Top 5 compared
The best kids' craft kits
Screen-free afternoons that end with something to keep, made by hand from start to finish.
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The top 5 at a glance
A craft kit puts the supplies for a project, or a whole run of them, in one box, ready to open on a rainy afternoon. Step-by-step kits lead a child through set projects one at a time; open-ended boxes of supplies leave the ideas to them.
Each of these comes with what its projects need, so there’s no trip to the store first. Paint, marbling and pottery need a wipe-clean table; sewing kits make the least mess. Most of these start at age 6 (the supplies case at 4, the National Geographic kit at 8), and younger children will want a grown-up alongside.
What matters
- Child-safe tools, like plastic needles and child-size scissors.
- Instructions with pictures, not just words, for early readers.
- Enough pieces for several sessions, or for siblings to share.
- Storage that keeps every piece in one place.
#1Dan&Darci Arts and Crafts Vault (craft supplies in a 2-drawer case)
$30–$50
A two-drawer case packed with craft supplies, from pipe cleaners, pom-poms and feathers to wooden beads, googly eyes, sequins, felt, glue and child-size scissors, for children who’d rather invent a project than follow one. Jewelry, a windcatcher or the strangest monster on the block: what they make is up to them.
What owners say: Children stay busy with it for hours, and parents like the sheer variety of bits and the dividers that keep them in order. It comes in handy for school projects, too.
A closer look: Set out a handful of materials and a simple challenge, such as a creature with six legs or a necklace in two colors, and let them run with it. The dividers in each drawer make putting things back part of the game, so the case stays a usable kit rather than a jumble.
- Dividers in each drawer
- Pipe cleaners, pom-poms and feathers
- Googly eyes, sequins and felt
- Sewing needles and thread
Best for: Kids who invent their own projects
- Ages
- 4–12
- What they make
- Jewelry, creatures, their own ideas
- In the box
- Craft supplies, glue, scissors, 2-drawer case
#2KRAFUN My First Sewing Kit (7 felt projects)
$10–$20
Seven felt projects, among them a bear pillow, a bag, a card holder and a little rainbow, with every hole pre-punched and plastic needles, so there’s nothing sharp and no glue. Picture-by-picture instructions let a six-year-old get going with very little help.
What owners say: Owners say it’s beautifully made, with everything needed for several projects, and that children finish them with little help.
A closer look: Thread the first needle together, then let them take over: the holes are already made, so it’s all about in, out and pulling through. Leftover felt and thread go back in the box, ready for a design of their own once the seven projects are done.
- Projects include a bear pillow
- Felt comes pre-cut
- No glue needed
- Picture-by-picture instructions
Best for: Learning to sew
- Ages
- 6+
- What they make
- 7 felt projects to use
- In the box
- Pre-punched felt, plastic needles, storage box
#3JOYIN Glow-in-the-Dark Rock Painting Kit
$10–$20
Smooth rocks, three kinds of paint (standard, metallic and glow-in-the-dark), two brushes and transfer stickers for turning pebbles into creatures, patterns or kindness rocks to hide around the park. The glow paint makes a nighttime rock hunt in the backyard a real adventure.
What owners say: Plenty of nice rocks and paint that suits them make it easy to get going, and it holds children’s attention for a long time. The glow is the mixed part: bright for some, disappointing for others.
A closer look: Hold the glow-painted rocks close to a bright light for half a minute or so before lights out; the longer they charge, the brighter they shine. A coat of clear varnish helps rocks that live outdoors last longer.
- Transfer stickers included
- Glow charges in 15–30 seconds
- Makes kindness rocks to hide
Best for: Rock hunts and backyard fun
- Ages
- 6–12
- What they make
- Painted rocks that glow
- In the box
- Rocks, glow, metallic and color paints, brushes
#4National Geographic Mega Arts and Crafts Kit (3 kits, 19 projects)
$30–$50
Three kits in one box (mosaics, water marbling and air-dry pottery) make 19 pieces of art in all: three mosaic pictures, twelve marbled prints, three ornaments and a ring dish. It suits 8 to 12-year-olds who’ve outgrown simpler kits and like trying a bit of everything.
What owners say: Clear instructions and good-looking designs, owners say, with enough in the box for several children to join in each activity; families find it fun and educational at once.
A closer look: Start with the mosaics, which need the least setting up, and save the marbling for a day with a wipe-clean table and old clothes. The pottery pieces are painted once they’re dry, with the paints and brush from the box, so that kit makes two sessions rather than one.
- Air-dry clay pottery
- Ornaments and a ring dish
- Mosaic templates included
- Paints and brush for pottery
Best for: Three crafts for older children
- Ages
- 8+
- What they make
- 19 pieces: mosaics, prints, pottery
- In the box
- 3 craft kits, 100+ pieces
#5Made By Me Create Your Own Window Art (12 suncatchers)
$10–$20
Twelve ready-to-paint suncatcher frames, from butterflies and turtles to a lion, plus an acetate sheet for designing window clings, add up to 20 projects. Paint, leave to dry, then hang them in a sunny window, where the light shines through the color.
What owners say: Kids and grandkids alike have fun with it, and the finished suncatchers look beautiful. Sticking them up is the weak point, with some suction cups refusing to hold, and the paint stayed runny for a few.
A closer look: Lay the paint on thickly and leave each piece flat overnight, as thin or rushed paint stays runny. Wipe the window clean and dampen the suction cups slightly before pressing them on, so the suncatchers stay put.
- Butterfly, turtle and lion frames
- Light shines through the paint
- Glitter paint pen included
Best for: Sunny windows
- Ages
- 6+
- What they make
- 12 suncatchers and window clings
- In the box
- 12 frames, 8 paints, suction cups
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Dan&Darci craft vault | #2KRAFUN sewing kit | #3JOYIN rock painting | #4National Geographic Mega kit | #5Made By Me window art |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best for outdoor fun | Best budget | |||
| Picked Rating | 9.6 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.3 | 9.2 |
| Price | $30–$50 | $10–$20 | $10–$20 | $30–$50 | $10–$20 |
| Ages | 4–12 | 6+ | 6–12 | 8+ | 6+ |
| What they make | Jewelry, creatures, their own ideas | 7 felt projects to use | Painted rocks that glow | 19 pieces: mosaics, prints, pottery | 12 suncatchers and window clings |
| In the box | Craft supplies, glue, scissors, 2-drawer case | Pre-punched felt, plastic needles, storage box | Rocks, glow, metallic and color paints, brushes | 3 craft kits, 100+ pieces | 12 frames, 8 paints, suction cups |
| Best for | Kids who invent their own projects | Learning to sew | Rock hunts and backyard fun | Three crafts for older children | Sunny windows |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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