Bluegrass for Babies T-Shirt Design Contest

Do you have a creative child in your family?  Or in your neighborhood?  Or where you teach?  I have a contest that will be perfect for them!  Bluegrass for Babies has asked me to help spread the word about their T-Shirt Design Contest, and I immediately jumped at the opportunity, because as you can tell from this post I wrote about their Midsummer Harvest, I'm a huge fan of Bluegrass for Babies!  They are doing such wonderful things for the smallest members of our community!

And  now Bluegrass for Babies is offering children under the age of 12 the chance to have thier own unique artwork transformed into the official T-Shirt of Babies for Bluegrass for 2013!  How cool is that?!?!  I know that my kids would be over the moon to have their artwork selected.  You have to hurry though and get those creative juices flowing, because the contest ends on August 28th!

Here are all of the official contest details from Bluegrass for Babies ::

Children, with the help of a parent, can upload a photo or scan of their design to the Bluegrass for Babies Facebook page.  Entries will be accepted through August 28, 2013. A panel of judges will select five finalists, with the public voting for their favorite design the week of September 2.  The winning design will be announced the week of September 9, 2013.

In addition to having their design featured on the Bluegrass for Babies children’s t-shirt, the grand prize winner will also receive a concert prize pack that includes two adult admissions and parking pass; two kids Bluegrass for Babies t-shirts featuring the winning design courtesy of Big Frog Custom T-shirts, a Bluegrass for Babies tote, and dinner for four from Chipotle.

All entrants into the design contest will receive a coupon from Chipotle for a complimentary Chipotle Kids Meal.

The Bluegrass for Babies t-shirt design contest is open to children ages 12 and under. Submitted designs must include an image of a stork somewhere within the design. All entrants should upload a photo or scanned copy of their design to the contest page on the Bluegrass for Babies Facebook page.  

More about Bluegrass for Babies ::

Founded in 2009, Bluegrass for Babies, Inc. is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 focused on improving children’s health. Launched as an annual bluegrass benefit concert, Bluegrass for Babies has evolved into an organization that provides tools, resources, and year-round special events centered on helping parents create an environment to raise healthy children, right from the start. The organization supports the Perinatal Institute at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, which provides comprehensive care for infants before, during and after delivery so that all children can have the best start to life. More information is available online at www.bluegrassforbabies.com.

 


Disclaimer: I recieved coupons for burritos at Chipotle for sharing this post, but the opinions are 100% mine!

Summerfair 2013 {Giveaway}

Congrats to Maureen G. who said "My husband and I used to go to Summerfair often before kids. I think they are old enough to enjoy it now."  Shoot me an email at Katie @ Cards-by-Katie (dot) com to claim your prize!!!
The first weekend of June is a special time...it's a time when artisans from near and far converge on Coney Island with their masterpieces to sell to those of us who love to have handmade works of art in our home.  You can find anything from handcrafted pepper grinders to patchwork purses to painting of local landmarks.  And even if you are not in the mood to shop, walking around Summerfair is like walking around an eclectic art museum only you get to meet the artists up close and personally. Over 300 artisans come together on the banks of the Ohio and each booth displays something unique, interesting and captivating.  It's truly one of my family's favorite summer traditions.  I always end up coming home with several treasures, and without breaking the bank.  There is also a special section for kids where they can create their own masterpieces and explore the arts.  My kids love this.  Every year they have different projects.  Two years ago the kids decorated their own t-shirts, and Sam is still wearing his (it has an OTTER on it of course).  I can't wait to see what is in store this year!

 

Here's all the important details about Summerfair:  

The 46^th annual fair will take place May 31-June 2, 2013 Friday: 2 to 8 p.m. (Little Black Dress: 7 to 11 p.m.) Saturday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Conveniently located 13 miles from downtown Cincinnati at historic Coney Island (just off I-275 at Kellogg Avenue).  Ticket information: Tickets can be purchased for $10.00 (children 12 and under are free). 

Since its creation in 1967, Summerfair has become a nationally recognized event featuring more than 300 visual and performing artists. What began as a small art fair’s salute to the opening of Cincinnati’s Playhouse in the Park has grown into one of the oldest continuous art fairs, drawing more than 20,000 art enthusiasts annually to see and purchase the works of artists from across the United States and Canada.

