Spirograph Cyclex Studio Grogu - Spiral Art Design Set

Finally, a spirograph with no parts to lose! While you may not be able to make all the gee-whiz designs of the big, original Spirograph set, this set can do quite a lot. There are basically 5 templates, all of them round, so any design you make, will have to be in a circle, and it is limited by the size of the template, so your biggest design won't be much larger than the diameter of a coffee mug. That said, there are enough different shapes/sizes within the templates to entertain kids for quite a while. This has been one of the kid's favorite Christmas presents, that she has recieved, with even mom & dad waiting for their turn. First, what it is. It is a plastic frame, with 5 templates in it. 4 of them are about the size of a coffee mug, the 5th, is much smaller, maybe like a half dollar or so. These templates are captive within the frame, meaning that they will never get lost, short of breaking the templates out of the frame. Designs are easy to do, even for a 5 year old, after a bit of instruction. The trick is to hold the pen vertically, and moving the pen with steady and even motion. Holding the pen crooked, or using hurried or jerky movements can cause breaks or unevenness in the pattern. I don't really know how to describe how it works, other than there are many different shapes cut into the templates (probably 2 dozen or more), and as you move the pen around the shape, like you are tracing a stencil, the template advances around inside of the frame a little bit. By going around and around within that shape until the template makes a full circle, you wind up with a typical spirograph-looking design. You really have to SEE how it works, to appreciate how it works, how simple it is, and how the designs look. Clicking on the video in the product description to see how it works. Pros: It WORKS, even with standard ball point pens, or a well-sharpened pencil. In fact, if you have a couple ball point pens with slim points, try them out on this kit, and if they work well, toss them in the box, as in most cases they will work better than the pens with the kit. Easy to use, with no loose parts to keep track of Safe, even for travel use. Unlike the old Spirographs that used pins over a cardboard to hold the paper, this one has little rubber grippy feet, to keep it from slipping on the paper. Just put the paper on a hard surface, hold gently so it won't slip, and work the pen around the template surprising number of designs possible considering this is basically one frame with 5 templates in it. Kit comes in a box, with everything you need to get started. The Spirograph itself, some paper, and some pens (but experiment with a few ballpoints or sharp colored pencils, and keep them with the kit if they work well) Cons While there is a lot of possible designs, you are limited to nothing larger than a coffee mug or so in size. You can make numerous designs smaller than that, but nothing bigger. The pens included are of poor quality, if you could go half stars, I'd knock off a half star just for that. They are a felt-tip that bleeds through the paper sometimes, and aren't fine-tipped enough for intricate designs, as lines very close together will tend to bleed together. Nothing included with the kit to back up the paper. The cardboard of the box by itself is on the flimsy side to use as a backer. It does work great on the table (beware bleed through of the markers) or for travel, clamp a few papers in an old clipboard, and let the kids have at it. Now, to sum up my thoughts, of all the under $15 gifts that the kids got, this seems to be their favorite. It works well, and there aren't any little odd parts to keep track of. All templates are captive within the frame. The pens work acceptably, but better pens, with finer points will really improve your results with this kit. I give the toy itself 5 stars for doing what it is supposed to do very well, and being reasonably kid proof (no DADDY, I can't find the wheel thing!, like you hear with a standard Spirograph). I knock off a half star, because for maybe another 50 cents of cost, they could have included better pens, that wouldn't frustrate a youngster with lines so fat they blur together, or parents with bleed-through. Since you can't give half-stars, it rounds back up to 5 stars.