Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
Craty idea |
| Disadvantages: |
None |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
yes |
Colour Explosion
A favourite craft activity at the moment, this is quite a simple idea but has been a hit.
The activity comes in a colourful plastic pack which makes it a good one to take away and carry around- no bulky boxes, so a useful holiday activity. On the pack there are full instructions and because it is brightly coloured, it does appeal to children who want to get "stuck into" the whole craft thing.
WHAT DO WE GET?
We tear open the pack (scissors required) and inside there is a spiral bound book again with lots of bright designs on the front cover. All of the 20 pages are black, because it's onto these pages that we are going to magically draw rainbow pictures.
There are also 2 thick black pens with the word "Explosion" written clearly on them- I assume that this is so that anyone with other packs can differentiate between the pens and know what they are for. Open the tops and the thick nibs are white and can't be used on anything other than this special black paper.
As well as these, there is a page of stencils which has a perforated edge and so is easily removed from the spirals. The stencils include swirls, animals and trees, so children can use these as well as making their own grand designs.
HOW TO USE IT
On the back of the pack there are ideas for using it but
Little Miss decided to give these instructions a miss and just get going. The suggestions are fairly obvious- draw a background, use a stencil, add details (yes, that's it!). The instructions are clearly shown, with one simple sentence and one diagram for each, so if children are stuck for inspiration, they should gain it quite quickly.
It was quite simple to work out what to do but when Little Miss first used the pens, she was a bit disappointed because the colour doesn't show up immediately; it only takes a few seconds for the paper to change colour. She is used to it now, and happily draws away with the time lag between putting pen to paper and the rainbow effect not bothering her at all. The effects are very colourful and when the paper is drawn on, we get random colours.
WARNINGS
• Markers may stain some surfaces
• Wash hands after use
• Don't get the paper wet because the black coating on the paper could run.
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
Widely available from toy shops and supermarkets, this costs £4.99
MADE BY…
Crayola, www.crayola.com
OTHER SIMILAR PRODUCTS
Explosion Fire and Ice
Explosion Colour Tropical
I have no doubt that we will be trying and comparing these.
VERDICT
For the price this is a great little pack. Little Miss has been having a great time trying out the pens and loves the fact that the colours "magically" appear. She enjoys drawing random designs and pictures and waiting to see exactly how they will turn out. As yet, after filling almost all of the book, she has not been especially interested in the stencils but has preferred drawing her own designs and pictures.
The 20 pages are sufficient, because any more and it might stat to become quite dull seeing the same colours cropping up.
For the money, this is a great art product which allows children to be
creative.
Thanks for reading.
Daniela x
