Oh, to be a tween in 2014 (channeling my inner Dr. Seuss today). Neon has never been more prominent (except in the late ’80s), animal print has never been more abundant (again, except in the late ’80s), and pockets have never been so stuffed with smartphones (actually, not the case in the late ’80s!).

While kids all seem want the “same” things—like iPods, smartphones, and tablets—they also want them to look different. Now, kids can customize phone cases, tablet covers, earrings, hair clips, toys, glasses, or just abut anything they can imagine with the Graphic Skinz Design Studio, from RoseArt, a division of MEGA Brands.

2014 Hottest Toys Graphic Skinz Design Studio PinkEach Design Studio includes 30 unique skins, a vacuum chamber, a sponge, and some included plastic pieces for kids to skin, such as a seahorse figurine and a flower jewelry box, or a shark figurine and a monster truck. Kids simply select a skin, remove the plastic protectant, place the sticky side of the skin onto the plastic piece they want to customize, and wrap it all inside of a damp sponge. Then, they insert everything into the vacuum chamber, snap the lid shut, and hold down the vacuum button for about 20 seconds. Once all of the air is removed, the skin will adhere securely to the plastic piece, and kids can quickly remove the backing from the skin and fold the excess around the back of the piece so it’s hidden (or, they can cut it off). The skins feature a shiny finish, so projects look professional and well done.

2014 Hottest Toys Graphic Skinz DinosThe included models come in snap-together pieces so that kids can easily put multiple skins on one object, giving it a completely unique look while also making the project time last longer to keep kids engaged. Kids can also create a layering effect by cutting the skins into any shape they want and applying them one at a time to the project.

Incredibly easy and fun, kids will love that they can skin objects over and over again—they just need to add a new layer. While the kits and accessory packs include fun objects for kids to skin, it’s great that they can customize pretty much anything that can stand a little moisture, giving things they have lying around their rooms a whole new look that’s all their own.

Plus, there are more than 400 different skins available for purchase in the themed expansion packs, which make great stocking stuffers or gift toppers. All of the skins are so on-trend, from neon stripes and polka dots to cool camouflage and while tweens are incredibly hard to buy for, with more expensive electronics topping wish lists year after year, Graphic Skinz provides the perfect gift to allow kids to get creative with the items they already love.

 

Check it out in action:

About the author

Marissa Silva

Marissa Silva

Marissa Silva is editor-in-chief of the Pop Insider and the Toy Insider, the leading consumer holiday gift guide and toy review and news website. As a professional toy reviewer and an industry expert, she consistently reports on toy, entertainment, and pop culture trends and hot products. In addition to digital content management, Marissa contributes feature-length articles to the Pop Insider and leading toy industry trade magazine The Toy Book, providing retailers, manufacturers, and licensors with information on the latest in toy news. Marissa has been featured on the TODAY Show, Good Morning America, Fox and Friends, ABC World News Now, MSNBC, CBS, NY1, WPIX, and more. A board game fanatic and professional toy reviewer, she spends most of her free time shopping for superhero T-shirts, crushing at Mario Kart, and anxiously awaiting her Hogwarts acceptance letter. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram @thattoygirl.

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