DIY Craft Kit + our favorite craft supplies

One of the best, most played with, gifts my 5 year old son has received is this craft kit for his 5th birthday. I’ll be honest- I was initially a little worried about the mess. BUT I set some clear boundaries with him (materials need to stay IN the container when not being used or they were liable to be tossed) and I truly haven’t had one issue. I’m not exaggerating when I say he’s used it every. single. day. since receiving it over six months ago!

Why do we love this DIY craft kit?

1. It encourages independence: I no longer have to be in charge of all crafting or he no longer has to wait for my “okay”. He loves that he can craft whenever he wants to!

2. The “container rule”: AKA we only keep what fits inside! It sets a great boundary for craft supplies and any “treasures” that he finds. If it doesn’t fit, we don’t keep it!

3. Consumable/ low clutter gift: I love when my kids gifts that can get “used up”- just make sure to designate a specific place for finished art work to go! (We have a gallery wall and then send lots to relatives 😉 And while there IS a lot of “stuff” in it- it all has a home and takes up a small amount of space when stored in this kit (aka no craft clutter allll over the place!)

4. Encourages creativity: Creativity is such an important skill that will serve kids well for the rest of their lives. Gifting them open ended materials is the perfect way to foster creativity.

5. Ideal quiet time activity: I’ve heard not one “I’m bored” during quiet time, since receiving his craft kit! It’s literally provided hundreds of hours of entertainment.

6. It’s customizable: Because of #5 I will be making a DIY craft kit to give to my 3 year old this Christmas. Let’s just say that they have very different personalities 😉 I love that I can give him a craft kit like his big brother but fill it with materials that are appropriate for HIM.

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What container to use for your DIY craft kit:

Tackle Box: This is the same one that Henry has- it works great and has held up really well so far! It’s also fairly inexpensive compared to some of them out there- I think you get the most bang for your buck as far as size and storage for the price.

Smaller Tackle Box: Great if you’re looking for a smaller option!

Sewing Box: Similar design as the tackle box- a little more aesthetically pleasing.

Caboodle: Could be fun- a little one who likes to make their own jewelry might especially appreciate the mirror! Or it could be good for self portraits too 🙂

Supplies to include in your DIY craft kit:

I’m going to include a big list of our favorite craft supplies that we have used in our DIY craft kit, and a few ideas that I’ve used in the past with my students as a teacher or as a former nanny, etc. They include items outside of the basics (glue, scissors, markers, etc) that many children can use independently. Of course, you know your child in best- so keep personality, age, temperament, etc in mind when creating your own box 😉

On a similar note- you do NOT need every single item on this list. Nor do you need to buy everything new. Look around your house and see what you already have. See what you can find for free (paint chips are a fave!) Or at a thrift store! And the supplement the rest with the items you think your child would like best. You can always add to it later 🙂

I also want to note- some of the products below come with a LOT of pieces! I don’t recommend giving your child ALL of them at once. Start with a small amount of each product and refill for your child as necessary. I love doing surprise refills throughout the year 🙂

Pre-made craft kit: I wanted to share this pre-made option first because it’s honestly a pretty good value and it would be great if you are short on time or just don’t have the mental capacity to customize one! You could either use the organizer that it comes with or transfer the craft supplies to a more permanent home (like the tackleboxes, etc) that I shared above!

Dot stickers: I’m always surprised at how often we used these. They are great for open ended creating and can also be used for more structured learning activities as well.

Masking Tape: My kids adore tape and love that they can use this independently.

Origami Paper: Older kids might now how to fold origami- but I like this paper because the pieces are so much smaller and more manageable for little hands to cut, glue, color on, etc. Here is a fun metallic option as well.

Notecards: Henry uses these almost daily! Either to write a note or draw a picture. The small size is less overwhelming if you have a kid who feels the need to fill the entire paper.

Basic shape cut outs: These are a great option for toddlers or younger preschoolers who can’t precisely cutout shapes yet.

Self Adhesive Googly Eyes: I think the self adhesive part is key- otherwise waiting for the glue to dry can be a source of frustration 😉

Self adhesive gems: A good way to add a little sparkle without the nightmare that is glitter 😉

Pipe Cleaners: Good for bracelets, sculptures, etc!

Beads: Depending on the age of your kids, include these with pipe cleaners or some string. These letter beads would also be a fun addition and they have larger holes than some, making them easier for little hands.

Craft Sticks: I’ve been surprised how often these are used! They have colorful ones as well, but I’ve found that Henry enjoys coloring to match whatever he is making.

Post It Notes: If you know me, you’ll know I can’t not include these 😉 but kids love these and it’s nice for them to have their own, so they don’t steal yours!

Foam stickers: I have a love/hate relationship with stickers. I like these more than others because they are open ended and can be used almost like blocks to create different images!

Pom poms: These are a small size which Henry prefers to use- they stick to paper better with glue and seem like they can be used for more purposes.

Fun “extras” to include in your DIY craft kit:

None of the following are necessary- but are fun extras to further encourage creativity. I am planning on gifting my son a “craft kit refill kit” this Christmas filled with several of these ideas!

Sticker paper: I thought this would be fun to draw, color and cut out your own stickers.

Blank name tags: Similar to the idea above, but might be easier for younger kids to design their own stickers.

Blank puzzles: My puzzle loving kids are going to LOVE these.

Blank postcards: Perfect for emerging writers to practice- or they can just color a picture to send to loved ones!

Rainbow Scratch Paper: I plan on gifting this to my kids this year, but will cut it into smaller pieces (less waste and will last longer!)

Paper punch: Necessary? No. Fun for kids? Yes 😉

Hole punch: These are easier for kids to use than the traditional kind and can be used to punch holes to practice lacing string through, etc.

Fancy scissors: I LOVED these as a kid- now that my kindergartener has (pretty much) mastered cutting with regular scissors- I think he’d get a kick out of these.

Fun Writing Utensils

Gel Pens: Who doesn’t like gel pens? This set is really inexpensive and could easily be split up between a few kids.

Scented markers: Another kid favorite- we prefer this thin size.

Stinky twist crayons: My three year old recently got some “stinky playdoh” and thinks it is SO funny so I know he will think these are hilarious too.

Color changing markers: A fun alternative to regular markers- color with one side and then use the other side to change the color!

Kwik Stix: A less messy “paint” option. We’ve gone through many packs of them!

Watercolor pencils: Fun for a little bit older kids!

Gifts to accompany a DIY Craft Kit:

I wanted to include a few other art and craft related gift ideas that we have enjoyed in the past. These items may be good ideas if family members ask for a gift idea, etc.

Light up tracing board: We got this as a travel toy for Henry when he was 4 and it has been surprisingly well loved ever since! I initially thought that tracing wasn’t the best for open ended art- but I’ve been surprised at all the different ways Henry has found to use it!

Clipboard: My kids prefer to use clipboards over lap desks, tables, etc since it allows them to make art anywhere! Great for the car too. This link has lots of fun patterns.

How to draw book: This is a gift where you need to know your kid. My kids don’t love these because “they already know how to draw!”– gotta love the confidence 😉 But as a kid I LOVED learning how to draw new things from these kinds of books.

Art Lab for Kids Book: I love this series- they are full of open ended, process art for kids to do. There are several more in the series including Art Lab for Little Kids and Paint Lab for Kids. We’ve checked them out several times from the library, but I’m going to buy them so we can reference them all the time.

Hardback blank book(s): This is something I would have been SO excited about as a kid. Perfect for any budding authors/illustrators.

Sketchpad: These are great quality basic sketch pads- I like them because it keeps all the paper in one spot 😉

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