Science Toys: Plush Poison Dart Frogs

In addition to offering eco-friendly, US-made toys, The Toy Cove provides toys to encourage your child's interest in science.

My favorite biology-based toys are the poison dart frogs (and the non-poisonous Milk Frog).
 

Blue Amazon Milk Frog

Orange Poison Dart Frog

Neon Green Poison Dart Frog

Yellow and Black Poison Dart Frog

These brightly colored, super-soft stuffed animals are a full 11'' inches long, and crafted from Eco-Fi felt, a fabric constructed from recycled plastics.

Then there's the Mama Poison Dart Frog. Strawberry Poison Dart Frogs are incredible parents. Dad carries water in his mouth to keep the eggs covered, and later he and Mom carry their baby tadpoles on their backs from pool to pool, until they sprout legs and set off on their own adventures.

Teach your little tadpoles about these amazing amphibians with The Toy Cove's larger-than-life version:

 

Mama's three little tadpoles stick to the soft velcro hearts on her back.

And off they go!

Educational, Environmentally Friendly, and US-made, only at The Toy Cove.

(Remember to check out our coupon post for great holiday savings!)

From Plastic to Plush

Have you ever wanted to know how recycled plastic bottles are transformed into the soft, colorful felt used in The Toy Cove's plushies? Check out this video detailing the process at Foss Manufacturing:

Turning Bottles into Fabric

Plush Amazon Milk Frog

He's here! The darling Amazon Milk Frog plushie I've been working on. As soon as I became aware of these adorable little creatures, I knew I had to add one to The Toy Cove's frog collection.

Image from http://www.reptilegardens.com/

And here he is:

He's available for adoption via The Toy Cove on Etsy. As far as I can find, he's the only plush Amazon Milk Frog available online, so if you're looking for a truly unique gift for a science major or frog enthusiast, you've found it.

Like all of The Toy Cove's frogs, he's made from all new, US-made materials, including Eco-Fi rainbow felt.

Orphaned Baby Dinosaurs

What's sweeter than baby dinosaurs? Baby dinosaurs that need your love, of course.
Meet Rose, Oliver, Pip, and Jane; four dinolets in search of a mom or dad.

They've got a nest to sleep and play in...

T-Rex went exploring, but wants a nap now.

All together. :)

and, as you might have noticed, they're named for some of literature's favorite orphans. ;)

The dinosaurs are roughly 6'' by 3'' (Jane being a bit smaller), and their nest measures 12'' by 10''. The entire playset is made from Eco-Fi felt. You can adopt them via The Toy Cove on Etsy.

Eco Fi Rainbow Felt

I thought I'd take a post to tell you all a little bit more about my favorite fabric: Eco-Fi Felt.

When I first started The Toy Cove, I'd never used felt for anything more than a super simple, pre-packaged craft project. I had a general understanding that you could make it from scraps of fabric or dryer lint, and that it was easy to glue. Basically, I didn't take felt seriously. So I started out using the fabrics I had always used before; broadcloth, calico, or whatever was on the discount rack (isn't that how rag dolls came to be in the first place?)

However, one of the main goals of The Toy Cove was to use US-made materials, and I very quickly realized how difficult those were to come by, especially in fabrics. After some searching, I came across some felt by a company called Kunin that claimed it was made from recycled plastic bottles. That I could believe, but I knew already that most supposedly US-made items were "finished," in the States, but made elsewhere. A little digging, however, showed that their factory (not just corporate headquarters) is actually in New Hampshire.

Turning Eco-Fi felt into owls

It sounded perfect. I had virtually no experience turning felt into stuffed animals, but I had to give it a try.

Felt Frogs, Assemble!

The first thing I found out was that felt, compared to the more traditional dress-making type fabrics, is a whole different animal, and trying to treat it as something else won't work. There was a bit of a learning curve, I'll admit, but once I got the hang of it, I absolutely loved it. It's so versatile, so pliable, so... colorful! It was love.

Love!

Currently, all of my non-doll toys are made from felt, and all of that is eco-friendly, US-manufactured, Eco-Fi Rainbow Felt. Check out the Etsy shop to see some!

Official Update for Poison Dart Frog Plushies

With the poison dart frog giveaway in its final hour, I thought it was high time to officially introduce the newest poison dart frog plushies.
In addition to Orange and Green, we now have...

Yellow Striped Poison Dart Frog...

and Blue (a.k.a. Dyeing Poison Dart Frog)!

 Welcome to the chorus!

Available via Etsy

About the frogs

I don't know about everyone else, but when I was little, I wasn't happy to learn that poison dart frogs were, you know, poisonous. What could be more enticing to catch pick up than a tiny, colorful, cute, jumping thing? So when I decided to start a toy-making business, you can bet I was eager to make a safe rainforest frog (or two... or three, or four). Not only is their skin non-toxic, it's eco-friendly and US-made. Eco-fi Rainbow Felt is constructed from 100% recycled plastic bottles. It's that perfect combination of soft and strong (not easy to find in felt), and the colors are gorgeous.
And no, I'm not being paid by Eco-Fi to say this. I simply love their product.

Those are no glass eyes in those little froggy faces, either. Each frog has a pair of plastic safety eyes, securely attached with strong plastic washers. Any eyes (or noses, or any toy parts) can be torn out by an ambitious and unguarded child, but I promise you, I have searched for the safest components I could find, and safety eyes fit the bill.

Even the thread used to sew them altogether is of highest quality, and US-made (i.e., Coats & Clark vintage).

When The Toy Cove states that quality is the most important part of the business, you can trust that it is. This is my personal business, and I take pride in every thing I create.

Ferocious Ankylosaurus!

You'd better watch out, because there's a new herbivore in town, and he means business!

Introducing The Toy Cove's fearsome Ankylosaurus:

He's got armor. He's got a club tail. And he's got attitude.

Ankylosaurus doesn't mess around.

Looking for the perfect guard-dino? You found him.

Just look at that armor.

The Toy Cove's Ankylosaurus came about when one of the neighborhood kids asked for "a green dinosaur with an angry face."

That club was made for knockin', and that's just what he'll do.

I was really pleased with how his bony plates came out.

Ankylosaurus' armored back plates

Underside of plate. I think it'd make a good turtle shell.

Ankylosaurus is available on Etsy.

Dia de los Muertos Sugar Skull Dolls!

Just in time for Day of the Dead, here's a delicious sugar skull.

Plush Calavera de Azucar

 

Ready to celebrate!

I've never seen a sugar skull decorated in the back, but it looked so plain unadorned.

So I added a flower.

(Available through The Toy Cove on Etsy.)

Long-Leggity Froggie

I'm pleased to present one of The Toy Cove's most cheerful critters: the long-leggity frog. :)

Like most of my plushies, he's made from eco-fi felt (US-made fabric constructed from recycled plastic bottles), and he proudly wears the "All new, US-made materials" tag. The eyes and mouth are hand sewn (and believe me, it isn't easy to find US-made thread these days) for maximum cuteness.

He's got many more brothers and sisters on the way. For the moment, they're still in tadpole form, if you know what I mean. ;)

They'll all be available soon through The Toy Cove on Etsy.