Join Lisa Loeb & Crayola for "Inside the Crayon Box" LIVE on Wednesday, March 7th!

Check out this wonderful upcoming Crayola LIVE event that is helping kids get inspired!


Creativity matters. It´s a skill that all children can learn and when it´s practiced every day, kids become the critical thinkers, problem solvers, and leaders in the classroom, and they´re better prepared for professions of the 21st century.

Crayola wants every child to be creatively alive, so they´re inviting parents "Inside the Crayon Box," for a special live chat with celebrities and trusted parenting experts that will inspire and spark ideas to expand your child´s creative thinking. If you find yourself looking for new ways to inspire your children to express their ideas and build their creativity, you´ll want to join us to learn and share!

The first "Inside the Crayon Box" live chat is Wednesday, March 7 at 9 p.m. EST. Join Crayola and musician, children´s author and mom,Lisa Loeb for a 45-minute live streaming video chat on the Crayola Facebook Page. Lisa, best-known for her number one hit "Stay (I Missed You)," will share as personal stories, practical advice and ways she brings a little creative play into every day for her daughter. We want to hear from you - participants can ask Lisa questions during the event, too! We hope you will share the information about the first Crayola "Inside the Crayon" live chat with your readers on or before Wednesday, March 7th so they may plan to attend as well.

Interested in the topics to be covered during the chat? 

• Why Does Creativity Matter? Creativity is not about who´s the best artists or becoming an architect. It´s a way of thinking that encourages kids´ original ideas and develops their confidence.
• Growing Up Creative. Lisa will share stories about growing up in a home where creativity was encouraged.
• Simple Tips. Easy Ideas. Like most moms, Lisa juggles a lot. She´ll share simple, easy ways she sparks her daughter´s creativity as part of their daily routine.

Creativity Matters

Crayola Inspires

Just in case you miss the Crayola "Inside the Crayon Box" event, check out the chat after the live session at Crayola YouTube Channel where the session will be posted.
To learn more about the tools from Crayola that make it easy for parents to help children develop their creativity www.Crayola.com and like Crayola on Facebook!

Also, be sure to check out Lisa´s book Lisa Loeb´s Silly Sing-Along: The Disappointing Pancake and Other Zany Songs (Sterling Children´s Books, 2011) available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com. Sing, laugh, and play with pop Lisa in this fabulous collection of ten of the silliest songs ever. Fun activities, games, and recipes accompany whimsical songs. Take Lisa's Silly Sing-Along with you wherever you go and get the high-spirited good times started. Includes a 10-song CD recorded by Lisa! 

Disclaimer: This info was provided to me by Crayola through MyBlogSpark Pin It

Summer w/ The Kids Guide: Sockology - Book {Review & Giveaway}

Featured Sponsor

Ever wonder what to do with that stray sock laying around or one that might have a hole in them? Brenna Maloney has written a savvy book, entitled sockology, that gives you many ideas on what exactly to do with them. This new release from Stash Books has dozens of great projects to make with kids this summer as well as all year long!

About the author

Brenna Maloney learned at a young age to look at ordinary things in extraordinary ways. She started by making sock bunnies as baby gifts. After her “4 millionth” rabbit, she realized there were lots of other critters to create. Brenna and her family live in Washington, D.C.

About sockology

• 16 new fun-to-make sock creatures, from cute and cuddly to weird and wild!
• Transform any sock - new socks, stray socks or even socks with holes in them - into an adorable critter
• Projects can be sewn by hand or machine

Brenna is back with a new posse of cute creatures! Take your socks a step further with slightly more complex construction and endless inspiration. From a lovable bear to some very fluffy sheep to a quirky alien, these 16 projects will surely keep you entertained for hours. Detailed hand-drawn templates are included to guide you along the way. 

ace and friends thoughts

I never knew you could make so many different types of very whimsical stuffed toys from socks! In this charming and fun craft book, the author's creatively designs such things as creatures that fly to things that don't to things that won't.  You will have to read the book to fully understand the collections.

The step-by-step directions are easy to follow and the photographs are an added bonus. These pictures will definitely help me along the way. There are more patterns to follow in this book as compared to her previous title, but Brenna's hand-drawn patterns are very clear and not complicated at all. I also enjoyed the author's writing style, it is quirky and entertaining.

This is a fun rainy summer day (or any other season for that matter) reading for families, and a great gift for your crafty pals who are looking for something unique and different. The kids can't wait to create their one sock wonders into works of sock-art.

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Buy It 

sockology by Brenna Maloney can be purchased HERE. ($17.95)

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Win It 

One LUCKY *ace and friends* reader will win

a copy of sockology by Brenna Maloney of their very own.

