Editorial Review

The Aquadoodle isn't a pool or tub toy, but without water it's no fun at all. It's just a drawing mat after all, but kids will like the novelty of its disappearing colors. The 81 by 53-inch drawing mat is large enough for several kids to doodle on at a time, using the included magic marker pens that do not transfer color to other surfaces (to our knowledge …). Color from the pens appears when water touches the mat; it then fades out without a trace in 60 seconds or so. That's it: no ink, no paint, and no mess.Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (84)

Lots of fun
My 2 year old loves his aquadoodle.He got the aquadoodle and some extra pens and the stamps.You need to order at least one extra pen so you can play with it with them.

Great for anywhere doodling
I recently saw this toy at a friends house. I had to get a 2 year birthday present and decided to buy this and buy one for my 3 year old and 14 month old. My 3 year had a great time during quiet time the other day and even figured out to wet her hands and feet and make prints. Today my 14 month old played with it while I premade some dinner. I like the fact that it doesn't write on anything else and my 14 month put the pen in his mouth but it is only water. It will be great on trips.We got the extra pens and stamps and that has been wonderful. Love it.

A hit for kids of various ages!!!!
This product is AWESOME!!!!My 2 year old son received this for Christmas.Since it only came with one pen, I bought the extra pens so he and my 4 year old daughter could play with it at the same time.They both love it and I don't have to worry about them fighting over who gets to play with it.It is big enough, they can both draw on it at the same time.
Yesterday, I also brought it with us while my daughter was in gymnastics.It folds up easily enough to take it places and I stuck the pens in the middle of it so they would not get lost.There are plenty of other kids that go there, so they are all sharing each others toys.It definitely was a hit as kids from 2 - 10 were down drawing on it with him.There was constantly 3 kids drawing on it at a time and they ended up filling up the mat by the end of the hour, so I just layed it out when I got home to complete drying.However, most of the time when it is just my son and daughter using it, any of their drawings dry fast enough that it DOES keep them entertained for quite a while.

... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arts and Crafts    2. Painting    3. Wacky   

Editorial Review

Just like any great artist, your little one should be preparedfor that moment when creative inspiration arrives. Featuring a largechalkboard on one side and a blank pad of paper on the other, thisDouble Easel will ensure that your pintsize Van Gogh can capture amoment of inspiration before it passes. The Double Easel is made ofdurable plastic and comes with wide trays on both sides for storing artsupplies (not included), as well as a large piece of chalk and aneraser (included). A large plastic clamp on one side of the easel holdsdown a 50-sheet pad of paper (included), and the two storage trays areremovable for easy cleanup. Designed for use by one or two children ata time, the Double Easel folds together for compact storage. Measures43.5 inches tall. --Chris Burns ... Read more

Reviews (41)

Great for your little artist!
We just got this easel for our 20 month old daughter and she LOVES it!!! It comes with a piece of chalk and a large writing tablet and didn't take too long to put together. I would definitly recommend this easel to any one with a child who loves to color.

grandkids activites
I took my grandkids to a play group and they had this item they had so much fun that I went to buy one.they keep busy with all the online pictures you can copy keeps them


I loved it!!!

Entertaining Easel
My 2 year old son recently received this easel as a birthday present.I put it together, and he has been using it ever since.Even at 2, he takes his artwork very serious and thoroughly enjoys it.He has fun using the chalkboard side; drawing and then erasing.On the paper side, he has fun with his Crayola crayons, washable, of course.He picks out a crayon, tells me what color it is, then hands it to me and I write the first letter of the name of the color so that he can start associating colors and letters.A great educational and fun item. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arts and Crafts    2. Art Supplies    3. Easels    4. Toddler    5. Activity   

Editorial Review

IlluStory is a multi-award winning kit that lets you write and illustrate your very own professionally typeset, hardbound book! This kit includes markers and special book pages for creating an original story that is mailed to the publisher in the postpaid envelope provided. Each book features up to 12 pages with 20 typeset words, and includes a Title page, Dedication page and a special "About-the-Author" page. The author's name, book title and illustration are laminated onto the cover. You have your choice of six cover colors to choose from. Additional reproductions and rush service are optional. The IlluStory kit now offers an Internet production option that includes online drawing tools and allows for more words per page, a choice of font styles and colors, and faster delivery times at no extra cost. IlluStory has won many prestigious awards such as the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award; Dr. Toy Best Toy Award; Parents' Choice Classic Award and the Family Life's Best Learning Toy Award. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Watch out -- only limited text is allowed!
Beware! -- this kit only allows 20 words per page and only contains 12 pages. I returned it because I wanted something where my 10-yr-old neice could write a short story.
(I think this is why it's recommended for ages 5-9.)

