meeshma kids :: oilcloth smock {giveaway}

My son has recently given serious consideration to arts and crafts. Finger painting with yogurt, making grandpa pictures and just scribbling for fun seem to make my kid really happy. But the moment I first saw my little one grip crayon I realized some serious thought needed to be paid to safeguarding my home and our clothing against impending destruction by art supplies.

While an old t-shirt thrown over your child may seem like a great solution I will raise the red flag for you. No sooner than the ink or paint touches that old shirt and it is already sinking deep into the fibers underneath. But I have found the solution (and it is super cute). Meeshma Kids, another fabulous Etsy designer, creates fantastic oilcloth smocks to not only prevent arts and crafts mishaps, but encourage creative time.




Each smock is lovingly created out of waterproof oilcloth to prevent liquid messes from ruining cute outfits. They go on and off easily with Velcro closures on the back. And the designs couldn't be more adorable. Bright patterns and colors make up each piece stimulating the senses and surely some creativity. I was also impressed with the large pocket on the front of the smock, ready and waiting to hold art supplies or catch a dropped crayon. With both girl and boy designs (the "Executive Collection" is the fun style my son is wearing) there is a perfect smock for each child. And (bonus) each smock comes packaged with a cute cookie cutter :)


I think these smocks are almost a necessity for parents who want to maintain some kind of cleanliness while encouraging creative fun. Keeping a few on hand for fun play dates or picking out a special design for each child in the home is a perfect way to make arts and crafts time even more special. And don't forget all those birthday parties (you know... the hundreds your child seems to be invited to each year) -- what a great gift that the child will love and any parent is sure to appreciate.


meeshma kids :: $20.00 :: oilcloth smock


A SIMPLE COUPON ::
From now until the end of the month SIMPLE readers can get 20% off the total purchase by using the code: SIMPLE when checking out. Have fun shopping at Meeshma Kids!

A WINNER HAS BEEN CHOSEN -- VISIT THE SIMPLE WINNERS SECTION TO SEE IF IT WAS YOU!

A SIMPLE GIVEAWAY! ::

One SIMPLE reader will win a fantastic Meeshma Kids Oilcloth Smock (your choice from the Etsy store). Here is how to enter:

• Visit Meeshma Kids Etsy store and come back here to tell me in a comment which smock you would choose (Required)

Additional entry opportunities:

• "Like" SIMPLE on Facebook (make sure to come back here and let me know)


• Facebook (Daily : Leave a link to your post in our comments) Post a status on your facebook hyper linking SIMPLE and this giveaway
  


• Tweet (Daily : Leave a link to your tweet in our comments) :: #Win a super adorable Meeshma Kids Oilcloth Smock over at @simplereviews: (http://www.simple-momreviews.com/) #giveaway


• Enter your email address in the left sidebar on SIMPLE to sign up for daily emails (make sure to tell us you signed up in our comments)
  


• Publicly follow SIMPLE via Google Friend Connect (make sure to tell us you tell us in our comments)

Winner will be randomly chosen on June 15, 2011. Please reference Giveaway Rules at the top of the page before entering.

*I was provided the smock show above to conduct this review using personal experience. The opinions expressed are my own.*

handstamped jewelry :: annie reh designs

With Mother's Day right around the corner, I thought it would be great to share with you my ideal Mother's Day gift. I have been on the lookout for a handstamped sterling silver necklace, and I found a very talented jewelry designer in Annie Reh. Her jewelry is gorgeous! I love that it's casual enough to wear everyday, but dressy enough to pair with my work clothes (and I've gotten a ton of compliments on it from co-workers).

The necklace I have is called Love Between Mother and Child and it is probably my favorite peice of jewelry. I knew I had to share it with all of you because I have a feeling you're going to love it too! There are 3 tags that hang from the necklace. The large round disc is stamped with "the love between a mother and child is forever". The rectangular tag is stamped with my girls birthdate and the smaller disc is handstamped with their initials. There is also a pink Swarovski crystal that hangs from the smaller disc.
Annie doesn't just do handstamped sterling jewelry, she also has handstamped gold jewelry as well.

