Halloween Party Craft Tutorials

What better opportunity to get into the spooky spirit than with a Halloween Party blog? You might be feeling excited, or looking for some inspiration… This series of crafty tutorials will get you in the mood either way.

This week, we are going to show you some simple step by step tutorials that can be done with the kids, at or in preparation for a Halloween party! From turning your trick or treat candy into scary spiders or making DIY broomsticks from glow sticks (an awesome party favour), these tutorials can be made on a budget and by the little ones in no time! Have a read and see what you can make…

Sweet Spiders

You will need:

Lollipops
12-inch Pipe cleaners (2 per spider)
Googly eyes
Scissors/wire cutters
Glue

How to make:

Take your pipe cleaners and cut them in half. For each spider, two pipe cleaners will be used so you will need four pieces per.
Lay the four pieces horizontally and place a lollipop in the centre. Then, fold the pipe cleaners from right to left and then wrap them all the way around the stem so that they return to the right side, twisted around the stick. Remember to pull tight.
Flip the creepy-crawly over and separate the legs (pipe cleaners). To create little feet, bend the pipe cleaner ends. Play around until you can get the spider to lay flat on its own legs! Having the feet closer to the head of the spider may help.
Finally – the eyes! Dab a spot of glue onto the back of the googly eyes and place them on your spider for the finishing touches.

Glowing Witches Broomsticks

You will need:

Glow sticks (bracelets)
Twine or string
Brown craft paper
Double-sided tape
Ruler and pencil
Coloured card
Hole puncher
Scissors or craft knife

How to make:

First is to make the tail of the witch’s broomstick. Cut a piece of the brown craft paper to be approximately 7.5″ x 5″. Next, draw a horizontal line an inch from the top of the paper (this will be used as a guide for your cut marks).
Now we want to cut thin strips – starting from the bottom and up to the pencil line. If using a craft knife, a ruler will guide you and if using scissors, pencil each line equally and use this as a guide.
Take a glow stick and a plastic joining part for the bracelet. Being careful not to snap the glow stick, secure a joining part to the end (this helps secure the broomstick’s tail)
Back to the tail, add a long strip of double-sided paper to the top inch of the paper. Then, position the glow stick so the plastic joining piece is just below the tape.
Start rolling the paper around the glow stick and the double-sided tape will hold it all together as you go. For a thicker tail, repeat steps 1-5 until you are happy with the results! If you want a curlier tail, simply keep the paper rolled in preparation so that the paper curls naturally.
Taking the coloured card, cut your labels out in the shape of your choice! Then punch a hole and add a Happy Halloween message. Finally, with the twine or string, thread through the hole and then tie them to the broom’s tail.

Ghostly Lollipops

You will need:

A box of tissues
Scissors
Round lollipops
A black marker
Small hair elastics
Orange and black ribbon

How to make:

The first step is to make the ghosts turn out as spooky as possible! Taking your tissues, cut one full-size tissue into quarters. Take another full-size tissue and put the quarter into the centre of the larger tissue. This helps hide the colour of the lolly underneath and builds the ghost’s body! Of course, you can skip this step if you want people to know what flavour they’re picking up.
Now, grab the lollypop and place it in the middle. Bunch up the tissue over the lollypop. Using the hair elastic, stretch this over the head to hold it all in place. If need be, wrap the elastic around again so the tissue is kept in place!
With your marker… It is time to make a ghostly face! Pressing softly on the tissue so the ink doesn’t bleed greatly, add some eyes to your Halloween treats. If one eye ends up bigger than the other, don’t worry – you can simply go back and adjust.
For the final touches, grab your orange and green bows and tie them around the neck. Like tying a shoelace, tie their bows and they’re complete!

Love Halloween but not feeling so creative? We have many toys available which will be perfect for the Halloween celebrations. From our Mystery Machine to our King of Tokyo Halloween Power Up – there is so much available! Check out our website for the full range!