EXTREMELY GREAT PRODUCT!
We ordered these for our children for last year's Christmas, it was about the best thing they've ever recieved! It challenged them to come up with their very own story, using thier imagination and when the books arrived, they were so proud! They gave a copy of their books to thier teachers at school and copies to thier Grandparents. We will be ordering more of these for the kids and also to have on hand for birthday parties, or other gift giving occasions involving kids. I highly recommend these.

AWESOME
This was a gift to our 5 year old son for his birthday and the finished product is going under the Christmas tree for grandparents this year.What a wonderful and creative idea.My son had so much fun creating his story and we spent a lot of quality time together in the process. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Arts and Crafts    3. Learning    4. Drawing    5. Markers    6. Paper Crafts   

Editorial Review

For kids who want to experience the magic of growing their own garden, this kit is a fun andinventive experience. It contains everything you need to grow a small terrarium complete with an entirecommunity of tiny fantastical inhabitants. Paint the special planter with the paints (three primary colorsincluded), fill with soil, and then plant the enclosed beans and grass seeds. Then it's time to arrange the tinyfairy cottage, use the green pebbles to make a tiny path, and decorate the garden with the rocks, shells, and plastic animals that come with the kit. As the beans sprout and grow, you can cut and shape them sothey look like miniature trees--and for variety, add pepper, lemon, cantaloupe, and tomato seeds and watchjust what comes up. --John Longenbaugh ... Read more

Reviews (20)

AWESOME GARDEN!
I bought this for my 5 year old for christmas, and she had a ball painting the planter and then planting the seeds. Once it started to grow, we have had a ton of fun trimming and caring for the garden.I let her play with her polly pocket dolls on it because it belongs to her and she uses it as her "enchanted fairyland."So what if a little dirt gets on the floor, it cleans up.This is by far one of the few times I have not felt like I wasted my money.My 8 year old son even likes to be the landscaper.

garden
according to my 10 year old daughter"This little garden is a great thing to have . I love coming home from school each day and seeing how it had grown since morning. It grows so fast you almost don't have to wait. the grass comes up fast and the beans soon follow.it looks cute in the window . I love it !! "

Erin"s Jungle
I bought this for Xmas for my 6 yr. granddaughter. I wanted to have something to do while I was visting, and that she could enjoy once I went home. I let her do it herself. Grass and beans were planted wherever she decided. Of course she planted both everwhere. Within 2days the grass was up. The beans appeared the next day.My son just sent me a picture. The grass is taller than the house and the beans are everywhere. You can hardly see the house. I laughed my socks off. She doesn't want to cut the grass. Now if I could find out what grass they used,maybe I could get some to grow in my yard. Great gift. She invites her friend over to view the jungle. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Activity    2. Pretend Play    3. Gardening    4. Arts and Crafts    5. Craft Kits   

Reviews (22)

So far so good
My son received this easel for his birthday.He really loves the white board and his markers.The chalk board is also very usable.I like the deep wells for storing utensils.My one complaint is that I cannot get a whole pad of paper to stay under the clip but a few sheets do.Overall, a good product.

waste of money
At first my daughter loved this and always used it.Three months later and the blackboard can't be used.The chalk won't even write on it any longer.Now I have to purchase another blackboard.This was not worth the money.

piece of plastic junk
We received this easel as a gift for our daughter when she was 1.5 years old.Now, a little over a year later, the blackboard side no longer accepts chalk -- it's been rubbed smooth from use.

