August 2010 Notable Toys — Arts & Crafts

Sandtastik Modeling Clay is a premium quality, natural self-hardening clay. This easy-to-use non-toxic colored modeling clay is available in gold, black, white, green, and terracotta colors. Its exceptional plasticity and ultra fine grade allow for fine detail and versatility. Sandtastik Modeling Clay can be used to create a variety of clay projects, including vases, cups, plates and many other types of clay art.

This all-inclusive art kit puts young gearheads behind the handlebars of their dream motorcycle. Kids will learn how to illustrate custom motorcycles using a light table, colored pencils, acetate overlays printed with simple traceable outlines of motorcycle frames, and 71 traceable “cling” accessory add-ons. The set includes instructions for creating 21 custom bikes.

This fall tee features a fairy that comes complete with a velcro-attached dress. Girls can remove the dress and attach a different one. Additional dresses are sold separately. Fairy dresses are handmade in the USA. Made of tulle, special glittery fabrics, and flowers.

Part of the My Friendship Bracelet Maker line, this clip board is designed to be a smaller, portable, gender- and age- neutral version of the My Friendship Bracelet Maker. The clip board allows users to easily create even the most complicated friendship bracelet patters with the patented designed "peace" sign clip and string holder. The kit comes with 10 pre-cut threads so users can get started right away. The "MY Friendship Bracelet Maker Clip Board allows users to create an unlimited variety of friendship bracelets with ease," David Crorey, Owner and CEO of Crorey Creations told TDmonthly.

One sheet of LEGO® Bionicles themed acid free 3D stickers per package. Great for scrapbooking and decorating arts and crafts projects.

One sheet of LEGO® Bricks themed acid free 3D stickers per package. Great for scrapbooking and decorating arts and crafts projects.

One sheet of LEGO® Classic themed acid free 3D stickers per package. Great for scrapbooking and decorating arts and crafts projects.

This advanced-formula, air-drying natural stone clay possesses a fine body, allowing for greater detail, exceptional strength, ultra lightweight pieces and a bright white finish. It can be blended with LaDoll Clay to increase LaDoll’s strength. Premier clay accepts acrylic-, oil- and water-based paints or dry finishing powders, and can be carved, sanded or drilled when dry.

Blackjack Clay is a blend of several natural clays found in Texas. A process of blending, wet screening (slurry mixing), filter pressing and final pug milling results in a plastic and silky smooth-textured clay. This clay can be used for modeling, hand building, wheel throwing and sculpturing, and is designed to be a tool for both beginners and professionals.

This lightweight general purpose dollmaking clay contains highly refined pumice, talc, small amounts of paper pulp and additional binders. It is extremely pliant, allowing for exceptional detail, and has an ultra smooth finish. LaDoll accepts acrylic-, oil- and water-based paints or dry finishing powders, and can be carved, sanded or drilled when dry. LaDoll has the unique ability to be dissolved in water and used as a finish coat or soaked with paper or cloth to be formed into shapes.

This kit allows children to customize a plush animal through painting, stitching and embellishing. The kits are designed to be interchangeable and come ready-to-assemble with simple instructions. Embroidery floss, stuffing, a safety needle and a complete outfit are included.

This magnetic dry-erase boardand chalkboard provides a large work area. Each board includes a clip to hold paper. The set includes four detachable storage bins for holding art accessories and a folding easel for easy storage, and comes with an eraser and 77 magnetic letters and numbers.
 — As of 8.12.10, this product had 4 out of 5 stars from 130 reviews on ToysRUs.com and was listed No. 6 in best-selling toys and games. PROS: Educational, long-lasting, engaging. CONS: Messy; some parents questioned its quality.

This set includes ten plastic bottles of washable paint designed for children.
 — As of 8.12.10, this product had 4 out of 5 stars from 11 reviews on ToysRUs.com and was listed No. 8 in best-selling toys and games. PROS: Easy to use and store; long-lasting. CONS: Some parents questioned its quality.

