We all do it. You sit down for five minutes, pick up your phone “just to check one thing” — and somehow it’s forty minutes later and you can’t remember a single thing you saw.
Here’s a happier idea: keep something lovely within arm’s reach instead. A paint kit you can dip into after dinner. A puzzle that lives on the table all week. A little crochet project that ends with something cute on your bag. These are the gifts we reach for when we want to give someone (or ourselves) a real break — the kind you can hold in your hands.
Everything below is from our Creative Hobbies & Activities collection, and every pick makes an easy, thoughtful gift: for a friend who needs a quiet evening, a teen who lives on her phone, a book lover, a crafter, or anyone whose stocking could use something more interesting than candy.
Paint something pretty
Paint-by-number is the original screen-free reset: no skill required, no blank-canvas panic — just follow the numbers and watch a picture appear. It’s meditative in a way scrolling never is, and at the end you have something frame-worthy.
La Petite Épicerie - Paint by Number Kit - New York by Hoglet & Co — $39.00
A dreamy New York cityscape, and our best-stocked kit. Perfect for the friend who loves the city — or is always planning her next trip.
La Petite Épicerie - Paint by number kit - Paris — $39.00
Paris, without the airfare. A lovely gift for Francophiles and hopeless romantics alike.
La Petite Épicerie - Paint by Numbers Kit - Mount Fuji — $39.00
Calm, serene, and quietly beautiful — the one to gift someone who needs a deep breath.
Chronicle Books - Liberty 9 x 12 Paint by Number Kit Thorpe — $25.99
Liberty florals in a smaller 9 × 12 format — a great first kit, and a sweet under-$30 gift.
Start a puzzle and leave it out all week
A puzzle on the table has a magic pull: people wander over, place a few pieces, and stay a little longer than they meant to. It’s the easiest phone-free gathering spot in the house.
La Petite Épicerie - London puzzle by Hoglet&Co - 1000 pieces — $34.00
1,000 pieces of London charm. Gift it to your favorite traveler — or keep it for your own coffee table.
Gray Malin The Dogs of New York City 1000 Piece Puzzle — $25.00
Gray Malin’s dogs lounging against the New York skyline. Dog lovers will not be able to walk past this box.
Bridgerton 1000 Piece Puzzle - Chronicle Books — $24.99
For the friend who has watched every episode twice. Best enjoyed with tea and zero notifications.
Make something small with your hands
Short projects are the sweet spot: an evening or two of making, then a finished keepsake — not another half-done hobby in a drawer.
La Petite Épicerie - DIY Crochet Bag Charms Kit - Dolce Vita — $25.00
Crochet your own bag charms, Italian-summer style. A darling gift for a crafty teen or a friend who loves a project with a payoff.
La Petite Épicerie - DIY Crochet Bag Charms Kit - Vitamine Sea — $25.00
The seaside sister to Dolce Vita — same happy idea, beachy palette.
Chronicle Books - Mindful Crafts: Calm Vibes Friendship Bracelet Kit — $24.95
Friendship bracelets, grown up just enough. Make them together, or gift the kit and keep a matching set going.
Antiquaria - Night Cactus Premium Embroidery Kit, 6 inch — $36.00
A 6-inch premium embroidery kit with a night cactus design — slow stitching at its most satisfying, and ready to hang when you’re done.
Color, sticker, doodle
The lowest-effort reset of all: open a book, pick up a pencil, and let your brain idle happily for ten minutes.
Pippi Post - Cat Lover Coloring Book — $12.00
Sweet cat illustrations to color — an easy under-$15 gift that always lands.
Pippi Post - Book Lover Coloring Book — $12.00
Made for the friend whose happy place is a bookstore. Pair it with a mug of tea and a quiet hour.
Brass Monkey Moody Cats Sticker Book — $9.00
Moody cats, in sticker form. Silly, giftable, and surprisingly hard to put down — our best-stocked pick in the whole collection.
Put pen to paper
Sometimes the best swap for a feed is a blank page with a gentle prompt.
Studio Oh! - The Vision Board Journal Guided Journal — $20.00
A guided journal for dreaming on paper — goals, plans, and big ideas, no algorithm required. A thoughtful gift for a new year, a new job, or a fresh start of any kind.
Get everyone else off their phones, too
Some swaps work best with company. A deck of cards on the table beats four people on four couches, every time.
Jane Austen Playing Cards — $14.99
A beautiful Jane Austen deck — for game night, book club, or the friend who quotes Pride and Prejudice from memory.
Chronicle Books - Bridgerton Matchmaking — $16.99
A Bridgerton matchmaking game that turns a regular evening into an event. Dearest reader, you will not miss your phone.
It’s a Good Day to Read a Book Reading Light — $19.99
Okay, this one comes with a book attached — clip on this reading light and trade the bedtime scroll for one more chapter. Your sleep will thank you.
The happy little rule
You don’t need a full digital detox. You just need something better within reach. One kit on the counter, one puzzle on the table, one coloring book by the couch — that’s usually enough.
Browse the whole Creative Hobbies & Activities collection for more paints, puzzles, kits and games — and if you’re gifting, tell us in the notes and we’ll make it look extra special.
Happy making,
Jen
