Call me jaded, but the older I get, the more I feel like I need reminders of the delightful things in life, however small.

Surely I’m not alone in this. In a world where we’re constantly being bombarded with horrible news all around the world, it can be easy to lose sight of the magic in everyday things. A shame, really.

Which is why I’ve put together this list of whimsical items you can surround yourself with to bring at least a bit of that magic and delight to your personal life

“Drippy Pots” Ceramics by Brian Giniewski »

(Prices vary)

Brian Giniewski is an Instagram-famous ceramic artist known for his line of colorful and whimsical “drippy” cups/mugs/etc that look like they’re covered in cartoonish icing.

All of the glazes he uses are made in-house with his own recipes that he’s been perfecting for years. The colors have a bright, clean look with a smooth “gooeyness” that contrasts nicely with the exposed clay underneath. You can’t go wrong gifting someone one of these to someone; they’d be crazy not to love it.

(He tends to restock in small batches, so you have to check back often to nab anything.)

Kristina Kotlier’s Whimsical Handmade Ceramics »

(Prices vary)

California-based architectural designer and ceramic artist Kristina Arzaga-Kotlier has a shop full of charming stoneware characters that bring a little whimsy to any space, but also some utility where needed.

“Excited Earl” (pictured above, left) can be a planter, pencil holder, or drink tumbler. Meanwhile, “Dynamic Drew” (above, center) offers a nice home for your favorite kitchen utensils. And then you have “Dapper Dan” (above, right), a little porcelain buddy who helpfully holds onto you and your partner’s rings each night. These cute characters and others deserve a happy place in your home.

Note: Kotlier’s stock does rotate in and out and items tend to sell out quickly, so don’t be surprised if something’s unavailable by the time you get there.

Twist-Ending Jigsaw Puzzles by the Magic Puzzle Company »

($23 per puzzle)

It seems that cartoony jigsaw puzzles ~with a twist~ are all the rage these days. The most popular examples we know of are the series of ✨magical ending✨ puzzles by the Magic Puzzle Company.

These puzzles are full of tiny whimsical details and easter eggs for you to discover and enjoy as they’re being assembled, and each one does a “magic trick” when you finish it.

No, they don’t sprout wings and fly around or anything like that — they’re merely cardboard jigsaw puzzles, after all. But there is something of a surprise awaiting you at the end of each one, and you’ll need to solve it for yourself if you want to find out what it is. Think of it like a “bonus level”

  + Honorable mention goes to the Ravensburger “Bizarre Bookshop 2” Jigsaw Puzzle

“miniAlley” Alleyway Diorama Bookshelf Inserts »

($219 each)

If you’re unfamiliar with the idea of book nooks, well then we’ve got a treat for you. They’re essentially tiny diorama worlds that live between books on your shelf, often appearing like portals to other places.

The “miniAlley” series is arguably the most well known example of this that you can buy, rather than making one yourself. They offer a variety of locales to brighten up your bookshelf (we mean that literally; they actually do light up):

• Japan Old Town — The one that started it all.
• Italy
• Wizard — Definitely not themed after Diagon Alley, no sirree
• Medieval

Gantri Plant-Based “Cantilever Table Lamp” »

($198)

In case you’re unfamiliar, there’s a San Francisco-based company that produces their own corn- and sugarcane-based plastic substitutes (aka Gantri Plant Polymers), which they’re using to 3D-print a bunch of interesting-looking lighting solutions for home and office use.

Take their Cantilever Table Lamp, for example. Those aformentioned plant-based materials it’s made from are nontoxic and sustainably farmed, and they offer a high level of durability and temperature resistance reminiscent of traditional plastics like ABS and PET — without the “feels bad, man” of producing or buying them.

But even without all the nifty eco-friendly material stuff, this is just a neat-looking lamp! We’d even call it cute, in a Marvin the Paranoid Android sort of way. The diffuse light globe sits off-center from its matte-painted base, which comes in a handful of color options. Its warm light is also dimmable via the in-line switch about 18″ from the base.

Wobble Chess Set by Umbra »

($300)

While the price of Umbra’s wooden Wobble chess set has certainly gone up over the years, we still think it’s a rather charming modern take on an ancient classic that’s at least worth a look if you’ve got the extra funds.

The maple and walnut pieces in this set have spherical steel weighted bases, so they wobble when moved. As for the board itself — with alternating squares of the same maple and walnut — each position is concave to create smooth, rounded surfaces for the pieces to sit in and remain centered. The wobbly effect this creates during gameplay is charming and somehow makes the game feel more lively.

Bialetti “Alpina” Moka Express Stovetop Coffee Maker »

($32)

If someone gifted you a classic-style moka pot, you’d probably be fine with it. But what if they instead handed you one modeled after Italy’s specialist mountain infantry — feathered cap and all? Even better, right?

Not only is this a unique display piece for the kitchen, it’s also still fully functional as a coffee maker, albeit in small quantities.

