TDmonthly's ToyFair 2006 Preview--Arts & Crafts Product Category

Mary's Softdough Large Single Color Tubs by TERRAPIN TOYS LLC

Large 18oz tubs single color tubs come in red, blue, yellow, green, purple, pink and orange.  Great for group of kids, schools, daycares or pre-schools.      1/9/2009 (Price: $8.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Mary's Softdough Glow in the Dark Softdough by TERRAPIN TOYS LLC

Small 4 oz tub of glow-in-the-dark for fun in the dark. 1/9/2009 (Price: $9.50) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Make a Puzzle by HYGLOSS PRODUCTS INC.

This blank puzzle gives kids freedom to draw their own picture, and then assemble and reassemble their very own design. It is available in 5" x 7" and 8" x 10" sizes with mailing envelopes. 1/8/2009 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Softdough Play Set by TERRAPIN TOYS LLC

Each Softdough Play Set includes the following: four, 4-oz. tubs of Softdough (in colors red, blue, green and yellow), a hardwood rolling pin and 11 cookie cutters (turtle, frog, squirrel, dragonfly, moon, star, sun, leaf, butterfly, heart and cloud). 1/8/2009 (Price: $18.50) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Powder Art - Sports by CRESCENT CARDBOARD

This peel-and-paint art project contains safe, non-toxic and washable powder art in eight colors. Children simply peel away pieces of the design to expose a sticky surface and then apply the different colors of powder to the appropriate sections. 1/7/2009 (Price: $9.99)

Kids Color Tissue Box® - Animals by VANTISS CREATIONS LLC

This animals-themed Kids Color Tissue Box® kit features illustrations of popular animals such as a tiger and a panda for a child to color in. Each animal occupies a different face of the tissue box. Each Kids Color Tissue Box® kit includes 2 Coloring boxes, 4 Crayola® Crayons, and 2 packs of Hankeez Brand facial tissues, each with 80 SuperSoft 2-ply tissues in each pack. The tissue box size measues 4 3/8" x 4 3/8" at the base, and 4 3/4" tall. ( Watch Video) 1/7/2009 (Price: $7.99)

PlayFoam 12 Pack by EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS INC.

Tactile, colorful PlayFoam never dries out, can be molded and sculpted, leaves no residue, and sticks best to itself rather than the many surfaces of a home. Whether constructed into elaborate art projects or simply enjoyed for its unique texture, this double pack of PlayFoam in 12 colors contains enough to share.
— “PlayFoam is still strong,” said Janet Gregory, owner of Over the Rainbow Toys in Anchorage, Alaska.
— Of 44 retailers surveyed in late fall 2008, seven percent said PlayFoam is one of their top-selling items. 1/7/2009 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Wooden Stringing Beads by MELISSA & DOUG

Hours of creative entertainment for the young jeweler are packed into this boxed learning-activity-turned-craft. Kids can use the bright laces, various shapes and alphabet beads to create keepsake jewelry for themselves or parents, or use the kit as a reusable lacing set to practice spelling and patterning. 
— “The Melissa & Doug bead stringing kits” are the best-selling craft item at Let's Play in Hillsboro, Ore., Owner Shirley Reilly told TDmonthly in fall 2008. Reilly said she sells around 20 kits per month.
— Fifteen percent of 44 retailers said Melissa & Doug supply their best-selling craft kits.
— Kim Emigh, VP of E-commerce at Growing Tree Toys in State College, Penn., told TDmonthly in a Fall 2012 survey that this was a top-2 best selling jewelry item at their store. 1/7/2009 (Price: $16.99)

Capsters by KLUTZ

This pop art kit comes with bottle caps, charms, glitter and gooey glaze so that kids can make colorful, retro creations. The goo dries into a hard, shiny coating overnight. The caps feature safety-coated edges.
— “Klutz books are our main focus regarding arts and crafts for both boys and girls,” said owner Kevin Pohle of his Denver, Colo., toy store, The Wizard's Chest.
— “We sell a lot of Klutz books,” said Lesa Smith, owner of Whiz Kids in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
— Eighteen percent of 44 specialty retailers named Klutz as a best-selling product line in fall 2008. 1/7/2009 (Price: $16.95)

