TDmonthly's ToyFair 2006 Preview--Kits Product Category

Owl Sewing Kit by KIT AND CABOODLE DESIGNS LLC

This craft kit allows one to create the Beaky Family: Mama Owl, Papa Owl and their little 'un. Young sewers can design their own color scheme from a selection of felt sheets (brights or pastels). The owls are approximately 3.75", 2.75" and 1.75" tall when sewn. The sewing kit makes all three owls and includes re-usable patterns and full instructions, wool felt (5 colors), stuffing, embroidery thread, buttons and needle. All the crafter needs to supply is tracing paper, scissors, pencil, pins and dried beans for balance. Owner Sarah Ketchley of Kit and Caboodle Designs told TDmonthly, "Kit and Caboodle Craft Kits are designed and developed to emphasize the natural, the reusable and recyclable and are ideal for the beginning crafter with scope for embellishment and personalization by those more experienced." Launch date: June 2009. 4/2/2010 (Price: $19) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Frosted Ruff N' Ready Shrinkable Plastic Pack by SHRINKY DINKS ® (K & B INNOVATIONS, INC.)

The Frosted Ruff N' Ready pack contains ten 8"x10" sheets of the exclusive Frosted Ruff N' Ready Shrinkable Plastic. It's the plastic found in kits and books produced by Spin Master, Curiosity Kits, and Klutz. This plastic is actually clear plastic that has been machine roughened on one side. Recommended for use with children because colored pencils can be used to trace and color one's selected image. The sheets are unprinted, to be left up to the imagination of the user to fill in. 3/29/2010 (Price: $5.50) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Crystal Clear Creative Pack by SHRINKY DINKS ® (K & B INNOVATIONS, INC.)

This pack of Shrinky Dinks features ten 8"x10" plastic sheets that are crystal clear. They can be used for projects where you would like a more transparent finished piece that the Frosted Ruff N' Ready can give you. The plastic can be colored with paint markers, permanent marking pens, acrylic paints or stamped on. Each pack includes instructions for use and project ideas. 3/29/2010 (Price: $5.18) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Shrinky Dinks Ultra Thick Misty White Creative Pack by SHRINKY DINKS ® (K & B INNOVATIONS, INC.)

The Shrinky Dinks Ultra Thick Misty White creative pack contains six 8"x10" sheets of thick plastic, making it very durable, but also light weight enough for use. Smooth on both sides to use with permanent markers, acrylic paints and pens. Complete instructions and ideas enclosed in each pack. 3/29/2010 (Price: $6.50) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Sproutlets Garden Friends by TOYSMITH

These 2” ceramic planters are filled with rye grass seeds and a growing medium. Kids can pose them on a stand, water them, and watch them grow. Their grass hair can then be trimmed into various styles. Choices include a duck, pig and frog.
— These little planter sets were popular in spring 2010 at My Club Tabby in Lake Charles, La., according to Owner Natalie Comeaux. Customers were looking forward to the arrival of spring, and the items had been selling well for over a month in March. 3/25/2010 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Garden Root Viewer by TOYSMITH

This root growing kit can be fun for the whole family. It allows growers to observe the process from planting to harvest. The kit includes a wooden stand, three plastic root toobers, a growing medium, and enough seeds for several plantings of radishes, carrots and green onions. Instructions are also included.
— These garden root viewers were listed as a top-10 best seller at My Club Tabby in Lake Charles, La., by owner Natalie Comeaux in spring 2010. They had been selling well for over a month in March. 3/25/2010 (Price: $8.50) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Back Yard Exploration Critter Case by TOYSMITH

Mesh walls allow for close-up viewing of butterflies and insects. A sliding plastic door makes catching and releasing easy while avoiding pinched fingers, and a carrying handle makes it portable.
— With warmer weather approaching, these backyard exploration critter cases were on the top-10 best-seller list at My Club Tabby in Lake Charles, La., in spring of 2010. Owner Natalie Comeaux reported in March that the kits had been selling well for more than a month.
— June Hargrove, co-owner of Black Forest Books & Toys in Charlotte, N.C., told TDmonthly that they sell 24-30 of Toysmith's Critter collection each month. 3/25/2010 (Price: $15.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Build and Paint a Birdhouse by TOYSMITH

