Checking Our List #24: Crafty Kids Playhouses Review & Giveaway

It was after Kaelyn's 1st birthday party that I realized how entertaining a cardboard box could really be. Although she received several toys as gifts, it was the large boxes they came in that provided hours of fun long after her party was done. Over the years her love for simple things like boxes has not changed. In fact, I often say that she and Kaden could have a room full of toys and get bored in no time, but with one cardboard box they could be entertained for days (if not weeks on end). So, you can imagine my excitement when I learned that there's actually a company that offers great cardboard playhouses for kids!

Crafty Kids Playhouses was inspired by the pure enjoyment and creativity that comes from playing with boxes as a child. It is their goal to provide high quality, eco-friendly products that stimulate a child's imagination and foster creativity.

As I browsed CraftyKidsUSA.com for the first time, I was impressed to find both full size and miniature playhouses. This was exactly the type of thing I knew my kids would love playing with and I couldn't have been happier to learn that we were going to have the opportunity to review one!

We were sent the Crafty Kids Creation Cottage Craft Model (which is 1/3 the size of the Original Full-Size Creation Cottage).

Features/Benefits

• 100% Recycled
• Assembles in Minutes
• Requires only a child's imagination
• Unique Design
• Eco-Friendly
• Ages 3 and up
• Includes 6 Non-Toxic Washable Markers
• Convenient size - 14.75"L x 12.5"W x 16"H

When the Creation Cottage Craft Model Kit arrived, I was very excited to get it put together and see what Kaelyn thought of it.

I opened the box and found that there were just four pieces that needed to be put together. Reading over the user-friendly instructions, I realized that assembly was going to be very simple. By sliding the flaps into the slots, I had it put together in just a couple of minutes.

I was pleasantly surprised to see how sturdy the 100% recycled cardboard really is once it was all put together. It will not only last us a long time, but also provides a nice surface for children to draw and color on. There are 6 Non-Toxic Washable Markers included which was very exciting for Kaelyn, as she was tickled to use her 'new markers' as she calls them to 'decorate' her house.

Kaelyn enjoys coloring a lot, so I knew this would be something she'd really enjoy. She spent a very long time using color after color drawing rainbows and other things on her house. It was fun to watch as she personalized the blank canvas into something of her own.

She has even pulled out the markers several times since receiving it to continue her work of art. I absolutely love that it encourages creativity and imagination...the options are endless as to what she can create! I have to admit that when she asks if I want to color with her, I always happily say yes. Even as adult I've enjoyed the creativity and fun that comes along with coloring on the Creation Cottage.

The fun did not stop there, however. Once she had finished creating a beautiful cottage, she ran back to her bedroom ready to introduce many of her smaller stuffed animals to their new home. I was actually surprised to find how many of them could fit in this 14.75"L x 12.5"W x 16"H sized cottage. What a great size! It's been so much fun for her to play with, and is something that she has not grown bored of at all.

We have been very impressed with the Crafty Kids Creation Cottage Craft Model. The quality is fantastic, and best of all...it encourages Kaelyn to use her imagination and be creative. The sky is the limit as to how it can be used which means each day is a new adventure. She continually adds to her drawings on the outside and is always finding new uses for it. After seeing how much she loves the Craft Model, I now have my eye on the Original Creation Cottage which is three times as big. I can just imagine the fun she would have with something like that!

With the holidays around the corner, I would highly recommend checking out Crafty Kids! Their playhouses would make the perfect gift for any child on your list this year.

Buy It: You can purchase the Creation Cottage Craft Model for $22.95 from Crafty Kids.

Win It: One very lucky reader is going to win their choice of a Shuttle Imagination Craft Model OR Creation Cottage Craft Model

Mandatory Entry - Visit Crafty Kids and leave a comment letting me know another product you like.

Extra Entries: (Only valid after the mandatory entry has been completed. Leave 1 comment for each extra entry)

1. 1 extra entry- Enter the Crafty Kids Giveaway Thanks, Mail Carrier

2. 1 extra entry- Like Crafty Kids on Facebook

3. 1 extra entry- Follow Crafty Kids on Twitter

4. 3 extra entries- Grab our Checking Our List Holiday Gift Guide Button and leave a comment with the URL where it can be found.

5. 3 extra entries- Blog about this giveaway (linking to this post and Crafty Kids) and leave THREE comments with the URL to that post.

6. 1 extra entry- Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (You can tweet once a day for one extra entry every day)! You can copy and paste:

#WIN a @CraftyKids Creation Cottage Craft Model OR Shuttle Imagination Craft Model #momsbalancingact http://bit.ly/g8f6AS Ends 12/23

7. 3 extra entries- Post my blog button or blog URL to your blog and leave a comment with the URL to your blog. (If it already is, leave me a comment letting me know)

8. 2 extra entries- subscribe to A Mom's Balancing Act via e-mail (found along the side column) and leave TWO comments letting me know.

9. 2 extra entries- 'Like' A Mom's Balancing Act on Facebook

10. 2 extra entries- Follow my blog publicly on Google Friend Connect

11. Enter any of my other Holiday Gift Guide giveaways running now. Leave me a comment on which one(s)....ONE entry for EACH giveaway you enter!!

Leave one comment for each entry you complete. Be sure to leave your email address with your comments or make sure it's visible in your profile so that I have a way to contact you if you win!

This giveaway will end December 23rd and is open to US Only!

**The products for this review & giveaway were provided for free by Crafty Kids. All opinions found here are 100% mine and were not influenced in any way. The opinions of others may differ from my own**