How to Choose the Right Rock Tumbler
Choosing what is the right rock tumbler for you is an important decision to make. This mainly depends on what you want to achieve in terms of rock size, batch sizes, frequency of use, and how you want your rocks to look once polished. There are 3 categories of tumbler to choose from; 2 of these are rotary type tumblers, which produce smooth, rounded rocks. Although they work in the same way, I split these into 2 categories, toy/educational rock tumblers, and hobby/professional level tumblers, as they meet different needs for someone wanting to tumble rocks. The other type is the vibrating rock tumbler, which also polishes your rocks, but the polishing process is quicker, less grit is needed and rocks keep their original form through the process.

Toy/Educational Rock Tumblers
This type of tumbler is available from many online shops or toy stores and can be a great introduction to rock tumbling. These tumblers are easily affordable and usually come with everything needed to get started without having to make any additional purchases. The limiting factor with these tumblers is the size of rocks which can be polished as they only have small motors, and although these tumblers can last a long time, if any thing does break, it can be difficult to find replacement parts to make repairs. Many people who start out with this type of tumbler soon find their hobby outgrows their equipment and quickly move on to buying a hobby/professional level tumbler.

Hobby/Professional Level Tumblers
As you might expect, these rock tumblers cost more than the educational tumblers (around $100 for a kit up to several thousand dollars for a large, top of the range tumbler), but you certainly get what you pay for in terms of quality. Like the educational models, these tumblers polish stones by rotating a barrel containing the rocks and grit/polish, which mimics the action of the sea smashing rocks together over millions of years, to polish your rocks. These tumblers are made from robust materials to a high specification and are designed to last, with features such as fans to keep the motor cool and automatic overload shut- down to protect the motor. Replacement parts are also available if anything ever does wear out or break. There is also a lot more flexibility with these tumblers; models with larger motors and barrel capacity are available for polishing larger batches or bigger stones, and models are available with two or even three barrels, allowing you to tumble more than one batch at a time. There are a number of well-respected manufacturers of rotary tumblers, including Lortone, Thumler’s Tumbler, Covington and Diamond Pacific, and a great range of their tumblers, along with other rock tumbling accessories you will need, can be found at my rock tumblers site.

Vibrating Tumblers
Vibrating tumblers do not work in the same way as the rotary tumblers. These tumblers use high frequency vibrations to create friction between the rocks, and this polishes your stones. These tumblers tend to be even more expensive, although high quality 4lb-capacity tumblers are available for about $120. Polishing in a vibratory tumbler means that the stones stay in the same shape as when they started, rather than becoming rounded. Vibrating tumblers also tend to be quieter than their rotating cousins and polishing is achieved more quickly, and with less grit.

Article by Phil Prestwich of BuyRockTumblersOnline.com

A perfect gift would be a personalised jigsaw! You pick the photo and it gets turned into an amazing puzzle! You can pick from 200, 500 and 1000 pieces, as well as the heart-shaped puzzle with 600 pieces.
You simply visit My Photo Puzzle - upload a photo and select the section of it you want to use. They tell you how good th ephotos is due to it's shape - you get a star rating of the adequacy of the picture so you don't end up using a bad picture quality, or one that's very blurred)

200 pieces (16.6" x 11.7") £ 19.90
500 pieces (18.7" x 12.7") £ 24.90
600 pieces, heart (22.1" x 18.8") £ 29.90
1000 pieces (25.9" x 18.8") £ 34.90
The box is personalised with the name you pick for the jigsaw and you pick the colour of the box! Production time: approx. 3-5 working days and costs £ 3.90
You upload the photo and it'll get turned into an amazing jigsaw. You could use a wedding photo, a picture from a christening, a family photo, one of everyone together, a romantic one, one of some special event in your lives - the picture that people will enjoy looking at enormously whilst they put the picture together. It's a lovely idea and one that could be fun for kids as well as grown ups!

Witch costumes make great Fancy Dress! We love all of these and they're all so different it's worth showing you the wide range of witch costumes available. They're perfect for everyday dressing up as well as for halloween. If you're planning to go trick or treating this year then why not consider a witch costume? It's a fun costume that doesn't need loads of messing with makeup or hair!!
A witches costume is always popular! Read the rest of this entry »

In The Night Garden Sleepy Iggle Piggle is sometimes called Sleepy Time Iggle Piggle
This is a great toy for when you need to get your toddler to have a nap. It'll be a hit with all the little ones who adore watching Iggle Piggle!
It's a soft doll of Iggle Piggle that falls asleep when you touch his foot and rub his hand! If you stop before he has fallen fully asleep, then Igglepiggle's eyes will open and he will squeak in surprise! It's a lovely toy to play with and kids will love sending him off to sleep! When it's time for the kids to have a nap Iggle Piggle can help - just flick a switch and he'll play lovely soft lullaby music helping your toddler drift off to sleep!
It includes 3 x AA batteries. It's suitable for children aged 18 Months +
This will be an excellent toy for any toddler who finds it hard to have a nap - they will see Iggle Piggle napping and will want to be just like him