Summerfair features a variety of mediums in every price range, including: jewelry, metal, sculpture, photography, painting, drawing, glass, fiber, leather, ceramics and 2D/3D mixed media art. The event also features unique performances from a variety of singer/songwriters, quartets, dancers and other entertainers.

THE GIVEAWAY ::

I'm so excited to say that the folks at Summerfair are generously giving me a 4-pack of tickets to give to one lucky winner!  I think that your family would love this event.  I will be drawing a winner on Wednesday, May 22nd at 2pm and the winner will have 24 hours to contact me, or another name will be drawn.  Please add your email address to your comments!

HOW TO ENTER ::

1.  Leave a comment below telling me why you would like to win these tickets.

BONUS ENTRIES ::

2.  Share this contest and then leave a comment telling me how you spread the word.  If you share via Twitter, please be sure to use @LittleThingsMom in your tweet.  And if you share via Facebook please tag the little things blog & Summerfair.

3.  Leave a comment below telling me what your favorite kind of art is.

4.  Like "the little things blog" on Facebook, and if you are already a fan of that page, hit the like button on my other page to support my arts...the Cards by Katie facebook page.  If you are already a fan of both of these pages spread the word about them by inviting your friends to "like" them.  Leave a comment below telling me you did so.

5.  Follow me on Pinterest and leave a comment below telling me you did so.

Disclaimer :: In exchange for hosting this giveaway I was given two tickets to Summerfair...but even if they had not given me the tickets I would still be going to this event!  I wouldn't miss it!

Back to School Crayola Giveaway {CLOSED}

This giveaway is now closed, but please stay tuned for more great giveaways and other fun stuff!  The Winner is:  Amy  who gave us this piece of wisdom about getting the kids back in the school routine:  "To make going back to school easier we focus on having the kids help, too. It all goes smoother when its a team effort."  Congrats Amy!  Email me at Katie(at)Cards-by-Katie.com to claim your prize!

 I know you all love these Crayola giveaways...I'm so tickled to bring you another awesome prize pack from the folks at Crayola & My Blogspark.  Every time I get one of these packages in the mail the whole family gets excited.  This package was no exception, and all of the materials inside were perfect for kids going back to school or kids who are learning at home!  There is a cool dry erase board, window markers, fabric markers, several items from the new Wild Notes Line, and more!  Ella loves using the Wild Notes Notebook for writing down her homework at school and practicing her spelling words.  I'm using the index cards to help Sam with his sight wrods and alphabet recognition.  Max uses the dry erase board to practice his spelling words (perfect use for this board!).  And I'm not going to lie, I kept the Wild Notes peel & stick pads for myself!  The whole family is getting something out of this set!  And you can win some of these awesome products in a gift pack for your family!

Here's a bit of information about these fabulous Crayola products:

Color your way back to school this year! Brighten up your kids’ school day with fun CrayolaTM products that help bring color to just about any surface. Whether it’s taking notes in the classroom or showing school spirit by drawing on windows, Crayola is helping kids explore every color of the rainbow. The vibrant new twist on school products is sure to add a splash of color to the day and help kids stay organized so they can ace exams and presentations while letting their creativity shine.

Bring colorful ideas to life...not just on paper! The Crayola Marker collection and Dry Erase Products allow children to express themselves and show off their school spirit.

Kids can add their own artwork on backpacks or create wild, brightly colored designs on a new pair of jeans or a t-shirt with Crayola Bright Fabric Markers. The bright colors will “pop” off dark fabrics, showing kids creations in a whole new light!

Get the whole team pumped up this season with Crayola Window Mega Markers and Crystal Effects Window Markers. The oversized Window Mega Markers come in a special school color assortment. Decorate the family minivan for the first big game of the season using the broad, brilliantly colored strokes; kids can create amazing effects with Crystal Effects Window Markers on windows that dry to bright, crystalized colors. Both markers are completely washable and designed to work on all glass surfaces.

Keep busy family schedules organized as the new school year starts with Crayola’s black and white Dual-Sided Dry-Erase Board Set. The board provides twice the dry-erase drawing fun and organization for kids and families. Two surfaces double the drawing area and make it more fun for kids to play tic-tac-toe and word games, practice spelling words and math problems or leave a message for mom. The board comes with a pack of eight Crayola Washable Dry-Erase Bright Crayons. Colors cleanly and easily wipe off each side for endless creative play. The set also includes a machine-washable “E-Z erase” cloth and the classic Crayola built-in crayon sharpener.

