Junior Stamping Kit Hop!


Today I’m excited to be joining in the Simon Says Stamp Junior Stamping kit blog hop! Welcome if you’re new to my blog – I hope you enjoy my post. I’ve got a$25 gift certificate give-away at the end of this post so don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered!

Ok, so what is the Junior Stamping Kit about? Here’s some information from my friends at Simon Says Stamp:

In celebration of crafting with our kids, we have developed this “Junior Stamper” kit targeted for ages 4 through 14.  The kit includes whole assortment of products from stamps, ink, neon papers, coloring pages, twistable crayons, markers, window markers to stickers, washi tape, and scissors (safe for 4+).  There is a huge list of supplies and many of them reusable for a long time to come.  It’s important to celebrate our children and so the kit is complete with a “Junior Stamper” Certificate of achievement.

So first of all – my girls were so excited about being asked to do this “because we’re SO creative! We’ll do really good art!” and they are looking forward to seeing this all posted on my blog. (and yes, I’ll be reading them comments they receive!!)

When I craft with my kids, there are two approaches I take. Approach #1 is that we have  very specific goal in mind, something we have planned out and are working on. This could take the form of us cooking something together, making cards, working on creative homework projects, making festive decor, gift wrapping, and much more. But it is very focused and goal oriented. I love the interaction and teamwork we get going – this is an important part of what we do every week.

Approach #2 is for everyone to do whatever they want, however they want, in whatever way they’d like to do it! I think it is equally important to cut the girls loose. I’ve been asked if I tell my girls “how” to make a scrapbook page or card – the answer is absolutely NOT. I want to encourage them to trust in their own ideas, go their own direction, and most of all (of course) have FUN. Now if they ask me a specific question I will assist. If they want to know how they can manage to get something to work or if I have something, or to explain what I am crafting – well I’m right there and helping out. The fantastic thing about this Simon Says Stamp kit? It was totally intuitive for them and they didn’t once ask me about anything.

Yes, I let them run hog wild. So today’s post is going to be about them and their fun adventures with this kit. I’m going to do the typing and the photography and talk about my observations, but Elizabeth and Rebecca are in fact taking over my blog today to show off their creations. They are quite pleased to be starring on my blog for their craft skills today.

First off, the kit:

I liked all the bright colors, the usefulness of the products, and of course the Simon coloring page. What I also like, is that there is a more structured activity (coloring Simon and cutting that out) as well as room for total crafty freedom. Here is what the girls said:

Elizabeth:

Everything in this box is mine? Like for me? WOW! I love these colors and oh twistable crayons you know I always wanted those like forever! This paper is really neat my friend had some and we loved it can I play now?

Rebecca:

Open everything. open it all now. Leave the box. I want it. [after a moment, she added ‘please’]

Clearly, this was going to be a hit with both girls. I set them up with craft stations, sparkling fruit juice, and some crackers and encouraged them to start with the coloring paper. They really loved getting a package that was totally theirs, and that they could do whatever they felt like with the contents.

They have been playing with these kits for about ten days now and guess what? They show no signs of stopping. I am not allowed to take back over my crafting workstation OR my reading chair (with TV tray table) that they have claimed as their own craft stations. Oh yes, they’re very serious about it. Even with school and soccer starting – they’re jumping back into my studio and crafting away daily!

Ok, so it *is* messing up my own craft routine but I’m so ok with that! I’m making some adjustments to allow them each a separate permanent bin for their things that will let them appear to be mixed in with mine. [organizational note: I’ll post about this separately in a few weeks once finished so you can see.]

Back to the crafting! Above is one of Rebecca’s cards as well as a detail shot of Elizabeth’s coloring. They are so very proud of their creations. They ended up raiding my stickles stash (of course!) and glittered up many a project. I can’t recommend glitter glue (or paint with fine tip applicator if your child isn’t into sparkles) enough. They have a lot of fun with it, and it takes some skill to master so it is good for them too.

Now here’s something I wouldn’t have guessed- they really warmed up to the tape in the kit! In fact, at the moment it is their most favorite element and they are creating a whole world of creatures, trains, and all sorts of things like these guys (a duck, a monster, and a dog). They spend hours on them!

What about the stamping? Oh they LOVE that! They are stamping papers that come home from school, cards, their art projects, their own hands – so much inky love. The ink pad and images in the kit are fantastic – they’ve really enjoyed having their own stamp pads.

I asked the girls if they had anything they wanted to say, what they could tell me now, etc… the answer I got from both of them was that it is AWESOME, and they loved every minute of craft time they’ve gotten from using the kit.

If you have a junior stamper who you’d like to purchase this kit for (it is a GREAT deal!) they are available at Simon Says Stamp here. I just ordered one for my niece that I will save and give her at Christmas.

