Friday, April 30, 2010

Swedish Toys - A Profile Of Swedish Toy Company - Playsam

In 1984, the Swedish company Playsam was founded by Carl Zedig with the aim of producing well-designed toys that embodied "color, form and function, all combining to make an aesthetically pleasing whole."

Around this time, Zedig met Hans-Christer Ericson, who subsequently created a total graphic identity for the company, which included creating a brand-new font style for the company's logo, packaging and print advertising.

In 1985, Playsam was awarded the prestigious "Excellent Swedish Design Award" for its eye-catching graphic program. The toys manufactured by Playsam were similarly innovative and were designed by Ulf Hanses, who had previously apprenticed to the well-know industrial designer Sigvard Bernadotte.

Hanses had also designed a range of toys for handicapped children during the early 1980's, the rights to which were acquired by Playsam.

His later, well-known "Streamliner" car for the company, with its clean lines and bold use of color, was conceived while Hanses was sketching freely. Its obvious aesthetic and functional purity has meant that he has never had to alter the design.

As Hanses noted, "Playing with shapes, volumes and proportions is the basis of my work. I am constantly returning to geometry. When I work with toys, I can concentrate on expression without being disturbed by some complicated technical idea."

Hanses' Swedish toys revived and updated the age-old tradition of wooden toy making in Sweden, and it is not surprising to learn that he comes form the Dalarna region, which is famed as the place where the colorful wooden toy horses originate from.

Acknowledging the importance of craft-folk heritage, Hanses' toys have a stripped-down and essential aesthetic that is akin to that of Shaker design.

Hanses believes that it is the ability to convey "soul" and "expression" within a product that differentiates design from draughtsmanship, and certainly his diminutive "Streamliner" has an endearing character that is as engaging for children as it is for adults.

As Carl Zedig has observed, "Most important is the simplicity. When you look at a 'Streamliner,' your imagination adds details." Apart from his "Streamliner" product line, which includes cars, boats, and planes, Hanses has also designed a simple rocking horse for Playsam that possesses a similar elemental quality.

The well-known Swedish designer, Bjorn Dahlstom, has also produced a number of designs for the company, including a toy car, a rocking duck and a rocking rabbit that complement the other products in the range.

Playsam toys exemplify the commonly held belief in Scandinavia that all sectors of society can benefit from good design. Ultimately, the company's international success lies in the innate simplicity of its products, which offers a welcome respite from an age of increasing technological complexity.

Many of Playsam's Swedish Designed Toys, like the "Streamliner," are smooth and simple designs made of wood. Their toys are innovative, timeless and yet sophisticated.

The toy designs appeal to the young and the young at heart and are made to last for many generations.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

bakugan Bakuspin NEW SEASON 3 Gundalian Invaders Aquos {Coredem} NEW IN PACKAGE {with DNA code for online battle}

bakugan Bakuspin NEW SEASON 3 Gundalian Invaders Aquos {Coredem} NEW IN PACKAGE {with DNA code for online battle}








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Product Details





  • SEASON 3 GUNDALIAN INVADERS
  • DNA CODE TO BATTLE ONLINE
  • WILL COMBINE WITH NEW WEAPON PACKS
  • HAS AREA TO MOUNT OTHER BAKUGAN WITH MAGNET






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Laserman Red Bakugan Battle Brawler Booster Pack with Metal Card

Laserman Red Bakugan Battle Brawler Booster Pack with Metal Card








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Product Details


Answer the call to brawl and decide the fate of the galaxy! These small spheres magnetically morph into powerful Bakugan warriors when they roll onto the real metal Gate Cards. Use strategy to place your metal Gate Cards effectively as each card affects the battle differently. Then master your precision shooting skills to roll your Bakugan into battle and win. Includes one Bakugan marbles/action figures and one metal card. Figures measure 1".


  • Includes Bakugan Battle Brawler and Metal Card
  • Magnetic marbles pop open when on metal card
  • Use strategy to place you cards and set up for battle
  • Master you battle skills by shooting your Bakugan and landing on card to score
  • For ages 5+






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Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Top Doll House and Toy Distributors in the UK

There are a lot of toy and dolls' house manufacturers in the UK, but some produce a better quality of product than others. When choosing a dolls' house, playset, or other toys for a child, you naturally want to make sure you're buying them the best. These are some of the top names in the British toy industry, renowned for the quality, safety, and fun that goes into making their dolls' houses, playsets, and other toys.

Le Toy Van
Le Toy Van design, manufacture and distribute painted wooden dolls' houses and toys designed to spark the imaginations of small children. The Le Toy Van range of dolls' houses will delight both girls and boys, and includes everything from fairytale cottages to haunted houses. Whatever your child's interests, there is bound to be a Le Toy Van product that will keep them entertained for hours on end.