My necklace is one that I am going to treasure forever!

Love Between Mother and Child Handstamped Necklace :: $52.00

A SIMPLE COUPON!
Annie is offering SIMPLE readers 10% off her jewelry. Use the code SIMPLE10 at checkout! (good until April 30)

You can also follow Annie on Twitter!

*I was graciously provided this necklace to conduct a review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Custom Hardware for Anywhere {Ghost Nest :: Giveaway}

I am always looking for ways to make our home special. I love the way rooms look in catalogues, but in reality I want something that speaks to who we are as a family. Every detail counts, and I just found the perfect, must-have detail to customize home decor in a really unique way.

Ghost Nest is a company that custom creates hardware with whatever image you would like. While they offer any number of really amazing designs to choose from, you can also provide your own images (anything that you can upload -- even straight from Facebook and Flickr). The images are then built into one of three shape and finish options to create custom and truly unique pulls. This is good quality hardware too.

Don't under estimate the impact of switching up hardware -- and think of the possibilities! Upgrading a nursery to a toddler room? Use new hardware to showcase your child's name. Need a new coat rack? Use new hardware with each family member's image to hang your coats. Helping your child learn where to put things away? Use images to help label drawers. The possibilities are endless (and super fun).

I took the challenge and upgraded our bathroom cabinet with two images of my little guy. Using the Dreamerator it took just a few minutes to design my very own knobs. Within a short time they were at my home and on the cabinet (it took less than two minutes to put them on). These knobs were the exact touch of "us" the room needed. I smile every time I walk in and see my son smiling right back at me.

To get similar knobs to mine (remember yours will be customized exactly for you!) click on the Dreamerator and choose the Satin Yuba finish for $9.50 per knob (there is a discount the more you purchase).

A SIMPLE GIVEAWAY!!!

One very lucky SIMPLE reader has the opportunity to win a $25 gift certificate to Ghost Nest to create amazing hardware of your very own. Here is how to win:

• Go check out Ghost Nest and then come back and post which design(s) from the gallery space you would choose if you chose not to create your own design. (REQUIRED)
• 'Like' Ghost Nest on Facebook and make sure to come back here and let me know.
  

Winner will be randomly chosen on April 13, 2011. Good luck!

*I was provided with two Ghost Nest knobs to conduct this review. These opinions are my own*

Epic 6 Tool/Letterpress Combo {Lifestyle Crafts :: Giveaway}

I am so excited about today's review/giveaway! I have been wanting to be able to letterpress at home for a while now, so I was thrilled to learn about the Epic 6 Tool and Letterpress Combo set from Lifestyle Crafts.

I had tons of fun playing with this awesome craft tool. I made cards, tags, bag headers, and more. It is easy to use and (did I say this already?) fun! I actually posted a tutorial on my personal blog today for how you can make both of these two (easy!) projects featured below.

This tool can be used for letterpressing and die-cutting - so you can use it for card making, scrapbooking, gift-giving, party planning, and MUCH more! It is very versatile and you will LOVE having one of your own!

A SIMPLE COUPON!
Use coupon code SIMPLEBLOG to score 20% off your entire purchase from Lifestyle Crafts. Coupon valid through 4/18/11.

{*GIVEAWAY CLOSED :: CHECK THE WINNERS PAGE TO SEE IF IT WAS YOU*}

A SIMPLE GIVEAWAY!
One very lucky SIMPLE reader is going to win an Epic Die-cut/Letterpress Tool as well as an assortment of accessories!

To enter, leave ONE COMMENT telling us how you would use your Epic Die-cut/Letterpress Tool! Scrapbooking? Card making? Party planning? Spill the beans on how you would put this baby to work.
Please make sure to leave a valid email address so we can contact you if you win!

One entry per person; giveaway open to residents of the United States only.


Giveaway ends on 4/13/11. Good luck!!

*I was provided with an Epic 6 Tool/Letterpress Combo and accessories to showcase and review on SIMPLE. My opinions are my own*

The Learning Tower

About a year ago my oldest daughter really got into watching cooking shows.  She would often prefer to watch Paula Deen or Giada de Laurentis over cartoons and then would proceed to 'make stuff' in her play kitchen.  I quickly realized that it was time to start involving her more with the actual cooking process while she still had such a high interest.