Thank you for visiting – I hope you’ll check out all of today’s participants and go visit the next stop on this blog hop. That would be the fantastic Jennifer Mcguire and her son!To start at the beginning of the hop (or if you encounter a link that won’t work, etc) you can always begin over at the Simon blog. Happy Crafting!

 

Give-away time!! So guess what?! My friends over at Simon Says Stamp are letting me give a $25 gift certificate away!! If you’d like to be entered for a chance to win, just leave a comment for my girls here on this post! I will draw a winner on Wednesday the 29th. Congrats Marianne! I’ve sent your info to Simon Says Stamp you are the winner!

 

90 thoughts on “Junior Stamping Kit Hop!”

  1. Looks like an awesome kit! Loved what your girls came up with up – especially the cute animals made with the washi tape 🙂

  2. Fabulous creations.. Love the collage/colouring who wouldn’t want a glittery dog!!

    The kits looks great I think my kids would love it and yours obviously did.

    ** Kate **

  3. Super cute! I’m thinking my gal who is almost 4 would LOVE a box of goodies all her own! what fun! 😀

  6. Wow, girls! Great Art! There is nothing like getting your own surprise box of goodies in the mail!

  7. Elizabeth and Rebecca –you did a fabulous job creating with these kits. I like your use of stickles and the tape.

  8. Great job creating girls. I appreciate the user reviews. My niece is 7 and loves crafty fun. I think I know what to get her for Christmas.

  9. I love this kit. Great for little crafters. And your daughter’s creations are fantastic. Great work ladies!

  10. Looks like a super fun kit and your girls really had a fun time playing with it. I have a 11 year old son, that would love a kit like that. Great job to the girls and their creations. Thanks for sharing.

  11. Thanks for sharing your art work, ladies! This is a fabulous idea and kit. I am wondering how I could work it into my classroom?

  13. The projects they made are amazing! They did a great job showing off what was in the kit! I know a lot of kids that would love to play with this kit, my kids included! Thanks for the chance to win!

  14. Your daughters did a great job! I love the fussy cutting and how they combined stamping and coloring!

  16. I would say girl’s keep up the good work crafting, you both did fabulous. Thanks so much for the chance to win!!!

  17. What fun! This is a fantastic idea! My kids would have loved this when they were little, and I’m not sure they wouldn’t have fun with it as teenagers. Heck, it might even be fun for a sleepover. Teenage girls really are just kids at heart!

  19. Looks like they had a blast! I can see creativity runs in the family. Looks like something I will have to get my granddaughter for Christmas. Thanks for the chance to win.

  21. That is just the cutest kit and your girls did a wonderful job of demoing it. Thanks.

  23. Dear Rebecca and Elizabeth, I really like the things you made with the kits! I love the creatures you made with construction paper and the fancy tape. (My daughter Gabi LOVES making creatures, using Mama’s glitter glue, and hanging out in my craft space with me.) I’m glad you have all this special time with your Mom!
    Sincerely,
    Laura

  24. Great job Elizabeth and Rebecca. I loved seeing what you came up with. I especially liked the various animals you made with the washi tape. Keep creating! jeandonny2000 at hotmail dot com

  25. Dear Elizabeth and Rebecca,
    Your pictures are wonderful, I bet those twistable crayons are a lot of fun to use. My grandsons make paper superheroes, and would probably love to play with you and your paper creatures.
    Thanks for sharing your special projects with us through your Mom’s blog.

  26. This is great! My girls will love it too! Well, more so my 6yr old, she only loves the good stuff, while my 2yr old is happy with our scraps!

  27. WOW… it looks that you, girls, had a lot of fun… I can imagine looking at the beautiful drawings you have made and colored so, so well… the creatures are awesome!

  29. How cool! Teach them young and keep them motivated – i wish i would have started a long time ago. Keep up the great work – it will be fun to go back and look at when you get older!

  31. Such wonderful creations!! What talent you both have! Do you think a 9 year old boy would like this kit? I think he might, especially the twist crayons and the color explosion stuff! :0)

  33. Wow! You girls are truly fantastic artists. I love all of your projects especailly the duck, monster and dog. They are so COLORFUL and make me happy just looking at them. Keep creating with your art kits and if your mom wants to post more pictures anytime, I’d be happy to see more! Great job girls!

  37. Things I love about this post: Your girls aren’t bored with the kits. The reactions are SO adorable! AND… It looks like they have created some seriously cute stuff!

  39. Fabulous works of art, Rebecca & Elizabeth! I can tell from the pictures that you are having a blast with all these crafty goodies. So glad Mom gave you the glitter glue. No project is complete until it has glitter on it. I think my nieces would love these, too!

  41. Wow! I can’t wait to get one for my niece – I will definitely be the “favorite” aunt!

  43. Wonderful job girls. My granddaughter is 4 and she is quite the artist too. I think she would love this kit too.

  45. Hi Elizabeth and Rebecca! I love all your creations and the coloring is beautiful!
    My granddaughter is 6 and I know she would love this kit. Great idea as a Christmas gift from Gramma.
    Remember, you have to let Mommy have some craft time too.

