book + kit = great gift

by mari

Book Kit Last MInute Gift Ideas for Kids and Children and Playful Adults

I was wandering Barnes and Noble the other day looking for divine gift inspiration and found myself in a magical aisle of curious wonder. But, let me preface this first: I would prefer you’d buy these items from a local bookstore. I know reality can usurp this option. Still, with a couple of phone calls you could find these wonders at a local shop and make their day a little brighter too.

Okay, off of my highhorse and back into the shopping cart. I. Love. Books. I. Love. Crafty Kits. There is this perfect hybrid product out there that blends them together into Super Fun Status. This category includes everything from jewelry-making to harmonicas to a couple of my favorites above, as seen in the B&N aisle. So if you’re near a Barnes and Noble, I’ve got your last-minute shopping covered for you. These box sets not only make the perfect gifts for curious kids (and adults) they’re also under $20. That, my friends, is the definition of awesome.

Shown above:

  • Create Your Own Pinhole Camera, $19.95 Pinhole Cameras are a relatively simple introduction to the beauty of real photography without all that digital mumbo-jumbo. It’s a fascinating thing to figure out!
  • The Black Apple’s Paper Doll Primer, $19.99 Ok, technically this is not a kit, but hey, it’s a book that is much much more than a book. And I think the illustrations speak for themselves: lovely.
  • The Tao of Tangram, $11.95 My brother and I had Tangrams as kids and they’re not only fun, they’re good brain teasers and spacial reasoning thing-a-ma-jiggers. This set includes a lovely wooden Tangram and book chock-a-block full of puzzles to solve.
  • Gizmos: Paper Machines that Really Work, $14.95 I am fascinated by the idea that a bunch of paper can turn into a mechanism that moves and turns and wiggles. These should fulfill that obsession.
  • Sunlight Print Photography Kit, $14.95 The ability to place objects on paper, expose to sunlight and actually create an image is about as magical as Santa, in my humble opinion.

And the book that is on my own wishlist: Papertoy Monsters, $16.95 Because I’m a lifetime fan of paper, monsters, and creating something dimensional from something flat.

And check out all the gift ideas in the gift guides – click below:
Small for Big Giveaway

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Kristine December 22, 2010 at 11:50 pm

You’re a bad influence. I’ve spent the last half-hour bookmarking toys. I can’t stop shopping for toys!

Reply

2 Miz Big December 23, 2010 at 12:41 pm

It’s an addiction of mine, I know that. I’m glad to know you’re finding some goodies!

Reply

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