Top products from r/craft

What a nice friend you are! I am a sculptor (professional stuff and hobby stuff) and while there are lots of items you can use to make little sculptures and junk model, I'm going to suggest a few that are hard to go wrong with. These are general suggestions, the brands are things I've used but there are many others. Paperclay is an air dry clay, fun to use, versatile. It can be sanded smoother, painted, etc. Super sculpey is a clay you bake, won't dry as you work, can be sculpted a bit more precisely (but don't bake with anything that will melt in the oven.) Sculpey can be painted as well. It comes in tiny packages of different colors, but I usually have more success using the Super Sculpey "flesh" color (usually fresher than the tiny packages) and just paint it. You might pick one of the two based on your knowledge of friend's interest? I linked a tool kit with some good basics. I literally use about 3 of these tools on a regular basis, and a few others occasionally. Don't go overboard here. Made a wire suggestion, whatever you want here. Mesh is fun for modeling, it can be part of armature, it can be an external part of the model, it shapes well. Most hobby and craft stores have these items, as well as Amazon. Oh, another thought is maybe a book! There are so many, just search with key words like clay sculpture, modeling figures, etc. Any combo of items would be a lovely gift, you are a sweet friend!

Tools

[https://www.amazon.com/Sculpt-Pro-Pottery-Tool-Starter/dp/B00CTTLZOA/ref=sr_1_11?keywords=sculpting+tool+kit&qid=1573610099&sr=8-11]

Paperclay

[https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Paper-clay-Ounces-White/dp/B001V8E7MW/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3K2BJF9CM3XJE&keywords=paperclay+air+dry&qid=1573610303&sprefix=Paperclay%2Caps%2C180&sr=8-3]

Wire

[https://www.amazon.com/TecUnite-Aluminum-Flexible-Armature-Thickness/dp/B07BQMMF58/ref=sr_1_13?crid=3IALD05H02KIV&keywords=sculpting+wire+for+clay&qid=1573610433&sprefix=sculpting+wire%2Caps%2C182&sr=8-13]

Wire Mesh

[https://www.amazon.com/AMACO-AMA50004D-Aluminum-Wire-Metal/dp/B00114TFAK/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=sculpting+mesh&qid=1573610539&sr=8-4]

A Book I like

[https://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Figures-Ideas-Techniques-Using/dp/0914881000/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Fantastic+figures&qid=1573613535&sr=8-2]

I highly recommend learning to use a sewing machine (nothing fancy required--you really only need a functioning straight stitch at a minimum). It opens a lot of doors because handsewing is very time-consuming. That said, if you want to learn handsewing, I would recommend checking out the simple but gorgeous posts on The Purl Bee and Sew, Mama, Sew and buying:

• a seam ripper
  
• nice shears that you only use to cut fabric
  
• a couple of fabric markers: I think the Chaco chalk marker and a disappearing ink/water-soluble ink pen are easiest to use
  
• an iron and ironing board, if you don't already have one--pressing is vital to making your sewing look nice
  
• pins and a pincushion
  
• a tape measure (and large clear ruler, if desired)
  
• needles and thread, obviously, but also a block of beeswax or solid soap to coat your thread and keep it from tangling as you hand-sew
  
  There are a lot of books out there about sewing, you should probably just go to the library or a bookstore and check out what seems like it will be most helpful for your needs. The Threads Sew Basic book is good, I like the copy in Wendy Mullins' Sew U book for basics about sewing such as pattern layout, grainline, etc. (but I have never actually sewn any of the patterns included with the book) and a lot of people recommend a book called Fit for Real People if you want to alter clothes to fit you. I really like Heather Ross's Weekend Sewing as a basic and inspiring apparel book, but beware of errors in the patterns (check online for corrections), and you'd better be pretty standard-sized because she doesn't always give a lot of schematics for the finished clothes.

If you just want to protect your paper designs, there are all sorts of clear protective coatings you could use. Mod podge is a popular craft coating that will glue the paper on and protect it. Most any spray on clear coating will also work fine for what you are doing.

It's called a "lobster clasp". To find a large heavy duty one for your needs you may to look for something like a pet leash. This may work
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008SNYJSU/ref=mp_s_a_1_10?qid=1372212406&sr=8-10&pi=SL75

I would get a stack of paper, maybe 25 sheets, then use an electric wheel cutter.

https://www.amazon.com/Cutter-Cutting-Machine-Electric-Scissors/dp/B01E8AOSF0/ref=sr_1_47?ie=UTF8&qid=1491050523&sr=8-47&keywords=fabric+rotary+cutter