December 2009 New Specialty Toys — Arts & Crafts

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.

The Ferby giant coloured pencil with a wood-sealed end is 12 cm long. The strongly pigmented colour lead with a diameter of 6.25 mm is highly break resistant. The unique shape of the pencil is a round triangular that suits the writing hand . It reduces muscular strain and provides ease in writing and drawing. Particularly small hands, left-handed people and those with weak muscles gain comfort and ease from the comfort grip. A maximum of pigments, the wipe and water resistant lead and the high break resistance guarantee highest quality.

This set of modeling slabs is made of beeswax that never dries out. Children simply warm the colored slabs in their hands to soften it to the consistency they wish and form whatever their imaginations direct.

Even little folks can get their colors in with this set of beeswax crayons. In addition to classic round crayons, the set includes crayon blocks, which are easier for tiny tykes to manipulate and cover a greater amount of space with the least effort.

Dinoworks is a fascinating, educational and fun-filled kit that will show you what it is like to be a paleontologist in the field. It goes from casting the bones of the Tyrannosaurus to the complete construction of it. An illustrated educational booklet is included with the kit along with glue and magnets to display one's creation.

Each Pit-Stop racer includes a plastic chassis, racing decals, paint, paint brush, wheels and axles. Pit-Stop racers are designed to run on 1:64 Hot Wheels tracks. 6 different Pit-Stop Racers to choose from.

Each Marble Racer includes a plastic chassis, racing decals, 1 inch marble, wheels and axles. Marble Racers are designed to run on 1:64 Hot Wheels tracks. 4 different Marble Racers to choose from.

Heavy duty rock tumbler changes rough stones into beautiful, high-luster semi-precious gemstones. Make jewelry with settings included in this set. U.L. Listed.

Children fill in animal templates with colored beads, then mom or dad irons them to fuse the beads together to make a permanent toy.

Mama K's Aromatic Play Clay is an all-natural play clay scented with organic essential oils and available in six scents, including soothing lavender, relaxing chamomile and tension-easing bergamot. "I'm confident there is no other product like Mama K's Aromatic Play Clay currently on the market," Mama Made It owner Kari Erickson-Valenzuela told TDmonthly. "It is high quality, 100-percent natural, gluten-free, beautifully colored using only natural ingredients and subtly scented for aromatherapy with the highest quality organic essential oils. It's lovely." Awards: 2009 Goddard Systems Best Green Toys Under $30.00. Launch date: 2009.

Crazyoleez blend various colors of crayon into a single decorative shape, for a distinctive artistic experience while coloring. Other shapes and sizes are available.

Jewel Tone Tie Dye kits offer an assortment of two-tone color combinations colors with easy-to-follow instructions that allow anyone to create sophisticated variations on 3 tie dye patterns popular in today’s fashion world. Each kit includes enough products for two shirts: two applicator bottles with coordinating Procion MX dye colors, soda ash dye fixer, gloves and rubber bands. Jewel Tones are available in 7 beautiful color combinations: Amber, Amethyst, Emerald, Onyx, Ruby, Sapphire, and Topaz. Awards: Parent's Choice Award 2010. Launch date: February 2010.

This kit has a unique tie dye method designed to get the best Camouflage look. Complete, easy-to-follow instructions the Classic Camo pattern and ideas for creating 3 other dye patterns are included. The kit contains two applicator bottles of Procion MX dye, one container of dye for immersion bath, soda ash dye fixer, gloves, rubber bands and will dye up to four shirts. Launch Date: January 2010.

