This year, kids can ditch the traditional coloring book for some 3-D fun with biodegradable cardboard structures that can be decorated to their hearts’ content. They might also resort to making their own plates and plush, or getting artistic with sand, magnets and all-natural — and even edible! — play dough.
There are two pre-printed styles of tote bags to choose from. Girls can add glitter glue and gems according to the instructions. The kit includes the Fashion Angels Cooler Jeweler gem and stud setting tool to keep the bling on the bag. "The item is something functional and results in a professional looking tote bag, not like a craft project — all for a great price," Sarah Koth, PR manager for Fashion Angels Enterprises, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.
Made from recycled cardboard, this 100-percent biodegradable carriage is designed to be easy to fold, easy to color and great for play. It comes with six non-toxic, washable markers, and could be used as a birthday party craft or as part of a school project. Launch date: January 6, 2008.
"Our die-cut vinyl designs are superior to paper or cardboard pictures. The peel-off release paper can be 're-attached' to the sticky surface to create your own designs. All products are made in the USA," MaryLee Hanson, owner of ArtiSands, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.
Fun Stix garage door magnets are a fast, easy and cost-effective way to decorate for holidays and celebrations of all kinds. Most garage doors in the U.S. are made of polymer-coated steel, and Fun Stix are designed to stick to these doors with no effort at all. They're also weather resistant, UV protected, reusable , and won't interfere with the normal operation of garage doors. Fun Stix may also be used on refrigerators or office file cabinets, or in nurseries, daycare centers or classrooms. "Typical magnetic decorations are too heavy. As a result, they are too expensive. ... Fun Stix™ combine plastic die-cut sheeting and magnets to give customers a one-of-a-kind decorative experience saving time, energy and money. Dollar for dollar, customers can decorate four to five times more of their garage doors compared to typical garage door magnets of the same cost," John Delatorre, president of Fun Stix Magnets, told TDmonthly. Launch date: September 2009.
This soft, pliable, moldable dough is made from water, flour, salt, cream of tartar, canola oil and citric acid. The company uses colors that are made using only all-natural plant and vegetable extracts; no artificial colors or chemicals are used. The Super Mega Fun Pack contains one 4-oz. container of each of the colors (natural, brown, green, orange, pink and yellow) and a little rolling pin in a reusuable cotton bag. "When Happy Fun Dough has come to the end of its long and fruitful life, just put it on your compost pile and reuse or recycle the cute tin container," Christine Stewart, owner of For My Kids, told TDmonthly. This product received Dr. Toy's Best Classic Toys of 2009 award. Launch date: November 2008.
Fashion Angels Rockstar Stylist Sketch Book by FASHION ANGELS
Aspiring rockers and stylists to the stars may use this sketch book to create styles for favorite groups or for their own soon-to-be-famous band. Girls can sketch their band’s fashion wardrobe, concert tickets, posters, T’s, album covers, drums, guitars and more. It includes 25 formatted sketch sheets, a design style guide, 10 markers, 12 mini colored pencils, a sharpener and an eraser. "It's different from our other design sketch book line since girls can design more than just the fashions and clothes. It gets them thinking about the designs of other objects, such as the instruments and album covers," Sarah Koth, PR manager for Fashion Angels Enterprises, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 2009.
Incrediline's murals and mats are designed to take any kind of permanent or impermanent marker and wipe clean easily without water or cleansers — even months after Junior first scrawled his Hancock.
T-me Design-Your-Own is a do-it-yourself kit that includes everything a child needs to design his or her own wearable artwork. She can draw a picture using the markers and papers in the kit, choose her favorite T-shirt style from the enclosed catalog, and mail the drawing to the company in the pre-paid return envelope. In 10 days, she'll receive her very own wearable art. The kit's T-shirt-shaped packaging converts into an easel-style picture frame so kids can easily display their favorite artwork.
This parent and child activity kit includes materials to create a foot cast in the sand at the beach. It includes enough plaster mix to make molds of two feet and comes in a bright beach pail. Launch date: February 2009.
