November 2007 New Toys — Arts & Crafts

Kids Scrapbooking by COLORBOK

Colorbök is a leader in scrapbooking and Quincrafts, a division of Colorbök, has created some fun scrapbooking kits just for kids. Memory Mini's and Mini Memory Makers are just a few of the creative scrapbooking kits for occasions such as birthdays, vacations and celebrating friendships. Look for these and other fun and creative Quincrafts products at your favorite retailers. 11/5/2007 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Ribbon Headband by ALEX BRANDS

This product is 14 headbands in one, and includes a plastic headband and seven reversible ribbon sleeves that slide easily into place. Each ribbon has a different design on each side. 10/22/2007 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Pirate Treasure and More by CREATIVITY FOR KIDS

Pirate gear includes a 5" W x 4" H x 4" D papier-maché treasure chest, a soft-foam eye patch, a head scarf, jewels, gemstones, gold coins, a sticker, paint and two secret treasure maps. “It’s a little bit of crafting, and a whole lot of pretending,” said Lisa Ritchie, public relations manager for Faber-Castell. Launch date: February 2007. 10/22/2007 (Price: $17.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Racer Bikes by CREATIVITY FOR KIDS

Kids can customize cool street bikes with an assortment of stickers and paint. This set includes two 5.5" W x 4" H motorcycles. Launch date: February 2007. 10/22/2007 (Price: $17.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Fast Car Race Cars by CREATIVITY FOR KIDS

Kids can decorate this trio of wooden race cars with paint and stickers. When finished, they simply pull the cars back and watch them go. Launch date: 2005.
— “Creativity for Kids Fast Car Race Cars and similarly styled items sell around 20 per month,” said Kathy Mabry, owner of The Village Toy Shop in North Easton, Mass.
— Of 44 retailers surveyed in fall 2008, seven percent named Fast Car Race Cars as a best seller. 10/22/2007 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Decoupage Diva Jewelry Keeper by CREATIVITY FOR KIDS

Girls can store all of their jewelry essentials inside this cleverly designed armoire, which can be decorated with decoupage, fun paper accents, sequins and sparkle glaze. The top opens to reveal a mirror, and the jewelry chest measures approximately 8-7/8” x 5.25” x 3.5”. “We wanted to develop an item that didn’t use painting,” Lisa Ritchie, public relations manager for Faber-Castell, told TDmonthly. “There’s plenty of decoupage designs in the kit, and kids can use their own images, too.” Launch date: March 2006. 10/22/2007 (Price: $21.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

ChewByNumbers™ GumArt™ Kit by BLUENET SOLUTIONS INC.

ChewByNumbers kits allow kids to create vibrant artwork by chewing tasty wads of gum and spreading the chewed gum onto the ChewByNumbers art board. Each kit teaches project planning skills and helps develop fine motor skills, concentration and creativity. Meanwhile, kids enjoy every step of the artistic process. “ChewByNumbers kits are incredibly unique and elicit an emotional reaction once kids learn that chewing the gum is only half of the fun. The kits are conversational products that customers talk about with their friends,” Jamie Marraccini of BlueNet Solutions told TDmonthly. Launch date: October 2006. 10/17/2007 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Aqua Dots Super Studio by SPIN MASTER TOYS

With this kit, children can create colorful designs using joining beads. Kids can use the included template or any other design. Once the finished product is sprayed with water it will hold its shape and create a long-lasting craft. The studio includes a built-in dryer to allow for easy finishing. 10/11/2007 (Price: $24.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Halloween Hounted House by FASHION FUN STORE

The stylish and fitted shirts are made of 100% baby rib cotton, combed for softness and comfort. Create designs easily with the appliqués and rhinestones included. Simply design, iron and wear. 10/11/2007 (Price: $19.99)

