Thinking Creatively

After a strong showing in 2006 and into the first half of 2007, sales of arts & crafts products cooled by last year's end. Though the category is generally well-favored by parents for its open-ended appeal, it was perhaps hurt by its “do it once and you're done” reputation in a financial environment in which every penny counts to cash-strapped consumers. But many manufacturers remain hopeful, with the stalwarts in the category being joined this year by a selection of new, lesser-known craft project providers as well as several new craft lines from companies better known for toys in other categories. How they fare will ultimately leave a significant mark on this year's U.S. toy market.

Spiraling Hearts Yoga Games and Activities for Kids, Huntington Station, N.Y., expands its game-focused line this year to include two yoga coloring books, the Yoga Pose Coloring Book and the Mandala Coloring Book (pictured). The Yoga Pose Coloring Book provides illustrations and instructions to make it easy for children to learn basic yoga poses stretching their creative muscles at the same time. The Mandala Coloring Book gives an introduction to the ancient art of circular design that offers a way for children to relax as they create their own artwork.

Both retail for $9.95.

Scribble Puzzles ($5), from educational placemat maker Scribble Mats, Hackensack, N.J., turn puzzle play into a two-activity proposition. After assembling the 24-piece puzzle into its final form (12.5 by 15 inches), kids color it in with the set of four non-toxic, wax-based crayons. Kids can then turn around and do it all over again thanks to the puzzle pieces' wipe-off coating. Six themes are offered, including jungle and farm animals, trucks and the alphabet.

Shains, from Los Angeles-based ShainsWare, are fashion accessories made from recycled materials that kids (or adults) can customize with their own messages. The one-size-fits-all recycled rubber bracelets and cuffs (pictured) are available in nine colors and fit most wrists and ankles. Messages are spelled out with letters, numbers and more than 36 icons, such as peace symbols, hearts and smiley faces, sold either with the bracelet or cuff, or in separate theme packs. Ten percent of the net profits from each sale are donated to environmental organizations, with selections available on the company's web site. Retail prices range from $1 for a four-piece themed icon pack to $17 for a cuff with 100 icons.

With Michael Sherman's Quick Draw Flip Books ($14.95; Klutz, New York) kids can turn their doodles into self-made motion pictures. To make this classic activity easier than ever, Flip Books features several sets of perforated pages, each with a sequence of partially finished pictures illustrating a funny story. When done, kids can tear out the pages, bind them with one of the included custom clips, and flip them to see the action come to life. In addition to four clips, the book comes with a set of mini-markers, enough tear-out pages to make eight flip books and a user-friendly how-to guide.

VTech gets artsy this year with its new KidiCreative line of creative play products amplified with hands-on electronic elements. The line's KidiArt Studio ($79.99) may look like a standard activity desk, but the interactive art console is, in fact, closer to a “junior Photoshop.” The Studio's secret is a built-in digital camera that kids can use to edit or display their images on a TV or PC. It also includes activities—from basic drawing to art lessons—plus built-in special effects with which to further customize images.

Crayola, Easton, Pa., adds some sparkle to its Model Magic modeling compound with this year's edition, Model Magic Fusion. The soft, lightweight, crumble-free and air-drying modeling material is now available with special textures, like “Alien Skin” from the Creatures assortment that boasts an “icky, bumpy feel,” and bolder colors, like “Bug Eye Purple” and “Silver Crystal.” Three-pack sets are offered in primary colors, neon and natural hues. In addition to Creatures, themes include Outer Space and Glitter. Fusion compound is also available in themed 3-D Modeling Kits ($7.99), available in Disney Castles (pictured: Ariel's Castle Kit) and Pirates of the Caribbean designs. The kits come with a pre-formed “structure” so kids don't have to start construction from scratch, plus seven packages of Model Magic Fusion in appropriate colors and a stylus tool for detailing.

Creativity for Kids, Cleveland, introduces a series of mini activity kits ($5.99) to spur greater impulse purchases with fun and quick creative projects that won't put too much of a crimp in family finances. The assortment includes: the Mini Show Horse, a paint your own pony that can be dressed up with accessories; Make Your Own Shrinky Dinks, with five sheets of blank film and colored pencils for creating the Shrinkies, plus a ball-chain necklace, bracelet and jump rings for wearing them; Rock-a-Doogle, a set of five polished river stones that can be customized using supplied paint, wiggly eyes and felt; and Color-In Tattoo Party, a kit that includes four skin-safe tattoo markers and more than 40 color-in designs suitable for girls and boys.

Mask Kit, part of the Ready2Learn Craft Kit line from Center Enterprises, West Hartford, Conn., gives creatively minded kids the opportunity to customize their own mask using either pre-planned designs or their own imaginations. The included masks can be used as part of a party costume or for decor, encouraging creativity, play acting and storytelling. The kit ($11.95) comes with two flock-surfaced plastic masks, ribbon, feathers, glitter, glitter glue, glue, pens, sequins and instructions.

Streetsboro, Ohio-based Step2's Creative Projects Table ($129.99) is a sturdy desk with lots of built-in storage spaces for convenient workspace and stow-away needs. It features a large table surface with a molded-in storage tray that accommodates large removable storage cups for art supplies. The desk's wooden shelf provides additional storage out of arm's way and can be repositioned to transform the table from personal desk to a tabletop accommodating two or more children. Lower side-supports also offer storage compartments for drawing pads, tablets, books, supplies and toys. It includes two 11-inch tall stools.

With the Wacky Wild Thing kit ($14.99), from Orlando, Fla.-based Action Products' Curiosity Kits line, kids of a certain stripe will enjoy making their own customized plush monsters using simple stitching techniques, buoying any boy or girl's fine motor skills and can-do spirit.

Crescent Cardboard, the Wheeling, Ill.-based company best known for its decades of producing picture framing products, enters the market for children's activity products this year with Powder Art, its twist on paint-by-numbers. Kids use a paint brush to apply eight colorful powders onto the sticky surface of a pre-designed board. The result is a mess-free painting activity that also has a pleasantly tactile texture. It uses a “revolutionary” dry paint powder made of recycled paper that is non-toxic and easily washable. Kits are offered in four themes: sports, jungle animals, planes and trains, and puppies and kittens. Each kit ($7.99) comes with four design boards, eight Powder Art colors, paint brush, artist palette tray and color guide instruction sheet.

The Baggy Bunch paper bag puppets kits ($12.95) from Northvale, N.J.-based Alex are gender-themed sets of four colorful paper bag characters that kids can decorate and then use to put on a puppet show, practice their ventriloquism or do whatever else comes to their creative little minds. The “Guys” kit lets kids create a pirate, cowboy, fireman or custom puppet while the “Gals” kit contains everything needed to create a hula girl, mermaid, ballerina or an entirely new character.