31 Beginner-Friendly Hobbies That Don’t Require Tons Of Time Or Money
We're quickly approaching indoor hobby season when it's a bit too chilly to hang around outside ***** long. But maybe building miniature or knitting isn't exactly your thing. Well, I found some lower lift hobbies that are budget-friendly. So in case you start in on diamond painting a coaster and are like, "Meh. Not for me," you won't feel bad abandoning it. (Though my local Buy Nothing group members quickly snap up any craft or hobby supplies that I'm not super into.) Have fun on your new hobby adventure!!
www.amazon.com
www.amazon.com
Murdoku , a new set of murder mystery logic puzzles for fans of the viral Murdle series in case just looking at your sweaters makes you think about Benoit Blanc and a good murder mystery. This book has 80 crime scene settings you can get to work solving while getting extra cozy on a night when you feel a nip in the air.
Promising review:"Amazing! These puzzles are so fun. It's nice that they start easy and get harder, so you can get used to the format first, then continue to be challenged as you learn how they work. Fun, visually appealing, and sprinkled with humor.I finished this one in about 1.5 months (of fairly dedicated work) and ordered Volume 2
before I was even done with the first one. It's a higher price point than many puzzle books, but you get high quality for what you pay." — EN
The best part?? Once you finish this version of "Murdling," you can try a whole BUNCH of other themed Murdle books
— PLUS a Murdle board game
!
Get it from Amazon for $11.54
(and check out Volume 2
and Volume 3
if you're in the mood for more murrrrderrr).
Amazon
Amazon
A DIY 3D sticker scene book so you can play interior designer and build tiny adorable rooms without having to worry about any load-bearing walls. Seems like the perfect way to occupy your hands while you watch the latest season of Scariest House in America, one of my personal faves.
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
Get it from Amazon for $9.98.
Amazon
Amazon
A Spooky Cutie adult coloring book if you wanna try a seasonal version of a winding down go-to. Queue up that horror movie audio book and get working on this!
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
Get it from Amazon for $9.99
.
www.amazon.com
www.amazon.com
Or Still & Slow, a monochrome coloring book for adults in case you've grown weary of using actual coloring pencils and want an activity that matches the early sunsets of the season.
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
Get it from Amazon for $24.90
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www.amazon.com
www.amazon.com
A beginner-friendly flower press kit so you can enjoy some IRL florals that'll last even longer than your Lego or Play-Doh varieties! Reviewers say it's large enough to fit almost any flower so you can go WILD with the wildflowers near your house (or blooms from a sentimental bouquet).
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).
www.amazon.com
A mini Bob Ross paint-by-numbers kit that'll help you start out small with your own "happy little trees" before you move onto bigger canvases and projects! This comes with three pre-printed canvases, seven paint pots, a mini brush, and a mini easel to help display your handiwork and inspire further artistic endeavors.
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
Get it from Amazon for $6.65
.
www.amazon.com
Or if you're feeling a little more ambitious, a leafy paint-by-number kit you'll enjoy painting now while you dream of when your local park actually looks like this in about a month.
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).
Amazon
Amazon
A brand-new Play-Doh bouquet making kit in case you're yearning for a new kinda craft and are feeling pretty pliable with your next project. Then you can enjoy a bouquet that won't wilt on you like the one you picked up last-minute at Trader Joe's last week!
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).
Amazon
The Book of Strange but True Science if your goal is to become a repository of random facts. Can I be on your trivia team?!
This book has 300+ articles across subjects like astronomy, consumer products, inventions, scientists, medicine, animals, fringe science, UFOs, and the human body.
Get it from Amazon for $10.10
or Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $15.83
.
www.amazon.com
A John Derian sticker book with 700+ gorgeous stickers that'll delight and aww you. Yeah, there are cheaper and more kid-friendly sticker books but my gosh, these are so stunning (like everything else from John Derian).
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
.
www.amazon.com
www.amazon.com
A pineapple string art kit that won't care that you're not so great at coloring or painting in the lines. One reviewer said it took them about two hours to complete. It's going to look so charming up on your wall!
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).
www.amazon.com
www.amazon.com
A quilting design coloring book can make for a relaxing screen-free activity AND perhaps inspire your next new hobby thanks to all the enchanting 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
Get it from Amazon for $12.99
.
Amazon
Amazon
A Squishmallows jewelry kit will help you craft 25+ bracelets, which means your niblings can get involved and join in the couch-rotting. Ahem, I mean CRAFTING.
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
Get it from Amazon for $16.78
.
www.amazon.com
Or a friendship bracelet–making kit that'll help you revive your middle school jewelry obsession. It's kid-friendly and, therefore, will make it much easier for adults! Plus, it comes with pre-cut string to try your hand at this, and then you can re-up your thread if you decide to whip up a bracelet for everyone you know.
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).
www.amazon.com
www.amazon.com
Hand Lettering 101 if your penmanship has been compared to that of a doctor's or a chicken's, and you were so rudely reminded of it when filling out cards for people on your list. Recipients won't even know what's coming the next time you send out a card.
