OK, you might have seen some of these items before if you’ve been diving deep into our gift guide coverage. Buuut, I don’t think your friends and family are quite as dialed in as you, so I’m pretty sure they’re gonna be surprised. Plus, there’s some stuff in here that even I haven’t seen before, like brand new “Juicy” Nerds Gummy Clusters, a miniature kalimba, and a “Liar’s” version of Uno.
A mini digital camera and camcorder
Featuring a cute character like Hello Kitty or Mickey Mouse. This is great for kids getting into photography or adults looking for a compact option to stow in their bag. There's 32 GB of storage, a selfie camera, and themed filters.
Promising review: "Super cute and perfectly sized for my 3-year-old daughter’s hands. We were so proud of her saving up her money to purchase this herself. The camera has so many cool functions: front and rear camera, filters, video, etc. These were way beyond my expectations for a child’s camera, and I was pleasantly surprised." — Lucy
Liar's Uno — a brand-new iteration of the classic card game
There are now liar cards that require players to bluff and deceive, lest they're stuck drawing more cards.
Promising review: "This is one of my favorite Uno versions. It’s very simple to teach people and is fun for my friends/family. The new rules/cards don’t make the game too fast or slow. Overall, this is worth my money and fun to play." — Molly S
The Night Before Christmas at Dunder Mifflin
For the person who is still quoting The Office. The nice, hardcover book gives the classic tale a fun Scranton twist. Bonus points: Brian Baumgartner (Kevin Malone) is one of the authors!
Promising review: "I preordered it and was so excited to receive it, and it met my expectations! We’re a huge The Office family, and this was such a great buy. Has a ton of inside jokes from The Office that only fans would understand. Seriously such a good buy. I’d love to see more like these in the future!" — Christy B.
A gelatin hair claw made with a transparent neon cellulose acetate
The Peach Fuzz is a San Francisco-based small biz making claw clips, stickers, and other accessories. 10% of the proceeds are donated to the organizations listed on their website.
Ships in 2–5 business days.
The Sopranos Family Cookbook
It's packed with delicious Italian dishes as seen in the HBO series. Fingers crossed this scores you some lasagna as a thank you!
Promising review: "I received this for my birthday, and I absolutely love this book. I've been able to produce flavors I didn't know I was capable of making, a lot of the recipes produce a large quantity so there's always plenty of leftovers which is a good thing! My Italian grandmother used to make her own 'gravy' but that recipe was never passed on, so it's fun to recreate some of the meals from my childhood." — AAA
An air hockey puck that works on any flat surface
So they can challenge people to a game any place, any time. The puck itself shoots air so there's no need for an expensive air hockey table or trip to the arcade.
Promising review: "This is a very cool for kids if you don’t have a big table. We love that you can play it on any flat surface and it actually hovers." — John
A tiny kalimba keychain (aka the thumb piano)
Even complete instrument newbies can learn to play this simple lil' doodad — the keys are numbered, and it comes with a booklet of songs.
Promising review: "I got this as a little distraction that involved mental stimulation and creativity. Plus, to help with some hand tremors. I’m definitely not musically inclined, but it is so easy to play. I’ll probably get one for my grandkids when they are a little older. The sound is a little better than expected for what it is. You won’t be holding concerts, but it sounds smooth enough. Some tines resonate really well, and some are short. Overall, it is fun to play. And I’m glad it came with several little songs to learn on." — Jeffrey A.
A 1,000-piece puzzle featuring a complex scene from one of four literary classics
Piece together these works of art while listening to an audiobook for the ultimate bookworm night.
Promising review: "This was one of my favorite puzzles. Vivid colors, and the pieces fit nicely together. Fun design. Not too easy, not too difficult. Five stars." — MKK
Brand new Nerds Juicy Gummy Clusters
A fun spin on the cult-classic. They're essentially Gushers covered in Nerds, which is every sweet tooth's dream come true.
A box of Japanese-style bath salts
Transform their bathroom into an onsen. The packs each come in a different color and have hot spring ingredients for a soothing earthy scent.