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Summer w/ The Kids Guide: Build A Dream Playhouses {Review & Giveaway}

Featured Sponsor

As summer begins to wind down, we sometimes struggle to keep ourselves busy. We love playing outdoors, but sometimes we like to stay inside, away from the heat, hang out together and create. Recently, I was fortunate to come across a very innovative company, Build a Dream Playhouses. A dream playhouse, really? My kids were super intrigued and overly excited to see what was inside this giant box!

About Build A Dream Playhouses 

Build a Dream Playhouses™ was founded by a Cleveland father dedicated to the futures of the City of Cleveland, the State of Ohio, and the imaginations of children. To achieve that, and reflecting on his city’s hard times, he collaborated with the world famous Nottingham-Spirk Design Associates, a group of 3 to 9 year old children, and the Smurfit Stone Container Corporation and created Build a Dream Playhouses™. They offer an innovative, fresh, and unique take on kids' playhouses.

Build a Dream Playhouses™ believes that imaginative play is absolutely critical to the developing minds of children. That is why they created a line of products centered on creativity and imagination. Build a Dream Playhouses™ supply the blank canvas for children to paint their dreams.

Cardboard allows their products to be colored, painted, decorated, and customized to please every child’s dreams. Corrugated cardboard is also extremely durable and safe for children. Each and every one of their products are tested to conform to the standards of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). Their products are manufactured from 80% recycled materials that result in an end product that is 100% recyclable. 

ace and friends thoughts

Once we opened the giant box containing our Build a Dream Playhouses™ Snack Shack, we laid out each piece so we could focus on designing and creating that part. The kids got busy coming up with ideas and started their drawing/coloring process.

  the artists hard at work.

The kids had an amazing time creating their masterpiece. We spent a couple of hours, laughing, coloring, laughing some more and just having a good time together. Assembly was very easy and the kids could easily help me out. We matched up coordinating letters on each part and it took less than ten minutes to put it together and for the kids to start playing.

Overall, we had a wonderful time together and it was incredible to see what the kids came up with in their design process. The Build a Dream Playhouses™ Snack Shack will definitely get a lot of use/play in our house! Now... who wants to buy some lemonade and cookies?

 

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Buy It 

You can visit the Build A Dream Playhouses to purchase your own Snack Shack ($69.95) as well as other wonderful playhouses.

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Win It 

One LUCKY *ace and friends* reader will win

a Build A Dream Playhouses of their very own (winner's choice).

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ArtisticLetters Black & White Alphabet Photography {Freebie, Coupon and Review}

While I was in northern Michigan, I came across some alphabet photography that I thought was genius. What I didn't like so much was the ridiculous price point! Fortunate for me, I was introduced to an amazing Alphabet Photography website, where the photography is better and the price is too. Double bonus!

 

Photographer Jodi Gerber of Artistic Letters has created an entire catalog of black & white letter images throughout the past 3 years – all by taking photos of objects in nature that resembled letters of the alphabet. She recently decided to offer her ENTIRE catalog of 250+ letter images to the public on CD or Download so that anyone could create their own designs!   It’s a truly original way to make artwork for your home - or even for scrapbooking, greeting cards, and digital designs consisting of wedding invitations, graduation announcements, baby’s birth, etc.).  Endless possibilities for whatever the mind can imagine!

ace and friends thoughts

I had a fabulous time looking at every letter. I was thrilled to have so many different options to choose from in the collection. With over 250 images, your creativity is endless. I chose to simply print out my favorite letters to create our family name to display in the office. I simply printed each letter on  4 x 6 photo paper, framed them with some super cheap frames... the finished product is absolutely perfect. I also decided to use the letter on my iPad as the background. Check it out... {love it}

 I can't wait to make some more amazing pieces of art. Next up... an alphabet board for the kids.... it's gonna be SWEET!

Want to know more, more, more.... as well as have access to special promotions and FREEBIES... just visit Jodi's Facebook page and click {Like}.

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Buy your own set of Artistic Letters Alphabet Photography HERE.

Jodi teamed up with me and is offering my readers Exclusive Discounted Pricing of up to $6 Off!  Please visit her website www.BuyAlphabetPhotos.com and browse the images, testimonials, and ideas.

Then check out the Exclusive Pricing and Freebie by clicking HERE.

This link is ONLY accessible here for my readers – you won’t be able to find it on her website.

FREEBIE ALERT:  Jodi also offered my readers a Freebie alphabet set (with purchase) as a Bonus!  And here’s the great part – you get to choose a Damask set from 6 different galleries!  More info is available on the special link above.

