Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Arts and crafts

Discover knitting, crochet, scrapbooking and art and craft ideas on this forum.

Original poster

Where can you buy those 'magic' painting books?

23 replies

babycat · 02/09/2008 16:02

Not sure whether this is the right place to post this, but does anyone know where you can buy the books that you just need a wet paintbrush to colour? I've looked in a few places and haven't had any success. They would be an ideal relatively stress-free activity for me to do with my 19 month old DD.

OP posts:
SlartyBartFast · 02/09/2008 16:04

got one in a toy shop - great fun

IdrisTheDragon · 02/09/2008 16:05

I got one in Tesco

gemmiegoatlegs · 02/09/2008 16:05

Tesco do loads. I think we've had them from WHSmith as well

StarlightMcKenzie · 02/09/2008 16:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

posieflump · 02/09/2008 16:06

whsmith too

dilbertina · 02/09/2008 16:09

TBH I think they're a bit crap, the colours always seem to be shades of murky brown. I've found the aquadraw things a much better alternative. The aquadraw minimats colour really well with water. and are re-usable. The great big mat things are good for mess free hand and foot printing and free drawing - although everything comes out blue.

Both available at Toysrus etc.

These have both proved worthwhile investments in my house!

SlartyBartFast · 02/09/2008 16:13

they don't last very long either, but generlaly quite cheap.

dilbertina · 02/09/2008 16:17

Really Slarty? I've got aquadraw minimats that are 3+ years old - still work fine. (and my dc trash things as well as any child generally!)

mellyonion · 02/09/2008 16:18

i always get mine in our local post office...

they are quite crap, but the kids love them!

i second the aquadraw mats....i have some lush elmo ones that my 2 yo loves.

NoBiggy · 02/09/2008 17:34

We've had several from Poundstretcher. I used to use them when I was little, and the ones you rub a soft pencil over. In my memory they were far better than the ones I've bought recently.

Got some aquadraw mats today, too. We've had an aquadraw for a couple of years. The thing to do is, get your (small) child to lay on it. Draw round them, when they stand up draw on a smiley face, buttons and a big bow tie. Now they're a gingerbread man.

Seems to never get boring

Macdog · 02/09/2008 17:42

Our pound shop does them in different characters, postman pat etc

Other than that the little aquadraw minimat character packs are great fun

SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore · 02/09/2008 17:44

tesco and asda both sell them.

Original poster
babycat · 02/09/2008 19:48

Thanks, everyone . I have got one of the mini aquadraw things but have lost the pen, oops!

I was just a bit nostalgic for those magic books as I used to have them when I was young. Also, as there is more than the couple of pictures you get in the mini aquadraw I thought it might hold her interest for longer and they used to be quite cheap.

Had looked in tesco but couldn't see any. Will try Poundland, Asda and perhaps local newsagents. Alternatively, I suppose I could buy a selection of Aquadraw mini mats. Anyone know of any supplier where you can get them for less than £5-£6? I was looking for something portable so not keen on the big mat.

OP posts:
ChasingSquirrels · 02/09/2008 20:05

galt water magic scroll down - the 4th & 5th ones.
I got one for ds2 for the plane and he loved it, dried quite quickly to use again. was £3.99 in local toymaster.

ChasingSquirrels · 02/09/2008 20:07

sorry, also meant to say the water painting ones I have got from tesco and wilkinsons. I always cut the pictures out and give them one at a time rather than the whole book as the water leaks through and does the ones underneath.
Really really rate the galt one I just posted about though - and you could also do them with a wet paintbrush, not just the pen (presumably the aquamats would be the same?). I did one page with a wet flannel as an instant picture, ds1 was v impressed.

Original poster
babycat · 03/09/2008 12:56

Thanks ChasingSquirrels for that link. Will look for the Water Magic thing. Thanks for the tip about the water soaking through on the paper books.

OP posts:
Original poster
babycat · 03/09/2008 13:06

Just did a quick internet search and kiddicare.com seems to have both the Galt one and the Tomy Aquadraw minis quite cheap. Not sure what the postage is though.

OP posts:
Original poster
babycat · 04/09/2008 20:06

Managed to find magic painting book in Tesco. Hugely disappointing. They used to be just like ordinary colouring books IIRC, except that inside the lines was slightly grey, now they are coloured already with a kind of pattern and adding water just makes the pattern disappear. Also DD too young to do it as she scrubs at the paper too hard and then tipped the water all over the floor! So I think its' going to have to be Aquadraw for the time being.

OP posts:
Umlellala · 17/09/2008 14:32

our local poundshop does them - could buy some for you and send them to you if you want.

SlartyBartFast · 17/09/2008 14:34

i didnt know you could use them twice??
surely not - they dry with the colour showing - i nmust be thinking of the wrong thing

Umlellala · 17/09/2008 14:43

Of course, if you have a garden/patio then 'painting' with a brush dipped in water is HOURS of fun...

kiwibella · 17/09/2008 23:06

I had the same disappointment with the tesco ones... bought one to do with my lo - reminiscing about my childhood .

Mattlach · 23/10/2008 08:20

I found a fantastic online toy store which sells Galt Water Magic books: www.toddlertown.com.au. My kids love them

New posts on this thread. Refresh page