Wooden Monster Tissue Holder »

($99)

Sometimes you buy items that offer a real, actual purpose, while others are simply things you’d love to have in your home for no other reason than you like looking at them.

This monster-shaped tissue box made from beech wood falls into the latter camp. C’mon, how cute is that lil’ fella?! Pricy, yes, but adorable enough that we don’t care.

For even more whimsical items worth your time, check out our archive of novelty gift guides!

We all know someone who’s a little bit…offbeat. Someone who often thinks outside the box; who defies expectations; who wouldn’t necessarily care for a “normie” gift on a special occasion.

This gift guide is intended for people like that. Instead of giving them something typical like a restaurant gift card or a plain coffee mug, try an item (or two) from this list and watch their face light up with delight.

PLAY-DECO Wooden Robot Greeting Cards »

($10–$13 depending on style)

Let’s start with the greeting card itself! Even this aspect of your gift can be different from the norm, and whether the recipient is a kid or a grownup, they’re sure to appreciate these wooden greeting cards, the letters of which can be popped out and assembled into a little robot buddy. You can even customize the face with a personalized message if you like.

  + Read our original post here.

Real Oak & Stainless Steel Viking-Style Mug »

($21)

If you must gift a mug, make it this handmade viking mug, which is lined with stainless steel to keep the outer oak wood protected from moisture and leaks, maximizing its lifespan in the process. It’s got a nice hefty handle with contours that make it easy to hold onto, and it just looks awesome.

  + Read our original post here.

Bialetti “Alpina” Moka Express Stovetop Coffee Maker »

($39)

If someone gifted you a classic-style moka pot, you’d probably be fine with it. But what if they instead handed you one modeled after Italy’s specialist mountain infantry — feathered cap and all? Even better, right?

Not only is this a unique display piece for the kitchen, it’s also still fully functional as a coffee maker, albeit in small quantities.

  + Read our original post here.

Antique Replica Brass Spyglass Scope »

($60)

Know someone who’s into pirates and/or nautical decor? How about a steampunk cosplayer? Whatever the case, they’ll love this vintage-style spyglass scope.

It’s made from real brass that has a nice heft to it, and it’s actually functional as a handheld telescope, should it be put to real-world use. It won’t exactly compare to a more modern set of binoculars, but that’s not really the point, is it?

It comes with a hand-stitched leather case, and it should be noted that the other item you see in the image above is the lens cover, not a compass.

  + Read our original post here.

NC Steampunk Feather Quill Pen and Ink Gift Set »

($17)

Speaking of steampunk, this imaginative feather quill pen set is likely right in that same recipient’s wheelhouse.

Inside the decorative map-style box is a mechanical quill pen (in one of three feather colors), two bottles of ink (black and blue), four interchangeable gold-colored stainless steel nibs (in different sizes), and a decorative holder for the pen and one ink bottle.

  + Read our original post here.

HROOME Dinosaur Table Lamp »

($45)

There are desk lamps, and then there’s this fun and unique wooden dinosaur lamp (or its canine cousin) that can be posed in different ways and has three LED brightness settings to choose from.

  + Read our original post here.

Sharper Image Light-Up Word Clock »

($27)

Who wants a regular alarm clock on their bedside table when this word clock exists? Rather than telling the time in boring old numbers (laaaame), it presents it in full sentences — e.g. “It is five minutes past eleven” or “It is twenty minutes to nine”. It’s a bit like a flip sign board in miniature.

  + Read our original post here.

Puffin “Beverage Vest” Koozie »

($16–$20 depending on style)

Regular foam can koozies are nothing to write home about, but these quirky vest-style ones are sure to start conversations everywhere they’re used.

Designed to look like…well, obviously a vest, this double-layer insulated can cooler keeps your drink cold a while and your hands dry from any condensation. It fits not only 12 oz cans but also glass bottles and juice pouches, so people of nearly any age can get use out of it.

There are also other fun styles worth checking out like this sleeved flannel, a life vest, and even a sleeping bag.

  + Read our original post here.

HomeConcept “Big Reveal” LED Corner Light »

($80)

This one’s for the daydreamers who often wish that a portal to someplace else would appear in their office. This LED corner light gives the illusion of a wall peeling away to reveal a secret dimension lurking beyond, from which light shines through.

The light comes with three full-color “scenes” you can use: a brick wall, a cloudy sky, and some barnwood. The LED is dimmable to the user’s liking and remembers what it’s set to between uses, which is nice. As another nice touch, the curved metal surface of the light can be painted to match the surrounding wall and thus enhance the illusion.

  + Read our original post here.

We might’ve missed our chance last year to put together our annual list of offbeat gifts, but we couldn’t possibly let such an opportunity pass us by {Godfather voice} in this, the strangest year in recent memory.

It’s not going to be nearly as unhinged as that NYT Style gift guide from last week, but hopefully you’ll find something below that’s fun and/or useful.

When you’re done looking through this list, check out our 2020 Christmas Catalog and Stocking Stuffers list.

