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Check out this playhouse designed by architect Robin Hannah. It stores flat and slots together for easy set up. Since it’s made in New Zealand (with sustainably grown pine, fyi), you’ll have to email to get a price for shipping. Keep in mind that it could get expensive with shipping, but if you’re crafty enough maybe you can make your own.

Clear Varnished $499.00 NZD
Bare Sanded Finish $429.00 NZD
International shipping prices available on request.

Assembled size 1200mm x 900mm x 1100mm.
Stored size 80mm x 1200mm x 900mm

Toy? I’d classify this thing as more of an awesome-strange-plaything-slash-art-object, because ‘toy’ doesn’t quite cover it. Each piece has three flexible arms with magnetic tips, so you can build all sorts of shapes and structures by attaching the arms to other pieces. The picture of it as a sort of room divider (shown above) sealed the deal for me, but take a look at the extra pictures below showing it as a weird artscape and toy/jewelry thing. So, yeah, it is a toy, but it could be ever so much more with a bit of creativity.

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For those of you that want a cooler kite to fly when the weather is nice, this little nylon fabric guy will do the trick. Each kite has a different/unique screen printed design with a ribbon tail. Makes you wish for proper spring/summer weather, doesn’t it?

shown above: “little winged demon” by Jan Kallwejt

I remember emailing back and forth with Tauba Auerbach back in December of 2008 after seeing her amazing deck of cards as a prototype in Wallpaper* magazine. At the time, she was saying that she was looking into production, so I’m terribly pleased to see that they’re finally available for sale because I was wanting to purchase them as a gift for my father, a mathematician.

Here’s a rundown on the final product: It’s two different decks of cards, one with symbols of mathematical functions instead of the usual hearts, clubs, spades and diamonds. On the other deck, instead of the usual symbols there are geometric shapes.

I’m breaking a tiny rule here. This game is not officially available yet, but it’s sort of worth posting anyways. Whether you’re an avid follower of the many many street style blogs or not, these hipster shots will have you improving your memory while studying which face goes with what body. I love memory games (self-admitted dork here), so I think this one is pretty funny.

Author: Barbara Iweins
Design: Lilian van Dongen Torman
Publication date: March 2010

[via the girl in the green dress]

Given the popularity of the Psycho diagnostik Coasters, this game could be a hit. Though I’m not so sure about how you have to choose between 5 answers. What happens when you see something else, like maybe a clown dying a slow death, what then? Are your friends/family forced to analyze your answer themselves? That could get ugly.

Contents: 20 cards with ink blot designs, and a Diagnosis Book for analyzing responses.
Dimensions: 4″ x 5.5″ x 1.2″

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]