We would love to see your Halloween crafts! Post your creations on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and tag us @ToyStreetUK!

Editors note: This blog was originally published on October 16th, 2019. Updated on October 13th, 2021 to improve the information available.

Top 5 Harry Potter Gifts

Get ready to wow your little wizards this coming season with our great range of Harry Potter gifts. Whether you like card games, video games, puzzles or stationary. We have something suitable for members of every wizarding house here at Toy Street.

Dobble Harry Potter

Harry Potter Dobble sees players trying to spot the single matching image between two cards. Can you find the match among drawings of Harry, Hermione and Ron, magical wands and creatures, the houses of Hogwarts and more? This game is suitable for most ages and great for all occasions.

Harry Potter Scrabble

Harry Potter Scrabble is a great introduction to the language of the wizarding world. Like parents who maybe don’t know as much about the wizarding world as their young wizards think they should. Harry Potter edition of scrabble includes a special glossary for players to find wizarding words. This way your children can teach you all about the world of Harry Potter as you play.

3D Harry Potter Puzzle

Know a fan of the Knight Bus? This purple triple-decker bus will squeeze through small spaces and travel quicker than a regular bus to make sure you reach your destination in time. Create some of your own magic by building this spectacular 3D puzzle and bringing the Knight Bus to life before your eyes!

Platform 9 3/4 Notebook

Based on the infamous gateway to the wizarding world, this notebook is sure to please fans of Harry Potter. Bring a bit of magic to school with you with this exciting little reminder of the world of Harry Potter.

Lego Harry Potter Collection – PS4

Lego, gaming, and Harry Potter – all in one? The Lego Harry Potter Collection allows gamers to play as LEGO versions of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and other characters from the books during their seven years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Players can attend lessons, cast spells, mix potions, fly on broomsticks, and complete tasks to earn house points in Hogwarts Castle, and visit familiar settings like Diagon Alley, the Forbidden Forest, and the village of Hogsmeade.

How to win at Halloween!

So, Halloween is coming up, which means Christmas is on the way too! But we’ll worry about that later. This is the one night of the year you can be extra bold, or effortlessly wear a pair of black cat ears and still look the part.

Read on and I guarantee your children will have a Halloween to remember…..

Putting in the effort

It’s the night before Halloween. You’ve found some pumpkin-shaped marshmallows at the bottom of the cupboard (that expired a year ago) and you’re hoping the costumes will be ready on time. We’ve all been there!

Obviously not everyone has the time or money to buy a full outfit every year, so by using our DIY looks listed below and our affordable products you can be sure your kid will look the part this holiday.

Whether they want to be a pirate, a knight or a princess we can help; from our Pirate Torch to our classic Wooden Axe, our range of Halloween toys is here for you. All our toys are high quality and shipped with care, so you’re also purchasing a toy that your child will love for many years to come.

Creative DIY looks

For younger kids, there are many adorable and easy to make outfits. Why not try a “Where’s Wally” look using a striped t-shirt and a hand-knitted hat. Or how about a scary mummy look, all you need for this is some toilet roll, white clothes or pyjamas and our paint your own mask kit.

Older kids might want a scarier outfit such as a vampire or pirate. For the pirate look, you may have to sacrifice some clothing. Get your baggiest, oldest t-shirts and trousers and tear them as you please to make a rugged outfit. Then you can add our classic pirate torch to help you find your way trick-or-treating, and a pirate hat, and your work is done!

Not all parents love dressing up but, in case some of you do, here are our ideas! First a simple one, a Witch Queen look for all the mums (because you’re all Queens in your own right). Find a black dress and some cardboard (preferably gold) to make yourself a crown, then impress everyone with your spooky magic colour mixing bubble potions. You can also summon your many witch familiars with help from our Hand Shadows Book; its foolproof!

For the dads, wow your children as a Halloween inventor with our motorised robot hand – or even just our Halloween themed lego models and classic wind up teeth for a good laugh.

