May 2009 New Specialty Toys — Creative Activities

An update on our classic Sticky Mosaics® Jewelry Box design, this product features a beautiful fairy and flowers to decorate it. It includes one numbered Jewelry Box and more than 1,000 sticky foam and jewel pieces. "While there are many other Jewelry Box kits on the market, ours stands above. Our easy to use number-to-color matching system creates perfect results every time, providing a child with an unparalleled sense of accomplishment," Damien Crocker, sales and marketing representative for The Orb Factory Limited, told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 2009.
—John MacDougall listed Sticky Mosaics as best sellers in his store, Golden Apple Learning Store in Pleasanton, Calif., in summer 2009.

Kids can create four fabulous designs with this kit, which includes numbered templates and a number-to-color matching legend designed to make it fun and simple. It comes with four templates, four wall hangers and more than 3,000 sticky foam and jewel pieces. "Our number-to-color matching system ensures a perfect picture every time. A child does not need to be artistic to create their own masterpiece to give as a gift or hang on their wall," Damien Crocker, sales and marketing representative for The Orb Factory Limited, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 15, 2009.

This kit is designed to make it easy to create six stunning tiaras with sparkling jewels and foam stickers. Ideal for birthdays, slumber parties or make-believe, the kit includes six tiaras and more than 1,000 sticky foam sparkle, foil and jewel pieces. "Twinkle Tiaras represent a new take on the make-believe market. It allows children to create their own tiara to help them rule over their very own magical kingdom. Not only does this product help promote creativity, but also provides a huge sense of accomplishment," Damien Crocker, sales and marketing representative for The Orb Factory Limited, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 15, 2009.
— "[It's] great for a party activity or just [to] wear around the house," Elisabeth Dahl of Calico Cat Toy Shop in Bainbridge Island, Wash., told TDmonthly following the 2009 ASTRA trade show.

Draw a line and the vehicle will follow! It is more than just a race set; it’s a craft activity that encourages children to be creative allowing for many ways to play. With the official Doodle Track marker and the included play mat, the Doodle Track car will follow a continuous line drawn on the mat by the marker. The Doodle Track car also comes with colorful, stick-on decals for customization. Set includes: Doodle Track Car, Washable Marker, Stick-On Decals, Playmat Track and Instructions.

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On the road, in the air or anywhere, kids can have fun with Minis! Perfect on their own or for use with the full-sized cushions. Set includes 6 square 8" cushions and 4 triangle cushions plus a sun and moon decoration all packaged in a handy travel backpack.

Just the right size for a variety of tiny treasures, jewelry or other extra-special keepsakes, this miniature craft kit from Melissa & Doug comes with four pots of paint, a brush, glitter, white glue, and glittering gems to decorate the lidded, heart-shaped box.
— “It's a party favor. A cute and fun activity,” Linda Rocco, owner of Gummy Lump Toys in Medford, N.Y., told TDmonthly when asked about top-selling activity kits in spring 2009.
— Seven of 49 retailers surveyed in April 2009 listed Melissa & Doug as a top-selling activity brand in their stores.
— Bill Sartain, owner of Tutoring Toy in Salt Lake City, Utah, told TDmonthly in a May 2014 survey that items from the Melissa & Doug "Decorate Your Own..." line are their best-selling activity kits.

Morsel Munk® Word Stump® is designed to fuse fun, imagination and exercise for the mind. It's where word association, synonyms and antonyms meet crosswords and word searches. "The goal of these puzzles is to challenge and expand the creativity of which everyone is capable. They are not strictly a test of knowledge/book smarts," Brigitte Rouleau, vice president of Morsel Munk LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: November 2008.

The Bling by Number Dry Erase Calendar has a choice of two different images and includes glitter glue, sequins and gems, as well as three dry erase markers. Girls just add the “bling” according to the numbered instructions. It's designed as a "glam" way to keep track of important events on a dry erase, perpetual calendar, so it can be used and re-used for years. Launch date: 2009.

Girls can create airbrush artwork to customize T-shirts, tote bags, sneakers, hoodies and more with the Project Runway Airbrush Design Studio Set. The airbrush tool is designed to be easy to use and works with the specially designed fabric markers. The style guide has ideas to get the creativity started, then girls can design their own one-of-a-kind looks for themselves and friends. The kit also includes stencils, making it simple to create runway worthy-clothing and accessories. "The airbrush tool is so easy to use (plus the stencils has 100+ cool, modern designs to choose from) — you can decorate any surface — so girls can really think outside the box," Sarah Koth, PR manager for Fashion Angels Enterprises, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

Girls can customize T-shirts, tote bags, hoodies and more with this silk screen set that makes it safe and easy to create their own one-of-a-kind designer looks for themselves and friends. The style guide offers inspiration and instructions on how to use the machine, stencils and paints to create runway-worthy clothing and accessories. "Silk screening is such an easy process — you can just purchase plain clothes and make one-of-a-kind creations that no one else will have," Sarah Koth, PR manager for Fashion Angels Enterprises, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

With more than 60 pieces and a lettered play board showing both upper- and lower-cased letters, this set gives kids a way to become more familiar with the alphabet. Each picture has the word on felt to go along with it. And ech vowel has an image of its long and short sound, helping to start the concept of beginning phonics. Launch date: 2009.