We've been shaking this for days now. We've ticked everything off on the list apart from Princess, Cupcake and coin!
Update: We've just found the coin - well the edge of it (It's silver!) but it's sunk again beneath the bits!
Find It Game Glitz and Glamour Version is available at amazon - Find It Game Glitz and Glamour Version for only £13.99
This game is very simple.
You get a tube full of hundreds and thousands and 44 objects! You have a tick chart to mark off when you find each item and you play the game either timed, or in turns with friends. It's fun and very simple. Just shake and look. You will try all sorts of different shaking techniques!
See our full review of this toy here

Torquato AG Have a Play Castle
A castle with towers, battlements, a large gate and windows. The four folding templates for the castle are made from sturdy white corrugated cardboard and just clip together.
The openings are pre-cut, the folding lines pre-scored. The interior of the castle is printed with a fireplace, a throne, candle holders, paintings, coats of arms and halbards - just waiting to be coloured in. Includes instructions for construction.
Fully constructed castle measurements: Base area 90cm x 90cm, height 134cm, height of inside space 116cm.
They have a lovely range of toys too split up into lovely categories like Carpentry, Craft & Construction which includes some great toys for boys including a brick house building kit and a Pirate ship construction kit! Tons of fantastic fun toys!
Torquato AG Toys for Children

Looking for something really unusual? Something that you've never seen before? Dave the Cheeky monkey is brand new and breaks the mould as far as toys are concerned! This is unique!

Dave The Cheeky Monkey


Ever feel a bit lonely, like the whole world is passing you by? Or maybe you just want a funky, cheeky companion to keep you company? If so then Dave The Funky Monkey is just the shoulder mounted friend you've been looking for. This little cheeky monkey sits about 20cm high and can be positioned comfortably, and securely on your shoulder. What really sets Dave The Monkey apart from the rest of his cheeky primate cousins is, apart from not making a mess and then throwing it around, he will interact with you and passers by.

Dave is a cheeky robot toy designed to look like a small squirrel monkey complete with black body, and white face, hands, and feet. Your friends and family will be amazed at how Dave interacts with you and them as you chat away to him. As your friends introduce themselves he'll wave, if they embarrass or scare him he'll hide his face looking shy or scared, he'll even put his hand up ready for a high-five if the situation dictates.

Although Dave looks completely autonomous, as if he is waving, nodding, and even hi-fiving all by himself, he is actually operated by a discreet remote control that you can keep hidden in your pocket. The simple to use remote consists of just 8 buttons, each invoking a different response from Dave. With just a little practise you can have Dave making all the right actions at just the right time interacting seamlessly with you and your friends, as well as charming all manner of strangers, or "friends-to-be" as we prefer to think of them.

Dave The Funky Monkey has a hook on his rear that can be simply attached to a shoulder strap to keep him safely and securely sat in place. Apart from his cute and cuddly looks, and winning personality you can also be safe in the knowledge that Dave won't partake in some of the more questionable activities that monkeys are known for, so you can confidently take to any social occasion you might wish to grace with his presence.

Everyone loves monkeys, maybe it's that they are like little furry versions of people? Maybe it's their cheeky antics and toothy grins? Who knows, but what we do know is that Dave The Monkey is sure to be more popular than any ordinary monkey. Some say he's funky, others say he's cheeky, but either way he's set to take the furry "companion sitting on your shoulder" niche by storm! Sure to be loved by anyone and everyone, Dave The Cheeky Monkey will bring a smile wherever he goes, and his cute and cuddly good looks are sure to elicit an awwww from one and all, this really is one cute critter.

Gadget.co.uk Price £24.95

Firebox now have ALL the chatimals available !If you were after one of these cutey hamsters that talk back at you then shop now! They're going to be huge this Christmas! Read the rest of this entry »

Only 120 shopping days to go now so here are the Entertainer's predictions for the top 12 toys!
Star Wars General Grievous Spinning Electronic Lightsaber – Hasbro

Features
* General Grievous' lightsaber weapon
* Spinning handle
* Four different weapon combinations
* Can extend to over four feet
* Lightsaber light and sound effects

Bakugan 7 In 1 Maxus Dragonoid – Spinmaster

This awesome Bakugan boxed set contains six exclusive Bakugan trap pieces (Grakas Hound, Dark Hound, Grafias, Brachium, Spitarm and SpyderFencer) and one Neo Dragonoid Bakugan marble. Use the marble and traps in your Bakugan games, by rolling or throwing them onto Bakugan cards to unleash their powers. You can also put them all together to create a giant Maxus Dragonoid monster.
The boxed set comes with a Metal Gate card and Ability card for the Maxus Dragonoid monster.