Promising review: "For me, a hot bath is the ultimate way to de-stress and unwind. I use these bath salts because they bring all the benefits of an onsen right into my tub. This variety pack includes four different scents, each with its own beautiful color. They all smell amazing and make my bath incredibly relaxing." — Femme Fatale
The Sims, now as a board game!
Up to five players can create their own character arcs by moving around the board and collecting matching "Simbols." The cute Plumbob tokens are honestly enough to get me to buy this!
Promising review: "If you are a Sims player, this is a MUST. It’s so much fun seeing all the icons and funny things drawn from the game. I love it!" — Rebecca
A pack meme animal magnets
To grace their locker, fridge, car, or filing cabinet. Two Croc-headed animals in one magnet pack — what a deal!
Promising review: "I needed some new magnets and accidentally stumbled upon these. Boy, am I glad I bought them. They’re hilarious to look at every day. The image quality is good." — Claire
Bird Call — a goofy party game
The whole house will be hooting, cawing, and croaking. Players call out bird sounds and trade cards when they find another player matching their call. This card game is great for 3–8 players, ages 7 and up.
Promising review: "I used this for a game night party, where some of our friends already knew each other, and others were new to the group. This game right at the top of the evening made everybody fast friends and ready to dig into more games. It was hilarious and enjoyable." — CLC
A DIY miniature museum kit
For anyone who's still thinking about how funny Night at the Museum was. Now listen, Lunch Box! This light-up 3D puzzle comes with 1,074 pieces and takes about 10 hours to complete, so you'd better not disturb the process.
Promising review: "This was just a fun model from beginning to end. I love how it came with a little hammer and glue. Took me about four days to get it all completed. SO much detail from the books to all the little trim pieces and railings. The hardest part was getting the dinosaur skeleton together without it falling apart. Haha. I had to switch to super glue on that one. This is a MUST-have puzzle; the pics almost don't do it justice. It's so pretty." — FraggleRock
How to Be More Tree — a charming book
Filled with illustrations, detailed advice, and important lessons inspired by our ancient neighbors. Your frazzled friend could probably learn something from the peaceful pine tree, right?
Promising review: "I bought as a Christmas gift for my brother, an arborist. He loved it for obvious reasons, but y’all, this book is for everyone. I’m ordering one for me too! Beautifully illustrated and written. A true gem." — NolaFanGirl
A Snoopy Tamagotchi!!! With a silicone dog house case!!! And three mini games!!!
Promising review: "Very cute and low-maintenance nostalgia. Recommended for Snoopy/Peanuts lovers. It's definitely small — it's a nano — but it's not complicated. It's just for the cute animations." — danisse
A pair of magnetic hand-holding socks
For the sentimental friend who likes to be glued at the hip (or ankle).
Promising review: "My sister and I have had so much fun with these socks!!! They are super cute and the magnetic hold really well. The magnets are a bit big so you do notice them but overall super fun and cute." — addison fullmer
A tube of chocolate tennis balls that are surprisingly realistic
ChoconChoc is a small business that sells unique chocolates.
Promising review: "This was used as a gift and it turned out great!! They loved the novelty of it and said the chocolates were very tasty. Thank you!" — Falicia Forward
Ground shipping in 3–5 days available.
A pair of magnetic penguin hand warmers
To help them when the weather starts to feel like the South Pole. Gift this adorable couple to anyone who's always complaining about cold hands — they have three settings and get up to 149 degrees.
Promising review: "Cute little warmers that do the job well. They warm up really well. My 9-year-old loves them; they are just the right size for her hands! Battery life is fair; she uses them about four hours total a day during the winter months. Price was nice! I love how they are magnetized; it keeps her from losing them." — Sasha
A teeny-tiny board game
Promising review for Monopoly : "This is, hands-down, the coolest Monopoly game ever made! It has every piece and detail that the full-size version has, and the quality exceeds my expectations. 😊 Can't wait to play it!" — Andrea
Promising review for Bananagrams : "This is adorable! I was worried the tiles would be too small to play with (and they are indeed tiny!), but I've actually had no trouble playing with them at all. I'm using it to practice my Spanish vocabulary. It is amazingly portable (fits in my small purse without issue) and looks just like the larger version. Also, it doubles as a cat toy! (at least according to my cat, who keeps trying to steal the zipper pouch)." — Elise
Available in 15 games, or see even more tiny toys here.