The exclusive pricing and freebie offer expires at the end of this week at 10 p.m. Eastern so be sure you take advantage of this great deal while it lasts.

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I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure. See ace and friends Disclosure Policy HERE.

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Your Not So Traditional Valentine's Day Cards

I'm one of those non-traditional types... and so when I see something unique and quirky, I'm all over it. I was trying to find some inexpensive and FUN ways to jazz up those, sometimes boring, Valentine's Day cards. Thanks to Disney Family Fun and good old Martha... I think I've been inspired.

 Candy Buttons cut in the shape of hearts - now why didn't I think of that!

  

Bookmarks  Martha is a craft *genius*!

Lollipop Flower Heart - Simple and Fun!

Folding Heart Valentine - envelope, not needed!

Crayon Heart - a little wax paper and crayon...

wahhhh lahhhh, instant suncatcher!

Inspired yet? Now get craftin'.

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*your name* in crayons by Gaddy Nipper Crayons Review and Giveaway

 Gaddy Nipper Crayons are unique and certainly different then any other crayons that I or my children have seen or have used. These crayons were created by a mother of two who found a great way to recycle old, used and broken crayons. Her creative designs are made by melting and re-molding them into fun and cute shapes that will surprise and excite your child. What child doesn't love to see something personalized just for him/her.

In addition to Your Name In Crayons, Gaddy Nipper Crayons offers a variety of other categories to choose from like cupcakes, building bricks and men to holiday themes. You will certainly be able to find something that you and your child will like love. They create crayons for all sorts of occasions: birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, holidays, and anything else you can come up with.

 Not only does Gaddy Nipper Crayons offer a quality product they also offer a quick turnaround time of 24-48 hours on current items when the order is received. All crayons ship when payment is received. They also offer FREE personalization!

ace and friends thoughts: We were excited to get to check out Your Name in Silly Swirls Crayons. Little *e* was thrilled to see her name in crayons. What she loved even more was that each letter has it's own corresponding fun image - 'e' has an elephant, 'r' has a ring... and so on.... absolute adorable. These crayons arrived prepackaged and they were perfect for gift giving (they made a great stocking stuffer) wrapped in a clear cellophane bag and adorned with green and red crinkle paper. The set included *e*'s entire name and the variety of swirled colors and were the perfect size for her little hands to grip. Each letter measures approximately 2.5" x 2" in size. Only the best crayons are used (Crayola, of course) so we all know that these crayons are safe and non-toxic! Love that!

Buy It: 

Get your owns set of Gaddy Nipper Crayons -  Your Name in Silly Swirls Crayons for $4.50 (up to 6 letters) HERE. While you are there check out all the other creative and fun shapes that are offered by Gaddy Nipper Crayons.

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Win It: 

One winner will receive one Gaddy Nipper Crayons Your Name in Crayons solid or swirled crayons, up to 10 letters. Yahooooo!

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Mandatory Entry: Follow ace and friends PUBLICLY through GFC (+1) and then visit Gaddy Nipper Crayons and tell me which product just NEED to have... (make sure to include your email). 

Bonus Entries: After fulfilling the Mandatory Entry, feel free to earn yourself some Bonus Entries. Please leave a separate comment for each one. 

Earns 3 Entries: Follow Gaddy Nipper Crayons on Facebook.
 Earns 2 Entries: Follow ace and friends on Facebook.

Earns 2 Entries: Follow the ace and friends on Twitter.

Earns 1 Entries: Follow the ace and friends on Networked Blog.

Earns 2 Entries: Place ace and friends Button on your blog. (leave link)

Earns 2 Entry: Subscribe to our blog by email (top left)

Earns 1 Entry Daily: You can copy and paste the following Tweet at Twitter once per day. (leave status link) 

Copy and Paste The Following Tweet:  

#Win Your Name in Crayons by Gaddy Nipper Crayons  @aceandfriendsco Blog! http://bit.ly/f4eQAG ends 1.15.11 #giveaways #moms #kids 

The giveaway is open to US residents only. Entries are valid through Wednesday, January 15th at 11:59 PM EST.

The winner will have 48 hours to respond via email before a new winner is selected.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com and sponsored by Gaddy Nipper Crayons. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

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"8 Free Apron Sewing Patterns" eBook

now i adore me some super cute aprons. now... if i could only sew... i am hoping that these FREE patterns will inspire me!
 

Click HERE to get a FREE Sewing eBook from FaveCrafts with 8 Free Apron Sewing Patterns featuring unique apron designs from craft designers and manufacturers. Includes step-by-step images. love it!

patterns included for the following:

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