Just 25 Things For Anyone Who’s On The Endless Hunt For A Hobby To Keep Their Hands Busy
Written by admin on August 21, 2025
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
Just 25 Things For Anyone Who’s On The Endless Hunt For A Hobby To Keep Their Hands Busy
You may think you’ve tried every hobby in the world — but have you heard of a sticker-by-number book?
1. A beginner-friendly crochet kit to make cute plant friends for your car or desk — no watering necessary to keep these little guys alive. This kit comes with all the necessary tools to start your crochet journey and even a how-to video guide if creating a magic ring is just not clicking.
The kit comes with an ergonomic crochet hook, a yarn needle, stitch markers, eyes, colored yarn, and enough stuffing for six plants.
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
Get it from Amazon for $18.60.
2. A diamond bookmark kit that’ll have you wanting to read more just so you can show off your dazzling creation. It includes hundreds of small diamonds, clay glue, and a single pen so you’ll be locked in for hours placing each individual sparkle down.
3. A sticker-by-number book to put your mind at ease as you create beautiful floral designs without the stressful mess. Unlike the usual paint version, there’s no need to panic when you accidentally cover the wrong number or leave white gaps — just lift and re-stick until you’re satisfied with your seamless work. Bonus: The pages are perforated for easy tear, so you can have a gallery of paint-like pieces (your guest won’t even know they’re stickers).
Promising review: “I’m a young adult who spends a lot of time in the hospital due to bad health issues. Most of the time it’s nerve wracking and very boring. I ordered this little book to take with me for next time, and I was very happy with it! It kept me busy and calmed my nerves. It was easy to do and therapeutic. I like the variety of pictures!” —Cherry
Get it from Amazon for $10.65.
4. Origami Extravaganza, a how-to guide in creating all you can imagine right out of paper like a frog, a crane, or even a whole garden of paper flowers. It comes with fun, colorful sheets and various pages of tutorials ranging from beginner to advanced. You’ll have the coolest party trick once you master them all!
Promising review: “A great tool for keeping your mind busy. The instruction book is a little difficult to follow, but with the use of YouTube and the book makes for a great experience.” —Camille L. Branch
Get it from Amazon for $12.71.
5. A TikTok-viral coloring book full of the cutest little homes and characters — you’ll wish you could just live in their world. You can lay back, watch your favorite reality shows, and color the night away!
Promising review: “I love it! It’s so fun and nice to have and keep my hands busy while watching TV with my partner. The paper is thin, so you have to put something between the pages to keep it from bleeding, but it says that at the beginning of the book. Highly recommend for a self-care-crafty item!”—Erika Jorren
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in a spiral-bound version).
6. Or a reverse coloring book if you need more of a challenge. This has pages of blobs and brush strokes so you can be creative with what you see and outline a masterpiece. No more coloring inside the lines; you are the lines!
Promising review: “I love this book. I pre-ordered after seeing it on TikTok and couldn’t wait to get it! I’m working on my second coloring page and love it! THIS is a great book for older adults and anyone who doesn’t think they are an artist! Just need a fine black marker and you’ll be busy for hours!! I’m going to get more as gifts. This also makes a great alternative for children, teens, and really anyone as an alternative to screen time! Get one, you won’t be disappointed!” —Little wave
Get it from Amazon for $11.76.
7. A botanical Lego set just challenging enough that you’ll stay busy through your favorite movie, but not so hard that it takes a hundred years (have you seen the Hogwarts castle set?!). Once you’re done with this 758-piece set, you’ll have cute little plants to decorate your place *and* a new fixation.
8. A Buddha Board designed to let you “paint” with just water, which slowly fades away as you let it dry. This allows you to just doodle over and over again without fear of mess or needing to have a perfect piece of art. It was inspired by Zen mindfulness to teach the art of letting go and living in the moment. There are absolutely no stakes here!