This durable wood table can be used for many kinds of creative activities. It includes a paper roll holder that hangs under the table and an 18" x 100' roll of paper. The chalkboard tabletop surface features a paper cutter, three recessed cup holes, three cups and a printed canvas storage bag. The assembled table measures 52.5" x 18.75" x 27.75." Each of the two benches measures 32" x 10.75" x 11.5."

This pre-printed umbrella is designed to let children exercise their creativity and stay dry in style. The measures 24" and comes with six bright weatherproof markers.

This set of 24 crayons comes in a convenient tuck-box and features educator-preferred color selection
— As of 8.03.2010, this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 4 reviews on Amazon.com and was #34 in the top 100 best-selling toys and games. PROS: Durable, with a variety of colors. CONS: None listed.

Eco Collage Kits contain a variety of eco-friendly, recycled, and recyclable collage items. Each item has been carefully sourced to make sure that they are earth friendly. Each Eco Collage Kit includes recycled Kraft cardstock and paper bags, multi-colored recycled tissue paper “shred,” "Green Glue" made from plants and natural ingredients, biodegradeable natural wood shreds, grosgrain ribbon made from recycled plastic bottles, fiber ribbon-made from 65-percent reclaimed cotton and 35-percent recycled plastic bottles, four Eco-Tree colored pencils, green craft felt and recycled designer tissue paper.

Eco Dough cutters are biodegradable and are made in the USA from 100-percent recycled corn (PLA). This set of four includes teddy bear, heart, star and house shapes.

These eco-friendly pencils are made from from sustainable Tamarind Trees, which are farmed for their fruit in Southeast Asia. Each set comes with 10 colored pencils.

Sticky Mosaics bring the fun and excitement of mosaic art home. This package includes peel-and-stick tile sheets in 12 assorted colors and styles, used to create four glow-in-the-dark bedtime projects.
— “They're good for car rides since they stick and you don't lose them, and they don't need any glue,” Gwen Bowden, manager of Doodlehopper for Kids in Springfield, Va., told TDmonthly in June 2010. Bowden estimated the store sells about 30 Sticky Mosaics sets monthly.
— Five of 40 specialty retailers cited Sticky Mosaics as a best-selling product for girls ages 4 to 12 in early summer 2010.
AWARDS: 2010 TDmonthly Top Seller (entire Sticky Mosaics line)

This set comes with four bottles of poster paint and four spill-proof paint cups. Also included are an easel paper roll, chalk, paint brushes, a dry-erase marker and an eraser.
— In a November 2011 survey, 2 out of 12 retailers said art supplies from Melissa & Doug were their best selling educational products.
— Mark Rosenblum from Hobbytown in Fairfield, Conn., told TDmonthly in a January 2015 survey that Melissa & Doug was one of their best-selling brands of arts & crafts toys.

PhotoStory includes the complete cost of a professionally produced, full-color hardback photo book. A unique kit number is provided to help kids make a book online with user-friendly website. The bonus photography guidebook will teach kids how to use their camera. "Kids are getting digital cameras at very young ages and have no outlet for thier photos besides social networking sites. While there are many photobook options, we are the only one with a focus on this young market. We have hundreds of preloaded stickers and backgrounds which can be added to layered pages and are designed around what kids are photographing," Chapelle Brunk, Marketing Specialist, Creations by You, told TDmonthly.
Awards: 2010 Creative Child Magazine Kids Product of the Year

The Nano Christmas Dome with real motion includes a miniature decorated Christmas tree illuminated with 20 LED lights and surrounded by meticulously hand-wrapped color foil packages. A tiny train moves on an elevated oval track around the holiday tree, and the high-quality, hand-blown glass dome rests securely in a recess on a resin base to provide dust protection.
Awards: 2009 USCA San Diego Award in the Professional Engineers Category

This kit includes all the art materials a child needs to create. The plain brown paper exterior allows kids to personalize all sides. The set includes 18 colored pencils, 12 oil pastels, eight watercolor cakes, a paintbrush, a sharpener and an eraser. It measures 9.75" x 5" x 1.75" and has a rope handle and closure.