May 2009 New Specialty Toys — Arts & Crafts

Complete with photos, drawings, footnotes and diagrams, this guide boasts 300+ entries, including how-tos such as “How to Do a Wheelie” and “How to Really Annoy Your Older Sibling.” The book received a National Parenting Publications Gold Award.

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.

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.

With My Giant Busy Box, kids can craft and create with two frames, four animal punch outs, 10 colors of dough, two peel-and-stick tissue art pictures, plenty of tissue paper, and glue. All the supplies come in a handy storage box with an easy tote-along handle.
— “It's awesome,” said Vicki Davis, owner of Children's Prep in Atlanta, Ga. In an April 2009 survey of best-selling activity kits and playsets, Davis reported sales of about a dozen per month.
— About 10 percent of 49 retailers named Alex as a best-selling activity kit line in spring 2009.

These colorful, non-toxic crayons do not need sharpening as they simply twist from the bottom to expose more crayon. The package measures 5.5” x 3” x 1”.
— The Hello Kitty brand is a consistent top seller at Melody’s Choices in Fayetteville, Ark., Owner Steve Melody told TDmonthly in April 2009.

There are two pre-printed styles of tote bags to choose from. Girls can add glitter glue and gems according to the instructions. The kit includes the Fashion Angels Cooler Jeweler gem and stud setting tool to keep the bling on the bag. "The item is something functional and results in a professional looking tote bag, not like a craft project — all for a great price," Sarah Koth, PR manager for Fashion Angels Enterprises, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

Aspiring rockers and stylists to the stars may use this sketch book to create styles for favorite groups or for their own soon-to-be-famous band. Girls can sketch their band’s fashion wardrobe, concert tickets, posters, T’s, album covers, drums, guitars and more. It includes 25 formatted sketch sheets, a design style guide, 10 markers, 12 mini colored pencils, a sharpener and an eraser. "It's different from our other design sketch book line since girls can design more than just the fashions and clothes. It gets them thinking about the designs of other objects, such as the instruments and album covers," Sarah Koth, PR manager for Fashion Angels Enterprises, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 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.

This airplane is designd to be easy to fold, easy to color and great for play. Made from recycled cardboard, it is 100-percent biodegradable and comes with six non-toxic, washable markers. Launch date: January 6, 2008.

This fire truck is designed to be easy to fold, easy to color and great for play. Made from recycled cardboard, it is 100-percent biodegradable. The truck comes with six non-toxic, washable markers. It is "perfect for a fire fighter-themed birthday party or school project," Martina McConnon, owner of Creative Toyshop, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 6, 2008.

This 100-percent biodegradable racecard made out of recycled cardboard is designed to be easy to fold, easy to color and great for play. Six non-toxic, washable markers are included. Launch date: January 6, 2008.

Made from recycled cardboard, this 100-percent biodegradable carriage is designed to be easy to fold, easy to color and great for play. It comes with six non-toxic, washable markers, and could be used as a birthday party craft or as part of a school project. Launch date: January 6, 2008.

This dinosaur is designed to be easy to fold, easy to color and great for play. Made from recycled cardboard and 100-percent biodegradable, it comes with six non-toxic, washable markers and may be used as a craft for birthday parties and goodie-bags. Launch date: January 6, 2008.

The CALAFANT spaceship is designed to be easy to build, easy to color and great for play. Made from recycled cardboard and 100-percent biodegradable, it comes with six non-toxic, washable markers. "[It's] easy to sell as a goody-bag item for birthday parties: It's a craft-activity and something for the kids to take home," Martina McConnon, owner of Creative Toyshop, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 6, 2008.

This camper van is designed to be easy to fold, easy to color and great for play. Made from recycled cardboard, it is 100-percent biodegradable. It has six non-toxic, washable markers and could make an ideal craft for birthday parties and goodie bags. Launch date: January 6, 2008.

This little house is designed to be easy to fold, easy to color and great for play. Made from recycled cardboard, it is 100-percent biodegradable. It comes with six non-toxic, washable markers, and could make an ideal craft for birthday parties and goodie bags. Launch date: January 6, 2008.

"Our die-cut vinyl designs are superior to paper or cardboard pictures. The peel-off release paper can be 're-attached' to the sticky surface to create your own designs. All products are made in the USA," MaryLee Hanson, owner of ArtiSands, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

Fun Stix garage door magnets are a fast, easy and cost-effective way to decorate for holidays and celebrations of all kinds. Most garage doors in the U.S. are made of polymer-coated steel, and Fun Stix are designed to stick to these doors with no effort at all. They're also weather resistant, UV protected, reusable , and won't interfere with the normal operation of garage doors. Fun Stix may also be used on refrigerators or office file cabinets, or in nurseries, daycare centers or classrooms. "Typical magnetic decorations are too heavy. As a result, they are too expensive. ... Fun Stix™ combine plastic die-cut sheeting and magnets to give customers a one-of-a-kind decorative experience saving time, energy and money. Dollar for dollar, customers can decorate four to five times more of their garage doors compared to typical garage door magnets of the same cost," John Delatorre, president of Fun Stix Magnets, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2009.

Created in France, these well-crafted wooden car kits, designed to introduce children to the world of woodworking, give children a chance to build something fun for themselves. The kit comes with pre-cut wood, a hammer, sandpaper and glue and dowels for old-world construction, as well as acrylic paints in durable pots, plus two paintbrushes to personalize the project — one for broad painting and one for details. The set features "beech wood components, which is more durable than pine, and everything the child needs is included," Meghan Ristau, sales and marketing manager for Woodland Magic Imports, told TDmonthly. Launch date: May 2008.

Incrediline's murals and mats are designed to take any kind of permanent or impermanent marker and wipe clean easily without water or cleansers — even months after Junior first scrawled his Hancock.

T-me Design-Your-Own is a do-it-yourself kit that includes everything a child needs to design his or her own wearable artwork. She can draw a picture using the markers and papers in the kit, choose her favorite T-shirt style from the enclosed catalog, and mail the drawing to the company in the pre-paid return envelope. In 10 days, she'll receive her very own wearable art. The kit's T-shirt-shaped packaging converts into an easel-style picture frame so kids can easily display their favorite artwork.

Designed to give children ideas for creative filming while using the home video camera, this book includes a slate to mark takes, outlines gimmicks and gags, and provides step-by-step instructions on cool techniques, such as staging disappearances or fight scenes (where no one gets hurt). The guide is authored by John Cassidy and Nicholas Berger.
— “It's the Klutz that sells best,” said Patti Tepper-Rasmussen, owner of Learning Tree Toys in Oklahoma City, Okla., during an April 2009 survey of best-selling playsets and activity kits. 
— “Klutz is probably still my No. 1 seller. They have lots going on,” Pat Jensen, owner of Northwind Kites in Anchorage, Alaska, told TDmonthly. 
— “I sell a huge amount of Klutz books,” said Amy Barrett, owner of Lasso the Moon Wonderful Toys in Helena, Mont., in spring 2009.