Last Updated on November 5, 2026 by Dee
Here are creative Secret Santa gifts for the artist or crafter you’ve drawn this Christmas (2026), sorted into under $10, under $15 and under $25, plus 36 free printable Christmas gift tags to finish the parcel.
Grab your 36 free printable Christmas gift tags
Pop your email into the box below and I’ll send the four printable sheets straight over. Print them, cut them, punch the little circle and tie.
Secret Santa for an arty person is lovely and slightly terrifying. They already own a lot of supplies, and you’ve got a spending limit. The trick is to choose small, useful treats they wouldn’t buy for themselves, or something to use up, so it never ends up in a drawer.
Every pick below has a simple box with buttons for Amazon US and Amazon UK, so you can check today’s price wherever your office party is. And if you’re short on time, there are a few printable gifts of mine you can download tonight.
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.
Creative Secret Santa Gifts Under $10
Small, useful and easy to wrap. These are the stocking-sized treats that get used the same week.
An Artist Glove
Anyone who draws on an iPad or a tablet will know the smudgy-palm problem. This little glove fixes it, and it’s one of the cheapest genuinely useful gifts going.
A Silicone Pencil Grip
For the Procreate fan. It makes the Apple Pencil chunkier and kinder on the hand during long drawing sessions.
Floral Vintage Washi Tape
Twenty-one rolls of pattern for journals, cards and parcels. Every crafter uses washi, and nobody ever has enough.
Metallic Gel Pens
Gold and silver ink for highlights, lettering on dark card, and Christmas cards. A little bit of sparkle for very little money.
Creative Secret Santa Gifts Under $15
Paint-Your-Own Postcards
Fifty blank watercolour postcards. Small is friendly: they can paint one a day and post them to friends. A lovely gift for a beginner or a seasoned painter.
A Flower-Shaped Porcelain Palette
Pretty enough to sit on a desk, and porcelain is the nicest surface to mix paint on. It feels far more special than its price.
A Box of Vintage Ephemera
For the junk journaler, a pack of aged papers, tickets and images is pure treasure. It’s the “soul” of a journal page.
A Starry Night Mug
The unexpected one. A Van Gogh mug for their morning coffee or their paint water (we won’t tell).
Creative Secret Santa Gifts Under $25
A Pocket Watercolour Set
The classic. A little travel tin of Cotman paints with a brush, small enough for a coat pocket.
A Hardcover Mixed Media Sketchbook
A lay-flat A5 book with thick paper, and it arrives in a gift box, so the wrapping is half done.
A Wax Seal Kit
The gift that gets a little gasp. Sealing wax beads, a warmer and stamps, for envelopes, journals and gift tags.
An Artist Apron
A canvas apron with pockets, for the painter who keeps wiping brushes on their jumper.
Last-Minute Printable Secret Santa Gifts
Forgot until the morning of the party? Printable gifts from my Payhip shop download straight away. Print a few pages onto nice card, roll them up with ribbon, and add a hand-written tag.
- 32 Christmas Watercolour Outlines (£9): festive line art to paint, perfect with the postcards above.
- Vintage Christmas Junk Journal Pages (£5): a small festive set for a journaler.
- 54 Christmas Procreate Stamps & PNGs (£9): for the digital artist.
And whatever you choose, my free printable Christmas gift tags make the parcel look lovely for nothing at all.
Office Secret Santa: an Art Swap Idea
If your group is crafty, try an art swap instead of a normal Secret Santa. Everyone buys one small supply under the limit, plus one printable page or a hand-painted card. Unwrap them together and trade. It’s a gentle, cheerful way to share the hobby, and nobody goes home with a novelty pen they’ll never use.
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.
📌 Pin this for later so it’s handy when the Christmas list comes out. You’ll find more gift ideas on my Pinterest boards.
Creative Secret Santa Gifts: FAQ
What is a good Secret Santa gift for an artist?
Something small they use up or wouldn’t buy themselves: watercolour postcards, metallic gel pens, washi tape, a porcelain palette or a pocket paint set. Avoid big paint sets unless you know their favourite brand.
What can I get a crafter for under $10?
An artist glove, a silicone pencil grip, a roll set of washi tape or a pack of gel pens. Add a free printable gift tag and it feels like more.
Is a printable a good Secret Santa gift?
Yes, especially at the last minute. Print a few pages onto good card, roll them with ribbon and pair them with a small supply, like postcards or a gel pen.
Can I buy these from 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 Secret Santa gift for an artist isn’t the biggest one. It’s the small thing that makes them smile and gets used before New Year. Pick one treat, add a painted tag, and you’re done.
If your Secret Santa turns out to love painting, my Patreon is where the watercolour lessons live. Budget tip: a set of Pentel Aquash water brushes or a small hardcover sketchbook also fits under $15.
🎬 Love a bit of painting company? Subscribe to my YouTube channel for gentle watercolour and journaling tutorials.