Showing posts with label creative toys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label creative toys. Show all posts

Monday, January 18, 2010

Musicolor offers fun and creativity!! (Review and Giveaway)

Music is such a fun way to express oneself, especially when you get to color your tune! My kids and I just got to review a great product that is very fun and interesting. Musicolor is like an "old style" record player, actually quite like the Fisher Price one I used to play with when I was little, except this one offers so much more creativity!
Musicolor has several "records," or discs made out of paper. Each disc has color-coded letters on it, so kids (of all ages) can know which color that spot should be.
With using the special letter-marked musical markers, kids design their song. Some of the songs included in these pre-designed discs are: Three Blind Mice, Humpty Dumpty, I'm a little Teapot and more. I think it is great that Musicolor introduces colors to children through this product, and they are exposing children to recognition of letters. Caleb loved saying which color and letter he was coloring, and I am excited to use this product with Madelyn and Cole when they get a little older. What a fun and creative way to teach colors and letters.
There are eight different "special" markers that you use when you color the themed records. You also get a few blank records that you can design your own look, which in turn makes your own tune! This was a big hit with Caleb.
When you color the spaces, place the disc onto the record player and hit play, you get to hear the tune of colors. The arm of the music player scans over the colors and music pores out. It can be tricky if you miss a spot, because the record player won't detect it, and you will have a missing piece of the song. Then, you just take it off and find where you missed.
Caleb loved making his own song discs. He loved counting the shapes, saying the color names and talking about the letters on the markers. All in all, we really enjoyed this product and I would recommend this for your pre-schooler, or early elementary age child.
My 11 year old son thought this invention was neat, too. He colored his own music disc, as well.
Musicolor was created by Delta Creative, known around the globe for producing creative products that emphasize self-expression through color. Delta Creative is focused on innovation, quality and service. Last year, Delta Creative launched their “Delta Kids” product collection to include more than 50 new items appealing to creative young consumers, parents and grandparents alike.
Musicolor is available online at target.com, amazon.com and deltacreative.com. Retail price $49.99. Musicolor is for ages 4 and up and comes with 14 pre-printed song discs, 8 music not markers, 5 create-a-song discs and 1 pre-colored song disc. You can purchase additional create-a-song discs for $5.99 (20 count) and Music Note Markers for $5.99 (8 count).
Enter to Win!!
Delta Creative has offered to giveaway a Musicolor to one of my readers. To enter to win, go to the Delta Creative website and find out something that you enjoyed or learned about them. Contest ends January 25th, 2009. Contest open to residents of the United States.
**For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or become a fan on facebook, and/or visit everyday with something else you learned from Delta Creative. Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**
This review was provided from Delta Creative. They have provided me with a free product to review and information to share with my readers. I am sponsored to offer a giveaway prize to giveaway to my readers through this review. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Crayola makes great products for Christmas gifts! (review & giveaway)

Crayola has been around a long time, and they have super products that kids (of all ages) can enjoy. We recently got three new products from the Crayola line to review, and I am so excited about these products! My kids had so much fun trying these out, and now they are a new favored activity around the Sassyfrazz household!
Crayola Beginnings Color Me A Song:
Color me a song is a drawing/coloring table that kids can color to music on. Kids can hear a drum, piano, guitar and/or a trumpet, and the music switches between different musical styles such as salsa, rock, swing and country. When kids slide a piece of paper into the slots on the board, music starts up. When kids start coloring the tune plays to their speed: slower, a slower tempo, and when they color faster the tempo picks up. The portable drawing and music creation station features a pressure-sensitive board that matches a melody to the artist´s pace. There is a great slide out storage for crayons when not in use. That is helpful!
Color Me a Song was named a "Toy of the Year" by Family Fun magazine and one of American Baby magazine´s picks for "Best Toys of the Year." For children 24 months and up; suggested retail price is $24.99.


Crayola Glow Station:
The Glow station is so fun, and makes no mess! This is the ultimate drawing pad for toddlers/preschoolers (in my opinion). Seriously, a drawing pad that kids will want to draw on, and if they get inclined to color with the wand off of the drawing pad~ no mess!
The Glow Station is a glow-in-the-dark pad and when kids draw on it with the light wand, their creations are illuminated! The Glow station comes with stencils, cut-outs and texture sheets to make fun pictures. The light wand can be used alone, or you can attach the diamond shaped crystal on the end to make amazing designs...my kids like the star-shapes it makes.
The drawings last a little while, even when you don't touch the light wand directly onto the Glow Station. After a few minutes the designs will disappear. One thing we found fun with the Glow Station: If you lay your arm on the glow station with the lights on, then turn off the lights and removing your arm...there is an impression on the Glow Station! Very fun product!
For children ages six and up; suggested retail price is $29.99.

