May 2010 Notable Toys — Arts & Crafts

Sew & Stuff craft kits teach young girls how to sew & create their own hand-stitched crafts. Kits come with felt, stuffing, sequins, full-color step-by-step instructions, and everything needed to make a stuffed toy. Assorted kits available. Launch date: 2010.

This starter kit introduces young girls to the art of scrapbooking. The kit includes an album, die cuts, stickers, templates, decorative embellishments, & easy to follow instructions. Launch date: 2010.

The Creation Cottage is made from 100% recycled cardboard material. The unique design allows for a sturdy drawing surface for child. The white exterior is a blank canvas that child will be able to design on their own. Measurements (Assembled): 42.25"L x 39.5"W x 54"H

Now aspiring artists can create their own puzzles. These blank puzzles are made with high-quality board and are sturdy enough for paints. There are 3 additional sizes of Create Your Own Puzzles as well as the option of pencil crayons. The kit comes with 2 puzzles and a set of crayons. Create Your Own Puzzle makes a great gift for any age. Launch date: 2010. From Cobble Hill.
— In a Summer 2012 survey, two out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that Cobble Hill (dist. by Outset Media) was a best selling brand of puzzles.

Toysmith’s Paint a pot craft garden comes with everything a kid needs to grow a mini flower garden. Children can paint their own design on the pot, plant the seeds, and watch them grow. The set includes marigold seed mix, organic soil, six acrylic paints, two paintbrushes, a terra cotta planter, planting instructions, and a booklet with ideas for decorating.
— At My Club Tabby in Lake Charles, La., Owner Natalie Comeaux reported in March 2010 that spring items such as the Paint a Pot Craft Garden had been selling well for over a month since everyone was anticipating warmer weather.

Step into the world of fashion to create entire collections using a custom light tablet and cling-type wardrobe pieces. The Style Guide and Look Book show you how to use simple clothing silhouettes and add color, pattern, texture and embellishment to create collections for your design portfolio. The kit also includes 45 traceable clothing and accessory clings, 10 markers, 12 pencils, an eraser, sharpener, color and fabric wheel, and a sketchbook. Launch date: 2010.

Kids can make mud pies with this Little Tikes outdoor kitchen set. They use the hand-crank mud mixer to get the right consistency. The real working sink uses the water reservoir that releases when the pump button is pushed. No batteries are needed. The outdoor fun table includes a sink strainer, a shaker and lid, a pie mold, a large mixing bowl, a mixing spoon, a measuring cup and a cutting board. Makin' Mudpies is "one-of-a-kind," Susan Hale, PR Director of MGA Entertainment, told TDmonthly. Awards: Parent's Choice Award 2010. Launch date: 2010.

In this educational video, Peggy Flores explains the use of natural fibers in history and then introduces a variety of yarns that can be used to make weavings, as well as the fabrication of looms for the process. She also demonstrates the weaving process and coiling rope wrapped with yarn to shape and create baskets, after which students will be able to enjoy creating colorful yarn weavings at home on a cardboard or coat hanger loom. "An art teacher demonstrates the weaving process and finished examples are shown," Amy Woodworth, President of Crystal Productions, told TDmonthly. Launch date: Feb. 26, 2010.

Art Revelations introduces Innovation in coil. The modular sculpture product that lets you create a sculpture of "whatever comes to mind" in minutes without tools. Just expand the coil, shape and connect the ends. Available in eight colors and three sizes.

Moose's Beados are magic beads that are used to create colourful and fun designs. Just layout your design in the special Beados Tray, then spray them with water and your artwork will magically set in place. The clever design of the Beados™ Super Studio means everything you need is at your finger tips. Includes 800 Beados, two trays, template designs, Beados Sprayer, Beados Pen, bead remover, display stands, and a fan to help creations dry in half the time. Launch date: 2010.

Designed after old-fashioned farms in Germany and Holland, this high quality cardboard farm from Calafant USA is a pretty large home for the farmer, his family and all his animals. Made from recycled material and is 100% biodegradable.

Children can use a real, kid-sized motorized pottery wheel to shape clay creations. It includes a foot pedal for speed control, six colors of paint, two lbs. of clay, cutting/sculpting tools and complete instructions on how to throw and mold bowls and vases. The compact dimensions of the electrically operated wheel let kids use it anywhere they like, and it runs on batteries if a plug isn’t handy. An AC adapter is included, or it uses 8 C batteries (not included). "This pottery wheel has the most powerful motor in the market," Andrew Tober, Director of Creative Development, BSW Toy Inc., told TDmonthly.

