June 2012 Notable Toys — Arts & Crafts

Children as young as three can explore their creativity with this classic, versatile arts and crafts unit, which can be positioned as an angled easel or folded down into a flat workspace. Features easy-to-clean laminate surfaces, a write-on/wipe-off surface, a chalkboard and plenty of storage space.

This handmade drop spindle lets kids take raw fleece that's been washed, dyed, and carded and then make their own yarn, to be used in various crafts.

Kids can make a colorful book about themselves, their family, friends, school and hobbies. Color, create and bind together the 12 activity sheets to create this unique book. Crayons, markers, glue, glitter, scissors, and 24 additional sheets of construction paper are included.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy Best Classic Toys

Feeling the sand and moving it to expose the colors underneath stimulates the senses of young children. As their coordination improves, they will find new ways to manipulate the sand. Wooden sandbox comes with 3 tools and a clear acrylic bottom. Use the art on either side of the reversible lid, or your own art to create colorful pictures. Sandbox measures 16' x 12' x 2.75'.
Awards: 2012 Dr. Toy Best Classic Toys

PlayMais is a biodegradable crafting material made from corn and colored with food coloring. It is manufactured in Germany, 100% safe, and biodegradable. PlayMais stimulates children's imagination and creativity, trains fine-motor skills, and develops social group skills. PlayMais can be shaped, squeezed, and cut — and all it takes is a little bit water to create unlimited fun. Children can build in 2 or 3 dimensions, or wherever their imagination takes them. The PlayMais M-Box contains 150 pieces, a sponge, and an instruction booklet. It is a perfect starter box.

PlayMais is a biodegradable crafting material made from corn and colored with food coloring. It is manufactured in Germany, 100% safe, and biodegradable. PlayMais stimulates children's imagination and creativity, trains fine motor skills, and develops social group skills. PlayMais can be shaped, squeezed, cut and all it takes is a little bit water to create unlimited fun. Children can build in 2 or 3 dimensions, or wherever their imagination takes them. The PlayMais XM-Box contains 250 pieces, a sponge, a biodegradable plastic knife, and an instruction booklet. It is a perfect starter box if you want to build more and bigger creations.

PlayMais is a biodegradable crafting material made from corn and colored with food coloring. It is manufactured in Germany, 100% safe, and biodegradable. PlayMais stimulates children's imagination and creativity, trains fine motor skills, and develops social group skills. PlayMais can be shaped, squeezed, cut and all it takes is a little bit water to create unlimited fun. Children can build in 2 or 3 dimensions, or wherever their imagination takes them.

Ahoy, matey. Sail the seven seas with a pirate, ship, parrot and treasure chest. Includes 9 tubes of sand and 8 sheets to design.

Don't be frightened...it's just ArtiSands Monster kit. Frankenstein, Dracula, the Hunchback and a swamp monster are waiting to come to life in this frighteningly fun kit. Includes 9 tubes of sand and 8 sheets to design.

Party in a Box! Fantasy is fast, fun, educational and has easy clean up. Includes 24 fantasy Sandesigns, 14 tubes of vibrant, colorfast sand, 8 no mess trays, 8 frames and a tablecloth for quick and easy clean up.

Kids can build and create their own optical prism. Kit contains: cardboard tubes, plastic mirror pieces, assorted beads, rhinestones, adhesive paper, foil confetti pieces, craft glue and instructions.

Autumn de Forest is ten years old and loves to paint. She has been an avid painter for most of her life, but it was not until her parents placed fine art quality oil paints and canvases within her grasp that her output became not only prolific — but eerily beyond her years. DVD, 20 minutes.

Luis Perez, educator, ceramist, and musician gives a brief history of Pre-Columbian musical instruments – wind and percussion, and shows the materials used in a demonstration of clay whistle construction. He explains the basic principles of sound and how symmetry and asymmetry is applied to the making of finger holes for sound production. He makes an acoustic chamber, creates an aperture for sound, the mouth piece, and the finger holes. He produces the sounds of a clay whistle using various types of finished whistles. Many examples are shown. Grades 6-12. DVD, 23 minutes.