Kids's imaginations can splash into an underwater world where scuba divers explore the colorful creatures of the coral reef or venture out into open water and find magnificent giant mammals and fish. This play board and 28 felt pieces create a place to explore the depths of the sea. Launch date: 2009.

With this imaginative kit, kids can set a scene in which the characters fly a kite in the cool salty air, build art sculptures of sand, or go snorkeling and discover the world under the sea. A beach oasis is a playground paradise for this boy and girl. It includes more than 20 colorful felt pieces. Launch date: 2009.

Deep in the rainforest camouflaged againt dense vegetation hide unique animals. A tapir slumbers by the sleepy three-toed sloth, while toucans and monkeys sing in the trees. A lavish play board provides a dense cover for more than 20 felt animals. Launch date: 2009.

The Bling By Number Alphabet Design Set includes numerous alphabet cards, organza ribbon, glitter paints, sequins and more to create decorative message banners, bookmarks, monograms and ornaments. The Bling by Number line is designed to be error proof and provide exquisite and professional-looking results every time. There are instructions and design ideas to get girls started on their way to creating their own personalized blingin’ messages.

The Design a Heavenly Equestrian Wardrobe offers a fun twist on paper dolls. Girls can design and dress their two Fashion Angels “riders” and two horses again and again with their own one-of-a-kind creations. The kit includes two paper dolls, two paper horses, a jump, more than 100 clothing patterns, fabric, glitter glue, sequins and more. "Horses are very popular, and with this set, girls can design their own horse, just how they want," Sarah Koth, PR manager for Fashion Angels Enterprises, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

The Make Up and Hair Design Sketch Portfolio allows girls to create their own hair and make up looks on pre-printed Fashion Angels model sketch pads. The set includes removable plastic stencil cards with more than 100 shapes to start girls creating the next wild hair color streaks and what color lip gloss will be the next hot trend. The book also has instructions on how to draw just like the pros with shading techniques and funky details. Launch date: 2009.

The Fashion Design Sketch Portfolio allows kids to create their own "portfolio" book of clothing and accessory designs on the pre-printed Fashion Angels model sketch pads. The set includes removable plastic stencil cards with more than 100 shapes to start girls on their way to creating finished looking designs. The book also has instructions on how to draw just like professional designers with shading techniques and funky details. "Its fabulous price point makes it the perfect item to pick up or add on to any purchase," Sarah Koth, PR manager for Fashion Angels Enterprises, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

This fanny pack features a front zipper pocket for small toys and an elastic waistband with sheaths on either side for essential pirate gear. It's a "unique kids' fanny pack with side elastic sheaths to hold kids' pirate swords, toy telescopes, treasures and more," Mike Biggers, president of Portable Playtime Inc., told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

Approximately 8" tall, this magnetic paper doll comes with outfits and accessories, most of which are interchangeable on other critters in the collection. They are made to cut out easily with regular scissors. "MAGNETIC PALS teach dexterity while expanding the imagination in all age groups from tots to older adults needing physical therapy," Jan Gardner, partner of Gardner's Gatherings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2009.

Designed with colors, features, and simplistic yet detailed designs to draw all age groups, each critter in this collection is approximately 8" tall and comes with outfits and accessories. The critters are made to cut out easily with regular scissors. Launch date: April 2009.

These Christmas clothes will fit all but three of the MAGNETIC PAL critters and dolls. They do not fit Rita, the frog or the monkey. The designs are made to be cut out easily with regular scissors. "MAGNETIC PALS teach dexterity while expanding the imagination in all age groups from tots to older adults needing physical therapy," Jan Gardner, partner at Gardner's Gatherings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2009.

Rita is magnetic and comes with clothing and accessories that are interchangeable with other critters in the collection. She is approximately 8" tall and can be cut out with regular scissors. Launch date: April 2009.

This biodegradable steamer made from recycled cardboard is designed to be easy to fold, easy to color and great for play. It includes six non-toxic, washable markers and may be used as a birthday party craft, as a school project or in goodie-bags. Launch date: January 6, 2008.