Made in the USA using 100-percent recycled cardboard material, the Shuttle Imagination is designed to take a child on a new adventure every day. It allows for a sturdy drawing surface and encourages creative play. Measurements (assembled): 39" L x 34" W x 72" H. Fin attachments are 12" in length. Launch date: February 22, 2010.
Awards: 2010 Tillywig Top Fun; Spring 2010 National Parenting Center Seal of Approval

PIPEROID is a paper craft robot designed and produced in Japan. The robot is made out of paper pipes with pre-drilled holes and marks to cut, fold, and connect the pipes without the need of glue or tape. All one needs is a pair of scissors, and with minimal assembly they can bring your own PIPEROID to life. It's "very easy to make - with only scissors and 30 minutes," Shinya Fujimoto, owner, Magnote, told TDmonthly. Awards: Good Design Award (2007). Launch date: 2009.

Living on a farm is a lot of hard work, but just think about the variety of animals under care. Using the stiff straw, the soft feathers and the bubble wrap, preschoolers can learn through their sense of touch about these animals. "Children ages 2 to 5 years old learn best when engaged in activities that integrate their fine motor skills. 1-2-3 Preschool Projects develops hands-on activities that are packaged according to themes. They feature a variety of textural materials that encourage the development of a child’s fine motor, gross motor, cognitive, language, math, drama, science, and tactile skills," Linda Scanlan, owner,1-2-3 Preschool Projects LLC, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 2010.

Crazy Crayons are made from 100-percent recycled crayons. Crazy Crayons and packaging are made in the USA with 100-percent non-toxic materials. When individuals are finished using them, they can send them back to the company to be made into new crayons. Launch date: February 15, 2010.

Teifoc allows kids to build with real bricks made from high-quality materials. The mortar is made from a mixture of fine sand and a corn-extract, easy to create by just adding water. Teifoc offers many sets that include all materials needed to build housing structures. The bricks are reusable after immersion in water for a few hours. After the cement is dissolved, the bricks are easy to clean with fresh water. Launch date: June 2010 (U.S.).

This craft kit includes three 10" x 12" designs with a mermaid theme, sparkling sequins and jewels to give the pictures dazzle, and a glam grabber tool to grab and stick the decorative pieces. Launch date: 2010.
— John MacDougall, owner of Golden Apple Learning Store in Pleasanton, Calif., liked this product at Toy Fair 2010, saying, "[It's] easy to do and [the] results are dazzling!"
— Gladys Griffin, owner of Main Street Toy Shop in Columbus, Ga., told TDmonthly in a January 2014 survey that Do-A-Dot-Art is a best-selling arts & crafts toy.

Complete with an illustrated guidebook, this developmental kit comes with 10 multi-sensory games and craft activities to let preschoolers practice early cutting and fine motor skills.

6pc dinosaur crayons. Each crayon measures 2" long.

Make beautiful beads from foil. The device can create a number of shapes to make an assortment of necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings. Kit includes Foil Bead Maker Machine, 3 bead molds, bead rolling guide, 72 sheets of foil in 4 colors, 4 earring hooks, elastic cord, 5 satin cords, beading needle and easy instructions.
— Kate Tanner, owner of Kidstop Toys, was intrigued by this product. "Very different, " she commented to TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010.

Turn 25+ real sea shells into a crew of creative crustaceans. This complete set includes a tropical pallet of paint, glitter-glue, wiggly eyes, craft glue, dimensional paint and ocean inspired felt accents.
— Kate Tanner, owner of Kidstop Toys, informed TDmonthly at Toy Fair 2010 of how she was impressed by this kit's use of real sea shells.

Eco-dough is a molding dough handmade with flour, salt, cream of tartar, organic rosemary oil, vitamin E oil, soybean oil, coconut oil, potassium sorbate, citric acid, natural and organic fruit, plant and vegetable extracts from beets, spinach, paprika, carrots, purple sweet potato, red cabbage, blueberries and tomatoes. Also available in a Gluten-free version. Watch Eco-Dough: Top-5 Video, Toy Fair 2010

Jacquard Products' Funky Groovy Tie Dye Kit, a 2010 Tillywig Top Fun Award winner, includes everything a parent needs to introduce their child to the fascinating art of tie dye and supervise the creation of up to 5 adult size T-shirts. With easy-to-follow instructions and pattern tying guidelines, the kit also includes: pre-measured Procion MX dye in red, blue and yellow; soda ash dye fixer; 3 squirt bottles; rubber gloves and rubber bands.  Launch date: February 2010.