There was one problem though... how would I get her to SAFELY reach the counter?

My solution has been The Learning Tower from Little Partners.  The Learning Tower is an adjustable step-stool that has partially enclosed sides, like guard rails, to keep your kids from falling out.  There are even cut out footholds on the sides to help them climb in & out on their own.  As young as 18 months you can start using The Learning Tower to let your little helpers... well help. (To the right is SIMPLE mom Shannon's daughter Lili and my daughter Michaela helping to make waffles.)

As we quickly found out, The Learning Tower isn't just a step-stool.  It makes an excellent fort, cave and time machine.  Little Partners even makes an Art Easel (pictured left) and Playhouse Kit to help kids transform their Learning Towers with imagination.

When I found out that Little Partners is a mompreneur company I wasn't very surprised. Smart mom, Carol Gamble, came up with The Learning Tower as a solution to her very own safety concerns when her daughter Hanna was young.  She really has thought of everything and I just LOVE how safe I feel when I let my girls use our Learning Tower!

GET YOUR OWN: The Learning Tower comes in 9 different colors and is available from Little Partners online store for $199.  Little Partners also offers free shipping on all orders over $99!

WIN YOUR OWN:  Little Partners has graciously decided to give one lucky SIMPLE reader a Learning Tower of their own, in the color of their choice!!! *value $199*  To enter you just need to head on over to The Learning Tower Facebook page and "Like" them.  Easy as that! Of course, you do need to come back and tell us that you "liked" them too... ;) (This entry is required)

Extra Entries (leave a separate comment for each):

• Comment about this giveaway on Facebook hyper-linking back to both SIMPLE Reviews and The Learning Tower
• Tweet this giveaway (daily tweets allowed): Enter to win a Learning Tower from @learningtower over at @simplereviews http://tiny.cc/s8ecv #win #giveaway

Winner will be randomly selected and announced March 17, 2011! Good Luck!

*I was provided a Learning Tower in order to conduct this review. The opinions provided are my own.

WallCandy Arts - Stick on White Board.

Both my daughters preferred quite time activity is drawing. They drawing on paper, draw on old cardboard boxes, play with chalk on the sidewalk, and have even been known to unfortunately draw on my walls.

They love pens, pencils, crayons and markers. Of course they prefer Sharpies, and yes they are off limits.

Recently we installed a removable Stick On White Board at kid height in our mudroom, which is right off the kitchen. The whiteboard is from WallCandy Arts, and this interior designer is over the moon excited about it.

• It's completely removable and reusable, without damage to your walls (which is awesome, because I'm thinking of relocating it to the basement someday.)

• It's large enough (4 - 19" x 24" panels), so more than one kid can draw on it at once. Currently I have 4 little 3 year old girls drawing brightly colored rainbows all over it.

• Works with any dry erase markers, I pick mine up at an office supply store.

• And it was so easy to install, I installed it myself in like 5 minutes. Which says a whole lot.

My kids love it, I love it. The pictures they draw make me smile every time I walk by.

And really, why should kids have all the fun? The Stick On White Board ($58) would make a great tool to use in any home office or kitchen. I can totally see myself utilizing it for daily to-do list and must see reminders.

GET IT YOURSELF! The Stick on White Board by Wall Candy Art sells for $58. Sign up for their newsletter and receive a 10% off coupon!


*I received a stick on white board from Wall Candy Arts to facilitate this review.

Creative distractions with The Piggy Story

To keep my sanity I find leaving the house on a regular basis to be a great help.  I know that this is not easy with two small children, but my need for sanity wins over my fear of public tantrums and we regularly venture out for a variety of reasons.  With that being said anything that can help me make our outings go more smoothly is well appreciated.

