Category Archives: Kaleidoscope Fun!

World Awareness Children’s Museum Features Kaleidoscopes Exhibit Through December

Kaleidoscopes: Mirrored Views of the World

If exploring a museum full of some of the most extraordinary, handcrafted antiques and expertly designed modern kaleidoscopes is a dream of yours, then dreams really do come true! Now through December, you can experience such an exhibit at the World Awareness Children’s Museum in Glens Falls, New York.

The exhibit, “Kaleidoscopes: Mirrored Views of the World” opened in mid-September and runs through December 30th, features exquisite and visually-stunning pieces on loan from the private collection of Dr. Judith Mysliborski, who has been collecting kaleidoscopes for more than 15 years.

This exhibit isn’t only for grown-ups, either. The museum also features a child-sized, custom-built, walk-through kaleidoscope, made possible through the Glen Falls foundation and private contributions. Kaleidoscopes are incorporated into the exhibits and programs of each section of the museum and are sure to enamor both children and adults alike.

Take a sneak-peak of the World Awareness Children’s Museum’s Kaleidoscopes exhibit before you attend with this special video clip. The museum, located at 89 Warren St. in Glens Falls is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

To add to or start your very own collection, visit KaleidoscopesToYou.com and check out all of our new kaleidoscopes, especially our stained glass kaleidoscopes.

This Halloween, Candy Is Out & Kaleidoscopes Are In!

This Halloween, instead of the customary fun-size Snickers bar or the itsy-bitsy pack of Skittles, why not try something new? While kids love candy, they receive tons of it while they’re out trick-or-treating. Make your snack bag memorable this year with a toy kaleidoscope! Kids won’t remember the M&M’s or mini Reese’s Cups five minutes after they’ve snacked on them, but they will remember a fun toy they can play with again and again. Once all of the candy is gone all that follows is a crash from the sugar high, and that’s no fun.

Toys for trick or treaters are a fun and healthy alternative to all that sugar. At KaleidscopesToYou.com we have a great selection of toy kaleidoscopes, starting as low as $2.50! From music note themed kaleidoscopes to dolphins, butterflies, dinosaurs and planets, there are tons of fun kid-themed toy kaleidoscopes that will give them their first introduction to this beautiful art form, but are durable and made for rough play from little hands.

Another popular and cost conscious option is the Nova Magic Marble Teleidscopes  which make patterns based on what the kaleidoscope is aimed at. This means each view is unique and new! Kids will never get bored with all the fun they’ll have with the kaleidoscope you gave them! So this year, instead of loading them up on unhealthy junk, try kaleidoscope toys for trick-or-treaters!

toys for trick or treating

Magical Kaleidoscopes for Kids

kaleidoscopes for kids

If you’re interested in introducing your children to a classic toy that has been around for decades, you should consider lovely kaleidoscopes for kids. These toys feature mirrors and pebbles that will erupt into brilliant colors when the control knob is turned. In fact, the best kaleidoscopes feature colors and textures that are extremely versatile. Kids will appreciate peering into the tube and slowly turning the knob.

Kaleidoscopes for kids typically feature brightly colored interiors and exteriors. In fact, the interiors are filled with pebbles of sand and tiny slabs of glass that reflect light in different ways. The best effects are achieved when the toys are held up to the light in a bright room. Small toddlers can have their parents help them turn the wheel during the first few tries. The patterns themselves are so mesmerizing that kids will feel as if they are gazing into an underground tunnel filled with rare and precious jewels.

These toys are also great for special events. They can be brought out at birthday parties and playdates. They are also excellent to have on hand on rainy days. As long as the toys are stored in a cool, dry place, they should remain in wonderful condition for many years. The colorful patterns will remain with children for the rest of their lives.

Kaleidoscope Quiz: Which Kaleidoscope Should You Buy?

So you want to buy a kaleidoscope, but this is your first time and you’re not sure which kaleidoscope is right for you. No worries! Take our kaleidoscope quiz to find of which kaleidoscope is perfect for you.

Kaleidoscope Quiz

1. Fill in the blank. “In my spare time I enjoy ___________.”

A. Listening to the latest album by my favorite band/musician.

B. Reading a book by my favorite author.

C. Painting or drawing my latest masterpiece.

 

2. What’s your favorite color?

A. I prefer shades of yellow, orange and red.

B. I prefer neutral colors, such as brown, white, black, and gray.

C. I prefer bright colors, such as shades of purple, red, blue, and green.

 

3. Choose the adjectives that describe you best.

A. Clever, tame, loud, and shy

B. Old-fashioned, brainy, curious and calm

C. Talented, adventurous, bright and colorful

 

Mostly A’s: You love music and you embrace this love in all you do. A musical kaleidoscope is the perfect fit for your personality. These sensational pieces of artwork will keep you cool and collect, and you’ll enjoy the delightful music each kaleidoscope produces.

