The Last Minute Cosplay Holiday Gift Guide
Gift recommendations for the cosplayers in your life for under $25, under $50, and under $100 price points!
The holidays are quickly approaching and finding a gift for your cosplayer loved one can seem like a boss battle! Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with gifts for every budget, whether it’s under $25, $50, or $100!
For this list, I thought about gifts I would have loved to receive that took me time to save up for as a young cosplayer. I aimed to make sure everything on this list has a quick US domestic shipping turnaround so they can be received for Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, and/or Yule, but please make sure to double check shipping estimates yourself and order far enough in advance to wrap!
(If you make a qualifying purchase through the Amazon links in this article, I may earn affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Note that prices listed may fluctuate.)
Under $25
Great for beginner crafters that don’t already have a rotary tool, this kit is an excellent deal. The kit not only includes a rotary tool and many bits and accessories to start off with, but it also includes a flex shaft. The flex shaft is an absolute must for making sanding EVA foam a breeze, as it can be painful to hold up a rotary tool for long periods of time without it. For about $10 more, you can also get the upgraded kit with a pedal switch, which I highly recommend for making sanding even easier!
This kit is currently on sale for less than $19. For reference. the Dremel brand version of this kit can cost upwards of $140 and has no pedal option, so this Wen alternative is a steal!
EDIT:
Since writing this blog post, both linked versions of this rotary tool have sold out as of 12/14/24, so here is an alternative.
If you’re looking for stocking stuffers or small gifts, this little tool will only set you back less than $10. These can be used for sewing, EVA foam crafting, leatherworking, or anything that needs a pattern. They are used to cut notches into patterns for easy tracing.
This is the heat gun I used for many years and it’s another gift perfect for EVA foam and Worbla beginners.
It has two variable speeds and can be used for many projects outside of EVA foam crafting too.
This amazing book is by master cosplayer and my friend Beverly Downen. It’s an absolutely invaluable resource for cosplayers getting into EVA foam patterning and crafting! You can get it digital or paperback for under $25.
Under $50
The BevAll is the ultimate EVA foam cutting tool and a must-have for every foamsmith. This is easily my #1 recommendation on this list! Their small size also makes them a great stocking stuffer.
These little guys integrate plain ol’ hobby cutting blades to make cutting foam a cinch. I have the Utility and BreakOff versions! Try snooping in your loved one’s craft supplies and find out which kind of blades they use more.
I love these so much that I paid full price for both of mine. This recommendation is not sponsored at all and the link is not an affiliate link. Lucky for you, all the BevAlls are currently on sale and Rocket Props informs me that the shipping cutoff for Christmas is 12/8, so get them while you can!
This is the exact cutting mat that I have and it’s worth every penny! It is double sided with a dark color and light color for contrast, so it’s also perfect for WIP photos. The large size makes big projects easy to wrangle.
I don’t know about everyone else, but my least favorite part of sewing is cutting the fabric. My small hands can really start to hurt from cutting with scissors if I’m working on a big projects. I first started using these shears in college when I worked at JOANN and they are a gamechanger!
EDIT: Here is an alternative, cheaper link.
EDIT: As of 12/14/24, this item will no longer arrive in time for Christmas.
Under $100
I use my Cricut in nearly every project. Owning a cutting machine seems like a cheat code because of how many possibilities it opens up. The Joy is small but mighty and perfect for small crafting spaces. Despite its size, it’s still capable of large projects and large sheeting can be cut to size for it. Check out my blog post on finding Cricut tools and accessories for cheap for some stocking stuffer ideas to go along with it. Keep in mind the Joy uses different blades than the larger Cricut machines.
I use Mehron’s Paradise AQ water-activated body paint for my Liara cosplay and have a smaller palette like this. This 30 color palette makes any alien or D&D character possible and is refillable for the future!
More
For even more gift ideas, check out my full Amazon storefront here. You’ll find product recommendations for more specific niches such as 3D printing, books, and more.
I hope this guide inspires your holiday shopping and helps you pick out the right gift for your cosplayer friends and family!
