Some of my favorite gifts to give (and okay, receive) are ones that inspire. That leave you seeing the world from a new perspective. That make you want to tackle a new project. That, in a way, give you hope.

And that’s a really freaking lofty goal to place upon something you stuff in a dollar-store bag or place under a tree. So, I’ll settle for something that surprises and delights, and maybe—just maybe—ignites a creative streak and helps someone break out of the ordinary. That’s why I combined research with artists’, writers’, crafters’ and entrepreneurs’ recommendations for the best gifts for creative people.

1. Gouache Paint Set

• Why Give This? Help them find a new creative outlet

Back in 2014, while working for O, The Oprah Magazine, I took Brene Brown’s Gifts of Imperfection ecourse. Over six weeks, we worked through the chapters of the book, journaling, collaging and creating art to uncover the ten guideposts to more wholehearted living. It was there that I was introduced to gouache, a more opaque watercolor, and I fell in love with the medium. It’s less runny, with more vibrant hues, and it’s easy to use. The course may be long gone, but more than a decade later, the book‘s lessons—and that style of painting—have stuck with me.

2. Pott’d Good Tweetings & Joy Ceramics Kit

• Why Give This? They’ll feel productive while trying something new

Creatives who sit in front of a computer all day (writers, editors, graphic designers—or anyone with a less-than-hands-on day job) will appreciate the chance to work with their hands. While whoever you gift this to could go freeform, using the clay and tools provided to sculpt a little bird tea light, if they’re looking for a bit more direction, the kit also has you covered there. It includes a step-by-step video tutorial.

3. The Woobles Fred the Dinosaur Crochet Kit

• Why Give This? Unlock a new craft

Amigurumi, or crochet plushies, have been a major trend over the past few years. Like the old saying goes, give a man an amigurumi, you delight him for a day. Teach a man to make amigurumi, and he’s delighted for life. Or something like that. You get the idea. The Woobles kits are some of the best I’ve come across, with stitch-by-stitch, easy to follow videos that break down each step of the process. And, bonus, you can choose whether to receive a tutorial for lefties or righties, which this lefty surely appreciates.

4. Viator Excursion or Day Trip

• Why Give This? Inspire them to see the world in new ways

If they’re heading somewhere over the next year, search Viator for a list of things to do, and surprise them with a food tasting, bar crawl, sunset cruise, kayaking adventure, museum pass or something. Better yet, even if they have no vacations on the horizon, surprise them with a Viator excursion in or near where they live. It’ll reinvigorate them with a fresh perspective.

5. Save the Cat! Writes a Book by Jessica Brody

• Why Give This? So they finally finish that book they’ve been talking about

Billed “the last book on novel writing you’ll ever need,” this book was recommended by my sister-in-law, a screenwriter. It breaks down the 15 key beats (or plot points) that happen in stories, as well as the 10 key genres, taking the intimidation out of writing that book or script they’ve been dreaming about for years. It’s time to get it down on paper, and this read will help.

6. 3-in-1 Stylus Pens for Universal Devices

• Why Give This? To give them a new way to bring their doodles to life

Your creative friend has probably heard of Procreate and other apps to design their own graphics (if they’re not using one of ’em already). And if they are—or are curious about them—they’ll need a sensitive stylus for sketching. This one fits the bill, and is remarkably affordable too.

7. Canva Pro Subscription

• Why Give This? So they finally finish that book they’ve been talking about

If they don’t have Photoshop, and they’re just getting into graphic design, introduce them to Canva. The free version is great, but if they’re hoping to build a business around their creative pursuits, they’ll probably love a year’s subscription to the pro service, which offers 1 TB of cloud storage (!), more than 100 million photos, graphics and videos they can use, as well as tons of predesigned templates they can modify to suit their tastes.

8. Life Is a Movie Starring You by Jennifur Brandt

• Why Give This? To help them reconnect with their inner teen, who saw the world rife with possibility

When I was 13, this black-and-white, ‘zine-inspired workbook changed my life. It’s part of what made me iron-willed in working in magazines. It was a boost of confidence that I could find my creative spark, and that there were (quirky) others like me out there, as I pored over this guide to life, created by a ‘zine founder herself. So yes, while it’s somewhat dated (and nearly 25 years old!), it’s a piece of y2k-era nostalgia that’s worth a read.

9. Gump Speks Mini Stress Balls

• Why Give This? To help them finally relaaaaax

These stretchy, squishy, squeeze balls aren’t your typical stress ball. They’re filled with a memory gel that makes them more pliable—and oh so satisfying to smoosh. They make for a great fidget toy or stress reliever when writer’s block (or boredom or anxiety) strike.

