Christmas is a wonderful time to notice the creative people around you and surprise them with something that will truly be used. If you want to give a gift that becomes part of the recipient’s real creative moments, it’s worth choosing tools and sets that invite experimenting, making and trying new things.
We’ve put together five ideas that suit both young makers and experienced artists. You can mix and match them, and each gift can be adjusted according to the interests of the person receiving it.
Sennelier pastel pencils are based on the semi–soft pastels developed in 1905, now bringing the same velvety and rich line into a wood-free pencil form. Handmade in France, these pastel pencils have a high pigment load, offer smooth application and great control, and produce very little dust. The semi-soft texture works well for sketching as well as layered drawings, and the wood-free core allows the pencil to be used almost along its entire length. The pencils come in a sturdy high-quality cardboard box, neatly arranged on “levels,” which makes the set both beautiful and practical as a gift.
Derwent Drawing pencils are known for their ultra-soft creamy core and natural, earthy colour palette. The range includes warm browns, greens and neutrals that create a calm, nature-inspired colour scheme. The new 36-pencil set expands the existing selection and offers even more subtle nuances within a single series. The pencils are packaged in a beautiful metal tin that keeps them neatly organised and inspires the moment you open the lid – perfect as a gift and for long-term storage.
Both Sennelier pastel pencils and Derwent Drawing pencils make a thoughtful gift for anyone who appreciates high-quality, soft-lined pencils and a calm, natural colour language.
If your gift recipient enjoys clean colours, smooth gradients and layering shades, they will love a pencil case filled with Winsor & Newton Promarkers. The compact case contains a carefully selected range of alcohol-based markers that deliver vivid colour and even transitions. The dual-tip design lets you cover larger areas and then add details and outlines with the finer tip. The case keeps the markers tidy and turns the set into a gift that looks as good as what’s inside.
A special marker paper pad makes the perfect match. The paper’s smooth surface helps the markers glide evenly while keeping colours bright and crisp. Its special coating reduces bleed-through and prevents ink from seeping to the next sheet — a great advantage for those who draw often and layer their colours. You can test gradients and layered drawings without worrying about stains or bleeding.
The sturdy pencil case is ready to gift as it is — all it needs is a ribbon. Later, it can be used for everyday storage and travel, making it a practical part of the artist’s daily kit.
If the recipient enjoys both crafting and decorating their home, a textured painting set is a wonderful choice. They make it easy to create relief, dimensional paintings that look great on a wall, shelf or as a handmade gift. A small canvas or painting board, texture paste and paint allow you to create unique decorative art that doesn’t need to be perfect to look stylish and characteristic.
With texture paste and palette knives, you can play with surfaces, layers and patterns. This is an excellent option for anyone who feels they “can’t draw,” since the focus is on texture and impression rather than detailed line work. It’s a safe and encouraging gift for someone who doesn’t consider themselves a traditional artist but enjoys hands-on creativity and exploring new effects.
t’s also lovely for a creative evening with family or friends, where everyone creates their own small piece. If you want to make the gift feel more complete, add an extra canvas or acrylic paints so the first experiments definitely won’t be the last. This turns the gift into an experience, not just an object.
Graine Creativ soap-making kits are a great gift for those who value handmade and personal presents. Soap making is calm and playful, suitable both for solitary crafting and shared creative evenings with family or friends.
Each kit includes a soap base, moulds and instructions, and depending on the set, also soap colours, fragrances, or dried flowers and grains. Each kit is different and offers something new and interesting. One kit usually makes 3–4 soaps, which can in turn be gifted further.
A soap-making kit is a thoughtful idea in two ways: you can give it directly to someone who loves crafting, or you can make the soaps yourself and later package them as personal handmade gifts for those you care about.
Maped Creativ sets are fantastic gifts for kids who love drawing, crafting and discovering new things. Each set is designed so the child can start right away — all materials and step-by-step instructions are included, giving them the feeling of truly making something themselves. These gifts develop fine motor skills, focus and imagination, and work well both as a first creative kit or for a more experienced young maker.
This season’s new product is the Maped Creativ Airbrush Maker, which offers a completely different colouring experience. Markers are placed in a special airbrush holder, and with a press of a button, colourful spray patterns, backgrounds and textures appear on the paper. The included stencils help create shapes and lettering while the child experiments with different colours.
Other fun options include the Maped Creativ Lumi Board lightbox and Maped Creativ Avatar Studio, which offer even more new ways of drawing and self-expression.
