The Sober Curator’s Holiday Gift Guide Features 12 Art Therapy Items

November 01, 2020

Art therapy is a technique rooted in the idea that creative expression can foster healing and mental well-being. Getting sober takes courage. Henri Matisse said “Creativity takes courage.” Giving the gift of art and play is a great idea this holiday season.

Gift Idea #1: A Very Schitty Coloring Book

Welcome to Schitt’s Creek where everyone fits in! Featuring 10 fully illustrated pages of fun, this Schitt’s Creek inspired coloring book will remind you of some of your favorite moments from the show including The Crows Have Eyes 3 and Bing Liveheinger, Burt Herkern Fruit Wine. The perfect gift for your schitty friends who are simply the best.

Gift Idea #2: Elle Cree Paint By Number Kits

elle crée — or “she creates” in French — produces artist-quality paint-by-number kits designed and made in Portland, Oregon by illustrator Rachel Austen. Featuring a diverse array of illustrations, including still lifes and iconic historical figures, each kit includes non-toxic hand-mixed acrylic paints and minimal, eco-friendly packaging.

elle crée uses locally sourced components and USA-made materials whenever possible; ideal for the conscious consumer. Kits may be purchased online or in-store at over 100 retailers across the United States.

Gift Idea #3: Doodle Crate Classics

Create your own art and design-powered adventure at home, with this 5-pack bundle of some of our most popular Doodle crates. There’s something here for every artist big and small.

Gift Idea #4: Amazing Greenhouse Model Kit

From Bits and Pieces, you can create your own miniature greenhouse model with incredibly detailed trimmings. Everything is included in this remarkable kit: a working overhead LED light, clear greenhouse walls with framing, cabinetry, brick printed flooring, plants, floral arrangements, pots, benches, birdhouses, watering cans, gardening tools, and accessories too numerous to mention. Assemble using your own household tools along with the supplied glue, tweezers, and battery pack with 2 button batteries.

Gift Idea #5: Paint with Diamonds – Starry Night

Feel the stress melt away as you complete your very own work of Diamond Art, one “diamond” at a time! This gorgeous Full Drill Diamond Painting Kit is entitled “Starry Night” and includes a premium toolkit with your choice of Square or Round Diamonds.

Sober Curator Pro Tip: You can also order a custom kit made with a photo that you supply to them.

Gift Idea #6: Ultimate Creator Bundle

This ultimate creator bundle from Arteza is the perfect gift for visual artists of all skill levels. Our ultimate creator bundle art kid includes 48 Real Brush Pens, 72 Fineliner Pens, 6 Water Brushes, and a 2-pack of 9”x12″ Mixed Media Pads. This set offers artists of all backgrounds an extensive set to work with to create countless masterpieces.

The 48 Real Brush Pens included in this premium ultimate creator bundle are water-based, non-toxic, and perfect for illustrating, coloring, calligraphy, sketching, drawing, watercolor painting, and mixed media creations.  

Gift Idea #7: Birdhouse Making Kit

It’s a sad fact that millions of birds go without homes every year. It’s understandable. Birds are great at a lot of things, but constructing load-bearing structures without opposable thumbs just isn’t one of them.

That’s where Man Crates comes in. Building and decorating this RV-inspired birdhouse kit is a fun and constructive way to spend an afternoon with the family.

Help solve the bird housing crisis and plan an activity that’s sure to fly with the whole family. Fun and useful? That’s two birds with one birdhouse!

Gift Idea #8: Face Mask Tie Dye Kit

Masks are musts right now, so why not make them fun? Get creative with this all-inclusive tie-dye kit. Featuring two soft, nonmedical cloth masks, five dye colors, and an instruction booklet that teaches you three techniques, it’s just the way to add a little levity to your stay-at-home days. Still, craving crafts once the masks are all done? Handmade in Ohio.

Gift Idea #9: Pouring Acrylic Paint

Dive into acrylic pour painting by Arteza with this extensive set of 32 paint bottles. This set of 32 features pre-mixed and ready-to-pour paint bottles with 60ml of premium acrylic pouring paint. The colors featured in this set will make your paintings truly unique. This set features classic, pastels, neon, and metallic acrylic paint pouring colors.  

Gift Idea #10: Beginners Scratch Painting

Why Scratch Painting?

Many people find scratch painting from Scratch Craftology is the perfect way to de-stress from difficult life situations, heal from trauma, anxiety or cope with chronic pain. Others find it helps them recharge after a hard day at work or caring for the family.

Gift Idea #11: Hipster String Art Kit

Full kit from Etsy seller Good Strings contains everything you need to make your string art sign, you just open the box and find all the tools to make your masterpiece – hammer and pliers, nails, wood base, strings, instructions, pattern, and even hangers to later hang it on the wall. The only things you need are scissors, scotch tape, and a good cup of tea.

Gift Idea #12: DIY Wooden Plant Kit 

This DIY craft/paint kit from ButtonsAndPearl on Etsy is perfect for any adult or kid that loves plants. Create your very own wood wall art that is so popular these days. Includes a handmade 10 x 10 frame with a white paint background. The pattern is then laser cut creating a 3D piece, along with the frame. The leaves are left for you to create your own color pallet!

ICYMI our other Holiday Gift Guides

  • Advent Calendars: 12 Advent Calendars curated for those unique and quirky people in your life

  • Recovery Gifts: 12 Runway worthy recovery gifts curated for the people in recovery for alcohol or drugs

  • Alcohol Free Gifts: 12 alcohol-free recipe books and zero proof beverages curated for the sober people in your life who still want to have fun with their zero-proof beverages

  • Selfie Care: 12 selfie care gift items for the sober people in your life who need to slow their roll and have some good selfie care down time

  • Alcohol-Free Barware: 12 barware gift items for the sober people in your life who love to have fun making and mixing mocktails

  • Give Entertainment: 12 entertaining gift items for that sober person in your life who still likes to have fun

  • Ice Ice Baby: 12 ice molds for the sober people in your life who still want to have fun with zero-proof beverages

  • Keep it Glassy: 12 glassware items for that sober mocktail-maker in your life!

  • Give Books: 12 curated recovery books to gift this year to that sober reader in your life (it’s ok if that’s you)

Holidays are a tough time of year. Resources are available when and if you need them.

If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.

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