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Christmas

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Original poster

Does anyone's dcs have sprayza or blo pens?

46 replies

bodiddly · 08/11/2010 18:57

Ds has been interested in these for a while but I wondered if they are any good and if so which are better? Ds will be nearly 6 come Christmas and is art mad! Also, blendy pens ... are they any good?

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pugsandseals · 08/11/2010 19:40

Not much help I know, but DD has had some blow pens in the cupboard for about 5 years now & I've never been brave enough to try them too scared of the mess . Is there anything else he might like? DD seems more than happy with watercolour pencils in a very posh tin!

Original poster
bodiddly · 08/11/2010 19:45

I have just looked on amazon and the blo pens seem to be a bit of a hit with most children!

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exexpat · 08/11/2010 20:10

DD (8) has blo pens with stencils and loves them - think she was given them when she was five or six, but only started using them about a year ago.

mememe30 · 08/11/2010 20:12

They're better than I expected. Took a while for theem to learn not to blow too hard or hold it too close (end up with a splodge) but they do enjoy them. Not really much mess

Original poster
bodiddly · 08/11/2010 20:18

oh great, thanks. Now I just have to decide which pack to go for - there seem to be loads of different ones but I can't tell the difference between them!

mememe30 are yours sprayza or blo pens? I am leaning towards blo pens at the moment though Im not sure why!

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ThighsWideShut · 08/11/2010 20:23

DS (7) has blo pens. They are great. Even I like to use them!

DS bought a set from Toys R Us, half price (about £7.50 I think) it was the colour changing ones.

Like mememe said, they take a while to learn how to use them, and you need to put newspaper down as they can sometimes spray slightly, but would recommend. Good fun!

Original poster
bodiddly · 08/11/2010 20:29

Excellent .. glad to see you recommend them. Has anyone tried the blendy pens? I read a review that some people cant get them to blend properly. I know ds would love them but there is no point getting them if he cant do it himself!

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iheartdusty · 08/11/2010 20:37

DD has blendy pens but they didn't really work, she just ended up using them like ordinary pens for colouring and then left the lids off so they all dried (they share a lid for 2 pens so it is a bit fiddly).

DS had blo pens, and liked them a lot - not especially messy, and nice results with stencils. They have lasted well, even without meticulous lid-replacing.

mememe30 · 08/11/2010 20:37

We have blo pens. I'm thinking about getting the blendy pens for them for Christmas so I'd love to know as well if anyone thinks they're any good!!!

Original poster
bodiddly · 08/11/2010 20:41

thanks everyone .. so it sounds as if the blo pens are the way to go but avoid blendy pens! I have seen some blo pens reduced quite a bit online so thats great!

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Original poster
bodiddly · 08/11/2010 20:42

Can anyone recommend any other crafty type things that arent toooo girly? Ds loves drawing and making things - he is having a shaker maker kit and the blo pens .. and has asked for a hama kit or something similar.

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pinkthechaffinch · 08/11/2010 20:47

Blendy pens are rubbish at blending but are quite nice quality felt tips.

Original poster
bodiddly · 08/11/2010 20:49

nobody seems to rate blendy pens at all other than as felt tips .. the review on amazon said the same!

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ThighsWideShut · 08/11/2010 20:50

My DS loves crafts.

I go to The Range (depends where you are in country as to whether you have one near-by I think) and bought loads of crafty bits and put it all in a box. He loves that.

He also likes:

  • Blendy pens (as you know!)
  • Plaster of paris sets - where you make casts in a mould and paint.
  • Aqua beads (annoying!)
  • Small painting by numbers sets (Range or Hobbycraft)
  • Sewing sets; cross stitch or just sewing bits of cloth

He also got a few sets last year; make and paint racing car, make and paint kite etc

He also has a chocolate coin maker which he loves and is now old enough to make and do on his own!

Hope that helps Smile

iheartdusty · 08/11/2010 20:51

paper aeroplanes gets good reviews

and look at the klutz range

fimo clay

hama beads are good - maybe an animals theme?

ThighsWideShut · 08/11/2010 20:55

The Klutz range looks great.

Sure I had something like that when I was a titch!!

Original poster
bodiddly · 08/11/2010 20:56

thanks ... he had some bigger hama beads last year suited to younger children which he loves and he spotted a toy story set (which I assume are smaller) in the Argos catalogue. Are they similar to bindeez? And what are Aqua beads? I am looking for something he can do on his own with a bit of supervision.

I will ask people generally for craft kits like the paint your own racing car etc as he does love them. I put them away in the cupboard and he does them during the course of the year. Fimo may be a good idea ....

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ThighsWideShut · 08/11/2010 20:59

Aquabeads are like Hama beads; you make a pattern on a peg board, spray it with water and it sticks together and hardens. Quite cool, something they can do alone or with supervision.

Original poster
bodiddly · 08/11/2010 21:02

ThighsWideShut do you think one is better than the other?

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ThighsWideShut · 08/11/2010 21:02

Though top tip for any beady tip set:

When the beads spread far and wide all over the living room/kitchen/house put a stocking or pop sock (if you have them!!) over the end of the hoover hose, hold it on and hoover. They all get collected on end of hose pipe but tight stops them from whizzing up pipe!

ThighsWideShut · 08/11/2010 21:05

DS had a cheap version of Hama beads, but plays with aqua beads a whole lot more than 'Hamas'. Or would do if hadn't pinched the spray bottle to damp his hair down in morning and broken it in the process!!

Original poster
bodiddly · 08/11/2010 21:05

brilliant .. have you put that down as tip of the day?

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ThighsWideShut · 08/11/2010 21:07

I did a few years ago but it never got mentioned Sad

Will try again!

Original poster
bodiddly · 08/11/2010 21:08

ooh it is good to know that boys play with hama beads etc too. I thought they were just aimed at girls. I saw a safari set which I think he would like.

Have you ever tried air drying clay?

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ThighsWideShut · 08/11/2010 21:13

No, not tried it. The problem I have is a small flat, dining room table is on a carpeted floor, and you can't swing a cat in the kitchen (only hard floor in flat!) so having mess and muck etc everywhere is annoying and my carpet is wearing out form over washing it!!

I think I may get some Fimo for him though. I loved that stuff when I was young!