Young bird watchers can get in on the fun with this kit for building and painting a birdhouse. No hardware is required, and the kit includes everything needed to create and paint a 5.5” x 7” x 7” birdhouse.
— With the eagerly anticipated arrival of spring around the corner, birdhouse kids were popular items at My Club Tabby in Lake Charles, La., in March 2010. Owner Natalie Comeaux reported that they had been selling well for over a month. 3/25/2010 (Price: $12.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Kids Watering Can Kit by TOYSMITH

This kit comes in various colors and includes a pair of jersey knit garden gloves, a trowel, a rake, a shovel and a metal watering can.
— Spring items were very popular in March 2010 at My Club Tabby in Lake Charles, La. Owner Natalie Comeaux reported that the kids watering can kit had been selling well for over a month. 3/25/2010 (Price: $22.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Paint-a-Pot Garden by TOYSMITH

Toysmith’s Paint a pot craft garden comes with everything a kid needs to grow a mini flower garden. Children can paint their own design on the pot, plant the seeds, and watch them grow. The set includes marigold seed mix, organic soil, six acrylic paints, two paintbrushes, a terra cotta planter, planting instructions, and a booklet with ideas for decorating.
— At My Club Tabby in Lake Charles, La., Owner Natalie Comeaux reported in March 2010 that spring items such as the Paint a Pot Craft Garden had been selling well for over a month since everyone was anticipating warmer weather. 3/25/2010 (Price: $12.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Independence Day Kit by DECORATIVE KITS FOR CARS

This set includes a pair of 17" red, white and blue stars to place on either side of the car, plus a 6" top hot with wiring to attach to the grille. 3/22/2010 (Price: $19.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Grasshopper Preschool Prep - Following Directions and ABCs and Simple Shapes by GRASSHOPPER INC.

This two-in-one kit for "Following Directions" and "ABCs and Simple Shapes" was developed by an occupational therapist and contains 20 hands-on games in a no-spill carrying case. It's designed to get children prepared for school through activities such as ABC fishing, letter building, turn taking, coloring on bumpy line pages to enhance concentration, and more. It comes with an illustrated guide for parents. ( Watch Video) 3/17/2010 (Price: $49.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

I Dig Curse of Pirate Island Excavation Adventure by BSW TOY INC.

The Curse of Pirate Island is designed to encourage young adventurers to dig up buried treasure. Will they find jewels? Gold? Something else? Variations in buried items and creepy surprises will keep young treasure hunters coming back for more. The Excavation Set features a sand-based island with buried treasure box. Children dig using a stainless steel hammer and chisel to uncover treasure. The excavation glasses add to the "archeological experience." "Most of our competitors use plaster digging blocks. Plaster is extremely messy and gets everywhere! Our Sandblocks are made of a course sand that is dust free and easy to clean up," Andrew Tober, Director of Creative Development, BSW Toy Inc., told TDmonthly. 3/15/2010 (Price: $24.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Easter Grass Kit by SPOTS AND LADYBUGS LLC

The Easter Grass-kit offers an eco-friendly, all-natural alternative to wasteful plastic grass. It's designed as a fun and educational activity for parent and child to enjoy together in anticipation of the holiday. Each kit contains enough materials for two medium baskets of real grass. Recommended growth time is seven to 10 days. Launch date: March 5, 2010. ( Watch Video) 3/15/2010 (Price: $6.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Beach Buddies Shell Crafts by CREATIVITY FOR KIDS

Turn 25+ real sea shells into a crew of creative crustaceans. This complete set includes a tropical pallet of paint, glitter-glue, wiggly eyes, craft glue, dimensional paint and ocean inspired felt accents.
— Kate Tanner, owner of Kidstop Toys, informed TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010 of how she was impressed by this kit's use of real sea shells. ( Watch Video) 2/18/2010 (Price: $16.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Chef Kids ChocoPot by BANDAI AMERICA INC.