Mostly B’s: You have a taste for the old-fashioned and feel like you should have been born in a different time. A wooden kaleidoscope will go well with your calm personality. Display one of these beautiful pieces of artwork on a table by your favorite reading chair, and enjoy it whenever you’re reading a book.

Mostly C’s: Your life is a work of art and so it everything in it, which is why a stained glass kaleidoscope is the ideal kaleidoscope for you. These colorful works of art will entertain your imagination for hours!

Kaleidoscope Fun With The Kids!

Summer vacation has finally arrived! With the kiddos out of school until September we bet you’re on the hunt for fun projects and activities to keep them engaged and occupied now that they’ve got all this free time on their hands! Sure, video games are fun and cartoon marathons keep them out from under your feet while you’re trying to get the housework done, but they do little to stimulate creativity and imagination. Make learning fun this summer with a make-your-own nature kaleidoscope kit!

Nature Kaleidoscope Kit

Whether you live in the city or the country, this nature kaleidoscope kit comes with everything you’ll need for a kid-friendly project! The nature kit by Gemini includes fun gems, rocks, dried flowers and marbles. You can also head into your backyard to find even more goodies, like rocks and flowers, to make this a truly one-of-a-kind creation. Turn this creative activity into a learning opportunity; they’ll be having so much fun they won’t even realize their getting a science lesson during summer vacation! Teach them all about flower seeds, flowers, rocks and the formation of gems while assembling their kaleidoscope.

Fun for all ages, spend some time as a family this summer learning about nature and creating a keepsake with endless possibilities!

Enjoy The Kaleidoscope Of Spring Colors!

Spring has finally sprung, and with it comes a kaleidoscope of new colors in nature! Before we know it vibrant green grass will be growing, beautiful flowers in reds, yellows and purples will be decorating the roadways, walkways and gardens as far as the eye can see. The sky will be a magnificent blue, offset by the whitest of cumulus clouds. There really is nothing better than the beautiful kaleidoscope of colors that is a spring day! Spring Kaleidoscope Colors

Spring is not only a rebirth of nature, but also the time we shed those dark heavy clothes for a more colorful, bright, lightweight wardrobe. Fashion pulls their color inspirations from nature! Here’s a look at the 2014 color trends from Pantone and the kaleidoscope of hues that tie back to Mother Nature!

  • Placid Blue – Hyacinth, with their delicate petals and glorious fragrance, grow in this beautiful color.
  • Violet Tulip – Is there a flower more reminiscent of the birth of spring and the Easter season than the tulip?
  • Hemlock – Green grass, green leaves, green shrubbery, green petals, green steams! Green! Green! Green – as far as the eye can see!
  • Sand – That one speaks for itself! There’s no better inspiration than wet sand between your toes on a warm, sunny day!
  • Freesia – The sun is the center of this inspiration!
  • Cayenne – A favorite flower of spring brides, the calla lily grows in a gorgeous shade of cayenne orange.
  • Celosia Orange – The Tiger Lilly may have a powerful name, but her petals and beauty are delicate and refined!
  • Radiant Orchid – Naturally, the color gets its name from the stunning orchid flower
  • Dazzling Blue – The sky on a perfect day!

Explore nature and the kaleidoscope of colors that are the season of spring!

Colors – for your reference: http://www.pantone.com/pages/fcr/?season=spring&year=2014

Learn and Explore with Build-Your-Own Kaleidoscope Kits!

Kaleidoscope KitAre you a kaleidoscope enthusiast or collector looking for a fun project in your downtime? Or are you an educator looking for an educational lesson you can explore with your class? Build your own kaleidoscope and explore the inner workings of the amazing work of art that is a kaleidoscope!

For the kids, this won’t be just any craft project! They’ll have fun learning about the wonders of light and exactly what is involved in creating such a unique item. And the best part for kids – when they’re finished with the project, they’ve got themselves a new toy!

At KaleidoscopesToYou.com we have several Kaleidoscope Kits to choose from. You can’t go wrong with any one of our kits, but one of the best quality and most popular styles is that Kaleidoscope Kit. Most kit contents are similar, but to give you a better idea of what you can find in a build your own kit, this specific kaleidoscope making kit contains:

  • 3 high reflective glass front surface mirrors,
  • 1 tube,
  • 1 adhesive dressing foil,
  • 2 glass pieces for ends and eyepieces,
  • Many different shapes of colorful handmade glass and plastic shapes for the object cell,
  • 2 black fittings,
  • 1 light grey distance ring,
  • 1 grey padding,
  • Blue tape,
  • Red tape,
  • Filling,
  • Instructions

Perfect for art class or a birthday party craft project, the Bulk Kaleidoscope Kit contains 12 build-your-own kaleidoscopes for just $41. That’s $3.50 per kaleidoscope, which is perfect for sticking to a budget.