Metropolitan Museum of Art CoasterRugs »

($24)

If you didn’t already know, there are drink coasters that look like tiny rugs. I repeat, there are drink coasters that look like tiny rugs.

This particular set replicates carpets featured in The Met’s Islamic Art collection, so not only do they make your drinking-and-setting-the-cup-down experience feel somehow ~fancier~, they literally add culture to your home too.

“Tattly” Designer Temporary Tattoos »

(Prices vary)

We haven’t featured Tattly’s awesome temporary tattoos nearly enough on T&T, which is a real shame because they’re so much better than those things you get out of the quarter machines. They’re designed by professional artists (who get a cut of every sale) to be fun for all ages, they’re printed with vegetable-based ink to be safe and non-toxic, and they’re even waterproof.

Start with their full sets to get an idea of what they offer but also dig around elsewhere on their site for other special designs and smaller packs. Even their 404 page leads to a “hidden” tattoo

Whataburger YETI Rambler Lowball »

($30)

Is a 10-ounce YETI Rambler mug that looks like a Whataburger cup an oddly specific sort of gift? Yes. Will it go over well with whoever you’re giving it to? …Sure? Maybe?

Like any YETI Rambler, this is a vacuum-insulated stainless steel tumbler that’ll keep cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot for as long as science allows, so if nothing else, they’re getting a great mug outta the deal.

Knock Knock’s Personal Library Kit »

($18)

If you’re the type of person who often loans out books to friends and family — a commendable public service, so thank you! — Knock Knock’s Personal Library Kit is a clever little way to make your lendings feel like the real deal.

It comes with 20 self-adhesive pockets and “checkout” cards for recording loans and borrower info, a pencil for writing those things down, and an inkpad + date stamp to gently remind borrowers when your precious volumes are due for return.

“Nessie” Sliding Enamel Pin by Pretty Useful Co. »

($15)

This three-layer hard enamel pin from Pretty Useful Co. — who you may remember from their “Ride or Die” D20 spinner pin — lets you slide “Nessie” up from behind the waves by pushing her up from beneath.

🦕

Welcome Industries’ Visual Measuring Cups »

($24)

Right at the center of the Venn diagram between “Loves Cooking” and “Loves Pie Charts” comes this set of four measuring cups, the shapes of which represent whatever fraction they are — e.g. 1 cup is a full circle, ½ cup is a semicircle, etc.

They’re 1) made from BPA-free plastic and are dishwasher safe, 2) can work well for legally blind people, 3) could probably be used to teach kids basic fractions, 4) make a great novelty gift besides, and 5) yes, they do stack together.

Norpro “Tad, Dash, Pinch, Smidgen, and Drop” Novelty Measuring Spoons »

($9)

Imagine it: You gift these silly measuring spoons to your frenemy, or that one cousin you’ve had a longstanding prank war with, or if you’re feeling mean enough, your sweet old grandma. Whoever it is, you know they’re going to need a measuring spoon one day, and eventually they’re going to pull this set out of the kitchen drawer, thinking they’re the real deal.

Maybe they never looked closely enough at the “measurement” markings. Maybe they did notice and scoffed, then forgot about it after putting them away. The point is, one day you’ll faintly hear your name being cursed on the wind, and you’ll smile wickedly to yourself, knowing the deed was done.

Weird by Olga Khazan »

($21 hardcover, $18 paperback)

Feeling like an outsider at times is part and parcel of the human condition, and it’s something we all have to deal with in one form or another.

Olga Khazan’s Weird: The Power of Being an Outsider in an Insider World is all about the surprising strength that comes from embracing your own…well, weirdness. The primary thrust of the book is essentially one question: Is being “weird” really such a bad thing? (I’m sure you can guess her conclusion.)

The people interviewed for the book managed to find insights in their own “otherness,” turning those things into advantages that helped them triumph in the face of adversity. There’s no reason you can’t do the same.

Inflatable Ergonomic Travel Pillow »

($9)

Still having to do a lot of long-distance travel for work? There’s no better way to get some decent sleep on the way and signal to others that you’re not to be disturbed than with this inflatable travel pillow.

Even when you’re not sleeping, you can put some headphones on, set your phone inside the arm tube thing, and have yourself a private movie watching experience.

Adam J. Kurtz’s 2021 “Unsolicited Advice” Planner »

($28)

Adam J. Kurtz’s 10th annual “Unsolicited Advice” planner is quite unlike any planner you’ve ever used before. Sure, it’s got the usual Jan–Dec planning stuff you’d expect, but then it’s also got a bunch of…less-than-normal stuff. We’re talking fake holidays, silly jokes and illustrations, etc.

Everyone who buys one of these things is always gushing about the love and detail Kurtz pours into these planners each year.

Wooden Monster Tissue Holder »

($99)

A lot of items in this guide serve a real, actual purpose, while others are just something you’d love to have in your home for no other reason than you like looking at them.

This monster-shaped tissue box made from beech wood falls into the latter camp.

