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FELT CANDY ORNAMENTS
What’s New...
IN THE KIDBIZ
WHAT’S BEEN ADDED TO
THE TOY HALL OF FAME?
Heidi, mom to three energetic boys, came
up with these adorable and inexpensive felt
ornaments. Craft felt cut into 1-inch wide
strips (as long as possible), lollipop sticks
cut in half, a low temperature glue gun, and
some embroidery floss and a needle are all
you need to create these decorative candy
treats! You’ll find a complete tutorial at
https://www.happinessishomemade.net/
felt-candy-ornaments/
REINDEER THUMBPRINT
ORNAMENTS
Nothing could be simpler than these ornaments that
Crystal, over at Little Bit Funky, says take only 20
minutes to make. Ornaments with a matte finish work
best. Craft paint, Sharpies, and some little thumbs are the
only other things you need. Step by step photos can be
found here: http://www.littlebitfunky.com/2011/11/20-
minute-crafter-reindeer-thumbprint.html
CANDY CANE
CHRISTMAS TREES
Trish, a California mom of two boys, started out as
an electrical engineer. She’s put her many talents to
use creating these candy cane Christmas trees that
can be used as ornaments, small gifts, or perhaps
something to set beside each plate at your holiday
table. Green felt, candy canes, some yellow craft
foam for the star, craft glue or hot glue, and a variety
of “ornaments” to add to your tree are what you’ll
need. Follow her instructions at https://www.
momontimeout.com/candy-cane-christmas-trees/
CLAY POT REINDEER
We thought these were so cute — and easy
to make! Fill them with edible goodies or
ornaments. Use them as a decoration, a
centerpiece for your table, or wrap one in
cellophane to give as a gift. All you need are
clay pots of varying sizes, brown and red
pom poms, paint (brown, white & black), red
ribbon, cardboard and wrapping paper (for the
antlers), small jingle bells to adorn the antlers,
and school glue. Detailed instructions can be
found here: https://www.bargainmoose.ca/
christmas/diy-cute-clay-pot-reindeer-23842
The Strong’s National Toy Hall of
Fame, established in 1998, recognizes
toys that have inspired creative play
and enjoyed popularity over a sustained
period. Each year, the prestigious hall
inducts new honorees and showcases
both new and historic versions of clas-
sic toys beloved by generations.
The 2018 National Toy Hall of Fame
inductees are Uno, pinball, and Magic
8 Ball. The honorees were selected
from a field of 12 finalists that also
included: American Girl Dolls, chalk,
Chutes and Ladders, Fisher-Price Corn
Popper, Masters of the Universe, sled,
tic-tac-toe, Tickle Me Elmo, and Tudor
Electric Football.
Introduced in 1946, the Magic 8 Ball
allows users to flirt harmlessly with
fortune-telling. Users pose questions,
shake the ball, and then read one of 20
answers that float to the surface at the
bottom of the ball - ranging from “ask
again later” and “signs point to yes,” to
simply, “no.” The toy became an icon of
popular culture, making its first televi-
sion appearance on the Dick Van Dyke
Show in the 1960s, and showing up
later on hit series such as Friends and
The Simpsons.
An Ohio barbershop owner named
Merle Robbins dreamed up Uno while
playing cards with his family. The new
game proved to be simple enough for
young children and varied enough for
adults to enjoy. Robbins and his fam-
ily produced 5,000 decks of Uno and
pitched it across the United States be-
fore a manufacturer bought the rights
to it.
Pinball traces its roots to the 18th-
century French table game called bag-
atelle. Modern, coin-operated pinball
machines originated in 1931, and man-
ufacturers added new features over the
next two decades. Flippers transitioned
the game from one of chance (and ma-
ligned by some as a form of gambling)
to a game of skill.
Anyone can nominate a toy (www.
toyhalloffame.org/nominate) for induc-
tion into the National Toy Hall of Fame.
Final selections are made on the ad-
vice of historians, educators, and other
individuals who exemplify learning, cre-
ativity, and discovery through their lives
and careers.
December 2018 WNY Family 5