Eyes Burning from Screen Time? 25 Hobbies to Try Now

Beginner-Friendly Crochet Kit

A beginner-friendly crochet kit that includes everything you need to create a whole family of plants. Some of us love the idea of tending to a garden, but need a hobby we won't feel guilty for inevitably forgetting to water. The set comes with all the necessary tools, along with step-by-step video guides and yarn specially designed for beginners.

The complete kit includes six colors of yarn, stuffing, eyes, an ergonomic crochet needle, a yarn needle, a stitch marker, and helpful instructions and video tutorials.

Promising review: "Super cute! I love how this is beginner-friendly! I wanted to start a new hobby, and I think this won me over! I have two kids, so this is perfect to make them new, cute little toys. Going to keep this in mind for gifting as well as it is a great gift and not too expensive!" — Astrid Cobble

Get it from Amazon for $21.99.

1,000 Piece Mystic Maze

If you yawn at the thought of a puzzle, I present you, ~magical puzzles~. The jigsaws are designed by different artists who each add their own whimsical twist and tiny details for you to discover as you build. The true magic, though, is in the grand finale, which is kept secret in an envelope (guarded by a wizard's curse, of course) until you complete the puzzle!

A few other fan-favorites from The Magical Puzzle Company include The Crystal Caves and The Happy Isles!

Promising review: "My family and I do a TON of puzzles. This is one of our collective favorites. It might be my personal favorite puzzle ever. There were a bunch of little unusual surprises throughout, and one big surprise at the end that's unlike any other puzzle I've done. Other puzzle companies that try to 'innovate' usually end up making the experience worse by making the puzzles extra hard or inconvenient in some way. The innovation of this one didn't have any of those problems. It only added to the fun, without any detraction." — Nick M. Bentley

Get it from Amazon for $22.99.

Mosaic Sunflower Suncatcher

A stunning mosaic sunflower suncatcher you honestly won't believe you made with your own two hands. The hand-cut bits of glass can be assembled into a sunflower design, or you can get avant-garde with it — I saw one reviewer create a sunset, how cuuuute! Either way, you'll get a one-of-a-kind piece of art that looks beautiful when the light shines through.

Mosaic at the Farm / Etsy

The kit includes a clear acrylic base, hand-cut stained glass, glue, grout, a wood stir stick, a disposable glove, and written instructions with photos.

Mosaics At The Farm is a small business specializing in mosaic art and DIY kits.

Promising review: "My daughter and I made these on Christmas Day and they turned out beautifully. Such quality and clear instructions. What a wonderful memory we have now. We both look at our suncatchers daily and think of each other. Great product and customer service." — Susan

Get it from Mosaics At The Farm on Etsy for $49.95+ (available with or without an easel).

Candle-Making Kit

A candle-making kit if you can't help but admire (and sniff) every hand-poured masterpiece at your local market. The natural soybean wax, essential oils, and dye blocks are perfect for custom scent and color combos, and the kit even includes dried flowers and labels to give your very own creations that extra artisan ~flair~.

The kit includes three pounds of soy wax, a 1.3-liter melting pot and wax melter, six candle tins, four glass jars, 10 fragrances, 12 wax dyes, four types of dried flowers, four wick holders, 20 wicks, 30 sticker labels, 20 glue stickers, (deep breath), "love" cards, a mixing spoon, a thermometer, AND a manual.

Promising review: "Got together with some girlfriends and did this craft together. There were plenty of supplies for five of us to have at least one, if not two, candles each. The kit was easy to use, and we loved that it came with the thermometer in the pot. Easy to use on the stove, easy to follow instructions. Would definitely try this again." — M. Davis

Get it from Amazon for $44.99 (also available without the melter).

DIY Macrame Keychain

A DIY macrame keychain you may even enjoy putting together more than scrolling on TikTok... maybe. The cute daisy design comes with clear instructions that make it easier to get into this age-old craft, and when you're done, it'll look ah-dorable hanging from your bag! Can I get a "macram-yay?"

sTEAdy decor / Etsy

Each kit comes with pre-cut 100% recycled cotton string and one lobster clasp ring. An email will be sent with digital instructions and two detailed videos explaining the knotting process.

sTEAdy decor is a woman- and Asian-owned small biz based in Toronto. Owner Su Min is the original creator of the viral flower design.

Promising review: "I wanted to gift my partner a cute homemade keychain, but I’ve only ever learned a standard braid and wasn’t even sure where to start with materials. The kit made it so easy, and the instructions were very helpful! It turned out so cute and I can’t wait to gift it to them. 🌼💛" — Taylor Maki

Get it from sTEAdy decor on Etsy for $11.80 (available in eight colors or a custom color combination of your choice, and with a silver or gold clasp).

Compact Felting Kit

A compact felting kit to fill your life with little creatures that will keep you company as you venture into the world of phone-free hobbies. With 20 colors and all the tools you need (including plastic eyes!) you can make — and grow attached to — all the ones your heart desires.

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Within the portable storage box, the kit includes: 20 colors of wool roving, 30 needles (small, medium, and coarse sizes), 30 plastic eyes, 10 silver nine-shaped needles, five colorful rope chains, four small wool felt molds, one colorful wooden handle, one pair of finger gloves, one tweezer, one yarn cutter, three needle bottles, one foam pad, two glue sticks, and one awl.

Promising review: "This is my first time ever Needle Felting and this kit has every tool I have needed so far! The tools are well-made, and the needles are strong. I did buy some additional wool for a project I started, but this kit has a lot to use to just play around with and make smaller things. I watched a few videos on YouTube and voila — made my first little animal! I'm really having fun and hope this review helps someone. If you price these tools individually at Hobby Lobby or similar, you will spend a lot more money — this kit has everything! Happy Felting!" — Kristin Bernhardi

Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in green and orange, and in a set of 40 colors).

DIY Moss Kit

A DIY moss kit that brings all the green, earthy energy of a houseplant into your home without the responsibility. The provided moss is preserved, so absolutely no water, sunlight, or trimming is required — maybe just a light dusting now and then. And, because you have creative freedom with the placement of your natural elements, each spongy masterpiece is truly one-of-a-kind.

Evergreen Oasis / Etsy

Each kit includes a piece of natural wood with a built-in hanging hardware to display your art (no screws), a variety of high-quality moss, and an assortment of natural elements like cork bark, walnut husks, branches, and more.

Evergreen Oasis is a small business based in the U.S. committed to only using wood that comes from sustainably managed forests or reclaimed sources.

Promising review: "The moss art kit was exactly as described! Included a beautiful moss selection. A perfect gift for my artsy friend." — Kristen

Get it from Evergreen Oasis on Etsy for $24.69+ (originally $25.99+; available in three sizes and a set of three).

Beginner's Embroidery Kit

A beginner's embroidery kit, the perfect curl-up-on-the-couch activity if you need a little more coziness in your life. The gorgeous pre-stamped designs and video instructions are great for learning basic techniques and stitches! Maybe our grandparents were right... This and a cup of tea may be exactly the kind of energy we need right now.

Each kit includes three patterned embroidery cloths, six embroidery needles, three instruction sheets, three packs of colored threads, and a 7.8-inch (20 cm) embroidery hoop.

Promising review: "Great quality, 100% totally beginner friendly. You'll need to look up a tutorial video for each stitch, but that takes only minutes. I actually enjoyed doing these more than I did doing more complicated projects. It's fun, cozy, relaxing, and you feel accomplished when it's finished." — Galaxy

Get it from Amazon for $15.19+ (available in 13 designs and packs of four).

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