Imagination is Magic
Written: Mar 17 '05 (Updated Mar 17 '05)
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Pros: Its awesome.
Cons: Very hard to find. Smelly winegum smell. Packaging sucks. Sort of Expensive.
The Bottom Line: Really fun product. Endless possibilities just don't make candle holders or Model Magic cookware.
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| MagickCat's Full Review: Model Magic |
How awesome is this stuff? Well this stuff is like play-doh on steroids.
You can make just about anything with Crayola Model Magic. Craft yourself a pair of one of a kind earrings, turn a cartoon character you've sketched into a mascot for your desk, sculpt a unique gift for someone, use it on school projects....Model Magic is great for all of those things and it's not just for 8 year olds.
Depending on how creative you or you kids are handing someone a package of Model Magic can easily turn into hours of entertainment
Plus, once you're done making whatever it is you are making, you get to keep it forever, or as long as you keep it away from the dog, little cousin, or other animals that you might let in your house. Whatever.
Separating the Model from the Magic
Model Magic is a soft moldable non-toxic air-drying foam like material. Try saying that five times fast. It comes in a non-resealable 113 g foil package. You can buy colour or white Model Magic.
It is also rather stinky though not in a horribly unpleasant way. The smell reminds me of winegums. After playing with it for any length of time your hands will smell like winegums too.
It has a squishy smooth texture and after a few minutes of kneading it, Model Magic handles nicely.
You can shape it into whatever you like and as long as nothing happens to your project it should dry pretty much the same way as you molded it. Very fine details maybe lost once the Model Magic has dried. Model Magic also has a tendency to have little rough patches in it if you haven't kneaded it enough and it will show where you've added more clay to the piece you are working on.
One-way I found around the loss of detail and clay seems is to dampen the Model Magic with water until it becomes smoother and slightly watery.
I've also used small amounts of warm water to re-hydrate partially dried out clumps of Model Magic. The downside is if you add water even the white Model Magic can stain clothing.
This stuff handles glitter, glue, and especially acrylic paints very well. Smaller pieces seem to start drying in a few hours. Larger pieces take the 24 hours if not longer to fully dry depending on the thickness and amount of Model Magic used. Dried Model Magic becomes pretty durable and though it maintains a bit of flexibility, I wouldn't treat anything you've put a lot of work into too roughly.
Can you tell how much I like this stuff? The very worst problem I have had with Crayola Model Magic is buying packages of it that are partially or totally dried out because the foil has had a small rip in it from the store. So basically the baggy packaging sucks.
How to select Model Magic
There is nothing suckier than finding out that your new package of Model Magic has dried out and formed into an uninspiring block (or is it a father's day paperweight?) before you had a chance to get creative with it.
So here is how to pick out a prefect bag of fresh Model Magic:
1. Stakeout craft/school supply isle. Wait till it is empty.
2. Pretend to be interested in buying shampoo or coffee filters.
3. Wander nonchalantly into kid's craft/school supply isle. Repress any giddiness.
4. Squeeze each package of Model Magic checking each packet for softness.
5. Making sure the Model Magic bag is not ripped select the squishiest package. Put in basket.
6. Pay for Model Magic and diet Pepsi. Exit store
7. Think about how many yucky sick people you saw sneeze or cough without covering their mouths while in the store. Wonder where else their hands might have been. Realize your hands are now covered with their wee nasty beasties. Ewww.....Gross!
8. Go home and wash hands with soap and water. [Repeat if desired.]
If you have kids or no shame go directly to step three. Squeezing is not optional. If you find any hard lumps while squeezing the bag then put it back as there is probably a rip in the packet that you may not have noticed.
Well maybe getting that paperweight might be suckier.
No wastola if you store your Crayola
Some people don't seem to realize that you don't have to use all of the Model Magic at once. Considering the price of Model Magic, this stuff is well worth taking the time to store. This will also save you from having an abundance of useless though bouncy foam balls cluttering your life.
Storage Tips:
-Don't just rip open the package, cut the foil on the top and keep any Model Magic that you are not using inside the packet. Fold the opening closed and tape the foil shut.
-Keep the package inside a Tupperware type container and put the lid right back on after you have taken out the amount of Model Magic that you are going to use.
-Make sure the lid is on tightly.
By doing this I've managed to keep opened package of Model Magic soft for over 2 months. However once this stuff has air-dried for 24 hours the magic in the model is gone.
Crayola's Model Magic provides you or your child with a medium to bring the magic of your imagination to life. This is a great toy for kids of all ages.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 5 & up Can
Type of Toy: Magic
Age Range of Child: 9 Years or Older
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MagickCat
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Location: Canada
Reviews written: 44
Trusted by: 10 members
About Me:
[Snow Miser]
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