Sticky Pixies - Lileia Bleu with Dress by STICKY PIXIES

Sticky Pixies are laser cut-out stickers that can be applied to the wall or placed in a scrapbook for decoration. Each 7”-tall fairy comes with a handmade, Velcro-attached dress that can be easily removed and applied to a different fairy. The fairies are made with a vinyl adhesive sticker paper so they will not damage the wall. There are currently 14 Sticky Pixies, plus several couture dress sold separately. Sticky Pixies “are like paper dolls for the walls,” Tyanne Hitchcock of Morgan Evan-Thorne told TDmonthly. “This wall art sticker fairy is three-dimensional, and you can change the look of the fairies, so the product is interactive for the child.” Launch date: January 2007. 10/4/2007 (Price: $15.99)

Build-It Space Explorer Kit by The Little Experience

This kit includes everything required to build a space rocket and more. It comes in an eco-friendly box with printing on the inside so that children can create a project out of the box itself, and is designed to encourage manual dexterity, parental interaction, creativity and recycling. It includes seven language translations. ( Watch Video) 10/4/2007 (Price: $18.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Stencil Art by KLUTZ

This kit includes an eight-color pigment ink pad and eight foam-tip dabbers as well as three bound-in plastic pages of stencils in kid-selected designs. It also comes with a bonus stencil page of abstract shapes one can put together to make anything. Easy-to-understand instructions and hints help artists with techniques such as masking, layering colors, reverse stenciling and more. The book includes inspirational artwork and space for stenciling.
— Stencil Art and other titles from Klutz are best sellers at Where’d You Get That!? in Williamstown, Mass., Owners Michele and Ken Gietz told TDmonthly in fall 2008. “It doesn’t matter how many outlets carry this line,” they said. “Most do not do the best job in display and variety. It is absolutely the fastest-turning line in arts and crafts.” 9/28/2007 (Price: $19.95)

Fashion Design Studio by CREATIVITY FOR KIDS

This designer-set features a mannequin, sewing materials, a sketch book, yards of fabric, a swatch booklet, trims, a satin dress form, a garment bag and a design manual. Kids can decorate the dress included or create their own dream designs. “This product taps into the energy generated by television shows, such as ‘Project Runway,’ and excites tweens to try out their fashion design skills. The thoughtfulness that went into the selection of materials in the kit makes it ideal for the specialty market,” Lisa Ritchey of Faber-Castell told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2007.
— Terry Meyers, owner of Kaleidoscope Toys in Round Rock, Texas, told TDmonthly that her store “sells several dozen” of this item each month.
— “They're all inclusive and that's attractive to customers because they don't need to go out and buy a whole bunch of other supplies,” said John Goehring, owner of The Toyworks in Santa Rosa, Calif., of his top-selling Creativity for Kids crafts in late 2008.
— Thirteen percent of 44 retailers listed fashion-related kits as top-selling crafts in fall 2008. 9/28/2007 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Make Your Dog a Party Collar by BOWWOWMEOW

For special occasions your dog will look splendid in a dress-up party collar, especially one made lovingly by you. There is enough material in this kit to make one collar for a bull mastiff or several for a toy poodle. You can even make a matching bracelet or ponytail holder for yourself or a friend. Everything needed is included in the kit. ( Watch Video) 9/27/2007 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Make Shrink Art Jewelry and Tags for Your Pet and You Too by BOWWOWMEOW

Create shrink-art jewelry that any pooch would be proud to wear, and while you’re at it why not make a coordinating piece for yourself. Includes enough material to make more than 20 charms and tags. Also includes alphabet beads to further personalize, cord, ribbon and “s” hooks to hang ID or charms from a collar, and even a hole punch. 9/27/2007 (Price: $17.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

My Cat Scrapbook by BOWWOWMEOW

This kit allows one to create a scrapbook as distinctive as his or her cat by adding personal photographs, drawings, stories and creativity. It includes a fabric-covered scrapbook, colorful papers, stickers, deckled-edge scissors, a glue stick, double-sided tape, markers and pages to fill in the blanks. All of the materials are acid free to ensure that the scrapbook lasts for years to come. 9/27/2007 (Price: $21.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