Crayola Color Explosion Glow Dome:
The Glow Dome is a very fun product~ especially in the dark. The Glow dome comes with six special markers and stencil sheets. Kids can use the stencils to draw scenes on the dome, or use their own imagination. The center of the Glow Dome comes out, and can be laid onto a stencil for easy transfer, and kids just trace the picture onto the plastic center.
The Glow Dome comes with 2 sheets of stencils, but more can be downloaded online.
The outside of the Dome can be colored on, too. It was fun to see my children's creativity come to life. My oldest drew a man/alien on the outside and when he turned the dome on, the man was running around the outside of the Dome! How creative! The Dome has several settings for rotating the outside of the Dome to give dimension and life to your creation. On the inside, lights are displayed, and there a a few settings to change how the lights are displayed.
The kids were so excited when we turned out the lights and the Glow Dome lit up the room. I hope that my pictures can show you what fun these products can bring! I know my kids love them! For ages six and up; suggested retail price is $29.99.
Our family recommends these great Crayola products, and would like to suggest these items for your Christmas shopping.
Crayola would also like to share some exciting news about the Give the Gift of Creativity Sweepstakes, where you can enter to win a 7-night Caribbean cruise for a family of 4 on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas. Entering is simple! All you have to do is visit http://www.crayola.com/gifts/vacation and create a Crayola wish list for your child. You can choose from a list of fun wishes like Star Surfing, Wave Walking and Rainbow Whirlpools. Crayola will then recommend an item from their Holiday Gift Guide that corresponds to the wish. You can enter once a day, and an extra entry is also available for those who share the wish list on Facebook.

Enter to Win a Glow Dome!
Crayola has offered to giveaway a Glow Dome to one of my readers. To enter to win, share what you would chose from the Give the Gift of Creativity Sweepstakes wish list. Contest ends December 29th, 2009.
**For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or become a fan on facebook, and/or visit everyday with some other great Crayola product you found on the Crayola website. Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**
This review was provided from MyBlogSpark and Crayola. They have provided me with a free product to review and information to share with my readers. I am sponsored to offer a giveaway prize to giveaway to my readers through this review. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Automoblox Minis make for a great Christmas gift! (Review and Giveaway)

One really fun, educational, creative, and innovative toy that I have been introduced to are the Automoblox cars. The newer version of the Automoblox are the Automoblox Minis!
The Automoblox Mini line is a smaller version of the traditional Automoblox car. These cars are made with quality and detail. I love the wooden cars, and so do my kids! The parts to these cars are made with quality materials, and you can tell that much thought went into the design of these cars. Once put together, the Automoblox cars glide smoothly across the floor. The wheels are made so well! I love the look of these cars, so styling! One really fun feature of the Automoblox minis is you can mix and match the pieces to design many more cars. If you want to get the cars back to how they came, you just match up the colors to color coordinate. The Automoblox minis can fit in the palm of your hand, too! These cars are perfect for families with more than one child to share with each other. I love that about the minis...makes sharing a little easier.
Ages 3 and up, $30.00 Made by Manhattan Toy found at Maukilo.com.

Would you like to enter to win a $25 gift card to Maukilo.com? You can get these great Automoblox mini cars, or pick out something else you may want. To Enter, visit the http://www.maukilo.com/ site, and comment here with something you learned about the company, or an item you would like to purchase with your gift card (if you won). This contest is open to bloggers and non-bloggers of the United States. Contest is open until December 23rd, 2009.

**For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or become a fan on facebook, and/or visit everyday and comment about something you learned from visiting the Maukilo website. Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

This review was provided from Maukilo.com. They have provided me with a free product to review and information to share with my readers. I am sponsored to offer a Gift Card to giveaway to my readers through this review. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Felt Tales (review and giveaway)

