Magic beads (Character Options Bindeez Starter Pack)

Member Name: juicy_lucy

Product:	Character Options Bindeez Starter Pack
Date:	08/07/07 (576 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good creative activity

Disadvantages: Box is worse than useless for storing beads

Bindeez

These were one of the “must have” items on the list when Little Miss celebrated her last birthday. Being willing to oblige, but not wanting to buy a HUGE pack of something she would use once and then discard, I settled for the starter pack.

~~What is it?~~

Basically, this is a set of “magic2 beads which join together and set with a spray of water. Unlike some similar beads, there is no need to iron to achieve results; the water seems to do that.

~~What do I get?~~

Inside the rather flimsy box, which is not at all suitable for this type of equipment, I get: 6 template designs, (including dog, ice cream), 2 trays, Bindeez spray, a 4 colour pen, 500 Bindeez (the beads), 2 display stands and an instruction leaflet.

~~How do I use it?~~

Open the box, and everything is neatly packed into a plastic tray. At this stage, I so know that any beads which are not used immediately will be lost, because the cardboard box closes with just one of those tuck in flaps, which means that it’s probably handy to have a plastic tub ready to put any spare beads in.

It’s quite tricky to use at first, but once mastered, is simple enough. The instruction leaflet has writing and illustrations, but young children will need it explaining.

The chunky pen has a funnel and inside the pen are 4 separate tubes, which have to be filled with beads. It’s useful to show children how to get the same colour beads in one each tube so that when they are designing their masterpiece they can get the colour of choice.

Once the pen is filled, it’s all systems go, and designs can be designed! The two trays are slightly different in that one is a vertical tray and one a diagonal tray. This isn’t as complex as it sounds, because the symbols on the template designs clearly show which tray should be used, and when the template is placed under the tray, it becomes obvious if it’s the incorrect tray because the beads can’t be clearly seen.

So, armed with a tray, which has little circular grooves all over, place the design of choice under the tray, and using the pen, press the small button on the side to eject the bead of choice onto the template. Any errors of choice can be removed using the small bead removal tool which is on top of the pen.

Once happy with the design, it should be sprayed evenly with water and left for 10 minutes before it is removed. We have found that the design is even stronger if both sides are sprayed.

Although there are templates, children can feel free to make their own designs, and we have found that it’s quite gratifying to make large designs which can then be used as coasters… we like the idea of putting the masterpieces to good use!

~~Price and Availability~~

I bought the starter pack from Toys R Us and costing under £10, think it’s relatively good value, because there is lots of creative amusement in the pack.

Refill packs can also be bought, in boxes of 750 beads and include neon and glow in the dark. If it’s a hit, then more beads can be purchased, so the pen and other bits don’t go to waste and get relegated to the cupboard.

~~What we think of it~~

Given that I thought this would be a flash in the pan must have, it has proved to be a popular buy. Very often, things are advertised on the television, and they become the most needed thing on the planet, and then end up used once and discarded.

This however, has proved to be one of those activity sets which Little Miss has used on several occasions, and we have bought refill packs because her friends tend to enjoy making things to take home. The beads once sprayed with water and hardened are flat and joined together so they really do appear to be quite magic. They can be used as small mats or displayed on the stands!

Once children have got the hang of the activity, they will enjoy designing their own bead creations, and the templates will become a thing of the past- there are only so many times they will want to make the same thing. That’s great, because as long as there are beads to spray, they can have a go and be creative.

It is quite fiddly, and although the box says that it’s for age 4+, I would think nearer about 6 years is better, because their fine motor skills are more well developed to cope with getting the beads in the pen.

A nice creative activity which was worth the money.

Thanks for reading.

Daniela x

Website: www.character-online.co.uk. This will direct you to the Bindeez site.

Summary: Creative activity