We Love Stubby Pencil Studio and a Holiday Coupon Code!!!

Not only has Stubby Pencil Studio donated an awesome arts and crafts gift bag for our auction on December 1-7, but they have a most amazing selection of eco-friendly school supplies and art supplies that are guaranteed to make even any little student feel a little better about going back to school after the holidays.

I don't know about your children's school, but Arielle's school had a very specific supply list and I was a little disappointed that I couldn't make everything as eco-friendly as I would have liked. But, I did what I could.

Arielle took KUM Correc-Brick Erasers ($2.50) and Wildlife Colored Pencils ($7.95) to school. I put a small recycled paper notebook in her backpack, so I could write her little notes to look at while she's at school.

Birds Aqua Notebook ($4.50)

Linnea doesn't need school supplies, but she loves the little mushroom erasers.

Mushroom Pot Erasers ($3.95)

She calls them "Mushroom Babies" and can spend hours taking care of them or carrying them around in a little purse ($6.00).

This year, Linnea is spending two mornings a week at a neighborhood preschool. The other three mornings, I give her "work" to do while I try to get my own work done. Sometimes her "work" is drawing and sometimes it is about learning. She learns a letter a week at school, so I always write out the letter and let her decorate it with something apropriate - apple chunks for "A", buttons for "B", next week we'll make a "C" out of tiny cookies. She also decorates a letter with stickers.

She also loves to string beads. The wooden beads at Stubby Pencil Studio are safely colored using child-safe, water-based paints or natural oils. And painting is always a favorite - the triangular paint brushes ($7.95) make it so easy for Linnea to get paint exactly where she wants it.

I thought it was funny, but the staff at preschool is really impressed with Linnea's ability to color, draw and use scissors.  We've always had art supplies available to her (I have tables set up for art in both the kitchen and in my office), and I think that makes a difference.  Art isn't just an activity, but a part of our lives.

Crayon Rocks ($6.95)

I'm totally bragging, but here is her picture of five monkeys jumping on her bed. I love it!

If you are ready to get creating in an eco-friendly way, check out the all-natural art supplies at Stubby Pencil Studio  There are plenty of great stocking stuffers and party favors.

Sara's Toy Box readers may discount code STBSAVE10 to save 10% on purchases through 12/31/10. Happy holiday shopping!!!

Stuff a stocking winners!

The winner of the Stubby Pencil Studio gift card is The Sefton Family.

The little Sefton girls like aprons!

Apron Flora Blue ($19.95)



The winner of the A Toy Garden gift card is Anne (Claire's mommy).

Anne says that Claire would like a silk streamer.

Silk streamer ($9.95)



Congratulations to both our winners! Happy holidays!

Stuff a stocking and win a really good prize!

My two favorite places for stocking stuffers are A Toy Garden and Stubby Pencil Studio. A Toy Garden has a special section devoted to "little things" and stocking stuff. Stubby Pencil Studio has a large selection of eco-friendly art supplies, toys and a selection of gifts under $10. Both stores make it possible for Santa's elves to bring smiles on a budget.

So, let's stuff an imaginary stocking. Ho, ho, ho! The rule is nothing over $10.

1. Wild Cards Bugs ($9.95)



Arielle and her daddy love reading books about animals. These cards are printed with beautiful buggy photographs and educational facts. They can be used to play three different card games: Memory, Old Maid, and Go Fish. They are suggested for ages five and up. There are two other sets available, North American mammals and Who's hiding? (camouflage).

2. Play Silk ($7.00)



Who doesn't love play silks. A Toy Garden's silks are made in the USA and are available in 24 different vibrant colors. They are 36x36 inch, hand-hemmed, home-dyed, thick (8mm) play silks.

Becky, a blog reader, emailed recently to tell me about how she uses play silks. She bought some some suction cups with hooks and expandable curtain rods to hang on the hooks. So she can hang a rod in a corner or between some chairs, and then she attaches the play silks with clothespins to make a temporary playhouse. The rods can also be set up in a hallway or a doorway to make a puppet stage. Thank you, Becky, great idea!

My girls use them as doll blankets, dress up clothes, and lately they like to blindfold each other and spin around. These are very versatile toys.

3. Washable Markers ($3.95)



We always need markers. Arielle uses hers every day. And, they must be washable because Linnea can't always be trusted (and washable marker wipes right off ultrasuede with a damp cloth). These markers are made in the USA from 25% recycled plastic. The packaging is 100% post consumer recycled.

4. Ornament

If you give your child an ornament each year, they'll have the start of a nice collection when they grow up.

