Aghh! Need Xmas inspo for 13 yr old girl who's not into makeup and fragrance. Bought Nothing 😭

[Twiglet2026]

Sooo other than a bracelet and some Lego I'm stumped. She likes art, crafts, music and books. But everything art wise looks too young or too mature and boring. Tips needed please!!

You can get the folio ones and similar in TkMaxx

I've a similar 16 year old. Crochet is definitely popular, as are embroidery sets, at that age they can often do the complicated ones. Book tokens also
good. If she's into sewing, then nice sewing box to keep everything and good sewing scissors

Au contraire! Our teen loves a special edition, sprayed edge, new artwork version of a favourite book. She’s ended up with multiple copies of series for this reason as she likes to repurchase them. Can’t say I get it but makes her happy and makes for easy gift giving!

Caterpillar cross stitch have some very nice kits.

Look at the “Booktok” page on Waterstones (I can never post links on MN for some reason!) just check the content warnings first but these are very popular/trendy books.

The Coco Wyo colouring books are very popular at the moment too.

If she’s into Taylor Swift at all there’s a lovely “Eras” jigsaw I bought for DD from Waterstones.

https://www.waterstones.com/product/the-world-of-taylor-swift-1000-piece-jigsaw-puzzle/9781399632065

https://www.waterstones.com/author/coco-wyo/9184991

https://www.waterstones.com/booktok

https://www.caterpillarcrossstitch.com/collections/cross-stitch-kits

Cake decorating books? Fimo clay?

Mine was well happy with a hot glue gun

A reading journal? Some are really pretty and have space to add pictures/sketches.

When you say music, is she inclined to play an instrument? Thomann have lots of starter instruments that are reasonably priced.

My DD is the same as yours. She went through a big phase of posca pens but is no longer interested. I tried the 3D pen one year but she never used it. Last year got her an expensive pottery set, she still hasn’t used it. She likes making bracelets so got her another set of those and a crochet set. Got her lots of clothes she asked for and trainers. Then things like a duvet set and a couple of jellycats- she loves those. Plus a new phone so that’s the biggie.

My 19year old is like this. Not into make up or fragrance and only just getting into clothes and fashion. She’s really into arts and crafts. I’ve got her a bullet journal, stencils for the pages, nice pens etc (I have one and find it so therapeutic) and there’s some brilliant inspiration on Instagram and Tik Tok.

My DD (13) asked for a 3D pen and a badge maker. Shes also got some clothes and fidgets

Mine got a button badge maker for her birthday which went down well.
Watercolour pads and paints.
Book tokens or nice box set of a series.
I've just ordered a gorgeous personalised journal from Wonderbly which I think she's going to love (happy to share referral code for £15 off if you want for this, full disclosure it also gives the referrer account credit).

I have a 12 year old dd and so far I have bought her
A trinket holder craft kit,
candle making kit,
faux fur cushions
checkerboard fluffy banket
fleece pajamas
bubble tea kit
bath bomb fizzers

When I was 13 all I craved was good quality mature and boring art supplies. A decent sketchbook, pack of micron pens, some mechanical pencils and good watercolour pencils and I’d have been made up. You can bundle it all together and wrap it fancy paper.

Would she be interested in a book nook?

Art supplies

A Kobo (e-reader), it's better than a Kindle because you can use it to borrow and read ebooks from the library (via Libby)

How does she listen to music, does she have a smart speaker in her bedroom and a Spotify subscription?

How about a candle making kit? Some come with little tins and fragrances and others have moulds. Gave one to a niece for her 13th which she loved.
Glass fusing kit or a day course doing something a bit different like glass blowing or metal working

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChsSEwiG7qPkp72RAxXqmlAGHY-JKAIYACICCAEQEhoCZGc&co=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhu6j5Ke9kQMV6ppQBh2PiSgCEAQYBCABEgIDAPD_BwE&sph=&sig=AOD64_3iKeg1wXxpqn0lDUAAPWOUMA-lnA&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwj-1Z3kp72RAxXCdUEAHbIoMpoQwg8oAHoECAoQKQ&adurl=
this is a good book

My dd is into art and sports, and not at all into makeup. At age 13 she would have appreciated fineliners (already had Posca pens). For her 14th birthday she hugely appreciated a proper drawing art (charcoals, gummy rubber, all the pencils, white highlighter, blender etc).

In the past two years she also appreciated - Dunelm cable knit foot warmer

• an upgrade to her desk lamp
• bamboo pots to hold her art supplies in an “aesthetic” way
• better paintbrushes
• a very heavy metal pencil sharpener (gorgeous thing like a bullet!)

My dd inherited her gran’s sewing machine, knitting bag and embroidery threads so I just added a beautiful second-hand embroidery stitches manual, she has used that quite a lot

People have recommended lots of great art / craft ideas so I'll not go there. Might not be her thing but:

Hot chocolate maker & nice hot chocolate selection box / variety pack?

We like Knoops and Hotel Chocolat.

Gift cards for cinema and Nandos or wherever she likes to eat.

Clothes?

When my older kids don't know what they want I go for a wee bit of everything. Books, weary things - a hoodie, pyjamas - eaty things, drinky things, an experience, a practical thing, etc. Cover lots of bases. And money so they can buy something they really want.

Jellycat Amuseable
Larva type lamp
PJs
My arty niece has asked for watercolours and brushes

Diamond art with storage case and light board?

Cotton Clara do some fab friendship bracelet kits. Realise it sounds a bit lame but you can make leopard print ones and stuff. It’s really simple when you get into it

Scheepjes Colour Packs!

Knitting needles/ crochet. Definitely gets good brand like KnitPro Zing. Not the grey cheaper ones, I find they tend to bend after a while but then again I might be a tense knitter 😄

Maybe some fun crochet books or knitting . There’s a pick and mix book for people, animals, all sorts! Edward's Imaginarium. The original first book is dead easy and explanation’s/diagrams are fantastic (Edward's Menagerie)

fimo clay and fimo clay book for miniatures or jewellery/beads. Possibilities are endless! Don’t get the other makes of Clay- Fimo is best

Those circular knitting machines are amazing. My friend has one and you can make a hat in about 30 minutes.