Paper Peeps

Its been great having a lull in my schedule. I've been able to get quite a few unfinished projects done before I start inventory for my next show. My latest paper toy set has 3-D gnome dolls and a paper version of my popular fawn. I'm thinking of designing more dolls like this... Red Riding Hood for example. Let me know what other dolls you would like to see made into Paper Peeps.

DC Universe Classics - Booster Gold

For my second review of the DC Universe Classics, wave 7 set, I'll be taking a closer look at Booster Gold. To find your very own DCUC Booster Gold action figure on eBay, click here . Now on to my review:

Booster Gold is one of two action figures from this set that has a variant. This version of BG is his modern look. The variant is of Booster Gold in his "classic" costume which really is just includes a high collar around his neck.

Packaging for this entire set has not changed, really no reason to. The figure is securely packaged in a double plastic bubble with cardboard backing. You'll also fine a brief write up on the character's origin.

The body sculpt is very similar to most other DCUC figures such as Flash, Green Lantern to name a few with the exception of a few minor changes specifically his wrist blasters around the forearms.

Of course, the head sculpt is totally unique his traditional yellow goggles and an arrogant smirk.

Booster Gold's is painted in a metallic blue and gold (of course) and the uniform is fairly simple so the paint job is very clean. Mattel should probably have used a lighter color for Booster's hair as it is more of a light brown instead of blond and there is no wash or highlighting to give is some depth. Skeets' paint job is a little messed up but he is so small you really have to look close to see him.

So as mentioned, Skeets is included with Booster Gold. He attaches to the hole in BG's back. Other than the Collect and Connect piece of Atom Smasher, Booster Gold does not come with any other accessories.

Booster Gold comes with all the standard points of articulation. Neck, shoulders, biceps, elbows, wrists, abdominal, waist, hips, thighs, knees and ankles. Skeets' lid even has a joint to open and close.

Overall, Booster Gold looks pretty good. As mentioned, I wish his hair color was a bit lighter but other than that, Mattel and the Four Horsemen have nailed the character fairly well.

Sculpt/Design - 9, Paint - 8, Accessories - 7, Articulation - 9, Fun - 8.5

Booster Gold and the rest of the wave 7 DC Universe Classics action figures are all over the Internet right now. eBay is your best bet in my opinion.

To find Mattel's DC Universe Classics Booster Gold on eBay, click here

To find figures other wave 7 action figures from Mattel's DC Universe Classics, click here

Thats it for my Booster Gold review. Any questions or comments can be forwarded to ActionToyReview@rogers.com. Thanks for checking out Action Toy Review which is currently featuring action figures from Mattel's DC Universe Classics action figure line. Be sure to check back for more info, news and reviews.

Reader's submission: Insectosaurio by Carlos Romero

Here is another toy from the movie Monsters vs Aliens, Insectosaurio by Carlos Romero (who also contributed B.O.B.).

Download the PDF file here! You can also get the blank template from our Facebook group and design your own toy!

DC Universe Classics - Flash

Finally, my DC Universe Classics wave 7 has arrived and the action figure I've been waiting for most is the Flash so I am going to start my review of this wave with him.

If you are looking to purchase any of the DC Universe Classics action figures, check them out on eBay by clicking here.

Mattel is continuing to package these figures in the same standard double plastic bubble and cardboard back packaging. You will notice that Wave 7 is made up of 7 action figures plus the Collect and Connect figure instead of the previous waves which only included 5 figures + C.A.C.

The sculpt used for the Flash is very similar to the Atom's sculpt from wave 5. There are some slight differences, specifically Flash's boots and the little wings on his ears and boots.

Flash's face sculpt is also a little different from The Atom's. Mattel could've cheaped out and just used the same face with different paint colors but they didn't in this case as they've slightly altered the chin and mouth and nose.

Speaking of the paint job, its not too shabby but there are red spots that cross over the lines and overlap onto Flash's face. The uniform is painted very well, included the logo on his chest and the yellow lightning bolts across his waist and arms. His yellow boots have the nasty red wash that I've complained about in some of my other reviews such as Red Tornado and Robin. For the life of me, I don't know why Mattel decides to use a red wash on yellow areas.

As far as accessories go, Flash comes with nothing. Not even a Collect and Connect piece. He does however come with a blue transparent stand which help you pose him in a better running position. I believe these stands can also be ordered from Mattel's collector web site. I wish they weren't blue. They should just be a clear plastic in my opinion.

Flash's articulation is no different than 90% of the other DCUC action figures. Joints include neck, shoulders, biceps, elbows, wrists, abdominal, waist, hips, thighs, knees and ankles

To compare, in the above pictures is a DC Direct's Flash on the left next to Mattel's DCUC Flash on the right.