A no-bake Kracie Popin' Cookin' DIY candy cake kit
It requires only basic Play-Doh skills to master. They can whip up mini candy ice cream cones and cakes worthy of the Tiny British Bakeoff by just modeling the edible clay.
Promising review: "The moment the package arrived, my daughter wanted to make it. So we did, and it was super fun. Tasted pretty good, easy directions, and all parts came in great condition. Next time I'll need to buy a multipack and hide packs of it before my daughter sees them, lol. Otherwise she wants to make them all right away. She loved it, and I'm so going to order more someday for her." — Lesley
Strawberry Sunset: a sweet, whimsical card game
Players try to grow as many strawberries as they can before sunset. They'll have to strategically lay out their cards to create paths, add water, and grow crops. This game is perfect for 2–4 players, ages 12 and up. Stellar Factory is a small business that sells cute games and accessories.
Promising review: "This game was easy to learn but still fun and interesting to play. It’s not overly competitive or complicated and doesn’t drag on for a long time. It can be enjoyed by people of different ages. It’s ADHD-friendly and can be played with simple or more complicated scoring or enjoyed without keeping score at all. The art is cute, and the cards are nicely printed on decent cardstock. It’s a new favorite in our home." — Isaac
A "from the library of" page embosser or self-inking stamp
Promising reviews: "I have purchased several custom stamps from this company; fast shipping and quality products make these the best gifts!" — Suzanne
"Got this for a friend who loves books and is always loaning them out to other friends. Great quality, and the design was exactly what I ordered and imagined. The time between the order and receiving it was a quick turnaround as well. Thinking of ordering more in the future for other friends. If you’re looking for a thoughtful gift, this is the option!" — Katy
Ships in 2–4 business days.
Yuzu kosho chili paste
They can use this to top oysters, season meat, mix with mayo for a sandwich topping, make salad dressing, jazz up soup — I could go on for a while, but you get the picture. It's citrusy, spicy, and briny, the trifecta of delicious condiment flavors.
Promising review: "I just heard about this for the first time on a YouTube cooking show, and now I can't live without it. It's salty, mildly spicy and tangy. Adds so much in a tiny amount to so many recipes." — S. Underwood
A 10-year diary for the journaling experts
Your recipient gets five lines per day to jot down their experiences, plus a prologue and epilogue. Already a cute gift idea, but it's made even better by the gold foil details and delicate illustrations!
Promising review: "It's exactly what I expected. The paper is lovely to write on, and there is just enough space to put in the day's basics. I like that it's an easy/short diary entry, which makes me more likely to write stuff. The text of the diary is entirely in Japanese, which I do not speak, but this does not impact my using the diary, and the year flows from left to right like most Western books." — ComfyHappyFeet
A set of snowball-making claws
So they can create fun-shaped snowballs in record time. Their snowball fight opponents won't know what hit them (a snow duck).
Promising review: "These turned out to be a lot of fun. Makes perfect snow balls easily, quickly, and (as an adult) I could play without having to get my hands wet and cold, lol." — funfetti
Debatable — a deck of prompt cards that encourages arguing
If fights break out at every holiday get-together no matter what, you might as well keep them contained with safe topics, like "Who would win a fight? Benjamin Franklin or the Quaker Oats guy?" There are three versions: classic, battle, and holiday.
Promising review: "This is a fun game, especially if you enjoy arguing or debating topics. The value is fantastic, and it's a well-made set that tests your creativity and ability to form arguments. I think it's a fantastic and fun get-to-know-you game, and I didn't see any cards that would make it inappropriate for any age." — Bex
A bath bomb paint brush
For anyone who wishes they could jump into a painting, Mario style. While they won't be visiting the Mushroom Kingdom any time soon, they will be entering a colorful, moisturizing bath that smells like fruit!
The brush has a bath bomb chamber where it slowly releases colors as the skin-safe, stain-free bath bomb dissolves in water. It'll create the illusion that the user is painting the bath water. The set comes with four bath bombs.