10. Masterclass Subscription

• Why Give This? To level up their skills, straight from a pro

You may not be able to afford a one-on-one coaching session or mastermind, but a Masterclass subscription—which provides on-demand video lessons from the pros (like learning cooking techniques from Gordon Ramsay or design 101 with Joanna Gaines). A membership is billed annually, but prices start at $10 a month…er, $6 a month, if you take advantage of the current holiday sale!

11. Siblings Candle Kit

• Why Give This? It’s a simple creative project that will (literally) brighten their day

Unless you provide them with a Forever Vessel, the giftee will need to provide their own heat-safe candle container (which makes this a great way to use that charming mug that won’t fit in the cabinet or reuse that old candle container they were about to toss). Siblings has gorgeous scent blends—No. 13 is my forever favorite, for its marshmallowy vibe—and it makes for a fun, 10-minute project they can enjoy all season long.

Interested in more involved candle-making? Here are four candle-making kits I’d recommend.

12. Toybox 3D Printer

• Why Give This? To give the tinkerer in your life a whole new arena to dabble in

My husband got this for this birthday a year ago, and he’s made more than 400 prints since then. To say he loves it is an understatement; he’s now dreaming of a bigger 3D printer…and I need to dream of a bigger house to contain all of his projects. (Kidding—somewhat.) The Toybox 3D Printer is awesome because it’s so user friendly that even older kids can get in on designing toys and things with it. There’s even a subscription service that lets you print licensed toys, like SpongeBob and DC superheroes, right at home.

But it’s great for practical builds too—my husband has used it to fix our dishwasher handle, create a ramp for our Roomba and a self-watering mini planter, just to name a few projects.

13. The Artisan Soul by Erwin McManus

• Why Give This? To help your spiritual friend reconnect with their artistic side (or vice versa)

In a world that teaches you to be practical, sometimes you need a reminder to exhale. And enjoy creating art for the sake of creating art. This book helps readers get there—and reconnect with their soulful side.

14. Y7 Studio Online Classes

• Why Give This? To burn off pent-up energy and refresh their spirit

I’ve waxed poetic about Y7 before. They don’t pay me; I just genuinely love their flows, set to pop and hip hop music. Classes can be sorted by body area you want to target, the amount of time you have available (from 15 minutes to an hour) or the vibe you want (Sweaty Not Sorry, anyone?).

I will note that I’m worried they’re not uploading new flows anymore—I haven’t seen a fresh one since September—but there are 432 options to choose from, so it’ll take your giftee a while to get sick of ’em.

15. HeyDay Cherry 35mm Camera with Film

• Why Give This? To step away from the screen and explore the world

One of my best friends launched a photo studio (5R Photo Lab!) in New York, and at first, people balked. “Film is dead!” they warned. No—it’s an art form. This 35mm cutie comes in fall’s hottest color and includes a roll of film and batteries, so they can get to shooting right away.

Plus, it’s sold at Target, so you can order it for Drive Up and get it within two hours, provided it’s in stock. Talk about a sweet last-minute gift.

16. Mind Your Business Workbook by Ilana Griffo

• Why Give This? To guide anyone considering turning a hobby into a side hustle or career

I’ve spent the better part of a year gradually working through this book, which offers all kinds of journal prompts and exercises to get you thinking about turning an interest into an actual business, from fleshing out the idea to finding your ideal customer and creating your branding and marketing plans. It’s a fun creative outlet that can bring them one step closer to launch (or help them determine whether their hobby should remain their creative outlet).

17. Cricut Joy Xtra

• Why Give This? So they can customize anything and everything to their heart’s content

Over the years, I’ve used the Cricut Explore Air 2, Cricut Joy, Cricut Maker 3 and the new Cricut Joy Xtra, and I’ve got to say: The Cricut Joy Xtra is my favorite. It’s as user-friendly as the Joy, only it can print things three inches bigger—which happens to be the difference between designing a shirt, tote bag or garden flag and sticking to things like cards and water bottle labels. Plus, it has a print-then-cut feature, which the Joy does not, so you can make your own stickers. And you can’t beat the price point, compared to other Cricut models. (I use mine for designing bags, shirts, stickers, candle labels, cards, keychains and labeling all of my kids’ gear for school.)

Walmart is currently offering $40 off the machine with a full starter kit, which includes two vinyl sampler packs, a project ideas guide, transfer tape (so projects turn out just the way you want them) and all of the tools necessary to cut out and apply vinyl transfers.