Along with these delightful dolls' houses, there are many other toys and accessories available from Le Toy Van. Children can enjoy toys inspired by the animal kingdom such as the Jungle Hospital and Safari Park, sail the seven seas with Le Toy Van's buccaneering range of toy ships, or play out epic battles with their fantastic wooden toy castles and other medieval toys and accessories.

Le Toy Van dolls' houses and toys are suitable for children over 3 years of age. They are delivered flat-packed and can be assembled easily by slotting the pieces together. Le Toy Van products are built to the highest standards and will provide your children with years of enjoyment.

Le Toy Van also distribute Papo toy figures, all of which are scaled to fit the entire range of Le Toy Van dolls' houses, castles and other toys.

Papo
The Papo range of toy figures includes everything kids love - monsters and wizards, ogres and princesses. Papo knights come equipped with their own arms and armor, and swords to defend their champion, as well as beautifully decorated shields to defend themselves. Battering Rams and other large weapons are also available. Papo figures enable the user to invent their own amazing fantasy land, for full-on action play. Rescue that damsel in distress! Hunt that woolly monster! Vanquish that foe! What's on the next page? Who knows where the story will end?

These fantastic scale plastic figures are hand painted in beautiful realistic detail, to provide hours of entertainment for children of all ages (3+)! Very cleverly made, with an average height of around 8cm, your figure can either stand or ride a horse (except where mentioned), so you can mix and match different horses to different knights. And all at an inexpensive price. Brilliant for helping children learn about history as well as developing their imagination, every playtime is a new adventure.

If you've been looking for the perfect toys to get your children thinking, at a reasonable price, your search has ended here! Papo figurines make the perfect birthday or Christmas gift. There is such a huge range available, and they cater to an age range from smaller children (over 36 months) right through to teens. But they make an attractive collection of figures for children of any size!

Schleich
Schleich are a toy manufacturer renowned for the lifelike quality of their toy animals and figures. Schleich have been making children's toys since 1935, and since that time have earned a reputation throughout Europe and North America for the craftsmanship and realism of their toy ranges, particularly their extensive range of toy horses.

Schleich toy horses offer hours of educational value and imaginative play to girls and boys of all ages. Each toy horse from Schleich is lovingly crafted to be a perfect replica of its real-life equivalent, and is scaled to fit perfectly with Schleich's range of equestrian toys and farm animals. There are so many breeds and designs to choose from, that many children enjoy building up a collection, and Schleich toy horses have become popular with some adult collectors. If you are looking for the perfect gift for a child who loves horses, then Schleich is the name to remember.

As well as beautifully detailed toy horses, Schleich offer many other toy animals which are equally well-crafted. From farm animals such as cows, sheep, and goats, to more exotic wildlife like chimpanzees and gorillas, Schleich have created a whole world of furred and feathered friends that will delight your children and provide hours of creative and educational play time. Schleich horses and other animal toys are suitable for children over the age of 3.

Pintoy
Pintoy produce a range of dolls' houses, furniture and accessories which are manufactured in Thailand using rubber wood from properly managed latex plantations in the south of the country. The trees are cut for replanting when they no longer produce enough latex. Studies show that rubber plantations can be as efficient as natural forest in removing carbon-dioxide from the air, by converting it into rubber latex, soil and wood - making rubberwood an environmentally friendly choice.

Pintoy have created a delightful selection of dolls' houses for children, including the popular Marlborough House model. To complement this range, Pintoy have also produced a large collection of dolls' house furniture that is scaled to fit perfectly with any Pintoy dolls' house.

Joytoys - Heritage Playsets
Heritage toys have produced a number of dolls' houses and other playsets which have proved very popular with children, particularly the Malvern Manor dolls' house. Their brightly colored and attractive playsets are a hit with boys and girls alike, and are guaranteed to keep them enthralled for hours on end.

Apart from dolls' houses, the Heritage toys range includes a garage, a riding school, a safari park full of animals, and a palace for a fairytale princess. All of the playsets come with lots of fun features guaranteed to spark a child's imagination. For example, the City Auto Center has a working lift and a car wash, while the Princess Palace comes with a rope ladder, a removable roof, and even a secret entrance!