Peggy Flores sets up several still lifes using a variety of subjects, and shows how to display them for the best perspective. She also cuts out templates of various shapes to show how students could compose a still life on a piece of paper. She draws the still lifes in pencil or outlines the paper cutouts and colors them with watercolor, tempera, markers, and colored pencils. Many finished examples are shown. DVD, 18 minutes.

Sunflowers have been become an iconic symbol of van Gogh's work. Many of his Sunflower paintings were done in the Yellow House in Arles and were used to decorate the room he created for Gauguin.  The vibrant colors and simplistic beauty of the paintings have led many artists to try and duplicate their beauty.  The Sunflowers Master Kitz includes all the tools your child needs to create their own Sunflowers masterpiece and the learning materials to deepen their understanding of van Gogh the artist and the time he spent in Arles. Each Sunflowers Master Kitz contains: A sturdy, re-usable art tool box with magnetic closures; 3 Custom Acrylic Paints (child friendly); 1 van Gogh Roller specially designed to replicate van Gogh’s active stroke; 2 re-usable Sunflower stencils; 1 foam paint brush; 2 pieces deluxe art paper; Fun, easy-to-understand van Gogh learning materials; Easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions.
Awards: 2013 TDmonthly Seal of Approval

The fluffy soda pop scarf is made for knitting, not sipping. What a great way to introduce the art of knitting to any girl or boy. When finished they'll have a beautiful, long scarf. This unique kit provides great instruction on how to knit a scarf - from casting on to casting off. Kids'll also learn how to knit adding additional balls of yarn. The bamboo needles are perfect for a beginner. Fun knitting in an easy to learn format. Lovely yarn color variations, knitting needles and "how to" tips that make sense. A fully illustrated instruction book accompanies each kit: Berry-Licious, Lime-A-Licoious or Pink-A-Licious.  Includes 2 balls (140 grams) soft acrylic yarn, 2 bamboo knitting needles Easy to follow illustrated instruction book included.

It’s a robot riot. These futuristic fighters are here to save the world. Follow a simple legend and add cool foam pieces to these droid destroyers so they can squash the bad guys. Arrange the army in different battle formations and take out evil once and for all. This kit includes 10 FlipMotion™ stickers to add real movement to these mosaic masterpieces. Launch date: March 2012.

It’s time for a dragon duel. These deadly dragons are breathing fire and sharpening their talons. Follow a simple legend and add cool foam pieces to these battling beasts. Hang these magical dragons on your bedroom walls for some truly monstrous décor. This kit includes 9 FlipMotion™ stickers to add real movement to your mosaic masterpieces. Launch date: March 2012.

Add sparkling jewels to these adorable little monsters. Use 7 reusable stickers to decorate mirrors, windows, notebooks and more! Meet mischievous friends by matching sparkling tiles to a numbered legend. Best of all, these stickers can be peeled right off with no residue and reused for years to come. Launch date: March 2012.

Add sparkling jewels to these funky far out decals. Use 15 reusable stickers to decorate mirrors, windows, notebooks and more. Create totally groovy designs by matching sparkling tiles to a numbered legend.  Best of all, these stickers can be peeled right off with no residue and reused for years to come. Launch date: March 2012.

Add sparkling jewels to these prehistoric dinos. Use 8 reusable stickers to decorate mirrors, windows, notebooks and more.Create dino-mite designs by matching sparkling tiles to a numbered legend. Best of all, these stickers can be peeled right off with no residue and reused for years to come. Launch date: March 2012.

Add sparkling jewels to these glittering bugs. Use 11 reusable stickers to decorate mirrors, windows, notebooks and more. Create beautiful bug designs by matching sparkling tiles to a numbered legend. Best of all, these stickers can be peeled right off with no residue and reused for years to come. Launch date: March 2012.

Showcase a special memory in this sparkling frame. Follow a numbered legend and add sparkling jewels and tiles to create a colorful Picture Perfect frame. This frame will brighten up any little girls’ bedroom. Launch date: March 2012.

Kids can go to school in style with this totally blinged out Fashion Bag. Follow a simple numbered legend and add over 200 sparkling jewels to create this totally fashionable messenger bag. With a sturdy over the shoulder strap, this bag will carry books and important notes. Launch date: March 2012.