Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Wacky Wednesday

We're taking a trip today to an Island, an Island of Imagination! No 2 Islands of Imagination are the same.
Wacky Wednesdays trip to Craftopia will be by canoe. But you'll have to construct one to get there.
We have the pattern, the tape, the glue, scissors, markers, and colored pencils for this adventure!
You'll take your canoe home for its first trip to the bathtub perhaps?
We can, can you?

Monday, April 28, 2014

Frequently Asked Questions

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat? I mean WHY? 
The Top 10 Reasons WHY we give toys & games
 away in random drawings....  
1. Because we can.
2. Because surprising a random winner is the best!
3. We like to tell you that we appreciate you
4.  We can give our faithful followers  a jolt of Happiness!
5. The smiles!
6. The fun I have taking the photos.....
7. Giving to us, is receiving....
8. We know how to share....
9. It's way too much fun to draw names out of a hat, or a fire chiefs helmet!
10.  Simply put, it makes us happy too!

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Did Ya Know?

Did Ya Know......
Estes rockets were founded in Denver?
Yup, right here in our home state. 
Yup, just over the pass on the front range.
"Estes Industries was founded in 1958 in Denver, Colorado. Vern Estes developed a machine that mass-produced solid propellant model rocket engines.
This invention gave people a consistent and reliable way to launch model rockets. Later, the company branched out into the mass production of balsa nose cones and adapters for model rockets. Estes® began selling model rockets by mail in 1960.
The company was moved in 1961 to a 77-acre tract of land on the outskirts of Penrose, Colorado. Rapid growth followed and soon Penrose became known as the “Model Rocket Capital of the World”. Estes Industries has grown to be the leading manufacturer of model rocket kits, engines and accessories in the world. COX® joined the Estes family of products in 1996.
For over 50 years, COX has been the choice of millions of families getting started in model airplane flying. COX products are designed for first time users who want the best start to a flying adventure and for more advanced fliers. Experience the magic of flying with COX Free Flying, Control Line or Radio Control aircraft. In January 2010, the Estes-Cox Corporation was purchased by Hobbico, a 100% Employee-Owned Corporation based in Champaign, Illinois, and will continue operations in Penrose, Colorado.
Industry leaders in their fields, Estes and COX will continue to turn kids and adults on to flight with innovative new products that will go FASTER, FURTHER AND HIGHER."

Friday, April 25, 2014

Boredom Busters

 Bocce.... play some Bocce ball
Gather your bocce ball set.
Choose your teams.
Set up your game area, known as the court. 
Flip a coin or randomly decide which team gets to throw out the jack.
Throw out the jack into a prescribed zone.
After the jack is successfully thrown, throw out the first bocce ball.
Let the second team bowl their bocce ball.
Decide which team gets to continue bowling all their remaining bocce balls. 
Measure which team's bocce is closest to the jack.  In a nutshell, you've just played a round of Bocce Ball.   


Build a monster truck in one afternoon.This model kit contains everything you need to build this scale model truck. We've just added a complete line of model cars and trucks to choose from.

Make someones day by giving them a handmade greeting card made by you. We're sure there's lots of materials in your house just waiting for your creativity! Scissors, paper, ribbon, paper bags, stamps, markers, and maybe even glitter glue await your imagination.

Flash from the Past Friday

Wow! Summer is almost upon us and it will be 
time to take the family vacation. 
Here's some ideas to help make a long long trip seem less long!
When going on a car trip....leave as early as possible in the morning. That way you’ll avoid a lot of traffic, and the kids will be so tired they’ll fall asleep in the back seat.
Play some good old fashioned games ..."I Spy" is a good one as well as license plate bingo!
Pack Snacks in fun containers or reuseable bags. Snacks along the way will keep kids happy and will break up the travel time.
 For a long trip you could wrap up small "presents" to reward good behavior and add new toys to play with.
 Let them pack their own backpack with their favorite toys and books. Then, if they’re missing something, well.....
Remember that you are the boss. Take the time to do things that make the adults happy as well!

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Dinosaurs 101

Type #7 of the 15 types of Dinosaurs


 pachycephalosaurs
pak ee SEF uh low SAWR us


Twenty million years before the dinosaurs went extinct a strange new breed evolved! 
They were small to medium sized, two legged herbivores possessing unusually thick skulls.

