Young At Heart Mommy

Managing Motherhood Through Love & Laughter

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!

Turn Your Instagram Photos Into Magnets With StickyGram!

Unless you are a martian or living under a rock, you have probably heard of the ever so popular Instagram application. If you are the owner of an Apple or Android device then you may use the app frequently, observed a friend using it, or can’t live without it. I admit, I fall into the last category. The category that includes those that can’t go a day without uploading a photo or five! The day I found out that Apple decided to offer it in the Android marketplace, I eagerly waited until it was available for download. It was the one application that made me regret getting rid of my iPhone and purchasing an alternative. Now Instagram has spread its wings allowing non-Apple users to jump into the world of quick photo filtering and sharing. Instagram has become my primary social outlet to capture memories and moments. Even though it’s quick and easy, there is one thing I always find myself saying- “I WISH I could print these photos!” Well now it’s possible with a little assistance from a company known as StickyGram. Even better than photos, they allow you to turn your favorite Instagram snapshots into mini magnets. 
Using the StickyGram website to create your personalized magnets only takes a few short steps. All you need to begin is an active Instagram account full of fun photos, or at least 9 that you really love. Once your profile is connected you will have the option to select nine of them to be turned into magnents. You can create as many sheets with as many different shots as you would like. An individual sheet costs $14.99 with free shipping worldwide. Each StickyGram is 50mm x 50mm which is approximately the same size as they appear on your iPhone or Android mobile device. The photo quality will also be identical to the original photo taken. Since each sheet is inspected by a StickyGram member, you don’t have to worry about receiving any duds or poorly processed images.

My pack of StickyGram magnets only took a few days to arrive. When we returned from our Disney vacation they were on the table waiting for me! The sheet came in a durable white envelope with each photo side by side in the shape of a giant square. They were easy to separate but also connected well enough that you could keep them together if you desired a larger sized magnet. When pulled apart, each magnet was flexible but still sturdy. There was no peeling at the edges, cracks in the photo paper, or tearing.  The images were crisp and clear just like I imagined them to be. They looked exactly how they did on my phone! I am very pleased with my order and excited to have a new way to preserve my favorite digital images.


Counting down the days until Christmas, I am sure all of us are on the hunt for unique stocking stuffers this year. Stickygrams are adorable, miniature, and sure to put a smile on anyone’s face! Feeling creative? You can even use the magnets as gift tags on holiday presents. By printing out a sheet with photos of friends and family, you can give them a little something special to go with their gift.

To learn more about StickyGram magnets check out their website. For news and special offers you can also follow along on Twitter and like them on Facebook.

Disclosure: I received the product above for my consideration and to share my honest opinion and experience. I am under no obligation to post a positive review on them. I will not be compensated for this post. As always, opinion are my own! 

Learning With Cypher Kids 3D Interactive Cards #CypherKidsClub #cbias

Being a child of the 80′s, there is no denying that technology has evolved and expanded since my days growing up. It amazes me that we have gone from beepers to cell phones, computers to laptops, and now we have skinny tablets to take care of all our needs. At three years old Toodie has mastered using technology to play games, learn, and interact. These days books are not the only source of learning. There are advanced computer programs and apps to help our children expand their knowledge in numbers, letters, and identifying animals. Since my daughter is very device savvy, I was eager to introduce her to the Cypher Kids Augmented Reality Cards.

Cypher Entertainment has created the 3D Interactive Cards that not only bring learning to life but also make it exciting! The cards are available in three educational categories: Wild Animal Adventures, Letters, & Numbers. They are targeted for children ages 3 and up, providing a 3D experience without the use of any glasses! You can use the cards with most Apple devices including the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation), iPod touch (5th generation), and the iPad. The app that corresponds with each deck of cards can be found free to download within the Apple Itunes Store. Shortly after browsing for the Cypher Kid’s app, we headed to our nearby Target to get a closer look at the interactive cards.