Paper Jamz Guitar – Wow Wee

* Perfect Play keeps you pitch perfect as long as you're strumming.
* Rhythm Play gets you joining in with the built-in songs.
* Free Play lets you play your own songs by holding down chords as you strum!
The guitar has three exclusive hit songs on it, "What I Like About You", "Two Princes", and "End of the World". You can mute the drum track so you can play along with the Paper Jamz Rock Drum Set 2, and start your own band! The guitar has a built-in speaker with volume control, and a headphone jack to plug it into your headphones, or the Paper Jamz Amp.
This is one of our predictions too! Bound to be a hit!

Moon Dough Barn – Spinmaster

Moon Dough is a light and fluffy modelling dough from the makers of Moon Sand. It never dries out, doesn't stain or stick to your clothes and carpet, and easily squishes up when you want to make new animal models. A fun modelling toy with lots of stuff to keep the kids occupied!

Air Hogs Vectron Wave – Spinmaster

The Vectron Wave is an awesome flying toy that you control using only your hands. Ingenious new infra red technology means the Vectron hovers at a set height, which you can control by moving your hands underneath it. "Bounce" it, guide it around the room, and throw it, either with throwing gestures or with the attachable handle. The Vecton Wave charges from the special charging unit, which has an emergency shut-off button to stop flight immediately. As an additonal safety measure, the propeller automatically shuts off when something tries poking into it, preventing damage to fingers.

Mega Bloks Halo Wars UNSC Warthog – Mega Brands

* 173-piece set * UNSC Warthog 4x4 vehicle * UNSC Spartan * Covenent Elite * Covenant Battle Turret

Club Penguin Puffle Plush – Jakks Pacific

The puffles make excellent 'pets' for the penguins and now you can have one too! The pink puffle is very active and likes to excercise. Every puffle comes with a coin and code to unlock fun items at Club Penguin online.

Sylvanian Families Motorcycle and Sidecar – Flair

Adorable! George and Mildred Mulberry love going for rides around the countryside in their old-fashioned motorbike. They keep a selection of maps and books in the luggage box, to make sure they never get lost, and always know lots of interesting thing about the places they visit. George has his motorcycle googles on to make sure he can see where he's going, while Midred is wrapped up warm, as it gets a bit breezy in the sidecar!

Toy Story 3 Lotso Huggin Bear – Vivid

Lotso is a soft pink teddy bear and leader of the toys at the Daycare centre in Toy Story 3. This great replica looks just like the real character from the film. Lotso features posable arms and legs for easy hugging and, just like in the movie, smells of strawberry! Tickle Lotso's foot to make him laugh and squeeze his hands to hear 'toy' and 'come alive' phrases; Lotso will even 'respond' to your voice. In total, Lotso has over 45 individual saying for you to hear.

Nerf NStrike Deploy CS6 – Hasbro

This nerftastic pump action foam blaster easily transforms from a torch to a mission ready tactical blaster. Hunt down your opponent through darkness using the intergrated torch and, when your mark has been spotted, quickly convert it back into a blaster and fire away.

Lego Toy Story 3 Western Train Chase 7597 – Lego

The Western Train features 4 cars with opening doors, roofs and even traps! This playset comes with 4 train cars including an engine, guard carriage, passenger and cargo carriage. Also featured are Evil Doctor Porkchop, Rex, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and Bullseye minifigures for you to play with. Built from 589 individual pieces, this Lego playset is suitable for children aged 8 years and up.

VTech Kidizoom Video Camcorder – VTech

An excellent first video camera for boys, the VTech Kidizoom camera has a durable design, wrist strap and is suitable for children aged 4 and up. Take photos and videos with this camera which features a 2.0 megapixel resolution, 4x digital zoom, 256MB internal memory and a 1.8" colour TFT screen. A built in video editor and face tracking technology allows you to add movie style openings, funny stamps and borders to your movies as well as moving animations! The camera also comes with 3 built-in games which lets you put yourself into games! Plug the camera into the TV or PC to upload and show your photos and movies.

Elmer the Elephant Soft Toy Elmer the Elephant Soft Toy
* 18cm long x 14 cm tall
* A soft toy based on the wonderful book character Elmer the patchwork elephant
* Elmer is different from the other elephants because she is so colourful!

If your child hasn't enjoyed the Elmer stories yet then please treat them. They're simple stories about an Elephant called Elmer who's the prettiest elephant in the world! Elmer books