Here is a great product from Babalu that really encourages imagination, story telling, creativity, and role play. I love the FeltTales story boards that Babalu, Inc. has. FeltTales story boards come with approximately 19 pieces of felt (shapes, animals, people, etc.) that kids can tell a story with. I think these sets are super, and all of my kids enjoy them.
The felt story boards are made from safe, soft and colorful felt. I think the art work on the felt pieces is amazing, and the pieces are very durable (my kids tested them well). My kids got the Busy Day at the Farm FeltTales story board. The animals are so cute, and I love that there is a boy and girl "farmer." There is a pail for milking the cow, and there is a tractor to plow the fields. My kids liked pretending to be on the farm. I thought that the FeltTales were a great resource for home schooling and it prompts great educational/learning time. We talked a lot about how a farm functions and works. I highly recommend the FeltTales!
Each FeltTales story board has a different theme (dinosaurs, ballerina, Pirate, Farm, etc.). On the back of the story boards you will find a story as an example, but kids soon realize it is fun to come up with their own stories (at least mine did).
I have a heart for felt boards because I just think that kids can really let their imaginations go in story telling. I think kids can also share what is going on in their hearts with story telling, too, because they can "act out" how they are feeling.
This is playtime at its best,” said Babalu founder Blair Everett. “The reason our FeltTales are bestsellers year after year is because children truly love playing with them, and parents love to have their children to play with them.” I agree whole-heartedly!
With money being tight for many families this year, you will be happy to know that most of the company's toys are under $25, and a large number are priced under $20! That is great value for the price! Babalu Inc., offers so many classic toys like building blocks, and felt storyboards. I love this website's selection!
I like that the FeltTales story board can travel with us, too. I only wish that the FeltTales came with a little storage case that attached to the board. We just put our pieces in a plastic bag.

FeltTales are geared toward ages 3 and up, and have a SRP$19.95. Since its introduction in 2006, FeltTales have been praised by award agencies. Honors include two iParenting Media Awards, Canadian Toy Testing Council 3 Stars, Creative Child Seal of Excellence and Preferred Choice Awards, Dr. Toy Best Vacation Toy Award and a National Parenting Center Seal of Approval. Also joining the Babalu lineup are classic toys from WJ Fantasy, a company that Babalu recently acquired. WJ Fantasy has been specializing in nesting blocks, building blocks, advent calendars and books for more than 25 years.

ABOUT BABALU, INC
Babalu, Inc. was launched in 2006 to better a classic toy tradition with the introduction of the FeltTales brand. Its founder, Blair Everett, has an exceptional 30-year career in the toy business and he brings that knowledge and commitment to the growing classic toy product with improving play and quality.
In June 2009, Babalu acquired WJ Fantasy, a 25-year-old toy company specializing in a distinctive selection of nesting blocks, toys, advent calendars and children’s books. WJ Fantasy and Babalu will operate under two separate divisions until 2010, when they will be joined.
WJ Fantasy’s products are available at http://www.amazon.com/ or http://www.kazootoys.com/. Babalu’s FeltTales can be found at specialty stores nationwide and online at http://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.roundtabletoys.com/. For more information visit http://www.babaluinc.com/ or http://www.wjfantasy.com/.

Enter to win! Winner can choose one item from either the FeltTales or the WJ Fantasy line!

This contest is open to bloggers and non-bloggers of the United States. Contest is open until December 16th, 2009. To enter, leave a comment about something you found interesting from the Babalu.com, or something you found on the WJ Fantasy site. (mandatory for entry)
**For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or become a fan on facebook, and/or visit everyday and add something else you found on the Babalu or WJ Fantasy websites (you didn't know they sold). Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

This review was provided from Babalu.com, which provided me with the free product to review and information to share with my readers. I am sponsored to offer a product to giveaway to my readers through this review. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

K'NEX SawBlade Thrill Ride = building fun!

K'NEX building sets offer hours and hours of building fun! I really think it is a super product to spark the creativity and imagination in those building! This is such a great product for our kids, especially since our world thrives off of media entertainment. Not that media is bad, but it is good to have a product where kids can use their skills and be challenged! The K'NEX SawBlade Thrill Ride set presents a big challenge with 1,555 colorful K'NEX pieces, motorized, dual-spinning wheels and 8 K'NEXmen riders! Kids will get a great since of accomplishment once they finish building the Saw Blade Thrill ride measuring over 4 feet tall! The builder of this great amusement park ride will need to follow the color-coded instructions to build this step-by-step. The motor will be switched to on and the ride will burst to life. Two star-shaped wheels begin to quickly spin as the central arm rotates round-and-round to create a high octane twist on a traditional Ferris Wheel experience. I like that there is an option to build a second model with this kit. The directions can be found on the K'NEX website. Saw Blade is appropriate for ages 9 & up and requires 2 "AA" batteries. The K'NEX Saw Blade Thrill Ride can be purchased at Amazon for $59.99.
I really like that the K'NEX sets can be combined together to make even more creations! The K'NEX sets really expand the minds of young and old builders everywhere! I highly recommend the K'NEX for your families. The Saw Blade Thrill Ride would make a great gift for those on your Christmas list.