July 2012 Notable Toys — Arts & Crafts

Add sparkling jewels to these glittering bugs. Use 11 reusable stickers to decorate mirrors, windows, notebooks and more. Create beautiful bug designs by matching sparkling tiles to a numbered legend. Best of all, these stickers can be peeled right off with no residue and reused for years to come. Launch date: March 2012.

Showcase a special memory in this sparkling frame. Follow a numbered legend and add sparkling jewels and tiles to create a colorful Picture Perfect frame. This frame will brighten up any little girls’ bedroom. Launch date: March 2012.

Kids can go to school in style with this totally blinged out Fashion Bag. Follow a simple numbered legend and add over 200 sparkling jewels to create this totally fashionable messenger bag. With a sturdy over the shoulder strap, this bag will carry books and important notes. Launch date: March 2012.

Kids can show off their fashion flair with Hippy Chic Crystal Cuffs. Follow a simple numbered legend and add sparkling jewels to create cool denim cuffs and add a flower power any outfit. This kit comes with two different cuffs to wear and share. Launch date: March 2012.

The little princess is not sure what to wear today. Who wants to help her choose a dress? Here creative children can let their imagination run wild and can design their own picture book over and over again as the stickers can be peeled off. Includes 6 sheets with stickers.

The fun and educational drawing and coloring toy for ages 4 and up. Create endless colorful pictures and effects without any paints or crayons – and no mess. Create effortless works of art by just gliding the tool across the Magic Drawing Board.

Find & Make has added a new project kit that directs children to make their own original creations using Makedo connectors and packaging commonly found in the home. This product invites child to be resourceful by sourcing boxes and packaging from around the house and using them as the ‘building blocks’ . Once built, the Shop becomes the source of endless role-play fun. Through this experience, the child changes their perception of a box as something they would throw away. Instead it becomes an object of value. The child has learned about reuse and upcycling in a fun and playful way. Each Makedo Find & Make kit includes a safe-saw for cutting and punching through materials safely; re-clips and lock-hinges for connecting, themed decorative stickers, beautifully illustrated step-by-step instructions and a gorgeous inspiration poster. The material contents and packaging has been kept to a minimum. The reusable nature of Makedo’s connectors means that the child is able to pull apart and reconstruct their shop over and over for new building and role-play experiences. Construction with Makedo also minimizes the use of virgin materials by directing the child to make their own toy rather than going out to buy something completely new.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval, 2012 Dr. Toy Best Green Toys

2 Birdie Banks™ is a new activity kit in the ALEX Eco Crafts series. Kids can save their money and at the same time help to save the planet! This all-in-one environmentally-friendly craft kit lets kids create 2 bird-shaped banks out of recycled paper molds. It comes with 2 makeshift banks (fashioned from recycled paper) that kids can outfit with coin slots and lids before decorating them with colorful squares. Using the included sponge brush, kids can easily affix the paper tape with glaze and wait a while for their creation to dry. Launch date: 2012.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy Best Green Toys, 2012 Dr.Toy Best 20 for $20

Kids can create their own outdoor art, then view it in awesome 3D and Kaleidoscope effects. Dual-ended Crayola® 3D Kaleidoscope Giant Chalk makes it a cinch to create fabulous 3D art. Giant chalk lasts a full seven times longer than regular chalk sticks.

Sets of essential art materials for on-the-go artists. High-quality Thin Markers, Colored Pencils, Watercolor Pencils, and Oil Pastels in clear durable cases. Inner trays neatly hold materials. Expandable handle and snap closure. Descriptive label. AP Non-Toxic. Launch date: January 2012.

This whimsical chalkboard is actually a Paint-by-number wall mural. This chalkboard is "made" of four branches and three cute owls. The center of the mural is painted with chalkboard paint to make any kids' to-do list more fun. It is almost 4' x 4'. Simply TAPE, TRACE & PAINT. Launch date: January 2012.

Kids will be setting their sights to the moon and back with this adorable paint-by-number wall mural. With this cute & whimsical spaceship chalkboard, kids can practice writing or keep track of their to-do list all under the watchful eye of a little martian. Launch date: January 2012.

This clever and adorable paint-by-number chalkboard mural will please any dragon lover. Just Tape, Trace & Paint. It is 4' x 4' and kids can repeat it in whole or in part as many times as they like. Launch date: April 2012.

These adjustable, durable and practical aprons grow with your child – or are great hand-me-downs, due to their ingenious strap system. Perfect for art projects, cooking, spaghetti dinners, or science experiments, as they wash or wipe right off. Fits 2-6 years. All our acrylic-coated cotton is organic, and unlike PVC or oilcloth, completely nontoxic. American-made from European fabrics. Size: 16.5W x 19.5"L. Launch date: January 2012.

A retro replica of the candy necklace. Each bead is one of six different colored crayons. Non-toxic.

A complete art kit for families on the go. This natural cotton carry case with built in crayon holster, pencil holders and pockets is fully equipped with a 6"x9" recycled paper notepad, 10 soy crayons, 5 drawing stencils including a 6" ruler (metric and inches), 2 wood pencils, and plenty of storage! Perfect  for restaurants when waiting for your food, airports, and road trips. This 8"x10"carry case fits in a baby bag and has built in handles for the little ones to carry proudly. Made from Plants - primarily natural cotton, soy, paper.

Nickelodeon Gak is back. The Nickelodeon Gak - Blue is the incredible squishable, squeezable, squashable, stretchable, bounceable, ploppable, poppable stuff. Gak's  "Splat" container lets kids make all sorts of wacky sounds when they squish the Gak around. Smoosh it, Twist it, Bubble It, Mix it.

Store your secret treasures in these super sparkly KeepSake Boxes! Follow a numbered legend and add sparkling jewels to make three special boxes. Each box features a different Princess along with her special animal friend. Launch date: March 2012.

Add sparkling jewels to these ghoulish girls. Use 8 reusable stickers to decorate mirrors, windows, notebooks and more. Create colorful frightfully fashionable designs by matching sparkling tiles to a numbered legend. Best of all, these stickers can be peeled right off with no residue and reused for years to come. Launch date: March 2012.

Add sparkling jewels to these retro owls. Use 8 reusable stickers to decorate mirrors, windows, notebooks and more. Create colorful owls on their perches by matching sparkling tiles to a numbered legend. Best of all, these stickers can be peeled right off with no residue and reused for years to come. Launch date: March 2012.

Have a bedroom fit for a Princess with this whimsical Mirror. Match shapes and colors to create this sparkling piece of room decor. This kit uses bright oversized tiles perfect for the youngest crafters. Launch date: March 2012.

Have a bedroom fit for a Princess with this whimsical Jewelry Box. Match shapes and colors to create this sparkling piece of room decor. This kit uses bright oversized tiles perfect for the youngest crafters. "Each kit contains 4 unique projects to hang and display," Stephanie Carver, marketing manager at The Orb Factory Limited, told TDmonthly. Launch date: March 2012.
— In a Fall 2012 survey, two out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that Sticky Mosaics were their best selling hobby item.

Look sweet as sugar with this Cupcake Clutch. Follow a simple numbered legend and add over 150 sparkling jewels to create this tasty clutch. Skip right to dessert and pair this with any outfit for some funky fashion flair. Launch date: March 2012.
— In a May 2012 survey, two of 13 retailers said that The Orb Factory was a best selling brand of activity kit.