Gifts for creative teens aren’t just things you wrap up and give—they’re little sparks that can light a fire in a young person’s imagination. The teen years are full of self-discovery, and finding the right creative outlet can help them figure out who they are and what they love. Whether your teen is sketching in the margins of their homework, filming silly videos with friends, or dreaming up an invention in the garage, the right tools can give their ideas room to grow.
The key to encouraging a teen’s creativity is helping them explore different outlets until they find the ones that really light them up. For some, that might mean art kits, music equipment, or writing tools. For others, it could be hands-on building projects, coding kits, or filmmaking gear. Pay attention to the things they naturally gravitate toward—are they more visual, verbal, or hands-on? Knowing their creative style makes it easier to pick a gift they’ll truly use and love.
On that note…if you want to skip the chit chat, hop right down to our curated list of inspired gifts for creative teens🎁. Otherwise, keep reading to learn how teens benefit from creative expression and some tips on how to encourage it.
🧠Creative Expression in Teens is Good for their Brains
Creativity isn’t just fun—it’s good for their minds. Research published on PubMed Central shows that creative thinking strengthens cognitive flexibility—the ability to look at challenges from different angles and come up with fresh solutions. The article explains that creativity involves two key cognitive pathways: generating ideas (divergent thinking) and evaluating and refining ideas (executive control).
Put simply, when teens dive into a creative project, they’re actually using two important “brain highways.” The first is idea generation—that free-flowing, “what if we tried this?” kind of thinking that happens when they sketch wild designs, brainstorm story plots, or dream up new inventions. The second is refining and evaluating—where they step back and decide which ideas to keep, which to tweak, and how to make their vision work in real life.
A teen experimenting with jewelry-making, for example, might start by spilling a rainbow of beads on the table and imagining endless patterns (divergent thinking). Then, they’ll test which combinations look best, which clasps hold securely, and which designs feel wearable (executive control). Both pathways are essential for nurturing their creative confidence—and the right gifts for creative teens can encourage them to explore both.
💖Creative Expression is Good for Teens Mental Health
Creativity is also good for a teen’s heart and spirit. Artistic activities help teens manage stress, build problem-solving skills, and gain confidence in their abilities. They also learn persistence when a project doesn’t work out the first time, and pride when they finally make it happen. For many teens, creative work becomes a safe, healthy outlet for emotions and a way to connect with others who share their interests. That’s a pretty amazing bonus for something that also brings them joy.
A study about creativity and mental health, posted on Frontiers in Phsychiatry emphasizes that creativity isn’t only an innate trait—it can be used deliberately as a coping strategy. Teens can channel stress into creative work, which helps them reappraise negative feelings and support mental well-being.
So when teens engage in artistic activities—whether it’s painting, writing poetry, or making music—they’re not just having fun. They’re also practicing emotional resilience, using creative work as a healthy way to process feelings and handle stress. That’s why the right creative gift can be more than entertainment—it can be a tool for self-expression and growth.
Gifts like creative journals, poetry or comic-making sets, or music composition tools are more than hobby gifts—they’re tools that teens can turn to when they need a healthier, constructive way to process emotions. Any creative work becomes a safe, healthy outlet for stress, plus a way to connect with others who share their interests. That’s a pretty amazing bonus for something that also brings them joy.
🎨Encouraging Creative Expression in Teens
One of the best ways to encourage creativity is to give open-ended tools and materials instead of only structured kits. This lets teens explore their own ideas without worrying about doing it “right.” Creative and craft kits and sets are wonderful gifts and we have some in our gifts for creative teens suggestions below, but keep in mind some teens need to explore their creative side more freely. You can also support their creative journey by showing interest in what they’re making, helping them find space to work, or of course, cheering them on at creative performances or competitions.
On a personal note, my creative niece came to live with me when she was 15. I knew she liked crafts and sketching and painting, so I set up an area in our dining room with shelves and drawers for craft supplies and a pub table and chairs for her creative endeavors. It’s our “creative corner” and let me tell you, that table has been filled with everything from watercolor artwork, miniature kits, sketches, Diamond Art, fairy gardens, hydroponics (not sure if that qualifies as creative, but we sure had a lot of basil!) and all sorts of other projects.
My point is, because I had an area in our home where she could explore her creative interests, she made full use of it, and still does (she’s a senior in high school now). When the stress of school or things on her mind get to be too much, she can go to that corner, immerse herself in a creative world and hide from the real one for a little while. And that’s okay.
🖌️Finding the Right Creative Outlet for your Teen
If you’re not sure what type of creative gift might click, watch what they gravitate toward in their free time. Do they draw, edit photos, write poems, or play guitar? Maybe they’ve hinted at wanting to try ceramics, jewelry making, or coding. A little observation (and a few gentle questions) can lead you to a gift that matches their passions—or inspires them to discover a new one.
🎁Making Creativity Accessible to your Teen
Not every teen has access to specialized tools, fancy studios, or formal art classes—so gifts that bring creative opportunities right into their daily life can be a real game-changer. When you put high-quality materials or inspiring tools in their hands, you’re not just giving them “something to do”—you’re opening a door to self-expression and skill-building they can explore on their own terms.
A sturdy sketchbook and professional-grade pencils can make drawing feel more satisfying. A starter digital design program or beginner-friendly camera can spark an interest in visual storytelling. Even something as simple as a jewelry-making kit or a set of vibrant acrylic paints can turn a rainy afternoon into a burst of inspiration. The right gift can make creativity feel exciting, approachable, and deeply rewarding—and may even plant the seeds for a lifelong passion.
🍓Toysenberry Picks—Gifts for Creative Teens
Now that we’ve covered why creativity matters so much for teens, let’s get into the fun part—finding gifts that will inspire and excite them. Below you’ll find some of our favorite picks for gifts that spark imagination, encourage hands-on learning, and give teens the freedom to create something uniquely their own. We’ve separated the gifts for creative teens into sections, based on interest.
Sidenote from my niece and I quote, “Whatever you do, don’t recommend those cheap art sets with acrylic and watercolor and pencils and everything included in them.” She continued and told me as soon as her friends and family learned she liked to draw and paint, she got about 7 of those sets and didn’t use them because they just weren’t good quality and covered too many art mediums in one kit. Her advice, as a creative teen, is to give a couple quality items for one medium (just sketching or just watercolor, for instance), and as your teen wants to explore different techniques, then get them good-quality tools for that particular medium.
That said…I know every teen is different, but you’ll see in my recommendations below, that I’m following her advice.
🍓A berry quick note: The links below take you to Amazon and as an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. you can read more about that here.
