Bizarrely we haven't really had a go with 3D pens before, so we were complete amateurs when we received the 3Doodler Start 3D Printing Pen for review. This is a beginners set suitable for children aged 6+, with everything you need to learn how to write in 3D, and complete some small projects...


Inside the box are the 3Doodler Start Printing Pen, USB charging cable, instruction booklet, 'How-to' Activity Guide and 2 packs of biodegradable eco-plastic refill filaments (48 strands in 8 colours). There's a big plastic insert which I'd like to see replaced by card in the future.


The 3Doodler Pen is wireless, which is so much easier for children especially. It charges pretty quickly and lasts a fair while, at a guess it's 90 minutes / 20 minutes. I've been caught out with how quickly it's charged each time so far. It has a clear green LED to show whether it's active / inactive, and charging / fully charged.

There is an on / off switch and just 1 control button - it couldn't be simpler to use.

Frozen Unicorns is a family and party game for anyone aged 6+, and it's suitable for 3 or more players - it suggests up to 30! We have a copy to give away courtesy of Brighton-based game developer Gamely Games, who sent us our copy to review.


Inside the handy box are 100 cards of varying difficulty, and each has an animal, person or mythical creature on it. E.g. Unicorn, DJ or Fairy.


All players have to do is mime whatever is on the card, while the active player guesses what they are depicting. The catch is, you're frozen, so your mime is more of a statue - and a lot harder to guess!

Blackpool-based ARTdiscount stock a huge range of art supplies, including their own brand range of products, at great prices. We're delighted to be working with them on another giveaway, for a Student's Art Bundle.

Students can get through art supplies more quickly than just about anyone else, and they can have the tightest budgets. ARTdiscount have put together a great bundle of products which would be handy for anyone, and ideal for students...


At retailers recommended prices the bundle would cost almost £60 (you'd save around £20 buying at ARTdiscount), and includes:

Derwent Academy Watercolours 12 set
Staedtler x18 watercolour brush pens
ARTdiscount own brand Watercolour/ Gouache brushes
Daler-Rowney x24 Artists' Sketching & Graphic Pencils

Dr Seuss' most famous Christmas grump is available on Duvet Covers and Cushions this Winter thanks to Dreamtex and ASDA, and they've sent us a set to review - plus they are giving a set away to one of my readers. Available in Single and Double sized Duvet Sets perfect for your child's bedroom. The Grinch is the perfect Christmas decoration for your room.


I'm a big fan of Dreamtex bedding because their duvet covers have wide openings for easy changing, reliable popper fastenings and the material is soft and easy to care for. The poly/cotton can be washed hot if necessary and tumble dried.

This Winter we are working with Blackpool based art supplier ARTdiscount. They sell quality brands, including their own range of products, at great prices. They have put together an awesome bundle of goodies for anyone who does a little art at home, or fancies trying.

Being creative is fantastic for your mental health, it's relaxing and rewarding, can lower your blood pressure, ease tension and you can end up with a piece of work you are really proud of! As Bob Ross said, “I really believe that if you practice enough you could paint the 'Mona Lisa' with a two-inch brush.”


Included in the ARTdiscount Art Beginner's bundle are:

Docrafts Artiste x12 fineliner pen set
Derwent Academy 19 piece sketching set
ARTdiscount own brand Watercolour brush set
Staedtler Noris x12 Colour pencil set
Watercolour tin with brush, 12 colours

Toy Story is a long-standing favourite here. My oldest son was a huge fan when the first movie was new, and it made it's return perfectly in time for my younger boys to be able to appreciate the antics of Woody, Buzz, Bo and all of the other animated toys.

Toy Story 4 is now available on Digital Download & Keep, DVD, Blu-ray and other formats for you to watch at home, and I have a DVD copy to give away to one of my readers. We were sent a copy for review and it's a great return to form...


The story features a cast of long-standing Toy Story characters, as well as a few new additions, and starts with a 10 minute segment looking back over what has happened to our animated friends over the past 23 years. It brought a definite lump to my throat...


The toys are now in the care of Bonnie, who has just started kindergarten. She makes herself a toy using junk modelling, and Forky (who is really a spork) comes to life. Forky is excited to be here, but obviously very immature, and Woody takes him under his wing.

I couldn't turn down a review of Harry Potter's fabulous Invisibility Cloak. Made by Wow! Stuff and recommended for age 6+, this is a cloak with a trick. It can make anyone, or anything, invisible using a smartphone or tablet and the supporting app.


I was a bit worried we might not be able to find it, but inside the box is a fully visible Invisibility Cloak, plus phone stand and instructions.

ALIAS is an instant play, easy to learn word guessing game made by Tactic, and they've just released a brand new UK ALIAS version. We've been sent both Original ALIAS and UK ALIAS to review.
Suitable for 4 or more players aged around 10+, in teams of 2 or more, ALIAS will be brilliant for play over Christmas when our grown up family are home for the holidays...


Both games have a similar format. The packaging is a sturdy cardboard box with a plastic insert, which is retained for storage of the game between plays.


The UK ALIAS edition is suitably themed! Both games have bold, bright, modern illustration.


Inside the box are the game board, 6 gorgeous little counters in the shape of people, timer and Question Cards. Original ALIAS has 4 huge piles of cards which contain 3200 different words to guess - try learning all of those..

This year HARIBO and MAOAM have not only released their own special edition Halloween sweets, but they've teamed up to bring us a giant Duo Pack. They asked me if I had some ideas for how we can all 'Share The Scare' this Halloween without spending a fortune on what is essentially one night.


Ever popular here are Revolting Rotten Halloween Cupcakes and a good old-fashioned home-made Witches Broom, and we've really gone to town to create our double-sided Trick Or Treat Lucky Dip Box - I think you'll like it...


We were sent a box of goodies to nibble while we work, and you couldn't get better inspiration - or bribery for my partner. He adores sweets and I don't let him have them every week. There's a video with sound on my Instagram Highlights. Yes - I actually jumped when it said 'Boo'.

Halloween is coming, so what better time to review some horror fiction... Deborah A Stansil is a UK blogger and independently published horror writer. I'm a long time fan of the genre and she has sent me 3 of her books to take a look at.

Deborah's books are fairly easy to read Adult Fiction which is also suitable for Young Adult and teenage readers who like a bit of darkness and a drop of gore.  The novels I've been sent for review are The Asylum Tour, The Joker and The Mirror...


The Asylum Tour focuses on two women. Jeannie, a young reporter covering the launch of an Asylum Tour, and Sarah, one of the invited guests. While Sarah and the other invited guests don't seem to have any connection, Jeannie is linked to the asylum via her Grandmother, a member of staff who died there during an horrific breakout by some of the most severe criminal patients.

The Asylum Tour promises to be a terrifying theme park style attraction, set in a real ex-asylum building. It's terrifying all right, something just isn't right about it. The owner has done everything he can to keep himself anonymous, and the 10 specially invited guests for the first tour are a random bunch of horror fans, who all resemble people who died during the breakout and ensuing massacre back in 1953.

The tour seems brilliant, with the real life spooky setting and an augmented reality host. It doesn't take long though before it begins to really unsettle the guests. Not invited on the tour and unable to enter the building, all reporter Jeannie can do is stand outside and wait, and hope that everyone makes it out alive...