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Because sometimes completing a crossword is all you can bear to do today — I feel you.

Promising review: "Puzzle Mania is everything I hoped it would be, clever, challenging, and unbelievably fun. Joel Fagliano brings the same brilliance from his New York Times puzzles into this book. Each puzzle feels fresh and original, with just the right balance of difficulty and satisfaction. I found myself saying 'just one more,' and suddenly an hour had flown by. It’s now my favorite way to unwind and sharpen my mind. Perfect for puzzle lovers of any level!" —AlexS

The Woobles is a small business that specializes in crochet kits. 

Promising review: "This kit is amazing! It's fun and the instructions are broken down into bite-sized pieces that make it easy to learn each step. You can rewatch the step over and over without losing your place. There is enough yarn, and they have cute designs to choose from. Plus, they have everything you need inside the kit, and they even get you started on the hardest part… a magic ring!" —Amazon Customer 

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in eight designs). 

Rita Papers is a small business that specializes in personalized poster sets, stickers, and journaling supplies. 

Each pack varies in the specific stickers, posters, and construction paper you get, which honestly makes it more fun in my book! It will be a nice surprise to open. 

Promising review: "My package arrived today, and I'm over the moon!! The quality of the stickers is amazing, and you get a great variety for different aesthetics. My favourite would have to be the free sheet, it's very autumnal vibes. This would make a fabulous gift for anyone who loves to journal or craft. I would love to see Rita make customisable bundles in the future and will 100% be ordering from her again 🩷." —Cassiopeia Jewellery 

Get it from Rita Papers on Etsy for $22.50+ (available in medium or large packs). 

Promising review: "I’m a young adult who spends a lot of time in the hospital due to bad health issues. Most of the time, it’s nerve-wracking and very boring. I ordered this little book to take with me for next time, and I was very happy with it! It kept me busy and calmed my nerves. It was easy to do and therapeutic. I like the variety of pictures!" —Cherry  

Paper Peony Press is a Texas-based boutique publishing company that specializes in purpose-driven books. 

Check out these calligraphy pens to get you started! 

Promising review: "I’ve tried several instructional books on hand lettering. This book is the best by far. I won’t say the names of the other books, but suffice it to say they are all at the top of the list when you search for hand lettering. It is the only book that gives practice for the base strokes and also discusses posture and how to hold the pen, and at what angle to the paper. It is also a lovely book to work with; nice artwork/illustrations. I recommend this book to other beginners out there!" —Karen Rorick

The Barbie edition comes with six templates that include her famous logos, 80's roller skate, boombox, and iconic cat eye sunglasses. There are four LED light modes and it's powered by three AA batteries or micro-USB (not included).

Promising review: "I forgot how awesome these things are! Love the new Barbie templates and the handy tool for inserting the little light pegs. I had one of these as a kid. The upgraded lighting and various light up patterns on top of the trendy templates is great and the price is right. The timeout feature is a little short, so not sure if it would be good as a nightlight for older kids, but I still appreciate the feature overall. Brought back some great memories and helped me build some new ones with my niece."—Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $24.98+ (available in four styles, including Hello Kitty, Disney, and Pokemon versions).

Promising review: "This is exactly what I was looking for! It lays flat to easily complete the word search and not have to fight with the book. There are different types of puzzles, and some have extra secret searches! It’s great for the slow days at work!! I will definitely be buying more of these word searches!" —Roy Y Hahn

Promising review: "I honestly thought this was going to be way more complicated than it is. Quality was good and the instructions were perfect. I was able to make my first picture in a few evenings. Very relaxing new hobby :)"—Nikkia 

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $15.99.

Woolbuddy is a small business that specializes in felting kits. 

