ETA - WINNER INFO (comments now closed - thanks everyone!) >>>
Crafting with my niece and nephew is a great way for us to bond. The special moments and laughter during arts and crafts time with their "not-so-artsy-but-tries-to-be" auntie are memories I hold dear in my heart. My favorite thing to do is trace an outline of our hands, note the date, and watch how their hands grow each month. I can't wait to do this with smencils!!! I'm a huge fan of eco-friendly products and just became a fan of Stubby Pencil Studio. Arts & crafts time is going to be much more fun with these cool products.
Posted by: Julie
(ENJOY Julie!!!)
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I was recently introduced to the cutest little eco-friendly website for crafty kids (& mommas!) >>> Stubby Pencil Studio!
This family-run small business stocks a whole range of "green" art supplies, toys, books, and more. The owner, Kate, was sweet enough to send Evan and I a few products to "test" out. ;) And I'm so glad that she did, bc I've now discovered what I'll be gifting all of ev's friends with for upcoming birthdays!
My favorite from our artsy little box of goodies were the vibrant colored baby pencils. ((we all know that i'm a sucker for color!))
We've been working on writing letters and writing evan's name here at home - and these pencils were perfect for me to first draw the letters of his name, and then have him trace over them with various other colors. And when that was done we drew some of evan's current favorite coloring subject matter -- "Spaceships & Bugs"!
Evan's favorite was the super-cute little package of crayon rocks. Perfect for him to hold, and totally fun bc he kept telling me that "it's a rock, momma!". ;) Plus they're made from non-toxic soy wax. BONUS!
We also spent some time painting during our artsy-crafty afternoon using these preschool watercolors along with our little table-top easel. I love that the brush that came with this set is more of a REAL paint brush than the flimsy ones that kids inevitably get accustomed to.
And finally we broke out these beeswax crayons to draw some more "spaceships" with ;) - i was SO impressed by how incredibly colorful and smooth these crayons were to color with.
Kate was kind enough to not leave baby Noah out of the mix - and sent him the cutest little wooden clicking fish toy (made by plan toys). We LOVE wooden toys in our house. Noah loved it too - as proven by the fact that it went straight into his mouth. ;)
and now to the give-a-way part... woohoo! :)
Kate put together this AMAZING give-a-way for one of my blog readers... an eco-friendly Easter Basket...
Filled with: Felt Flower Garden Basket: 6x9 Ecojot Sketchbook, E-color-gy Washable markers, Set of 10 Smencils, Soy Crayons, Mary's Softdough Rainbow Tub, Softdough Tool set, Yummy Earth Organic Lollipops, Color 'n Kids Garden Pals cards, Double Pencil Sharpener. Spring Top Pencil, Color Blackboard chalk, and more… (Approx value $100).
....JUST LEAVE ME A COMMENT and tell me either what your favorite crafty activity is to do with your kids OR what your favorite product is from Stubby Pencil Studio - and you'll be entered to win.
You can grab extra chances at winning by following Stubby Pencil Studio on Twitter HERE - or by tweeting yourself about this give-a-way - or by "liking" Stubby Pencil Studio on facebook HERE. Just leave me a comment for each ;)
I'll leave the give-a-way open until Friday night - good luck & happy crafting with your kiddos! :)
oh
be still my heart!
i am in LOOOOOOOOOVE.
what fantastic products.
and i love all the photos OH so much.
fave crafty thing to do with ev = painting.
because it is all he likes right now... ;)
and b/c i love making a mess.
xoxoxo.
Posted by: gabby | March 15, 2011 at 02:01 PM
I love to make home made play dough with my kiddos! The bigger kids love to make up the colors and help mix and the little guys love to play with it, and sometimes taste it ... oops ;) Happy Tuesday!
Posted by: Karen | March 15, 2011 at 02:20 PM
Those are amazing - my son loves to use our watercolors to paint with and immediately goes to hang up his art on the fridge when he is done.
Posted by: Hanna | March 15, 2011 at 02:54 PM
We NEED this! We have removed all "artificials" from our home and that is needing to include our craft products! This would be a perfect start! We love to COLOR COLOR COLOR!
