March 2010 Notable Toys — Tween

The Vamplets collection of baby vampires includes six plush dolls at 6" to 7" tall: Cadaverson Nightshade, Lilyrose Shadowlyn, Count Vlad Von Gloom, Evilyn Nocturna, Burton Creepson, Jr., and Midnight Mori. Each cuddly Vamplet is characterized by its own distinctive personality. Launch date: February 14, 2010. Watch Vamplets: Top-5 Video, Toy Fair 2010

Past videos: Toy Fair 2010

This guidebook by Lisa Trutkoff Trumbauer is written from the perspective of an international vampire hunter sharing secret details about everything from vampire games to the places they live. Launch date: August 2009.

Blamtastic Natural Based Lip Balms for girls and guys were created by the Sandler sisters, ages 10 and 11. The formula contains no petroleum or artificial preservatives. Blamtastic is made in the USA and does NO animal testing. The line includes five potent guy flavors, give yummy girl flavors and a line of accessories. "Blamtastic's product lines are 100-percent kid-created and we are the only company with a separate line of edgy lip balms just for guys," Renee Sandler, President, Blamtastic LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2010.

Snap Caps are "the original, interchangeable bottle cap necklace." Dog Tag Necklaces are available in brown, pink, aqua, lavender and green. Launch date: 2009.

Snap Caps are "the original, interchangeable bottle cap necklace." Journals are available in Sweet Treats, Groovy Girl, Meet the Monsters and Smiley themes. Launch date: 2009.

Snap Caps are "the original, interchangeable bottle cap necklace."® The magnetic Framin' the Moment freestanding dry-erase boards double as a photo holder with the use of Snap Caps. It is available in Birthday Girl, Groovy Day, Camp and Soccer themes. Launch date: 2010.

Snap Caps are "the original, interchangeable bottle cap necklace." This collection covers all 12 signs of the zodiac with a distinctive, colorful design for each.

Snap Caps are "the original, interchangeable bottle cap necklace."® The company offers custom designs to support local schools, along with coordinating Huggers. Designs may have the school colors and logo, as well as a coordinating rhinestone.

Snap Caps are "the original, interchangeable bottle cap necklace." Cupcakes and ice cream cones with a bit of sparkles make this a tasteful collection.
— In a September 2010 TDmonthly survey, six of 44 retailers cited Snap Caps as a jewelry and accessory top seller. One claimed sales of over 100 per month.

Snap Caps are "the original, interchangeable bottle cap necklace." Designs in this collection include colorful fish, a starfish, flip flops and a beach tote.

Snap Caps are "the original, interchangeable bottle cap necklace." Smiley faces, peace signs, bright colors and messages of love and hope keep things groovy in this collection.

Snap Caps are "the original, interchangeable bottle cap necklace." This adorable collection features fun-loving monsters against colorful backgrounds.

Snap Caps are "the original, interchangeable bottle cap necklace." This collection taps into love, peace and flowers.

This stretchy rubber band is shaped like anything, from adorable animals and pretty butterflies, to fashionable shoes, clothes and rock star shapes. Tweens can stretch them, wear them, trade them, and collect them all. "The Banditos line is so affordable, and they are the latest craze. We are going to come out with several series, and even throw in some licensed styles that are truly unique to Fashion Angels," Sarah Koth, PR Coordinator, Fashion Angels Enterprises, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2010.

Crazerasers Series 2 by Fashion Angels features funky shoes and handbags, unusual food items and crazy creatures. "Series 2 is going to be limited edition, so when they are gone, they are gone! The whole eraser fad is continuing strongly, and Fashion Angels will add to the line throughout 2010," Sarah Koth, PR Coordinator, Fashion Angels Enterprises, told TDmonthly in December 2009. Launch date: December 15, 2009.

Girls get to design their dream wedding wardrobe for four Fashion Angels paper dolls. The kit includes clothing patterns, fabric, glitter, gems, buttons, appliques, and more to make fabulous wedding attire. "Most young girls dream about their wedding they will have some day — this kit will help them have control and think outside the box of what wedding dresses and tuxedos can look like. They can just have fun and even be silly with it. The best part is, on all of our Design a Heavenly Wardrobes, we are able to lower the wholesale cost in 2010!" Sarah Koth, PR Coordinator, Fahion Angels Enterprises, told TDmonthly. Note: This product has been discontinued.

The Fashion Angels Interior Design Sketch Portfolio is created to teach tween girls about designing their dream bedroom, furniture and more. They can use the removable stencils with the sketch pages, along with the tips at the front of the book to make a remarkable room. The kit has more than 100 stencils to help get the sketches started, plus tons of sketch pages for fun on the go. "The Fashion Angels Sketch Portfolio series debuted in 2009 with the Fashion Design and the Hair and Make Up Design portfolios. They were such a runaway success because they are a great value for retailers and consumers. Fashion Angels has passed along other areas of the design world so girls can learn about other facets like interior design, and it makes it so easy," Sarah Koth, PR Coordinator, Fashion Angels Enterprises, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2010.

The Fashion Angels Fashion Design Artist Tote lets girls create their own dream wardrobe with the markers, pencils and Fashion Angels model sketch pad. A design guide included with this kit will teach girls inside tips and tricks of how to be a fashion designer, including shading techniques and the names and simple outlines for different styles of clothing. They can store all of the designs in the artist portfolio tote that comes with the set. The tote "has a really cool modern design that will get girls in the designing mood. They can also use the tote to take their homework in to school," Sarah Koth, PR Coordinator, Fashion Angels Enterprises, told TDmonthly. Awards: Creative Child Awards 2010 Preferred Choice Award

GoGo's Crazy Bones have been a fav with kid collectors since the 1990s. They're inspired by an ancient Greek game called "Astragals," where children played with sheep knuckles.

The Leader of the Kreecher Pack, Hank eats regular pillows for B, L, and D. When the day ends and the sleepover begins, he’s definitely someone you want on your side in a pillow fight.

Mighty Beanz are collectible and playable versions of the old Mexican jumping beans. These little characters can do tricks, race each other down along and come in more than 100 fun characters with sports, ocean and zoo themes and more. Accessories are sold separately.
— As of 8.12.10, this product had 4 out of 5 stars from 28 reviews on ToysRUs.com and was listed No. 13 in best-selling toys and games. PROS: Easy to play, entertaining, interactive. CONS: Some parents felt this product did not hold children's interest.

All profits from the sale of the GKTW Charity Bracelet benefit Give Kids the World, a non-profit Florida resort that provides magical vacations for children with life-threatening sicknesses. The bracelet is mostly white, with a black BEADTHEMESSAGE "start" bead, plus four colored beads that spell GKTW. Each bracelet also features a mushroom charm to represent the giant mushroom at Give Kids the World Village. The jewelry comes with a decoder card and information about Give Kids the World.

This delicately sculpted, whimsical elven princess playfully sits upon a cardinal’s back. Elf is 3” H (7.6 cm). Cardinal is 4.25” L x 3” H (10.75 x 7.6 cm). Figures not sold separately. Meticulously painted by hand, this replica is phthalate and lead free and meets or exceeds all safety standards. Each figure includes educational information in five languages and also name identification on its underside.

This hot pink coin features a golden tiara on top of the word "Princess" that runs across the coin.