See this smiling face? That's my soon to be 13 year old son, Kyle. He's also the hardest person to shop for during the Holiday season. You see, Kyle emphatically states to whoever will listen that he is no longer a child and he's too old for toys. (I happen to think 13 is still very much a child, but we can agree to disagree there.)

So rather than simply give him an array of socks and underwear for Christmas, I always try and find fun and unique gifts that stimulate his mind and his sense of creativity. This is where Funnybone Toys comes to the rescue!

Haven't heard of Funnybone Toys? They're a fairly new company that's blazing into the toy and game industry and have already won several coveted awards, including:

        Creative Child’s Game of the Year and Preferred Choice Awards·      
         Tillywig Brain Child Award
         Mr. Dad and Great Dad seals of approval
         Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award


Owner Julien Sharp with her team of creative geniuses has uncovered a niche that is quickly spreading -- offering hip, museum-quality products that encourage casual entertainment that complements conversation -- no matter what your age. And since everyone appreciates a little glamour in his or her day, Funnybone Toys' three sets of card games brighten up any room. The card sets' color and design may be appreciated consciously or subconsciously but they always attract the players' senses for beauty, design and pleasure. The unanimous response when gift hunters pick up a card box is, “Wow, these are really cool!”

The results are brainy card games that are truly beautiful with colors, hues and play patterns that could be shown in a museum. In fact, they are being sold at 60 hard-to-impress museum gift stores! Array, Spectrix and CUBU have the look, feel and novelty factors to make them the ultimate in cool gifts this season. At $14.99 each, for ages 8 and up, they’re the perfect gift!

The first game I'd like to tell you about is Spectrix. This game is very cool, and promotes fast thinking! Build and expand groups of beautiful color sequences and matches. Mix and match your own and other players’ cards into strategic groups to be the first to play your entire hand. It’s not as easy as it seems! Complete and collapse a spectrum into “white light” to increase your chances of winning!

Spectrix includes the following items:
96 Spectrix Cards, 6 Spectrix Guide Cards, & Illustrated Rules.

We really enjoyed the Spectrix game! This is fun not only for my preteen, but also for my toddlers. You see, this game truly is a multipurpose game. It came be played Rummy-style as intended, or it can be used as color flash cards or even a memory game!

Spectrix is fast paced and not as simple as it looks. You really need to be on top of your game, since someone else can easily take the lead at any point in time!

Check out this brief video that shows how Spectrix works:

The next game, which happens to be my son's favorite, is CUBU. Visual illusion leads to confusion as you try to follow number and color sequences. Watch out for the action cards that could completely disrupt your turn! Get to 100 points before the rest and you’ve won the CUBU challenge! Play Speed CUBU and really test your visual perception!

CUBU includes:

60 Unique CUBU cards, 12 Action cards, & Illustrated rules.

I have to admit, I am not too good at CUBU. My 12 year old and husband can beat me very easily! The game is incredibly challenging and fast-paced, and requires a sharp mind since it uses optical illusions using both shapes and colors. This is an ideal game for those who like brain-teasers and intense mental challenges. You've got to be quick and precise to win, though!

Check out this brief video that explains the world of CUBU:

Last but certainly not least, we have Array. This game is my favorite! Connect the cards to build a beautiful array of colors. Add a little splice and slice to make the array explode! Sound simple? Wait till someone tosses a Splatter or SLAM card your way! You can play Array on a table - but for even more fun, play it on the floor and see how big your array can grow! Be the last person in the game by building the largest array of color you can! Connect the cards to build a beautiful array of colors. Add a little splice and slice to make the array explode! Sound simple? Wait till someone tosses a Splatter or SLAM card your way! You can play Array on a table - but for even more fun, play it on the floor and see how big your array can grow! Be the last person in the game by building the largest array of color you can!

Array includes:


70 Array cards, 12 Action cards, & Illustrated rules

I really like playing Array with my family. The neatest part is seeing how big your array of colors can grow. I'd definitely recommend a large surface to play on, such as a huge table or even the floor! I did have to read the instructions a few times before I really understood the method of play. Once I got the concept down, it was a ton of fun!

Check out this brief video showing how Array is played:

Overall, we love our games from Funnybone Toys. They're simple yet challenging, and they promote mental sharpness and alertness. The games are also quite beautiful to look at, and I love the linen-like boxes they come in. They really do remind me of something found at higher end shops, such as those found at museums!

I would definitely recommend all 3 of these great games to anyone shopping for older kids and adults. These games provide hours of fun and are ever-changing, so it never gets boring! These would be fantastic stocking stuffers, too!


HOW TO CONNECT :


You can learn more about Funnybone Toys on their website.

You can also connect with them on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their latest products and promotions!

WIN IT !

I am thrilled to announce that one lucky reader will receive the Funnybone Toys game of their choice! How cool is that?!

Simply enter on the Rafflecoptor form below!

This sweepstakes is open to US residents 18+ until 11:59PM EST on November 15, 2012. Void where prohibited, No purchase necessary. This contest is not affiliated with Facebook in any way. Winner will be drawn using Rafflecopter's random number generator and will be notified via e-mail. Once notification is sent, winner will have 48 hours to claim their prizes. All entries will be verified, so please play fairly and keep it fun for everyone!

***Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***