My Dog Scrapbook by BOWWOWMEOW

Celebrate a dog by creating a treasured memory album. Add personal photographs, drawings, stories and more. The scrapbook kit Includes a fabric covered scrapbook, colorful papers, stickers, deckled edge scissors, glue stick, double sided tape, markers and blank pages. All of materials are acid-free, ensuring a long life for the book. This product is a 2008 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval Award winner. 9/27/2007 (Price: $21.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Deluxe Painting and Easel Set - Flowers by ALEX BRANDS

Canvas is preprinted and measures 16" x 16". Real wooden easel measures 20" and assembles easily.Includes 10 tubes of acrylic paint (12 ml/0.4 fl.oz. each), 4 brushes, mixing palette, and painting guide. Also available in Jungle theme. 9/27/2007 (Price: $24.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Bling Bling Bracelet & Ring Kit by FASHION ANGELS

This kit comes with everything needed to make up to 12 stunning rings and 24 gorgeous bracelets. Everything is included — instructions, glass beads and metal beads — for out-of-the box designing. This kit won a 2003 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award. 9/25/2007 (Price: $11.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Funky Felt Jewelry Kit by ALEX BRANDS

This exciting kit lets budding fashion designers create cool jewelry from scraps of felt. Instructions and materials are included to make brooches, necklaces and bracelets. Felt squares, cloth leaves, fuzzy balls, felt strips, embroidery floss, felt circles, brooch pins and a needle are included so that exciting creations can be made right out of the box. Bright colors and plenty of materials mean hours of fun and creative designs that can transform any outfit. 9/25/2007 (Price: $14.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

PaintWorks Sunlit Pals by DIMENSIONS/PERLER

Frolicking dolphins are sure to put a smile on your face as you paint this ocean scene. Everything you need is in the kit, including printed canvas board, eight acrylic paints, paint brush and instructions. 9/24/2007 (Price: $8.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Perler Beads Pet Parade by DIMENSIONS/PERLER

It’s easy for your child to make their favorite pets using these shaped pegboards (kitty, puppy, fishy, turtle, and pony). With 5000 beads, this value gift box makes 17 or more projects. 9/24/2007 (Price: $14.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

PaintWorks Back Pack Buddies by DIMENSIONS/PERLER

Ready and waiting for another adventure is this adorable pair of pups. Designed for all skill levels, this paint-by-number kit includes a printed canvas board, eight acrylic paints and a paint brush. 9/24/2007 (Price: $8.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Knot-A-Scarf by ALEX BRANDS

The Knot-A-Scarf makes scarf-making easier than ever. Girls just knot and lace and it's done. No knitting is required. The set includes precut fleece pieces plus laces, a plastic needle and easy instructions. The line of Alex crafts also includes Knot-A-Quilt, Knot-A-Poncho and Flower Crochet Jewelry.
— "Arts and crafts by Alex are big and I expect them to continue to be big. Knot-A-Scarf should do well. The [Knot-A-Quilt] did well last year," said Patricia Masing, co-owner of Tree Town Toys in Ann Arbor, Mich.
— Twelve of 54 retailers told TDmonthly to watch out for Alex arts and crafts in the tween girls section during the 2007 holiday season.
— Following the huge success of our Knot-A-Quilt, we created two new products [in 2007] — Knot-A-Scarf and Knot-A-Poncho. Knot-A-Scarf is a wonderful craft kit because there is no sewing or knitting involved. You simply knot the fringed fleece pieces together to make a super soft, colorful fleece scarf," said Elin Kabo of Alex. 9/20/2007 (Price: $14.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Roll 'n' Go Chalkmat by FLOURISH

These nifty mats fit right in a diaper bag or purse, then roll out to keep kids amused in restaurants or doctors' offices. Inside is a flexible chalkboard surface so kids can draw and erase to their hearts' delight. ( Watch Video) 9/19/2007