🖼️ Artsy Gifts for Creative Teens Who Love to Draw, Sketch & Paint
Art supplies are more than tools—they’re an invitation to explore a teen’s inner world. From a fresh sketchbook to a vibrant set of paints, these gift ideas for artistic teens whisper, “your ideas matter.” With the right brushes and colors in hand, they can turn daydreams and thoughts into something beautiful to share.
Ohuhu Alcohol Markers and Strathmore Paper
Alcohol markers are a wonderful gift to give a creative teen to explore their artistic talents. They are known for their vibrant color, blending and layering capabilities and quick drying time. The best of the best brand (I’m told by my creative niece) is Copic and you can find a Copic Ciao Starter Set and larger sets on Amazon, however they are expensive. Artists recommend Ohuhu brand alcohol markers as a quality, budget-friendly alternative. The set pictured below contains 40 colors and they are dual-tipped—one end is fine tip and the other thicker. If you’re willing to pay a bit more, here is an Ohuhu Alcohol Marker set with 120 colors. One look at all the beautiful colors of these markers is enough to spark the creativity in your artsy teen.
Of course your teen needs good paper to flow those ideas onto, and artists (including my artsy niece) recommend Strathmore brand. Alcohol markers need smooth, heavier paper and I’ve linked the recommended type below. Your budding artist might also enjoy a smaller canvas, like these Strathmore Artist Trading Card size papers. These are cool gifts for creative teens to share their original masterpieces with family and friends.
Ohuhu Alcohol Markers – 40 Double Tipped
Strathmore 300 Series Bristol Paper Pad of 20 sheets
Sketching Pencils and Paper
Graphite pencils and paper are a welcome gift for creative teens who want to explore sketching. My art consultant (AKA my niece) says Faber-Castell is an excellent brand for pencils and you want a set that has light and dark variations so artists can get the shading just right. I’ve linked her recommendations for pencils and paper pictured below.
She also recommends tracing paper. Artists use tracing paper to create a copy of their or someone else’s artwork, to alter it or experiment with different concepts for the piece. It’s also used to transfer a design, say from a sketchpad to it’s final surface, like a canvas. They trace the design, then flip the tracing paper over, onto the final surface, and trace it again. This transfers the image to the other surface. I had no idea, but I can see how an artist would want this ability and it’s inexpensive enough to include in a gift for your creative teen. Here is a link to some quality Strathmore Tracing Paper.
Strathmore Sketch Pad, 5.5×8.5Faber-Castell Graphite Sketch Pencil Set
Pigmented Watercolor Paint Set and Brushes
The key to buying a good set of watercolor paints, is to choose a brand that is known for highly pigmented sets. The MeiLiang brand is known for their high-quality watercolor paints and the set pictured below has over 10,000 nearly 5-star reviews. The best review for me though, is from my niece who loves and uses these.
As for brushes, synthetic is best for watercolors and the set pictured below contains a large variety of sizes for background and detail painting. These are inexpensive and highly-rated and both would make a great gift for creative teens who love to paint.
MeiLiang 36 Watercolor Paint SetSynthetic Paint Brushes
Watercolor Journal or Mini Watercolor Set
A watercolor journal is a lovely gift for a creative teen to paint memorable moments of their day, week, or just special moments in their life. I love the idea of this because not only is it like a watercolor diary, it’s also a visual record of how they are progressing in their craft and something really sweet to look through, later in life. It’s a lovely gift to inspire creativity in your teen.
Maybe it’s because I love all things miniature, but I’m drawn to these little Tobios watercolor sets. They’re about 2.67″x2.67 ” and include little watercolor papers, paints, 9 palettes and one larger one for mixing, and they all fit in a little drawstring bag. What fun for young artists to carry this with them and pull them out whenever they feel inspired. I thought it was such a cute gift to give a creative teen artist.
Visual Watercolor JournalTobios Watercolor Set
Tabletop Easel and Art Storage Tote
A tabletop easel is a much appreciated gift for a creative teen. This one is adjustable height, folds down to store away easily, and has storage compartments for art supplies. Reviewers appreciate its portability an sturdiness and I think this would be a nice gift for a teen exploring their painting and drawing talents.
Another needed gift for artsy teens is a place to store their art or craft supplies. The canvas tote we recommend below has plenty of pockets for pens, pencils, brushes and paints, plus a large area for sketchbooks and canvases. It stows away in a closet or under a desk and comes in several colors.
Organizer Tote Bag for Art StorageWooden Tabletop EaseL
📸 Cool Gifts for Creative Teens Interested in Photography
A camera in a teen’s hands is like a key to noticing the world in new ways. Whether it’s a simple starter camera or accessories to level up their shots, these photography gifts for teens encourage them to capture moments that might otherwise slip away. Each photo becomes a way to frame their perspective—and share how they see life unfolding.
Macro & Wide Angle Lens and Flexible Tripod
This lens kit for iOS and Android phones is a best seller on Amazon and comes with a macro and micro lens, LED light, strap and carrying case. Budding teen photographers can practice extreme close-up shots of food, nature, or the mold in the cereal bowl they left in their bedroom…or maybe more artsy things. With the wide angle lens they can explore landscape photography.
A Joby flexible smartphone tripod is good for teens to photograph scenes with themselves in them. It wraps around branches and poles to get the perfect shot at any height.
Xenvo Pro Lens KitJOBY GripTight Universal Phone Holder
Photo Printer and Lighted Photo Display
This Liene M100 4×6 photo printer is the perfect way for teens to print out their masterpieces and watch their craft develop and improve over time. This printer has a built-in wifi hot spot, works with iphone, Android or PC, and comes with 3 ink cartridges and 100 sheets of photo paper. Reviewers say the photo quality is great and it’s the best 4×6 photo printer at this price point. It’s fairly small at about 10″x7.5″, but if you want something more portable for your teen, they have the Liene 2×3 photo printer that prints smaller photos.
Your budding photographer will want to display their photo art, of course, and what better way than clipping them to twinkly lights? Both of these are fun gifts for creative teens who love taking photos.
Liene M100 4×6” Photo PrinterLED Photo Clip String Lights
Tripod and Gear Bag
A tripod is a necessity for photographers and this Sensyne tripod/selfie stick combo for phones extends to 62″ tall and has a remote shutter control. It folds up to only 5″ so it’s great on the go for outdoor and nature shots. There are 4 options, with the tallest extending to 92″ for only a few dollars more.
Even if your creative teen is using a phone for their photography, they’ll need something to carry their accessories in. This Bagsmart camera and gear bag is large enough to hold their tripod, lenses. battery pack, and anything else they need, plus when they do get a DSLR camera, they are all set with a bag.
