Melissa & Doug Deluxe Magic Set – Review

Posted on October 21, 2019 by Fiona Martin

The Melissa & Doug Deluxe Magic Set available from Hello Direct website is a really fabulous wooden set suitable for the ages of 8+. It’s a case of what you see is what you get, no excessive packaging, no plastic pieces, a beautifully crafted wooden magician’s box that contains ten classic tricks and illusions. With a bit of fine motor skills practice, you will soon have a little magical performer in the recipient of this wonderful toy.

The tricks can all be stored in the box when not in use which is really handy.

Tricks and illusions included are:

Disappearing ball
Magic coin box
Secret silks
Great escape
Magic number prediction
Money maker
Egyptian prediction
Vanishing zone
Cylinder squeeze
Vanishing coin

I love that the wooden storage box for the Melissa & Doug Deluxe Magic Set doubles up as a magicians stage as well to perform all of your magic from and gives you a place to hide your tricks and conceal your hand movements as you prepare them.

I also love the presentation of the instruction sheet.

On to the magic tricks and I think just by looking at the picture you can tell that these are all well made and sturdy due to them being made of wood. They are all painted with bright, fun designs to really help make your magic come to life. My boy who is 8 was immediately struck with all the pieces and couldn’t wait to turn himself into a magician.

The Vanishing Coin trick and the Secret Silks where big hits with my little boy and he couldn’t wait to show everyone once he’d learnt how to do them. Having such well thought out pieces in the Melissa & Doug Deluxe Magic Set makes the tricks look really effective and the bright colours help make the show realistic and magical.

We found the instructions easy to follow and once you understand how a magic trick works it’s just a case of perfecting your moves to make your audience really believe in the illusion you are performing.

One of my boy’s favourite illusions was the Vanishing Zone, in which he passed his magic wand and attached scarf but we couldn’t actually see it when it went through the middle of the box – amazing!

I can honestly say I was very impressed with the Melissa & Doug Deluxe Magic Set. I love that it’s made of wood, the pieces are sturdy and help create a really entertaining magic show. My boy is currently practicing all of the tricks to do a big magic show for relatives next time they visit and I can’t wait to watch it.

If you are looking for a gift for a child of 8+, then I think this is brilliant and one that will last. It’s well worth checking out the Hello Direct website as they cover a vast array of baby and children brands such as Melissa & doug, Casdon, Brio, Fisher Price, Hauck, Hape to name just a few!

All reviews are my own and my family’s opinions. We are not paid for reviews although we do receive the product to try out and enable us to write the review.

Jamie Raven Street Magic

Posted on April 9, 2017 by Fiona Martin

Jamie Raven Street Magic from Paul Lamond Games is one of a set of four easy to follow magic kits by Jamie Raven, one of the UK’s top magicians. The sets aimed at anyone from the age of 8+ are Street Magic, Sleight of Hand, Card Magic and Magic of the Mind. Each set comes with every prop and accessory needed to carry out the tricks and you get a special online link to videos where Jamie demonstrates each trick simply and clearly.

Containing seven fun tricks that use everyday items, hence the name ‘Street Magic’, you can recreate these anywhere using items as you find them, although all items are included to get you started.

Tricks in the Jamie Raven Street Magic set include:

The Jumping Rubber Band
The Vanishing and Reappearing Coin
Currency destruction
Linking Paperclips
The Vanishing Hanky
The Floating Paper Cup
Vanishing Rubber Band

All the included accessories are perfect for performing the magic but what I really liked about the set is that the instructions are in the form of online videos which you get a special link to. Here you see Jamie demonstrate the trick perfectly and then a slowed down version giving you clear instructions as to how to do the trick and make it look realistic to the audience. My 9yr old daughter particularly enjoyed watching the videos to help her learn the magic.

We found the tricks really fun to learn and it’s just a case of practice to perfect your skill to really fool people. This is a great little set and much better than other magic sets we’ve tried in the past.

Here is 9yr old Miss M showing me her magic:

I’m pleased with this Jamie Raven Street Magic set, the online instructions are really clear and simple and the set doesn’t try to cram too much in. A few great tricks makes a good showcase of magic to show to friends and family.

All reviews are my own and my family’s opinions and we received the product in order to write an honest review.

Disney Frozen Elsa Magic Snow Sleeve – Review

Posted on March 20, 2015 by Fiona Martin

Disney Frozen Elsa Magic Snow Sleeve is one of the latest Frozen toys to be released by Flair and is sure to have instant appeal to any Frozen fans out there. A sleeve that can be worn on your arm, with a can of magic snow attached that dispenses when you lift your arm in the air, turning the world into an icy, snowy scene just like Elsa.

We also received a Princess Elsa costume from Rubies, a well made costume with plenty of pretty detail and detachable snowflake veil.

The Disney Frozen Elsa Magic Snow Sleeve consisted of a plastic holder, a decorative turquoise sleeve to wear, a can of magic snow and a plastic reusable water bottle to use when the magic snow can has run out.

We found the can/water bottle simple to attach to the holder and Miss M did this on her own along with putting it on her arm. And then came the magic….

I have to say I have never seen two children so giggly, excited and caught in the moment of snowy mayhem!

The only disappoint was that after just a few minutes the can of magic snow was empty and I had two children desperate to continue play. We then filled up the water bottle which works in the same way although requires pumping (so pushing your hand forward and back) rather than a continuous spray like the snow.

This did allow the fun to continue and I can see the children having fun with this during the summer in the garden.

See the Disney Frozen Elsa Magic Snow Sleeve in action with Miss M here: