Klutz Paper Fashions Fancy – Crafting from Klutz – Review and Giveaway

Gift Picks for Girls this Holiday Season

Paper Fashions Get Glam!

I really like the saying “Grandmoms are just little girls with wrinkles.”

Perhaps I identify with that quote because there are many things I did as a kid that I can now enjoy sharing with grandkids.  For example, I used to stay entertained forever cutting out “paper dolls” and changing their outfits.

I had the opportunity to review the Paper Fashions Fancy Book Kit from Klutz.

This updated version of paper fashions has gone glamerous!  Your young designers will be able to become fashionistas while turning colorful paper, ribbons, beads, sequins, and jewels into glamorous fashions and accessories.

. . .  with Paper Fashions Fancy, we designed an all-new set of patterned and colored papers — some with glitter, foil, and velvety black flocking — and the emphasis is on combining shapes to make elaborate, fancy couture: gowns, red-carpet-ready ensembles, prom-pretty frocks, and more. The possible combinations of papers, stencil shapes, and embellishments are limitless. Which is a good thing because when it comes to glamour, too much is never enough.

The kit features:

• Acid-free patterned paper

• Luxurious textured paper

• Glittering embellishments, including ribbon, beads, sequins and sticky gems

• Stylish stencils

• Glue

• Itty-bitty hangers and more

Klutz also offers Spool Knit Jewelry, Shrink Art Jewelry, Bead Loom Bracelets, as well puzzles, games, drawing and art supplies.

Recommended Ages: 8+ up

For a MSRP of $21.95, this is an entertaining and cute, craft book to put on your Christmas holiday shopping list for any pre-teen or tween!

KLUTZ.com BIG HOLIDAY SALE – 25% off your entire order (no minimum!)

The coupon code is HOLIDAY25 and expires on 12/16.

- Onetime use coupon per email address/user
- Not combination with other offers
- Expires 12/16/09
- Valid only at Klutz

For More Information Visit: Klutz

Moomette’s Magnificents  is hosting a Giveaway Contest! For a chance to win, there will be one (1) winner of one (1) Paper Fashions Fancy Book Kit.

Please include a way of contacting you. Should you be the contest winner, this information may be shared with the contest sponsor in order to send your prize.

Main Rule:   (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)
a) Sign up for my free Newsletter Updates to my blog through my e-mail Feedblitz link (on the top of my right column or let me know if you already are, in a separate comment) AND

b) Visit Klutz and leave a comment about what you like best about their site and another product you’d like to try.

This contest will run until November 30, 2009 at 11:00 pm. EST

For Additional Entries, check out my Contest Entry Rules.

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Fancy Friendship Bracelets from Klutz – Review and Giveaway

Arts and Crafts

Jewelry Making

When I was a youngster, I didn’t attend fancy day camps in the summer when school was out.  The Park and Recreation Department in my town would hold activities at each of the local parks all day long.  Along with my friends, I’d show up in the morning; go home for lunch and; walk back for the afternoon activities.

One of my favorite activities was arts and crafts.  For a small fee, perhaps it was 5 or 10 cents, we’d get to make a project.  One of my favorite projects were the bracelets made out of colored cord.

I recently had the opportunity to review a newly released book from Klutz featuring the Fancy Friendship Bracelets, written by Anne Akers Johnson.

Klutz started with super-simple instructions for a flock of all-new bracelet designs which includes five different colors of cord.

Features Include:

• 6 stylish charms

• 40 yards of cord

• More than 200 beads

Recommended for ages 8+, the book includes instructions to make 10 different fancy friendship bracelets.

Klutz was started in 1977 by three unconventional friends from Stanford University. In 2002, Scholastic Inc., the largest children’s book publisher and distributor in the world, acquired Klutz.

…how-to books from Klutz come packaged with the tools of their trade (from juggling cubes to face paints to yo-yos), and are designed for doing, not just reading.

Klutz also offers Bead Loom Bracelets, Spool Knit Jewelry, Shrink Art Jewelry as well games, puzzles, art, drawing and extra supplies.

For a MSRP of $19.95, this is a cute, entertaining and educational book to put on your Christmas holiday shopping list for any pre-teen or tween!

For More Information Visit: Klutz

Moomette’s Magnificents  is hosting a Giveaway Contest! For a chance to win, there will be two (2) winners receiving 2  copies of the same book – one to keep AND one to share.

Please include a way of contacting you. Should you be the contest winner, this information may be shared with the contest sponsor in order to send your prize.

Main Rule:   (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)
a) Sign up for my free Newsletter Updates to my blog through my e-mail Feedblitz link (on the top of my right column or let me know if you already are, in a separate comment) AND

b) Visit Klutz and leave a comment about what you like best about their site and another product you’d like to try.

This contest will run until November 8, 2009 at 11:00 pm. EST

For Additional Entries, check out my Contest Entry Rules.

Big Eye Dummies – Designer Plush Dolls – Review And Giveaway

Designer Plush Doll

Big Eye Dummies

Most children love animals and ‘Lil Moomette is no exception.

As a matter of fact, it’s ironic that my husband and I had a dog before we had our girls, and ‘Lil Moomette’s parents had a dog and a cat before ‘Lil Moomette was in the picture.

Actually, my husband and I were fur-free for awhile, but we now have a lazy, fat, almost 12-year old house-cat.  Whenever the grandkids come over, The Cat will tolerate the kiddos for only so long, and then retreats to someplace yonder.

All dogs are “Mutley,” (even though the poor dog is actually a purebread Black Lab!)

I’ve had the opportunity to review the new line of designer plush dolls aptly named “Big Eye Dummies.”  Milton The Cat is now part of our family.

Each doll comes with 2 sets of interchangeable eyes and mouths, along with its own back story. Made of fabric, the eyes and mouths come gently sewn down, but just need to be cut by an adult and the threads removed, at which point the mix ‘n match fun begins!

Big Eye Dummies are designed and created in New York City by David Lipson, a professional Animation Producer and Director.  David has worked on TV shows, including Word World (PBS), Lizzie McGuire (Disney Channel), Schoolhouse Rock (Disney), and shorts for Sesame Street (PBS).

Says David: “Big Eye Dummies offer several major innovations to the plush doll market, such as using high quality thread to hold them together instead of staples or nails. Another breakthrough was filling them with fluffy soft stuffing instead of rocks or bricks. Focus testing has shown that these improvements seem to really enhance the ‘cuddle and snuggle’ factor for children.”

Big Eye Dummies have received Creative Child Magazine’s Preferred Choice Award.

Big Eye Dummies have been tested by independent American Laboratories and comply with the European and American Toy Safety Standards.

Another benefit is great creative fun at Grandma’s house, or homeschooling, daycare or pre-school fun!

These plush dolls are just way too cute and cuddly and would make an adorable Birthday or holiday gift, not only for children, but tweens, teens and adults too!

Recommended Ages: 2 and up

Suggested Retail: $19.99

Available at: www.BigEyeDummies.com and specialty toy and gift stores, high-end children’s boutiques, design gift shops, and museum stores.

For More Information Visit: Big Eye Dummies

Moomette’s Magnificents is hosting a Giveaway Contest! For a chance to win, there will be one (1) winner of one (1) Big Eye Dummie Plush Designer Doll.

Please include a way of contacting you. Should you be the contest winner, this information may be shared with the contest sponsor in order to send your prize.

Main Rule:   (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)
a) Sign up for my free Newsletter Updates to my blog through my e-mail Feedblitz link (on the top of my right column or let me know if you already are, in a separate comment) AND

b) Visit Big Eye Dummies and leave a comment about another fact that wasn’t mentioned in this post and why you’d like to win a Big Eye Dummie Doll.

Now for extra entries (each task will get you 1 extra entry):

~One Extra Entry: Add my banner button to your sidebar or add me to your blogroll, and come back here and leave the link (I will be checking)

~One Extra Entry: Blog about the contest on your blog linking to my blog and the site

~ One Extra Entry: Become a Fan on Facebook and let me know your name in a separate comment.

