When it comes to gifts for my six year old, I find I get the money’s worth out of them if I buy her something she can ‘do’ rather than something just to play with. I had seen the Zizzle Spotz Maker several times at Wal-Mart and thought over getting it for her, and gave in and bought it for $24, and I also got some refill kits as well for $5. She hadn’t asked for this, but I bought it, um….for myself kinda because it looked like a fun thing to do together. This is for ages 6 and up.
Anyway, first let me lay down some terminology to this thing:
Spotz- Spotz are the little finished product that reminds me of bottle caps in size. It consists of a tiny picture inside a colored ring with a clear plastic disc over the top.
Jotz- at first, I had no idea what these tiny little trinkets were for until I read the directions. These are little shaped items (hearts, stars, flowers, teddy bears, etc..) that are different colors. Each has a little post on the back, and turns out that you stick these in the little holes on the front, back and sides of your Spotz maker to decorate it. You get some with each accessory pack you buy, and you get some with your maker as well.
What you get in the box:
1 Spotz maker
30 colorful holders
30 clear discs
30 pre printed images
10 Jotz
2 translucent blank sheets
1 limited edition Spotz
8 rhinestone stickers
The Spotz designs come in lots of choices, animals, hearts, flowers, sunglasses, sayings like “girls rule” , and you can go online to www.spotzgirl.com and print off more designs. The ones in the box and refills are printed on some sort of translucent paper that is a cross between wax paper and parchment paper, but you can use regular computer paper and it works fine too. It says in the directions also that you can use photograph paper, but nothing thicker than that. I really liked that they had a wide variety of designs to choose from in the box and online too, and you could also make your own from anything you had at home- construction paper, photo paper, or just plain computer paper. But, do note that the little slot the design goes in to turn it into Spotz can be no bigger than 2”x2”, but you get a template to use when making your own. For the most part, we have just been using the ones in the box and a few we printed from the website, and it has been suiting us.
Well, how do you make Spotz? Well, with your Spotz maker, which is about 10 inches tall. First, you have to put in 3 AA batteries, but I don’t find this necessary to work the actual machine, this is for the area in the front where you can stick any of your Spotz and turn a little light on behind it and they glow, but not something you just have to use- so I say batteries are optional.
Anyway, next you select whatever design you are going to do, and place it in a little purple tray that slides out from the front of the machine. Make sure that you line it up just right, there is an empty area behind the design that will be the actual spotz, so I just make sure all the design is in the empty area. Then, you slide the tray into the slot on the front of the machine.
Next, you push the handle on the top of the machine, and it punches out your design into a tiny circle that will slide down a chute on the side. You then pick out a ring, and place it in a circular tray at the bottom of the machine, and then put in your image, and then top it with a clear disc. Then you will turn a knob on the back of the machine, and your Spotz will then come out a chute all sealed together. It really sounds harder than it actually is- I read the directions once and then did one myself and then my six year old could pretty much do them on her own.
Let me note here though, that once you make your Spotz, they are like how they turn out permanently. I know my oldest made a boo boo and stuck a Spotz into the sealer machine without sticking her picture in there, and there’s no way to take it back apart and stick the paper in there, nor can you shove the paper into the back of the Spotz either- so be sure you have it like you want it before turning the wheel, because once it’s done, it’s done.
Well, what do you do with all your Spotz? Well, you can display them on your Spotz maker, it has several slots on the front that hold them, and one of them being the one that lights up. You can also stick one on the handle of the puncher and the middle of the wheel. There is also a little storage drawer where you can put them at the bottom of the maker. I have been trying to think of something to do with them while we don’t have any accessory kits. I was thinking of making them buttons by gluing a pin to the clear disc, but I don’t know.
As far as accessory kits go, they run from $10-$20, and then the refill kits are $5.94 or so. The accessory kits are stuff like picture frames, messenger bags, dry erase boards- just stuff to put your Spotz on. I didn’t buy any of the accessory kits because I wasn’t sure if this thing would be any count or not, but now that I know it’s pretty decent and my daughter is into it, I would buy some kits if I saw them.
Experience:
For the most part, this works really well. Do note though that you have to push down really hard to cut the Spotz out, so younger children may need some help. Our designs that we cut out have been done right, I think we had one or two that did not come out right because my kid didn’t put the paper in the holder just right, but once I told her how to do it correctly, we haven’t had any problems. These are pretty fun to make, but to really do stuff with them you need accessory kits, which cost extra. Also, I worry with this thing if it is going to be just a fad, and if after Christmas maybe the kits will no longer be sold, so that’s why I’m trying to figure out other ways to use these things, rather than relying on the accessory kits.
As for age range, I really will go with the manufacturer and say 6 and up as well. My younger child tried to do it, and she needed quite a bit of assistance- so much so it was just me playing with it.
Let me also mention here a little upkeep that is needed for the cutter to perform properly- it says to use some aluminum foil every once in a while in the cutter to keep the blades sharp. Also, there is a 90 day limited warranty with this.
Overall though, I give this an above average rating- it is easy to use, it’s fun, simple, and my child really likes it. I do like also that there are plenty of designs to choose from in the kit and you can go online and print off more stuff, or you can just make up your own on plain computer paper.
But, the cons are to really do stuff with these you need some accessories to put them on, and of course, there is the issue if this is a fad, months from now will you be able to find the stuff to use with it.
For the most part though, I really like it, and so does my child.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 24 Type of Toy: Arts and Crafts
Age Range of Child: 6 to 8 Years
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