Other ideas could include:

Peter Pan, which would need some green clothing and creativity.
Olaf, for all the frozen fans. This wouldn’t need more than some white clothes, pom poms and some felt.
Fairy, an easy option if you already have a pair of fairy wings lying about.
Bunny rabbit.
Skeleton.
Minion, this is a good choice for younger kids as it’s sure to be super cute.

Why Should We Bother?

Halloween is thought to originate from the Celtic festival of Samhain, which was celebrated on the fringe of Autumn and Winter, where the boundary between the living and the dead was weakest. At this time of the year, Celts would make bonfires and wear costumes to scare away roaming spirits and protect themselves from harm.

Later, in the eighth century, the Pope created All Saints’ Day. A day to honour all martyrs and some Samhain festivities were performed on this day. The evening each year before All Saints’ Day was called All Hallows’ Eve.

This later evolved into Halloween and here we are today. So, whether you give any credit to its origins or you don’t, protect yourself this year. By dressing up and have a good laugh!

Above and Beyond at Halloween

For full costumes, support local businesses by shopping at a costume shop. Or keep an eye out for bargains at boot sales and online Marketplaces.

So, if you’re a die-hard fan or someone who only notices it’s the 31st when someone knocks on your door in a Witches hat, we can help you take some very memorable family photos this year! Lastly, remember to have a bowl of sweets ready, don’t be that person who gives the trick-or-treaters an apple!

So, will it be a witch or a zombie this year? We’ll let the kids decide!

Editors note: This blog was originally published on October 23rd, 2017. Updated on October 5th, 2021 to improve the information available.

Top 5 Playmobil Wildlife Toys

The powerhouse company that is Playmobil have really got something for everyone. Their collections range from a friendly lemur family to a mythical temple of time defended by knights. This week we’re going to be letting you in on our top 5 toys with a wildlife theme!

People are happier and healthier when they’re closer to wildlife. One study showed “doing something wild” every day for 30 days greatly improved happiness and health. When children are exposed to the ‘great outdoors’ they have increased self-esteem. They can learn to take risks and unleash their creativity. “Go outside for some fresh air, it’ll do you good,” is something I’m sure we’ve all heard at some point in our lives. And it really is true!

It may be difficult to convince some children how great wildlife and nature is. With technology these days there’s always a television or iPad readily available from the comfort of inside. Playmobil’s range of wildlife-themed toys is the perfect gateway to unlocking a love for wildlife!

From the African Plains to the Atlantic Ocean, the Playmobil wildlife range has got everything you need to unleash your inner David Attenborough!

1. Pandas

Pandas are characterised by their bold black-and-white coat and big round bodies. They spend hours every day munching on their favourite food – bamboo! But pandas aren’t completely lazy. They’re also very good swimmers and climbers.

2. Meerkats

Arguably the cutest creatures in the animal kingdom, Meerkats are squirrel-sized members of the Mongoose family. They are super cute. With brown-striped fur and small pointed faces, they originate from the African Plains and live in groups of up to 50 known as ‘mobs’. Meerkats are most famous for standing on their hind legs and watching predators.

3. Zebras

As part of the horse and donkey family, zebras are the perfect wildlife toy for horse fans. Did you know a herd of zebras is also called a Dazzle? Zebras stripes are completely unique – like fingerprints – and help families to recognise each other. They also make great camouflage!

4. Zoo Gift Set

This set not only comes with a parrot and an antelope to add to your Playmobil wildlife collection, but it also provides some great wildlife accessories such as food and a pool of water for your animals to drink from. Whether you prefer to see wild animals in the zoo or out in their natural habitats, this gift set has some great additions.

5. Fairy With Baby Dragon

Okay, so a Dragon may not technically be wildlife, but they’re still very interesting creatures! The term dragon comes from the Greek word Draconta, which means ‘to watch.’ The Greeks saw dragons as beasts that guarded treasures and valuable items. According to legend, dragons have scaly skin, talons and long snouts. They also have the ability to fly and breathe fire!

