Birthday gifts for a male friend who makes things by hand
Victorinox
Cyber Tool L Swiss Army knife
$140 at Victorinox
Named by The Verge, 2026.
Checked 31 Aug 2026
Williams Sonoma
Gardening Seat & Tool Kit
$129.95 at Williams Sonoma
Named by The Strategist, 2026.
Checked 31 Aug 2026
Melissa & Doug
Deluxe Wooden Standing Art Easel
$114.99 at Melissa & Doug
A chalkboard on one side and a dry-erase board on the other, with a paper roll between, so it never runs out of surface.
Seen at Melissa & Doug, 30 Aug 2026
Play-Doh
Modeling Compound 10-Pack (paid link)
Under $25 at Amazon
Ten colors of modeling compound in one pack, a classic craft toy for kids ages 2 to 6.
Seen at Amazon, 3 Sep 2026
Melissa & Doug
Sticker WOW! Sea Turtle Bundle (paid link)
Under $25 at Amazon
A reusable sticker set shaped like a sea turtle, suited to kids ages 3 to 6.
Seen at Amazon, 3 Sep 2026
Play-Doh
Blooming Flower Garden Playset (paid link)
Under $25 at Amazon
Named by Country Living, 2026.
Checked 31 Aug 2026
OOLY
Big Bright Brush Markers, Easy Grip, Set of 10
$14.95 at OOLY
Fat markers with a brush tip and a grip a small hand can hold, which is the difference between drawing and giving up.
Seen at OOLY, 30 Aug 2026
Kwik Stix
Kwik Stix and Glitter Stix Mess-Free Art Bundle
$32.99 at TPG Creations
Tempera paint in a solid stick, so there is no water, no brushes and nothing to wipe off the table afterwards.
Seen at TPG Creations, 30 Aug 2026
OOLY
Body Doodlers Face and Body Crayons, Set of 12
$15.95 at OOLY
Crayons made for drawing on skin and washing straight off, which is the exact rule five year olds most want broken.
Seen at OOLY, 30 Aug 2026
Kwik Stix
Magic Stix Double-Ended Acrylic Markers, 24 Pack
$23.99 at The Pencil Grip
Acrylic markers with a bullet tip at one end and a fine tip at the other, and they survive being left uncapped.
Seen at The Pencil Grip, 30 Aug 2026
OOLY
Chunkies Paint Sticks, Variety Set of 24
$31.95 at OOLY
Twenty four paint sticks in metallic and neon, for the child who has run out of things to do with ordinary crayons.
Seen at OOLY, 30 Aug 2026
OOLY
OOLY x Peanuts Color-in Wooden Birdhouse Kit
$27.95 at OOLY
A real wooden birdhouse that gets painted with the five markers in the box, then hung outside and actually used.
Seen at OOLY, 30 Aug 2026