Help! Last minute main gift dd 15

[Adesignforstrife]

My main gift for my dd 15 has fallen through (event and trip away cancelled). This was to be a real “wow” present. And I am stuck without an alternative. She is v down to earth and has a v modest wish list, most of which is covered by relatives. She’s arty but not crafty and has loads of supplies, not into make up etc, likes Harry Potter, Star Wars, reading, being in nature. Any ideas please? So far I’ve thought of a light set for one of her Lego models, and maybe a box of star wars Lego but I’m not sure that this would fill the hole. Budget up to £120 but can be flexible (the original gift was more but her sibling’s gift was £120ish so that would be fair). Think I need to sort it today/tomorrow. Can anyone inspire me?

We've struggled a bit this year with ideas for my teen DDs, neither of who have much "stuff" that they want. My younger daughter (14) is quite into cooking and the one thing she has asked for is an air fryer, so that's what we've gone for!

But the other thing I had looked into was more experience-type ideas - an afternoon learning to bake bread for example, or there were some companies doing online workshops. There may be similar things for a craft day that your Dd would like? You could get an online voucher, so it arrives immediately!

Sorry, I see you say she isn't crafty but arty - but same principle applies I hope, re some sort of experience day as an idea perhaps 😁

Has she been to the HP tour? Or the forbidden forest experience if you are up north? I have done the tour and it is the best attraction I have ever been to. Tickets are booked up for a while, but so worth the wait. The forbidden forest place up north is supposed to be incredible too.

Is she gadgeted up? If not Kindle with a light/tablet/drawing tablet..nature camera /video software, / chrome book
Upgrades: good headphones &cable
Better keyboard/mouse if a gamer
Portable switch? Not sure price of that
Camera instapix
A course on something?
A spin off her trip so related?
Trip to HP studios?

The Harry Potter world thing has a gift ticket you pay for now and book within a year? So no decisions made now?

Air pods?

Where are you in the country? That might help with experience options. How about a trip on the Harry Potter train (Fort William to Malaig). There are bound to be options to combine that with nature activities too.

Proper fancy digital camera with a tripod and interchangeable lenses? Not a point and shoot (no better than a mobile phone camera) obviously. Might be over budget though - we got DD one second hand when she was 15 and it was a hit and is still well used. She and her friend from down the road did a lot of going for "photoshoot" walks with it in the first lockdown!

We’re South Wales. She’s been to the Studios tour, would do again but it was her gift two years ago so a bit samey? She has most of the gadget suggestions except chromebook. I’ll have a quick look at experiences/courses nearby, that’s a good idea.

DH is against a camera as she has full access to our main (proper) camera and so anything we buy would be not as good. Maybe in a year or two when she is going away more on her own. But it’s a spot on suggestion otherwise.

Airpods, Binoculars, Walking boots/socks, Fitbit?

A walk with Alpaca

Posh afternoon tea

Binoculars
Portable easel to take out in nature
Kindle vouchers
Literary gifts e.g. from Well Read and similar brands

What about booking to Bristol museum to see Grayson Perry's exhibition?

Eurostar tickets to Paris or Amsterdam next summer and Paris art pass? There's some real bargains to be had on their website at the moment (and really hoping we're allowed back into France by then!!) :)

I struggled with my DD too and got her a weighted blanket which I think she'll love.

Does she want to start driving? We have bought our son an hour driving experience at Mercedes world. 30 mins in a car and 30 in a 4x4.
Also a set of driving lessons ( although if you were planning to pay for those anyway it is not a great gift!!)
My 18 year old DD has asked for UGG boots which were about£140.

Some great ideas here, thank you. Investigating.

My 14 year old dd loves her Oodie!

If she's outdoorsy maybe a pair of brightly coloured Hunter wellies? If she's artistic, perhaps some drawing pencils / charcoals / paints with brushes / pads etc?

I would put the money in a box and gift that explaining what happened. Shes 15 and will understand and will be able to save the money for something she really wants.

Is her art digital or on paper? If its physical art, then a lightbox to trace over your existing art work to rework it/ repeat patterns etc could be good- you can get decent A3 ones on Amazon for around the £30 mark. A desktop drawing stand, or an upgrade to some of her equipment? Eg if she has own brand watercolours then some cotman ones, or even a larger box with more colours in than she has already from a really nice brand- this could be the same for whatever art medium she prefers, whether its coloured pencils (PolyChromos do some HUGE tins of all their colours), alcohol markers (I always recommend Windsor Newton Promarkers), specialist papers, outline pens for sketches etc?

What about an owl handling experience? (Errol, Hedwig etc!) They're outdoors, so still running despite COVID (though I understand rules in Wales changed yesterday, so forgive me if they're not running in your area, because I live in England and didn't read the detail )

Occulus quest went down a storm with my 15yo last Xmas. Biy more than your budget though?

Foraging walk?.a night with you in a treehouse type airb&b. Or agree with previous poster of upgrade on art stuff, very very good paper, palomino black wing pencils etc

Has she seen the cursed child? Tickets for that and a trip to London?

Otherwise can you not still do the original wow trip but as a "date tbc" ? If its that good I'm sure she won't mind waiting!

Telescope or metal detector?