C’mon, how cute is that lil’ fella?! Pricy, yes, but adorable enough that we don’t care.

Silicone Steamship Steamer Lid Set »

($13)

These charming steamship steaming lids aren’t just a gimmick; they’re actually useful too.

Made from heavy duty food-safe silicone, each of the three lids — with diameters measuring 5.6″, 8″, and 10″ respectively — features a little steam boat in the middle, the “funnels” of which are simply steam holes to let out just enough steam to prevent pots and microwave bowls from boiling over while cooking.

The smokestack effect this creates is cute, and the lids work quite well for jobs like steaming veggies, reheating leftover chili, covering a skillet while frying eggs, etc.

Magic Puzzle Company’s Twist-Ending Jigsaw Puzzles »

($20 per puzzle)

The three 1,000-piece puzzles in this collection were respectively illustrated by indie artists Sarah Becan, Boya Sun, and Felicia Chiao. In that order, they are:

• “The Happy Isles”
• “The Mystic Maze”
• “The Sunny City”

Each one is a work of art and self-contained story in its own right, loaded with dozens of Easter eggs and tiny details that can be enjoyed even at the individual-piece level — but the real cool part comes when you complete a puzzle, revealing a ✨secret surprise✨ using techniques from optical illusions and magic.

That’s right, these are jigsaw puzzles with twist endings. Definitely not something you come across every day.

The Shave Well Company’s Anti-Fog Shaving Mirror »

($10)

For some, shaving in the shower is a much better experience than standing at a sink and dripping water everywhere despite all precautions. The one disadvantage though? Not having a mirror to see what you’re doing.

Well, not so with the Shave Well fogless shower mirror.

It doesn’t rely on crappy suction cups to stick to the wall, it hangs on a hook that adheres with two-way tape. You just take the mirror off the hook and run it under the water a few seconds to warm it up, which keeps it fog-free for a while. Then, you can either hang it back up or hold it in your hand while you shave (or brush your teeth, if you’re into doing that in the shower too).

Newsight Reversible Umbrella »

($20)

You know what’s always annoying about umbrellas? When you fold one as you come in from the rain, only to have it sit there dripping all over your floor or car interior. But that’s not what happens when you use a reversible umbrella like this.

The two canopy layers fold “inside out” — that is, the ribs fold upward instead of the other way around, the bottom layer becoming the exterior one and the top layer nestling inside of that. This keeps all those rain droplets safely contained inside until you’re ready to pour them out and let the umbrella air-dry.

Almost as neat is the fact that, once the water’s out and the umbrella’s still folded, it can be flipped over to stand upright on its own or simply hung from your wrist using the C-shaped hook handle.

They’ve got a whole bunch of designs to choose from, so not only is your umbrella super useful, it’s sure to be the most eyecatching one around.

Yama Glass Cold Brew Coffee Tower »

($255)

Lemme tell you something: You gift one of these coffee towers to someone, there’s no way they’ll be able to top it. I mean look at it! This slow-drip contraption is easily the most 19th-century-science-experiment way of making cold brew coffee at home — even moreso than a siphon pot.

  + Lots more details in our original post.

Cafelat “Robot” Manual Espresso Maker »

(from $310)

Another novel way of making coffee comes in the form of the Cafelat Robot, a manual espresso press designed to look like…well, a retro robot — the clawed “arms” of which act as levers when pulling espresso shots.

Don’t let its cutesy looks fool you. This thing can produce a mean shot of espresso, rivaling any of its competition.

  + See our original post for details on their buying options and such.

Jungwiealt Robot Component Rubber Stamps »

($33)

The 28 wood-backed stamps in this set depict various shapes — from simple geometric ones to more complex ones — and robotic parts, which can be stamped in such a way that you create your own cute ink robot characters. A fun gift for an ingenuitive kid — or, for the adult “working” from home.

Cook’s Book Kitchen Scales »

($30)

From the ever-oddly-named Suck UK — who we once featured for their “Cork Cube” tape dispenser — comes the Cook’s Book Kitchen Scale, a glass-top digital food scale concealed in a wipe-clean hardback book cover so you can keep it on the same shelf as your recipe books without it sticking out like a sore thumb.

It supports up to 11 lb (5kg) of weight and makes an attractive little addition to any kitchen besides. It even comes with a handy reference card with some common unit conversions so you don’t have to turn to Google in the middle of meal prep.

We don’t know about you, but here at T&T, putting together a massive annual Christmas Catalog can take a lot out of a person, mentally and emotionally speaking. There are SO many considerations to be made, details to get right, and behind-the-scenes planning that readers never get to see.

That’s partly why we’ve started looking forward to assembling our annual Novelty Gift Guides, which are full of…shall we say, interesting gifts for those special weirdos in your life. It’s kind of a brain break for us, and hopefully, a fun — dare I say ‘adorkable’? on second thought, forget I used that word — list of ideas for you.

