Let's Explore - Creative Activities for Preschoolers

Sticker Play Scenes on Sale

These are fun!  Full of reusable stickers and available in two sizes.  Great for in the car, at the grocery store, any time there is waiting involved! :)  Also great for last-minute birthday gifts and Easter baskets.

Go ahead and head over to the shop so you can see all the cute designs!  Sale ends March 1, 2009 and is limited to stock on hand.

Wood Vehicle Kits from Maple Landmark

A good part of our Sunday was spent creating these:

We all had such fun with these Made By Me wood vehicle kits by Maple Landmark.  Each kit comes with a vehicle body, four wheels, and four axles.  These kits are made in the USA from smoothly sanded unfinished pine.  All you need to assemble them is a small hammer and some wood glue.

Before assembling them, we dolled them up with a variety of techniques - painting (we used acrylic paints), coloring with markers, adding stickers, and attaching scrapbook paper and clip art with Mod Podge.  Here's a closer look:

Natalie's race car, Daddy's vegetable delivery truck, and Natalie's apple orchard tractor

Delaney's sea animal tugboat, my groovy Bug, and Delaney's train engine

As soon as they were dry, the girls grabbed them and headed off to play.  Natalie was quite excited that some of her Playmobil people and Calico Critters can fit in the tractor seat.

I think these would be awesome birthday party activities or favors.  Also great for rainy days, last minute birthday gifts, and Easter baskets.  :)

All 6 Made By Me kits are available over at the Let's Explore Shop for $4.49 each.  A set of all 6 is also available for $23.99.

         

Happy Playing!

Super Good Deals at the Shop!

Hi all - Happy Monday!  Just wanted to give you a heads-up that I have a special sale going on over at the Let's Explore Shop.  I have a number of items with great sale prices - I'm calling them Super Good Deals!  Many of the items are 40-50%.  Here's a few of the deals:

Texture Rubbing Plates - $5.99 (25% off)

Insect Giant Stampers - $5.99 (40% off)

Rhythm Instrument Set - $15.99 (50% off)

You can check out all the deals here: Super Good Deals!

Also, U.S. Postal Service rates are going up on January 18.  I will be adjusting our rates a bit at that time as well.  

If you would like to receive information about our sales, new items, and other special promotions and activities, be sure to sign-up for the Let's Explore newsletter over at the shop.

Thanks for supporting Let's Explore - Creative Fun for Curious Kids! 

Amy :)

Oh, Christmas Tree...

I think this is my favorite piece of artwork so far this holiday season.  I didn't know Delaney could draw such awesome trees!  We've had a stack of watercolor paper, pastels, watercolors, and sequins sitting out for whenever the mood strikes.  I had to cut out this tree and mount it to show off its adorable shape!

This weekend we are looking forward to Delaney's first ballet recital, Babes in Toyland.  There are also plans to drive around looking at lights, and do some wrapping and teacher gift-making.  Should be a lovely weekend!

And, if you need something furry and super-cute poking out of a stocking, all our Folkmanis finger puppets are 25% off this weekend (Friday-Sunday 12/12-12/14).  We have owls, chipmunks, penguins, pandas, black bears, porcupines, hedgehogs, and so many more!

Have a playful weekend!

Crayon Rocks - On Sale Today!

Today's Deal of the Day is the perfect stocking stuffer - Crayon Rocks!  These are one of my favorite and best-selling items in the Let's Explore Shop.  

Today only (Monday, 12/8/08), Crayon Rocks are on sale for $5.00!  You save 33%!

Spread the word to your friends and family!

{Just in case you aren't familiar with Crayon Rocks, I'm reposting my original post earlier this year, with all the reasons I love this product.  My girls continue to enjoy working with them and every child (and adult!) that sees them immediately wants to start coloring!}

A while back, I came across a really fun drawing tool -- Crayon Rocks!  My girls were immediately drawn to the bright colors and fun shape.  I was impressed with their creamy texture, as well, thanks to the fact that they are made from soy wax (made in the USA too!), not petroleum-based wax like traditional crayons.

