the Review Source
I love giving children craft kits and resources as a gift! Toys are fine, but crafts encourage creativity, imagination and help children learn a new skill - oftentimes one they may continue to enjoy for a lifetime! Consider the following craft gift ideas for the children on your gift-giving list!
Sculpey
Sculpey is a unique craft - one for both children and adults to use and enjoy, so some of our Sculpey reviews will also be included in our Crafts for youth and adults section.
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Sculpey III |
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Favorite Features -
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non-toxic
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available in a wide variety of colors, bold primary colors, pastels, metallics
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available in a 30 piece sampler pack or as individual colors
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one hour project sheet included with five simple/fun projects
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project directions available on-line
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Flexible Push Mold |
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Snuggle Buddies |
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Jewelry Collection - Caribbean Floral Jewelry and Cameos & Hearts Jewelry
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Tropical Breeze |
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In Full Bloom |
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Favorite Features -
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detailed molds work with Sculpey, other clays, plaster, soap, wax and more
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free project directions on-line
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easy to use
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soft and flexible
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Glow in the Dark Ages 6+ |
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Favorite Features -
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includes six 1oz pars - four glow in the dark colors plus one black and one white bar
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includes three project directions with more on-line
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encourages creativity and imagination
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Shape & Bake Ages 6+ |
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Favorite Features -
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includes eight 1oz Sculpey III bars in a nice variety of colors
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includes modeling tools, neck cord, pin bars, magnet, earring backs to complete projects
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includes full color directions for seven bear projects
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encourages creativity and imagination
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Eraser Maker Shape Ages 6+ |
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Favorite Features -
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includes eight 1oz Sculpey III bars in a variety of colors - enough to make 16 erasers
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includes color instruction book, clay tool and detail tool as well as keychain, wire, pencil and paper clips to complete projects
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encourages creativity and imagination
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Game Maker Ages 6+ |
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Favorite Features -
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includes eight 1oz Sculpey III bars - enough to make game pieces for six games
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includes instructions, game rules and game boards as well as a clay tool and detail tool
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encourages imagination and creativity
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Sculpey has long set the standard for oven-bake clay and they continue to do so! Their new products and wide range of colors provide a wealth of options for the child who loves to make their own beads and other fun projects! Consider adding Sculpey supplies with a book on beading - great combination gift for the creative older child on your list! Tremendously well done, Sculpey!
Creativity For Kids/Faber-Castell
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Landscapes Made Easy |  |
Flower Fantasies | ||
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Faces & Features | |
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Drawing Power
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Favorite Features -
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includes Color GRIP Watercolor pencils
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paper for projects
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booklet with complete, illustrated directions and tips
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extras for each kit like wood frames, canvas frames, easel, wood manikin
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Faber-Castell GRIP pencils are triangular shaped with soft-GRIP for easy use and so they won't roll away
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encourages creativity and imagination
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complete kits provide all your crafter needs to begin creating
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Gel Jewelry Ages 7-97 |
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Favorite Features
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includes heart pendant, gel cord, gel shapes, beads and metal jewelry clasps
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illustrated instructions
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colorful, creative fun encourages creativity and imagination
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allows a girl to show her own "style"
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Make Your Own Ages 7-97 |
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Favorite Features -
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includes complete, illustrated directions for making your own lip balm in five simple steps
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includes five tins, carrying case, lip balm base, three flavors, stickers, stirring stick, spatula, melting container, measuring cup
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encourages creativity and imagination
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Square Glass Plates Ages - 8-98 |
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Favorite Features -
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includes two square plates, plate hanger, plate easel, acrylic paint, brush, complete, illustrated instructions
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encourages creativity and imagination
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great item for kids to make and give to parents or grandparents as a gift
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Kool Kats Ages 6-96 |
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Favorite Features -
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includes three kats, stickers, charms, markers, ribbon, glitter and complete, illustrated directions
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encourages creativity and imagination
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Pirate Treasure Ages 5-95 |
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Favorite Features -
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includes Paper Mache' treasure chest, eye patch, head scarf, stickers, map paper, plastic coins, rings, gems, beads, paint, illustrated instructions and "pirate words"
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encourages creativity and imagination
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5 Little Monkey Bobbles Ages 6-96 |
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Favorite Features -
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includes five monkey bobble heads, markers, stickers, monkey funky fur, hat, bows, flowers, pom poms, glue, stickers and complete, illustrated instructions
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I've found the monkeys need to be "weighted" so the don't tip over, but this is a cute and fun project
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encourages creativity and imagination
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Stained Glass Ages 7-97 |
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Favorite Features -
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includes five suncatchers, suction, cups, string, paint, illustrated instructions and more
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encourages creativity and imagination
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Race Car Ages 6-96 |
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Favorite Features -
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includes car shade, plug-in light, paint and instructions
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encourages creativity and imagination
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Princess Crowns Ages 5-95 |
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Favorite Features -
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materials for two crowns
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includes crowns, stickers, ribbon, threader and complete, illustrated directions
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encourages imagination and creativity
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love the "threader"
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very easy to make
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I Love Monkeys Ages 7-97 |
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Favorite Features -
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includes monkey charms, bracelet, beads, gel cord, clips, chains, stickers and ideas for seven items of jewelry
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encourages creativity and imagination
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I really love the complete craft kits from Creativity for Kids as a child has everything they need to begin creating as soon as they open their gift! Tremendously well done, Creativity for Kids/Faber-Castell!
