It’s been over a year since our first visit to the Young At Art Museum here in South Florida. Last week was intense stressful around here. Between working, preparing for a birthday party, and Valentine school festivities I was extremely exhausted by the time Sunday arrived. I was more than ready to relax and unwind a bit since I was off of work Monday & Tuesday. Typically when I am off during the week I take advantage of having free time to myself because Toodie is in school until the afternoon and it gives me a chance to get things done without any distractions. Since I was able to get some rest and run a few errands yesterday I thought it would be nice to spend a day at the museum before heading back to reality on Wednesday. Toodie has been asking me to take her to visit the Young At Art Museum again for a while now & this seemed to be the perfect time to do so. Yes, I let her play hooky from school today.. shhhhh!
Continue Reading
Creative Summer Activities Featuring CRAYOLA + #GIVEAWAY!
Summer has really started to grow on me. Usually I am one to prefer the cooler months and can’t wait for October to roll around. But this year I have been spending much more time outside with Toodie, enjoying the sunshine & nature itself. While we have had more rainy days than sunny, we take full advantage when the weather is beautiful. Most of our time outside is spent playing with bubbles, running in the sprinklers, coloring with sidewalk chalk, and watering plants. Typical Summer fun activities right? Since Florida has had unpredictable weather this year, I always like to have activities ready for the outdoors and indoors. With the help of Crayola I am able to be prepared through rain or shine. Last week they were kind enough to send Toodie a few of their popular Summer time products! Included within the package was a box of Washable Sidewalk Chalk, Color Wonder Mess Free Glitter Paper with markers, and the Color Wonder Mini Stow and Go.
- A standout from the crowd — it’s the first sidewalk chalk featuring 48 classic Crayola crayon colors! And that’s not all – the chalk is also bolder and more vibrant than ever.
- With so many colors to choose from, kids can let their imaginations run wild to create beautiful masterpieces that may include “carnation pink” flowers, “sepia” colored tree trunks, “granny smith apple” turtles or “scarlet” colored lady bugs.
- A new anti-roll shape prevents chalk from rolling away and the wide sides allow kids to draw thick lines.
- Parents will appreciate that the chalk is washable from sidewalks and driveways – simply spray away with water!
Toodie loves drawing pictures with chalk. What’s great about the Washable Sidewalk chalk is that it comes in 24 different colors and is in fact… WASHABLE! It comes off extremely easy whether you hose off the area with water or let it fade. The colors are also not traditional. They are bright, vibrant, and there are so many to choose from. I love that they are crayon shaped too! This makes them easy to hold for smaller hands.
- Crayola’s new Color Wonder Glitter Paper is full of glittery fun but without the mess, since the glitter effects are in the paper.
- Kids can create dazzling, sparkly masterpieces with their favorite Disney Princesses and Fairies.
- With Crayola’s Color Wonder system, parents can rest easy since the mess-free Color Wonder markers will only appear on the special Color Wonder paper – not on skin, clothing, walls or furniture.
- Kids can color and watch in awe as hidden images magically appear on the glittery paper.
In our home we are very familiar with the mess-free Color Wonder sets. When Toodie was younger we would find her drawings on the walls and tile, convincing us that we needed a better option! I started buying the color wonder markers and paper because they were so conveniant and I didn’t have to worry about it ending up in the wrong place. Toodie was thrilled that the glitter coloring pages were Disney Princess themed! The pack came with 12 individual pictures to color and 5 markers. The markers can always be re-used and you can purchase more magic paper sheets!
The Mini Stow and Go is ideal for traveling and restaurant visits. It’s basically mini Color Wonder pages and markers packed in a slim storage case. Since receiving our Crayola goodies I have kept this in my purse for when we are out and about. It’s great for entertaining little ones when you are away from home or running errands. There are even extra slots for you to put additional markers in.
Crayola has so many tools to encourage your child to be creative. These are just three! For more information on these Crayola products along with the many others they offer, visit their website here. Also, get social and follow along on Twitter and Facebook! Crayola has been kind enough to provide me with one Summer Fun gift pack to give away to my readers. If you would like the chance to win all three products mentioned above, enter below. Good luck and as always, thanks for stopping by!
Disclosure: The Crayola pack, information, and additional gift pack have been provided by Crayola. All opinions are my own!
Exploring Creativity With WowWee ArtSee Studio For The iPad!
At four years old Toodie has mastered using my iPad to play games, listen to music, browse YouTube, take photos, and spontaneously tweet random things to my followers. This usually includes a jumble of letters and funny emojis but she calls this “tweeting like mommy.” Each day I am amazed at how intelligent and savvy she is with technology around us. Thankfully there are apps and software to feed this curiosity and also educate simultaneously. One of her favorite gadgets to use is of course my ever so popular iPad. It’s light, portable, and just plain fun because of the innovative touch screen. It offers a different play experience compared to a PC or handheld console.