The Wobble Chess Set by Umbra is a charming modern take on an ancient classic. ($189)

Wobble Chess Set by Umbra »

We’ve posted a few of Umbra’s products around here in the past, and they’re always something a bit different from the norm but still nifty. Their wooden Wobble Chess Set is no exception.

The maple and walnut pieces in this set have spherical steel weighted bases, so they wobble when moved. As for the board itself — with alternating squares of the same maple and walnut — each position is concave to create smooth, rounded surfaces for the pieces to sit in and remain centered. The wobbly effect this creates during gameplay is charming and somehow makes the game feel more lively.

This toilet paper holder lets you set your phone (or whatever else) down while you’re conducting your business. ($25–$30, depending on color)

APL Toilet Paper Holder with Phone Storage Shelf »

The APL toilet paper holder + storage shelf lets you set stuff down on it when you’re, um, seeing a man about a horse. And when we say “stuff” we mean your phone. You can also use it for your watch or glasses or whatever, but yeah we’re betting it’ll be your phone 99% of the time.

The holder is easy to install, doesn’t look half bad in any bathroom, and can hold even large phones like the iPhone XS Max. Only downside is that it’s not designed to be reversible, so you can only load TP one way.

  + For extra fancy points, get some black toilet paper to go with the black model.

As part of their ongoing campaign to establish a new history for humanity, Kurzgesagt’s new calendar celebrates the true upcoming year of 12,019 H.E. ($25)

Kurzgesagt’s “The Year 12,019 Human Era” Calendar »

The folks behind the YouTube channel Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell — which we’ve featured in a few of our Quality Linkage columns — have released their Year 12,019 Human Era Calendar. Watch the video:

Inside you’ll find 12 brand-new beautiful illustrations of early human cultures and craftsmanship prior to the first civilizations in the use of metal.

This topic is endlessly fascinating to us. Our ancestors’ achievements from 10,000 years ago paved the way for our modern civilization, so we can only dream of what might be possible in the future through human cooperation.

Why the year 12,019 though? Well, a couple years ago they explained that whole idea in another video, “A New History for Humanity”:

If we think about history as we do now, we are underplaying 10,000 years of human progress and development. Including all of it in our calendar makes our past more impressive. It shows how progress became exponential with time, and it incorporates all humans from all cultures into our calendar.

A new “Year 0” for our history could re-frame how we think of ourselves.

These hypoallergenic vegan soaps are styled like elements on the periodic table. ($7.50 per bar)

Just Bubbly’s “It’s Elementary” Periodic Table Soap »

For those who prefer to clean off the geeky way, there’s a New York-based company called Just Bubbly that sells a series of hypoallergenic vegan soaps styled after 35 elements of the periodic table. Each 4-ounce bar is lightly scented with a pleasant, gender-neutral ginger lime fragrance, and they all cleanse quite gently.

Even more fun is the fact that the eight “radioactive” elements glow in the dark after being exposed to light (preferably sunlight) for a bit. Uranium glows green, plutonium glows aqua, radium glows blue, radon glows purple, thorium glows orange, and so on. The glow comes from an FDA-approved, cosmetic-grade glow powder, so it’s safe to use.

The R2-D2 Coffee Press will have you in first-class condition every morning. ($40)

R2-D2 Coffee Press »

Ever wish you had a Star Wars droid around to give you a little wake-up jolt each morning? The officially licensed R2-D2 coffee press is about as close as it gets. It can brew up to 32 oz. (about four cups) of coffee that’ll have you in first-class condition (see what we did there?) in no time, and it’s kind of fun to have out on your countertop.

  + Note: This press is not dishwasher safe. Hand wash only unless you want it to be fit for a scrap heap.

Who wouldn’t want a friendly walrus pal to hold their books up? ($48)

Anthropologie Walrus Bookends »

“The time has come,” the Walrus said, “to put me on your shelf.” At least, that’s what we like to imagine this set of golden walrus bookends would say if it could talk. In any case, it’d make a sweet addition to any bookshelf or desk. Who wouldn’t want this handsome lil’ fella holding up their books?

Bee Wild’s ghost pepper-infused “Devil’s Advocate” honey will light up anyone’s tastebuds. ($15 per 12-ounce squeeze bottle)

Bee Wild “Devil’s Advocate” Ghost Pepper-Infused Honey »

Got a lover of spicy foods to think of? If they’ve also got something of a sweet tooth, they will absolutely love Bee Wild’s “Devil’s Advocate” honey, which is raw honey that’s been infused with dried smoked ghost peppers in small batches, resulting in an addictively sweet and smoky flavor profile. It’s definitely hot too, but we’d say it’s still manageable for most people unless they just have no tolerance for that level of spice.

As the years go on, we’re building quite a collection of holiday gift guides. Last year, we introduced a new category to the family with our 2016 novelty gift guide, featuring “unexpected gifts for those lovable oddballs in your life.”