  46. You both are certainly talented. Kudos and great job to both of you. I can’t wait to create things like this with my little one. Smooches…

  47. I enjoyed the photos of your girls playing with and enjoying their kits. I am curious about the value of the kits for a nine year old who is very advanced artistcally. I know three of my granddaughters are going to love this, just not sure about the nine year old.

  48. THANKS SO MUCH for sharing all of these FUN photos and details!! LOVE the JOY written all over their faces!! THANKS for the chance to win and have a FABULOUS WEEK!! =)

  49. the girls are so adorable! i love your 2 approaches. although i usually take #1 with myself, i am going to try for the second one more often because it looks like a ton of fun.

  53. OOH I love what you girls did! Inspiring! My nieces in Australia are about your ages and I am making them sticker books right now. They would love to have this kit as well.

  54. What a great post May! Loved reading what the girl’s reactions were! And tell them their artwork is really beautiful!!! You can tell they take after their creative mommy!

  55. Elizabeth and Rebecca – I love what you did with your fun kits! You are both so very creative. I am sure your mom is so proud!

  56. Elizabeth and Rebecca, it really looks like you are exploring lots of great ways to make art! Your coloring is so fun to see and I adore your taped duck, monster and dog! Thanks so much for sharing with everyone so other kids might be able to get their own kit!

  57. Love that they enjoyed the kit—it looks like great fun for kids! You girls did an awesome job on your art and creations! Keep it up!!

  58. Wow! What lucky girls to have these great kits! And I see you have been creating already. Wonderful projects girls, keep on crafting! Thanks for sharing with us.

  59. Wow, that kit looks great (I actually typed “kid” first … that’s how excited I am)
    Girls your creations are fantastic. You should be so proud of yourselves. And make sure to thank your mum for taking such great photos of you and your art!

  60. Elizabeth and Rebecca…you are right, you are both very creative. I hope you are going to keep that wonderful excitement and love for creating your whole life long!

  61. Looks like they are having a blast! My three year old grandson would love this kit but he does still have a tendency to color himself more than the paper!

  63. GREAT washi animals Girls!
    It was fun hearing about and seeing your CREATIVE process:)
    LOVE the colored pictures with the TERRIOR.

  66. Great job Elizabeth and Rebecca. Looks like you are having fun with your stamping kits. I’ll bet my 5 year old granddaughter would love to have one of the kits for Christmas. The twist up crayons are really a cool idea. I love Stickles too. Iris

  68. Elizabeth and Rebecca: Great job using your stamps and letting the creativity run WILD!!!! The only thing better than you projects is how much fun you had creating them! Rock on!

  70. Gorgeous artwork Elizabeth and Rebecca ! It really shows that you love the kits and have enjoyed using all the goodies inside them 🙂 Fabulous creations and I love all the photo’s of you both being creative 🙂

    luv
    Lols x x x

  71. Well done girls! Looks like you are having a lot of fun. Love those creatures. If you continue like this, you’ll soon be needing your own blog LOL.

  72. Omigosh! How cute are your kids?????? I wish I’d had a kit like this when ours were little. They would have loved it! But now, my sweet granddaughter would have a blast with all those wonderful artsy elements! Thanks for the chance to win!

  73. Great job, girls! You’re so incredibly creative! And your mom has very wise approaches that I’ll try to learn and to use them with my sonny!

  74. This looks like a fab set! (So I can keep little paws off my crafty goodness 🙂 Going on my grand’s list 🙂

  76. Thanks for all the pictures and comments from your girls. By the way they are adorable, and their projects are fantastic. I was wondering how my niece would take to the tape, but sounds like thats gonna be a winner.

  77. Our 6 year old, joined me for this bloghop. She turned green with envy that your girls have the kit with the DOG! But she said that the girls had some perfect en great coloring skills. I love her!

  81. I found it interesting to read about the way you let them be creative;sometimes with a goal in mind and other times let them do what they want. Great to read that! Thanks!

  85. This is why grown-ups always want a special table or room for their crafting things. They want to live inside their very own craft kit! Mmm, a craft kit big enough to sit in and make more crafts… sounds pretty awesome.

  86. Elizabeth and Rebecca, I am so impressed with your creativeness! You both made such beautiful projects, I think your Mom needs to post your artwork more often.

    Any to the Girl’s Mom, thanks for the chance at a great prize!

  88. Your girls were adorable in your pictures!! I’m so happy to know the kit has enough “fun” to last a long time! Thanks for the giveaway!

  89. What a great idea! The kit looks awesome and so do the projects the girls made. Thanks for a chance to win!

  90. Love this idea for Christmas giving….I think most kids love to create, if they have the right materials….and these look great!

Comments are closed.