27 minute read
Coffee Break – TnP chats to University Games
Time to get crafty!
Our tiny testers put two Aquabeads sets - Enchanted World and Star Bead Studio - from Epoch making toys through their paces
Mum Vyshie says: “My daughters Nila (aged seven) and Sia (aged four) love anything that’s creative with lots of colours, and the Aquabeads sets keep them busy for hours! They are super easy to use: the instructions are very clear, and the girls picked it up instantly.
“I like the fact that ‘aquabeading’ encourages their creativity and imagination. The packaging for the Star Bead Studio set was and imagination. The packaging for the Star Bead Studio set was creative too. My girls were very excited to see a star-shaped box creative too. My girls were very excited to see a star-shaped box and have been creating a star to match.''
What’s included in the box?
The Enchanted World set includes:
■ 1,800-plus ■ design pegs star, solid and ■ layout tray jewel beads ■ sprayer in 26 colours ■ template ■ creation sheet displays ■ instructions
What’s included in the box?
The Star Bead Studio set includes:
■ 1,000-plus star Mum Amber says: “My daughters Tamba (aged six) and True (aged seven) enjoy arts & crafts activities and have been busy making and creating and solid beads in 24 colours throughout lockdown. The Aquabeads sets have ■ star-shaped proved a great success. Playing with the beads keeps them quiet and occupied for ages because bead case they have to concentrate - which gives me time to ■ bead pen with catch up on household chores!” Aquabeads stick together with water so no bead picker heat, tools, paints or extra accessories are needed, ■ fl ip tray set meaning children can enjoy the whole process from beginning to end. ■ sprayer
Amber explains: “The sets come ready-to-play, so ■ template sheets my girls can start crafting straight away. And there’s no mess because they only need to use a small ■ instructions squirt of water (from the sprayer that’s supplied), plus the beads for the Star Bead Studio set can be stored away in the star-shaped case. The sets include template sheets, and my daughters love replicating the colours and copying the positions of the beads from the examples, so they are learning to follow instructions. from the examples, so they are learning to follow instructions. “So far they’ve made a fox, chick and a unicorn. They’ve also gone “So far they’ve made a fox, chick and a unicorn. They’ve also gone ‘freehand’ and mixed and matched the beads to make ‘freehand’ and mixed and matched the beads to make countless fl owers, which pop up everywhere. Their countless fl owers, which pop up everywhere. Their fl oral designs have been given to friends at school, fl oral designs have been given to friends at school, placed on my pillow and even popped into daddy’s placed on my pillow and even popped into daddy’s toolbox as surprise gifts! toolbox as surprise gifts! “This activity is fun, mess-free and foolproof “This activity is fun, mess-free and foolproof with no adult supervision required, so it gets with no adult supervision required, so it gets a big thumbs-up from me.” a big thumbs-up from me.”
Contact
Epoch making toys 0208 049 1377 www. epochmakingtoys.com
Epoch
The arts & crafts movement
Through three lockdowns and a long winter, arts & crafts has experienced a resurgence in popularity. But as the country (hopefully) makes it way towards the end of Covid restrictions, will interest continue and help toy retailers keep their tills ringing?