Take note-taking or study sessions up a notch with the multitude of colors in the Wild Notes Line.

Combine fun and learning with Crayola’s Wild Notes Index Cards. Kids can make presentation notes or flash cards with different colors using just one pen. The convenient spiral-binding at the top allows for easy flipping and the perforated cards allow for clean tear-out.

Writing special notes to friends can be fun, but writing on peel n’ stick paper with surprising colors on each note is even more exciting. Crayola’s Wild Notes Sticky Notes use one unique pen for kids to colorfully leave messages with fun shapes anywhere for themselves or for a friend. The sticky notes are the perfect size for quick reminders

Kids will love doing their homework this year with Crayola’s Wild Notes 1 Subject Notebook. Watch as amazing colors change on each page with the Wild Notes pen. Convenient spiral-binding allows for easy flipping.

Doesn't that just sound fantastic?  Want to win a Crayola Gift Pack for your family?  It's easy!  Here's what your gift pack will include if you win:

Crayola Bright Fabric Markers

Crystal Effects Window Markers

Crayola Window Mega Markers

Wild Notes Index Cards

Wild Notes Sticky Notes
Wild Notes 1 Subject Notebook

I will draw one winner using Random.org on Friday, September 14th at 2pm, announcing here on the blog and on the little things facebook page.  The winner will have 48 hours to reply or another name will be drawn.  The package will take several weeks to arrive at your home.  Good Luck!
How to Enter ::
1. Leave a comment below telling me why you would like to win this.

2. Leave a comment below telling me one tip for making the back to school transition easier.

3. "Follow" me on Pinterest and leave a comment below telling me you do so.

4. "Like" the Crayola facebook page and the little things blog facebook page and leave a comment below telling me you did so. If you already like the little things facebook page, please considering inviting your friends to like it ;)

5. Give a shout out about this giveaway...either on facebook (tag the little things blog), or twitter (include @LittleThingsMom and @Crayola and include the hashtag #MyBlogSpark). Or you can always spread the word using email. Then leave a comment telling me how you spread the word.

6.  Sign up for email notifications for this blog (see box at upper right hand side of this page) and then leave a comment telling me you did so.

Disclosure: The information, products and additional Crayola Sumer Fun gift pack was provided by Crayola® through MyBlogSpark

Crayola Summer Fun Giveaway

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.  Congrats to Renny & Mel who said:  "Favorite way to keep my son happy on a long car ride: lots of tunes. "Family Time" by Ziggy Marley is our favorite album at the moment."

Please email me at: Katie(at)Cards-by-Katie(dot)com to claim your prize!  Thanks to everyone who participated, and stay tuned for more great giveaways, tasty recipes, inspiring menu plans, crafts for the kids, and Sunday Sayings!

I wanted to start this post with a really cool picture of the giant box of goodies that I got in the mail from Crayola & Blogspark, but in their excitement the children took all the treasures out before I could get a snapshot of the entire collection.  That's a testament to how cool this collection of Crayola products is...and the best news is, I have a second collection to give away!  Even though I don't have a picture of the group of goodies, here's a description from the folks at Crayola about the products in this giveaway:

As Crayola helps keep your kids occupied in the backseat this summer, you can enjoy the ride because Crayola Color Wonder products are made to let kids express themselves without making a mess.

- With over 10 feet of coloring, the compact Color Wonder On the Go Tiny Tube lets kids tear off a perforated activity page for magical coloring fun at home or on the road. The tube fits in the cup holder of a car and can store the included markers inside, making it a perfect on-the-go activity. Adhesive-backing allows paper to stay in place while coloring so kids can easily create anything imaginable.

- Bring your friends on the road with the Disney and Barbie Crayola Color Wonder Mini Coloring Pad and Markers. With more pages than ever, kids will enjoy coloring a variety of pictures featuring some of their favorite characters. These fun coloring pads are also available in mini sizes that are perfect for tucking into a bag and bring them with you wherever you go.
- Get back to basics and allow kids to draw what they see outside their car window or daydream and draw whatever they imagine with the Color Wonder Coloring Pad. Kids will be entertained in the back seat with 5 sheets of Color Wonder paper and 2 Color Wonder Markers that only leave a mark on special Color Wonder paper.
- Create, erase, and create again with Crayola Dry Erase products that allow kids to unleash their inner artist over and over without carrying around hundreds of sheets of paper.
- You’ll be all packed up and ready to go with the Crayola Dry Erase Travel Pack that features a dry erase surface, along with dry erase crayons, an eraser and a sharpener to help sustain hours of fun. Take out the game and activity templates and let kids challenge each other to different games using vibrant, washable markers.
- Everyone can get in the game with the Crayola Dry Erase Zany Play that comes with four bullet tip dry erase markers and boards that your family can use to play games like tic-tac-toe, the dot game and mazes.