Promising review: "I was really excited when I got this kit. It comes with all the tools you need, including a variety of colors, and it inspires such fun creature ideas! It also includes a QR code that takes you to several (short) tutorials for different shapes, and teaches you the basics of needle felting! I thought it was going to be much harder than it was. (You don’t even need to watch the whole tutorial to pick it up.) I actually bought the same kit for a friend, who loved it also!" —David

You can do the book in any order, but if you start from the beginning, you'll get the full story of Detective Logico. There are 100 puzzles total, ranging from Elementary level to impossible. Starting easy, you will find the suspect, location, and weapon. The next level, you will have to go through a puzzle of interrogation, as the suspects always tell the truth, but the murderer lies. You will then need to discover the motive. And when you've hit the impossible level, you will have to discover all four elements while dealing with a lying witness statement. And there's a logic grid puzzle helping you solve each case!

Check out a TikTok of Murdle in action. 

The best part?? Once you finish "Murdling," you can use your sleuthing skills on Volume 2, Volume 3, and a whole BUNCH of other themed Murdle books! 

Promising review: "The puzzles are a lot of fun, but the characters, story lines, and other details take the Murdle experience to another level. I have no idea how the author came up with all of this creativity! You can Murdle solo or with friends. I look forward to future volumes, but this one will keep me busy for a while!" —Liz Gately

Promising review: "When my granddaughter comes, I always buy her a craft for how to sit and do. She absolutely loves this. Kept her busy for hours and very inexpensive." —Arlene  

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in 10 designs).

Each piece is 12x16 inches. The kit comes with 12 images, color-coded gems, a single-tip diamond painting pen, a small tray, and wax. The pen holds a small piece of wax to help you grab the individual gems. Each canvas comes coated in a sticky adhesive protected by a clear film. Because that's how the gems stick on, I recommend peeling it off a little at a time as you go to preserve the adhesive, so you're not left with a picture covered in dust and dog hair.  

Promising review: "First time I ordered something like this, and I'm glad I started with this one. The pages are large, and you get 12 of them, which should last me probably two years. I haven't had this much fun doing something in a long time. I don't wanna stop. I don't know what it is, but there is something satisfying about dropping little gems on the sticky paper. I can't wait until I finish my first one." —Female in Rochester NY 

Here's a TikTok that shows how to play. In short, you pick a 2D or 3D puzzle from the guide and set it up to match the image. Start the timer and work to solve the puzzle with the remaining pieces. When done, stop the clock and record your time. Friends can challenge each other, or you can play solo to try and beat your own best score. It requires AAA batteries, so be sure to grab some!

BuzzFeed contributor John Mihaly has this to say about this game: "We love the classic version in our home, and it's been in heavy rotation since we got our hands on it. The object of the game is to finish a puzzle using all 12 Kanoodle pieces. The 2D version lies flat, while the 3D version (you can play both with this set) requires you to build a pyramid of pieces. Simple, fun, and challenging (harder puzzles reveal fewer pieces to start)."

Promising review: "Very easy to use and fun for all ages. Great gift idea and is small and compact, so you can take it anywhere with you!" —Jocelyn

Promising review: "I love it! It’s so fun and nice to have and keep my hands busy while watching TV with my partner. The paper is thin, so you have to put something between the pages to keep it from bleeding, but it says that at the beginning of the book. Highly recommend for a self-care-crafty item!"—Erika Jorren 

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in a spiral-bound version).

Promising review: "I love this book. I pre-ordered after seeing it on TikTok and couldn't wait to get it! I'm working on my second coloring page and love it! THIS is a great book for older adults and anyone who doesn't think they are an artist! Just need a fine black marker and you'll be busy for hours!! I'm going to get more as gifts. This also makes a great alternative for children, teens, and really anyone as an alternative to screen time! Get one, you won't be disappointed!" —Little wave 

Guyuana is a small business from Thailand that specializes in travel art sets. 

Promising review: "I ordered this so I had something to do after surgery. Great quality and easy and fun activity." —Therese Ernholdt 

Get it from Guyuana on Etsy for $20.80+ (originally $32+; available in bamboo or walnut, with or without paint, and with or without the painting book).

