...I did not realize there were two mats in the package which was a nice little surprise...everything is made of good quality materials, easy to use and a good fun activity for date night at home. I will be getting a few more as gifts for a few friends...good product, received it quickly and for the price you cannot go wrong." —Timothy J Stegner

The kit makes up to 40 batches and comes with the ingredients, molds, thermometer, muslin, spices, and recipe book needed to get started. Each batch yields roughly 21–32 ounces.

Promising review: "This is brilliant! I like to bake bread and I thought this might be fun in the same way and it's so much more. It's so easy to get to the stage of separating the curds and whey and there are lots of options from there. I like that the kit has all the essential pieces of equipment and ingredients that you need so I don't have to buy them individually and you can use them many times. The cheeses are really tasty, and it makes my kitchen smell really good too. Making cheese is surprisingly quick, I'll be practicing this over and over." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $48.95 (available in four variety sets).

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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.

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.