Oriental Trading Company
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Snowman Beaded Bracelet kit |
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Favorite Features -
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complete kit makes 12 bracelets
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includes everything you need, blue glass beads, plastic, metal beads and glass snowman head beads along with stretchy cord and directions
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easy to follow directions
This is a great item to give as a gift, or make and give completed bracelets to people on your gift list! Tremendously well done, Oriental Trading!
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| Button Wreath Ornaments |
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Favorite Features -
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complete kit includes red and green buttons, ribbon and directions to make 12 wreath ornaments
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easy to do - fun for kids of all ages
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DYO - Canvas Kickballs | |
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Favorite Features -
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50 kickballs in a bag - decorate as you like to give or keep
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CYO - Canvas Fish Windsock Craft |
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Favorite Feature -
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12 pre-printed canvas fish
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directions to make your own windsock
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I love the DYO and CYO items - they make the perfect gift to give and encourage creativity and imagination as the one who receives them has the fun of creating and designing their own items or give them to your children and allow them to decorate and give the completed objects as the gifts! Either way, they encourage creativity and imagination! Tremendously well done, Oriental Trading!
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Steve Spangler Science - Fundamental Science Kit Ages 4-8 |
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Favorite Features -
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10 complete experiments in kit
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kit includes mixing lab tray, giant test tubes, coloring tablets, insta/snow powder, water jelly crystals, three pipettes, magnifying glass and instructions
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Steve Spangler Science - Ages - 8+ |
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Favorite Features -
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kit includes specimen jar, growing body parts, petri dish and nutrient gelatin, super absorbent crystals, slime goo, slime activator, snot goo, snot activator, shaker cups with lids, measuring cups/spoons and complete instructions
My reviewers, Brienna and Gabe, said these science projects were interesting and fun! They loved watching the snow and crystals form and Gabe said the Yuck projects were really cool! I appreciate how they not only tell you what to do, how to do it and provide the items you need to make the projects work, but also tell why the projects work and educate about science principles in a fun, engaging and memorable way! Tremendously well done, Steve Spangler and Oriental Trading!
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Sterling Publishing
Older children may enjoy the opportunity to learn a craft/skill like crocheting and knitting! Consider combining a book from the reviews below with yarn from the reviews in the Crafts for Youth and Adults for a unique and thoughtful gift the creative older child on your list will love!
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Kids Craft Crochet Author - Jane Davis |
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Favorite Features -
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complete how to crochet info with diagrams
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includes 30 fun projects
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projects include skill level, size, materials, gauge, stitches, directions and photo
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encourages creativity, imagination, reading and following directions
Fun, learn to crochet book with patterns kids will enjoy! Tremendously well done, Jane and Sterling!
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Kooky Crochet Author - Linda Kopp |
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Favorite Features -
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includes 30 patterns
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patterns include - skill level, size, materials, stitches, gauge, pattern notes, pattern, photo, charts and yarns used
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gallery photos throughout
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encourages creativity, imagination, reading and following directions
Fun, unique patterns children and adults will enjoy! Extremely well done, Linda and Sterling!
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Papercrafts Author - Vivienne Bolton |
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Favorite Features -
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18 projects with templates
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clay recipes
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crafts include supplies, directions, photos and mini projects
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encourages creativity, imagination, reading and following directions
Easy crafts for both boys and girls! Extremely well done, Vivienne and Sterling!
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The Review Source
Copyright © Lynda Freeman
Last Updated Nov. 1, 2007
Web Page by Lynda Freeman
Send an e-mail to Lynda at Lynda@thereviewsource.net
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