Kunitsa Co. is a small business that specializes in reading, exercise, and food journals. 

Promising review: "This book journal had plenty of room for all the book reviews and so much more. It has pages for daily reading tracking, pages for reading goals, pages for DNF books, favorite books, loaned-out books, and tons of review pages. All you have to do is fill it out. It's perfect!!!!" —Cody McNeal

Get it from Amazon for $22.95 (available in six colors). 

Wool Couture Company is a UK-based Etsy shop established in 2014 that specializes in knitting, crochet, weaving, and macrame craft kits.

There are three different kits to choose from, depending on what you want to start. There's a Basic Kit, which comes with a loom and instructions; a Starter Kit, which comes with a loom, two weaving needles, instructions, a mounting bar for hanging, and a cotton ball of warp to hold your work; and a Quintessential Kit, which comes with everything in the Starter Kit, plus the merino wool for weaving.

Promising review: "It's simple to use, the wool I received in the set is high quality, and the service was smooth and communicative. Can not recommend this highly enough from a first-time weaver"" —DivineDerbyshire

Get it from Wool Couture Company on Etsy for $42.46+ (available in 10 styles and three different kinds of kits).

Promising review: "I first saw this book on TikTok and decided to look more into it. I purchased four total because I know some people are holding onto things that are difficult to let go of. It’s a great way to look at things from a different perspective and truly hold yourself accountable for different things in your life. I love what it stands for, and I look forward to when I burn mine after I’m done. Self-love, self-care, and meditation for a better state of mind tomorrow are always the goal. I definitely recommend it to those susceptible to change and the willingness to try things differently. You’re so much more than what’s been done to you, and someone’s inability to see your worth does not decrease your value. Choose you for a change." —Brent Helm

You can experiment with so many recipes to make savory herb-infused butters or even some sweet ones, like a yummy strawberry one. The possibilities are endless once you get the hang of it. 

Promising review: "I am delighted with this product. The accompanying instructions were very helpful. I made my first hand-churned butter, which I consider being a homage to my grandparents, who were dairy farmers. The process is really surprising when the butter seizes up — I think it was very important to me to see and experience that moment. Subtle, but crucial... At any rate, I used it, cleaned it, so have experienced both. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with this little yet sophisticated butter churn." —Nanci Hamilton

This kit comes with an embroidery hoop, four designs, a punch needle, four punch needle fabrics, enough colorful yarn, and instructions.

Punch Atelier is a small business based in Turkey that makes beginner-friendly punch embroidery sets. They also have a tutorial video for beginners on their YouTube channel.

Promising review: "I’m having so much fun learning with this kit. It included everything I needed, the instructions are easy to follow, and I was super impressed with the ability to reach out with any questions." —Emily Shields  

Get it from Punch Atelier on Etsy for $36.80 (originally $46; available in four sets) — includes free shipping.

Check out a TikTok of the Globbles in action. 

Promising review: "So much fun. These were a last-minute Santa gift add-on, and our kids love them! They stick to everything, and they can easily be washed with some water to become more sticky.'" —NCC 

Get a set of six from Amazon for $11.48.

The kit comes with three different numbered canvas designs, seven paint pots, a mini brush, and an easel.

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

Promising review: "A great tool for keeping your mind busy. The instruction book is a little difficult to follow, but with the use of YouTube and the book makes for a great experience." —Camille L. Branch 

Promising review: "I am a 30-year-old calligrapher and was in need of a light box. I needed a light box that fit into my budget and I didn't want to spend too much on one because I wasn't sure how much I would use it. This is by far one of the best purchases to add to my calligraphy arsenal!" —Placeholder

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Mariel Guzman is a resident writer on the Buzzfeed Shopping team whose love for shopping (and doomscrolling on TikTok) helps them curate lists of the most trending lifestyle, home, beauty, and fashion products.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.