I recently discovered an interactive app and and tool that integrates the iPad with hours of entertaining activities for children. WowWee’s ArtSee Studio encourages drawing, animation, art, and imagination through an interactive journey. Your child can create pictures from a blank canvas, color pre-drawn characters, paint from a pallete of vibrant colors, and even learn through educational activities. To get started all you need is the ArtSee Studio protective case, your tablet, and the FREE app. Download the app from the iTunes store and slide in your iPad to secure it in place. It is compatible with iPad generations 1,2,3 & 4. While the ArtSee Studio app can be used without the case, options are limited and you need the attached stamps for most activities.
Toodie has always enjoyed doing anything artys and creative. This app completely sucked her in and sent her into a whimsical world of imagination, which I loved! She took her time browsing through the activities and kept coming back to those she favored. She practiced symmetry, matching, sound, and memory through a variety of games. These included Connect The Dots, Odd One Out, Association, Melodee and Symmetry. Each teaching a different skill while making it fun and easy to understand. In addition to the five stamps, there is a pen stylus perfect for tiny hands. The pen snaps right into the case just as the other pieces do. This makes it easy to carry around to restaurants or in the car without having to worry about losing any loose pieces along the way. It’s going to be a life saver on our next long drive to Disney World!
All of your child’s saved artwork is safely stored in the “collection” tab within the Artsee Studio app. This makes holding on to their unique creations easy. It also allows them to go back and view what they have made later on. Toodie enjoyed showcasing her drawings and scrolling through her pictures days later. At any time she could go back and add personality, sound, and actions!
FEATURES INCLUDED:
Over 75 animated stamp variations
15 roller patterns
3 built-in theme packs
60 challenging activities in 5 unique games
Over 15 coloring pages
Multi-functional stylus
5 interactive tools
Easy-Grip Handle
Protective Case
Made for iPad® (1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Generation
The case itself is a nice size and because it is flat, it rests easily on the lap. The back even has a flip out stand so it can sit up on a table! Toodie used it resting on her knees. Normally when she plays with the iPad I have to put a pillow underneath because there is nothing to hold it in place. This is a small feature that many may look over but it is SO helpful!
On the bottom of the Artsee Studio interface there is a prompt to access the Parent Menu. By holding two fingers down onto the strip of symbols, you will be presented with further options. Here you can save your child’s artwork, print, or share within your social media channels. You can also purchase additional theme packages including “Fairy Tales.” Import your own photos for your child to play with or make changes to the difficulty scale. ArtSee Studio can be played on a Junior or Advanced option to grow with your child. As a mom of an intelligent toddler, I prefer that she work on stimulating activities that will challenge her as she grows. Once she masters the Junior level, I can raise the bar to Advanced and watch her learn! It’s also nice that parents still have control over the application and can make these alternations at any time.
If interested in further information on the ArtSee Studio you can visit their website. Here you can get a closer look at the individual features and take a step forward in expanding your child’s imagination! Connect with the brand on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for updates and other reviews from parents like myself. You even have a chance to win one of your own if you pay close attention on Twitter. They frequently have RT contests in which a lucky winner receives their very own ArtSee Studio!
Disclosure: I was provided with an Artsee Studio to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and I will not be compensated!
Join Crayola’s Big Colorful 110th Birthday Bash Adventure!
You can join in by following the crayons on their adventure! In the process you will LEARN more about each color and enter to WIN a trip for 4 to celebrate their birthday and the Grand Opening of the all new Crayola Experience this coming May, 2013! What child wouldn’t LOVE this?! I grew up with Crayola and would absolutely love to attend this event as an adult. Can you imagine how thrilled your little one would be too?!
The new Crayola Experience features four floors of new interactive exhibits and one-of-a-kind attractions that will bring the magic of color and your child’s creativity to life! The winner will be among the first to experience the fun, along with a three- night, all-expenses paid stay. It’s an experience your kids will never forget – and neither will you!
Disclosure: The information used within this post was provided by Crayola.
Our Day At The Young At Art Museum In South Florida #YoungAtArt
Disclosure: My family and I were granted complimentary admission into the museum as part of a blogger event. I will not be compensated for this review or blog post. All opinions are my own!
Wonder Box : Sparking Creativity In Your Child!
Kids Get Creative With Kelly Kits!
Kelly Kits encourage art play using a wide variety of creative tools & materials beyond what coloring books can offer. The Original Kelly Kit comes complete with one set of five unique activities that cover the five art disciplines: painting, drawing, sculpting, printmaking, & collage. Each kit contains all of the tools & materials needed for the activities, the user just needs access to a kitchen! To increase functionality for homeschooling parents, each activity includes an instruction card with an enrichment idea to adapt the art activity to a school lesson. Kelly Kits are designed to encourage creativity & teach!