Invest in a real blackboard, not a sheet of blackboard-like paper pasted onto plastic. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Furniture    2. Toddler Furniture    3. Easels   

Editorial Review

Design your own soccer ball with this simple kit. The kit includes a size five(regulation-size) all-weather soccer ball, a pump, a set of six paints (in red, blue, green,yellow, black, and white), a specially formulated paint medium to help the paints stick,and a couple of brushes. The process is simple: Pump up the ball and then paint the whitesections in any color scheme. The instructions suggest using team or school colors andpainting on names of friends or team members. Allow each part of the ball to dry for twoto four hours before rotating the ball to paint the next part. Once the entire ball is painted,another 36 hours of drying time is required to ensure that the paint adheres well. Theresult is a fun, personalized soccer ball that's perfect for practice games or familyoutings. --Elisabeth Fredrickson ... Read more

Features

• Kit includes synthetic leather ball, paints, brushes, pump, needle, and instruction sheet
• Hand-sewn soccer ball you paint and design
• Ball is all-weather and regulation size
• Paints are non-toxic
• Air dry paints adhere to ball surface

Reviews (16)

Surprise
I bought this for my niece two years ago and never thought about it or heard about it again.Recently, I went to her soccer game and while she was playing, her brothers were playing with this decorated ball.She had fun decorating it and they all love to play with it!!I was pleasantly surprised.

Cool Look, But won't Last
This seems like a lot of fun, but at the same time most people nowadays are looking for the new cool-looking Adidas or Nike. Plus it probably won't last very long because of the material.

Coming from a kid
Coming from a kid, I must say that this is a wonderful item to have. I got it for my birthday last year and I loved it. I played with all the time. I painted it my own way, and it tought me to be more creative. It looks still liked new, after a year of playing Traveling Soccer. I had my friends sign my soccer ball and now everyone wants to play with it! I love it and if your kid is sporty and has fun painting and stuff...getting this for your kid is a great idea. I loved getting this and so will you! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arts and Crafts    2. Craft Kits    3. Painting    4. Painting Kits    5. Sports    6. Sports Equipment    7. Soccer   

Editorial Review

With this well-designed, double-sided easel, preschoolers can enjoy the advantages of creative expression on an upright surface. The easel's frame is made from sturdy wood left in its natural state, with thick pressed board used as the bases for the art surfaces. One side of the easel has a 24-by-24-inch, green chalkboard, and the other side has a 24-by-24-inch, white dry-erase board.Two removable, washable trays are included to attach to the easel (one with molded spaces to hold paint jars and brushes). The easel requires simple assembly, but no tools are required and all bolts and plastic bolt covers are included. Some thoughtful design aspects include an adjustable height feature, a convenient, built-in paper towel holder, and two metal clips to attach paper for painting. Included in the set are some art supplies to get started: four large, no-spill paint jars, six small jars of poster paint, four paint brushes, a package of colored chalk, six dry-erase markers, a foam eraser. This set was a winner of the Dr. Toy Best Classic Toys Award, and it would be a winning addition to any playroom, family daycare home, or preschool. --Marcie Bovetz, mother and former children's librarian ... Read more

Features

• One side is a chalkboard, the other a dry-erase board
• Paint jars included
• 48" tall
• Double-sided easel

Reviews (11)

Not worth the money...get something more durable!
This easel was a gift from a relative.When they told me it was expensive, I had NO idea!This easel is definitely NOT worth the money.It is not very durable.The screws came out with little prodding as my children were using the easel to draw.Eventually, enough screws came out & got lost that it is no longer usable.

We also had a Little Tikes double easel that we love.We got the Little Tikes one about 3 months after receiving this one as a gift.This one is currently in a corner of our office unusable.The Little Tikes one gets regular use and is incredibly durable.

This easel is for an older child who won't use it on a regular basis...if that.

Also, the paints WILL stain carpet & will not come out even with a professional steam cleaning.I would throw them out when you receive this product and replace them with water-based paints!

So disappointed!
I loved the bright colors and simple design and thought this was going to be the BEST easel. Well, I was wrong!

1. Both of the trays broke within 3 months of having this easel.
2. My 2 yr old son figured out how to unscrew the plastic screws and then piece by piece he kept gradually taking it apart till we finally lost so many screws that the whole easel is useless.

What a waste of money!
I wish I had bought something less expensive and more durable.

Great item, but a very pricey
I expected the item to arrive with more supplies and some paper for first time use.My husband and I both agree that the item is well made, durable and the kids love it. The price was just too high, at [$$$] for the item plus shipping, because the item was heavy,this was a [$$$] purchase.Assembly was easy enough, except that the holes on the chalkboard were a little off and it took brute force the line the holes up for the bolt.All in all if I could have returned it without paying another [$$$] I probably would have and spent my [$$$] on art supplies alone.I hope this easel will last through all my children, that way maybe I'll feel justified in the price I paid. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arts and Crafts    2. Art Supplies    3. Easels    4. Activity   

