Holiday Gift Ideas 2025

I’m always on the hunt for different gifting options and I try to purchase gifts throughout the year. I’ll stumble upon that perfect something, buy it, and hold on to it until Christmas. They’re usually small tokens that made me think of someone, but I find these things very special. This takes away the online shopping aspect and allows me to spread the costs of Christmas throughout the course of a year instead of all at once.

If you’re looking for the hottest gadgets or the most-wanted luxe brands, this list will disappoint you. The theme here is to be intentional. Connect with the recipient. Go special. Go small.

It’s not easy to stay away from the online giants, but we can try our best to shop local and shop indie. With that in mind, some of my suggestions might focus on vendors in the Northern Virginia area. Most of them have an online presence and can ship wherever. If that’s not your jam, maybe you can use the ideas as a jumping point to find a comparable service or vendor in your area.

Let’s get to it!

Note: This webpage and this website do NOT contain any affiliate links or advertising. That means if you click on a link, I’m not making any money from it. Unless you’re buying my book…and let’s be honest, I’m not really making money from that either. HAHAHAHAHA!

Art Prints & Handmade Art Gifts

• Martin Hsu Art: I’ve been following Martin for years. He’s such a kind soul who blends traditional Asian vibes into his work. Aside from solo exhibitions, he’s also done exhibitions for Disney, Sanrio, and Google. You really can’t go wrong with buying prints.

• Meaningful Monograms: Kay Carlson uses real pressed flowers to create stunning artwork. The day she makes an octopus is the day my wallet goes empty. Get the original or prints at her site.

• Whispers of Autumn: Autumn Rosario Hall was my booth mate at FaerieCon East 2018. Her artwork is whimsical and nature-focused. On her site, you can purchase original paintings, prints, and journals. She’s also written two magical, illustrated books.

These are all by Autumn Rosario Hall with the exception of the super cute No-Face print which is by Martin Hsu. I just peeped a few rooms in my house to get these shots to share with you.

Book Lovers & Writers

I will always suggest books as gifts. I don’t care if it’s a physical copy, a digital copy, or an audio copy. It could be used or brand new. It’s hard to go wrong with books. If you’re not sure what kind of books they will like, opt for a gift card to a local shop.

• If you missed my Oct newsletter, here is a list of authors from Once Upon a Convention.

• Shout out to my peeps! Here’s a list Marie Sinadjan put together of Filipino authors with representation across multiple genres. I’m on the list!

• My 2019 gift guide has several indie authors I’ve met and interviewed.

You can also get book-related gifts like book lights and bookmarks. Stationery and pens are lovely gifts as well. There’s nothing like a brand new pen and fresh paper. Here are some places I like:

• Galen Leather: It’s giving steampunk…(here’s the review I wrote up on one of their products)

• The Goulet Pen Company: For the pen enthusiast in your life…or the soon-to-be pen enthusiast because ugh, you can’t get enough of these beautiful pens!

• Hobonichi Techo: I have been gushing about this for maybe 4 years now in my New Year greetings posts.

• Hubman and Chubgirl: They have the most adorable stationery and journaling kits. They have subscription offers as well.

Ooh, I have a few bookmarks for sale in my shop! They’re nothing fancy, but if you’re looking for a little something made with great care and love, I highly recommend!

Classes for the Knowledge Seeker

Is your recipient looking to learn something new or maybe exploring other life paths? Check out some of these ideas!

• A Dream or a Day Art: Andrea Nelson has some of the best art video tutorials. She makes art really accessible and I love her vibe. Visit her site for her own brand of art supplies as well as online art classes.

• Heather Jones Coaching: Her workshops make a great gift for that aspiring entrepreneur in your life. Maybe you know someone who can’t get her business on track or wants to start her own thing, but can’t seem to make it happen. Buy her some time with Coach Heather! You can also find Heather’s book and journals on her site.

• Octopus Connection: Chris Vabre is one of the loveliest people you will meet online. She has Skillshare classes which focus on watercolor and finding your unique art style.

Everything is a subscription these days and the costs add up. Make it a gift and take the load off someone’s wallet!

• Fitness: A fitness subscription is something you can give to someone who is trying to find that activity that works for them. A few suggestions are Apple Fitness+, FitOn, Beach Body, and Peloton. You can also find a local gym or class. Places like Fairfax County Park Authority offer a lot of classes and are excellent for trying something out if you’re not ready to commit long term.

• Magazines: Do people still do magazine subscriptions? My niece sells them as a Girl Scout. It makes me feel like I’m gifting someone and supporting her and the Girl Scouts. I should get free cookies or something.

• Music: The big one is Spotify. You can also gift Sirius XM, Pandora, and Apple Music. I use Amazon’s service and I’m sure there are several other options. The ridiculous amount of music-related merch should be noted—especially for that K-pop fan in your life.