In what we hope will be an ongoing tradition, we’re pleased to bring you this year’s collection of novelty gift ideas. If the person you’re shopping for has weirder tastes than our 2017 Christmas Catalog can accommodate, then this guide should help you out.

Elago W3 stand for Apple Watch. ($10)

Elago W3 Stand for Apple Watch »

Elago’s retro-style W3 charging stand makes your Apple Watch look like the original Macintosh. So awesome.

Once you’ve placed your own charging puck in the designated slot, you simply slide your Apple Watch into the top of the soft silicone stand, where the watch display lines up perfectly with the “monitor” position to appear as a miniature Macintosh display. It works with all Apple Watch models and is compatible with watchOS’ Nightstand Mode.

Comes in white and black.

The Fondoodler “hot glue gun” for cheese. ($30)

The Fondoodler Cheese Gun »

The BuzzFeed-licensed Fondoodler is…well, it’s a hot glue gun, but for cheese.

Ridiculous? Yes. Necessary? Also yes.

In the box you get the Fondoodler body, a cheese canister, a push rod, and a cleaner brush. Load up any cheese you want — string, shredded, block, sheet, whatever you got — plug it in, wait a few minutes for the cheese to melt, then have fun drawing, designing, decorating, and building any cheesy creation you can dream up.

When you’re done, the removable parts can all be tossed in the dishwasher for easy cleanup.

And Then You’re Dead by Cody Cassidy and Paul Doherty. ($11 paperback)

And Then You’re Dead by Cody Cassidy and Paul Doherty »

Physicist Paul Doherty and writer Cody Cassidy teamed up to write a gleefully morbid book called And Then You’re Dead: What Really Happens If You Get Swallowed by a Whale, Are Shot from a Cannon, or Go Barreling over Niagara, which is about all the most outlandish, cartoonish, and impossible ways people can die.

From the duo’s Reddit AMA:

We looked into questions like what would happen if you swam out of a deep sea submarine, were swallowed by a whale (surprisingly possible), your elevator cable broke (don’t jump. It won’t help), if it’s even possible to die from magnetism (it is, yay!), if sticking your hand in the CERN particle accelerator is lethal (probably) and many more.

This book really answers all the important questions:

How long could you last if you stood on the surface of the sun? How far could you actually get in digging a hole to China?

[…]

Can you die by shaking someone’s hand? Answer: Yes. That’s because, due to atomic repulsion, you’ve never actually touched another person’s hand. If you could, the results would be as disastrous as a medium-sized hydrogen bomb.

And Then You’re Dead isn’t for the faint of heart. We wouldn’t hand it to a kid to read, even if they love weird facts; the descriptions are just a bit too gruesome for that.

The Thinket fidget toy. ($36–$150, depending on model)

The Thinket »

As seen in our “Fidget and Click” EDC guide.

This fidget toy — designed by David Weinstock of Chessmate.com — is one of those things that’s hard to put down once you start playing with it. Click it, twirl it, spin it, do tricks with it, whatever you like. The rare-earth magnet mechanism inside gives a satisfying “bounce” as you play.

+ Another great gift idea for fidgeters is, of course, the official Antsy Labs Fidget Cube.

Captain Marvel-inspired Nike running shoes. ($150)

Captain Marvel-Inspired Nike Running Shoes »

Did you know you can use the NIKEiD system to customize shoes inspired by your favorite comic book superheroes?

After actress Brie Larson — who is set to play the lead role in the March 2019 film, Captain Marvel — posted on Instagram to show off a pair of Captain Marvel-inspired shoes Nike sent her as a gift, Reddit user u/henrybddf went to the trouble of sharing the NIKEiD design so you don’t have to. They even sport the same “CAPT. MARVEL” text on the heels. A great gift for anyone in your life who loves comics and fitness.

Side note: The particular shoes used for this design are Nike’s Metcon 3 training shoes, but the NIKEiD system has seven other models you can play with to achieve similar results — or model after your own favorite superhero(es), which it’s super easy to kill a few hours doing. You’ve been warned.

Zencix’s “Trisqule” scissors. (£18 / ~$25 USD each)

Zencix “Trisqule” Scissors »

These oddly shaped scissors by Japanese company Zencix are…well, oddly shaped. Made from stainless steel and available in three shapes — circle, triangle, and rectangle — we guarantee these are some of the most unique scissors you or your gift recipient will ever own.

The sides of the triangle and rectangle scissors each have a four-inch ruler, along with some circle-shaped stencils cut into their frames. The circlular scissors also have the circle stencils, but sport a 90-degree protractor ruler in place of the straight-edged one. Each shape comes with rubber-edged handles in your choice of yellow, green, red, or black.

Color Squared pixelated color-by-numbers book by Lee Meredith. ($11 paperback)

Color Squared — A Pixelated Color-by-Numbers Book »

Lee Meredith’s coloring book, Color Squared: Color, Dot, Dash, or Stamp Your Way to Awesome Pixel Art, riffs on the idea of paint-by-number by showcasing pixelated images of cool and quirky nostalgia objects — cassette tapes, a rotary phone, rollerskates, a vinyl record player, a Rubik’s cube, etc.