Hope you are well, cool giveaway and great pictures!!
Posted by: Sara | March 15, 2011 at 02:58 PM
I love, love, love Stubby Pencil Studios! The crayon rocks are awesome! I want to win that Easter basket so badly!
Posted by: Courtney | March 15, 2011 at 03:11 PM
Right now, the favorite is playdough, but painting is a close second. Glad it's getting warmer so we can do these crafts outside!
Posted by: ginny | March 15, 2011 at 03:15 PM
Wow, what a great little prize! Thanks for the chance to win. I have a little girl who will be two in May and of course we love to color :) Want to try finger painting but we haven't yet!
Posted by: Jennifer Chapin | March 15, 2011 at 03:16 PM
My daughter and I love doing crafty things together. We tend to do a lot of drawing when we are home or on the go with markers, crayons, and colored pencils. We learned the hard way that crayons in the car during hot weather is not a good idea so we're getting pretty close to trading them out for colored pencils.
Posted by: Melissa | March 15, 2011 at 03:16 PM
Just liked Stubby Pencil Studio on FB...thanks for the chance to win!
Posted by: Jennifer Chapin | March 15, 2011 at 03:17 PM
I adore these products. We're big colorers and painters in our house and I'm looking forward to summer when we can take the easel outside.Thanks for the opportunity.
Posted by: Nicole | March 15, 2011 at 03:20 PM
The colored pencils look fabulous!!!
Posted by: Kristyn G | March 15, 2011 at 03:20 PM
The crayons rocks look like so much fun! Around here we are really into painting..the color of the month is purple :) Thanks!
Posted by: jeni barbas | March 15, 2011 at 03:29 PM
Would love to win! My daughter loves to paint so those paints are looking mighty nice!
Posted by: Kim Ryden | March 15, 2011 at 03:39 PM
Just "liked" Stubby Pencil Studio on FB! Thanks!
Posted by: Kim Ryden | March 15, 2011 at 03:40 PM
My kids and I love to color together, and often make fingerprint art work too.... :)
Posted by: JustLulu | March 15, 2011 at 03:49 PM
What a great company. Love the colored pencils and the watercolors. I haven't been great about doing crafty stuff with my kiddo yet, but we love to color and we do seasonal placemats with contact paper and punched paper or real leaves, etc.
Posted by: Erin R. | March 15, 2011 at 03:51 PM
Great stuff! Where did u get your art easel?
Posted by: Amanda | March 15, 2011 at 03:51 PM
I LOVE the great stuff in the store...but I love those crayon rocks!!!
Posted by: Jennie M | March 15, 2011 at 04:03 PM
We are really into drawings right now, my daughter is five. Lots of rainbows, houses and people.
Great site... off to look more.
Posted by: Jennifer C | March 15, 2011 at 04:06 PM
We love to paint and color in our house so I'm thrilled with this giveaway! I'm going to check out the site next!
Posted by: Amber | March 15, 2011 at 04:16 PM
My Son who's 5 in into scrapbooking with me still.. he doesn't like coloring as much but he LOVES working with photos.. more of a personal connection I guess!
Posted by: brianne Sheppard | March 15, 2011 at 04:26 PM
I follow them on twitter! @briannesheppard
Posted by: brianne Sheppard | March 15, 2011 at 04:27 PM
I like them on facebook! Bee Sheppardo
Posted by: brianne Sheppard | March 15, 2011 at 04:27 PM
Hi Susan! Wow, this has to be my VERY favorite giveaway ever! Last week we were at my son's book fair at his school and he begged me to buy him this pencil looking sweet smelling thing. So i gave in and when we got home and opened it, WOW it was a smencil and it was awesome! He has not put it down! Mason LOVES to draw and this basket would be perfect for him (minus the flower, of course!)Thanks for a chance to win it!
Posted by: Julie M | March 15, 2011 at 04:36 PM
I liked Stubby Pencil Studio on Facebook as well :) Yay for someone who sells smencils!
Posted by: Julie M | March 15, 2011 at 04:37 PM