With long days at home Zoom - or even having a bit of a lie-in? stretching out ahead of Paper weaving and slime making came them, and with school and out tops for the length of time and the low outside clubs cancelled, noise levels, with origami, painting rocks it’s no surprise that children (along with and jewellery making not far behind. teenagers and adults) have Meanwhile, arts & craft retailer
been getting creative to “ Hobbycraft has predicted keep busy over the past year. With some of the top trends for
With parents working lockdown easing 2021. ‘Cottagecore’ is a trend at home, keeping children occupied (and quiet) has been an important part of the day - and arts & crafts products fulfil and coming to an end, we still believe people focused on country-style living, cosy interiors, floral prints and celebrates a return to traditional crafts such as that need. But which are the will be cautious sewing, knitting, home baking best arts & crafts for keeping and life will not and pottery. kids occupied? Online DIY community DIYS.com decided to put this to the test, sending go back to total normality for a while still Crafts that use resin have also soared in popularity, as has sustainable crafting (upcycling, recycling etc). popular craft activities to Jital Rao, Craft Buddy Crafting for mindfulness is more than 1,500 parents, also important. Searches on and asking them to time the Hobbycraft website for how long children were occupied for - cross stitch, embroidery, colouring books and to assess the noise levels! So what and scrapbooks were up 224%, 209% 198% can you tell your customers who are and 225% respectively during lockdown. looking for something to keep their So it’s clear that the past year has been a children occupied while they are on a great boost for the sector. But how are toy work call, or undertaking an interview on suppliers going to keep up the momentum of this huge interest in arts & crafts? At Fiesta Crafts it’s about nostalgia, says MD Andrew Bacon: “We have consistently seen an increase in parents wanting to engage their children in arts & crafts activities and this began even before the pandemic. Parents are looking for products that take children away from
screen time and we will keep momentum going by continuing to introduce products that offer unique crafting activities while harking back to the traditional elements of crafts that adults enjoyed as kids.’’
Always something new
Now that many of us have fallen back in love with arts & crafts, Great Gizmos aims to keep introducing something new to keep us interested, says sales director Sarah Dayus: “We only see this going from strength to strength, even when life is back to ‘normal’. We plan to keep introducing new and exciting products throughout the year and keep on top of trends. Customers are always looking for new ideas and look to the brands they know and trust.’’
New products are in store at Mookie Toys too. “Over 2020 the tie-dye trend sky-rocketed, and our brand Tybo experienced a huge demand,’’ says Christina Aikman, international marketing manager. “In 2021 Tybo will be launching two new products, Tybo XL and Tybo Dip & Dye. Children always love to express their creative side through arts & crafts, and we are looking forward to diversifying our product range to support this category.’’
A touch of Disney magic is set to keep Crystal Art flying off the shelves, says Craft Buddy marketing manager Jital Rao. “Sales of our Crystal Art range have exceeded all expectations during lockdown. We are releasing our new Disney collection this month, which our existing customers will enjoy and which we believe will attract new crafters.
“With lockdown easing and coming to an end, we still believe people will be cautious and life will not go back to total normality for a while still. The spring/summer weather is a nice welcome and our crafts can be taken and enjoyed outdoors too.’’
Along with the vast uptake in arts & crafts products, interest has been shown across an older age group too. So are suppliers catering to that market?
“Our KidzMaker range is aimed at a slightly older age group and we have seen strong sales to reflect this trend,’’ notes Great Gizmos’ Sarah Dayus.
Andrew Bacon points out: “As I said previously, many parents have an affinity with Fiesta Crafts thanks not only to the diverse range of products but also to the fact that lots of our ranges are traditional and similar to those played with when they were young. Our Wood and Felt Craft and Wood and Clay Kits, for example, are extremely absorbing for kids of all ages and their parents. Our new 3D construction puzzles will also cover a wide age range.’’
Crafts for teens and adults
Craft Buddy’s Jotal Rao adds: “We have a great selection of fantasy crystal art with our Anne Stokes collection, which appeals to teens through to adults. We recently launched two new sets to our collection: New Easter 3D scene and Wearable Crystal Art kits.’’
Mookie Toys has also recognised that adults want to get in on the fun! “Tybo is diversifying into additional product offerings over 2021: Tybo XL and Tybo Dip Studio will help adults transform their clothes and accessories into colourful masterpieces,’’ explains Christina Aikman.
So with arts & crafts on an upward trajectory, what can retailers look forward to stocking? Great Gizmos has “a new range of 3D Mould & Paint kits,’’ says Sarah Dayus. “At the moment this includes Unicorn and Dinosaur designs but we have some more titles coming soon. Our new Disney Arts & Crafts range is also performing really strongly.’’