SENSYNE 62″ Tripod and Selfie StickBAGSMART Bag for gear and/or camera
Portable Charger and an Inspiring Photography Book
All that picture taking is bound to drain your teens phone battery, so a portable charger is a great gift for beginning teen photographers. This one from Anker works with Android or iphone (check the description to make sure it’s compatible with their model), charges quickly and is a little larger than a credit card. To ensure no picture taking down time, get a long USB to lightening cord so your teen can continue taking photos while it’s charging. Because impatient. Here’s an iphone 6ft USB to lightning cord.
in researching beginning photography gifts for creative teens, one item was recommended over and over: the book, Joel Meyerowitz: Seeing Things A Kids Guide to Looking at Photographs. It encourages photography enthusiasts to look closely at the work of famous photographers and try to see what the photographer saw and learn from their work. It explains how “photographers transform ordinary things into memorable moments.” it’s highly acclaimed and although it says it’s for kids ages 10-12, most reviewers say it’s a wonderful resource for older kids and adults too, to improve their photography skill. I think this is a super thoughtful gift for any creative teen who is into photography.
Anker USB C in-and-out Portable ChargerJoel Meyerowitz: Seeing Things
A Beginner DSLR Camera
When your teen is ready to start photographing with a camera and not their phone, there are many, many options. Full disclosure: I am not a camera expert. But I reviewed recommendations from photography enthusiasts and professionals and found the two cameras pictured below to be highly rated.
The Panasonic Lumix G100 has an intelligent auto mode for beginners, or manual settings as your teen gains experience. It has a compact design and is very user-friendly. Reviewers report the photo quality is excellent and like the video recording capabilities as well, so it’s a good camera for content creators too.
The second camera that is recommended is the Canon EOS Rebel T7 which takes sharp, clear photos, has preset settings to simplify your shots, and is reported to be easy for beginners to use. It comes with an 18-55mm zoom lens, which is a nice plus and reviewers say it’s super easy to transfer photos from the camera to a phone or computer with its built-in wifi. This one also is great for making videos so is a good option for budding filmmakers as well as photographers.
Panasonic LUMIX G100 CameraCanon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR Camera
🍓A berry quick note: The links below take you to Amazon and as an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. you can read more about that here.
💻 Gifts for Creative Teens Who Like Digital Design
From graphic design tablets to beginner-friendly software, these digital design gifts for teens open the door to endless creativity. They let teens transform doodles into digital art, ideas into logos, or imagination into motion graphics. It’s like giving them a canvas that stretches as far as their curiosity.
An iPad with Procreate and a Drawing Pen
An iPad is a wonderful tool for teens who like to create digital art. My niece has one and uses it frequently. Procreate is a digital illustration and painting app designed for iPads. Digital artists love it because it’s user-friendly, has many features, and at about $13.00, is inexpensive (aside from the cost of the iPad, that is). I’ve watched my niece create digital art with it on her iPad and it’s amazing to see what an artsy teen can do with it. After buying the iPad, download and purchase the Procreate app from the Apple App store.
You can use Procreate on the iPad with just your finger or an inexpensive stylus, but an Apple Pencil Pro Drawing Pen takes the creative process to a whole new level. It’s extremely precise, with tilt and pressure sensitivity, and you can change the brushstroke size, color, and effect with just a tap. There’s tons of tutorials on YouTube, where you can watch an artist create something beautiful in just minutes. There’s really no limit to what a teen artist can accomplish with it. These two together would be a dream gift for a creative teen who likes to create digital art.
The iPad linked below has 256GB of storage. If you want to pay a bit less, you can get an iPad with 128GB storage and it will probably be fine, unless your teen is creating large files with multiple layers, does a lot of timelapse recording (a cool feature available with Procreate), or has many other apps on their device. The Procreate app alone takes up 1GB of storage.
Apple iPad 11-inch: A16 chip, SilverApple Pencil Pro: Latest Model
Drawing Tablet and Drawing Glove
A bit different from an iPad, a drawing tablet connects to a computer and your teen can see the digital art they are drawing on the tablet, take shape on the computer. Many artists prefer a drawing tablet to PC software like Adobe Photoshop, because it mimics the feel of a brush or pencil and feels more precise. Small ones (about 6″x3.7″) like the one I’ve linked below, run about $40 unless you get it on sale. You can get the next size up (Wacum medium 8.5″x5.31″) for a little more. They are perfect for a creative teen just starting to explore the digital art medium.
The hardest thing to adjust to is not seeing your image on the device you are working on—you see it on the computer screen instead. But there are settings you enter in before you use it to set your screen parameters and other preferences that help the process.
For a teen already experienced with digital art, you may want to splurge on a larger size screen, like the Wacum Cintiq 15.4″ drawing tablet. This one does have a screen, which is why it’s so much more than the 2 I mentioned above. Keep in mind, it costs more than an iPad and is less portable, since you need to use it with a computer. Which one is best for your teen depends on how and where they will be using it the most.
A drawing glove is a practical gift for a teen artist because it prevents the skin of your hand from touching the screen and inadvertently drawing or erasing something. It helps prevent smudging in graphite sketching and watercolor work as well.
Wacom Intuos Small Drawing TabletDigital Drawing Glove 2 Pack
Procreate Keypad or a Lapdesk
If your teen already has an iPad or you want to add to their amazing iPad gift, they might like a keypad attachment for Procreate. This allows them to use quick keyboard shortcuts to adjust brush size, color balance and a number of other things with their left hand while their right hand creates. Note that it is not as convenient for lefties, due to the way the keyboard is setup.
Another well-received gift for creative teens who like to work on both digital art or physical pieces (sketches and such) is an adjustable lapdesk they can use comfortably on the couch or in bed. This one is cushioned and adjusts to several angles, plus has room for a phone, and a few art supplies. Because, let’s face it, teens do like to lay in bed.
AOIKTYE Keyboard for ProcreateLAPGEAR Cushioned Adjustable Lapdesk
🎬 Useful Gifts for Creative Teens who Love Filmmaking
For a teen who’s always scripting scenes in their head or editing videos on their phone, filmmaking gifts are pure magic. Tripods, lighting kits, and editing tools give them the power to bring their stories to life. These gift ideas for creative teens say, “your voice belongs on screen.”
Phone Grip and Light Reflectors
To start out, your aspiring filmmaker or content creator will probably use their smartphone—Nowadays the cameras on them rival many DSLR cameras and are just fine for beginners. A phone grip is a genius tool that attaches to a Smartphone, has a shutter button, and helps photographers and videographers have the feel and control of a camera. I bought the one pictured below for my son-in-law, who uses it for his iPhone 16 Pro Max and he loves it!
