I think I’ve mentioned before that my girls are into detectives, spies, secret codes, and all things mysterious (not scary!). They are reading Nancy Drew Notebooks, Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, Encyclopedia Brown, Jigsaw Jones, and Cam Jansen book series like crazy!

I’ve been gathering ideas for detective/spy kits for quite a while, so we decided to make them for Christmas gifts this year. I think the girls are going to love their detective kits!

I finally had a few daylight hours without the girls so I could take some photos – this secret gift-making and blogging is hard to do when the girls and I are home together every day! Here is a peek at what’s inside:

Each super-sleuthing detective kit contains:

• Rearview Mirror Spy Glasses – I found these at Cost Plus World Market. Land of Nod has them as well.

• Invisible Ink Pen (with black light in the lid) – I also found a two-pack of these pens at Cost Plus World Market.

• Disguise – less than a dollar each at a local party store

• Small file folders – I made these from colored card stock.

• Stickers – I printed labels that say Top Secret, Confidential, Property of…, and Evidence.

• Two-Way Radio – The big-ticket item in these kits are the two-way radios. I know the girls are going to have such fun with these walkie-talkies. This set of Motorola Two-Way Radios was around $40 on Amazon. (We’ll use them for family hikes, too.)

I wanted a briefcase-type container for the detective kits and I found these Art Bin containers at the craft store. With coupons, they were under $5 each and seem nice and sturdy.

I had to fancy them up a bit, though, so I added some patterned paper and a name tag to each briefcase.

We’re also including a few books for more detective inspiration:

• Spy Science by Jim Wiese
• The Usborne Detective’s Handbook by Colin King
• Mini Mysteries (American Girl)
• The I Love Mysteries Fun Book (American Girl)

I’d like to add a Walkie-Talkie Dictionary (@ Classic Play) and a few secret code accessories, like a cipher wheel or alphabet symbol code. We’re also including a small combination lock so they can lock their briefcases if they have secret evidence inside.

I’m planning to see lots of imaginative sleuthing play around here in the new year – hope I don’t end up as a suspect!

I’m back with Part 2 of my hobby starter gift ideas. This time, I’ve gathered ideas for little gardeners, illustrators, and rock hounds. Enjoy!

Gardening

DIY Tutorials:

Chalkboard Plant Markers :: Home Stories A to Z

Flower Planting Kit :: Let’s Explore

Plant Care Apron :: Sew Liberated

Shredded Paper Seed Starters :: MADE

Books:

Good Growing: A Kid’s Guide to Gardening (Klutz Books)

Green Thumbs: A Kid’s Activity Guide to Indoor and Outdoor Gardening by Laurie Carlson

Grow It, Cook It (DK Publishing)

Roots, Shoots, Buckets, and Boots by Sharon Lovejoy

The Family Kitchen Garden by Karen Liebreich, Jutta Wagner, & Annette Wendland

Supplies & Kits:

Kid’s Big Tool Set (garden rake, spade, hoe, leaf rake) – Toysmith

Kid’s Mudd Gloves – Gardening With Kids

Kid’s Wheelbarrow – Radio Flyer

Rubber Boots

Seed Packets

Watering Can

Wrap it up in a colorful Tubtrug, plastic watering can, kid-size wheelbarrow, or plastic planting pot.

Drawing & Cartooning

DIY Tutorials:

Fabric Journals :: A Beautiful Mess

No-Sew Colored Pencil Roll :: small + friendly

Rustic Pencil Holder :: Strawberry Chic

Books:

Adventures in Cartooning by James Sturm, Andrew Arnold, & Alexis Frederick-Frost

Art for Kids: Cartooning by Art Roche

How to Draw a Happy Witch by Joy Sikorski

How to Draw Animals (Usborne)

How to Draw Fairies and Mermaids (Usborne)

Make a World by Ed Emberley

Supplies & Kits:

Blank Comic Books - Bare Books

eeBoo Sketchbooks

Faber-Castell GRIP Colored Eco-Pencils

Paper Mate Flair Colored Pens

Wrap it up with a big piece of easel paper, ready for doodling!