Promising review: “Love this item! I bought this for a 5-year-old. She always wants to paint. With this, she can anywhere with no mess. Many hours of creative art keeps her busy. I would like one for myself now. For a way to relieve stress or just keep busy, this is great for all.” —Monica
Get it from Amazon for $34.95.
9. A pack of colorful air-dry clay sure to have you obsessed as you make trays and trinkets galore. The vibrant colors will inspire you to create every animal or character imaginable — BRB, gonna go sculpt 100 sea creatures and reenact Finding Nemo.
Promising review: “If you love to spend your time doing arts and crafts. This will have you entertained for hours!! I love spending my time doing activities like these instead of being glued to the TV or a cellphone. Super easy to use. Very durable. The amount of colors I received were more than enough. Age range can be 3+ years. I’m 25-years-old and am having a blast playing with this.” —Vanessa
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in packs of 24 and 36).
10. A friendship bracelet kit that’ll have you making jewelry for every stranger you meet (the world is your Taylor Swift concert). You’ll truly never stop making earrings, bracelets, and necklaces with the endless tubs of colorful beads and charms. Let’s be real — your favorite store clerk DOES need a matching BFF bracelet with you.
Each kit comes with 9,600 clay beads in 48 different colors, 850 accessory beads and pendants (like letters, pearls, hearts, and shells), elastic string, tweezers, scissors, and earring hooks, so you won’t have to buy anything separate to kickstart your jewelry-making era.
Promising review: “Gifted the set to my niece and she is making bracelets and necklaces without stopping. 🙂 Having so much fun. I personally liked that everything is packed nicely. The organizer box is amazing. The colors of heishi beads are so unique. And good quality of the the golden letters beads.” — Svetlana Makarenko
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in gold and silver).
11. A sourdough starter kit so you can join in on the trend and have fresh-baked bread all the time! The sourdough community can seem a little intimidating, but this provides you with every tool and a step-by-step guide so you can experience that initial satisfying cut of perfectly baked bread. Your sandwich game is about to be next level!
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 $23.74+ (available in two banneton basket shapes and in gift sets).
12. A book nook kit for the little trolls and creatures that live in your shelves. This whimsical kit comes with tiny furniture, LED lights, and decor that you’ll spend hours intricately arranging. It will put your patience (and your shaky hands) to the test, but it’ll also be *so* satisfying to see your finished model all lit up as a magical “room” in between your books.
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.
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!”—Daniel
Get it from Amazon for $26.38+ (available in nine designs).
13. A complete baking set if you also were obsessed with Cake Boss and thought, “I can do that!” Now you can practice your skills to become the next great baker, and if you mess up — you can just eat the evidence.
You’ll be able to practice every cake decorating technique as this set comes with 12 different nozzle tips, a spinning cake board, 50 disposable piping bags, two reusable ones, two icing spatulas, and three cake scrapers. It even comes with how-to guides and videos so you know exactly how each tool is used.
Promising review: “I got this for my little sister’s birthday since she loves decorating cakes, and it turned out to be a perfect gift. For the price, the quality is really solid — definitely a great starter set or something for casual decorators. She especially loved the guide that explains how to use each tip — super helpful for learning and pretty accurate. Great for helping her get ideas. The turntable glides smoothly, and the coupler makes switching tips easy. The piping bags are decent; they work fine for most frostings, though super-thick buttercream can cause them to burst if overfilled. There’s a nice variety of piping tips, and the frosting spatulas (especially the offset one) have been really useful for her. She’s already made some adorable cake and cupcake designs using this kit. Overall, it’s a great gift for anyone just getting into cake decorating — fun, functional, and really encouraging for creative baking.” —Atali Bouck
Get it from Amazon for $19.85 (available in five colors).
14. An embroidery set in case you’ve been searching for a “couch rotting” activity that’s actually productive. This kit is super beginner-friendly with pre-stamped designs, an embroidery hoop, and bunches of thread in case your first attempt ends up in knots. Now you can sink into your couch while still using your hands for more than just scrolling.
