In late 2007, kids will be able to steer their crayons across a page, using the remote control that powers the Color Bug from RC Art. WallPOPS Wall Art, perfect for teens and tweens who love to decorate — and redecorate — makes roomfuls of colorful expression easy with peel-and-stick vinyl pieces. And little boys can get into custom design with the Airbrush Car Painter Workshop from Intek S.A., which lets them customize bikes, skates and more.
Read on to see what else manufacturers told TDmonthly Magazine is painting a new picture for the toy industry:
Airbrush Car Painter Workshop by INTEK S.A.
This workshop allows boys to play and customize their bikes, skates, cars, rooms and more by making airbrushed designs with stencils and stickers. The designs correlate to the Hot Wheels brand, for powerful artwork that stresses the boys’ attitudes. The product uses air compression and works with water-soluble markers. Launch date: January 8, 2007.
RC ART's first patented Radio-Controlled Art product is this ladybug-shaped toy that draws on art surfaces using markers, crayons or chalk that are snapped into it. Using the controller, kids create colorful art by steering the turns and spins of the motorized Color Bug — a fun, action-packed toy. Accessories include interchangeable shells and an inexpensive play pad with integrated walls. This product “introduces a new toy category to the market — Radio-Controlled Art. [It] fills the gap for girls in the radio-controlled toy genre,” President Gwen Austin Yuffa of RC ART told TDmonthly. Children can customize it with the pink bug or racing bug shells, she added. Launch date: Fall 2007. — As of 05/13/2011 this product had 5 out of 5 stars from 1 review on Amazon.com.
The World’s Best Sock Puppet Kit encourages creativity by allowing the user to create three sock puppet characters of his or her own design. Each kit includes three colorful blank Socketts — special sock puppets with soft, flexible mouths — plus eight types of color-coordinated craft materials, craft glue, suggestions, photos and a blank Sockett house. This kit particularly targets the developmental needs of elementary school-aged children. Launch date: February 11, 2007.
Acrylic Painting Set for DummiesŪ by LOEW-CORNELL INC.
Part of a new line called Arts Sets for Dummies, this kit comes with a For Dummies 24-page instruction book that covers materials, techniques and terminology, and tips for success in a clear, concise manner. Art supplies include 10 acrylic paints, six white nylon brushes, two painting boards, one palette knife, one palette, one drawing pencil, one pencil sharpener and one eraser, all organized in a richly stained wood carrying case. Launch date: April 2007.
Kids can make their own flipbooks with this kit that contains pages with pre-drawn frames for two dynamic books: Mona Lisa (she warps and smiles) and Degas Dancer (she comes to life), as well as pages with empty frames for original artwork. Once the frames are colored with the six markers provided, children just separate the pages along their perforations, order and stack the pages, and clip them together. — Barry Jacobson, director of sales and marketing for Fliptomania, told TDmonthly that this product is unique because it “introduces children to the basic building blocks of movie-making. It also provides them with simplified versions of fine arts subjects that they might recognize.” Launch date: November 2006.
This “creative illumination for children’s rooms” has an attractive, modern design with a flat “screen,” a luminescent transparent edge, and transparent lids for the “bulbs” containers. The clever and innovative board structure allows bulbs to be inserted without limitation, for compositional freedom. The state-of-the-art electronic board is fitted with the latest generation of LED lights, capable of high luminosity but low electric consumption. The light automatically turns off after 20 minutes, allowing children to fall asleep. The product requires 3 AA batteries (not included). Launch date: March 2007.
Make 'n Play Ancient Heroes and Magical Things by LEVY DESIGN & MANUFACTURING LLC
Make ‘n Play puts an exciting twist on the traditional paper doll. The die-cut cardboard figures serve as a canvas, allowing children to draw in the face, hair and anything else. Clothes, accessories and bling complete the transformation from a plain cardboard figure into a dazzling magical creature. The kit includes six 10” figures (centaur, sphinx, knight/hero, dragon, mermaid and minotaur), clothes, accessories, sequins and feathers, markers, a glue stick and three stands. — “Because the children actually make the figures themselves…they feel a connection to the finished product that fosters tremendous interaction and creative play,” Josh Levy, president of Levy Design & Manufacturing, told TDmonthly. “One boy said in a focus group (after enthusiastically making six intricate figures) 'I hate art projects! I only like Make ‘n Play!'” Launch date: February 11, 2007.
This vintage "slide top" paint set features 1940s-inspired "bunny" print graphics. The solid wood case contains 20 rectangular “pressed" watercolor cakes, two porcelain mixing pots, two paint brushes, 15 color pencils and one eraser. It conforms to ASTM D4236 and is AP non-toxic. It comes shrink-wrapped with a colorful, descriptive slip sheet. Launch date: March 2007. — “Art sets have been done a million times, and we’re trying to come up with things that are more innovative and make us feel more special,” Vice President Glory P. Graham told TDmonthly. “The items are really selling themselves.”
The Theasel is a magnetic dry erase board, art board, felt board and puppet theatre all in one. The portable product locks into a Nilo brand table but works on any flat surface, table, bed or floor. Thanks to its pint-sized design, it will stay in the home and be used every single day. It comes with an art paper roll holder, four dry-erase markers, an eraser, four jumbo magnetic buttons to hold art paper on the board, a set of 2" wooden magnetic letters and numbers, and 10, 12" X 12" squares of different colored felt to cut patterns. It features a 24" x 24" board and is made of solid hardwood, built to last.
Morph-O-Scopes Party Fun Pack - Pirates by OOZ & OZ
This no-stress optical illusion coloring activity captivates all ages, has global appeal, and is ideal for mixed boy and girl groups. The activity is easy to assemble, totally child safe, and made in the USA. Each Party Fun Pack for 8 Children contains eight morphed placemat coloring pages with colorable borders, eight Morph-O-Scope mirror decoders, and eight bonus morph activities. Activity time is about 30 to 45 minutes. Retail cost per child is about $2. The Pirates Party Fun Pack meets or exceeds all U.S. safety standards. Princess Pony and Halloween themes are also available.
Writer's Bio: Julie L. Jones has written articles for both newspapers and magazines. Before joining the staff of TDmonthly Magazine, she worked as a communications writer and provided editorial support for a market research company. Read more articles by this author
Writer's Bio: Julie L. Jones has written articles for both newspapers and magazines. Before joining the staff of TDmonthly Magazine, she worked as a communications writer and provided editorial support for a market research company. Read more articles by this author