Once we arrived in the electronics section it was easy to find the aisle displaying App Accessories for Apple gadgets. The boxes of cards were displayed on the top row and all three options were available to choose from. I thought Toodie would have a hard time picking which set she would like but she immediately went for the Wild Animal Adventures pack. That’s my girl, the animal lover! Each set is sold for $29.99 plus tax. You can see more photos of our shopping trip in my Google+ album here.
 

Each individual box also has a QR code on the back which can be scanned to take you to the direct download for the matching app. We took all of the 18 cards out of the box and laid them out so Toodie could get familiar with the animals. Once she chose which one she would like to learn about, we turned the card over to be scanned by the iPad. Ideally the card should be laying flat on a surface so the camera can pick up the required information. Within a few seconds the card comes to life and a 3D image pops up. You get to learn about the animals and their habitats while watching them roam around the screen.

The Wild Animal Adventure Deck has two different options when you first access the app, exploration and snapshots. Exploration gives an inside look at where the animal lives while listening to prompts that allow your child to interact with the picture. After listening to a short description about the penguin, you can click the photo and watch them dive into the water! Snapshots shows you what the animal looks like by placing its photo right on the card. You can move the card around to look from different angles. This is such a cool feature! The animals look and sound so realistic. I was impressed with the accuracy and attention to detail.

Soon after buying the animal deck, I was given the opportunity to purchase the two remaining card sets. Since my iPad has been continuously occupied this week, I took that as a big red flag that someone was really enjoying them! With this in mind I didn’t hesitate and made my way back to Target for the others. Just like the Wild Animal Adventures, the Number flashcards had large 3d graphics and bold colors which catch your attention. The numbers range from 1 to 20 and each is paired with a set of different objects to encourage counting in order.

 

The Letters deck was made up off 26 cards highlighting each letter of the alphabet in depth. The two digital characters, Digi & Beebot, focus on lower-case and uppercase forms of letters along with pronunciation. Out of all three of the card sets, this was my favorite because I felt it offered the most interaction. The pictures were cute and the robots had quirky personalities which kept Toodie engaged during play.

This season if you have children to shop for these are going to make great gifts and stocking stuffers. I am hoping that in the future they will come out with extended educational categories for other age groups so she can grow with the program. With an upcoming family vacation only weeks away, these are going to be helpful in keeping my munchkin entertained on the long car ride. I highly recommend all three of the interactive card decks, especially if you have children that love to learn! 
For more information on the Cypher Kids Augmented Reality Cards you can check your local Target or stop by the Cypher Kids Club website.  For updates and to interact with other fans,  visit  Cypher Kids Club on Facebook or  follow along on Twitter.


Disclosure: I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for  Collective Bias™ and  Cypher Kids Club #CBias #SocialFabric

IPAD Giveaway from Bee Savvy July 1 – 15

 
Mom to Bed by 8, the Iowa-Mom is proud to present the The New iPad Giveaway Event, sponsored by BeeSavy. Event dates: July 1 to July 15.
Details: This is a free blogger event, open worldwide and blog accepting sign ups now. Join The New iPad Giveaway event with special co-host voiceBoks today!
  • If you do not wish to post the announcement, send the $5 via paypal to goodnightmommyboutique@gmail.com with your email address and BeeSavy Event in subject line or notes portion of the form.
  • Once you have posted your announcement or sent the paypal payment, fill out this form.
  • You will receive an email from me with 7 days, confirming your participation. If you do not, please email me at teri@momtobedby8.com and I will check into it for you.
  • Then around June 28th you will receive another email from me with the html code for publishing the giveaway.  Note it is required that you publish the giveaway html in full to be included in this event. I will verify links on July 1st around 8am central and if you have not done so, your link on the rafflecopter will be removed. This keeps this event fair for all who joins.

Referral prize: The top referrer will receive $50 paypal or Amazon credit for your effort. Then the top 2 runners-up will receive $10 paypal or Amazon credit Just make sure to add-on your announcement that they should add your blog name or url in the referred by section on the sign up form. This bonus will be paid the on June 2nd after your referral links have been verified.

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