15. A felting kit to create tiny little creatures that’ll keep you company as you rewatch The Office for the hundredth time. It comes with 40 vibrant colors, so you’ll never run out of fun things to make. In fact, you’ll probably have enough creations to act out the entire Dundie Awards episode.
In addition to the 40 colorful bundles of felt, this kit comes with felting needles, scissors, bells, protective finger cots, foam pads, stencils, and even plastic eyeballs so you can create tiny fur friends!
Promising review: “So I have always been intrigued by needle felting, but I thought it would be much harder, so I never looked into supplies. This craft is SOOOO fun to pass the time and keep your hands busy. This little kit was so perfect for beginners and for the price!!!!? Perfect.” —Tali
Get the 40-color set from Amazon for $26.99 (also available in two smaller sets).
16. A copy of Wreck This Journal if you also begged your parents to get you one in 2013. (Now we have grown-up money!) This is truly designed to be wrecked, ripped, and destroyed as you go through each page — with endless prompts to really get your creative juices flowing.
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 cut-out postcard on the cover jacket. So fun and engaging! Hours worth of activities to do. Worth the money!” —Squishmallows101
Get it from Amazon for $9.59.
17. A wood carving kit to release your stress and enter into the world of calming whittling. It may look daunting at first, but this kit comes with design outlines, a sharp carving knife, and a how-to tutorial so you can feel like a pro. And don’t worry: It comes with protective wrapping so you won’t lose a finger as you try to relax.
The kit also includes two wood carving blocks (one cherry and one basswood), three types of sandpaper, and sharpening supplies.
Promising review: “Great little introduction to the hobby! It will take you longer than you think to complete, so it’s a nice free-time activity. My 8-year-old is very impressed that I ‘made it with my bare hands.’ I highly recommend this adorable comfort bird kit, and my advice is take your time, it’s not a race!” —Tammi H.
Get it from Amazon for $34.99.
18. A pocket watercolor kit that you can pull out as you wait restlessly at the bus stop if artistic inspiration strikes (or your phone dies on you). No need to carry pounds of art supplies — just clip the wooden paint palette to any journal and let your water brush lead the way.
Guyuana / Etsy
Guyuana is a small business from Thailand that specializes in travel art sets.
Promising review: “I ordered this so I had something to do after surgery. Great quality and easy and fun activity.” —Therese Ernholdt
Get it from Guyuana on Etsy for $20.80+ (originally $32+; available in bamboo or walnut, with or without paint, and with or without the painting book).
19. A sushi-making kit to experiment with a new culinary hobby that isn’t just ordering takeout. This kit provides everything from a sharp sushi knife to a rice bazooka that will actually give you restaurant-quality sushi rolls instead of a failed bowl of poke.
Promising review: “Best sushi-making kit out there, period. It contains all the tools you need to start making sushi, a really affordable kit, and it’s just very entertaining to try it out with your family. It’s the beginner’s set you were looking for, and all parts appear to be made of non-harmful, natural, and durable materials. Five stars.” —Antonio Mendez
Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in three colors).
20. A punch needle kit that’ll have you creating *and* endlessly gifting the cutest coasters. This is the perfect craft if crocheting or sewing isn’t your cup of tea, but you still want that “cozying up on the couch” activity.
Punch Atelier / Etsy
This kit comes with an embroidery hoop, four designs, a punch needle, four punch needle fabrics, enough colorful yarn, and instructions.
Punch Atelier is a small business based in Turkey that makes beginner-friendly punch embroidery sets. They also have a tutorial video for beginners on their YouTube channel.
Promising review: “I’m having so much fun learning with this kit. It included everything I needed, the instructions are easy to follow, and I was super impressed with the ability to reach out with any questions.” —Emily Shields
Get it from Punch Atelier on Etsy for $42 (available in four sets) — includes free shipping.