Do you have a little princess in the house? If so, she’ll love the Princess build your own kaleidoscope kit! It comes with sparkling plastic gems, shiny rings, and brightly colored beads, while the exterior is a shimmering hot pink! The queen of your heart is sure to love this Princess Kaleidoscope kit.

School day, summer camp, birthday party, or rainy day indoors, build your own kaleidoscope kits are a fun time, guaranteed! Learn and explore with shiny mirrors and glass pieces with our full selection from KaleidoscopesToYou.com today!

Kaleidoscope of Color: Volume 3

A few weeks ago, we released Kaleidoscope of Color: Volume 2, which included songs about the color orange or songs that featured the color orange in the title. This week, we’re releasing the latest installment of our kaleidoscope musical collection, Kaleidoscope of Color: Volume 3! This colorful playlist is chalk full of songs about the color yellow and its many shades. So grab your favorite kaleidoscope, and enjoy the colorful world around you as you listen to this sunny playlist!

1. “Black Gold” Soul Asylum
2. “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” Elton John
3. “Yellow” Coldplay
4. “Lemon Crush” – Prince
5. “Amber Waves” Tori Amos
6. “Honey Hi” Fleetwood Mac
7. “Mean Mr. Mustard” The Beatles
8. “The Lemon Song” Led Zeppelin
9. “Mean Mustard Blues” The Doors
10. “Yellow Roses” Dolly Parton
11. “Yellow Submarine” The Beatles
12. “Girl with Golden Hair” Sixx AM
13. “Golden Country” REO Speedwagon
14. “Life is a Lemon & I Want my Lemon Back” – Meatloaf
15. “Yellow Ledbetter” Pearl Jam
16. “Amber Awaits” Blues Traveler
17. “Sweet Amber” Metallica
18. “Lemon” U2
19. “Honey Bee” Tom Petty
20. “Moon was Yellow” Frank Sinatra

What are some of your favorite songs about the color yellow? Let us know by leaving a comment below. Stay tuned next week, for Kaleidoscope of Color: Volume 4, which will include songs about the color green!

Test your Kaleidoscope Knowledge – Kaleidoscope Quiz

So you think you’re a kaleidoscope enthusiast? You know everything there is no know about kaleidoscopes. We’ll see. We’ve created this kaleidoscope quiz, so you can test your knowledge and see how much you know about the wonderful world of kaleidoscopes. Answer the following 5 questions, and then use the answer bank at the bottom of the page to see how many you got right!

1. What does the word “kaleidoscope” translate to?
2. True or false: The world’s current largest kaleidoscope is located in Mt. Tremper, New York.
3. Who invented the first kaleidoscope?
4. True or false: The world’s most expensive kaleidoscope sold for $50,000.
5. Who was the first person to mass manufacturer parlor kaleidoscopes in America?


Answer Bank:
1. The word “kaleidoscope” translates to “the beautiful watcher”.
2. True, the world’s current largest kaleidoscope is located in Mt. Tremper, New York. It is 64 ft. tall, and people stand inside of the base in order to view the kaleidoscopes beautiful imagery.
3. Sir David Brewster, a Scottish physicist invented the first kaleidoscope in 1816.
4. False, the world’s most expensive kaleidoscope sold for a little over $75,000. It was created by William Leigh, and sold by the London Auction House in 1987.
5. Charles G. Bush was the first person to mass manufacturer parlor kaleidoscopes in America.

How’d you do? Let us know with a comment. You can learn more about the wonderful world of kaleidoscopes at KaleidoscopesToYou.com.

Find Unique and Gorgeous Stained Glass Kaleidoscopes

If you’re looking for an absolutely unique and unusual gift idea, stained glass kaleidoscopes will provide you with some wonderful ideas. Kaleidoscopes are often thought of as toys for children, but the amazing designs featured at KaleidoscopesToYou.com will surprise you with their interesting materials and concepts. In particular, the stained glass options are elegant and striking, completely captivating for both children and adults. It’s important to recognize that the glass construction makes these designs more vulnerable to breaking. Supervision is suggested if children will handle such devices. However, the designs and the mathematical exploration provided in a kaleidoscope make it worthwhile to provide a youngster with the opportunity to experience looking through one of these designs.

Stained glass kaleidoscopes are crafted by stained glass artists and merge the mathematical concepts involved in kaleidoscope theory with the beauty of colorful glass. Workmanship in the pieces offered for sale by KaleidoscopesToYou.com is superior, with elegant soldering and finish work. You will never think of these as simple children’s toys again after you explore the unusual structural and color details available. While stained glass options are captivating, we carry many more interesting options in a huge range of pricing options.