CHALKBOARD PAINT Crayola Paints by Benjamin Moore makes black paint ($9 a quart), and Klean-Strip makes green ($12 a quart). The black is latex, relatively odorless going on and easy to apply with a roller. The green is oil-based, smells strong and should be thoroughly stirred before application. Both varieties need two coats and a drying period of about three days. Follow package directions.
CORK Most hardware stores carry cork in a roll for about $2 a square foot. You can cut the cork with scissors, then attach it to a corrugated cardboard base with wood glue or carpet tape. Large cork pieces curl while drying, so you may have to hold them down with masking tape. If you need only a square of cork, a regular bulletin board will do the trick.
FELT You can buy 9-by-12-inch adhesive-backed sheets of felt (about $1.50 a sheet) at most craft stores. The adhesive makes for an even application but won't pull up the paint when removed. For a cheaper alternative, you can use regular felt (about 35 cents per sheet).
GLITTER PAINT Also from Crayola, this paint ($9 a quart) is clear with glitter suspended in it. It can be tinted if you are going to cover a whole wall with blue glitter, for example, or you can just apply it over prepainted areas to give them a glittery accent. The glitter settles rapidly in the paint can, so stir often (putting a small amount in a cup makes it easier to keep well stirred). Call 800-972-4685 for a Crayola paint dealer near you.
GLOW-IN-THE-DARK PAINT Crayola Paints makes this product ($18 a quart), which you can have tinted at the store or use over existing paints to make them glow in the dark. The more you tint these paints, the less they will glow, so unless you are tinting them with a light shade, it makes more sense to paint over existing hues. They won't cover up the color--they'll just give it a milky topcoat.
MAGNETIC PAINT This gray paint ($60 a gallon) called Magna-Paint isn't actually magnetic; it just contains bits of metal and, thus, magnets stick to it. You can work the gray color into your designs or paint over it, though this may reduce the paint's magnetic powers. Either way, you'll need two to three coats and lots of ventilation. Any magnet will work, but ceramic and vinyl sheet ones hold best. Available by calling 800-663-5690.
MARKER BOARD At the hardware store, you can order this by asking for white bath panel, then you can cut it into shapes using a jigsaw or handsaw. A 4-by-8-foot sheet costs approximately $20. You can also buy dry-erase boards at office stores. Either way, you must use dry-erase markers.
MIRROR Two 1-foot squares of child-safe plexiglass mirror cost about $10, cut for you at your local glass shop.
VELCRO Standard circles of Velcro with self-adhesive backs will hold lightweight balls, pens or felt cutouts. Heavy-duty strips will hold even heavier objects, a boon when you don't want nail holes in the wall. For a secure hold, be sure to follow the directions and rub alcohol over the space where you'll be putting the strips. Be certain about where you are going to stick the strips; removing them can remove the paint as well.
WALL PAINT Be sure to use a semigloss or eggshell paint for your background and accents. Both, especially the semigloss, are much more washable than flat paints--you can actually scrub off dirt or crayon marks.