Shop Our Full Playmobil Range Today!

Editors note: This blog was originally published on March 9th, 2018. Updated on October 5th, 2021 to improve the information available.

Top 5 Schleich Animals

It’s a rare occurrence to enter a toy shop and not see a lovely display of Schleich animal figures. Each one is crafted with as much love as it has detail (have you seen those fur textures?). Because of this, when presented with so many of them at once, it’s so hard to just choose one! So, we’ve saved you the trouble. Here are our top 5 Schleich Animals that any new or veteran collector will love.

Cat

Look at that friendly face! This little critter is sure to please any animal lover; whether they have a cat, want a cat, or just need a small animal to enrich their current toy collections. The Schleich cat would look great in any dollhouse, play farm or whatever fantastical, cat-filled world your loved one creates.

Donkey

The Schleich donkey is a particularly good example of how finely detailed these lovely figures are. The fur texture makes it look soft and adorable, just like a real-life donkey. This fellow would make a great farm friend, and a good companion for avid horse collectors if you want to mix things up a bit.

Camel

Camels can make an intimidating introduction, but the Schleich camel is perfectly polite and quite a lot smaller. This is a great choice if you want to start branching your collection out away from the classic home and farmyard friends.

Spinosaurus

Have a loved one who’s into dinosaurs? This Schleich Spinosaurus is sure to impress, from the details in its sharp teeth to the infamous spine, all the way down to the ridges on its tail. Bags of little hard plastic dinosaurs are great, but the Schleich dinosaurs are legendary in comparison.

Winged Rainbow Unicorn

So reality isn’t really your thing. That’s fine, Schleich truly has something for everyone. The Winged Rainbow Unicorn takes sunshine and rainbows to a whole new level of detailed fantasy, using inspiration from real-life animals to give you the glittery unicorn of your dreams.

Want to see more of these charming creations? We have a whole collection that you can view right here.

Top 5 Games To Play At Home

With no surprise, when the words ‘schools are closed’ are announced we all panic! Whether it be for a bank holiday, snow days, or a pandemic sweeping the world. However, we are here for you. Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing lots of family-friendly entertainment ideas to keep you and the kids having a great time at home. From playing with toys and teddies to arts and crafts and cooking – there are lots to get stuck into. This week, our theme is board games – a classic option. Clear the table, get some snacks for the game, and let’s get playing!

Doh Nutters

Doh Nutters has to be our first pick. This game is absolutely crazy and is guaranteed to have the kids crying with laughter. Play the part of a crazy doughnut-loving elephant with two nutty game options. First option: can you be the first elephant to get all your doughnuts on your trunk? Or, make things a little bit harder – can you pick up and place your doughnuts on your game board one at a time before your fellow elephants?

Ages 4-7
2-4 players
20-30 minutes playing time

Ticket To Ride: Europe

Coming from a family of travel-obsessed expansions, we have picked the European edition for you… In this game, you’ll have the chance to visit the greatest cities in Europe. Taking you on an adventure from Edinburgh to Lisbon or Moscow. This edition features brand new gameplay elements, too. Test your strategic skills, build on your geography skills, and have a great time! So, where will you find yourselves – building on tunnels, on a ferry, or paying a little extra to use an opponent’s route?

Ages 8+
2-5 players
30-60 minutes playing time

Codenames

Next on our game list, is a team-based party game. So, if your little one is going to be celebrating a birthday at home this year – here is a great way to start the celebrations! Two rival spymasters know the secret identities of 25 agents. Their teammates know the agents only by their codenames. By taking turns, your team’s spymaster will give a hint about their agents’ identities and the respective cards. Win or lose, it is so fun to figure out all of the clues.

