Last Updated on November 5, 2026 by Dee
Here are six art gift basket ideas for Christmas 2026, each built around one person you love, plus free printable watercolor gift tags to tie on the finished basket.
An art gift basket is my favourite way to give supplies, because it turns a pile of tools into an invitation. Instead of “here are some brushes”, it says “here’s your first cosy evening of painting, all ready to go”.
Each basket below has a hero gift, a couple of helpers, something small to use up, and a printable to get them started. Mix and match, and pick a budget that suits you. Every product has a simple box with buttons for Amazon US and Amazon UK.
Table of Contents
This post contains affiliate links, including Amazon (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases) and Jackson’s Art. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep the free printables coming.
How to Build an Art Gift Basket
After years of teaching, I’ve found the gifts that get used share a simple shape. Here’s the formula I’d use:
- A container they’ll keep. A cotton basket or a craft caddy becomes their supply home long after Christmas.
- One hero item. The paint set, the pencils or the markers. Spend most of the budget here.
- Two or three helpers. Paper, a brush, a palette. The bits that make the hero item usable on day one.
- Something to use up. Postcards, cards or a pad, so they don’t feel they’re “wasting” good paper.
- A printable to start with. Templates or pages take away the blank-page freeze.
- A hand-painted tag. The free tags above take five minutes and make the whole thing feel personal.
Start with the container:
Or go softer with a pair of cotton storage baskets (Amazon UK), which look lovely on a shelf afterwards.
1. The Watercolour Beginner Basket
For the friend who keeps saying “I’d love to try watercolour”. The hero is a little travel set with a brush built in, so they can paint at the kitchen table the same evening.
Add a Canson XL watercolour pad (Amazon UK), a set of Pentel Aquash water brushes (Amazon UK) and this pretty porcelain palette:
To start: my Cozy Watercolor Practice Book (£14) has 38 traceable outlines, so they can print a page and start painting without drawing first. More ideas in my watercolor gift guide for beginners.
Shopping from the UK or Europe? Jackson’s Art has a lovely range of watercolour paints, paper, brushes and palettes, and ships across the UK and Europe. In the US? Jackson’s also has a US shop for watercolor paper and brushes.
2. The Junk Journal Basket
For the person who saves every pretty receipt and ticket stub. The hero is a stack of ephemera, because it’s the “soul” of a junk journal page.
Add a roll or two of floral vintage washi tape (Amazon UK), a Tombow Mono adhesive runner and, for the gasp moment, a wax seal kit:
To start: my Victorian Christmas Junk Journal Kit (£9), printed onto cardstock and tied with ribbon. For a big gift, The Workbasket: Needlecraft Collection (£35) has seven Christmas kits. More in my junk journal gift guide.
3. The Cosy Colouring Basket
For the friend who unwinds with a cup of tea and a colouring page. The hero is a big tin of pencils with soft, blendable cores.
Want to go fancier? Faber-Castell Polychromos are the artist-grade treat (Amazon UK). Add some sparkle with metallic gel pens:
To start: print a stack of my free Christmas colouring pages for adults or cosy Christmas colouring pages onto thick paper and roll them with a ribbon. A free printable is a lovely, honest gift.
4. The Paint-Your-Own Christmas Cards Basket
This one is an afternoon in a box. Watercolour cards with envelopes, a few outlines to paint, and a fineliner for the details. They finish with cards ready to post.
Add a Faber-Castell Pitt black pen set (Amazon UK) for line and wash, and for bright, opaque colour:
To start: my 32 Christmas Watercolour Outlines (£9) print straight onto the cards. Want ideas? See my easy watercolor Christmas card designs.
5. The Digital Artist Basket
For the Procreate fan. Digital artists don’t need much, so this basket is about comfort and a few fun files.
If budget allows, an Apple Pencil (USB-C) or a Paperlike screen protector is the hero. Check which iPad they have first, because Apple Pencils only work with certain models.
To start: my 54 Christmas Procreate Stamps & PNGs (£9) are perfect for festive cards and planner pages.
6. The Mini Stocking Basket (Under $25)
A small, sweet basket for a Secret Santa or a teacher. Watercolour postcards are the hero: small is friendly, and they can post the results.
Add a 36-colour pocket watercolour set (Amazon UK) or a little hardcover sketchbook, and finish with one of my free printable Christmas gift tags.
📌 Pin this for later so it’s handy when the Christmas list comes out. You’ll find more gift ideas on my Pinterest boards.
Art Gift Basket Ideas: FAQ
What should I put in an art gift basket?
One hero item (paints, pencils or markers), two or three helpers that make it usable on day one (paper, a brush, a palette), something to use up, a printable to start with and a hand-made tag. A container they can keep finishes it.
How much should an art gift basket cost?
You can make a lovely one for about $25 (around £20) with postcards, a pocket paint set and a free printable. Most of the baskets above land between $40 and $80, depending on the hero item.
What’s a good art gift basket for a beginner?
The Watercolour Beginner Basket: a Cotman pocket set, a Canson XL pad, water brushes and a printable practice book. It removes every excuse not to start.
Can I include printables in a gift basket?
Yes. Print the pages onto good paper and roll them with ribbon, or tuck in a card with the download details. Free colouring pages and gift tags are a lovely no-cost extra.
Do these links work in the UK?
Yes. Every product box has an “Amazon UK” button, and Jackson’s Art ships across the UK and Europe.
Final Thoughts
The best art gift basket isn’t the most expensive one. It’s the one that makes starting easy. Pick a person, pick a hero, add a printable and a painted tag, and you’ve given them a whole evening of making.
All the printables mentioned here are digital downloads from my Payhip shop, so you can print them at home the same day.
If they’d love regular watercolour lessons afterwards, my Patreon is where those live.
🎬 Love a bit of painting company? Subscribe to my YouTube channel for gentle watercolour and journaling tutorials.