October 2009 Notable Toys — Arts & Crafts

Ever wonder about the techniques make-up artists use to create the extreme looks you see on the runway? Girls can learn to do fun high-fashion make-up with this deluxe studio set. They plan and record the high-fashion looks by using the pre-printed sketch pad. The sketch pads and make-up palette allows them to create the best looks for any face shape. The make-up style guide illustrates make-up looks throughout history to use in their own looks. "The kit includes a 21 color make-up artist palette, plus the make-up brushes and applicators so you can really get into the techniques of how to apply make up. The full color make-up guide shows all the make up trends throughout history, so girls can learn and be inspired from trends of the past and combine them for future trends," Sarah Koth, PR coordinator for Fashion Angels Enterprises, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2008.

Girls can customize and redesign T-shirts, tanks and hoodies to create their very own funky, personalized look with the Project Runway Graphic T-Shirt Design Studio Set. They can use the style guide for tips and ideas on how to redesign their clothes to make them unique works of art. The stencils, ribbons, fabric markers and Cooler Jeweler stud setting tool will get girls on your way to making the freshest shirts around for them and their friends. Launch date: 2009.

Girls can push your skills as a fashion designer by challenging themselves to create fabulous outfits suitable for the runway. The “Fashion Design Challenge Sketch Book Set” takes inspiration direct from the show’s weekly challenges. The spinner will tell girls where to start; the rest is up to them. They spin the included wheel and then design a garment based on an endless combination of challenges, such as creating a formal gown, out of corduroy, with an astrological theme in 30 minutes. This set includes a challenge spinner, colored pencils, two fashion sketch pads, a style guide and a pencil sharpener. Launch date: 2008.

This kit is based on the premise that the key to learning how to draw fashions is to understand the body shape that is under them. Girls can pose and sketch the mannequin, then gradually add on their own unique fashion designs. "The design guide show step by step techniques on how to understand proportion of the body. The posable mannequin is a nice addition to the kit for a visual item to sketch and practice from," Sarah Koth, PR coordinator for Fashion Angels Enterprises, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2008.

Girls can learn how to design and construct fashions with the Project Runway Dress Making and Draping Set. The deluxe design guide will teach basic sewing techniques plus more advanced draping methods to help girls discover the world of sewing and garment design in 3-D. The kit includes a 12” dress form, pattern, material, ribbon, needles, thread, and much more to help create gorgeous dresses suitable for any runway. "With the dress form, and all of the items needed to create a few different dress styles, it is one of the next steps in all of our Fashion Design Sketch Books. Taking design into the third dimension, so girls can learn how to create their designs on a "real" person and learning all about sewing and garment construction," Sarah Koth, PR coordinator for Fashion Angels Enterprises, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2008.

This accessory attaches to sand and water tables and art easels, allowing a large amount of storage. It "can almost double storage capacity," according to a company representative. Launch date: October 5, 2009.

This set comes with 150 bright, interlocking pieces that are flexible and can form a farmhouse, a rooster and a 3-D baby chicken, as well as various other imaginative designs.

This product is designed to teach children about music as well as art. As a child colors, music is played that matches the strokes of the crayon in speed. There's salsa, swing, country or rock tunes, plus toddlers can add layers of trumpet, guitar, piano and drums over the music.

Kids can make five shaggy canines with this kit that includes pipe cleaners, novelty yarn and materials for decoration, as well as instructions, style and grooming tips, and punch-out dog carriers. The book was written by Theresa Hutnick and Megan Smith.
— When asked about the best-selling arts and crafts items in her store, Amy Barrett, owner of Lasso the Moon Wonderful Toys in Helena, Mont., told TDmonthly, “Klutz books are definitely up there.”
— “All of the Klutz kits do really well,” said Julie Vaughan, manager of Village Toy Shop in North Easton, Mass., when asked of their top selling craft kits in January 2010.
— “Klutz books are still really, really popular,” said Steve Ellerhoff, manager of Finnegan's Toys and Gifts in Portland, Ore. Ellerhoff was one of five retailers, out of 48, who listed Klutz as their top-selling craft supplier at the beginning of 2010.

The Crayon Maker transforms used or broken off pieces of crayons and turns them into new ones. The user just mixes in bits of crayon, melts them and then pours into a mold to harden. It requires a clear, 60-watt candelabra light bulb (not included).

Medieval play has never been more fun. Children can play as prince or princess, queen or king, and even pirate with their own huge castle. My Very Own Castle™ is a single-piece, cardboard castle that is pre-assembled and can quickly expanded for play and folded up for storage when not in use. The castle features a bright white interior and exterior for coloring fun, as well as doors and windows. Fully expanded, the playhouse measures 44" long, 28" wide, and 28.5" tall.