Bigjigs Toys is introducing a new distribution range - Tiger Tribe - says director Liz Ireland. “The range of compact and portable activity sets from Tiger Tribe are ideal for keeping little hands busy and providing screen-free entertainment.’’
Finally, Fiesta Crafts plans to answer parents’ prayers: “As we have all no doubt experienced during the past year, keeping children engaged in activities can be tough and parents are looking for products that extend the time they stay absorbed with arts & crafts. So open-ended play inspired products and products that allow children to express their own creativity are key. This is why we will be introducing more 3D Craft Masks this summer as well as 3D construction puzzles this month,’’ says Andrew Bacon. What do you stock in this category and which are best sellers?
One of our key brands is Djeco and its beautiful ranges of craft kits are consistently best sellers for us - mosaics, foil art, scratch art and origami, to name a few. Our sew and knit kits are also really popular from The Crafty Kit and Buttonbag. What new products are you planning to bring in?
We have just introduced a number of new product ranges: new clay modelling kits, paint by numbers and velvet colouring kits. And we always bring our customers the latest new products from Djeco; they never fail to disappoint! Have you noticed any trends?
We have extended our sew and knit range to cater for older children, along with beautiful Aquarellum watercolour and acrylic kits that create stunning poster-sized works of art.
Tess Bradshaw, Crafts4Kids, Nottingham
I love the Fuzzikins range from Interplay, and Epoch’s Aquabeads. BThey are brilliant for combined imagination and creative play, and the Aquabeads are great for pattern making and fine motor skills. I’ve just restocked my arts & crafts section, mostly with Great Gizmos’ KidzMaker range. I had a few other orders submitted for other products to complement the section, but the companies don’t know how to ship to Ireland yet post-Brexit, so I’m back to the drawing board again in terms of sourcing. Have you noticed any trends?
‘Diamond Painting’ is being requested a lot by teens and adults so I stock a few patterns in that, along with Paint by Numbers and Pouring Acrylic sets.
Hazel McCarthy, Toy Corner, Moycullen, County Galway
Actually we’re thin on the ground for art supplies, so if there are any good suppliers out there, please contact us! Have you noticed any trends?
We’re selling more and more to adults.
Dr Wendy Hamilton, Curious Minds, Helensburgh, Scotland
What’s trending in arts & crafts?
We don’t seem to be able to retail the very cheap and cheerful arts & crafts but we’re very strong with Galt and Melissa & Doug, which is mid-range and above. Anything sewing and knitting-related has been good.
Paul Wohl, Argosy Toys, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex
Style your imagination
BANDAI UK
0208 324 616 | www.bandai.co.uk
Creativity is the freest form of self-expression and Harumika is set to put the ‘fabulous’ into arts & crafts with new trends and styles launching for 2021.
The fashion design kits include mannequin torsos, fabric, and accessories to inspire creativity and appeal to budding fashionistas. Safe and easy to use (with no sewing, scissors or glue required), all materials and accessories are reusable. In addition to the core trends already available, 2021 sees the introduction of Nature Mood and New Age Tie-Dye to the Single Torso range.
Fashion designers are often inspired by the natural world when building their collection or a design, and Nature Mood draws references from the natural world with prints in a garden palette.
Tie-dye has been trending in fashion circles for years but in the early days of lockdown, tie-dye became the official uniform for everyone from celebrities stuck at home to homeschooled kids. New Age Tie-Dye lets you create your own looks. The Single Torso assortment comes with a torso, stick, 10 pins and three fabrics. Other mood boards include Street Blues, Neon Beast, Charming Countryside and Sweet Peru. These sets are a really great way to dream up new looks and cultivate a love for fashion, and the silicon strip at the back of the mannequin makes it easy to hold fabric in place exactly where you want it.