Editorial Review

Re-create Mother Nature's beautiful designs on the wings of butterflies with this kit from Balitono. It includes 4-inch wooden butterflies that can be used as refrigerator magnets, hanging sculptures, window decorations, and toy treasures. The kit offers three butterflies, nontoxic acrylic paints in five colors, shiny varnish, and a paintbrush. Each figure also comes with a press-on magnet, hanging accessories, a suction cup (for window use), and a small gift tag. An easy-to-follow instruction sheet includes compelling facts about the nature of butterflies. Colorful illustrations on the box show a wide variety of butterflies young artists might like to paint. A coded diagram inside identifies each species by name. Children may want to give these items as gifts, use them to decorate their rooms, or simply use them in creative play. --Joan DeClaire ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Expensive
I felt this kit was expensive for the small amount of items that came with it. It is cute and beats having my kids sit in front of the television, [...] As a plus I must admit that my children (ages 9 and 7) enjoyed painting the butterflies and turning them into magnets. That is worth a few stars.

classic but fun!
My girls have received other Balitono kits before and theylove them, so I am always on the lookout for more styles.The best ones we had were the horses kit and some other jewelry box kits (not sure the exact names) but the painted things are on our girls' tables.

The butterflies kit is not as elaborate as the others we had but we had as much fun creating them.My 9 year old and 7 year old shared the kit and took the time painting them and making into magnets and ornaments.The butterflies are about 4 inches each, not large but there are 3 of them and i am impressed with the quality of the paints and paintbrush since i used to paint on canvas.on the pamphlet, it said the wooden butterflies are hand-carved and they have the details that are life-like.One improvement i would like to have is to have a glow-in-the-dark paint included.

Busy momof four with limited income
I was pretty disappointed when I open this toy. I have very little money to spend on four wonderful children, and this was to be a Christmas gift, but when I opened it and saw that there were only three littel wooden butterflies, one paint brush and only six primary colors of paint, I really felt like I had wasted my limited resources.

I wish I had taken the time to read ALL of the reviews before purchasing this product. At a lower price, like 3.99 or less, this would have been a great deal, well worth it. But not at $14.99 plus shipping. I will certainly be much more careful when choosing toys online that is for sure.

Fortunately for me, my children are very well-manored and very compassionate. It is the reason for holiday that makes them happy. NOT the quality or quantity of the gifts they get. God bless them all... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arts and Crafts    2. Painting Kits    3. Animals    4. Bugs    5. Butterflies    6. Painting    7. Learning    8. Activity    9. Craft Kits   

Reviews (8)

Best Craft Set I've Ever Had!!!!!! 5 STARS ALL THE WAY!!!!!!
This barrel of crafts is great.No matter what the bad reviews say,they are wrong.It is totally worth the money.Your child will love it if they like to do crafts.I have made a lot of cute things with it.I even made an adoradle gift for my teacher who is going to have a baby!
If there is one word to describe this toy it is.......PERFECT!
THIS TOY IS DEFINATELY WORTH THE MONEY AND IS TONS OF FUN!!!!!!

5 STARS ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!
PS-It IS educational because it teaches kids to use their imagination and create new things.It is also very durable.Great for road trips!!!!!

Great gift
I bought this for my 5 year old for Christmas. It comes with SO much stuff. Well worth the money. It keeps her busy for hours and really encourages creativity...a must have for your little artist!

It is not a Barrel. It is a bottle of over priced stuff
It is just over priced. I paid $30 plus $10 shipping for this. I could get these stuff from a local craft shop with half the cost. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arts and Crafts    2. Craft Kits    3. Paper Crafts   

Reviews (3)

Great product - but buy it in the store
I have a child who loves to draw, color, and paint millions of pictures and make papers with stuff stuck all over them.So many, that they're everywhere and a lof of them eventually find their way into the trash.This is a great product for this kind of situation.My kid was excited over the large size of the paper.There is enough paper to last a while.You don't have to have an easel to enjoy it.The only dissappointing thing about it was the cost of shipping it - it came in a way-oversized box by itself and made the overall cost to buy it too expensive.

Doesn't have to be just for easels...
Being a preschool teacher I use these all of the time. I have found that taking the sheets out individually clipping them to the easels clip to be the best way to work with them. Even if you don't have an easel these are wonderful for children of all ages. Large, unlined sheets of paper encourage children to be creative and to express themselves in a completely original way. For infants, toddlers, and preschoolers I will often tape the sheets to the table and let them color/paint/glue to their hearts delight.

