The Unserious Gift Guide: 59 Presents For Jump-Starting Creativity & Play
Spark some shenanigans this holiday season with presents that double as a permission slip to play
Finding a great gift is like embarking on a treasure hunt and I hope you find many gems ahead! This is the unconventional, decidedly UNserious gift guide for both the playful people in your life AND those who are one good present away from rediscovering their spark.
I’ve organized the gifts — all under $200 — in a non-traditional way. Rather than prescribe who it’s for, I’ve chosen to group them into 3 different kinds of players — Expressive Creators, Imaginative Builders, and Curious Gamers. The gifts in this guide are tiny doors that might lead to adventures, creative discovery, or simply moments of pure, pointless joy.
Here's my ulterior motive (and no, it's not a money-making scheme - these are personal picks, not affiliate links): I'm building an underground network of joy-spreaders, and I want you — my lovely subscribers — to be my fellow ambassadors of play. Because when you give the gift of play, you're not just handing someone fancy markers or a strategy game. You're passing them a permission slip to lose track of time, make glorious messes, and unlock a new side of themself. And once they rediscover their playful spirit — watch out! — they'll probably join our conspiracy to topple chronic over-seriousness.
Before we get into the good stuff, please drop your own gifting treasures in the comments (you are encouraged to self promote if you’re an artist or entrepreneur with something amazing to offer our community!) AND If you know someone who would love this, please share (I need to justify spending 482 hours working on this lol)
1. FOR EXPRESSIVE CREATORS
For those who process life through making. You know them: they're doodling during meetings, experimenting with recipes, humming tunes, or finding new ways to dress up their everyday life. These gifts give them permission to make more messes, try new mediums, and express themselves without judgment.
DOODLING supplies for elevating imagination and lowering blood pressure
Marvin’s Magic Super Bright Scratch Art, $15.40
Sandesa Color Me Postcards Set, $15.99 *AAPI-woman-owned business
Poketo Aurora Erasable Markers , $28 *AAPI-women-owned business
Poketo The Modernist Coloring Book, $22 *AAPI-women-owned business
Sakura Pigment 9-Pack Micron Pens, $23.43
Expressive BEAUTY PRODUCTS because a face is the perfect canvas (and we could all use an alter ego)
Violette Yeux Paint Liquid Eyeshadow/Liner, $32 *Women-owned business
Half Magic Eye-Cons Only Holiday Makeup Set, $40 *Women-owned business
Ever Eden Non-Toxic Face Crayons Set, $36.40 *AAPI Women-owned business
Danessa Myricks Colorfix Sparklers, $20 *Black-woman-owned business
Cute beginner-friendly CRAFT SUPPLIES for keeping hands busy and moods buoyant
Mideer 700-Piece Handicraft Kit, $59.99
Woobles X Sanrio DIY Crochet Kits, from $7 *AAPI-women-co-owned-business
Kawaii Cross Stitch Kit, $6.53
Purl SoHo Learn To Knit Kit, $55.50 *Women-owned business
DIY JEWELRY because it’s the ultimate flex to say “Thanks, I made it” when someone compliments your accessories
Haricot Vert Pick & Mix Charm Earrings, $28 *Women-owned business
Super Smalls Jewelry Making Kit, $49 *Women-owned business
Clixo Magnetic Jewelry Pack, $28
MUSIC MAKING gifts because whether it’s belting out karaoke, playing a silly sound game, or beating a drum, making music is cathartic AF
Birth Month Gemstone Guitar Picks, $25
Bonaok Wireless Karaoke Mic, $19.99
Gemini Wireless Mini Keyboard, $100
That Sound Game Interactive Party Game, $20.55 “A loud game for weird people”
Panda Drum Peaceful Sounds Tongue Drum, $139.95
CLAY CRAFTING because sometimes you need to squish your feelings into shapes (and maybe bake them permanently)
Mideer Airy Fun Clay 36-Color Kit, $44.99
Pottery With A Purpose Flower Vase Pottery Kit, $84.50 *Woman-owned business
Sculpey 30-Color Oven-Bake Clay Sampler, $36.99
COOKING BRIC-A-BRAC for making the kitchen a joyful place of experimentation
Hedley & Bennet Essential Embroidered Apron, $95 *Women-owned business
Fredericks & Mae Confetti Cutting Boards, $95
Dusen Dusen Pocket Pot Holders, $24 *Women-owned business
Great Jones The Great Tool Family, $70
2. THE IMAGINATIVE BUILDERS
For the ones who see possibilities in every piece and part. These are your friends who rearrange furniture for fun, build elaborate blanket forts "for the kids," or can't help but tinker with everything they touch. These gifts give them new worlds to build and problems to solve, no manual required.
