We’ve all got friends or family members who love to do things with their hands, be it scrapbooking, knitting, painting or more. These loved ones can be easy to buy for because they can always use new craft supplies. But it’s nice to surprise them with something special they might not get themselves. Here are 3 ideas that’ll get you started on gifts for your crafty friends.

CRICUT

The first time I heard of Cricut machines was when I visited an elementary school that had an amazing mural of paper cut shapes. It was so fantastic and original, I thought the librarian had bought it intact, and yet it was personalized to them. The librarian told me she made it with a Cricut machine and from then on, I was hooked. What I didn’t realize was how much these wonderful units can do, and they’re adding new products for crafty people all the time. With Cricut machines, you can cut, write and score on all kinds of materials, from paper to balsa wood to fabric. Making your own sewing kits for dolls, toys or t-shirts is super easy with Cricut’s digital templates. Plus you can get fancy images and fonts, useful accessories like rulers and cutting tools, and perhaps the best, infusable ink that looks really cool! Cricut has free shipping on orders of $50 or more, so it’s even a great gift for your far-away family members.

SPELLBINDERS PAPER ARTS

If you’re shopping for friends who like creating paper arts, go to Spellbinders. They have wonderful glimmers, foil, cardstock, dies, stamps and more. For an ongoing gift, you can get a membership to one of Spellbinders’ clubs. They have clubs for small dies, large dies, Amazing Paper Grace dies, glimmer hot foils, stamps and more. My favorite is the Card Kit of the Month club, which sends out a heap of materials to help and inspire lucky receivers in making their own beautiful cards. You never know, maybe they’ll create one for you to say thank you.

ANNIE’S HOOK & NEEDLE KIT CLUB

For crafty friends who like to play with yarn, consider a gift that keeps on giving. Annie’s Hook & Needle Kit Club is one of 12 clubs, including the Creative Quilters Club and Crochet Afghan Club. They also cover other materials in their Simply Beads Club and Young Woodworkers Club. Kits are sent out every four weeks with materials and written pattern instructions for that month’s project. For the Hook & Needle club, the first kit includes three crochet hooks, a tapestry needle, an illustrated Stitch Guide, yarn and instructions to get your loved one started. And if they want to feel like they’re making a difference, they’ll love the Caring Crochet Club, which contains everything needed to make chemo caps for patients with cancer, blankets for traumatized or ill children, and other projects for organizations that help people. Details about an organization will be included inside each month’s materials so your loved one can crochet for a cause.

Give your crafty friends and family the materials and inspiration to keep their hands busy.