Ages 10+
2-8 Players
15 minutes playing time

Dixit

Dixit, the winner of the 2010 Spiel des Jahres award (Family Game of the Year), is all about using your imagination and your skills of interpretation. But unlike Codenames, this board game is competitive. So be prepared to have your eyes on the prize… Perfect for young players, this game is packed with cartoon artwork and large playing cards. Grab your cards and start the storytelling, and collect tokens for the best ones!

Ages 6+
3-6 players
30 minutes playing time

Mr. Lister’s Quiz Shootout

Mr. Lister’s Quiz Shootout is part of a series of games from Big Potato Games, a London based indie board game company. Perfect for teens aged 14 and above, this game is super fun while also being easy to play. Mr. Lister asks you all a question with lots of answers and teams get three shots at a correct answer. The team that gets the most correct answers, wins the card. But if it’s a draw or both teams hit a Golden Answer, then you both go straight to the Last Chance Saloon to play the Impossible Question.

Ages 14+
3-20 players
20 mins playing time

Shop the collection!

Editors note: This blog was originally published on April 24th, 2020. Updated on September 27th, 2021 to improve the information available.

Best Educational Activities To Do With Your Children

Many parents have been homeschooling their children over the past year. Here are our choice of best home educational activities to do with your children to ease them back into the excitement of hands-on learning at school.

Scrapbooking

Scrapbooking is a fun way to preserve memories whilst being creative! Grab some paper, pens, glitter, ribbons, and anything else you can find to create your own memory book. From a fun day out in the park to even just about what they have done in the week, start creating a scrapbook with everlasting memories!

Shadow Drawing

Shadow drawing is the new craze, make shadows with various objects on a piece of paper and trace around them. Go outside and use natural sunlight or if it’s wintertime and you don’t want to freeze use a desk lamp to create the shadow. Trace any variety of toys you have lying around and make the best art. Use our Scentos Colouring Workstation to get started!

Slime Making

Who doesn’t love making slime? For some reason, it is very appealing to children. This is probably the best activity to do with your children at home as it will entertain them and you can also educate them at the same time, it’s a win-win situation! Have a look at our Super Slime Lab and start creating your slime!

Baking

Baking is the easiest way to keep your child entertained and also get your cooking done. It is a great activity that teaches them valuable skills to use later on in their life. From cooking cakes, cupcakes, pies, or anything in between, make sure to let them do the fun part of decorating your wonderful creations. Why don’t they practice their cooking and decorating skills with our Cupcake Set?

Nature Art

When going to the park or a nature walk collect sticks, flowers, stones and make a den or a forge. Get your child to take a notepad with them and note down all the wonderful plants and trees they see, so when they can get home they can research and learn all about nature.

There are so many fun and exciting activities that also educate your children and help them prepare for everyday life.

We have a whole category for educational toys that can help you make home education that little more fun!

Check them out.

Editors note: This blog was originally published on February 9th, 2021. Updated on September 27th, 2021 to improve the information available.

Top 5 Cinderella Princess Gifts

Cinderella is back in the spotlight again with Kay Cannon’s 2021 film; featuring Camila Cabello as aspiring dress designer Cinderella. As seen on Amazon, Cinderella is an ambitious young woman who wants to establish her shop “Dresses by Ella.” So, it’s time for fashion to rise into the top hobby spot. Get ahead of the game and set your future fashionistas on the right path with these Top 5 Cinderella Princess Gifts.

Cinderella Princess Fashion Doll

The perfect companion for your fashion adventures, this classic Disney Cinderella features an extra sparkly twist. What better way to inspire princess-worthy designs than by having the real deal shimmering by your side? Royal Shimmer Cinderella dazzles. Her dress features signature colours that sparkle from the top of the bodice to the bottom of the skirt!

Sylvanian Families: Fashion Boutique

If you’re looking to set up shop immediately, the Sylvanian Families Fashion Boutique has just the glamorous architecture you need. Here you can learn all about the ins and outs of selling your designs. You can dress up the mannequin, surround it with matching accessories, and set it all up in a lovely big window display. And the best part is you can set up wherever you like!