Too Heavy
I bought this pad for my twins.They use it on their little tikes double easel.This pad is a little to heavy to stay underneath the clip.When they start drawing on it, it starts to slip down.However, easel pads are not easy to find in our area, so I will probably continue to buy these.They have lots of pages in each book and good quality paper for "little artists". ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arts and Crafts    2. Art Supplies    3. Easels    4. Activity   

Reviews (10)

Extremely pleased
I bought this set for my son who loves to draw and paint.He absolutely loved this set.The colors are wonderful and the different types of pens, paints and crayons make drawing alot more fun for him.The case is sturdy and great so he doesn't lose anything.The price can't be better for everything you get.

Wonderful
I bought this set for my niece and nephew and they absolutely love it.The colors are great and the case makes it a cinch to store away.This set provides them with hours of fun.I recommend this to everyone.

Very Poor Quality Contents
I bought this for my 5 year old son who loves to draw. The crayons are cheap, compared to Crayola. We tested the 10 different reds searching for the correct "spiderman" red, but they all looked too pink, and pretty much the same color. Also really waxy. The oil crayons are terrible, totally waxy - no oil at all. Markers are OK (so far), but why provide two of each color with the same thin tip? They could have given a broad and thin tip marker in each color instead. The case does seem pretty sturdy, so worst case I'll replace the contents with better quality art supplies. I'm going to look around for something better... if I find it, this is going back to Toys R Us. Any ideas?? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arts and Crafts   

Editorial Review

The toy industry can be as fickle as fashion design. The hottest toy of one year's holiday season can often be found in the heavily discounted clearance section mere months later. But through all the fads and trends, Play-Doh remains just as popular as ever. This comprehensive set features six cans of the Doh itself along with plastic rolling pins, scissors, extruding tools, and cookie cutter molds. But perhaps the set's best feature is one that may go overlooked: it's all stored in an incredibly convenient big plastic barrel with a sealable lid. Play-Doh, for all its numerous virtues, does tend to dry out over time as those little plastic cans are often accidentally left open. But if young modelers can just get the goo back in the barrel and close the lid, it should stay moist and pliable enough for future use. --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Reviews (11)

The kids LOVE it
As soon as we got it my two kids (and myself) started to play with everything. It's great, my 2 yr old and 7 yr old sat and played with this for over 2 hours. Great buy!

Play doh Barrel
I think this item is great for kids.It is very fun to play and it doesn't make much of a mess.If anyone was wondering if it was good enouhg to buy I think you should say yes.i think every play doh item is great and fun to play with.I hope you take my advice and buy it.if you did have a great time

3-yr old loves this...
I got this for my son's 3rd birthday. He wasn't too into playdoh before now, and when we did play, I had to make everything. He'd ask me to make complicated things (bulldozer, vacuum) and get really frustrated when I tried to get him to make things. Since we got this bucket he loves it and plays on his own for at least 30 minutes! He needs help now and then but he really enjoys all the parts. We've only had it a few days but we've played with it at least a few times each day since we got it. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

New Review!
I like this item 0963679678 very much You should read more reviews to find out more about it

Great Product, Great Company
I used this product to create a book for my sister's baby shower.It was a big hit.The customer service of this company was amazing,they were always very quick to respond and very willing to work with me to create an amazing book.I have been telling all of my friends with children that they need to buy this product or one of the many others from Creations By You.You will not be disappointed with your purchase, the end product looks like a professionally produced book.

Buy this product!
My children did the Illustory kits for years but once they got a little older, they wanted a little bit more and this kit is perfect.You can still do drawings with your stories but this kit lets you use photos and stickers (some already come in the kit) and stamps and scrapbook and art materials--just about anything they want to jazz up the pages.We've made books for friends as a birthday gift, we did a travelogue of our last vacation and we've even used them to make an end-of-the-year yearbook for the teacher (everyone wanted a copy!).This kit is so cool and unique--there are hundreds of uses for it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arts and Crafts    2. Art Supplies    3. Craft Kits    4. Journals    5. Activity   

Editorial Review

What a great way to make an impression. This Kids' Step Stone Kit includes everything you need to make a wonderful stepping stone: StoneCraft mix (containing Portland Cement and silica sand),rainbow rocks, glass gems and glitter, and a craft stick for writing. Kids will love making pictures ofgardens and rainbows, or immortalize their very own handprint--just like the stars. A winner of the 1998 ParentsChoice Approval stamp. Adult supervision required. --Andrea Linsky ... Read more

