Rainy Day Crafts on River City Live

Just because the weather is crummy doesn’t mean kids can’t have loads of fun. Toy Insider Editor-in-Chief  Marissa DiBartolo stopped by River City Live in Jacksonville to show off some great crafts and toys to keep kids entertained on rainy days. 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.

JIXELZ (FAT BRAIN TOYS)

• 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(700 pieces) – $16.96 (1,500 pieces)
• Available: fatbraintoys.com, Amazon

WHAT’S IN THE BOX (BLIP TOYS)

• Based on the viral YouTube sensation, this game has been translated to retail so now everyone can easily play this in their home.
• The game includes a deck of scorecards and four black blind bags (to hide items found throughout the house so other players can’t see what one another found to place inside).
• There is a 10 second timer built into the box, so once someone’s hands go inside, they will have 10 second to feel and guess what it is.
• Doors can be shut, so if there’s more than 2 players, everyone will have an opportunity to guess what they think is inside and write it down on the scorecard before the “challenger” reveals to everyone what’s inside the box.
• Age: 4+
• MSRP: $21.99
• Available: Amazon, Walmart, and Target

MINI GAMES: MINI CORNHOLE, MINI TETHERBALL, MINI LADDERBALL (BUFFALO GAMES)

• When you can’t go outside, play inside!
• Tabletop, transportable games to play anywhere!
• These mini games have the gameplay of the full-sized versions in a smaller package.
• Launch mini bean bags in cornhole, catapult your balls in ladderball, and whack your way to a win in tetherball!
• Age: 8+
• MSRP: $19.99
• Available: Target

KODAK PUZZLES (CRA-Z-ART)

• Kids can discover beautiful scenery with Kodak Puzzles.
• With the 1000 Piece Puzzle, kids can experience the rich, true colors.
• The jigsaw puzzle is made with European blue puzzle board and cut into uniquely shaped pieces for added fun and enjoyment.
• The 500 Piece Illuminated Jigsaw Puzzle lights up with 20 LEDs.
• When assembled it forms an image of the Dennis Lewan painting “Beary Patch Park”, the second in the artist’s “City of Bears” series.
• The puzzle’s built-in lights are positioned along the “Beariss” Wheel, “Bearousel” and popcorn stand.
• Spend hours together as a family creating this beautiful puzzle and keep it on display.
• Age: 10+
• MSRP: $29.95
• Available: CraZArtShop.com

AQUABEADS BEGINNERS STUDIO (EPOCH EVERLASTING PLAY)

• Kids can get started creating amazing bead designs with the Aquabeads Beginners Studio.
• They can create artwork even faster with the improved flip tray, which lets one creation dry while another one is in the works.
• The Beginners Studio comes with more than 840 jewels and solid beads in 16 colors, the case, a flip tray with a bead receiver, a sprayer, a bead pen, and template sheets.
• Age: 4+
• MSRP: $19.95
• Available: Walmart, Target, Aquabeads.com

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

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 five custom pieces to wear or share with friends.
• The kit Includes five lockets, 12 felt circles, one bag of confetti, a skein of wax cording, a bag of glitter, two skeins of satin cording, a skein of elastic cording, a skein of knotting cord, 50 metallic beads, 525 accent beads, two tassels, three star charms, three essential oil droppers, and instructions.
• Age: 6+
• MSRP: $9.97
• Available: Walmart