~ One Extra Entry: Follow Me on Google Friend Connect (right sidebar) and leave your name in a separate comment.

~ One Extra Entry: Follow me on Networked Blogs (right sidebar) and leave your name in a separate comment.

~One Extra Entry: Favorite Moomette’s Magnificents in Technorati and leave your name (I will be checking) in a separate comment  (the link is on my right sidebar).

~ One Extra Entry: Follow Me on Twitter and let me know your Twitter name in a separate comment.

~One Extra Entry: Tweet about this contest (Retweet button at bottom of post), and come back to this post and leave the URL link to the Tweet so I can check. You may Retweet once per day until the end of the contest, but please leave a separate comment for each Retweet, along with the permalink

Make sure you comment separately for each task after the required entry task so you will get credit for each one ~ and leave your e-mail where you can be contacted.

This contest will run until July 14, 2009 at approximately 11:00 pm.

Winners are chosen by Random.Org, if you want all your chances counted, make sure you leave individual comments, not all of them in one!

*Winner has 48 hours to contact me or another name will be chosen.

*Include your email if it’s not enabled.
*Open to USA and Canada Only
*Rules for each entry must be followed to be valid.

Desperate Housewives ~ You’ll Find them on Yahoo Groups as WAHM Affiliate Reps

The beat goes on, the beat goes on

 Drums keep pounding a rhythm to the brain 

La de da de dee, la de da de da

Sonny and Cher

You know, being a Baby Boomer has its advantages.  I’m so happy the Internet evolved.  It’s the perfect platform for Boomers to continue to protest and grandstand.  As I came of age in the early ’70s, I was in college during the Peace Rallies, Love-Ins and Protest Demonstrations.  So hang on to your Jimmy Choo’s, now that I have a Blog, I can fulfill my inner New England Curmudgeon, feminist, bra-burning, march-to-the-tune-of-a-different-drummer beat.  “And the Beat Goes On…”

So goes the continuing saga of my experiences as an Affiliate Rep.  I’m beginning to question whether this is something I really want to be associated with.  The products are great, but the methods and tactics some of you WAHMs use to promote and peddle your wares are definitely questionable.

Come’ on ladies, if you’re a WAHM signed up to be an Affiliate Marketer, you a) either have young kids or b) have grown kids.  Don’t you read the news, Blogs, whatever?  - there’s a whole generation of kids being raised  with a bad case of the “gimmies”  who think they should be living a life of entitlement and instant self-gratification.   I posted about this awhile ago during the holiday shopping season here.

This is an actual portion of a post from a WAHM (I’m led to believe) that appeared within the last day or so  on a Yahoo Group Affiliate Membership forum that I belong to:

….I don’t have any teen girls, How is the best way to find them with out seeming like the creeping lady on the corner outside of school? Most of my friends have small kids, (under 10) Thanks for any help.

This person was trying to infiltrate the ‘tween set to peddle products that might be of interest to ‘tweens.

And here was my posted response:

Hi ~

There are many charitable organizations out and around that are really looking for volunteers to help with teen mentoring  programs or the disadvantaged.

I would suggest checking with your local social services agencies, church groups, school PTA’s, after school programs, YWCAs and the like.  I’m sure they’d be more than happy to assign you to work with and get to know some teens!

Sarcasm intended.  Get real.  Now I’m a mom of 2 grown daughters.  One’s a college grad ~ the other’s finishing her Junior year in college.  Ever hear about the credit card offers that come in daily targeting these kids?  Ever wonder why they’re graduating with a mountain of credit card debt (mine did Not and are Not) and student loans before they even get a chance to cash their first post-college paycheck?

Are you WAHMs that desperate that you have to go after the middle school set to push your products?  Shame on you.

While I believe in many of the products I offer, I’d like to think I’m not desperate.  If you click on my banners and like the products enough to make a purchase, fine.  But you won’t find me trying to be a pusher and sell to kids who should instead be learning about money-management.  They get enough of that in ‘tween magazines, radio, TV and peer pressure.

Anyone out there have a conscience?