My Very Own House™ is a single-piece, cardboard playhouse that is pre-assembled and can quickly expanded for play and folded up for storage when not in use. The playhouse features a bright white interior and exterior for coloring fun, as well as 2 doors, 4 windows, and 2 mail slots. Fully expanded, the playhouse measures 43.5" long, 28" wide, and 35" tall.

DESIGNSTUDIOPRO is the car design modeling kit created and developed by professional clay modelers and designers working in the automotive design industry. DESIGNSTUDIOPRO will teach you the basics of automotive design sculpture using the same techniques that car design studios all around the world use. Develop modeling skills you cannot get from plastic or wood modeling kits. Design your own 1/10 scale RC car body or personal show car. This product requires adult supervision for children 12 and under. MSRP is $339.99 with inclusion of clay oven components. Watch video

This colorful apron has pockets in front for keeping supplies and is large enough to keep outfits clean. Velcro straps make it easy to put on and take off! Fits most children ages 3 to 6. Hand wash and line dry.

These little paper dolls are based on the Granza Adorable Kinders rag dolls. The dolls come on perforated cards for easy punching out. A variety of clothing is available separately. Kids can develop their fine-motor skills by cutting out the little outfits.

This colorful kit includes string, charms and wooden beads, and is packed with alphabet letter beads as well as decorative swirl beads in different colors.
— Magic Beans in Brookline, Mass., sells 50 craft kits per month by Bead Bazaar, CEO Isaac Judd told TDmonthly in fall 2009.
— Powell Phillips, owner of Phillip's Toy Mart in Nashville, Tenn., told TDmonthly in an October 2011 survey that Bead Bazaar items are their best selling jewelry and accessory products.

Ready to be personalized, this friendship scrapbook is stocked with quizzes, slumber party ideas and a foam wheel and floss to make friendship bracelets.
— Two of 39 retailers named friendship bracelets as a best seller for tween girls during a fall 2009 TDmonthly survey.
― Of 39 retailers surveyed in October 2009 about their top-selling jewelry and accessory items, one listed Forever Friends by Alex as their best seller.

Authored by Anne Akers Johnson, this book contains 200 precut strips of paper in 22 colors and patterns, plus a tool designed specifically for winding them into artful beads, whether round, straight or fancy. It also includes a bottle of glaze to polish of each bead creation, elastic cord for making bracelets, and glass accent beads. The book features color images and give pointers on style.
— Six of 39 retailers named jewelry titles and other artsy activities from Klutz as best sellers for tween girls in October 2009.
— “I consistently sell Klutz and art supplies for them,” Scott Loveless, owner of Toys That Teach in Bothell, Wash., told TDmonthly in fall 2009.

With 24 sticks in a rainbow of colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple), kids can construct shapes and figures without the use of glue or other materials. Each Wikki Stix is 8” long.
- Sallie Kashiwa, owner of Timbuk Toys in Denver, told TDmonthly in late summer 2009 that her store sells about 80 Wikki Stix sets per month.
— Wikki Stix have been consistent best sellers for the last two years at The Parent-Teacher Store & Toys Too in Louisville, Ky., Owner Kimberly Kopatz told TDmonthly in fall 2009.

Paint beautiful glittery wings on this Tinker Bell Pottery figurine and join her and her fairy friends in their adventures in Pixie Hollow! This Real Pottery figure is ready to paint and display. Each kit contains a ceramic Tinker Bell figurine, non-toxic paints, glitter paint varnish, paintbrush and instruction leaflet. ©DISNEY

Sunset in bright, beautiful colors! A STRING ALONG Sensation designed by Roc Ahrensdorf. Quick, Safe and easy! Follow the pattern and string floss through holes on a pre- drilled board to create a colorful design. Kids will enjoy hours of fun, as well as provide them the opportunity to develop skills in crafting and dexterity.

This Counted Cross Stitch Princess tiara will be a great first project for kids! Have fun with Janlynn's Kid Stitch™ line. - Frame included. Each kit contains 14 count 100% cotton Aida fabric, 6-strand cotton floss, stitching hoop, needle, graph, and instructions in English & French. Finished size 3" round (7,6 cm round).

Disney Princess' "Dreams Are Blooming" Color your own pillowcase design from ©DISNEY. Kids enjoy this wonderfully illustrated pillowcase design full of everything you would want from the Princesses; castles, flowers, birds and of course Belle, Snow White, Cinderella and Aurora.

Give your kids a reason to save! Enjoy one of life's crafting pleasures and create a "U-Paint-It!" Jumbo Piggy Bank for all of your kids coins. This jumbo piggy pottery bank is ready to decorate and display! Kit comes with everything you need to paint one bank.