May 2010 Notable Toys — Arts & Crafts

The Playdate Central Giant Activity Tablecloth is imprinted with more than 50 mazes, word finds, connect the dots and pictures to color. Children can color one side then flip it over for more creative activities. The tablecloth comes with six colored markers and works with any washable markers. Cloth is machine washable in cold water, no detergent, on gentle cycle. Measures 55" x 38".

These create-your-own whimsical wind-ups with this set. The Wind-up Workshop Robots come with five wind-up mechanisms, colorful cardboard robot cut outs, retro-robot stickers, wiggly eyes, sticky foam shapes, eight mini markers and more.

Left or right handed - these safe and simple scissors are ergonomically designed with little hands in mind. Kids can practice fine motor skills on simple paper patterns and use the glue stick and wiggly eyes to turn these clever cut-outs into abstract art or amazing animals. Display boards and hanging yarn are included.

The sturdy corrugate dollhouse comes complete with markers, sticker accessories, punch out dolls and easy to assemble furniture. Use the supplies included in your set or go "green" and turn every day items into awesome accessories using the enclosed fully illustrated guide. Measures 21 in x 17.25 in x 9 in assembled. The Recycled Cardboard Dollhouse includes an imprinted color-in playmat, decorative papers, four sheets of creative color-in cut-outs, 10 piece punch-out furniture set, glue stick, adhesive foam squares, 40+ color-in stickers, 12 washable markers, and instructions.

This kit has everything needed to assemble and decorate a jewelry tree. Easy to assemble 14"" wooden tree features velvety flocking and fashionable felt accents. Bonus jewelry included too! The set includes assorted felt flower and leaf shapes to decorate the tree and bird, a wooden bird tree topper, assorted felt flower shapes for jewelry making, assorted wooden beads, three satin ribbons, one pair of 100 percent steel earring hooks, a bead threader, and double-sided adhesive dots.

This coloring tray features five dimensional rubbing plates and markers. The set includes 20 printed sheets, 20 blank sheets of paper and 15 break-resistant jumbo crayons.

Decorate six sturdy boxes with icing inspired trims and colorful felt accents such as cherry pom poms, glitter pain and a sprinkle of beads. The Dainty Desserts set comes with colorful felt, felt confetti, six colorful trinket boxes, chenille yarn, glitter gel, craft glue, scissors and assorted trims. The set includes a bonus 4.5" tiered dessert tray.

This novelty chalk with google eyes comes in a packs of 2. Chose between a tool, ice cream or solar theme. Dimensions : 17.5 X 10.75 X 11.75 inches.

This solo activity kit doesn't require reading and comes with 13 interchangeable parts for three spaceships, plus 60 decorative stickers. Awards: Parent's Choice Award 2010

This solo project includes everything a girl needs to create six butterflies. It comes with six paper butterflies, 184 glitter stickers, removable, non-staining adhesive for attaching butterflies to any surface, and instructions for five projects. Awards: Parent's Choice Award 2010

Vehicle Mini kit-ArtiSands Mini Vehicle kit includes nine(9) shaker tubes of sand and eight (8) pre-cut Sandesigns (Dump Truck, Cement Truck, Race Car and Train). Features non-toxic colored sand, 5x7 vinyl pre-cut Sandesigns, sturdy carrying box, and easy to handle shaker tubes.

Farm Mini kit-ArtiSands Mini Farm kit includes nine (9) shaker tubes of sand and eight (8) pre-cut Sandesigns (Barn, Rooster, Cow and Horse). Features non-toxic colored sand, 5x7 vinyl pre-cut Sandesigns, sturdy carrying box, and easy to handle shaker tubes.

Kids can get all the fun of coloring in a neat, compact and portable kit. Use the washable, dry-erase crayons to draw and color on the included reusable activity sheets, then wipe them clean with the EZ-erase mitt. The pack includes four washable dry-erase crayons, eight reusable activity sheets, dry-erase case, EZ-erase mitt, and crayon sharpener. Launch date: 2010.