One review says it works really well with these bath tablets.
Promising review: "The only word that can come out of my mouth is WOW. This is a fun brush to play in the water with bath bombs make your child's imagination grow." — Helen
A sampler pack of Gelée
Each box makes four servings. The flavors are: passionfruit, guava, and pina coco. To complete the look, also get them this mold.
It's a fancy-schmancy version of Jell-O. If you have a kitschy cook in your life who once tried to feed you aspic, this might be a winning gift idea! Or at least, certainly more palatable than olives suspended in gelatin.
Gelée is a woman-owned small business founded by chef and artist Zoe Messinger.
Ships in 3–4 business days — express shipping available.
Mini, minty jelly frog soaps
They smell like mint chocolate, which is one of the best scent/flavor combos of all time. Frolic Creations is a small business based in Florida that sells squishy soap.
Promising review: "I bought another batch of these a week after buying a large one and another mini batch because I love how confused and in love every single person is when they see my cauldron of frogs on the bathroom counter." — Natalie
Ships through ground shipping in 2–7 business days — priority shipping available.
Chatter mouth silicone grips
For a somewhat unsettling cooking experience. These pot holders can withstand up to 450 degrees and double as a tool to torment their guests with lil' nibbles.
Promising review: "I love these for getting stuff out of the microwave I've made far too hot. They really work and clean well! Good Fred product as always." — Jessi
A little book of Shakespeare insults
So they can expand their repertoire. You may find yourself getting called an upstart crow, beef-witted, or worse, a bull's pizzle, but at least they'll have fun.
Promising review: "I bought this book after watching a YouTuber use it on their videos and I got to tell you this book does not disappoint. It seems to always give you the right quote for the right time or person. It’s so magical; a great, affordable treasure." — Cheenah
A D20-shaped bath bomb
Geekdomain is a small business based in Arkansas that sells bath products.
Promising review: "I’ve bought from here before and just like last time, they did not disappoint. It’s great quality, arrived fast, and makes for a great gift. Will definitely be buying again!" — Adam
Ships through ground shipping in 2–7 business days — priority shipping available.
A novelty mug for anyone who has been tempted to drink the whole coffee pot
Promising review: "I freaking LOVE this mug! It is so cute and very well-made. It makes a great gift for a coffee lover. You will not regret getting this." — Claudia S.
A Crunji, aka the viral Korean flat croissant snack of your dreams
Promising review: " They're ridiculously good. They have a lovely, perfectly sweet caramelized crust. With added Himalayan salt. Crackery, buttery crunch. I can definitely see them being incredible with a pungent cheese spread and hot honey or something similar. Perfect for a unique addition to a charcuterie board. They came packaged really well. Not one was broken. I will absolutely be purchasing more, but the 30 count. The 10 count won't last me long." — SaraK
A miniature clay pottery wheel
Promising review: "This mini pottery wheel was great for my daughter, and we had a blast playing with it. It was a bit of a learning curve at first, but we figured it out. I wish the pottery we made could be bigger. Maybe this is just a beginner's kind of device, but it sparked my interest so much that I want to get something larger now and do some real pottery. Overall, it was worth it." — Jason Custodio
A 3D skyline puzzle
These 123-piece puzzles can take up to three hours to put together!
Promising reviews: "I love 3D puzzles and have done a few in the past, and was really excited when I saw this one. You do have to be careful with any 3D puzzle because it's easy to break off tabs or bend pieces. I definitely wouldn't get this for a young child, but it would make a great gift for pre-teens and up. The instructions are very clear, and it's easy to assemble and take apart for storage!" — alexismu97
"My son loved this 3D puzzle set. He is a big Godzilla fan, and he loves recreating scenes from the movie. They really hold up. Pretty good quality. Great value for the money, and my son absolutely loved them." — Leticia Rdz.
A reading/gaming coin they can flip
Promising review: "Bought as a Christmas gift for a friend and she adores it. It has a nice size and weight for flipping. She says, while reading, she mindlessly rubs the faces of the coin because the grooves of the engraving are nice. Very thick and quality coin." — Toni