My sister introduced me to The Piggy Story about a year ago when she gave my daughter one of their Art Folios (right).  This brilliant little distraction has made many a trip out for lunch, dinner and to the doctor's office with us, saving me from being 'that mom' due to boredom on my toddler's part.  It's small (fits in our diaper bag), has handles for little ones to carry all on their own, comes in fun prints and it holds a pad of paper or an activity book with a dozen crayons.

I recently realized that The Piggy Story had so much more to offer and as soon as I saw it I just knew we needed to try out their Chalk N Doodle!  With a lap-sized drawing surface and fold out 'arms' for holding chalk or crayons the Chalk N Doodle is perfect for using in the car.  For those times you don't want to risk the mess that chalk dust can cause, the elastic tabs on the corners are great for holding down a doodle pad or activity book.  The vinyl covered slots for storing the chalk or crayons leave me worry free about my budding artist accidentally coloring on herself while in the car.

Like all their adorable products the Chalk N Doodle also comes in so many kid-friendly Piggy Story designs and themes that it is hard to choose a favorite.  Their Spring Fling design is so cute I wish they made their Chef Mini Apron in a "Mommy Apron" size! :)

GET YOUR OWN!!! Check out the complete line of kid freindly, imagination inducing products offered by The Piggy Story at their website here.  Through 11/30/10 our lucky SIMPLE readers can use the coupon code "SIMPLEPIGGY" for free shipping! Just in time to start shopping for the holidays!

*I was provided with a Chalk N Doodle from The Piggy Story free of charge to conduct this review.*
 

kaylee bug designs

As it gets closer to christmas, I always look for templates to share with my clients. It took me a while to find something that I really liked. I was looking for simple and modern cards this year. I also wanted some cards that you could put multiple photos on. kaylee bug Design had the perfect sets for me.
I fell in love with the MOD cards and the simple card sets.



These are so easy to use and come with single sided design files and fully layered for complete custom possibilities.














kaylee bug designs has many other sets to chose from. She also has some great birth announcement templates.

GET YOUR OWN!! Template sets start at $40.00










*I was provided with these digital files free of charge to help facilitate this review*

Crafty Kids Playhouses - now in "mini"!

What kid doesn't love to take cardboard boxes and turn them into forts, garages for their cars, etc?! (It can't just be my kids that turn anything into a place to drive their cars on, right?) Well Crafty Kids has upped the ante on cardboard boxes. They've made easy to assemble, cardboard playhouses that your child can color and decorate to their little hearts desire!

We have featured Crafty Kids (formally Kidscraft) once before here on SIMPLE. We love them so much we wanted to show off their newest product, the Mini Craft Models! These have all the same features as the full size playhouses, which means they're still easy to assemble, eco-friendly, and come with blank white exteriors to encourage imaginative play.

The mini craft models come in either the Shuttle Imagination or Creation Cottage, and each includes a set of markers to get the creative juices flowing. The smaller version of these playhouses are perfect for your kids to decorate with markers, stickers, etc. Toss in a few dolls, action figures, (cars if you're my kids) and you've got a recipe for hours of imaginary play! Yessss.

I gave this to my sweet nephew for his 4th birthday last weekend with some glittery, puffy space stickers. This playhouse has been the perfect outlet for him to use his creativity and imagination! He had a blast (no pun intended!) decorating it and his imagination has been soaring to the moon and back.

GET YOUR OWN!! Visit www.craftykidsusa.com to purchase any of their playhouses! The Mini Shuttle Imagination sells for $24.95, and the Mini Creation Cottage sells for $22.95.

WIN YOUR OWN!! Crafty Kids would like to give one of our lucky readers a Mini Shuttle Imagination! To enter, visit their site, then comment here telling us something else that Crafty Kids sells.

Additional Entries: (comment once for each)

• Like Crafty Kids on Facebook
• Become a new follower of SIMPLE - add yourself on the sidebar!
• Tweet this giveaway - I'll make it easy, just copy and paste this: Enter to win a Mini Shuttle Imagination from @kidscraftusa at @simplereviews, great for imaginary play! http://tinyurl.com/2fvc576
  

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be randomly selected and announced September 16, 2010. Good luck!!

This contest is now closed - congrats to our winner, #17 Brittany!

