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If you’ve got a thing for collecting Eames items, you might set your sights upon these babies that were inspired by the duo’s interest in toys and playtime (more specifically, their film “Tops” (1969)).

Dimensions: 3-5″ H x 2 1/2-4″ dia
Set of 3 Tops.

Or should this be titled, ‘How Not to Look Like An Idiot When Participating In Paper Airplane Contests’? You might scoff at the necessity of knowing which folds create the least wind resistance, but you’ll be singing another story when you get last place*. This secret weapon brings you the tools to fly above and beyond all your co-workers**. Bring it.

The book gives you paper printed with hundreds of ways to create planes that will go the distance as well as access to on online interactive community where you can share designs with other enthusiasts or design your online airline

*Don’t even start with the ‘winning-isn’t everything’. Sometimes it is.
**Also, I might mention small art activities/breaks can increase work productivity, but you know that already, don’t you?

Celebrate the lunar landing with your own cardboard rocket, or give as a gift if you’re not into the whole outer space thing.

Each Astro Rocket is laser-cut for precision fit and easy assembly using slot construction. They look great in earth brown or lunar white and can be decorated with paint, glitter, markers or other craft materials. Displays table-top, wall mount or suspended. The perfect gift for home or office.

Made from recycled cardboard, a non-toxic, environmentally friendly product.
All rockets are packaged flat and include detailed instructions. One rocket per package.

$14.00-$28.00, Buy it here.

Memory games aren’t just for kids; if you’ve read any articles regarding Alzheimer’s Disease, you know they stress diet, exercise and brain stimulation as an important part to keeping the risk of disease low. So, why not enjoy some Marimekko patterns while you’re keeping your memory in top notch shape? Also check out my personal favorite: Maharam Memory Game.

What better way of sampling the wide array of wonderful prints and patterns
Marimekko has produced over the years than with this fun memory game?
Turn all the pairs face down and mix them up, then try to match the pairs.
Person with the most pairs wins.
Glossy cardboard.

$27.00, Buy it here.

Woodgrain + playing cards + slots = excellent time killer.

Keep them in a drawer, or in the car, or in your camping kit. As an extra added bonus, these beauties also have slots in them to aid in your assembly of the greatest house of cards ever created.

$12.00, at the Curiosity Shoppe.

Here’s a cute cardboard playhouse for the little ones. (With a little work you could make one of these, so keep that in mind.)

Villa Julia by Javier Mariscal is a cardboard playhouse for kids. It’s easiest to think of it as a game in five phases: assembly, personalization, decoration, occupation and disassembly. Villa Julia’ comes with a plan detailing the easy instructions for assembly; children set it up themselves and make it their own by coloring the drawings found on the sides.

65″l x 47″w x 53″h

$275.00, Buy it here.

If you’re going to play some cards, these are a fun set to have on hand…also might be a good host/hostess gift perhaps?

54-card deck of poker size playing cards, plus one marker card. Unlimited edition. Originally executed by artist Donald Sultan in March of 1989 as charcoal and conté crayon drawings on handmade paper.

Designer: Donald Sultan, 1989
Manufacturer: A/D Gallery, New York
Materials: Paper 3.25″ x 2.5″

$25.00, Buy it here.

Making things out of paper is kind of a hobby of mine, so I can’t help but post these two items from the paper-crazy Japanese design collective, Shirara. The paper block kit has ‘great gift’ written all over it (and yes, the tiara is a little frou-frou-ish, but that’s what a tiara is, so deal with it).

Paper Blocks, $44.00,
Buy it here.

This 23-piece set stirs the imagination both artistically and spatially. The pristine paper blocks are a blank slate for children of all ages to illustrate with their wildest dreams. The blocks are in varying shapes to accommodate all kinds of structures. Comes flat-packed. No glue necessary: It’s self-adhesive to allow for easy assembling. Designed by Mai Miura

One Day Princess Tiara, $28.00,
Buy it here.

This tiara is among the more baroque of [Shirara’s] efforts, kissed in gold and strung with a very long white satin ribbon. We love the modernity that comes from translating something so precious in idea as a tiara into something so fleeting as paper. Flatpacked and measuring about 6-3/4″ tall and about 16-1/4″ before interlocking the tabs–making it a perfectly princely coronet for all ages. by Tomitama

[posted by katie]

It’s never too early to encourage your kids to become crazy geniuses (or too late to wish you had become one).

These lovely blocks contain many carefully engraved illustrations of the equipment, training, and activities that a budding mad scientist will require, combined with a clever alphabetic introduction to the concept depicted. Each block measures 1 3/8 inches square and depicts six mad science concepts and the appropriate letters. The set includes all 26 letters of the alphabet on five blocks (six illustrations per block).

Laser engraved onto a solid block of American maple wood.

$39.95, Buy it here.

[via Make]

This looks like a fun gift for an amateur stargazer.

The Stellarscope is a personal hand-held planetarium that charts the night sky on any day of the year. Just match date and time with the adjustable barrel for an accurate display. Comes with a pocket light for nighttime viewing. Imported.

2.5″ diameter, 5.75″l

$52.00, Buy it here.

If you haven’t finished your holiday shopping, keep in mind that shipping times for all online purchases are nearing the cut off times…that being said, these kits seem like a great gift for a hobbyist.
(more…)

Am I a complete dork for wanting one of these? (don’t answer that.)

* 51 bone-like pieces
* Snaps together, puzzle-style
* Realistic, mid-stride pose captures the dinosaur’s daunting stature
* Display it on its rock-like base, or disassemble for future use
* Includes educational color poster full of fun T-Rex facts
* No messy glue needed
* Easy to assemble

Plastic and metal, 36″ L

$49.95, Buy it here.

How fun does this look? If you’ve got kids, now’s your chance to buy this see-saw, though I’d recommend deducting it from their allowance. It’s never too early to learn fiscal responsibility, right?

Here, clever design, playful learning and the pride of building something yourself are combined. Shipped flat, the Tau See-saw components are pieced within the sheet of wood from which the parts were cut; the parts “unclip” from the template and are easily assembled by an adult. Should your child outgrow the toy, it can be disassembled and the parts clipped back into the sheet for storage.

Materials: Birch veneer
Children 3 years+
Meets all European standards for child safety.

57″ L x 24″ W x 27″ H

$799.00,
Buy it here.

These woodblocks have some excellent graphics.

This multi-faceted piece turns the concept of traditional alphabet blocks on its head by featuring an array of multi-functional patterns and colors. Not just a set of wood blocks, but two puzzles, numbers and letters, too. A great gift for all ages.

The Letters combine notNeutral’s favorite vintage and contemporary fonts. They picked the most distinct letter forms for each letter on two of the block sides. Basic equations can be solved using the two tone graphic numbers. The Apples are a signature notNeutral pattern that create a fun puzzle. The last two sides are a combination of two Season pattern elements, the flora and fauna elements with the tree structure.

12 wood blocks, Includes wood tray
Each six-sided block is 1.75″ x 1.75″

$36.00, Buy it here.

Clever interpretation…

Really simple and really well done the XO is a Tic Tac Toe game and yes, you might argue that there are a ton of them out there, but this one is special as it is played on a mirrored surface and the X and O are only half of what they should be. Why? Well, you are playing it on a mirror surface, hence no need for the other half.

$40.00,
Buy it here.