Not a Good Imitation of Childhood Art Class Project
Written: Jan 07 '05
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Durability: |
 |
|
|
Pros: glow-in-the-dark background provides a few minutes of fascination for toddlers
Cons: doesn't provide clear, sharp pictures; need paper towels to erase markers; not as advertised
The Bottom Line: NOT "as seen on TV"; not convenient for travel; pictures 'bleed'; hard to erase marker additions to art; not well-thought out
|
|
|
| sshelle's Full Review: Marvins Magic Drawing Board |
This reminds me of elementary art class. We had some randomly colored paper that was covered in black wax, and we took sharp instruments and scratched a picture into it, revealing different colors as we went. We ended up with a multicolored 'sketch' on a black background.
Later, in an after-school scout project, we did the same thing, with not as professional results, by coloring a white sheet of paper solid with random blobs of bright marker colors and then coloring the whole sheet with a black crayon. We then took toothpicks to scratch out a picture.
This is basically the same idea--black, somewhat viscous, liquid is trapped in a plastic sheet, surrounded by a yellow plastic frame. Underneath the black liquid is a yellow and orange swirl that would be visible if you scraped all the black to the sides of the plastic encasing the black liquid. You also have the option of sliding in a sheet with 2 backgrounds (one on each side) to choose from: a random, multicolored background with red, blue, green and yellow, or a glow-in-the-dark background (solid 'white').
To draw on the "magic drawing board", you can use your fingernail (according to the instructions) or one of the two red plastic styluses included with the board: one t-shaped, one v-shaped. With them you can make up to 2" wide strokes on the board, revealing the colors. If you make very narrow strokes, the black liquid runs back over your line, so you can't even tell you were there. You can run the narrow end of a stylus all over the board, pressing down hard, and not see anything but black. Frustrating, especially for a child.
In the event that you do make a picture, you erase it by taking the 2" end of the t-stylus and maneuvering the black liquid back evenly over the surface of the board, so that it covers all of the colors. It is not hard to do, but rather tedious after 16 times in an hour, when your child is not old enough to do it on their own, and just wants to draw, not erase.
Included with the board are three markers that you can use on the drawing board. We got pink, blue and white. The box says you can use them to create "cool 3-D effects with our new neon pastel over-writers". "Enhance any picture and best of all, the ink wipes off with ease." Well, it goes on easy enough, and I suppose it enhances the picture, since the edges of the picture start filling in with the black liquid soon after you pass the styles through. But wiping off with ease is not something I'd say about this. If you wipe if off soon after application, you may be able to get away with using a dry paper towel. Otherwise it will take a wet paper towel, and maybe some elbow grease. Right there that tells you that this is no travel toy--not unless you want to lug a roll of paper towels along, or forgo the markers on the trip.
There are holes to stand the markers in and little plastic nubs to shove the styluses down on for storage, and the backgrounds stay in their slide-in cavity. The markers don't have a storage place for travel, unless you pack it back in the original box (which does have a plastic carry handle).
Overall, this is frustrating, especially considering the clear, sharp pictures we saw advertised, and the ease with which the people on the commercials were getting them. If you want something for travel, get a Magna-Doodle. If you want to move black stuff around and see colors underneath, go get some of that special art paper at an art store or teacher supply store, or color black crayon all over a colored piece of paper, and get a toothpick!
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 20
Type of Toy: Arts and Crafts
Age Range of Child: Kids to Teens
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
sshelle
|
 in Pets |
 - Top 1000 |
|
Location: Stillwater, OK
Reviews written: 353
Trusted by: 56 members
About Me:
Working on my Piled Higher and Deeper degree. . .
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.