Be King or Queen of the catwalk with the Double Torso Assortment, which includes two torsos, one stick, 2 0 pins, four fabrics and one ribbon or belt. This set comes in four styles: Frozen Fruits, Cosmic Kawaii, Yummy All Over and Asian.
The Bridal Gown Sets let your imagination and creativity flow to design wedding and bridesmaid dresses for the big day. There are two styles to choose from: The Bridal Set and the Candy Wedding Party. With plenty of glamorous materials including satin and lace and accessories, there’s no end to the designs you can create.
Get creative with Casdon
CASDON
07951 033234 | www.casdon.com
Bringing traditional arts & crafts into the home is Casdon’s Wooden Easel. Not only does it encourage children to create and show off their artistic masterpieces, but it also helps with fine motor skill development.
The traditional Wooden Easel houses a chalkboard surface on one side and a wipe-clean magnetic surface on the other: perfect for mess-free creative fun! Children can use the chalk included to create their masterpieces or hang paper for colourful drawings using the attached clips, to make sure their works of art stay in place.
A gamut of craft gizmos
GREAT GIZMOS
01293 543221 | www.ggtrade.co.uk
Great Gizmos has a huge craft offering that goes from strength to strength each year. Here is just a snippet of products that the company has to offer: the popular Mould & Paint range is expanding with a number of new additions. 3D Unicorn has everything included to make and decorate two impressive unicorn figures. Create amazingly detailed fridge magnets and badges with Mould & Paint Wild Animals. Children will love adding the string of LED lights to the KidzMaker Fairy Light Bulb or creating a giant glittery light-up Unicorn Origami Room Light. Grow amazing crystals and make a magical unicorn wonderland with Unicorn Crystal Terrarium.
The craft range is also expanding with the Disney licence. Create dazzling patterns with Frozen II Kaleidoscope Making Kit, while Mould & Paint Toy Story has everything included to made and decorate six different Toy Story characters.
Keeping creative kids busy with beads
EPOCH MAKING TOYS
“We’re very 0843 557 4062 | www.epochmakingtoys.com/ excited for a Epoch making toys enjoyed huge sales growth of special launch its arts and crafts brand Aquabeads throughout later this year lockdown and has big plans for 2021. Aimed at with iconic brand children aged between four and 10, Aquabeads has experienced popularity since its launch in 2004, thanks to the water adhesive feature of the beads. Super Mario, which long-term All sets come ready-to-play, without the need for fans of the game heat, sharp tools, messy paints or extra accessories - will love!” meaning children can start crafting straight away.
The brand hopes to maintain its recent momentum with new additions to its core and licensed ranges, plus TV advertising and influencer campaigns later in the year.
Kim Nicholls, brand manager, says: “We’re introducing an array of exciting new SKUs in our Star Beads collection that new and existing fans alike will love. The hero SKUs are our Fairy World Set and Enchanted World. Both are complete sets containing everything children need to get crafting, including extra accessories such as charms, a tiara and a bracelet. This extends their play value and lets children wear their creations with pride!”
Many older children and adults also enjoyed arts and crafts activities over lockdown. “The full Aquabeads range truly has something for everyone: more advanced 3D sets, popular licences such as Disney Princess, collectable Mini Theme Assortments, bead replacement packs, plus extra templates,’’ says Kim. “Parents can enjoy making creations with their child, while older fans can design their own templates or even go freehand to create something unique.” She adds that some of the new SKUs will also appeal directly to older fans: “Our recently launched Animal Crossing New Horizons Character Set has proved incredibly popular with fans of the game. They can make all their favourite characters, including Tom Nook, Isabelle, Bunny, Peanut and more. We’re also very excited for a special launch later this year with iconic brand Super Mario.” A key trend that Aquabeads is focusing on this year is extended play value. Kim notes: “We started 2021 by launching the Creation Display in our complete sets. This fun display board allows crafters to elongate their Aquabeads experience by making signs, messages or scenes. Coupled with our playmats and bead stands, it allows children more play opportunities.’’