Top Chef, Food Network, and “Julie & Julia” have made cooking popular once again, and BANDAI’s Chef Kids capitalizes on this current popularity. While most cooking programs are aimed at adults, the Chef Kids line includes instructional DVDs created for kids with interest in the kitchen. The ChocoPot lets kid chefs make chocolate treats using a battery powered pot and three molds. Everything is included—just add chocolate! ( Watch Video) 2/16/2010 (Price: $24.99)

Science on a Tracking Expedition by THE YOUNG SCIENTISTS CLUB

This kit teaches Young Scientists about animal tracking through exciting hands-on science experiments and activities. Identify animal tracks, learn about the animals that make the tracks, cast animal tracks, play the tracking game, create animal track prints, design an animal track poster, and explore real animal tracks in nature. Includes eight realistic animal footprint molds, large colorful poster, and eighty animal game cards. Launch date: Spring 2010 2/15/2010 (Price: $29.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Magic School Bus Back in Time with the Dinosaurs by THE YOUNG SCIENTISTS CLUB

On this latest Magic School Bus ride, Ms. Frizzle and her students take Young Scientists back in time with the dinosaurs through these marvelous experiments. Young Scientists create a timeline, design a diorama, build a wooden dinosaur replica, make cast and mold fossils, mold clay dinosaur teeth, simulate a dino dig, fold 3D dinosaurs, and much, much more. ( Watch Video) 2/15/2010 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Magic School Bus Solar Energy to the Rescue by THE YOUNG SCIENTISTS CLUB

In this new addition to the Magic School Bus Series, Ms. Frizzle and her students take Young Scientists on a wild ride with solar energy to the rescue.  Young Scientists explore the greenhouse effect, collect real carbon dioxide, recreate global warming in a bottle, use a solar panel to spin a fan, make a solar secret code, design solar spinners, watch solar energy inflate balloons, and much, much more. Awards: Parent's Choice Award 2010 2/15/2010 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Funky Groovy Tie Dye Kit by JACQUARD PRODUCTS

Jacquard Products' Funky Groovy Tie Dye Kit, a 2010 Tillywig Top Fun Award winner, includes everything a parent needs to introduce their child to the fascinating art of tie dye and supervise the creation of up to 5 adult size T-shirts. With easy-to-follow instructions and pattern tying guidelines, the kit also includes: pre-measured Procion MX dye in red, blue and yellow; soda ash dye fixer; 3 squirt bottles; rubber gloves and rubber bands.  Launch date: February 2010. 2/15/2010 (Price: $11.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Hoop Painting Fun Bag by JACQUARD PRODUCTS

Jacquard Products' Hoop Painting Fun Bag, a 2010 Tillywig Top Fun Award winner, includes all the professional-quality supplies needed for painting hoops using four different techniques: silk painting, watercolor, salt or sun-printing. Kids can express their artistic side by creating stunning sun catchers or one-of-a-kind wall art pieces. Launch date: February 2010. 2/15/2010 (Price: $13.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Wool Felt Jewelry Kit by ARTTERRO

Fun to work with and easy to use, colorful wool felt makes unique jewelry. With simple tips and lots of examples for inspiration, design a fashionable bracelet, necklaces, pin, barrette and 2 pairs of earrings, all with this one great kit! Two bonus projects in every kit! Turn the box into a mailbox, birdhouse or special treasure box. The inner tray is perfect for framing your art. Ages 8 and up.   2/9/2010 (Price: $22.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

VentureView Science Kits by PERISPHERE & TRYLON INC.

These science construction kits are designed to allow young minds to build and understand Solar, Water, Elastic, Dynamo and Wind power sources while building kinetic models and vehicles. They are "well-conceived and comprehensive kits with many variations and high value," a representative of Perisphere & Trylon, Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2010.
— John MacDougall, owner of Golden Apple Learning Store in Pleasanton, Calif., was impressed with the Wind Energy kit with giant turbine blades at Toy Fair 2010. "We love renewable energy education kits," he said.
— ''Science kits do well overall,'' Cheryl Richmond owner Punkin Doodles Havre, Mont., shared with TDmonthly. 2/4/2010 (Price: $39)

It's My BIZkit by Pay Your Family First LLC

The YOUTHpreneur It’s My BIZkit contains everything to get a child’s part-time business up and running,  including professional guidance and practical advice for both mentor and child. This kit will teach young entrepreneurs essential concepts related to business, communication and charitable giving by allowing them to experience it firsthand. A seven step kit, this product is complete with brief case, reference guide, workbook, stationary, thank you cards, money pouch, and mentor's guide. 2/2/2010 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Aroma Dough Splat Mat Set by AROMA DOUGH, INC.

This kit includes four assorted tubs of gluten-free Aroma Dough play dough, three cookie cutters in bright colors, a rolling pin and an 11" x 17" Splat Mat to be used as a surface for molding and creative play. 12/15/2009 (Price: $25.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]