I've been waiting for the Flash for quite some time. Gorilla Grodd needs someone to beat up.

Overall, Mattel's DCUC Flash is pretty good. My only complaint is the red wash on his yellow boots. Other than that, he meets the high standards that Mattel has set with this action figure series.

Sculpt/Design - 8, Paint - 6, Accessories - 2, Articulation - 9, Fun - 8.5

Wave 7 is fairly new but starting to sell out in online stores. With wave 8 already appearing on eBay, a lot of sellers will be looking to dump their older figures so Flash should be available at a reasonable price.

To find Mattel's DC Universe Classics Flash on eBay, click here

Day 106: Moishe (Where the Wild Things Are)

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak is a children's picture book originally published by Harper & Row. The book is about the imaginary adventures of a young boy named Max, who is punished for making mischief by being sent to his room without supper. Max wears a distinctive wolf suit during his adventures and encounters various mythical creatures, the "wild things". Although just ten sentences long, the book is generally regarded as a masterpiece of American illustrated children's literature.

Originally the Wild Things did not have names. They were later named after (and are presumably caricatures of) Sendak’s aunts and uncles (except “Goat Boy”, of course): Aaron, Bernard, Emil, Moishe and Sipi.

A live-action movie version is currently in post-production, with Spike Jonze directing, due in theaters on October 16, 2009. Featuring Catherine Keener, and introducing Max Records as Max, the film also has Lauren Ambrose, Chris Cooper, James Gandolfini, Catherine O'Hara and Forest Whitaker providing the voices of some of the Wild Things. Adapted by Dave Eggers and Spike Jonze.

Download the PDF file here and make your own "wild thing"! You can also get the blank template from our Facebook group and design your own toy!

Please check out Max too which I made earlier.

Cat Toy Critters Tutorial

I made this cat toy tutorial quite a few years ago. I thought it would be fun to post in on my blog since I didn't have one at the time. Please remember I have designed these for personal use only. Make as many as you want for friends and family but please do not sell them under any circumstances. Have fun!

Your Kitty's gonna love these Cat Toy Critters. Fill em with catnip or hang them from a string. Stinky will think your the cats meow.

Materials Required

Assorted colors of craft felt
Embroidery floss or thread for stitching
Glass beads for eyes (OPTIONAL)
Fiber fill or cat nip for stuffing

Download Cat Toy Pattern

Choose a critter and cut out pattern from the paper. Pin pattern pieces to the felt and cut out accordingly.
Sewing- A ladder stitch is recommended for best results.

1. Start out by sewing bird belly to one side of bird half and continue up and around over head until you reach the tail.
2. Continue on with the tail in position until the end, knot, then finish the other side of tail.
3. Now go back and finish sewing the other side of the bird belly. Wow you can see the bird taking shape!
4. Sew about 3/4 of the bird base on leaving enough room open to stuff bird. Fill with fiber fill or a premium catnip, finish sewing base on.
5.Now your ready for the eyes and wings. Knot thread to position of eye, slide on glass bead and go through to other side and slide on other the bead, pull tightly to create small indentation in felt. Go through a couple of times to securely fasten eyes. (You may choose to glue felt eyes on instead to prevent any injury to your cat.) Clip wings to give the illusion of feathers then fasten to bird body as indicated on pattern.
6. Stitch on bird feet. Voila your finished!! Now go make the other two critters, the same technique may be applied to those as well.

Reader's submission: B.O.B. by Carlos Romero

Here is B.O.B. from the movie Monsters vs Aliens, contributed by Carlos Romero.

Download the PDF file here! You can also get the blank template from our Facebook group and design your own toy!

Softie Keychains

I'm really excited about Spoonflower and all the possibilities of creating my own custom fabric. In the past I have designed printed dolls with the custom printing service. Recently I have designed some Russian doll keychains based on my paper nesting dolls. Right now I'm working on some new designs to get ready for professional printing. I made these samples by printing them onto fabric that is made to go through an ink jet printer. Which one do you like? Help me decide which designs to send off to Spoonflower.

On the drawing board.

Birthday Party Playset

I started this Birthday party playset back in December but got sidetracked with many other things. It features a pink paper cake with two slices of cake, party hats and even some B-Day cards.

DC Superheroes - Doomsday

While I sit and wait for my DC Universe Classics wave 7 and 8 sets to arrive, I'll go back into the action figure archive again and review a couple more of the older DC Superheroes action figures Mattel released a couple years back. So lets take a closer look at Doomsday.

To find Mattel's DC Superheroes DOOMSDAY on eBay, click here

Doomsday was part of the 2nd wave of DC Superheroes action figures back in 2006 along with Superman, Supergirl and Bizarro. Doomsday stands approximately 6.5 inches tall to the top of his head. Just a little over 7 inches if you count his pony tail. He should probably be just a bit taller.