• Skillshare is a subscription option you get for someone who wants to try all sorts of things in order to find their art passion. There’s more than just art here, but it seems to focus more on creative pursuits versus something like Udemy.

• Skool has several types of communities. There’s art, wellness, acting, pickleball, etc. Some communities are free to join, others have fees. I don’t know a lot about it, but Chris Vabre of Octopus Connection has a community here.

• Udemy focuses on career and technical skills. The people I know who have used Udemy have taken more technical courses. You can pay by the class or see if there’s a plan that works with your gifting budget.

Creative DIY Kits

Art supplies make a great gift. If your recipient has never done a specific type of art before, opt for a kit that has everything they need to start. You can also find local classes or online tutorials to include with the art supplies.

• Viviva Colors: I love this brand. They make watercolor products that are eco-friendly, vegan, non-toxic, and super easy to travel with. Bonus: each product is handmade by local women artisans in India.

This book nook adds a touch of whimsy to our shelves!

Sometimes it feels so good to put something together. This was the year we tried book nooks. They’re fun, a little challenging, and look so cute on your bookshelf. We did a kit by Rolife which we picked up at Michael’s. There are so many out there to choose from.

• Robotime: Rolife is one of its sub-brands. Aside from Michael’s, I’ve seen a lot of these products at Teso Life in Rockville, MD.

• Uncommon Goods has some interesting DIY kits as well as unique, personalized gifts. They are a bit on the pricier side, but maybe it can inspire you to put your own kit together or look up the contributing artisans.

Jigsaw puzzles are fun, too. There are some that have a creative spin as well.

• Odd Pieces jigsaw puzzles have a story and clues. As you go through the puzzle, things change. I haven’t tried this yet, but I’m thinking I might!

I love getting and gifting Legos. Yes, they can get a little pricey, but it’s hard to beat a box of Legos. Their stores get really packed, but you can find them just about anywhere toys are sold.

Experiences: Gifts That Go Beyond Objects

Looking to gift something that creates memories instead? I’ve got you!

Get together for a photo shoot! Take that family picture you keep talking about. Do a friend-group photo shoot that’s a step above a selfie.

• Ruby Hunt Photography: Ruby takes awesome professional pictures. You can do your headshot for work or get those family photos in front of that iconic monument. She’s super laid back and easy to work with. She’s done my headshot, and I’m thinking of asking her to do another one where I’m wielding a sword. That should be fun! Comment below if I need to make this happen!

We are so fortunate to consider food an experience. The ultimate treat is to take someone out. Enjoy a meal together. Not to be cheesy, but that’s the real gift.

• InKind: a dear friend gifted me through the InKind app. It’s like having credits to use at any of the partner restaurants listed. Yours truly felt like a boss paying at China Chilcano, I can tell you that.

• Consider gift cards to a favorite restaurant or one that neither you nor the recipient has tried for a surprise! Don’t just focus on sit-down restaurants either. Take a look at bakeries and cafes as well.

• Goldbelly: it’s a little pricey, but I have gifted and received via Goldbelly and it does not disappoint.

• Cook something. You have skills. I believe in you. (Comment below if you need help with this idea.) Oooh, cook together! That could be fun, too! We are not lacking in online tutorials, friends!

Get out there with your gift recipient! Here are a few places to go:

• It can get pricey, but the movie theatre is a special treat. I’m fairly certain you can also gift this as a subscription.

• Check out a museum. There are so many kinds. We have friends who seek out the most esoteric museums and have amazing stories. Or check out a museum you haven’t visited. I am embarrassed to say that I have yet to explore the U.S. Botanic Garden in DC.

• Sports ball! Sticks! This is another pricey one, but tickets to sporting events are awesome. You can even go with minor league teams if you’re looking for more affordable options. If your recipient is into sports, there is no shortage of gear out there. I’ve shopped Washington Capitals and Tottenham. Formula 1 will be all over our lists this year as well.

• Karaoke! I am so excited for you to do this. Find a place that does the private rooms. You’ll have a blast. Trust.

Gifts That Give Back

If I can give and know that some of my money is also serving a good cause, then I am so in.

• Franciscan Peacemakers: self-care products that support women in need.

• Membership at Smithsonian’s National Zoo or something similar.

• This wouldn’t be my list if I didn’t add OctoNation.

• Patreon is a way you can gift tutorials or whatever “extras” an artist, writer, podcaster, or musician is offering while supporting that artist.

• Thistle Farms: I believe Franciscan Peacemakers followed the Thistle Farms model to support women in need.

I would love to hear other ideas for gifts that gift back!

You can also peep my 2019 Gift Guide. Share your ideas below!