January 2013 Notable Toys — Arts & Crafts

Use the 4 inkpads, marker, and dual-tipped colored pencil to make thumbprint versions of your favorite Star Wars characters. Simple step-by-steps include — Clones and Battle Droids, Ewoks and Wookies, Jedi and Jabba the Hutt. Star Wars fans will love re-creating key moments from the movies and creating scenes of their own.

This book comes with all the plastic pieces, paper parts, and special pages you need to experience 25 impossible things. These objects work like magic, but there are no tricks. All this weirdness has a solid scientific basis and we tell you why — from the mathematically amazing Möbius strip (a band of paper with only one side), to cardstock acrobats with amazing balance, to a color changing spinning top.

Dot Jewelry comes with over 1,600 pre-cut paper pieces in a rainbow of luscious colors and coordinating patterns. Follow the step-by-step instructions for making everything from simple one-strand bracelets to stunning statement necklaces. Our custom dot tool lets you pick up dots with ease, while the ruler and clip measure your cord exactly and keep it taut for professional-looking designs every time.

Make Clay Charms features simple step-by-steps for more than 30 different designs — cute fruit, adorable animals, sweet treats, and tons more. Make your charms with the nine bright colors of clay, bake them, add shine (with our specially formulated glaze), and then attach your creations to the included bracelet.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval
— Dean Smith, owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J., told TDmonthly in a May 2014 survey that Make Clay Charms from Klutz is the store's best-selling activity kit.

This is a journal of super-nosy surveys to fill out. Subjects range from food to fashion to friendship. Over 300 different questions reveal everything you never thought to ask yourself, let alone anyone else. Each survey is repeated three times, in three different colorways to make it easy to share and compare with friends.

eeBoo’s Waste-Not Animal Recycle Kits are the perfect gift for the eco-minded family that plays together. The simple, brilliant idea behind Waste-Not is to repurpose discarded materials by transforming them into toys. Each kit comes with die-cut felt, a plastic needle and thread. Simple instructions show how to turn such items as a water bottle or yogurt container into an adorable cloth friend, such as a fox, hedgehog or Chameleon. Not only do the kits raise environmental consciousness, but they teach simple sewing skills and encourage the valuable, artistic ability to see an object in a fresh way. Recycle a container and make a friend! What’s not to like? Kits are marked with level of difficulty.

The 20 sheets that come with eeBoo's Scratch Papers are not just any sheets. Hidden beneath the scratchable black surface are dazzling papers that children will delight to discover. Available in gorgeously designed Pattern Papers, shiny Foil Papers or bright Fluorescent Papers, eeBoo's Scratch Papers will make the simplest drawings shine, and enhance more complicated ones too. Scratch Papers come with 4 sheets each of 5 designs, 20 pages altogether, and the artist's very own bamboo stick.

Never in the history of performance have juggling balls been so eye-catchingly pretty. Novice and master jugglers alike will delight in eeBoo's soft and perfectly weighted juggling balls – inspiring enthusiasts of this classic hobby to reach new heights. Each set of 3 balls is beautifully designed with brightly colored velvet and festive, stitched designs. The set includes a colorful instructional poster featuring simple step-by-step instructions guiding young jugglers as they dazzle friends and family. Diameter of ball is approximately 2.5". Juggling and mathematical thinking are intricately linked. Moreover, scientists have found that juggling is associated with an increase in white and gray matter in the brain.

Kids can show off their cool drawings in a big way. Draw or trace anything on the reusable plastic sheets with the special markers – kids can even use additional sheets to create layered looks. Then project their creations on the walls or ceiling up to 20 times larger than the original size.

Create with light on almost any flat surface with the repositionable glow canvas. Make luminous drawings with the light wand or the crystal tip with starburst effects. Comes with airbrush can for great sound effects ,stencils and texture sheets.

It's 'snot pretty when kids perfect the art of grossness. Yes, only Gross Art from SmartLab Toys teaches kids how to draw realistic illustrations of all things gross using real art techniques. Gross-lovers everywhere will love drawing stinky fish, slimey snot and grody bathrooms.

Super-clear directions walk kids through seven unique bracelet designs, all based on a simple weaving technique. Use our custom loom and included beads, cord, needle, and thread to create a wardrobe of beautifully beaded bands that can be worn wrapped, stacked, or stylishly solo. Comes with: custom loom, over 900 glass and specialty beads, closure beads, cord, beading thread and 3 needles.