Creative Toy Shop

Craft time is fun. Craft time is even more of a blast when the craft is something you can play with long after the paints have been put away. One of our favorite places to find fun crafts is Creative Toy Shop - read what we've said in the past.

Creative Toy Shop has just come out with a few new cardboard toys that we think are pretty great. Imagine putting together a big cardboard barn, getting out colorful craft supplies, and decorating your barn just the way you like it. And then getting to play with it!

A few days ago, my girls had a friend over to play, and the Calafant large farm ($24.99) proved to be the perfect rainy day afternoon activity.

First, they constructed (no glue, tape, or scissors required).

Then, they Painted (but you could use markers, crayons, or tons of glitter).

They waited while it dried.

And later in the afternoon, this once plain white cardboard box became the perfectly decorated little play house for the Little People, Polly Pockets, and Barbie's alike.

Creative Toy Shop has a ton of really fantastically made cardboard toys (ranging is sizes small, medium and large). As a parent, I love them because it's like having two open-ended activities packed into one.

GET YOUR OWN! CreativeToyShop.com has all sorts of different eco-friendly cardboard toys.

Keep those crayons contained!

We go out to eat very often. We always did that before kids, so after we had kids it didn't change much. Now, our family nights normally consist of us going out to dinner as a family followed by some fun event. We just love to get out and about. However, when we don't have something for our 3 year old to do - to occupy her time as we wait for food, a nice family event has (in the past) turned into a nightmare. Has this happened to you too?

Bows So Sweet on etsy makes the sweetest little crayon keepers! I think they are the PERFECT item that everyone needs to have either in a diaper bag or in a purse. It is so simple and small that it can just be put into either. Problem solved with the dilemma of not having something to do when we are out to eat! Not only are they great for this dilemma, but they are great for waiting at appointments or road trips too!

GET YOUR OWN! Click HERE to head on over to Bows So Sweet and get your own Crayon Keeper (Approx $3.00-$8.50)! They do customer orders too! Not only do they have adorable crayon keepers but they also have key chains, hair bows and headbands...just to name a few of their items! These are PERFECT items to put into your child's Easter basket this year or even for birthday gifts! Don't delay, you can get a 15% discount on any order placed - just use coupon code SIMPLE at check out!

*I was provided with the sample mentioned in this review free of charge, as well as the giveaways.*

Turn Color into Musicolor!

My 5 year old daughters favorite thing to do is craft time. She loves to get out the crayons and markers and get creative. While this is fun (and we most definitely do it everyday), it's exciting to put a new spin on an old activity.

Delta Creative has come up with a product that is so cool and so unique; it has me scratching my head, wondering "how the heck did they do that?". It's Musicolor, and it's been the craft time rage over at our house ever since we got it.

Musicolor is essentially a record player that plays records (or discs) that your child has colored. Here is the cool part: Your child colors the records in a "paint-by-number" fashion with special "note" markers. They put the record on the player, and the player plays what your child created on the disc. Honestly, it feels a bit like magic.



The disc (which are included) play familiar childhood songs such as "Three Blind Mice", "Hickory Dickory Dock", "Jingle Bells" and "London Bridges" just to name a few.

I gave Musicolor to my daughter for Christmas this year and she has seriously gone bonkers for it. Thankfully, you can buy a refill packet of 20 blank coloring discs from Amazon for around $7, which is very reasonably priced.

GET IT YOURSELF! Musicolor ($49.99) can be purchased online from Delta Creative or through various other online stores such as Amazon.

WIN IT! We're excited to giveaway a Musicolor to one luck Simple reader. To enter, Visit Delta Creative, come back here and leave a comment letting us know who would get to play with this if you won it.

For additional entries: (comment once for each entry)

• Blog about this giveaway linking back to SIMPLE and Musicolor.
  
• Tweet this (or something similar): enter to win a Musicolor player over at @simplereviews! http://tinyurl.com/y8n3zd4 Perfect for the kid that loves crafts and music!
• Become a new follower of SIMPLE
• Become a Facebook fan of SIMPLE

Winner will be randomly selected and announced 1/19/10. Good luck!