21. A DIY cheese kit to impress your friends at your next charcuterie night, or if you want to scratch that itch of kneading fresh mozzarella (it looks so slimy). You can make four batches of your choice of ricotta, farmer cheese, or mozzarella — but if you can’t choose just one, there’s an option for all of the above. Just provide the milk, and you’ll feel like an Italian artisan in no time.
Urban Cheesecraft / Etsy
Urban Cheesecraft is a small business based in Portland, Oregon, that specializes in make-your-own cheese kits in a variety of cheeses, including vegan options. Each kit comes with a cheesecloth, citric acid, flake salt, instructions, and “email support for life” — all you need is milk.
Promising review: “I have bought a few of these for gifts (and one for myself) and it’s always well received with excitement. The directions are very clear and simple, everything turns out great, and you learn a new skill! A+.” —Kathryn K
Get it from Urban Cheesecraft on Etsy for $39.20 (originally $49) — includes free shipping.
22. A nostalgic Shrinky Dinks set that’ll mentally transport you back to your sixth-grade bedroom as you spend hours drawing, baking, and creating thousands of keychains, charms, earrings, and ornaments. (Now you know what everyone is getting for Christmas!)
Amazon
It comes with 25 clear sheets and instructions.
Promising review: “My kids and I have a blast making these! I recommend getting a hole punch and making key chains! You could also make super cute earrings as well. Really easy to use product and keeps kids busy for at least an hour.”—Amanda
Get it from Amazon for $14.99.
23. A candle-making kit for those who love to switch out their home’s signature scent every few weeks. The delicious scents and bright dyes give you the creative freedom to make whatever candles you crave. (No need to wait for fall to burn a yummy apple scent.) The dried flowers and custom labels will also put you over the top — you might just want to set up your own soy candle business.
The kit comes with four glass jars and three tin cans, pre-measured soy wax, seven fragrance oils, 10 dye blocks, candle wicks, glue dots, a melting pot, a digital thermometer, a mixing spoon, two centering devices, dried flowers, and decorative labels.
Promising review: “This kit comes with everything a beginner hobbyist needs to make custom candles for gifts or for yourself. I’ve been having so much fun mixing different scents and colors to create my perfect custom candle. Easy to use (with a little practice and some instruction reading) and comes with everything you need. I am really enjoying this new hobby and think I may have finally found one I can stick with, simply because of the joy it brings to make and then use my creation!” —Lauren R.
Get it from Amazon for $49.97+ (also available in a black candle kit and larger sets).
24. A vibrant mushroom cottage puzzle that’ll have you color-coding and separating edge pieces for hours. This 1,000-piece design isn’t one you can finish in an hour, so grab your hot tea, turn up your audiobook, and puzzle the night away!
After you complete the mushroom cottage, you can dive into other Buffalo Games puzzles that are equally as complex and colorful!
Promising review: ” I am recently retired and need something to keep me busy. This is my favorite brand of puzzle, and I have well over 50. I love how they aren’t the easiest due to the color schemes, so it’s not something you will get done in a few hours. Would recommend for puzzle lovers.” —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $11.97+ (available in eight designs).
25. Or a wooden, mechanical puzzle if the boring 2D versions are child’s play. It comes with small, detailed pieces that will put your brain to work and challenge your precision as you put it all together. Unlike with regular puzzles, you’ll be left with a fully functional music box to play you a beautiful tune to enjoy after hours of work.
This puzzle’s melody is a rendition of “Memory” from the musical Cats!
Promising review: “When younger, I rarely had the patience or precision for plastic models. These are excellent. They are busy enough to be interesting to do but easy enough to enjoy without heartburn. They are as sturdy as can be expected with lightweight wood. The wood is denser than balsa airplane wood. The pieces are well fabricated. Instructions are clear. They are fun. I’ve made several and given them as gifts.” —DM
Get it from Amazon for $28.04.
The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.
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