As the name implies, you don’t have to completely fill each “pixel”; you can fill them with circles, lines (in various orientations and combinations), hashtags, starbursts/asterisks, gradients (if you’re feeling fancy), or whatever other patterns you like. Whatever you choose, it’s all a great way to relieve stress and/or challenge the part of your brain that loves puzzles.

Mokoyubi’s “Space Explorer” iron-on patch. ($7)

Mokoyubi “Space Explorer” Iron-on Patch »

Anyone can show off their inner stargazer with this sweet patch. Put it on a favorite bag, hat, jacket, whatever. As the name suggests, it can certainly be ironed on, but with anything like this you may have better luck sewing it on instead.

The Floating Cloud lamp by the Richard Clarkson Studio. ($4,620)

Floating Cloud Lamp »

As far as novelty gifts go, it doesn’t get any more extravagant than the Floating Cloud lamp, a magnetically levitating LED “cloud” lamp designed by the Richard Clarkson Studio in Brooklyn, NYC.

Embedded magnetic components in both the cloud and the always-plugged-in base allow the former to float ~2.75″ above the latter. The cloud can rotate, bob up and down, and even light up in a myriad of colors or thunderstorm-like patterns, making the whole thing surreal to look at:

{Infomercial voice} And that’s not all! Check it out:

While the Cloud itself does not have a speaker, it will react to your existing sound system as well as spoken voice and loud sounds. An embedded microphone allows the Cloud to flash to the beat of the music in four different styles. The Cloud also has a range of ambient lamp modes in both white and colored versions. Each of these modes is controlled via an infrared remote.

Basically, this thing is nuts and would look amazing anywhere you put it.

The kicker? It costs $4,620. We imagine it was designed for companies with hip workspaces, but hey, if you do decide to seriously wow a loved one (or buy it for yourself alone), more power to you.

It may be hard to believe, but as extensive as our 2016 Christmas Catalog is, there were quite a few items from the past year that we ended up leaving out of the guide.

Some of them just didn’t make the cut, while others were either sold out or wouldn’t be available in time for the holidays. The items in today’s guide are the ones on the…weirder side. We love this stuff just as much as anything that made the Christmas Catalog, but felt it’d be more appropriate to collect them into a novelty gift guide of their own.

Enjoy!

Star Wars R2-D2 pizza cutter with sound effects. ($20)

Star Wars R2-D2 Pizza Cutter with Sound Effects »

There’s never a bad time for novelty Star Wars stuff, but it’s especially fun at Christmas. We love this R2-D2 pizza cutter that actually bleeps and bloops like its droid inspiration whenever pressed down. You can hear what it sounds like at 2:48 of this video:

• Along the same lines, you can also pre-order this R2-D2 coffee press from ThinkGeek for $40, though if you haven’t already done so by now, it won’t arrive until at least mid- to late-January 2017.

The ‘Bob’s Burgers’ Burger Book by Loren Bouchard. ($13)

The ‘Bob’s Burgers’ Burger Book by Loren Bouchard »

When The Bob’s Burgers Burger Book: Real Recipes for Joke Burgers was released earlier this year, it immediately became the #1 best seller in Burger & Sandwich Recipes on Amazon, and now it’s the #1 best seller in Meat Cooking. As hilarious as that is to us, the 75 burger recipes in this book — which are taken from the cartoon series’ various “burgers of the day” — really are edible, should you dare to make them.

We like the description for the brilliantly-named Poutine on the Ritz Burger (read it in Bob Belcher’s voice):

Guaranteed to delight your taste buds, this all-beef patty is cooked in brown gravy, topped with sliced potato fries, fresh cheese curds, and Ritz cracker crumbs—and comes with a side of poutine fries. The Ritz crackers provide a welcome, buttery crunch. I’m pretty sure there are enough calories for at least a couple days in here. Fresh cheese curds may be a bit hard to find, but you can normally get them at higher end grocery stores or local dairies. Makes 4 burgers, plus plenty of poutine fries.

The entire Belcher family and other characters from the show appear throughout, as well as obligatory burger puns. This is just a delightful book for fans of Bob’s Burgers.

W.R. Case & Sons’ Amber Bone “Hobo Knife” ($82)

W.R. Case & Sons’ Amber Bone “Hobo Knife” »

The “Hobo” Knife by W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co. — arguably best known for their classic Trapper knife — is a cutlery set disguised as a pocket knife. It’s got a stainless steel knife, fork, and spoon that can be tucked away while carrying or unfolded for eating. Useful on the trail or while traveling.

Once open, the fork and spoon can both slide and separate apart so you can use multiple utensils at once, as this video demonstrates at the 1:31 mark:

As you can also see there, the fork and spoon each have a can opener built into their respective handles.