Another thing that drew me to them was the way the shape is designed to encourage the tripod grip, strengthening the hand and finger muscles for all that writing coming up!  I recently went to a Kindergarten Orientation for Natalie's upcoming school year, and there was talk of having the "right" grip and how much easier it makes writing for the little ones -- less frustration and less hand-fatigue.  These rocks were developed by an occupational therapist, so you know she is thinking about those things too.

My nieces were equally excited about these and couldn't wait to try them out.  I'm thinking a set of Crayon Rocks and a nice sketch pad would make great birthday gifts for all the little friends this year too!

They are great for making rubbings too -- I noticed especially for my 3-year-old, she didn't have the frustration of trying to lay the crayon on it's side and try to rub with it.  These rocks are meant for that kind of drawing!

If you couldn't tell, I just love the Crayon Rocks!  I am very excited to be offering them over in the Let's Explore shop - a set of 16 colors, packaged in your choice of a burgundy, green, or purple velvet bag.

Remember, the $5.00 special price is only good today, Monday 12/08/08!  Happy creating!

More Fun With Window Crayons

I featured the Lyra Wax-O-Glas Window Crayons a while back.  They are a really fun drawing tool, and they do wipe easily from glass.  We decorated our bathroom mirror, closet door mirrors, and a couple windows around Halloween time.  Today, we'll pull them out again and do some Christmas decorating.  Daddy drew each of the girls a big Christmas tree, and I know they will be busy today adding ornaments and lights and gifts.

I'm going to break my own rule and reveal the Deal of the Day item right here:  it's these wonderful Window Crayons!  We have been patiently waiting for a new shipment, and they are finally here!  They are on sale for $8.99 today only -- a $3.00 savings.  Maybe you'd like to use them for holiday decorating or as a stocking stuffer.

Happy Playing!

Hello, December!

The holiday spirit is buzzing all around this house -- how about yours?  As the decorations start to trickle out into the house, I can feel the girls' getting more and more excited!  The girls were quite busy over the weekend revisiting our Christmas and winter books that have been hidden away.  Here's a few of our favorites:

If you have some recommendations for nice picture books about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and even Christmas around the world, I would love it!  Natalie's kindergarten is going to be learning about winter holidays around the world, and I'd love to have a stack of books at home for us to look at together.

And a quick Let's Explore Shop update...

December 1 through December 15, I will be featuring a Deal of the Day over at my online shop.  The special sale price will be good for one day only and is limited to stock on hand.  I won't be revealing the daily specials ahead of time, so you'll have to head over to the shop to check them out.  I will be featuring some of my very favorite items from the store. :)

Have a wonderful first day of December!

Weekend Savings at Let's Explore!

I'm keeping the sale items a surprise, so come by the Let's Explore Shop this weekend to check them out! :)

Wishing all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Amy

Shop Early - Special Weekend Promotion is back!

It seems there are quite a few shoppers that were disappointed to miss out on the special promotion last weekend - so, if you missed it, here's your second chance!

I am running the $5 off $35+ orders again this weekend, Saturday & Sunday only, November 22 & 23.  Use the code earlyshopper to save!

Here's a few of my favorite gift ideas:

Rhythm Instrument Set with a Playsilk for dancing:

   

Bambu Kids Cooking Utensils with a fun apron:

   

Giant Stampers + Stamp Pads:

   

We have seven different type of stamper sets, including insects, dinosaurs, paw prints, imaginative play, and Christmas!  See the entire selection in the Create category at the shop.

We're enjoying a couple days of time-off with Daddy.  Yesterday was the aquarium, and I think there's a fishing trip in the works for tomorrow.  I'll be back on Monday with more fun!

Have a great weekend and Happy Shopping!

Shop Early - Special Weekend Promotion!

I have lots of new products over in the Let's Explore Shop, including new stamper sets, Stockmar wax coloring blocks, Color Me puzzles with wipe-off crayons, and more.  You can view all the new products here.  Don't forget to check out the Christmas Stampers - perfect for making your own cards and wrapping paper this year!

We're all stocked up on our best sellers, too - such as Sarah's Silks playsilks, Paint & Clay Explorers, GeoShapes Outline Stampers, Rubbing Plate Sets, and more!  

Orders of $75 or more get free shipping, too!

Let me know if you need any help choosing the perfect gift - I am happy to help!  Give the gift of play this year!