I have to say, this product review and giveaway were perfectly timed for me.  The package arrived in the mail the day before we were set to leave for a weekend away.  I'm always looking for new things to occupy my kids in the car, and these products did the trick!  The car ride was quiet and happy, which made for one happy mama :) 

So...do you want to win a Crayola Summer Fun pack for your family?!?  It's easy!  Just leave comments below and a random winner will be drawn on Wednesday, July 11th at 2pm and announce the winner here on my blog and on the little things facebook page.  The winner will have 48 hours to respond via email or another name will be drawn.  Here are some of the items you might find in your prize package: Crayola Color Wonder On the Go Tiny Tubes, Color Wonder Coloring Pad, Color Wonder Barbie Mini Coloring Pad and Markers, Color Wonder Drawing Pad and Markers, Dry Erase Travel Pack, Dry Erase Zany Play, and Princess and the Frog Mess Free Color Wonder Activity Sets

How to Enter ::


1. Leave a comment below telling me why you would like to win this.

2. Leave a comment below telling me your favorite way to keep the kids occupied on a long car ride.
3. "Follow" me on Pinterest and leave a comment below telling me you do so.

4. "Like" the Crayola facebook page and the little things blog facebook page and leave a comment below telling me you did so. If you already like the little things facebook page, please considering inviting your friends to like it ;)

5. Give a shout out about this giveaway...either on facebook (tag the little things blog), or twitter (include @LittleThingsMom and @Crayola and include the hashtag #MyBlogSpark). Or you can always spread the word using email. Then leave a comment telling me how you spread the word.

Disclosure:  The information, products and additional Crayola Sumer Fun gift pack was provided by Crayola® through MyBlogSpark.

My First Crayola Art Supplies :: Review & Giveaway :: CLOSED

This Giveaway is now closed!
Congrats to Jamie who gave us a great craft idea...Mirror out of spoons!
http://www.addicted2decorating.com/how-to-make-a-decorative-chrysanthemum-mirror.html

Jamie, please email me at Katie(at)Cards-by-Katie(dot)com to claim your prize!
You all must know by now how much I love encouraging my children to be creative and express themselves through art.  The kids love to take art classes, we make visits to our local art museums regularly (the Contemporary Arts Center and the Cincinnati Art Museum), and the kids have more art supplies at their disposal than some preschool classrooms have.  We have a cool cabinet in our dining room full of stuff they can grab any time to create with.  I think that encouraging them to explore and create artisitically will encourage creative thinking in all aspects of life.  I want them to grow up thinking outside the box, and coming up with creative ways to solve problems. 

So you can imagine how excited I was when I was approached by BlogSpark about doing a review and giveaway of products from the My First Crayola line.  And you can probably also imagine the glee that ensued with all of the munchkins when a package arrived in the mail containing all of the cool items you see below:

Wow!  My kids couldn't wait to take all of these products for a test drive!  And we were not disappointed!  Here's a few things that I love about this collection as a whole:

- I love that they are washable

-I love that babes as young as 12 months can use some of these products to explore artwork in an age-appropriate way (the products are marked 12 months + or 24 months +)

- I love that my 2 1/2  year old can use the materials independently to entertain himself when I need a few minutes of peace to do something like cook dinner

- I love how fun they are!  

-I love that even though these products were made with the wee ones in mind, my "bigger" kids got a kick out of the products too!

Henry had a blast with the markers!

Toddler art fun! 

Robin was amazed by the magic paper that turned colors when you used the special marker

The dry erase activity mat is just perfect for Henry to use even when Mama is not sitting right there with him!  He's been using this at dinner time to occupy himself so mama can cook in peace.

And this...this is super cool, it's a musical Rub-Art Station.  It plays music while you rub crayons over paper on top of farm image plates.  Henry LOVES this one the best!  He just giggles and giggles when he uses it.