Monster Trucks Custom Shop by CREATIVITY FOR KIDS

This kit includes four big, chunky pull-back monster trucks, ready to take a custom paint job and adhesive decals dreamed up by a young designer. On their giant wheels, these lifted pickups are fit to race, roll, and smash their way around. The early auto enthusiast is provided with the four assembled trucks, acrylic paints, a paintbrush and two sheets of stickers.
— “From Creativity for Kids, the [Monster Trucks] have been great,” John Naisbitt, owner of Thinker Things in Del Mar, Calif., told TDmonthly.
— “Monster Trucks … sell well,” said Jeanette Lauture, owner of Aunt Jean's Toys and Treats in Montclair, N.J.
— “It's a great line; we sell tons,” said Jake Thomas, co-owner of Applause Toy Store in Bracebridge, Ontario, of Creativity for Kids, which 20 percent of 44 retailers listed as their best-selling craft line in fall 2008. 1/7/2009 (Price: $25.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Home Tweet Home by ALEX BRANDS

Just the cozy cottage backyard birds are looking for, the Home Tweet Home bird-house has a real thatched roof and unique décor as provided by the child. The wooden house has various windows for the residents, pegs for perches on the outside, and attached twine to hang from. It includes weatherproof paint in six colors, a paintbrush and instructions.
— “Alex is strong in the arts and crafts area,” said Randy Horn, owner of Learning Express in Glen Ellyn, Ill.
— “We've done well with the Alex craft kits this year,” said Richard Belanger, owner of Scalliwag Toys in Belleville, Ontario.
— Sixteen percent of 44 retailers listed Alex as their top-selling craft kit supplier in fall 2008. 1/7/2009 (Price: $10.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Sea Life Kidzsack by KIDZSACK

The Kidzsack is a high quality, multifunctional, and durable bag with a screenprint that kids can color in using the 8 provided color markers. The Sea Life Kidzsack design includes common sea creatures such as a dolphin, stingray, and octopus. ( Watch Video) 12/19/2008 (Price: $21.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Castle Kidzsack by KIDZSACK

The Kidzsack is a high quality, multifunctional, and durable bag with a screenprint that kids can color in using the 8 provided color markers. The Castle Kidzsack has received the 2008 Preferred Choice Award in the Creative Activities category. ( Watch Video) 12/19/2008 (Price: $21.95) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Beaded Snowflakes Ornament Set by CREATIVITY FOR KIDS

This set includes supplies to make six handcrafted ornaments to give as gifts or to adorn the Christmas tree. It comes with hanging ribbon and gift envelopes.
— Creativity for Kids “offers kids 2 to 12 years old a craft they can do alone or along with other friends, [and the] prices are just right, too. Also, they have never given me a problem with returns,” Jeanette Lauture, owner of Aunt Jean’s Toys & Treats in Montclair, N.J., told TDmonthly in late 2008. More than 7 percent of 52 retailers named the company as a favorite supplier. 12/19/2008 (Price: $19.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Burj al Arab Paper Model Kit by PAPERLANDMARKS

The Burj Al Arab — a luxury hotel built on an artificial island in the Persian Gulf - has already become an iconic landmark of Dubai. Currently it stands for the world's tallest hotel and the world's tallest structure with a membrane facade. Our 1/1000 scale model depicts all the beauty of the building, including the helipad and the hanging restaurant. Size when assembled: 12.8 x 5.5 x 5.1 in. / 32.5 x 14 x 13 cm. Launch date: November 20, 2008. 12/19/2008 (Price: $32) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Morph-O-Scopes Kit - Sports of All Sorts by OOZ & OZ

The Sports of All Sorts Kit optical illusion eye-hand challenges provide hours of independent, brain-powered, sit-down sports fun. Kids find and crayon morphed shapes on distorted coloring pages to make color appear in the right place in the sports cartoon reflections. They complete the morphed picture, create their own morphed drawing, navigate a morphed maze, connect the dots, predict a reflection, and more. The activities help develop logic and perception skills, flex problem-solving mental muscles, exercise fine motor control, test spatial intelligence, and spark imagination and creativity. The kit contains 32 coloring page activities (“Soccer” is shown), two mirror-perfect Morph-O-Scopes (easy assembly), 16 non-toxic crayons, a Sports Kit Enrichment Guide to maximize learning, and instructions in English, Spanish and French — all in a portable “desk” convenient for travel. The activities engage boys and girls, kids, tweens, teens and adults, as they have universal, cross-cultural appeal. The Sports of All Sorts Kit is made in the USA and meets or exceeds all U.S. safety standards. It's the second Morph-O-Scopes Kit offered by OOZ & OZ, whose Circus Kit earned 19 national educational toy awards.
The Sports of All Sorts Kit has received the following awards and honors: 2009 Dr. Toy Best Vacation Children's Products,  a “Recommended” endorsement from the National Association for Gifted Children, 2009 The Toy Man Editors Choice Award, 2009 The Toy Man Award of Excellence, and 2009 The Toy Man Seal of Approval.  “No other products on the market use OOZ & OZ's exclusive technology or have earned as many toy honors," Myrna Hoffman, managing director and chief morphologist of OOZ & OZ, told TDmonthly. Launch date: December 13, 2008. 12/19/2008 (Price: $19.99)

Handy Helper Art Smock by KIDZSMOCKS INC.

