Summer’s here and it’s time to get crafty. Toy Insider Editor-in-Chief Marissa DiBartolo stopped by Fox 5 in San Diego to show off some of the season’s best new arts and crafts toys. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below, and for the complete rundown of the best toys of the spring and summer, be sure to check our complete Toy Insider Spring and Summer Gift Guide.
- Classic puzzle fun becomes an adventure in pixelated creativity!
- Each set comes with either 700 or 1,500 vibrant, precision-cut micro jigsaw pieces. Follow the instructions to transform the tiny pixel puzzle pieces into vibrant designs.
- Build a cat and a dog with the Playful Pets set!
- Or why not get creative and invent your own designs or why not collect them all, combine them all, and build something HUGE?
- All Jixels hold together strong – no ironing needed! – and they fit together easily without any frustration.
- Let your big ideas shine bright with Jixels!
- Age: 6+
- MSRP: $9.95 – $16.96
- Available: fatbraintoys.com, Amazon
SMART SKETCHER PROJECTOR (FLYCATCHER)
- smART sketcher Projector is the next great product for promoting artistic ability, fine motor development, and STEAM education skills using 21st century technology.
- Developed by the innovative Flycatcher Inc. team, smART sketcher Projector allows children and adults to transform photos taken from their smart devices into a sketch.
- By using the free smART sketcher app, photos are filtered and transferred via Bluetooth to the projector. Instantly users will see their desired image projected onto paper.
- Users are able to draw anything the eye can see with just a touch of a button.
- The smART sketcher Projector also comes with pre-loaded micro SD cards that are filled with a variety of activities including step-by-step drawings, learn-to-write letters and numbers, early spelling skills, and more.
- Additional SD cards can be purchased separately to keep the creative learning going.
- Age: 5+
- MSRP: $42.99
- Available: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Michaels, Target
DISNEY TOY STORY 4 FORKY CREATIVITY SET (TARA TOY)
- Make your own Forky toy and create other fun character toys with this creativity set!
- This set includes everything you need to make your favorite Toy Story 4 characters and MORE!
- Make your own sheriff badge, foam Buzz, and pompom Bunny & Ducky.
- Set includes a spork, Buzz foam stickers, icon foam stickers, Sheriff badge, pom poms, glue, adhesive tape, waxy sticks, pipe cleaners, wood popsicle sticks, googly eyes, dough and MORE!
- Item merchandises in a reusable package with handle!
- Age: 3+
- MSRP: $9
- Available: Michaels, Target, Kohls, Joanns
SLIMI CAFÉ (ORB)
- ORB Slimi Café is a recipe for fun! Combine specially formulated ORB Soft’n Slo Squishies with ORB Slimi Cafe™toppings to make slimi, squishy masterpieces!
- Mix and match your squishies and decorate them with ORB Slimi Cafe toppings: Jameez, Fluffiwhipz, Swirleez and Drizzlerz!
- When you’re done, squeeze your unique masterpiece and then watch your toppings magically come apart for endless creations!
- Age: 8+
- MSRP: $6.99-$9.99
- Available: AC Moore, Claire’s, JoAnns, Indigo, Target, Walmart, Party City
MONSTER DIRT STARTER PACK (SPIN MASTER)
- From the makers of Kinetic Sand comes the all-new, life-like Monster Dirt that mimics real Monster Jam conditions!
- This gritty starter set adds a new level of fun and a whole new way to play with all your favorite Monster Jam trucks.
- Use the included ramp mold as a ready-to-use ramp, a mold to build your own ramp, and a Monster Dirt storage container!
- PLUS, the included 0.5lbs of Monster Dirt and the exclusive 1:64 scale die-cast Monster Jam truck, detailed with dirt-stained BKT tires, giving it an even more life-like appearance than ever before!
- Age: 3+
- MSRP: $9.99
- Availability: Amazon, Target, Barnes & Noble
JUST MY STYLE SPARKLING AROMA JEWELRY (HORIZON GROUP)
- Create custom jewelry pieces infused with essential oils with the Just My Style Sparkling Aroma Jewelry.
- Choose from three aromatic essential oils to add to fun shaped pendants for a soothing scent you can wear.
- Decorate your jewelry with beads, glitter, and more.
- Create up to 5 custom pieces to wear or share with friends.
- The kit Includes 5 lockets, 12 felt circles, 1 bag of confetti, 1 skein of wax cording, 1 bag of glitter, 2 skeins of satin cording, 1 skein of elastic cording, 1 skein of knotting cord, 50 metallic beads, 525 accent beads, 2 tassels, 3 star charms, 3 essential oil droppers, and instructions.
- Age: 6+
- MSRP: $9.97
- Available: Walmart
LIL’ SHUCKIES (WECOOL TOYS)
- Lil’ Shuckies features a line of colorful shells with a surprise pearl inside and bring the popular “pearl parties” on Facebook safely into your living room.
- With a host of Lil’ Shuckies to choose from, children will have a blast as they use the shucking tool to open the shells and discover stretchy slime and gorgeous pearls inside.
- The play value continues as kids can collect all 24 pearls, from “common” to “ultra-rare” to make bracelets or swap!
- Lil’ Shuckies are available in teal, pink, purple, and coral colored shells and come in both single or triple packs.
- Age: 4+
- MSRP: $4.99-$9.99
- Available: Walmart