A light reflector kit is used to manipulate existing light, to soften shadows or set a mood. This inexpensive kit has 4 colors, is collapsible, and has thousands of great reviews. Budding teen film makers will have fun playing with light in their scenes and watching how if affects the whole feel of the shot.
Phone Camera Grip with Remote ShutterNEEWER 5 in 1 Collapsible Light Reflector
Flexible Tripod or a Camera Drone
A flexible tripod is just as useful to a newbie filmmaker as it is to a photographer. Teens can place these in places a bulkier tripod can’t go, to capture the perfect scene. Or, it’s short enough to just sit on a desk, for content creators. The one linked below holds a Smartphone or a small camera (up to 3.7″) and has a remote shutter.
A Drone with camera is a cool gift for a creative teen interested in videography and filmmaking. They can add ariel shots to establish location or add a birds-eye view of the action. Drones can be pricey, but the one below is reported to be a good choice for beginners—easy to use without breaking the bank. What an amazing gift for creative teens to get spectacular shots!
UBeesize Flexible Mini TripodDrone with 1080P Camera
A Storyboard Notebook and a Budget Filmmaking Book
Every filmmaker needs a means to map out their vision and a storyboard notebook provides the place to do that. Each of the 170 pages has 4 frames and room for notes so young Coppola’s can get their story on paper and eventually, on film.
The book Cheap Movie Tricks: How to Shoot a Short Film for under $2000 contains tips and tricks for budget filmmaking. One of the reviews is from a high school filmmaking teacher who assigned it to his students to read. He reports it’s funny and fast-paced and kept his students attention—a thoughtful gift for a creative teen exploring filmmaking.
Storyboard NotebookCheap Movie Tricks
Beginner Camera and a Tripod
If you’re ready to invest in a camera for the film-making creative teen in your life, the Sony ZV-1 is a good choice for beginning videographers and content creators. Used by both professionals and hobbyists, it has excellent sound and video quality and is compact enough to take everywhere.
Of course, your young filmmaker will need a good tripod. This one extends to over 6 feet, and holds up to 8 pounds. It holds a variety of devices too, so it’s super versatile.
Sony ZV-1 Digital Camera with flip screen74″ Tripod for Camera or Phone
🍓A berry quick note: The links below take you to Amazon and as an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. you can read more about that here.
🎶 Rad Gifts for Creative Teens Who Love to Make Music
Music gifts for teens aren’t just instruments—they’re outlets for everything a young person feels but can’t always say. A new guitar, keyboard, or song-writing journal can become a trusted friend, helping them work through joy, heartbreak, or dreams. Every chord they strum or lyric they write becomes part of their story.
A Beginner Keyboard and Piano Chord Poster
When my 14-year-old nephew came to live with me, he was sad he had to leave his keyboard behind in Florida. So of course, I bought him one I could afford at the time, which was a used one with a stand and seat for $100. He used the heck out of that little 66-key keyboard. Pictured down below is a similar, but better brand than the one I bought that you might consider if your creative teen is interested in learning the keyboard.
After about a year of playing on his 66-key keyboard, my nephew asked for an 88-key weighted keyboard so he could play more chords and increase his playing level. I bought him a used Yamaha P71 88-Key Weighted Keyboard with a stand and bench for about $350. It is still sold new on Amazon, so I’m linking it above. Note that when you buy it new, it doesn’t come with a stand or bench. I highly recommend it, in case your teen is ready to upgrade to a weighted keyboard or if you want to buy something nice from the jump. If you can find it used on Offer Up or FB Marketplace for less, grab it. I’m telling you, it feels and sounds like a real piano and has helped my nephew advance his playing skills 100-fold.
I also bought him a poster to help him remember the piano chords—it’s still hanging above his keyboard and he tells me it’s helped.
By the way, here’s a keyboard bench and keyboard stand if you need one. Both are highly rated and the stand is adjustable so if you get a smaller keyboard to start out, then upgrade to an 88-key later, it will hold both.
Yamaha PSR-EW320 76 Key KeyboardPiano Chord and Scale Poster 24”x 30”
Beginning Acoustic Guitar and set of Picks
Is the creative teen in your life interested in guitar? According to the store Guitar World, the Fender acoustic guitar pictured below is “one of the most popular kid-friendly guitars on the market” and is perfect for beginners to intermediate players.
The Fender guitar does have a large body though, so if your teen is of a smaller build, they recommend the Yamaha JR1 FG Junior 3/4 size Guitar with a smaller body and shorter neck. Adults use it as a beginner guitar and say it’s a great size for traveling.
I’ve also linked a variety pack of Fender guitar picks, ranging from thin, medium, and heavy weight—this allows for everything from idle strumming to more intricate playing.
Fender CC-60S Concert Acoustic GuitarFender VVarious Sizes Picks
A Digital Metronome or a Clip-on Tuner
The Sondery rechargable digital metronome pictured below works with all instruments and has settings for tempo, beat, rhythm, and more. Recommended by music teachers, dancers, and musicians, it has excellent ratings and is a useful gift for teens starting out on any instrument.
The Fender professional clip-on tuner pictured below works with all stringed instruments and will help your jamming teen sound sweet and accurate. With over 17K nearly 5-star reviews, it comes highly recommended and is a great gift idea for creative teens who play strings.
Digital Metronome for All InstrumentsFender FCT-2 Professional Clip-On Tuner
Stylophone Pocket Synthesizer or a Songwriting Journal
The Stylophone Original Pocket Synthesizer is a super cool musical device used by David Bowie and White Stripes. It has the same retro, analog sound as when it was first released in 1968 and is still used and loved by professionals and beginners alike. Your musical teen will love creating their own unique sound or recreating classics. And don’t worry, your teen can use it with headphones!
Another gift idea for a musically creative teen is a journal to write their song ideas, lyrics, and notes in. The one pictured below has 120 pages with the pages lined for lyrics on the left and staffed for notes on the right. It features a beautiful hard cover and sewn binding at a super reasonable price.
Stylophone Pocket Electronic SynthesizerSongwriting Journal
A Kalimba or Otamatone
A Kalimba is a popular 17-key thumb piano that became known when it was featured in a Broadway musical in 1961. Later, in 1973, Maurice White of Earth, Wind and Fire featured it in the song Evil. Since then, it’s caught on and has become a favorite, unique instrument for adults and kids. The one pictured below comes with a tuning hammer, carrying bag, and instruction booklet and there’s all kinds of videos on YouTube explaining how to tune it, play it, and customize the sound.