Get crafty outside!
H GROSSMAN
01603 397 105 | www.tobar.co.uk
Tobar Colour Your Own Cardboard Playhouse is the perfect outdoor craft project. Just slot together the house (with no fixings or glue needed) and then let kids loose with crayons and pencils on the pre-printed design. It’s great fun, whatever the weather - indoors or out - and 2021 sees the Colour Your Own Tent version of this classic outdoor/indoor art project!
The ultimate craft challenge is the Junior Engineers Workshop range. Using tools to fit metal pieces together with real nuts and bolts, these model-making kits can combine to make bespoke creations. Each kit comes with its own difficulty rating and the range includes a pull back and go robot, a pull back and go digger and an off roader. The small sets are pocket money prices and include planes, bikes, helicopters and a car. Older children can tackle the Workshop Action Bot, a Ferris Wheel and an Aeroplane with moving propellors.
HGL also has lots of Tobar kits to make your own slime of different types and textures. Or, for something less gooey, choose a kit to create your own candles, or design and decorate glass bottles for the perfect gift. The Solar System Planetarium combines craft, art and science, as you build and paint your own solar system. And for those who love to knit, there’s a Knitting Kit with everything needed to learn this craft. A selection of wools is also available.
Totally roarsome
HASBRO
020 8744 5652 | www.hasbro.co.uk
Introducing the Play-Doh Dino Crew Crunchin’ T-Rex. There are so many hilarious ways to get creative with this toy! Imagine prehistoric adventures again and again with the green dinosaur fi gure, pterodactyl friend, and three PlayDoh eggs fi lled with 2.5 ounces of non-toxic modelling compound. Hear T-Rex crunch, gulp, slurp, and burp as Take your kids feed him compound, and watch the Play-Doh bits drop into imagination his tummy and then out the backside. The toy pterodactyl friend back in time to makes little half-eggs for the nest. It’s a totally roarsome dinosaur toy for boys and girls aged from three to fi ve, or a great gift for kids who love dinosaurs. It includes the Crunchin’ T-Rex fi gure, pterodactyl egg a world fi lled with dinos and mould, and three eggs fi lled with Play-Doh brand modelling compound. volcanoes! Next, take your imagination back in time to a world fi lled with dinos and volcanoes! The Play-Doh Slime Dino Crew Lava Bones Island Playset features eggs fi lled with slippery-smooth Play-Doh slime hydroglitz compound to make the toy volcano erupt and fi ll the valley below with pretend lava. Each egg also contains mini dino bones to discover along the way. Fill the clear dino mould with the skeleton and the Play-Doh Slime lava to make your own dinosaur! This dinosaur toy is suitable for kids aged four years and up, and makes a great gift for dinosaur lovers. It includes a volcano playset, T-Rex bones, bone mix-ins, ruby charms, dinosaur mould, and four eggs fi lled with Play-Doh slime hydroglitz compound.
Charming crystal art
CRAFT BUDDY
0203 417 6565 | www.craftbuddyltd.co.uk
Clever colouring
VIVID
01483 449944 | vividtoysandgames.co.uk
With diamond painting becoming a growing trend across Europe and taking the UK by storm, Craft Buddy UK has expanded its popular Crystal Art collection to include new Crystal Art Pendants kits, giving crafters the option to create stunning works of Crystal Art to display or wear, with multiple uses from necklaces, keyrings and brooches to magnets. With a range of components in the set, all in a delicate gold tone, simply decorate by sticking each crystal into the base using the glue provided and build an embellished unicorn, ballerina, butterfl y, bee, owl or kingfi sher charm. Colour and style - again and again - with Crayola Colour ‘n’ Style Friends! Combining the strength of a growing supercategory, with an evergreen colouring activity and customisation, kids can have hours of creative fun colouring and restyling. Each doll comes with its own clothing accessory to clip on and style up. Using dry erase markers, colour in fun patterns and designs to the hair and clothes, to give the doll a cool new look. When you’re fi nished, just wipe off your designs and style again. The ‘Colour ‘n’ Style catwalk wardrobe playset transforms into a boutique catwalk that you can colour and sticker to add a personalised style. Then showcase your doll’s new marvellous makeover down the runway and store all your accessories! The Colour ‘n’ Style Colour Coupe has a real working car to colour in and personalise, before letting your dolls travel in style.