I went shopping with the girls this morning and every ornament we saw was made in China - and not particularly well made. And of course, my kids get their hands all over them and in their mouths and up their noses... If you search on "ornament" at A Toy Garden, there is a great selection of inexpensive ornaments, made in the USA and Germany or that handmade fair trade items from other countries. Here are a couple I like from Germany.

Ladybug Ornament ($4.95)



Puppet Theater Ornament ($8.95)




5. Finger Puppets ($9.95)



These fair trade puppets are hand knit in Peru, so no two are the same. They come in sets of five, so you can split them between your kids. We love puppets here. Whenever we go on a car trip, the girls fill their purses with finger puppets, and they play with them while I drive.

6. Mini Animal Set ($9.95)



These are not for kids that put things in their mouths - they are teeny - only 1/4" to 1 1/4" tall. Arielle loves itty bitty little animals like this and will sit for hours making up stories and adventures. The set includes a deer, rabbit, pig, dog, cat, frog, hummingbird and snake.

7. Tie-Up Shoe ($7.95)



Eventually, even velcro-lovers have to learn to tie shoes. It's much easier when the shoe isn't on your foot. Five-year-old Arielle is getting one of these. I'm sure Linnea will try to string beads on the laces. She's silly.

8. Starlight wand ($5.95)



Tap the wand and it plays a note. The wands are fun for both boys and girls and are made in Mexico. Arielle and Linnea have never seen these, but my older kids tried some out at a fair when they were little, and they were fascinated.

9. Snifty Gingerbread Pen ($2.00)



My girls love ballpoint pens and mine are always being snatched away. These pens are made in the USA, are nontoxic and cute and are seasonally scented (like gingerbread - yum!).

10. Wood Tea Bags ($9.95)



or treats from Haba. These are cute, sturdy and made in Germany. They will get years of play. But, the treats are doll-sized, so they are not for children who like to mouth their toys.

11. Made By Me Bug ($4.00)



I think I've mentioned these a lot. That's because the girls love them so much and they are such a good deal. All you need is a hammer and some art supplies. Your child attaches the wheels and then decorates the wooden vehicle. Voila! A personalized toy. And, they will be so proud. I'm putting more in Arielle and Linnea's stocking this year.

12. Ladybugs In A Pot ($9.95)



Our very favorite!! These were Linnea's favorite toy last year and she still plays with them almost daily. She uses them as ingredients in soup, for counting and sorting, as little pets, and today she was wrapping them in a play silk and giving them to me as a gift.

And now for your holiday surprise. One very lucky reader will win a $25 gift card from A Toy Garden and another will win a $75 gift card (with free shipping) from Stubby Pencil Studio. That can stuff a whole lot of stocking.

How do you enter? Go to both sites and then post a comment suggesting one stocking stuffer from each site that I haven't mentioned. There are so many good things on both sites, that this should be super easy. It doesn't have to be under $10.

I'll announce the winners on December 12th, so there will be just enough time for shipping.

Good luck!

We love Mary's Soft Dough so much...

that we are reviewing it again!

We first reviewed Mary's Softdough in March 2008. Arielle was 3 1/2, and Linnea was 16 months old. We loved it then, and we love it now.

Normally, I mix dough myself. But, sometimes I'm busy or I don't want to do the dishes or I need an emergency gift or something fun to pull out right away.

Mary's Softdough is just as healthy and natural as dough I make myself. It has the perfect dough texture and it smells good.

It is made of flour, water, salt, cream of tartar, soybean oil, food coloring (all stuff we have at home) and sodium benzoate (a food preservative that keeps it from getting moldy so it can be used for up to a year). It comes in so many colors and scents and even with sparkles.

The Playful Pink Glitter Softdough is the favorite here.



Mary's Softdough is available in a big, 18 oz,. rainbow tub ($8.95), big single color tubs ($9.95), and small 4 oz. single color tubs ($3.35 plain, $3.95 for glow in the dark or scented).

Linnea just came up to me, "Mommy, I'm good! Can I do play dough? Pease pease pease pease?" Playing with dough is one of her favorite things. And, now that she doesn't eat the dough, it means she stays in one place for an hour or so... long enough for me to write this.

Linnea does mush colors together. This drives Arielle nuts. If this is a problem for your children, I suggest a big, single color tub.



Hard at work.








Masterpieces.





Terrapin Toys offers a Soft Dough Tool Set ($7.95) for extra fun. Like the dough, the tool set is made in the USA. The girls love the roller and cookie cutters. Check out the squirrels.



We also like to use small kitchen utensils (an old garlic press is awesome, as are plastic pizza cutters), cookie cutters, blunt tip scissors, tiny plastic figurines and dinosaurs, toothpicks, textured rollers and sometimes small hammers and golf tees for dough-play variations.