Beautiful DESIGN OBJECTS that double as portals to play
Art Of Play CMY Color Cube, $37
Tangle Creations Infinite Chrome Sculpture, $169
Rolfe DIY Garden House Miniature Set, $40
Colorful OBJECTS you can build with because we can find flow in the form of stackable, clickable things
Speks Magnet Balls, $34.95
Lego Flower Bouquet, $59.99
3D DIY Decorative Insects, $12
Printworks Tumbling Tower, $36 *Women-co-owned business
Modular BUILDING SETS so the mini architects in your life can build their dream worlds
Crazy Forts 120-Piece Building Set, $69.99
Magna Tiles 32-Piece Magnetic Building Set, $49.99
Vilac Suzy Ultman Musical Blocks, $34
Play Follies Casa Azul Construction Set, $99 *Women-owned business
Play Follies Baby Bauhaus Montessori Blocks, $49 *Women-owned business
3. FOR CURIOUS MIND GAMERS
For those who love mental playground equipment. You'll spot them solving the crossword at brunch, suggesting game night, exploring the reaches of their consciousness, or turning every conversation into a delightful debate. These gifts challenge their minds while inviting play and connection with others.
CURIOUS GAMES that spark conversation, connection, and the occasional friendly argument
Actually Curious Card Game, $25 *Black-owned business
We’re Not Really Strangers Kids Question Card Deck, $10 *Woman-owned business
The Queer Agenda Queer AF Party Game, $25 *LGBTQIA+ made
Wavelength Telepathic Party Game, $29.99
PUZZLES for getting out of your head and into that sweet spot where the hands are busy but the mind is free
Nina Chanel Abney 1000-Piece Puzzle, $28 *Black-woman-artist made
Apostrophe Fantasy Garden 1,000 Piece Puzzle, $36 *Black-woman-owned business
Jiggy Junior Upload-Your-Own Art Personalized Puzzle, $39.99 *Woman-owned business
Le Puzz Peace Frogs Mini Puzzle, $18 *Women-co-owned business
Areaware French Fries Puzzle, $15
JOURNALS for curiously exploring the reaches of consciousness and plotting the next creative project
Poketo Essential Spiral-Bound Notebook, $7.69 *AAPI-woman-owned business
The School of Life Ideas Notebook, $27
Time To Bloom Hardcover Lined Notebook, $30
Keri Smith Wreck This Journal, $13.95 *Woman-author
Adam JK Rainbow Endless Possibilities Notebook, $28.50 *LGTBQIA+ artist made
One Question A Day For Kids Journal, $11.89 *Woman author
WORD GAMES that prove vocabulary can be a playground too
Mark and Graham Luxe Scrabble Set, $129
Punderdome Card Game For Pun Lovers, $18.60
Bananagrams Anagram Game, $15.99
WOW you made it to the end. Gold stars! I may do a PART TWO… stay tuned.
Drop your own playful gift ideas in the comments (you are encouraged to self promote if you’re an artist or entrepreneur with something amazing to offer our community!)
Share this guide! If you know someone who would love this, send it their way. I need to justify spending 482 hours working on this!
As always, THANKS FOR PLAYING.
Love this! Will borrow some of these gift ideas and may even snag some for myself, in solidarity ;)
Thank you so much for putting this together! It is brilliant!