Reviews (6)

These Stepping Stones are awesome!
My daughter, who's now 8 and I have made these using her hand print for every Grandma, Grandpa, aunt, uncle and of course, Mom and Dad, too.They are great gifts.Inexpensive, but priceless to those lucky enough to get them.My Daughter with the help of my Mom made one for me for Christmas one year.I can't tell you how much I LOVE my stepping stone with her little handprint in it.You can also take a toothpick or something and write the child's name, "I love you" or whatever to make it even more personal.None of the stones we've made have broken either and by last count, we've made 8.Oh, one other thing that we tried with the last two we made was painting them with some outdoor paint and that turned out real cute too.Give these as gifts and you can't go wrong!

Great for younger kids, too
I have used this with my 3 year old on 3 separate occasions and she absolutely loves it!It takes a lot of parental involvement and help with the actual mixing process (adding the ingredients), but she was able to stir it herself and LOVED putting the stones in.I supplemented with marbles, floral stones, and some stones specific to mosaics that I found at a craft store.All in all - a wonderful project that provides years of creative options and play, as well as great parental involvement.I gave a high educational value since creativity is one of the key foundations of education for preschoolers.

Great Toy For 'Grownups'
My housemates and I had fun making tiles for our garden! This kit is great. So is the other Mosaic Tile one. I know it's for kids, but it really adds something special to my little garden! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arts and Crafts    2. Craft Kits    3. Activity    4. Pretend Play    5. Gardening   

Reviews (13)

Every kid should have these
My kids have both kinds of magnets, these and the plastic letters with the little magnets in them. They love to play with all of them, but they get frustrated when the plastic ones just slide down the fridge, or when the magnets fall off. The plastic ones end up under the fridge; their thicker profile and poor magnets are a bad combination. This kind is MUCH better; they'relightweight and completely covered with magnetic material on the back. They don't fall apart and they stay put! Less frustration for the kids, less hassle for me: It's all good!

The best set of ABC magnets out there!
Like a lot of people, I grew up with those plastic alphabet letters on my fridge. So when my son was around 2 years old, I figured it was about time to get a set for our home. We were fortunate enough to get this set as a gift. I was truly impressed! This set is by far superior to any others I've seen on the market. They're large and colorful, and the entire back of the letter is a magnet. Not just one little square. They really stay put on the fridge! I also like that they're wood. Sure, bite marks would probably show up more on the wood than on plastic. But overall, I think the wood is far more sturdy and durable. All the letters come in a nice wood box with a sliding clear lid, making it easy to keep everything together. You really couldn't ask for more!

not pleased
My son got these when he was about 2.Right out of the box, some letters were de-magnatized.He enjoyed playing with them on the fridge for a while, but some of the affected letters were in his name - the first things kids usually spell.He has learned some of his letters, but I wish we had the old fashioned plastic letters. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Preschool    2. Learning    3. Reading    4. Alphabet    5. Electronic Learning Aids (ELA)    6. Electronic    7. Activity    8. Arts and Crafts    9. Easels   

Subjects:  1. Arts and Crafts    2. Painting    3. Activity    4. Easels   

Reviews (4)

A toy that sparks your child's imagination
My daughter just LOVES Ellos and she asks to play with them almost every day. Many toys are fun for a day or week and then sit in the toybox - not this one! She plays with them for hours at a time - each time creating something different.

I think the Ello sets are fantastic toys. They are educational and encourage children to use their imagination and to be creative. So many toys "do everything" for the child but this toy really puts the child in creative control. We love the great colors and shapes and the funky characters and animals available in different sets. My daughter has fun with the reusable stickers and also enjoys making bracelets, necklaces etc. It's also something that many children can play with at once especially with the larger sets.

One reviewer had mentioned that the "directions were worthless." I didn't have a problem with the lack of directions and don't think that detailed instructions are necessary. Basic designs are given as a guide but I don't think the point of a toy like this is to just build from the directions. I think the directions intend to give some basic ideas to show how the pieces fit together and then the child can take the creative lead.

One minor thing I would mention about the Ello sets is that sometimes the the character pieces don't stay together extremely well during play. Maybe sometimes an arm will come loose (it goes back in easily though), the ponytail will fall, or the face piece will come loose when moving around the characters. Even so I would still highly recommend Ellos and overall they are quite sturdy.