The Silly Monsters Quick Sticker Kit includes three bodies (printed on both sides) with stands and over 45 stickers to decorate, mix and match for monster mayhem. It lets kids use their imaginations to create silly monsters. Stickers include eyes, noses, hair and mouths. Awards: Parent's Choice Award 2010. Launch date: 2010.

Kids can make movable dinosaur action figures with this activity book from Figures in Motion. Kids can move their jaws, clash their teeth and make their powerful legs run as they act out their own dinosaur battles. It includes Allosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Triceratops and Tyrannosaurus Rex, plus dinosaur facts. This creative learning tool features easy to assemble dinosaurs in pre-colored and colorable versions, using only crayons or colored pencils, scissors, a hole punch and fasteners. Owner of Figures In Motion Cathy Diez-Luckie told TDmonthly, "Dinosaurs on the Move is an engaging, hands-on activity book that will captivate children for hours." Launch date: April 16, 2010.

This kit includes three fairy paper dolls with stands, three fairy wings and more than 150 glitter stickers. Donna Modrell, marketing and operations manager of Peaceable Kingdom Press, told TDmonthly, "Girls will love decorating and playing with these enchanted fairies. It's super simple sticker fun!" Awards: Parent's Choice Award 2010. Launch date: 2010.

This craft kit allows one to create the Beaky Family: Mama Owl, Papa Owl and their little 'un. Young sewers can design their own color scheme from a selection of felt sheets (brights or pastels). The owls are approximately 3.75", 2.75" and 1.75" tall when sewn. The sewing kit makes all three owls and includes re-usable patterns and full instructions, wool felt (5 colors), stuffing, embroidery thread, buttons and needle. All the crafter needs to supply is tracing paper, scissors, pencil, pins and dried beans for balance. Owner Sarah Ketchley of Kit and Caboodle Designs told TDmonthly, "Kit and Caboodle Craft Kits are designed and developed to emphasize the natural, the reusable and recyclable and are ideal for the beginning crafter with scope for embellishment and personalization by those more experienced." Launch date: June 2009.

Peggy Flores shows examples of wire sculpture and how creating them teaches students the elements of line, space, and shape. She explores using different types, gauges, and colors of wire and the tools necessary to cut and bend the wire to create a sculpture. She begins by drawing an outline of a subject and plans adding form by bending, sculpting, and cutting the wire. "This product is unique because an art teacher demonstrates the sculpting process and finished examples are shown," said Amy Woodworth of Crystal Productions. Launch date: March 12, 2010.

The Frosted Ruff N' Ready pack contains ten 8"x10" sheets of the exclusive Frosted Ruff N' Ready Shrinkable Plastic. It's the plastic found in kits and books produced by Spin Master, Curiosity Kits, and Klutz. This plastic is actually clear plastic that has been machine roughened on one side. Recommended for use with children because colored pencils can be used to trace and color one's selected image. The sheets are unprinted, to be left up to the imagination of the user to fill in.

This pack of Shrinky Dinks features ten 8"x10" plastic sheets that are crystal clear. They can be used for projects where you would like a more transparent finished piece that the Frosted Ruff N' Ready can give you. The plastic can be colored with paint markers, permanent marking pens, acrylic paints or stamped on. Each pack includes instructions for use and project ideas.

The Shrinky Dinks Ultra Thick Misty White creative pack contains six 8"x10" sheets of thick plastic, making it very durable, but also light weight enough for use. Smooth on both sides to use with permanent markers, acrylic paints and pens. Complete instructions and ideas enclosed in each pack.

Add accents and highlights with smooth, opaque, white Gelly Roll ink. Gelly Roll white is archival, waterproof, and fade resistant. This white ink is very bright on dark papers.

Gelly Roll Stardust captures the sparkle and glitter of stars to make handwriting extra-special. This pigment-based ink works best on light colored or matte paper surfaces. The rollerball pen is easy and comfortable to write with, and the chemically stable, waterproof, and fade proof ink will not feather or bleed through most papers. Also available in a special Stardust Clear which has no pigment, only sparkle.