Draw N Store Wood Easel provides 4-in-1 features: Magnetic/Dry-Erase & Chalkboard and paper dispenser for painting. Spacious 2-levels fabric storage underneath for art accessories. Easy foldway design for compact storage. Includes: 1 Eraser, 77 Magnetic Letters & Numbers, 12 pcs Crayola Color Chalk, 10 x Paper Stencil, 1 x 30ft Paper Roll Starter. Launch date: September 2012.

This all-in-one creativity table with large work surface, plenty of shelves and storage pockets. 2-sided Table Top converts Chalkboard to Dry-Erase surface. Includes: 2 Stools, 3 Paint Cups, 3 Brushes, Fabric Pockets, 1 Eraser, paper roll dispenser fits 12"w paper roll, paper towel holder provides easy clean-up (paper roll and paper towels not included). "Offers 360 degrees of creative workspace," Bonnie Chan, marketing manager for Grow'n Up Limited told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2011.

The Urban Canvas Metropolis Train Set is a craft toy constructed of heavyweight recycled cardboard and is completely reversible. Children can play with, decorate, and display the train set. One side of the train displays an image of a city train station. Fold it inside out and it becomes a brand new train with a blank canvas for children to decorate. Die cut windows and sliding doors complete the train adding another level of fun. Launch date: September 2012.

Families are sure to embrace this new holiday activity, and kids will savor the lasting excitement they'll get from completing this festive playscape. Kids color in over 50 precut Shrinky Dinks characters and accessories, and then pop them in the oven to watch them transform. Includes over 50 precut Shrinky Dinks characters and accessories, colored pencils, and 3-D pop up living room.

The Crayola Digital Light Designer lets children express their artistic side, without the mess of traditional pens. The round dome responds to the touch of a stylus to display up to seven colors, providing unlimited imaginative fun. Kids can make their drawings move with animation options or even create short movies by combining drawings. The dome also features eight engaging activities and games to keep kids entertained.

GloGlo Inkoos bring kids designs to life - even in the dark. As with all inkoos, kids can draw and decorate on them with the included washable markers. But when the lights go out, their cool glow-in-the-dark patterns are revealed. Then kids can draw even more glowing designs with the special light pen. Each GloGlo inkoos includes 3 clip-on, washable markers plus the GloGlo light pen. Choose from 3 styles. Machine washable.

Each glitter glue pack contains four different tubes. Each tube has two glittering colors swirled together.

Package includes: Rainbow Loom(TM), Mini Rainbow Loom(TM), hook, a bag of c-clips, instruction manual and 600+ mix rubber bands (colors may vary). Makes up to 24 rubber band bracelets.
— Chris Lowe, owner of Beanhead Toys in Sandy Springs, Ga., told TDmonthly in a May 2013 survey that Rainbow Loom is their best-selling activity kit. They sell about 50 each month, and if they could keep it in stock, would likely sell more. "I got 24 the other day and they were gone instantly," she told TDmonthly.
— In a July 2013 survey, four out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that the Rainbow Loom was their overall best-selling product.
— In a Fall 2013 survey, two out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that Rainbow Loom was their best-selling novelty toy.

Bible Origami kit is a new boxed set from well-known papercrafter Andrew Dewar. It contains everything kids need to fold the figures from famous Biblical stories. A full-color, 64-page booklet provides detailed, step-by-step folding instructions for each figure. Custom-designed papers are provided for each person, animal and object that comprise the 72 models. Each project is introduced by a simple retelling of the biblical story that inspires it, followed by an explanation of the significance of each accompanying origami figure.

This kit contains 8 types of origami toys and 16 karakuri models. The origami toys and games include models such as the determined Robot Wrestlers, which you can pit against one another in a battle to the death. The karakuri models are constructed using pop-out paper that are easily assembled and include performing toys that tumble, balance and jump, as well as pieces like the comical Waddling Penguin and 6 additional models that walk down a gentle incline.

The Color & Collage Origami Art Kit is a unique new product that allows children to fold, assemble, compose, color and display large collages. Author Andrew Dewar provides all the custom-designed folding paper and backgrounds needed to complete these origami collages. Kids will have fun folding the individual models for stand-alone play as well as arranging the pieces on the six included backgrounds—conveniently printed in color on one side, with the reverse featuring just the outlines for coloring fun. Double-sided origami paper with folding lines incorporated right into the playful designs will have everyone—regardless of skill level—folding like a pro right out of the gate.

Throughout history, many famous landmarks have been deemed "Wonders of the World," from ancient sites to modern-day feats of architecture. Inside this kit users will find ready-to-fold templates to create 6 stunning, highly detailed, 3-D paper models of some of the most famous structures of anciet and modern times. Includes a 56-page project book and pre-punched and scored project sheets to make 6 models. Launch date: August 29, 2012. Launch date: October 2012.