January 2009 Notable Toys — Arts & Crafts

With a treehouse kit made from high-quality, extra durable cardboard, all pieces come precut and easy to assemble. The child can decorate this treehouse with paint, crafting materials and get very creative. After decorating and building it, the kids can play with it and incorporate it in their every day play. Ideal size for play with 3" dolls or animal figurines. The material is 100% recyclable. Approximate size is 15" x 16" x 22". Launch date: June 1, 2008.

Featuring famous “firsts” in African American history — Barack Obama, Bessie Coleman, Oscar Micheaux, Rebecca Lee Crumpler and Toni Morrison — this kit is both a fun craft activity and an inspired teaching resource. It contains the following: five blank corrugated bodies, 10 blank arms and legs, five blank heads, five themed faces, five sticks, 20 fasteners, five sheets of decorative paper, 50ml of glue, easy to follow directions and synopses of included historical figures. Completed stick puppets stand 14" tall and have movable arms and legs. "Our product features famous "firsts" in African American History, including President-Elect Barack Obama!" Tiger Kandel, president of Tigercandy Arts, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

This pre-colored, walk-in cardboard castle is designed for children to climb in, crawl in, play in, and decorate inside and out. It is beautiful, sturdy and offers lots of room for play and even storage, with secret compartments in the towers. The slot-and-groove system makes it easy to build, and it's made in Germany from extra-durable, lightweight white cardboard. The castle measures approximately 41" x 41" x 49". "[It's] better than any regular playhouse because children can color it and play with it," Martina McConnon, owner of Creative Toyshop, told TDmonthly. "You can build this castle in three different configurations depending on what space you have available." Launch date: 2008.

Shains Bracelets are part of the Shains line of fashion accessories and an easy way to begin stylizing one's own fashion. Comes with the full alphabet and seven icons. Available in a variety of colors. Shains are cool, recycled fashion accessories that empower people of all ages to make their own statements — and change them anytime. "Shains are unique in using recycled materials and in their cool colors and new product selections, including unique ponytail holders and backpack keyclips," Owner Ewa Martinoff of Shainsware told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2008.

This high-quality, framed nursery art makes for a personalized keepsake. Launch date: 2004.

Kidzsack is an eco-friendly, creative backsack for kids. The fabric is 10-oz. canvas, made from 100-percent recycled cotton and soda bottles. The front of the sack is screenprinted and eight washable, non-toxic markers are included. Kids color, parents wash, and kids recolor — a great reusable activity kit. "It isn't a one-time craft that sits on a shelf collecting dust. As a parent of four, I'm very interested in long-lasting crafts that encourage creativity," Owner Tina Hill of Kidzsack told TDmonthly. This product received a 2008 Preferred Choice Award from Creative Child Magazine. Launch date: October 15, 2007.

Tandy Leather Factory has developed a line of kits especially made to be used with iron-on products. The Pixie Pouch is just one of over 20 age appropriate kits that include items like a video game guitar strap, IPOD holders, and a even a complete belt buckle kit which are all iron on products and will be featured in three different colors. The kits have a modern appeal as well as the appeal of being an actual craft item that children can assemble easily. Launch date: February 2009.

Create beautiful jewelry with pendants that change color according to your mood. Romantic, relaxed, loved or in love, one can log her mood changes in the diary as per the color chart inside.

Knit an adorable colorful scarf using a high-quality wooden loom. Learn to knit with the detailed instruction booklet included. Light and trendy for a romantic walk on the street.

Make your own trendy jewels and belts using charming design ribbons and metallic rings.

Make your own friendship bracelets using the double-sided pattern wheel and up to 8 colors of thread and a variety of beads. Up to 14 different possible styles.

FingerPrints is a complete art kit for children. It contains everything needed for a child to create a finger painting that is framed and treasured for a lifetime: a quality 11" x 14" frame, acid-free artist paper, a child's apron, six bright, washable, non-toxic finger paints and a Certificate of Authenticity. "Anyone with a child will appreciate the convenience of an all-inclusive, one-stop-shop package that turns family time into a keepsake that will last a lifetime," Jennifer Ridley, account rep for ColorGoRound, told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 18, 2008.

This high-quality iron-on patch (tattoo) for kids' clothing and jeans allows kids to express themselves. The product earned a 2008 Creative Child Magazine Award of Excellence. "We have creative designs and also offer a website to bank your points and earn prizes," Owner Carolyn Thiel of Jinks Tattoos told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2, 2008.

The Princess Twinkle Magnets includes a character that lights up when pressed. Kids can mix and match the characters to create lots of different scenes.  It’s also available for Disney’s Fairies, Cars, Playhouse Disney and Barbie.

Girls can scratch and reveal sparkling colors as they create their own fashion designs for all their favorite Disney Princesses. Simply scratch the accessory stickers with the magical tool to reveal the designs and then decorate each Princess. Over 75 stickers of gowns, tiaras, jewelry and shoes are included in each set along with 6 Princesses. 

Suede lace is a popular lace in the craft industries. It has many decorative uses from American Heritage crafts to key chains, jewelry and more. Available in spools as well as 6yd cards, all in various colors.

MagnaColeraze™ is a reusable “Color and Erase” coloring activity that helps children develop their creativity while they're having fun. These sheets let children color the pictures and solve the puzzle over and over again until they get them right.  The sheets are water proof, and have magnetic strips on them enabling their use with the MagnaKase while on the go.

The MagnaKase™ Wooden Magnetic Activity Box is a sturdy wooden box with magnetic dry erase surfaces, and serves both as an activity board and storage case. The 11-3/4" x 9-1/4"x 2" box is made of renewable wood and has brass hinges and clasp. This MagnaKase has two magnetic surfaces and comes with two magnetic strips to secure the coloring pages. Activities sold separately.

This MagnaKase suits coloring activities while kids are on the go. Children can use the case top as a dry erase activity board. The set includes one MagnaKase, four double-sided Reusable Color and Erase coloring puzzle, two Magnet strips to secure coloring pages to the activity surface, six Foohy Washable dry erase markers six (Sanford Corp) and one sponge eraser.

The MagnaKase™ Magnetic Activity Case is a sturdy plastic case with a magnetic dry erase surface and serves both as an activity board and storage case. The MagnaKase is an open-ended toy that, when combined with other MagnaPlay activities, allows children to engage in multiple activities in a short period of time.  Activities sold separately.

Available in a variety of themes and sizes, Colorups pictures have raised lines that make it easy for children to stay in the lines while coloring, and the images are enhanced with colorful backgrounds featuring PERMAGLITTER, which provides a texture to the artwork and won't rub off.

These non-toxic oil pastels come in ocean-themed packaging decorated with bright fish and other sea creatures.

Suede lace has many decorative uses, from American Heritage crafts to key chains, jewelry and more. This decorative leather lace is offered in an assortment of colors, available in spools as well as 6-yd. cards. "Tandy Leather Factory is a trusted brand name in the leather industry. Our products have a reputation for being the best quality products on the market. As well as superior quality, we can offer you our suede lace at a price that will beat any others on the market," Tony Hernandez, national crafts sales manager at Tandy Leather Factory, told TDmonthly. Launch date: February 2009.

Offer some extra color to projects with these waxed braided cords. In addition to stitching the 25 yard spools can be used for braiding friendship bracelets, jewelry, and various other crafts. Available in 17 different colors.