An Otamatone is a Japanese instrument that’s like a cross between a recorder and a synthesizer. it’s played by pressing your fingers on the neck of it, and squeezing the “mouth”. The first video in the Amazon listing pictured below shows how beautiful it can sound—although I’m sure there’s a learning curve to get there. Again, lots of videos on Youube with tips and tricks for getting the best sound from it. Note that it does take 3 AAA batteries and comes in a few other colors. It’s another unique gift for the creative teen in your life who loves music.
Kalimba Thumb PianoOtamatone Japanese Instrument
A Ukulele and Instruction book
Generally considered easier to play than guitar, a ukulele is a fun gift for a creative teen who likes to make music. They come in different sizes, with each one producing a slightly different sound. The classic, tenor sounds of a soprano ukulele is the sound most people are familiar with. A concert ukulele has a deeper sound. Linked below is a soprano ukulele that is highly rated and comes with a bag, starter guide, and online tuner and lessons.
The book 21 Songs in 6 Days—Learn Ukelele the Easy Way is written by a Grammy nominated educator and a former Harvard Master Class music teacher. It teaches kids of all ages, and adults, how to master the ukelele, learning one element at a time so it’s not overwhelming. I’ve linked it below. Another great beginner book for Uke learning is Kids Guide to Learning the Ukelele.
Ukulele Soprano Starter KitLearn Ukulele the Easy Way
Drum Set and Throne
Last (and loudest!) on our list of gifts for musically inclined creative teens is a drum set. If the musical teen in your life turns everything into drums, that might be a sign they are ready to take it to the next level with a real set. In researching the best, affordable (although they are pricey) drum sets for kids, the Alesis brand came up often. The Alesis Nitro Electric Drum Set pictured below has a drum module with 60 play-along tracks and over 440 drum sounds. Reviewers say it’s great for beginners and love that it folds up and stores easily. Oh, and yes, your teen can plug headphones in so it’s quieter. Whew!
Every drummer needs a throne (that’s what musicians call a seat, btw. this nana didn’t know that.) and the one pictured below is adjustable to several heights and nice and thick for the tushy.
Alesis Nitro Max Kit Electric Drum SetDonner Drum Throne
🧵 Gifts for Creative Teens Who Love Sewing and Fashion Design
These sewing gift ideas for teens encourage self-expression through style—clothing and accessories that are uniquely theirs. It’s creativity they can wear, share, and feel proud of—with a bit of their personality stitched into every piece they make.
Sidenote: My mom bought me a beginner sewing machine about 10 years ago and when my niece moved in with me, she took it over (which was fine because I barely used it, much to mom’s disappointment I think). That sewing gene must skip a generation because my niece definitely has it. But I digress—on to some gift ideas for creative teens who like to sew or are into fashion design.
Beginner Sewing Machine and a Guide to Sewing
Of course we’re kicking of the list with a good beginner sewing machine. This Brother Sewing and Quilting Machine has an automatic threader, attached table, built-in stitch control, and gets high praises from beginners to professional seamstresses. It’s reasonably priced and would be such a welcome gift for your creative teen who is into sewing.
The Reader’s Digest Complete Guide to Sewing, originally published in 1976, has been updated and modernized and it still a classic resource for experts and beginners both. It has everything from equipment lists for beginners to how to take measurements, to detailed instructions for various sewing projects. Your teen will learn alot from YouTube videos and classes, but this book is a great guide for them to have handy for questions that come up as they work on their projects.
Brother Sewing and Quilting MachineComplete Guide to Sewing
A Good Pair of Dressmaking Shears and a Cutting Mat
Any seamstress will tell you that the most necessary tool in sewing (aside from the machine) is a good pair of fabric scissors, or dressmaking shears—and they will threaten you with bodily harm if you use them on paper. I remember my mom guarding them from us crafty kids, always looking for scissors for our projects.
If you want to get your sewing teen top-of-the-line shears, Gingher or Guggenhein is what seamstresses and quilters and even hobbyists, swear by. But they are expensive. Fiskars is a known brand in the sewing world and make a good pair of dressmaking scissors, pictured below, for nearly half the price.
A cutting mat to measure and cut fabric on is another nice tool for a budding seamstress or fashion designer. The one linked below is resistant to cuts and nicks and is two-sided for longer life.
Fiskars Seamstress ScissorsFiskars Cutting Mat
Sewing Notion Box or a Steam Iron
Your young seamstress will need some supplies to get them started sewing, and they will no doubt gather more supplies as they build their skills. A sewing box to keep them organized is a practical gift for a creative teen who is taking up sewing. The one pictures below comes in several colors, is three-tiered and has separated compartments to keep all those notions organized.
Many people don’t even own an iron. I didn’t, until my nephew joined Civil Air Patrol and had to iron his pants and shirts. Your budding seamstress may not have one, so a steam iron is another practical gift for a creative teen learning to sew. Ironing gives the completed sewing project a finished look and is sometimes necessary during the process of making it as well. Below is a Hamilton Beach iron with a retractable cord that emits strong steam and is highly rated.
Three-Layer Sewing Supply BoxHamilton Beach Steam Iron
A Few Basics Plus Some Nice-To-Haves
There are sooo many sewing tools and notions out there. As your dressmaker (or suitmaker) teen learns the craft, they will have a wishlist of things to add to their sewing supplies. Below are some basics, plus a few nice-to-haves, that would make a welcome gift for a creative teen learning to sew. I didn’t even mention bobbins (which vary depending on the machine) and thread (varies depending on what you are sewing). There’s probably a few other basics I left out…but these are a good start.
One more note on sewing supplies—check out thrift stores, Offer Up, and FB Marketplace for fabric, patterns and other notions. You can put everything in a nice sewing box and the bundle would be a much appreciated gift for your creative teen.
Tape MeasureSewing EssentialsTailor’s ChalkFabric ClipsMagnetic PincushionThe Impatient Beginner’s GuideSimple PatternMachine Needles
A Dress Form or a Fashion Sketchbook
My niece likes to freeform sew, without a pattern sometimes, and so far has made skirts and corsets. She’s still learning but loves the art of sewing and creating something uniquely hers. She asked for a Dress Form for her birthday this year so I bought a Singer Adjustable Dress Form, pictured below. You can adjust the sizes of bust, waist, hips, and shoulders and there’s a hemming tool that is helpful to get a straight hem.