As you would expect, Doomsday has a lot of cool spiky bones protruding from his entire monster like body. Its mostly made with a soft rubber but all very well detailed.

The paint job is decent with some minor smudges here and there. There is some shading over his skin around his arms and legs. The face is very clean. Although you can't really see his eyes in this picture below, they are painted red behind the bones.

Doomsday does not come with any accessories but if you buy him still in the package, you will be treated to a reprint of "Man of Steel" Issue #19

Comparing Mattel's Doomsday to DC Direct, you will notice right off the bat a size difference. DC Direct probably has the correct size but as far as articulation goes, Mattel wins hands down. Mattel's version has joints in the neck, shoulders, biceps, elbows, wrists, abdominal, waist, hips, thighs, knees and calves and ankles. One note, the bones on his shoulders do obstruct the shoulder joint movement a little but its not too bad.

Putting the size issues aside, Mattel's DC Superheroes Doomsday is a pretty cool figure. He still stands slightly taller than the DCSH Superman figure from the same wave.

Overall, DCSH Doomsday is a cool action figure that is a must have if you collect the Superman action figures or the related Mattel DC Universe Classics toy line. Generally, Mattel has been doing a good job with these action figures and Doomsday is no exception.

Sculpt/Design - 7.5, Paint - 8, Accessories - 0, Articulation - 9.5, Fun - 8.5

Overall Score: 8/10

Now, if you're looking for your very own Doomsday action figure, my favorite place to find him would be eBay. If you read my blog regularly, you will see that I am a heavy user of eBay, especially to find older toys that are no longer in stores.

To find Mattel DC Superheroes Doomsday on eBay, click here

Thats it for this my Doomsday action figure review. Hopefully I will have some DC Universe Classics wave 7 reviews up shortly. Be sure to check back for more DCUC news, reviews and information at Action Toy Review.

Day 105: Plastic Man

Plastic Man is a fictional comic-book superhero originally published by Quality Comics and later acquired by DC Comics. Created by writer-artist Jack Cole, he first appeared in Police Comics #1 (August 1941).

One of Quality Comics' signature characters during the Golden Age of Comic Books, Plastic Man can stretch his body into any imaginable form. His adventures were known for their quirky, offbeat structure and surreal slapstick humor. When Quality Comics was shut down in 1956, DC Comics acquired many of its characters, integrating Plastic Man into the mainstream DC universe.

Download the PDF file here and make your own Plastic Man toy! You can also get the blank template from our Facebook group and design your own toy!

Craft Show Display

I thought it might be fun if I showed my display from my recent craft show and include a few tips for some crafty people participating in there first show. I use this set-up for the small indoor shows. I was able to fit my entire display including the two tables, two chairs and three totes full of inventory and display props onto a fold-up dolly. I made one trip from the car and set-up by myself within an hour. The round tables fit my theme much better than a rectangular table would and the best part they are put together like a puzzle and easily fit in my car. I think its important to raise the items up onto props instead of having them lie flat on the table like some cheap garage sale. I'm always on the lookout for tiny tables and boxes for props and I found most of mine at Michaels on clearance. Sometimes the props may have been the wrong color so I painted them white for a consistent look. The table coverings were made inexpensively with felt and have a scalloped edge. Generally my display made people happy and drove a lot of parents nuts from their kids begging for something from Fantastic Toys. :)

I bought the DVD player at Target for under a hundred bucks much cheaper than some of those digital photo frames. With the DVD player I am able to make custom slide shows presenting my past work and items I may not be able to bring to the show but have available at my etsy shop. At past shows I've run out of business cards. I made sure I plenty for this show. I printed my fake moo cards at the local print shop and cut them all myself. The free stickers were also a big hit with the kids.

This year I introduced some items at lower price points and they were a hit. Although I sold some higher priced items many more buttons, stickers, and Russian doll keychains sold for $6.00 and under.

I price everything with stickers or standing tags. I think its more convenient for customers to see the price instead of asking how much something is. Sales could be missed if I'm busy with a customer and something is not priced. Having a sign displaying which credit cards I take also prevents this from happening. I use Propay to process the credit cards. It is very easy and they only charge a small fee.

Participating in craft shows can be very exciting. Its a great way to meet new artists and expose your work to lots of people. I'll just wrap this up with a few key tips. Feel free to add some more if you wish. See you at the next show!

• Prop your items up with boxes, tables or stands.
• Include a DVD player or digital photo frame to show past work.
• Bring plenty of business cards.
• Have multiple price points.
• Price everything.
• Take credit cards!