WIth the typical red plaid shirt and workman's tools illustrated on this art smock, it protects a child's clothing from arts and crafts, and also serves as a pretend play outfit. It is 100% waterproof and can be fastened on from the back with velcro. 12/18/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Cheerleader Art Smock by KIDZSMOCKS INC.

This art smock has a cheerleader design theme, complete with pom poms and the typical cheerleader style outfit. It is 100% waterproof and can be fastened on from the back with velcro. 12/18/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Firefighter Art Smock by KIDZSMOCKS INC.

This firefighter art smock's design includes the suspender overalls of a typical firefighter, but not its fire retardant jacket. It is 100% waterproof and can be fastened on from the back with Velcro. ( Watch Video) 12/18/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Hairdresser Art Smock by KIDZSMOCKS INC.

The Hairdresser art smock comes in a pink design with illustrations of a hairdresser's common items, such as a comb, brush, and scissors. It is 100% waterproof and can be fastened on from the back with Velcro. 12/18/2008 [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

CALAFANT Castle L3 by CREATIVE TOYSHOP

The CALAFANT Castle is part of the CALAFANT cardboard kit line and is extra sturdy and easy to build. Children can decorate it any way they like and get really creative. Not only is it fun to decorate the castle, it's also a wonderful toy and a cool home for knights, kings, princesses and dragons. The toy is fully recyclable and won't take up space in a landfill. Launch date: January 4, 2008. ( Watch Video) 12/12/2008 (Price: $24.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

CALAFANT Treehouse by CREATIVE TOYSHOP

With a treehouse kit made from high-quality, extra durable cardboard, all pieces come precut and easy to assemble. The child can decorate this treehouse with paint, crafting materials and get very creative. After decorating and building it, the kids can play with it and incorporate it in their every day play. Ideal size for play with 3" dolls or animal figurines. The material is 100% recyclable. Approximate size is 15" x 16" x 22". Launch date: June 1, 2008. ( Watch Video) 12/12/2008 (Price: $24.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Stick Puppet Party! Black History Edition by TIGERCANDY ARTS INC.

Featuring famous “firsts” in African American history — Barack Obama, Bessie Coleman, Oscar Micheaux, Rebecca Lee Crumpler and Toni Morrison — this kit is both a fun craft activity and an inspired teaching resource. It contains the following: five blank corrugated bodies, 10 blank arms and legs, five blank heads, five themed faces, five sticks, 20 fasteners, five sheets of decorative paper, 50ml of glue, easy to follow directions and synopses of included historical figures. Completed stick puppets stand 14" tall and have movable arms and legs. "Our product features famous "firsts" in African American History, including President-Elect Barack Obama!" Tiger Kandel, president of Tigercandy Arts, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009. 12/12/2008 (Price: $16.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

CALAFANT Calacastle by CREATIVE TOYSHOP

This pre-colored, walk-in cardboard castle is designed for children to climb in, crawl in, play in, and decorate inside and out. It is beautiful, sturdy and offers lots of room for play and even storage, with secret compartments in the towers. The slot-and-groove system makes it easy to build, and it's made in Germany from extra-durable, lightweight white cardboard. The castle measures approximately 41" x 41" x 49". "[It's] better than any regular playhouse because children can color it and play with it," Martina McConnon, owner of Creative Toyshop, told TDmonthly. "You can build this castle in three different configurations depending on what space you have available." Launch date: 2008. 12/12/2008 (Price: $79.99) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]

Shains - Recycled Bracelet with 60 Elements by SHAINSWARE

Shains Bracelets are part of the Shains line of fashion accessories and an easy way to begin stylizing one's own fashion. Comes with the full alphabet and seven icons. Available in a variety of colors. Shains are cool, recycled fashion accessories that empower people of all ages to make their own statements — and change them anytime. "Shains are unique in using recycled materials and in their cool colors and new product selections, including unique ponytail holders and backpack keyclips," Owner Ewa Martinoff of Shainsware told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2008. ( Watch Video) 12/12/2008 (Price: $12.00) [Add to my Inquiry Basket][?]