The Essentials Fashion Sketchbook shown below is a nice gift for a teen who likes fashion design and creation. It has lightly rendered models that you can trace over and add clothing and accessories to. There are sketches of basic clothing pieces and patterns to get started, plus lots of info about sizing, measurements, and other helpful tips. It’s highly rated and kids of all ages and adults too, are loving it.
Adjustable Dress FormFashion Sketchbook
A Hand Sewing Kit or Fashion Design Kit
A basic sewing kit for hand sewing is a practical gift for a creative teen exploring the art of sewing. This one has some items that are used with machine sewing as well, like bobbins and a seam ripper. It’s a great start to building up that notion arsenal.
This Fashion Designer Kit helps encourages kids to design outfits using the little included dress forms, fabrics, trims and accessories. Creative teens get to put together one-of-a-kind designs to help them visualize what they will look like before sewing them, or just for fun. Reviewers like all the stuff you get, but did comment there aren’t alot of instructions. So although this is rated for younger kids, it’s really best for teens or adults who can figure out how to cut and hand sew their creations. There are some tutorials on their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DIYKids1234 that may help, but a teenager 13+ who is into sewing and design will have fun making one-of-a-kind creations.
Large Hand Sewing KitFashion Designer Kit
🍓A berry quick note: The links below take you to Amazon and as an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. you can read more about that here.
🔬 Super Cool STEM-Inspired Gifts for Creative Teens
For the tinkerer, builder, or coder, STEM gifts for teens are a playground of possibility. Robotics kits, coding tools, and building kits feed their curiosity and let them test out bold ideas. These gifts remind teens that problem-solving is just another form of creativity.
A Robot Arm Kit or a 3D Pen
Teens who are into (or want to learn) robotics and engineering will love the challenge of building this Robot Arm Kit that works solely on hydraulics and water. It’s a complex build but reviewers say works perfectly when it’s complete and kids learn how hydraulics work and how to engineer motion, not to mention patience and perseverance in the process. It’s rated for kids 12+.
If you haven’t seen a 3D pen in action, check out the videos for the SCRIB3D Pen. Creative teens (and adults) can design an item, then produce it themselves with a 3D pen. They can create whatever they can dream up, as long as they have enough plastic filament to do it. This pen comes with 3 colors of filament, and a project book to get them started. Be warned that the process is addictive, so here’s a link to more PLA filament so they can keep creating.
Teach Tech “Hydrobot Arm Kit”SCRIB3D P1 3D Printing Pen
Arduino Starter Kit or a Makey Makey
What’s is Arduino, you ask? It’s an open-source, user-friendly electronics platform. Open-source means it’s free, there’s no copyright on it, so anyone can use it and even improve upon it, and share it with others. That’s what makes it so great. This Arduino starter kit has all the electronic components and instructions for teens to use the Arduino platform to make 15 different projects, including a lock that opens with only certain knock sequences, a musical keyboard, and a device that lets people know their mood (helpful, because teens).
Reviewers say anyone, from complete programming newbies, on up to experienced coders, can follow the simple directions and complete each project. They get progressively more challenging, so definitely need to do them in order. This kit helps teens learn key concepts in coding and circuit design, making it a great gift for a creative teen interested in programming and electronics. Rated for about Age 11 and up, maybe younger if the child has some knowledge of circuitry.
The JoyLabz Makey Makey will bring out the creative genius in any teen, from computer whiz to amateur inventor. How it works is, you plug it into your computer and it is read as a keyboard. The magic happens when you attach the connector clips from the Makey Makey board to something else…like a banana or a plushie or just about anything. That external object then becomes the keyboard that operates the computer. So you can make music with the banana or use the plushie as a game controller. The possibilities are only limited by your teens imagination. One reviewer is a physics teacher and reports he used it in his classroom and it was a big hit with his students. It’s rated for kids 8+.
Official Arduino Starter KitMakey Makey STEM Kit
Wood Marble Run or Film Projector 3D Puzzle
The ROKR line of wooden 3D puzzles are really cool. The wood marble run (Marble Night City) lights up and has a crank that moves the marbles through different paths of the puzzle. The build is complex and takes careful attention to detail. It is rated for adults, but teens who enjoy mechanical engineering and building models will be fascinated with both the process and the final build. One reviewer reports, “It’s a great way to introduce children to basic physics concepts like gravity, motion, and energy conservation in a hands-on, engaging way.”
Another ROKR 3D puzzle that caught my eye was a working film projector, operated by turning a crank. Again, the build requires meticulous attention to detail to make sure everything works as it should, but the result is really cool. They provide a film strip of a short Charlie Chaplin style movie you can show on it. Both of these are pictured below. I’m going to mention one more that also looks fascinating—the ROKR 3D Wooden Printing Press Puzzle. This thing actually works and is just beautiful.
These 3D working puzzles are such unique gifts for creative teens who enjoy seeing how things work, doing puzzles or models, or enjoy engineering.
ROKR 3D Marble Night CityROKR 3D Film Projector
Snap Circuits Extreme or Teach Tech Mech 5 Robot
Snap Circuits Extreme introduces kids to electrical engineering and contains all the parts to make 750 functioning inventions. Some of the unique projects are a lie detector, rechargeable battery, and an AM radio. Snap Circuits has a variety of sets and has won many awards for it’s educational STEM value—it is even used by teachers in the classroom. It’s rated for kids aged 8+, but the projects range in difficulty so there are plenty to challenge teens as well.
The Snap Circuits Teach Tech Mech 5 Robot is a kit kids can put together, then program to do a variety of functions, like draw, throw, play soccer, be a forklift or grip. The cool thing about it is you don’t program it in the traditional sense, with a computer or an app. In the picture below, you’ll see a yellow wheel—that’s the coding wheel. You snap the orange buttons onto it, in a particular sequence, to get it to perform the various functions. It teaches kids mechanical engineering, coding basics, and problem solving skills. It’s rated for kids 10+, but several reviewers reported it’s better for teens because of the number of parts and complex build.
Snap Circuits ExtremeSC Teach Tech Mech-5 Robot
Creative Python Coding Book or Foldology Origami Puzzles
Creative Coding in Python: 30+ Programming Projects in Art, Games, and More is a highly rated guide for tweens and teens to help them grasp programming concepts and implement them by finishing several projects. Each project uses skills learned in the one before, so kids understand the practical application of what they’ve learned and build on that knowledge. It’s best for teens who are already interested in coding, to give them a good knowledge base. They learn how to make a chatbot, artwork, games and more.