You can purchase the whole line of Mary's Softdough products directly from Terrapin Toys.

November Savings at Stubby Pencil Studio

Happy November from Stubby Pencil Studio. Until November 30th, they are offering 10% off with the code "HOL10". This code can be combined with our special code for free cards.

Stubby Pencil Studio was our Toy Store of the Year for 2008. I love their selection of eco-friendly art supplies perfect for gifts and stocking-stuffers. Here are a few suggestions.

Star Crayons ($8.95)

Made in the USA from recycled crayons. The National Crayon Recycling Program has prevented more than 45,000 pounds of old crayons from ending up in landfills. All crayons used must conform to ASTM D 4236 safety standards. I like the festive star shapes.

Do-it-yourself Kaleidoscope ($12.00)

This is an easy and fun rainy day project. We tried this last month. It is just challenging enough, and the result is a sturdy kaleidoscope that is fun to look through. Arielle and Linnea decorated their kaleidoscopes with Disney Princess stickers and count them as treasures.

Washable Markers($3.95)


Non-toxic, washable markers made in the USA with 25% recycled plastic. The packaging is 100% post-consumer recycled paper. These are the eco-friendliest markers around.

Stubby Pencil Studio's new website

Our 2008 Toy Store of the Year, Stubby Pencil Studio, has a cool new website with lots of new stuff!

Our old favorites are still there.

Easy to manage, Triangular Paint Brushes ($7.95)



We are using them to paint fall pictures with Washable Tempura Paint ($10.95) during art time today.

The Made By Me kits ($4.00) that my girls love. We made trains earlier this week.



And, there are plenty of Color 'n Kids Recycled Cards. Arielle loves sending these to Daddy when he is away and her siblings at college. Last weekend when we were stuck inside, Arielle spent hours coloring these cards with the Metallic Colored EcoPencils ($5.95).

Be sure to use our code, to get a free sample pack of Color n' Kids holiday cards! Use SARA-FF09 for Frosty Friends or SARA-CW09 for Christmas Wishes, a $7.95 value. Only one bonus code per order, expires 12/31/2009.

Last year, Arielle gave cards and Holiday Smencils to her preschool friends. It was inexpensive, and they loved them!



I could go on and on forever.... but then there wouldn't be space for the cool new stuff.

ABC Animal Magnets ($25.00)

We have these on the freezer and they are the cutest alternative to the plastic ABC magnets that I grew up with. The girls love naming the animals and they are too large to be eaten.



Cool activity books. I want to get Hello Matisse ($9.95) for Arielle. I love Matisse.



And, gorgeous board books, coloring books and games featuring the work of Charlie Harper.


Charlie Harper Memory Game ($14.95)





And, lots more.

Just for Halloween...

Halloween Chico Bag ($6.00)



Halloween Colored Pencils ($5.00)



And, now I need to go paint, so take a look at the website.

Stamping and Painting

It's raining. It seems to do that a lot lately. We've been doing lots of art projects to keep busy.

I've been wanting to do a deeper review of some of our favorite products from Stubby Pencil Studio that only got a quick mention before, and this seems to be a good time.



Watercolor Paint Set from Faber-Castell ($9.95)



Art was my favorite thing to do when I was a child, but I never thought I liked watercolors because they were always so wet and anemic. They were frustrating. The colors blurred and looked muddy and the paper always crinkled up from the water. When I finally got to try the real stuff in college, I was surprised by how much fun watercolors are and how easy to use.

I bet these would have provided a better experience. The Faber-Castell water colors are strong and bright and also easy to use.



Even two year old Linnea is getting strong colors and clear lines. A good paintbrush helps. We like Faber-Castell triangular brushes ($7.95).



Here's Arielle's masterpiece. Birds, of course.



The watercolors are certified safe for children and are made in Turkey. We used regular drawing paper this time, but Stubby Pencil also offers nice, thick, recycled watercolor paper ($9.95 and $12.95/20 sheets) that is perfect for making special gifts or Father's Day cards and doesn't pucker at all.

Animal Stamps (5 for $19.95)



These are so much fun, but messy. So we covered the table and put on our messy-shirts (recycled from Dad). Our ink pads are from Djeco ($12.99).



The stamps are nice and big and easy for a toddler to handle. They are also super cute and made in Thailand from rubber wood.



They do get messy. If you use washable ink, they clean up with soap and water. Otherwise, try a bit of rubbing alcohol to keep them clean and cute.



Lots of messy fun, but it all cleans up. And, the kids are so proud of their creations. We just stamp like crazy, but older children could make cards or decorate book covers and notebooks for themselves or for gifts.