Next, colour, wash and colour again the Crayola Washimals adorable little pets! Colour the pets in and when it’s time for a new look, pop them in the tub, give them a scrub with water and they are ready to be coloured in all over again. In 2021 Crayola Washimals is introducing a new set of characterful pets, which are ocean themed. The Washimals Ocean Lagoon Playset features adorable pets such as Sydney the Dolphin and Toby the Turtle.
Crayola Color Wonder’s special inks don’t colour on skin, clothing or furniture, but magically turn to colour on the special colouring pages so you can have all the fun, without the mess. In 2021 the Color Wonder range is introducing more colourful adventures from kids’ favourite themes including Love Diana, CoComelon and Paw Patrol the Movie. Based on the evergreen play pattern of mechanical drawing, Crayola is launching the new Spin ‘N’ Swirl Oscar. Oscar the Octopus loves drawing and creating cool spiral patterns with his twirling tentacles. Place your pens in Oscar’s arms, press the button and get Oscar drawing!
Creative playtime
SPIN MASTER
01628 535 000 www.spinmastertoys.co.uk
With brands such as Kinetic Sand and Cool Maker under its belt, Spin Master has a solid selection of arts & crafts toys that bring a creative element to playtime. 2021 will see several additions to Spin Master’s Kinetic Sand products, with highlights including the Ice Cream Treats Playset and new scented sand packaged in specially designed ice cream cone containers. The Ice Cream Treats Playset comes with vanilla, chocolate and strawberry scented Kinetic Sand, six different tools and moulds, and six topping accessories to create ice cream sundaes, waffl es, ice cream cookie sandwiches and ice cream cones.
Also new this year are the Shimmer Sand packs, which provide 907g of glittery Kinetic Sand that sparkles and shines for elevated sensory play.
Meanwhile, Spin Master’s Cool Maker products include the Go Glam Nail Salon and Hollywood Hair Extension Maker, both of which provide kids and teens with the opportunity to create personalised nail art and unique hairstyles. This year, Spin Master is adding the Go Glam Glitter Nails Kit to the range. This activity kit includes six different colours of glitter and everything needed to create the perfect sparkly manicure.
Schooled in the art of creativity of creativity
SIMBA SMOBY TOYS UK
01620 674 778 www.uk.simba-dickie-group.com/en/home/ www.uk.simba-dickie-group.com/en/home/
For creative fun For creative fun on a bumper scale, on a bumper scale, there’s the Smoby there’s the Smoby School. Designed School. Designed with preschoolers with preschoolers in mind, this playset in mind, this playset combines arts & combines arts & crafts fun with crafts fun with educational play. educational play. With the Smoby With the Smoby School, children can recreate the classroom setting and play-out a typical day in preschool. This compact, fold-out set comes with accessories and activities. For example, artistic kids will love the reversible slate. One side is an erasable white board, which is magnetic, so kids can doodle and then practise their writing and numerical skills with the magnetic letters and numbers included. The other side is a blackboard for use with chalks, so children can learn to create lots of different effects. There are even pegs to hang children’s drawings.
A fl air for fun!
FLAIR
0208 643 0320 | www.fl airgp.co.uk
Flair’s portfolio is bursting with creativity, with a host of new arts and crafts concepts and some heritage favourites that the whole family will enjoy.
