Finish for wooden toys? Projects for girls?

[McTeardrops]

Joanne and I do a gift fleet of toy trucks each year. We have used a vegetable oil finish for the bodies, and a Minwax water-based wood stain for the fenders. The water-base adds sanding and finishing steps as it raises the grain. Is there a finish that would add a little more "flash," protection, and kid-appeal, while remaining easy to apply and safe for chewers?

Trucks are fine for boys, but can anyone suggest a similar project for girl-type kids?

[Miriam C.]

My grandaughter loves toy cars and trucks. She is 2 1/2. She really likes the camping set her aunt gave her with little round ball people.

You might try animals too.....Teardrops, tea sets, doll furniture that will fit a soft doll.

For wood dyes that are safe for eating you might try the "contact us" button on this site.

http://www.craft-art.com/info.aspx

[rbeemer]

For your finish you can try shellac. It is a natural finish, but from what I have heard and read is that most finishes(poly's and shellacs) are food/child safe once they have fully cured.

My 2.5 year old daughter loves trains and cars

[Gaelen]

Trucks are fine for boys, but can anyone suggest a similar project for girl-type kids?

Corvette, Thunderbird or Mustang convertibles?
Seriously--toy vehicles are just fine for girls (and I grew up in the late 50s/60s in the land of GI Joe and Barbie.) Even Barbie had a very cool car.

[vrooom3440]

After watching both boys and girls do pinewood derby...

Girls can indeed enjoy a regular car. But the demographics suggest they also like critters on wheels a bit more than boys do. Although you do see critters created by both.