It is believed that pachycephalosaurs  (Greek for "knucklehead") used their thick noggins to battle each other for dominance in the herd, although it's possible their thick skulls also came in handy for butting away curious predators.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Wacky Wednesday

 It is Wacky Wednesday and it's time to make the time to laugh....
Our bunnies are the richest in Durango with their 25 carat ring.....
What sweater is the favorite for a pirate? Arrrrrrrrrrrrggggyle
Two peanuts were walking down the street, one was a salted!

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Boredom Busters

 It's springtime! 
Get out and play! 
Choose your sport! 
Soccer, volleyball, 4 square, softball, track, mountain biking, ad frisbee. Outdoors awaits!

 Take time to relax....
Sometimes we all need some time just to
relax and breathe!

Take a poll....
Ask your parents, aunts & uncles, and even your Grandparents if they know what rabbit ears are for the TV? Ask them if they remember the Ronco cap snaffler commercials? And ask them if they saw the Beatles TV debut on the Ed Sullivan show. 
Then you can Google and YouTube these to find out what they are!

Friday, April 18, 2014

Flash from the Past Friday


Remember when... the very first boxes of toys arrived? 
What an exciting day it was to know that the orders we placed were being filled and soon enough we would have enough toys to fill the store!
At first, we were giddy with excitement and couldn't help but giggle with glee! We really didn't want to open the boxes but we wanted to open them because of the goodness that was inside! It's like that "special" rose you received once and never threw away the petals because of the sentimental value. Well, boxes of toys had the same effect on us. We pondered the options but quickly decided that the store would look much better with the toys and games out of the boxes than with boxes of toys all over the place like a maze!
Since that day we have received hundreds (if not thousands) of boxes! Some days, it seems like a never ending chore but it's always fun to open new boxes of toys and welcome them to their new home in Durango!

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Dinosaur 101

Dinosaur Type #6, ornithopods.....




This is Bucky, he's a masiakasaurus.
or·ni·tho·pod

Ornithopods are small to medium-sized bipedal herbivores. These guys mainly used 2 feet for walking like T-Rex, Spikey Stigymoloch, and Bucky. They were among the most common dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era, roaming the plains and woodlands in vast herds. 

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Wacky Wednesday

  •  This tin Includes special props!
  • Clearly illustrated instructions to help you prank your friends and family!
  • Exclusive hardback instruction book so you can perform fifty freaky practical jokes!
  • An ideal gift for any occasion
 
What  better way to spend Wacky Wednesday than by pulling some pranks on your friends and family? This kit included one of the coolest spider traps we've ever seen as well as instructions to fool your friends and family....

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Game Review

Quiddler, the fast paced game of words!
 The rules are brutal, but the rewards are worth it in this card game that plays short & sweet! Although there is a solitary version of the game for one player, you can play with up to eight. Cards containing letters of the alphabet and special combinations of letters are dealt in increasing number each time the dealer completes a round. Once you've collected your hand, you can discard and pick up a new card with each turn. The object is to turn all the letters in your hand into dictionary-proof words while leaving one stray card as a final discard. You want to be the first to accomplish the goal but there is a scoring system that makes the play competitive for everyone.  This card game is a 1999 Parents' Choice Silver Award winner.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Frequently Asked Questions

What is SANDS ALIVE!?

We like to tell people that it's part science, part magic and made from Fairy dust and Unicorn Poop. Of course that's the answer we made up! Sands Alive! is made from all natural ingredients, has a patent in the US, has been safety tested (http://www.playvisions.com/dsn/wwwplayvisionscom/content), and is one of the coolest toys we've come across in a long time!
This most amazing and unique learning play material is great for kids and grown ups alike. It feels soft to the touch, doesn't stick to your hands or clothing, and has no odor. The materials sensation is similar to cookie dough. 100% non toxic and antibacterial, Living Sands won't stain and doesn't dry out!
It's something that is truly a 3D, hands on happenin kind of experience!



Saturday, April 12, 2014

Boredom Busters

 
Join us today as we represent the Island country of Madasgascar!


Thursday, April 10, 2014

Dinosaurs 101

Type #6


IGGY the Iguanodon, is a great example of a Ornithopod!

or·ni·tho·pod


Ornithopods, which were small to medium sized, mostly bipedal herbivores are among the most common dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era, roaming the plains and woodlands in vast herds. By an accident of history, ornithopods like Iggy were among the first dinosaurs ever to be excavated, reconstructed and named, putting this dinosaur family at the center of many disputes. 

