January 2010 New Specialty Toys — Arts & Crafts

Cardamom is used in aromatherapy to awaken the senses and refresh the mind. 100% natural and gluten free. Comes in a re-usable recyclable PP tub with a hinged lid so the lid won't be lost. Warning: Choking hazard. For children ages 3 and up.

Sweet Orange is used in aromatherapy to treat depression and inspire focus. Beautiful orange colored clay. Comes in a re-usable recyclable PP tub with a hinged lid so the lid won't be lost. Warning: Choking hazard. For children ages 3 and up.

Bergamot is used in aromatherapy to ease anxiety. Beautiful yellow colored clay. Comes in a re-usable recyclable PP tub with a hinged lid so the lid won't be lost. Warning: Choking hazard. For children ages 3 and up.

Lavender is used in aromatherapy, and everyday life! to soothe and create a sense of calm. Beautiful lavender colored clay. Comes in a re-usable recyclable PP tub with a hinged lid so the lid won't be lost. Warning: Choking hazard. For children ages 3 and up.

Lemongrass is used in aromatherapy to inspire creativity. Beautiful greenish yellow clay. Comes in a re-usable recyclable PP tub with a hinged lid so the lid won't be lost. Warning: Choking hazard. For children ages 3 and up.

Chamomile is used in aromatherapy to calm, soothe, relax and help prepare for sleep. Beautiful night sky colored clay. Comes in a re-usable recyclable PP tub with a hinged lid so the lid won't be lost. Warning: Choking hazard. For children ages 3 and up.

Geranium scented play clay. Geranium is used in aromatherapy as a balancing oil. Beautiful rose colored clay. Comes in a re-usable recyclable PP tub with a hinged lid so the lid won't be lost. Warning: Choking hazard. For children ages 3 and up.

This spiral-bound book with 60 pages of unlined sketch paper is the perfect place to create. The 7” by 9” notebook features a whimsical illustration on the front, and eeBoo offers other art items to match, such as colored pencil sets and journals.
— “Eeboo drawing pads have been a big hit. Every time we get them in, they are gone immediately; good quality and good price,” said Casey Sartain, buyer for Tutoring Toy in Salt Lake City, Utah, during a January 2010 survey of best-selling art items.

Do-A-Dot Art Markers combine the ease of a marker, the bright color of paints, and the fun of a stamp into a low-mess art supply that appeals to a wide range of ages.  A gentle squeeze moistens the circular sponge tip with paint.  Kids can create free-form works of impressionist art by stamping dots of paint on paper, or use this technique to fill in special coloring books designed for Do-A-Dot markers. This pack contains five colors — pink, yellow, orange, green and purple — in 2.5-oz. bottles.
— “Things like Do-A-Dot, which are reasonably inexpensive compared to a $20 to $30 craft kit,” said Chris Kusy, owner of Rhyme 'N Reason Toys in Pembroke, Mass., of top-selling arts and crafts items in early 2010.
— Out of 48 retailers who participated in a January 2010 survey of arts and crafts best sellers, five named Do-A-Dot Art Markers.

Photographs of a girl's friends, family and self mixed with a little creativity turn this kit into a bright colored, highly personalized scrapbook. Kids can collect and celebrate their favorite memories by creating beautiful pages that retell the story with decorative paper, rhinestones, stickers, and exciting pop-up pieces. The hardcover scrapbook measures 9” x 11.5”.
— “Creativity for Kids Scrapbook kit, that's a good one,” stated David Hesel, owner of The Toy Shop of Concord in Concord, Mass., when asked about his best-selling craft items in early 2010.
— Greg Larson, owner of Larson's Toys and Games in Columbus, Ohio, told TDmonthly Creativity for Kids supplies his best selling craft items. “The whole new line from Creativity for Kids, we got it in in September [2009] and it’s been doing very well.”
— Twenty-five percent of 48 retailers surveyed in January 2010 named Creativity for Kids as their top-selling craft line.

These little cuties have been individually custom-molded from nontoxic wax crayons. Their faces are then hand-carved into their egg-shaped bodies, one egg at a time. They are ergonomically shaped for little hands, although they are great for all ages. They stand on their own and come in a half-dozen egg crate. Also sold individually. They measure 1.25" wide x 1.6" high.

This 15” x 9” accordion case provides storage for all kinds of artwork. It has nine expandable pockets, and even a space for a photo.
— The art storage case by Alex Toys was a great seller at RoundTable Toys in Winterville, N.C., at the end of 2009, Owner David Davis told TDmonthly.

This kit includes materials to make a friendship bracelet, with a pre-strung wheel, two colors of floss, and string.
— The Friendship Wheel was listed as a top-10 best seller by David Davis, owner of RoundTable Toys in Winterville, N.C., at the end of 2009.

This jar from Alex includes various art project supplies, such as pom-poms, pipe cleaners, crepe paper and feathers.
— The Giant Art Jar from Alex Toys was a top-10 best seller at RoundTable Toys in Winterville, N.C., at the end of 2009, according to Owner David Davis.

My Tissue Art is designed as an easy and fun project for even small hands. Pictures are made using colorful tissue squares on a self-stick surface. Each kit includes six pictures and 500 colorful tissues.
— My Tissue Art by Alex Toys was a top seller at the end of 2009 at RoundTable Toys in Winterville, N.C., according to Owner David Davis.

The eco-friendly, Green Feel Paper Pencil prevents environmental degradation by relying on recycled paper rather than wood for production. They are softer than wood and sharpen much more easily. Slippage caused by hand perspiration is much less than with wood pencils due to the absorption properties of the paper pencil body. The 2.4mm lead used is longer lasting and provides an excellent image. Paper pencils do not contain chemical agents harmful to the body. The attractive design comes in several pastel covers. Pencil bodies can be custom-embossed with your logo or message. Attractive bulk packaging is ideal for corporate gifts and giveaways.

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

These miniature kits are packed full of creativity. All components are food grade and dishwasher safe. Launch date: April 2010.

Kids can create their own art and designs with LED lights. They just stick the LEDs into the rubber and they light up. No soldering or tools are required. There are hundreds of LEDs in eight different colors to create art, designs or signs. It's reuseable and portable. Launch date: 2010.

The Dynasty Face Painting Assortment offers acrylic handled brushes with bright neon-colored filament. It comes with kid-friendly packaging with face painting suggestions included. "Face painting is the big buzz word for every tiny tot's party, be it Birthday Halloween or Religious. Today's parent is watching his/her budget and in doing that, is turning to the Internet to find fun and fast ideas to make their child's party unique. ... All they need is a little imagination and a little material from the local craft/variety store," Veronica Towey, Director of Marketing, FM Brush Company, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2009.

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.