Kikkerland’s animal multi-tool. ($20)

Kikkerland Animal Multi-Tool »

Hidden within Kikkerland’s animal multi-tool are 7 tools that unfold to reveal fun animal shapes like a giraffe/llama (file), a dog/hippo (wire stripper), and a rhino (bottle opener). The four legs are comprised of a flat-head screwdriver, a Phillips head screwdriver, a hole punch, and a blade.

Here are its animal “modes”:

 

There’s also a regular large knife tucked away in there:

This would make a great first multi-tool for a kid (provided they know how to handle a knife) or a fun gift for a friend.

Harry Potter “Lumos/Nox” light switch cover. ($17)

Harry Potter “Lumos/Nox” Light Switch Cover »

This Harry Potter-inspired “Lumos/Nox” light switch cover — designed by Derrick Kendall of Sci-Collectables — is an easy way to add a little magic to any home or office. Fans of the series will know that the wizard spell Lumos creates a bright light at the tip of one’s wand (much like a flashlight), while the counter-spell Nox extinguishes it. This light switch cover takes that idea and runs with it.

The base material of the cover is actually a kind of plastic painted to look like aged copper with a patina (which the two included screws are painted to match) and with a custom raised/embossed design for the words Lumos and Nox. It fits all standard US light switches and is easy to install.

The cover comes in single switch ($17), double switch ($23), triple switch ($30), and decorator switch ($17) versions.

Daneson’s “Cinnamint No. 7” toothpicks. ($20 per 4-bottle pack, or $120 for a 24-bottle case)

Daneson “Cinnamint No. 7” Toothpicks »

Daneson’s “Cinnamint No. 7” toothpicks are flavored like cinnamon with a subtle hint of raw mint. They’re made from veneer-quality Northern White Birch wood milled right here in the US, in a sustainable way and using all-natural flavoring ingredients such as essential oils and single malt scotch. Every bottle has a minimum of a dozen toothpicks.

Crane’s Suzu lever-strike bicycle bell. ($12)

Photo: A New Recyclist

Crane Suzu Lever-Strike Bicycle Bell »

Crane’s Suzu lever-strike bicycle bell isn’t like that terrible, cheapy bell we all had on our bikes as kids. Instead of an annoying brrring-brrring noise, this Japanese-made brass bell produces a bright, clear tone that lingers for a surprising amount of time, in a pleasant way. It’s definitely an attention-getter (though a relatively polite one) when you’re trying to notify pedestrians that you’re coming up on them.

In addition to the brass version ($12), the bell also comes in copper ($17) and aluminum alloy ($16), which have their own distinct sounds.

Note: The bell is not clear-coated, so it will tarnish pretty quickly unless a little brass polish is applied from time to time. Whoever you gift this to will have to decide whether or not they prefer the “antique” look over doing occasional maintenance.

Star Trek 50th anniversary US postage stamps. ($10 for a set of 20)

Star Trek 50th Anniversary US Postage Stamps »

Live long, prosper, and send greeting cards.

—The Heads of State

September 2016 marked the 50th anniversary of the first airing of Star Trek here in the United States. To celebrate, the US Postal Service released a twenty-count set of commemorative “Forever” postage stamps designed by The Heads of State. The four respective stamps (of which there are five of each) in the set are:

• The Starship Enterprise inside the outline of a Starfleet insignia against a gold background
• The silhouette of a crewman in a transporter against a red background
• The silhouette of the Enterprise from above against a green background
• The Enterprise inside the outline of the Vulcan salute (Spock’s iconic hand gesture) against a blue background

The Diabolix bottle opener by Alessi. ($19, available in six colors)

Photo: Richard Casteel

Diabolix Bottle Opener »

The Diabolix bottle opener is one with a lot of personality. It’s made from polyamide (PA) resin with stainless steel teeth, so it’ll last your recipient for years and years, plus it’s comfortable to grip and easy to find in a drawer when they need it. It always puts a smile on guests’ faces when it’s broken out at parties.

The “Instagram Logo” hand-painted Nike Roshe shoes. ($225 per pair; allow up to 4 weeks for delivery)

Hand-Painted “Instagram Logo” Nike Roshe Shoes »

When Instagram changed their logo this summer, it didn’t take long for Kickasso Kustoms (aka K_O Brand) to develop these hand-painted Nike Roshe shoes inspired by it. Instagram’s gradient palette is all there, and the Swoosh is even outlined in white. If you or someone you know is into collecting one-of-a-kind, eye-catching footwear, you can’t go wrong with these.

The official Die Hard coloring book. ($12)

Warning: Book contains violent content and is not suitable for children.

Die Hard: The Authorized Coloring and Activity Book »

Yippee-ki-yay! This official Die Hard coloring book has all your favorite moments and quotes from the film, recreated in black-and-white drawings for you to color however you like. There are also some amusing activities, like a “broken glass” maze that you help John McClane navigate.

Please note that this book contains violent material not suited for children. Do not buy this for a kid unless they’re old enough to have seen Die Hard and can appreciate something like this with some level of maturity.