Rock Collecting

DIY Tutorials:

Easy Drawstring Bag :: The Purl Bee

Geology Learning Kit :: Live Your Art

Nature Explorer Bag :: Chez Beeper Bebe

Books:

Geology Rocks! 50 Hands-On Activities to Explore the Earth by Cindy Blobaum

If Rocks Could Sing: A Discovered Alphabet by Leslie McGuirk

If You Find a Rock by Peggy Christian

Rocks and Minerals by DK

Rocks and Minerals – Peterson Field Guide

Supplies & Kits

Break Open Real Geodes Kit

Carson 5″ BigEye Magnifier

Collection Display Box – Home Science Tools

Mini Me Geology – all kinds of kits, supplies, etc.

Rock and Crystal Excavation Kit – Geo Central

Rocks and Minerals :: imaginechildhood.com

Rock Tumbler

Load the supplies in a plastic tote, basket, or small backpack.

Phew! That’s a long list of ideas for creating a custom hobby starter kit for your favorite kiddos. Here’s a link to Part 1 (sewing, cooking, and photography), in case you missed it!

Themed-gifts are my favorite, so I have been gathering ideas for creating hobby starter kits. I love joining in with my girls as they try new things and explore their interests. Who knows where a childhood hobby might lead them as adults?

Below you’ll find kid-friendly ideas for sewing, photography, and cooking.  I’ve included links to DIY tutorials, complementary books, and supplies or pre-made kits. I’ve also suggested ways to package your hobby kit, just for fun. I hope this gives you some great gift ideas!

Sewing

DIY Tutorials:

Child’s Sewing Kit Tutorial :: Chez Beeper Bebe

Felt Needle Book :: Little Birdie Secrets

Felt Teddy Bear Craft Kit :: Chica and Jo

Sewing and Embroidery for Kids :: Filth Wizardry

Toddler Friendly Sewing Basket :: Childhood 101

Books:

My First Hand Sewing Book by Alison McNicol

Sewing School by Amie Plumley & Andria Lisle

See and Sew: A Sewing Book for Children by Tina Davis

Supplies and Kits:

Embroidery hoops & colorful embroidery floss

Fabric

My First Sewing Kit – Alex Toys

Stitch-It Birdie Kit – The Little Experience

Kids’ Beginner’s Sewing Kit – Land of Nod

Wrap it up in a sewing basket, a plain canvas tote for embellishing, or a fun piece of fabric.

Photography

DIY Tutorials

Camera Cozy Tutorial :: Sew, Mama, Sew!

Easy Camera Pouch :: a pretty cool life

Patchwork Camera Strap Cover :: Fabric Family and Fun

Photobooth Props DIY :: Oh Happy Day

Books

Click! A Book About Cameras and Taking Pictures by Gail Gibbons

Photojojo! Insanely Great Photo Projects and DIY Ideas by Amit Gupta and Kelly Jensen

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin

The Kids’ Guide to Digital Photography by Jenni Bidner

Supplies

A camera! Natalie has her own camera, the Canon Powershot A495. It’s a great little camera – lightweight, large viewing screen, great pictures. (Read more about our experience with this particular camera here.)

Lowepro Ridge 10 Camera Case with Shoulder Strap

Pioneer Cloth Photo Albums

Umbra Snap Frames (they look like Polaroid photos!)

Gift card for photo printing (Winkflash, Snapfish, Shutterfly, etc.)

Wrap it up in a cardboard photo storage box or larger camera case.

Cooking

DIY Tutorials & Printables:

Child’s Apron Pattern :: Sew Liberated

Child’s Gathered Apron Tutorial :: Craftiness is not Optional

Printable Recipe Cards :: Wild Olive Etsy Shop

Books:

My A to Z Recipe Box by Hillary Karmilowicz

Kitchen for Kids: 100 Amazing Recipes Your Children Can Really Make by Jennifer Low

Pretend Soup and Other Real Recipes by Mollie Katzen

Chop Chop Magazine subscription

Supplies & Kits:

Children’s handmade aprons on Etsy – try Sweet Apronz N Cupcakes, Annie’s Attic, or Beanstalk by Izzy

Food Preparation Tools & Kits at Montessori Services

Kuhn Rikon Cookie & Cupcake Decorating Kit

Playful Chef Deluxe Cooking Kit

Sil-Pin Junior Rolling Pin

Wrap it up in a colorful mixing bowl or stacked on top of a cutting board.

I’m planning to include gardening, drawing/cartooning, and rock collecting in Part 2. Are there any other kid-friendly hobbies you would like to see ideas for? Let me know!