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
Get it from Amazon for $14.25
.
www.amazon.com
www.amazon.com
To Die For: A Cookbook of Gravestone Recipes , a recently released (and pretty self-explanatory) book of recipes that are SO legendary, people shared them on their tombstones! Doing the actual work of cooking and baking can happen when Netflix asks you if you're still watching and you should likely take a breather from marathon-watching Interview with the Vampire.
The author Rosie Grant collected 40 recipes from across the globe and interviewed the recipe creators' family members as a sweet (in more ways than one) tribute!
Promising review:"This is an absolutely beautiful idea and a very well made and thoughtful cookbook with wonderful recipes. If you have ever loved to make cherished recipes that were handed down or wish you had a grandma that handed down family recipes to you then this is perfect for you. I especially love reading the touching stories about each person that goes along with them. It feels so much more special than googling a random recipe." — Alie
Get it from Amazon for $16.90
.
www.amazon.com
A user-friendly silicone bread maker that'll help you get into the delicious, carb-y hobby without buying a machine or acquiring a sourdough starter. You simply mix the ingredients directly into the maker and then bake it in it! And if you're already worried about combing Pinterest for recipes, a bunch come with the maker.
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
Get it from Amazon for $28
.
www.amazon.com
www.amazon.com
A beginner-friendly diamond painting coaster set in case a bigger piece of art is too intimidating. With this, you can work on a coaster at a time and really get your footing with diamond art!
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. Iam delighted with these coasters." — PackLeaderJ
Get it from Amazon for $11.99
(available in five styles).
www.amazon.com
www.amazon.com
A Pride & Prejudice sticker jigsaw puzzle book any Jane Austen fan will get a kick out of — but they're not the only ones. There are jigsaw books about other classics!
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
).
www.amazon.com
www.amazon.com
A 5-pound bucket of Crayola Air Dry Clay can help you really get a bit wild with it because you've been tempted to take that $70 pottery class your friend swears by, but you'd like to play around with a cheaper alternative at home.
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
Get it from Amazon for $13.58
.
www.amazon.com
A DIY clay dish craft kit if you'd prefer some solid direction for getting creative. Just call this kit your muse and whip up a gorgeous little bowl for knick-knacks at your desk, like lip balm, a mini box opener, and more. Also, it's air-dry!
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
Get it from Amazon for $14.99
.
www.amazon.com
A mini animal sewing kit that doesn't require any prior sewing experience to craft. I mean, just look at them! Maybe you'll fall in love with these and finally buy a sewing machine like you keep thinking about.
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
Get it from Amazon for $15.39
.
www.amazon.com
www.amazon.com
A compact, beginner-friendly watercolor palette to help you get your paint brushes wet when it comes to this super fun medium. It's not for everyone but it can be quite forgiving so you can build your confidence! This comes with 100 colors to help you realize your artistic vision.
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
Get it from Amazon for $29.99
.
www.amazon.com
www.amazon.com
A Lego flower bouquet because you thought adult Legos were all about Star Wars and architecture — until now.
Check out a TikTok of the Lego bouquet
in action.
Promising review: "This is a great gift for anyone who loves flowers. They are as sturdy as they get since they're Legos, and although they do take a while to build, it's a very fulfilling process. Love it and would set aside as something to gift to several people at any point. They look beautiful!!" — Gaby
Get it from Amazon for $47.99
.
www.amazon.com
A marble paint kit for a family activity that you can later use in OTHER crafts. The gift that keeps on giving!
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
Get it from Amazon for $16.99
.
Amazon
Amazon
A wax seal stamp kit in case you'd like to feel like you're in a period piece when sending your pals some snail mail. The kit has all the supplies you'll need to get started!
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
Get it from Amazon for $21.90
.
www.amazon.com
www.amazon.com
A terrarium starter kit with a pair of dinos that'll find a nice lil' home in it.
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).
www.amazon.com
5-Minute Daily Writing Prompts , chock-full of 501 writing prompts for anyone who's hoping to squeeze in a little more creativity in their routine. This is low stakes and each exercise only takes five minutes!
Promising review:"Fantastic tool to get the creativity going again. Not just for those with experience writing — good for beginners too." — Lynne Navarro
Get it from Amazon for $6.99
.
www.amazon.com
www.amazon.com
And a book of 642 tiny things to draw will help you get comfortable with some guided doodling, whether you're just starting out or have hit a bit of a creative block.
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. "
Get it from Amazon for $8.89
.
www.amazon.com
www.amazon.com
A palm-reading guide that'll also fit in the palm of your hand (or bag) so you can practice on the go on all your friends.
Promising review:"I bought this, the tea leaf book, and a palmistry hand and I have to say it lived up to my expectations. Very informative, and looks great with my collection! I had previously owned the tarot kit and I knew I had to have this to go with it. A wonderful addition to my collection, and great for my tiny dorm room. The book jacket was in great condition, but be careful combining orders as the jacket on my other order came slightly bent. Overall, I am very happy with this!!!" — Meagan
Get it from Amazon for $4.48
.
Amazon
Amazon
A bonsai starter kit can grow four bonsai trees so your new leafy friends won't get lonely. Get ready to impress any guests!
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
Get it from Amazon for $19.99
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Yahoo
