August 2009 Notable Toys — Kits

Each kit comes with an undecorated leash and a set of permanent fabric markers for drawing patterns, designs and doodles. Kids can write their pet's name, their phone number, or anything else as they create a leash for special occasions, outings and walks. The leash measures 4' L x 5/8" W and is constructed of sturdy webbing and metal hardware. Launch date: August 2009.

Kids can make their own bouncy balls with this kit that includes 25 packets of ball-making powder, 10 molds and instructions for creating the colorful balls. All it requires is pouring the powder into a mold, dipping it in water, and then waiting four minutes for the finished product.

Sew beautiful paper together with decorative beads and thread to make handmade books to fill with memories, poems, stories and artwork. With easy to follow tips and lots of examples for inspiration, craft 4 fabulous books, plus cards, bookmarks and even origami ornaments! Two bonus projects in every kit! Turn the box into a mailbox, birdhouse or special treasure box. The inner tray is perfect for framing your art. Ages 8 and up.

Fun friends to design, dress and treasure forever. With simple tips and lots of examples for inspiration, cut, sew and glue four unique dolls and turn them into bookmarks, room decorations, gift tags or even pins to wear. Two bonus projects in every kit! Turn the box into a mailbox, birdhouse or special treasure box. The inner tray is perfect for framing your art. Ages 8 and up.

Copper wire is fun & flexible! Twist into all kinds of shapes and adorn with beads and marbles. With easy to follow tips and lots of examples for inspiration, make amazing creatures, fancy jewelry, flowers, mobiles or even fashion a royal crown! Two bonus projects in every kit! Turn the box into a mailbox, birdhouse or special treasure box. The inner tray is perfect for framing your art. Ages 8 and up

With a generous amount of wool roving and step-by-step color photographs, this kit is designed to help one learn the art of sculptural needle felting. Also included are two new felting needles and a wooden skewer packaged in a take-out container. All one needs is a foam pad and a sense of adventure. Launch date: 2007.

Individuals can learn the art of sculptural needle felting with this intermediate kit by Woolpets. This kit is designed for those with some experience needle felting, but adventuresome craft folks won't have difficulty. A generous amount of wool roving and step-by-step color photographs are provided to make it simple to create an adorable sheep. Also included are two new felting needles and a wooden skewer packaged in an attractive take-out container. All one needs is a foam pad and a sense of adventure. Launch date: 2007.

Individuals can learn the art of sculptural needle felting with this kit by Woolpets. A generous amount of wool roving and instructional photos are provided to make it simple to create a family of penguins. Also included are two new felting needles and a wooden skewer packaged in an attractive take out container. All one needs is a foam pad and a sense of adventure. "Lots of step-by-step photographs and very clear instructions ensure success for beginners," Kevin Sharp, owner of Woolpets, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2007.

This kit is designed to help parents teach kids about money — specifically saving, spending and sharing. It comes with a lesson plan, a book about how people approach money differently, a game to encourage money talk, and a Moonjar Moneybox to promote goal setting and budgeting. "This kit is designed to break open the money conversation at home and to help parents find staightforward, fun and meaningful ways to help the children sustain smart saving, spending and sharing for a lifetime," Mary Ryan Karges, vice president of Moonjar LLC, told TDmonthly. This product has received the following awards: 2009 Creative Child Seal of Excellence, Oppenheim Best Toy, Teachers Choice Award, IP award, and Global Learning Initiative award. Launch date: June 12, 2009.

Have your child’s artwork placed onto a 12-ounce plastic mug! This is the only personalized mug perfectly suited for use by children because it is made of unbreakable plastic, not ceramic, and is dishwasher safe. Any art materials can be used to make a drawing that wraps around the mug, or a square drawing for the front and back. Or just find a favorite photo we will size to fit. You can even include your name or a special message to be typeset around the mug at no additional charge! Send the completed Art Pages in the postage paid envelope provided, or use digital photos and our online drawing tools to make your mug using the Internet.

Built in 3-D, the collectible, space-age ant colony modules and connecting tubes are made in daylight and night colors for a cool look. Each sphere features three lenses to easily observe the ants: one clear, one that magnifies and one fisheye. "The Wild Science kits are constructed of the highest quality materials and designed for extended play use. Each individual kit can be designed, customized and modified to an individual child’s liking," Vickie Cullen, PR account executive for International Playthings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2009.

Using the included molds and plaster of Paris, kids create their own reproduction of a complex leafcutter ant colony and rivet the special window to the casting for observation. Children can watch their ants as they organize the many intricate tunnels and chambers for different purposes, and take food and water around the colony. Launch date: June 2009.

With the Worm Farm, kids can discover the abilities of worms and their importance in the ecosystem through a series of safe and humane experiences using real worms. This kit features a high-quality, large-volume worm colony that allows children to plant seeds and grow vegetation in soil strata that is separated by colored sand horizons — great for tracking worm activity. The farm also contains removable privacy screens to bring worm tunnels into closer view. "The Wild Science kits are constructed of the highest quality materials and designed for extended play use. Each individual kit can be designed, customized and modified to an individual child’s liking. In addition, all of the kits within the system are designed to be interconnected, providing kids and creatures with endless possibilities to explore, learn and grow," Vickie Cullen, PR account executive for International Playthings, told TDmonthly. Launch date: June 2009.

There's no limit to what you can make with this beautiful collection of materials! With simple tips and lots of examples for inspiration, cut, glue and sew ornaments, bookmarks, jewelry, cards, mobiles, gift tags, collages & more! Two bonus projects in every kit! Turn the box into a mailbox, birdhouse or special treasure box. The inner tray is perfect for framing your art. Ages 8 and up
— "I love these craft kits because the materials used are so incredible. Kids get to play with 100-percent wool felt, glass and wood beads, and beautiful handmade paper. It’s an added bonus that the company has skipped excessive packaging and uses 100-percent post-consumer waste recycled paper, reusable bags and vegetable-based inks," said Autumn Orndorff, gift buyer for Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe, Ariz., after discovering Artterro kits at ASTRA Marketplace 2009.

Complete cooking sets for kids made with delicious Kellogg’s® Rice Krispies! No beaters, blenders or knives are required, making these products safe, simple, educational and above all, fun! The color-coded measuring cups, spoons and recipes take the difficulty of measuring and mixing out of cooking. For ages 5 and up.