I think they are a great toy!!

Let Your Imagination Go Wild
My daughter is seven and loves all things Ello. She has several sets and can play with these indefinitely. She started by creating the ideas on the box covers, then ventured out to make her own creatures, cities, towns, and worlds. This is a fantastic toy for stimulating the imagination of a young mind!

Great for Imaginations
My almost 5 year old daughter recieved this Ello set for Xmas and she cannot get enough of it !!
There really is no directions with it you have to use your imagination and just build things.
The things my daughter has come up with are wonderful, she is having so much with it.
Her b-day is coming soon and she is asking for all the Ello sets she doesn't yet own.
... Read more

Editorial Review

Too many craft projects end up in the drawer; this paint-it-yourselfelectric bedside lamp kit can light up a room. Included are a small ceramiclamp, a plain white shade, and the basics for decorating them. There's a six-potset of mixable paints, and also a 20-inch strip of pink pompoms for the shade'sfringe, complete with glue. Obviously, these can be supplemented with othercraft materials of your choosing. The lamp and shade together are 10 inches highand a 15-watt candle-style bulb is already included. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Great Toy/Project
I am very happy with this lamp. I bought it for my 7 year old cousin as a gift and she fell in love with it. The lamp came with the paints for her to design however she wanted to. It is a great way for kids to open their minds and be creative. The one thing I would suggest is that it came in a variety of colors. It seems too much like a project for little girls only. Otherwise, it's a great product.

Awsome Lamp Painting
I think that the Groovy Ceramic Lamp is a good way to learn hand cordination because you have to be able to control the way you paint.Also it is a fun experiance that lasts.After you are done painting the lamp you can either give it to a loved one or keep for a reading lamp or whatever.So I promotethe Groovy Ceramic Lamp to a kid with a very artsy mind and imagination.

Disappointing
I read all the reviews and was excited to purchase this kit for my eight year old.

However, the lamp was TINY, only big enough for a night light really.The fringe was difficult to get to stay on.And the lamp base was so fragile that when it was accidentally tipped on my daughter's desk it shattered, only a week after we purchased it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arts and Crafts    2. Craft Kits    3. Activity   

Reviews (5)

Another great toy from Melissa & Doug!
We've had this stamp set for a year now, and it is still being used constantly by my son and daughter, age 5 now, and my other son, 4 now.They do not get tired of this toy!When I try to de-clutter and rotate the toys, they always notice if it's missing.(Which is more that can be said for most of their other toys).Super price for this set, considering how much it's loved!

4-yr-old daughter really enjoys this stamp set
A few pieces of paper and this kit can entertain my 4-yr-old daughter for at least 30 minutes at a time. I was impressed by how much you get for your money with this kit - 16 stamps, two ink pads and eight colored pencils. She loves to make pictures and cards for friends and family. It's a good way to nurture creativity.

stamp set
My daughter who is almost five likes this. She has used stamps before and she thinks it is cool because it comes with pencils to color in the stamps. Good gift. creative gift. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Arts and Crafts    2. Craft Kits    3. Wood    4. Activity   

Editorial Review

Like miniature cans of spray paint, the pens in this 50-pieceBlopens activity kit can be used to make a wide variety of colorfulstencil and airbrush pictures. The kit contains 15 pens, including fivecolor-changing ones, and 23 precut stencils. Each pen is filled withnontoxic, washable ink. By blowing into one end of the pen young artistscan create a colorful airbrush effect on paper. A sturdy cardboardworkstation that holds all of the pens has been included, along witheight sheets of paper, a carry case for the whole set, and aninstruction and idea booklet. --Chris Burns ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Boo this toy sucks
It was hard to make the ink come out plus they ran dry to soonTake my advice dont buy them

not a (real) kid!
i am an artist; i make a lot of greeting cards.i have found blo-pens to be a lot of fun and i have been very creative with them.i found that i do better when i use my own stencils, and i have experimented a lot with the pens.my frustration is not being able to find just the pens, except for the "bold" colors, which i do not need.and i don't like the color change pens (the colors are blah, as far as i'm concerned).would love to know how to find an assortment of pens.

BloPens Rock
I loved playing with BlowPens. I used to hate arts and crafts. But when I got BlowPens, I had the best time of my life! Now my sister's an artist! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Art and Crafts    2. Art Supplies    3. Markers    4. Activity    5. Arts and Crafts