Greetings, Learning Expressions Readers!
I have been waiting for this day for weeks now. Not only because there are just 12 more sleeps until Christmas but also because I get to review my two very favorite exclusives this year!!! Now if you ask different store owners and members of the Home Office you’ll find that everyone has their own particular favorites but these, hands down, are mine.
I’ve confessed in past blogs that I’m about as un-crafty as they come. Previous to joining Learning Express the thought of completing a craft kit filled me absolute horror. Growing up, doing crafts often ended in tears and tantrums. Though my sister’s stocking was frequently filled with all kinds of arts and crafts kits, they rarely found their way into my own stocking—likely because my mom is a firm believer that “Christmas is a crying free zone.” But seriously, how can you not be devastated when your paper-mâché unicorn statue looks nothing like it did on the box??
As it turns out, there actually are kits that kids can do that will look just as good as they did on the box, and I think that’s part of the reason I love today’s two featured kits. Whether you’re a craft connoisseur or a craft delinquent, you can create a great looking final product to be proud of.
Tyvek Wallet Art Kits
Have you heard of Tyvek before? Well, it’s a synthetic material used to make labels, wristbands, car covers and house siding—and now to make wallets! The material is nice and light (it looks deceptively like paper) but it’s also tear-proof and waterproof.
Learning Express carries both a Boy’s Wallet Art Kit and a
Girl’s Wallet Art Kit. Each kit contains three
wallets and five metallic pens.
You’ll see from the picture I’ve included that the girl’s wallets are longer
and more closely resemble a purse; the boy’s wallets are a bit smaller and fold
like a traditional men’s wallet.
The wallets come to you in the kit as three very large pieces of paper. The first thing I’d recommend you do is color in your sheets of paper. I made the mistake of folding mine into a wallet first and it makes it a lot tougher to color! You’ll find that one wallet requires no coloring, one requires a small amount, and one requires quite a lot. Depending on how much time you have and how ambitious you’re feeling, you can pick whichever level of coloring fits you best. The pens are metallic so will give your wallet a nice little added shimmer.
Once your wallets are all colored in, you need to follow the step by step folding instructions. I used to love doing origami as a kid (it was about as crafty as I ever got) and this feels a lot like you’re making a paper crane or rice cup. Once your wallets are folded you’re ready to add your cash and coins and head to the store!
Butterfly Doorbell Kit
It’s time to say goodbye paint by number, hello fabric by
number! I only discovered plush crafting a
couple of months ago and I have to
admit I am hooked. It’s fun and easy to do and the final product looks amazing.
Our exclusive plush craft this season is called the Butterfly Doorbell and it
is the perfect addition to any kid’s bedroom.
The Butterfly Doorbell comes with little squares of fabric in four different colors, stick on gems, a PlushCraft stylus, and a butterfly doorbell. I started out by sticking down all of my gems in the appropriate spots. Then came the best part: punching the fabric squares into the designated holes with the stylus! Trust me when I say I could fabric by number all day long. If I could, I would.
Once you’ve totally blinged out your butterfly, it’s time to get the doorbell working. Inside the butterfly you’ll find a little battery box. You’ll need two AAA batteries and a very small screwdriver to open up the box. Once you’ve done that you’ll be able to push the little flower doorbell and the butterfly portion of the doorbell will go off. I have my butterfly placed inside my office and the doorbell on the doorframe just outside and it works perfectly! The small flower doorbell has a sticky back so you’ll just need to peel off the covering to stick it down. The butterfly portion has a little hook on it so hangs really nicely on a small nail or thumb tack.
I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit more about my favorite exclusives of the season! I certainly had a blast testing them out.
Talk to you again soon!
Kathryn