Heritage playsets come complete with furniture, dolls, and other accessories, so children can start having fun with these delightful playsets straight away. All Heritage playsets and accessories are suitable for children over 3 years of age.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

BAKUGAN SEASON 3 LOOSE GATE CARD PHOSPHOS ARMORY 16/48a

BAKUGAN SEASON 3 LOOSE GATE CARD PHOSPHOS ARMORY 16/48a








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Product Details





  • CARD READS: PHOSPHOS GETS +100 G-POWER FOR EACH GEAR PLAYED AT THIS BATTLE.
  • LOOSE






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Monday, April 26, 2010

Bakugan Bakusteel Starter Pack (Black Silver Frost Verias, Black Silver Frost Spindle, Black Silver Frost Mystery Ball)

Bakugan Bakusteel Starter Pack (Black Silver Frost Verias, Black Silver Frost Spindle, Black Silver Frost Mystery Ball)








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Product Details


Bakugan battle brawlers are here! Answer the call to brawl and decide the fate of the galaxy! Magnetic marbles POP open into power Bakugan warrior action figures when they roll onto the real metal Gate Cards! Use strategy to place your metal Gate Cards as each card affects the battle differently. Master your shooting skills to roll your Bakugan into battle. *Notes: Bakugan figures work magnetically. When you receive a Bakugan figure please do not force it open manually, simply roll the ball onto any metal surface and the figure will pop right open!


  • Bakugan Bakusteel Starter Pack Higher G Power
  • 3 Bakugan, 3 Ability Cards, & 3 Metal Gate Cards
  • Brand New Factory Sealed Starter Pack
  • WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD-SMALL PARTS & SMALL BALLS. NOT FOR CHILDREN UNDER 3 YEARS.






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Saturday, April 24, 2010

BAKUGAN SPECIAL ATTACK [ Loose ] DARKUS BLACK ELICO 730G

BAKUGAN SPECIAL ATTACK [ Loose ] DARKUS BLACK ELICO 730G








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Product Details





  • DARKUS 730G






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Friday, April 23, 2010

Bakugan B2 Pearl White Aquos Frosch 610G Loose Figure

Bakugan B2 Pearl White Aquos Frosch 610G Loose Figure








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Product Details





  • Super Rare!! Power 610G
  • Include 1 random metal and 1 random ability card
  • Loose figure New






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Thursday, April 22, 2010

BAKUGAN BAKUTRIAD NEO DRAGONOID{VOLTA} WITH DNA CODE SUBTERRA 720G{LOOSE NO CARDS}

BAKUGAN BAKUTRIAD NEO DRAGONOID{VOLTA} WITH DNA CODE SUBTERRA 720G{LOOSE NO CARDS}








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Product Details


NEO DRAGONOID NEW SEASON 3 WITH DNA CODE FOR ONLINE BATTLE.








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Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Monday, April 19, 2010

Bakugan B2 Brawler Haos Gray Tentaclear 630G

Bakugan B2 Brawler Haos Gray Tentaclear 630G








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Product Details





  • Bakugan Battle Brawler B2 Size
  • G Power: 630G
  • Loose figure
  • Includes 1 Random Metal Card






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Saturday, April 17, 2010

BAKUGAN SEASON 3 LOOSE W/ DNA CODES TRANSLUCENT LUMIGROWL 700G

BAKUGAN SEASON 3 LOOSE W/ DNA CODES TRANSLUCENT LUMIGROWL 700G








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Product Details





  • NEW LOOSE OUT OF PACK TO GET G POWER
  • COMES WITH 2 CARDS






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The Value Of Wooden Toys To Pre-School Children

Preschoolers are full of energy and curiosity and have a natural eagerness to learn. They have mastered many gross motor skills and are extremely active. By preschool age, most children have also acquired a strong grasp of language skills and place a great value on friendships. Because of their strong imaginations and wide range of interests, preschoolers usually most enjoy dramatic and creative play, as well as physical activities.

The best toys for preschoolers are sturdy and durable, and not likely to result in jagged or sharp edges if broken. Look for toys that are made of quality, nontoxic materials and are appropriate for your preschooler's age and skill level. Wooden toys are extremely durable, safe, and offer hours of educational, fun play time.

Toys that encourage physical play are great for preschoolers. The outdoors offer children a number of sensory learning opportunities so it is important to provide your preschooler with a selection of toys designed for outdoor use. Wooden toys like tricycles, wagons, and scooters are ideal for preschoolers' outdoor play. Miniature replicas of adult outdoor tools, like wheelbarrows and lawnmowers, are also a lot of fun at this age.

Most preschoolers have a lot of interest in constructive play, especially building projects with a finished product or specific goal. Wooden toys like blocks and jigsaw puzzles are perfect for preschoolers. Simple models and snap-together toys also provide preschoolers with hours of enjoyable play.

Preschoolers also need a good selection of toys that encourage dramatic play, or imaginative play. Miniature appliances, like wooden stoves and refrigerators, wooden doll accessories, like cradles and highchairs, and wooden play sets, like car garages and fire stations, are all quality toys for pretend play. Props to enhance play settings are also important. Play food, dress up clothes, and baby items like blankets and bottles can help your preschooler expand her imaginative play time.