Designed as an educational, fun and easy-to-use puppet making kit, SPP! Chinese New Year Edition puts the power of creation in the hands of the child. It provides a balance of structure and creativity as it leads kids through the process of creating five large, one-of-a-kind stick puppets with the Chinese New Year theme. It could be used for school projects or for parties or family nights. The kit includes five blank corrugated bodies, 10 blank arms and legs, five blank heads, five themed faces, five sticks, 20 fasteners, five sheets of decorative paper, 50ml glue, an informative synopsis of the Chinese New Year, and directions. Kids assemble the puppets, make the clothing, and complete the puppet characters with the included themed faces, photographs or hand drawings. The stick puppets stand 14" tall and have movable arms and legs. They are packaged in a 12” hang bag. This product is made in the USA. Launch date: October 2009.

Kids create a 9” sparkly Christmas tree, then color Shrinky Dinks ornaments with the included color pencils, bake them, and then hang them on the tree. The kit includes 30 ornaments, eight colored pencils, a hole punch, metallic stars, ornament rings, a star-shaped tree topper, silver metallic tree branches, metallic foil paper for wrapping the base of the tree, and a pre-assembled tree base.
— Two of 40 specialty retailers mentioned Shrinky Dinks when asked about best-selling hobby products in fall 2009.
— Two other retailers named Creativity for Kids as a best-selling hobby brand in their stores.

Each single-color mini pack is designed to introduce kids to the texture and possibilities of PlayFoam. The collection includes six colors, which may be used as party gifts or stocking stuffers.
— PlayFoam small bricks 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.

Somewhere between sand and clay in texture, Moon Sand can be molded, shaped and squished. It never dries out so kids can re-shape it and play with it time and time again. With this kit, kids use molds to create amusement park stands, children and bumper cars. There's even a roller coaster and spinning jet ride. When play is finished, everything fits inside the snap-shut carrying case. It comes with three 10-oz. bags of moldable Moon Sand (colors may vary).

The Bling By Number Card Design Set includes materials for creating handmade greeting cards. The set includes eight cards and envelopes, four postcards, 50 cut-out shapes and 100+ stickers, plus glitter glue, sequins, gems and more. The Bling by Number line is designed to be error proof and provide professional-looking results every time. There are easy to follow “Bling by Number” instructions and design ideas to get girls started on their way to creating their own personalized card collection. "It gets the creativity going for girls and shows that 'hand-made' can also be glam, fun, and many different materials can be used to achieve the final piece," Sarah Koth, PR coordinator for Fashion Angels Enterprises, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

Girls can create a portfolio book of fabulous fashion creations with a little glitz and glamour flair, using the 50+ stencils and create red-carpet-worthy designs. Launch date: August 2009.
— Kim Emigh, VP of E-commerce at Growing Tree Toys in State College, Pa., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2012 survey that Fashion Angels Fashion Design Sketch Portfolios were one of their best selling tween products.

Girls can create a portfolio book of fabulous fashion creations with Flower Power flair, using the 50+ removable stencils to create funky Boho-Chic designs. "Girls can focus their designs to a certain theme, and this one happens to be boho-chic look that is very trendy right now," Sarah Koth, PR coordinator for Fashion Angels Enterprises, told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 2009.

Girls can create their own stickers using the 100-percent Cool Sticker Maker machine. Kids can create a custom sticker from their own drawings, magazine pictures, photographs and more. The kit includes the sticker maker machine, 15 stencils, and 8' of sticker tape. Refills are available. "The machine is compact, so it is great for slumber parties, camp and to take on the go. Plus, the fact that just about any weight of paper material can be used to make into a sticker is a great feature," Sarah Koth, PR coordinator for Fashion Angels Enterprises, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.

The Project Runway Rockstar Style Fashion Design Sketch Portfolio lets girls create a look for their favorite musician or their own future rock band. Girls use the stencils to start the design, then follow the instructions for inspiration and how to shade the design to make it look like it was done by a professional. This portfolio includes 40 fashion design sketch pages and 50+ stencils. "The stencils that can be easily taken out, and popped back into the portfolio (so they won't get lost!) will help girls start their designs with a real shape and form to work with," Sarah Koth, PR coordinator for Fashion Angels Enterprises, told TDmonthly. Launch date: August 2009.