Aquabeads Crystal Carriage

Every famous designer needs her own custom Cinderella-style carriage. With the Aquabeads Crystal Carriage Set, you have three fun template sheets to take inspiration from. Or, if you prefer, you can go completely freestyle! The set includes over 1, 700 jewel beads in 7 colours, flip tray, bead case, bead design base, and sprayer. So you’ll have everything you need to get started. The carriage has real rotating wheels and can be pulled by hooking onto the horse’s tail. Take your fabulous carriage on tour and show your designs to the world! If you’re feeling festive, bonus templates are also included so you can make Easter, Halloween and Christmas themed designs.

Design Fashion Studio

Ready to start designing? It’s fun and easy to draw your own fabulous outfits with this plate-rubbing fashion portfolio. Just line up the pieces of an original ensemble, lay a piece of paper over the top, rub with a design crayon and . . . voila! Haute couture. It’s the perfect gateway into fashion design. With this snazzy tool by their side, you’ll be seeing your little artist on the cover of Vogue before you know it.

Glitter Princess Mould And Paint

For your younger designers, Glitter Princess should be more than exciting. Not only do you paint her outfit, but you get to mould the princesses yourself! Lots of fun and only slightly messy. You can even use magnets and pins to display your princess creations anywhere you go!

With these top 5 Cinderella-inspired gift ideas, your loved ones will be well on their way to being top fashion designers. Be their fairy godmother and treat them to some creative toys they’ll really love. One day you might be wearing their marvellous designs!

Autumn Sale – Top 5 Toys

The leaves are turning brown, the evenings are getting shorter… Or, Halloween and bonfire night are coming so it’s time to get ready for autumn! Time for gloves, hats, scarves and autumn sales (obviously).

Hitting the first few weeks of autumn, what a better time to check out our top 5 toys from our annual sale!

Lots of new toys and ranges have been added to our sale this year, so be sure to check out the whole category.

The Gruffalo: Deep Dark Wood Game

With art and gameplayed based on classic children’s story The Gruffalo, this game is sure to be a family favourite. Players guide their mouse character through the forest, sneaking around the fox, the owl and the snake. Can you help your mouse to get home safely? All you need is a little luck of the dice and a good memory!

Sylvanian Families: Cedar Terrace

A Sylvanian Families townhouse style property with three floors. With a traditional living room space on the ground floor, a large room on the middle floor and a converted loft-style space at the top of the house, there’s plenty of room for your collection inside. Perfect for play on the floor or on a table, and easily folded up to store away. Cedar Terrace is a gorgeous and well-detailed home will excite any child interested in Sylvanian Families.

Disney Castle 3D Puzzle

Create your own magical world with the Ravensburger Disney Castle 3D puzzle set. Featuring tall towers and blue turrets, this beautiful castle is home to your favourite Disney characters including faces from Frozen, Toy Story, Cinderella and many more. This pick would make a great bonding experience and teaches children creative and cognitive skills.

Keel Schnauzer Soft Toy

Cosy up for Autumn with this very well behaved Schnauzer dog. From Keel, this pup lives up to the brand’s reputation for incredible quality with products that will be cherished by your children for years to come. At 32cm you’ll find that this furry friend stands the same height as a real Miniature Schnauzer, for added charm.

Blue Bear Baby Mat

This pick has the little ones in mind. We think your loved one would look so cute on this soft and snuggly baby mat. This blue bear teddy mat is just right for a sweet little one’s playtime and floor time. Measuring at 79×58 cm, it is the perfect size for them.

What we also love is that this mat folds up easy for travel, and is perfect for gifts. Such a cute baby shower present.

Made by Mary Meyer, the extra touches show they care and have family at the heart of their company. If you love the idea of this soft and loving baby mat but want something other than a bear – we have a huge collection for you to check out.

Check out the full range!

Editors note: This blog was originally published on October 2nd 2019. Updated on September 22nd, 2021 to improve the information available.

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