A/W21 will see an arrival to Flair’s creative play portfolio that will encourage kids to upcycle their scrap and decorative paper into all manner of things! With Paper FX, children can create accessories, gifts and decorations from magazines, wrapping paper, junk mail and more. The Paper FX weaving machine transforms any sheet of paper or card in minutes: simply tear the sheets, crease them, weave them and make unique creations. From handbags to purses, wallets, belts, coasters and more, children can let their imaginations run wild. Flair steps into an exciting new world where collectables meet craft - Sneak’Artz! Letting kids create their own miniature designs, the range launches with 24 mini shoe styles to collect.
Bright design and vibrant sand
MOOKIE TOYS
01525 722769 | www.mookie.com
Mask up!
FIESTA CRAFTS
Throughout 2020 tie-dye was a massive trend and it’s here to stay. Mookie’s brand Tybo - a mess-free solution to tie-dye - is the perfect product to fit into this trend. Tybo successfully launched in the US last year and has hit the ground running in the UK. Tybo has two new products launching this year. Tybo XL is a bigger version of the Tybo Design Studio - eight times bigger, in fact! Able to transform larger items of clothing, it can turn plain clothes such as old hoodies into colourful masterpieces. Meanwhile, Tybo Dip & Dye allows you to add a bright twist to all kinds of accessories, by upgrading anything from nails to phone cases to give you truly one-of-a-kind pieces! Tybo will be supported by a TV led multichannel marketing campaign, with a new TVC for Dip & Dye and how-to videos for both. Jelly Sand is a new, fun and easy craft brand encouraging kids to get creative. Inspired by quick and easy play patterns, Jelly Sand is ready to play straight from the box. Simply pick from the range of face pieces, add to your mould, layer up your colourful sand and dip into water. The Jelly Sand characters are super cute once finished, looking perfect every time. Jelly Sand includes a range of options for fun face pieces and vibrant sand, and the Jelly Sand Super Studio comes complete with a water tank, sand holder and sand scooper for the ultimate play experience. The brand will be supported by TV, social and PR.
Arts & crafts with a twist
CHARACTER OPTIONS
020 8804 0563 | www.fiestacrafts.co.uk
Following on from the success of Fiesta Crafts’ popular 3D Craft Mask Head range in 2020, the company has added to the collection with Colour-In 3D full-head mask kits. The sturdy cardboard shapes can be coloured in and fitted together to create a 3D Dinosaur Mask and a 3D Unicorn Mask. The colour-in versions add to the creativity of the mask as children can either follow suggested colours or personalise with their own unique designs. The huge 3D Masks can then be worn to complement roleplay or dress up activities and are even big enough to fit many adult-sized heads. The existing 3D Craft Mask Head range will continue throughout 2021 and will now feature the new Panda and Horse Head Sets. The impulse price point makes these an ideal pocket money purchase with exceptional play value.
0161 633 9800 | www.character-online.com
Character Options is the home of Cra-Z-Art Shimmer ‘n Sparkle. This brand offers fashion-conscious kids an arts & crafts range to harness their creativity and express themselves.
New for this year is the 6-in-1 Real Massaging Foot Spa, which lets children enjoy the ultimate pampered pedicure experience at home. The spa has six Spa-mazing features for the total foot spa experience: massaging foot rollers, skin smoothing buffer, cascading waterfall, relaxing bubbling action, colour-changing lights and a scented pedi-soak. The set even comes with a pair of spa slippers!
Also fresh for 2021 is the Ultimate Twist & Colour Tie Dye Studio. Helping to inspire the next generation of fashion designers, this cool kit lets children design and create super bright tie dye fashions. Totally mess-free, children can twist it, band it, and dye it to create five different effects.
This creative line joins the everpopular Nail & Body Art Designer Studio, which gives kids all the tools they need to create awesome nail and body art. This 250-plus piece set offers children hours of fun designing (temporary!) tattoos or creating stunning nail art.
These new items will benefit from significant TV support.