Puppets offer all types of play benefits to preschoolers. Your child can address frightening situations through puppets or can use them as a healthy way to express her anger or frustration over a recent event. Puppet play also helps preschoolers to expand their vocabularies and develop social and emotional skills. Wooden puppet stages are available in several styles and sizes. Together with a variety of puppets, a puppet stage can provide hours of creative fun.

During the preschool years, most children begin to enjoy simple board and card games as well. Matching games and games with simple objectives like color recognition or counting are typically the most enjoyable games for preschoolers. Wooden toys [http://www.monkeyshine.co.uk/traditional-toys-21/wooden-toys-22] and games with simple scoring and only basic rules are great for teaching preschoolers to share and take turns, as well as develop fine motor skills and school readiness skills.

Scientific toys and working tools are also good choices for older preschoolers. Small hammers and screwdrivers allow children to practice building skills and develop more precise hand and eye coordination. Toy microscopes and telescopes invite young children to learn by exploring the world around them. Ring toss games and wooden toys for beanbag tossing are also fun games that help preschoolers develop hand and eye coordination, as well as fine and gross motor skills.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Bakugan Subterra Lumino Dragonoid 750G w/ DNA & 2 CARDS

Bakugan Subterra Lumino Dragonoid 750G w/ DNA & 2 CARDS








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Product Details





  • New loose figure
  • G power: 750G
  • has DNA online game code
  • include 1 metal and 1 ability card






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Hot Christmas Toys 2009 For Boys

Struggling to choose just the right toy for a boy this holiday season? It can be confusing with all the different types of toys out there. Here are a few selections that should be just right for your son, grandson, or favorite nephew.

Air Hogs Switchblade

The Air Hogs Switchblade, no assembly required, is manufactured by the well known Spin Master Company. It's the latest in the company's collection of toy helicopters, airplanes, and rockets.

It is one of the most high-tech toys in the Air Hog line of products, operating on bi-motor wings without any kind of servo. Children can easily control the pitch of the aircraft with innovative motor power, and at the same time the yaw can be in control, by the difference between the existing powers of both the motors. The latest model of the Air Hogs Switchblade has double-half wings that can be easily clicked and rotated in its place, making an enormous rotor. And for those of you who don't have a clue what a pitch, servo, yaw, or rotor is, don't worry, it just means fun, a lot of fun.

The plane flies like a helicopter then straightens out to fly like a plane. It swoops and dives. Hovering above the ground it looks like an alien aircraft of the future. When it is flown into the air the half wings are unlocked to become a regular wing configuration, so it starts to fly similar to the regular planes. It looks amazing to watch the plane and play with.

Rocky the Robot Truck

Rocky the Robot Truck is one of the latest toys designed by the internationally popular-Matchbox Company. This truck doesn't sit idly by waiting for someone to play. It's an interactive toy.

The movements of Rocky the Robot Truck is irresistible even for parents. The truck can talk, tell jokes, dance, sleep- even snores while sleeping- and also flashes the headlights while speaking. To perform all these lively activities, it just needs 4 batteries.

Rocky the Robot Truck is a rugged truck that it can really sense the heaviness when you load the back of it. Such a rugged model with completely tilting bed allows the children to engage in loading, moving, dumping, hauling and other construction projects.

Battle Strikers

Battle Strikers are a wonderful toy for boys from the internationally trusted MegaBrands toy company. It has stormed the toy world with its individual battles and tournaments full of action and adventure for your child. Battle Strikers are battling tops, controlled by the players. These aren't the old fashioned spinning tops of grandpa's day but a fresh new toy for the 2009 Christmas season especially for boy six years old and above.

Battle Strikers work utilizing magnetic technology, with the help of the Turbo Launcher. It energizes the Battle Striker to a speed of 7500 RPMs. With such power, these strikers can leap, dodge, as well as proceed into the battle scene, while being fully controllable. Children love the fact that they have 16 collectible, unique, and customizable pieces, which all work magnetically and can turn to various degrees for defensive and offensive precision.

The controller is just like a joystick which attaches to the top of the Striker and then released. The players can move it around in any degree they want. The choice of Battle Arena enhances the battling dimensions. It's such a great design that they can be played on any surface, so the kids can have it wherever they move to. Days of playing with simple spinning heads are gone and now it is 21st century and its time for the parents to equip their kids with latest technology toys in their toy collection.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Bakugan New Vestroia [NEW IN PACKAGE] Ventus Falcon Fly[TRAP]

Bakugan New Vestroia [NEW IN PACKAGE] Ventus Falcon Fly[TRAP]








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Product Details


Falcon Fly is a Bakugan Trap that combines with Percival. Its large wings make it quicker than a dragonfly while its dark color makes it difficult to see at night. It has a very thin body that makes it almost invisible when attacking straight on. To destroy its enemies, Falcon Fly shoots laser blasts from its eyes








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