We have loads of craft supplies in our house but sometimes it’s a fun change to use craft kits for kids and have everything ready to go! They make great gifts too; I think giving something creative instead of another toy makes both kids and parents happy, so I’ve brainstormed some gift ideas to give crafty kids that don’t come with a crafty mess (no glitter on this list!).
I’d love to hear any other ideas you have, after reading this list! Several of these are kits – which are so convenient because they usually don’t require any additional supplies.
The best craft kids for kids
My daughter loved doing one of these in a class, a beeswax candle kit from Magic Cabin.
Kid’s embroidery flag kit* looks easy and fun, plus you can hang up the flags as decorations afterwards!
String art kit*- this is so affordable and there are several design options.
Aquadoodle pad* is a big hit in our house, and works well in the car. Perfect first “craft” for babies, since it’s just water!
Color wonder markers* are magical – they only “mark” on specific color wonder paper so they can be used totally unsupervised or in the car.
Melissa & Doug scratch art pad* does leave a tiny mess with the scratched off topcoat, but nothing too awful, and it is a great set for kids of mixed ages. Younger kids will like scratching doodles and older kids can draw more elaborate scenes.
Finger knitting class*, on Creativebug, would be a great gift for international friends and tweens! They learn a new technique in a digital class.
This bead set* would be a nice gift for older kids to make jewelry, bookmarks, or garland.
Character illustration class*, is a digital class on Craftsy. Kids can learn to draw and create their own stories!
Sticker art* is one of the quietest arts and crafts activities, my 18 month old loves peeling them off and decorating with them.
This Christmas gnome kit is super cute and would make a great ornament.
This star craft kit* caught my eye, I would have loved making these and hanging them up in my window when I was younger.
A fairy garden kit* would pair beautifully with a fairy book, you put all the little pieces in with a plant or a terrarium for a whimsical decoration or garden feature.
This diy jewelry kit* has all the supplies included – if you bought a few of them, they’d be perfect for a party as well!
This weaving kit* uses fabric scraps to make cute clothes-shaped weavings.
Melissa & Doug paint with water books* are one of our travel go-tos.
Color wonder finger paint* is the least messy paint option out there, the paint only colors on the accompanying special paper.
Paint daubers* are like bingo stampers; they let out a tiny bit of paint that dries quickly and doesn’t make a mess. My kids love playing with these! You can also use them on wood items like frame or toys.
Kwik Sticks paint sticks* are like glue sticks that dry super fast, you can blend the colors and it looks like a regular painting, with very little mess factor. These are especially fun to use on huge sheets of paper!
Shrinky Dinks* are so fun! We’ve been playing with them on and off to make keychains – all you need are colored pencils and an oven, super cheap too.
Shrinky dink jewelry class*, on Creativebug, is a fun digital option for older teens.
Don’t forget to check out my other gift guide – Gifts for Kids who Love To Sew (or want to learn)!
I’m posting this today as a part of a large group of bloggers who are all sharing gift guides, click through to see all the different categories and get some holiday shopping done!
Heather Feather says
I love this post! Thank you for sharing!
shelah says
Great gift ideas! Busy parents will appreciate that the kids are busy creating art without being too messy.
Stephanie - Swoodson Says says
Thanks Shelah!