Teens who like a challenge and maybe need a brain break from coding, will love Foldology. It’s 100 small origami puzzles where you have to follow the instructions to complete the picture. It’s garnered over 3000 near perfect reviews and parents say it’s a fun activity for the whole family and great to take on trips. The puzzles range in difficulty so as you get the hang of it, you are still challenged when you pick up a new one.
Creative Coding BookFOLDOLOGY – Origami Puzzles
micro:bit Starter Kit and a Handheld Codable Game
A micro:bit is a tiny, pocket-sized programmable computer designed to make learning coding and electronics fun and approachable, especially for kids and beginners. Kids can use it to code simple games, create a compass, control robots, hook it up to crafts to make them interactive, and tons more. If your teen is learning coding in school, chances are they already know about micro:bit and the software to code it, Microsoft MakeBot.
MakeBot is completely free and you can find it here. Kids can code their program or game online at their website, then download it onto the micro:bit and run the code they created on their computer.
Kids can run different codes on their computer, which is cool, but also MakeBot has robots, controllers, and the ELECFREAK Coding Arcade (pictured below), that kids can download games onto, from their platform. And it can be games or apps they’ve created themselves, or things other people have created. With MakeBot, they can create virtually any program they want, and use it, fine tune it, and improve upon it. There is no limit to what a creative teen can do with this and it’s a super cool gift for tweend and teens who like coding and creting apps.
This nana likes the Coding Arcade because it’s retro looking, like an old Gameboy. Teens will have fun programming and playing it, while also exercising creative thinking and problem solving. It’s a wonderful gift idea for creative teens who like to code unique programs.
GeeekPi Micro:bit Starter KitELECFREAKS Retro Coding Arcade
📝Gifts for Creative Teens Who Love Writing
A new journal or set of writing tools can feel like an open door for a teen who’s brimming with stories. These writing gifts for teens give their thoughts a home, whether they’re penning poetry, drafting novels, or capturing daily reflections. Writing lets them process the world—and discover their own voice along the way.
A Fountain Pen Set and a Leather Journal
Your wordsmith teen might appreciate a beautiful fountain pen to put their thoughts on paper. This Wordsworth and Black fountain pen comes with 24 ink cartridges and an ink refill converter which lets them refill the pen from an ink bottle, rather than cartridges. It comes in several colors too, so you can select your teen’s favorite. You can also select different nib sizes, from extra fine to broad. This is a beautiful gift to encourage a creative teen to get their stories out. A sidenote on this pen—my niece and nephew both wanted one last year, so I bought them each one and they really are lovely and write divinely!
I also love this gorgeous leather, vintage-looking journal for writing story ideas, poems, thoughts, memories, and anything else that comes into your teen’s beautiful mind.
Leather JournalWordsworth & Black Fountain Pen Set
5-Minute Writing Prompts and a Vocabulary Builder
The book 5-Minute Daily Writing Prompts is a collection of 500 writing prompts to get the literary creative juices flowing. They are thought-provoking starters, like “list verbs and nouns associated with a job you just held. Write a love poem using your word list.” I kind of want to try that one 🤔. There are a few pages from the book shown in the listing, so you can browse some of the prompts and see if they could inspire your teen—I found them all very intriguing.
Word Teasers are small cards on which are printed a word, definition, and sentence. It was designed to help high school kids increase their vocabulary and score higher on the ACTs/SATs. However, it’s a helpful tool in general to introduce teens (and adults!) to words with which they are unfamiliar. A wide vocabulary makes one a better writer, speaker, and communicator and that is always a good thing! Both of these items are thoughtful gifts for creative teens who love to write any kind of stories, articles, or poetry.
5-Minute Daily Writing PromptsWORD TEASERS Vocabulary Builder
Adjustable Lap Desk and a Foldable Keyboard
For teens who like to write on the couch or the floor, or in bed, an adjustable lap desk is just the thing. The one shown below adjusts to 3 heights, has a cup holder, small drawer, and a slot to stand up their tablet or phone. The best part is it has USB ports for easy charging of their devices (because you know teen devices are always at like, 10% charge!).
I love this next gift idea for creative teen writers—a foldable, portable keyboard. It connects to a phone or tablet (both iOS or Android), and allows teens to pound out their stories easily, even when they are away from their computer or laptop. It comes with a phone stand too, so their phone screen functions like a computer screen, say if they want to use Google Docs for instance. It folds up nice and small so they can throw it in their backpack and take it anywhere. With this lap desk and keyboard, your teen can lay cozily in bed and write to their heart’s content! No more excuses for not completing those school essay assignments either. 😉
Adjustable Lap DeskFoldable Bluetooth Keyboard
Magnetic Poetry and Colored Pens
Ah fridge poetry—it’s been around awhile and to me, never gets old. It’s a fun and challenging way for teens (and the rest of the family) to express their mood creatively or with a sense of humor. This is the original edition and I love the manufacturer’s description: A box of words searching for meaning on a sea of metal. If your fridge is already full of younger kids artwork, you can always use a large baking sheet or pick up a magnetic board to use as a canvas for all those poetry compositions.
Writing in color is just more fun and this set of Ink Joy gel pens in 14 different colors will add some oomph to your teen’s journal entries, doodles, and story ideas. And everybody needs a little oomph in their life.
Magnetic PoetryInkJoy Colorful Gel Pens
A Kindle or a Bedside Caddy for Writing Supplies
I adore my Kindle Paperwhite. It holds something like 15,000 books and I can read in bed without a lamp because it’s backlit. I can pair it with Bluetooth headphones and set it to Voiceview in the settings and it will even read my book to me, even if it’s not an audiobook! I can carry my library with me everywhere I go with no back strain whatsoever. But enough about me, the point is…most teens who like to write are also voracious readers and a Kindle is the perfect gift for these creative teens! BTW, the Kindle comes in black, blue or pink.
You can buy ebooks from Amazon straight from the Kindle or on a computer, but you can also borrower books for free from Amazon if you have Amazon Prime, which is cool. And there are many sales where good ebooks are only $1.99 or less. You can also check out ebooks for free from your library. Just go to your library’s website and see if they offer that—most do now.
Another practical gift for a teen who likes to write is a bedside caddy. I have one of these too and it’s so handy to hold my kindle, pens, a notebook or journal, charging cables, hand lotion, lip oil, ear plugs…all the things. It has a flap that slides under the mattress and just dangles there, right where I can reach down and grab what I need. The one pictured below comes in 3 colors.
Amazon Kindle PaperwhiteBedside Caddy
A Book on Writing Strategies and a Memoir from Stephen King
Writing Tools: 55 Essential Strategies for Every Writer is a classic guidebook on writing that both novices and professional writers refer to frequently. It’s infused with practical advice on good writing, like how far apart a subject and verb should be in a sentence—spoiler alert, not far. This is a useful reference for teens anyone who likes writing and will probably improve the quality of your teen’s school writing assignments as well.