This kit includes printed cotton canvas, a doll pattern, scissors, needle, thread and stuffing so that kids can make their own dolly. Awards: TDmonthly Top Toy 2009.
Batter up with Sticky Mosaics®! Complete four fun filled pictures with our foil and foam stickers, then hang them on your wall. Includes four templates, four wall hangers, and over 2700 foil and foam sticky tiles.
The CALAFANT spaceship is designed to be easy to build, easy to color and great for play. Made from recycled cardboard and 100-percent biodegradable, it comes with six non-toxic, washable markers. "[It's] easy to sell as a goody-bag item for birthday parties: It's a craft-activity and something for the kids to take home," Martina McConnon, owner of Creative Toyshop, told TDmonthly. Launch date: January 6, 2008.
This kit includes six, 4-oz. containers of handmade soft dough made with organic flour, sea salt, cream of tartar, canola oil, natural plant and vegetable colors, natural scent extracts and natural preservatives. The lemon, orange, lime, strawberry, cherry and grape dough varieties are packaged with several different play dough tools. Clementine Art products are available exclusively at Whole Foods stores through 2009.
Each coloring and activity set features a different theme (neighborhood, airport, horse ranch, zoo or construction site) and includes Crayola crayons, a coloring mat, corrugated pop-up buildings for decoration and play, and accessories. The three-dimensional structures allow kids to play after they’ve colored and designed the set. Launch date: Fall 2009.
The Make A Plate® Kits are a great way to capture the imagination of the young artist in a usable product that is dishwasher safe and break resistant. A classroom kit that has enough templates for your child’s classroom or parties, each kit contains 50 drawing templates, 2 packs of markers, one order form, one pre-addressed return envelope, one instruction sheet and one label to expedite your order. Have one plate made or have all 50 made at once. You decide which ones and when, after you’ve created the design. Pay only for processing the artwork that you send to the Magic Factory™. Processing is only $5.95 per plate (CAN $7.95 USD). After all, teachers and families have been making memories and we have been making them special since 1969! — In an October 2011 survey about best selling personalized and keepsake items, Kim Emigh, manager of e-commerce at Growing Tree Toys in State College, Pa., told TDmonthly that their top selling item is "The Make a Plate kit - hands down!"
Every teddy bear's got personality, but this one's got yours! With a little TLC and some careful stitching you can sew a puppy and made a friend all in one sitting. This kit includes pre-cut felt, polyfill, embroidery floss, needle, ribbon, and easy to follow instructions. Everything you need to complete one 9-1/2" puppy.
Artists can make this action figure of President Barack Obama their own, having the creative freedom to paint, decorate and display him as they wish. The figurine stands 6" tall and has 8 points of articulation.
This birthday-themed Kids Color Tissue Box® kit features birthday party-related illustrations such as confetti, balloons, and presents for a child to color in. 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.
A playhouse made of sturdy and durable 2-ply cardboard. There are no staples or sharp edges and the unit folds up flat for storage. A completed house measures 48" high by 27.5" wide by 35" deep. The product folds flat for storage. For ages 3 and up.
Brickadoo Vincent Van Gogh Yellow House by RS2PLAY
This set comes with bricks and materials to create a miniature version of the Yellow House as portrayed in one of artist Vincent van Gogh's famous paintings.
Playdate Central Giant Activity Tablecloth by INTERNATIONAL PLAYTHINGS LLC
With over 50 mazes, word find, connect the dots and pictures to color, the Giant Activity Tablecloth allows for multiple child play. The tablecloth comes with six washable markers, but can work with any washable maker. It is completely machine washable. Launch date: February 15, 2009.
ArtiSands Mini Nature kit includes nine (9) shaker tubes of sand and eight (8) pre-cut Sandesigns (Parrots, Fish, Butterflies, and Lizards). Features non-toxic colored sand, 5x7 vinyl pre-cut Sandesigns, sturdy carrying box, and easy to handle shaker tubes.