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Wacky Wednesday

Let's speak Igpay Atinlay! 
For those of ou not familar with the language we'll give you a starter lesson!
 To form Pig Latin words from words beginning with a consonant (like Wacky) or a consonant cluster (like switch), simply move the consonant or consonant cluster from the start of the word to the end of the word. 
  • Then add the suffix "ay" to the end of the word.
  • Words beginning with consonants would change as follows: the word "hello" would become ello-hay, the word "duck" would become uck-day and the term "Pig Latin" would become Ig-pay Atin-lay.
  • Words beginning with consonant clusters would change as follows: the word "switch" would become itch-sway, the word "glove" would become ove-glay and the term "fruit smoothie" would become uit-fray oothie-smay.
  • And that's the beginning!

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Game Review


It’s a great deal of fun for you and your friends! 
Grab a partner and get ready to play! 
Rook is a trump-based trick-taking game played with a deck of Rook playing cards. It was first sold in 1906 by Parker Brothers. The Rook deck is similar to a regular deck of cards but has only numbers from 1-14 in four colors and no face or suit cards. This game is best played with four players on teams of two. There's bidding, trick-taking and trump!
Rook is all about being the first team to reach 300 points by bidding and naming tricks.
 But beware the wild Rook; when he lands, everything can change. 
And it’s not necessarily for the better… 
Classic, portable numbers game perfect for competitive play as well as a rainy day at home!

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Boredom Busters


Last weekend to ski and ride at Purgatory!
New Snow! 12" in the last 48 hours. Spring Conditions and the last chance to ride your favorite run for this season.
For more info http://www.durangomountainresort.com/snowreport/
 Recycle, reuse, re-purpose! 
Brightly decorated toilet paper rolls and fridge magnets complete this project for hours of indoor entertainment!
 Just imagine all the possibilities....

Make your own Pair A Dice!
Whaerever you are, 
whatever you're doing you 
create your own Pair A Dice!

Friday, April 4, 2014

Flash from the Past Friday

 There's no time to horse around! Holy Guacamole! 
Lots new toys to unpack!
This is our new camel friend that we met last weekend in a gallery in Colorado. We thought she had lots of personality and character so we want to share her with as many people as we can! We got all artsy with the photo too!

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Dinosaurs 101

 TYPE #5
Bird or not?

 
or-nith-UH-my-mids
Ornithomimids ("bird mimics") didn't resemble flying birds, but land loving wingless varieties like modern ostriches and emus. These two-legged dinosaurs were the speed demons of the Cretaceous period. some of our friends may have been capable of hitting top speeds of 50 miles per hour! Oddly, ornithomimids were among the few 2 legged dinosaurs to have omnivorous diets feasting on meat and vegetation with an equal appetite. 

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Wacky Wednesday

We met this Fancy Camel while we were in Ouray Colorado last weekend. 
She lives in a shop on Main street and was 
quite intrigued by our visit. 
It truly was a magical visit because the doll house there had a Sailboat in the living room! 
Talk about "staying home for adventure!"
Oh, we added the photo effects, but she sure stands out in a crowd!
Perhaps a trip to Craftopia would enable us to take any of our mini creatures and turn them into a work of art..... Hmmmmmmm?

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Game Review

Go Fish!

This vibrant series of redesigned decks for kids combines the most popular card games with a fresh design. The result? A good time for kids! Warning: Fun for adults too.
Go Fish! These delightfully illustrated playing cards are die cut in the shape of fish and are jumbo size, perfect for little hands. A fun and classic card game for kids. Easy and fun for kids to read, these whimsical, oversized cards make classic children`s card games more fun. Heavy cardstock boxes with sliding tray storage make it easy to keep everyone playing with a full deck.

How to play "GO FISH" .... 
Five cards are dealt to each player if three to six players are involved. With only two players, seven cards are dealt to each. All remaining cards are placed face down in a draw pile.
Randomly choose a player to go first.
On your turn, ask a player for a specific card rank. For example: "Betty, please give me your 9s." You must already hold at least one card of the requested rank.
If the player you ask has any cards of the requested rank, she must give all of her cards of that rank to you. In the example, Betty would have to give you all of her 9s.
If you get one or more cards from the player you ask, you get another turn. You may ask any player for any rank you already hold, including the same one you just asked for.
If the person you ask has no relevant cards, they say, "Go fish." You then draw the top card from the draw pile.
If you happen to draw a card of the rank asked for, show it to the other players and you get another turn. However, if you draw a card that's not the rank you asked for, it becomes the next player's turn. You keep the drawn card, whatever rank it is.
NOTE: The "next player" is the one who said "Go fish."
When you collect a set of four cards of the same rank, immediately show the set to the other players and place the four cards face down in front of yourself.
Who doesn't like to Go Fish?