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft is an inspiring book by Stephen King about his journey to become a writer. But it’s not all about him—it has advice and wisdom for new writers trying to get published or that just need inspiration to finish their book. I read it several years ago and am about to dive into it again because it is that good. A set of both of these books is a lovely gift for creative teens who like to write.
55 Essential Strategies for Every WriterOn Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
🍓A berry quick note: The links below take you to Amazon and as an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. you can read more about that here.
🧶 Fun Gifts for Creative Teens Who Like Crafts
Craft kits for teens are perfect for hands-on creators who love making things from scratch. From jewelry-making to crochet, each project is a chance to create something tangible and uniquely theirs. These gifts offer not just activities, but little moments of joy and accomplishment.
Clay Bead Jewelry and Charm Making Kits
I just love those trendy, beachy, clay bead, almost-choker necklaces that give off a “Hang-10” kind of vibe. Teens who love those too, and jewelry making in general, will have a blast with this clay bead jewelry making kit. The picture shows just bracelets, but there are plenty of beads to make necklaces too. The kit comes with everything you need, including the stretchy string and proper tools.
The Klutz clay charm making kit is another fun jewelry making kit for teens. It comes with clay and instructions to make adorable little charms that you can attach to a bracelet. It includes plenty of charm loops and jump rings, but only one bracelet. You can pick up a pack of more bracelets at Michael’s, Walmart, or here’s a pack of 24 bracelets for charms. I bought the Klutz charm making kit for my niece when she was about 13 (she didn’t live with me then) and when I told her I was writing about craft kits for teens, she immediately remembered that set and said she loved using it. I asked her if she would still use it now, at 18, and she said, “hell, yeah!” So, there you go. It’s a keeper on my list of best gifts for creative teens who like to do crafts.
Clay Beads Jewelry Making KitMake Clay Charms Kit
A Mini Treat Sewing Kit or a Wall Collage Kit
The Klutz Sew Mini Treats craft kit has supplies and instructions for kids to sew cute little food treats from felt. A slice of watermelon, a popsicle, or a donut are some of the foods, but there 18 different food patterns to make, so lots of variety. Most are around 2-3 inches around. These are cute gift ideas your teen can make for younger siblings, or maybe to stock a sibling’s play kitchen. Reviewers love them and say they are a fun and engaging to make, plus a good way for teens to get introduced to sewing.
This wall collage kit is a unique gift for a creative teen to decorate their room with. It has sayings and pictures and tools to put them together with their own photos if they want, to make some cool wall decor. It’s fun for tweens and younger teens to do and bonus—all the positive affirmations are a nice confidence builder. They can also change it up whenever they want.
Klutz Sew Mini Treats Craft KiitPretty Me Wall Collage Kit
Resin Jewelry Making Kit and Diamond Art
My niece has been talking about trying out resin crafts, and I just put this next item in my Amazon cart. I’ll update you when we try it out! It’s a cool-looking kit with everything you need to make resin jewelry, using real or artificial botanicals and colored or glitter flakes. Your teen will need protective gear because resin is a toxic chemical. They should wear goggles, an N95 mask, gloves, and work in a ventilated area—preferably outdoors. This reviewer actually gives some really great tips for working with resin that may help. That said, most reviewers loved this kit and made some beautiful jewelry pieces and I’m excited to try this out with my niece! I hope this gift for my creative teen will be a big hit!
I had no idea what Diamond Art was until I was in Michael’s with my niece and she bought one. They are kits with an indented image on canvas, and a bunch of little colored shimmery beads and a tool to push the beads into the indentations on the canvas. It’s like a paint-by-number, in that the indents and bead packets are coded so you know which colors to put where. When you’re finished, it’s a beautiful, shimmery work of art your teen can frame and put in their room. it’s quite cool. I’ve linked one below, but there are so many designs to pick from, and even smaller Diamond Art crafts, like sun catchers and bookmarks—that I’m linking all the Diamond Art selections here.
LET’S RESIN Jewelry Making KitStarry Sky Diamond Art Kit
Polymer Clay and a Miniature Build Kit
Polymer clay is super fun to work with. You can make so many cute things with it, especially if your teen is into miniatures. The set pictured below has 50 different colors and all the tools and instructions to make tiny food, dishes, plants, figurines, and more. Teens can make their own unique creations and give them to friends and family as gifts too.
Speaking of miniatures, because I always am…miniature building kits are intriguing gifts for creative teens who like the challenge of building tiny things. I bought my niece the mini coffee shop, pictured below and it was her favorite build of the 4 she’s done so far. She’s also completed this mini greenhouse kit (she enjoyed it but said making all the plants was tedious) and a magic shop. We also bought a Book Nook, which is a miniature kit that fits on a bookshelf and looks like a tiny little world, nestled between your books. The one we bought isn’t available anymore, but linked below is a similar one from the same brand.
Rowood Coffee Miniature House KitLibrary Book Nook Kit
A Crochet Kit or a Macrame Kit
How cute are these little crocheted animal kits? There’s several animals to choose from and the kit includes everything a beginner needs to crochet and assemble them. This creative teen gift idea was a Shark Tank success and I think it’s so adorable. These are rated for ages 12+.
Do you Gen Xers and Boomers remember having macrame parties? My mom was into it big in the 70’s and in recent years, macrame has made a big comeback. It’s become trendy and boho chic to hang macrame in your home or room and and teens are loving it. This macrame kit for beginners comes with everything you need to make a few projects, like a hanging owl, planter, dreamcatcher or choose from 12 other included projects. These are great gift ideas for your teen to make for others for the holidays too. There’s no specified age on these, but they are probably appropriate for about age 13+, depending on how dextrous your teen is.
🎀Toysenberry Wrap-Up
With so many amazing options out there, the best gifts for creative teens are the ones that meet them where their passions are and give them space to grow. Whether it’s sketchbooks, music gear, or coding kits, each gift is more than just an item—it’s a little invitation to dream, experiment, and express themselves.
Remember, creativity looks different for every teen. Some thrive with visual arts, others with sound, words, or hands-on building. The most meaningful gift you can give is the encouragement to keep exploring.
So pick something that resonates with your teen’s unique spark, and you’ll not only be giving them a fun present—you’ll be cheering them on in discovering who they are.
Until next time—playfully ever after, your friends at Toysenberry. 🍓
Got a favorite gift idea we missed? Help other parents out and share it in the comments! 💖