Customer Reviews

The Toymaker: Paper Toys That You Can Make Yourself

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"Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves." ~Sir James Barrie

I love the colors on the paper toys in this book. These are toys you can cut out and make yourself in a few very easy steps. There are many ways you could use this book and it would be perfect for parties or rainy days. It would also be perfect for birthday presents and Christmas. A few of the boxes could hold delicious miniature cookies. You could make tiny sugar cookies, decorate them, and then give them away in the beautiful boxes.

Here is a list of the items you can make in this book:

A Sun Box - A variety of sun pictures are on each side of the box. Then, there is a little piece with a bear holding hearts and flowers that can be placed inside the box.

Spinners - 6 different "Thaumatropes or Turning Wonders" that can be made with a piece of heavy thread and some glue. A picture magically appears when you spin the paper.

Marble Mice - You will need a marble and glue for this item. The mouse can then slide around like a computer mouse.

Tooth Fairy Gazebo - A much better place to leave teeth, for sure.

Happy Bus - Bears are featured on this bus and they are on the way to the beach.

Box - A box in which to keep seashells and wishes.

Bear Wagon - Similar to the bus, but it has two polar bears.

Florimel The Magnificent - A puppet theatre with a detailed backdrop, ships and water.

Butterfly Basket - One of the beautiful Victorian-style projects that requires very little glue and is very easy to cut out. This basket could hold items while sitting on a desk.

Window to Fairyland - My favorite project because the colors are sage, maroon and dark green.

Penny Aeroplane/Airplane - A more sophisticated version of the "aeroplanes" we tried to make as children. What they needed was a penny.

Toy Shop - This looks like a little cottage. You will need to cut around the door so it can open and you can see the items inside.

Dream Theater - The theatre is in four pieces and is very easy to cut out and glue.

Penny Butterfly - After making these butterflies you can balance them on your fingers.

Catcher - The catcher reminds me of items we used to make as children, but we used to write little sentences on the inside so when you opened them up, you had secret messages that were revealed.

Each playful project in this book is perfect for children of all ages and many of the little boxes can be used for hiding objects and have a "mysterious" element children will enjoy. The pages are made from high-quality paper and the entire book is quite magical. Marilyn Scott-Walters has created an entire world of imaginative toys that can be made in a matter of minutes and will last for years. I would have loved to have had a book like this as a child and finally it has appeared.

~The Rebecca Review

Making toys, boxes and knick knacks out of sturdy cardstock, with pre-printed illustrations, used to be how my grandmother and her siblings passed their free time when they were children. My grandmother said they would spend hours building entire cities out of paper, and I can see why - there's nothing quite so satisfying to a child as being able to play with his own handiwork.

That's where this book comes in. Mrs. Scott-Waters' book is unique both in content and in presentation. Her artistic style reflects 1920s and 1930s style line-art and water color, finely detailed and filled with little embellishments. The pictures found in this book are whimsical and delicate all at the same time, and the finished products are, to a child's mind, extremely practical. Children love having boxes and things with mysterious compartments, and the toys and contraptions that result from this book's projects don't disappoint in that regard.

Most of the included projects are so simple to put together that any child old enough to handle a pair of scissors can at least help out, and with a little help, most anyone can bring forth a relatively sophisticated end result =) But they're so intricate-looking and there is so much detail in the artwork and the mechanisms that even adults will find them interesting and entertaining. They're definitely a breath of fresh air for parents or caregivers seeking to do a worthwhile, enriching arts-and-crafts project together with children!

My only complaint is that on her web site, Mrs. Scott-Waters has a brilliant paper-doll-driven fairytale about otters, a carousel, fairies and a flying fish car on the way to a toymaker's ball. This needs to be published in a second book! It's at least as amazing as the projects in this one!

I do disagree with other reviewers that it's fun for "a" rainy afternoon - it's impossible to do all of them in one sitting, and it's just as well. You will want the fun that this slim little volume contains to last a good long while.

I love this book, and you, whether adult or child, will love it too! I found Marilyn Scott-Waters' web site first, and fell in love with her creative spirit! Very nicely made book, beautiful designs - Very well thought out! Not your ordinary paper cut-outs! I'm sure Amazon has written a good description of the book itself, so I'll just tell you that I've had a lot of fun putting the pieces together and displaying them. All the children who come to the house are fascinated by them and want to make their own. Take a look! Enjoy!

Even old people like me can put these paper toys together, even if it means taking extra days to figure them out. I simply love these toys, and the people I make them for enjoy them. When she first brought the toys out online and I tried cutting them out and putting them together, it was difficult, as I am not a smart little one, so I asked her to put directions with the pictures, so dumb old men could figure out what went where. Since then I have made many of her paper toys. I encourage people of all ages to buy the book and make the toys. Even those with arthritis.
This is a great way to enjoy the little things in life.

The Toymaker: Paper Toys that you can make yourself is a fabulous book full of creative, imaginative playthings. The only drawback is that the designs are so wonderful you don't want to ruin the book by making the toys!! I would recommend this book for every child and every child at heart!

I don't own this book--yet-- but I know this author's work. I frequent her site, and she is so very creative. Her artwork is a refreshing throwback to a long past era, with modern and beautiful colors. I LOVE that her site allows your to sample some of her brilliantly simple ideas. They are engaging enough to entertain middleschoolers, yet simple enough that my six year old can do many of them. Very awesome. Her sweet little fairies and beautiful cornocopias, the flowing swirls on the candy canes and fun "marble mice" and such from the site are reason enough to support her creativity and buy this book!

I just love the Toymaker Paper Toys Book. It is wonderful for keeping children entertained, to help children pass time when they are ill or recovering, and great rainy day fun. The book can be a special gift from a Grandma too. I also enjoy and have enjoyed The Toymaker website. I have used this website for years, for all occasions and just for plain old simple fun. The paper toys in this book are the same toys available for print on the website, only now printed on good quality card stock.
I recommend this Paper Toy book.
Barbara in MA.

I was lucky enough to recieve a copy of this treasure of a book early on and I have to say it's just the most wonderful idea and so beautifully executed. I can't wait to order a few more! This is something to be shared...in fact that's the whole point! It's quick, easy and relatively inexpensive fun to share with kids (young OR old kids). I have lots of nieces and nephews, I need another copy or two so they can all have their favorites. I have a very "crafty" friend (don't we all) who will LOVE sitting down to make these paper wonders with her little girl. And honestly, I want a copy to keep intact to preserve the wonderful artwork.

Beautifully illustrated booklet containing cut out toys you fold and glue together. Excellent way to pass an afternoon with your kids.
Waters has put together smartly crafted and engineered toy ideas that will look so nice when they are completed, that you'll want to put them on a shelf for display.

The Toymaker: Paper Toys that you can make yourself is a fabulous book full of creative, imaginative playthings. The only drawback is that the designs are so wonderful you don't want to ruin the book by making the toys!! I would recommend this book for every child and every child at heart!