Here's a video commercial with more details about My First Crayola supplies ::

My First Crayola Giveaway  ::
I will choose one winner using Random.org on Tuesday, May 29th at 2pm, and announce the winner here on my blog and on the little things facebook page.  The winner will have 48 hours to respond via email or another name will be drawn.  Here are some of the items you might find in your prize package: My First CrayolaTM Washable Crayons, My First CrayolaTM Washable Markers, My First CrayolaTM Washable Stampers, My First CrayolaTM Washable Dry-Erase Activity Mat, One specially marked box of original Cheerios® cereal

How to Enter ::
1.  Leave a comment below telling me why you would like to win this.
2.  Leave a comment below linking to a super-cool arts & crafts idea you have found on the internet.
3.  "Follow" me on Pinterest and leave a comment below telling me you do so.
4.  "Like" the Crayola facebook page and the little things blog facebook page and leave a comment below telling me you did so.  If you already like the little things facebook page, please considering inviting your friends to like it ;)
5.  Give a shout out about this giveaway...either on facebook (tag the little things blog), or twitter (include @LittleThingsMom and @Crayola and include the hashtag #MyBlogSpark).  Or you can always spread the word using email.  Then leave a comment telling me how you spread the word.


And here's a special offer ::
Crayola and Cheerios® cereal are offering up to $5.00 in coupon savings on My First CrayolaTM products, so you can enjoy a little colorful fun at the breakfast table!  Look for My First CrayolaTM on original Cheerios cereal boxes. 

Disclosure ::
The information, products, coupon, video and additional My First CrayolaTM gift pack was provided by Crayola® and Cheerios through MyBlogSpark.  Thank you to all of them!

the cool bus

Ella & Max had their art show at Baker Hunt a few weeks back, and as usual, the art-work from their class was out of this world.  I love all of the cool stuff that they create in this class....the sky is the limit!  Thank you to Christian, Lindsay & Anne for teaching such a cool class.

Here are Ella & Max's Masterpieces from the show ::

See that HUGE robot with the square blue head on the left?  That's Max's pride and joy right there.

And this?  It's the "COOL" bus!  Ella made it, and it was just awesome.  I don't know if you can properly grasp it in this picture, but this bus is HUGE.  And cool.  Note the stop sign..."Stop for the people".  Sounds like a good title for a rock album. 

Inside the bus...definitely cool.  It was a party in there.

And here's some cool artwork from other students in the class ::

The kids certainly had fun in their BOSS class this year!  You can see pix from last year's Art Show here, or pictures I took on the campus of Baker Hunt here and here (although these pix were taken all over COV).

Baker Hunt is accepting registrations right now for their Summer Classes!

And if you are a fan of the arts...don't miss my giveaway this week...4 tickets to Summerfair!  Ends Friday 5/18/12 at 2pm

Summerfair ~ GIVEAWAY [CLOSED]

Drumroll please!  The winner is....Alice Rericha who said :   My favorite kind of art???? How are you supposed to pick one.... made by a child. That's my favorite right now. 
Alice, please email me within 48 hours to claim your prize!  Katie(at)Cards-by-Katie(dot)com

Thanks to everyone who entered!  Stay tuned, another art-related giveaway coming very soooon!


Summer is just around the corner, and one of my favorite kick-offs for Summer vacation is Summerfair at Coney Island.  Imagine if you will...beautiful & unique artwork as far as the eye can see!  And it's all for sale!  Last year I found myself a sweet fabric purse, a hand-made wooden spatula for Michael and an adorable set of salt and pepper shakers.  Jackpot.  I love meandering down all of the paths and spending time checking out all of the booths.  There are potters, painters, woodworkers, photographers, sculptors, jewelry-makers, and much more...over 300 artists coming together to share their work.  

And for the young ones, there is a Youth Art Rocks! section where they can create their own masterpieces.  My kids loved this last year...they painted flower pots and made cool t-shirts.  I cannot wait to see what's in store for us this year!

Here are all of the important details about the event from my friends at Summerfair:

WHEN: Friday, June 1: 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Friday, June 1: 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. (Little Black Dress Event)

Saturday, June 2: 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, June 3: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

§ Admission to the fair is $10 for adults; kids 12 and under are free.

§ Advance one-day or multi-day tickets are available online at www.summerfair.org.
§ Tickets to the Little Black Dress Event are $15.
§ Parking is free, courtesy of Summerfair.

WHERE: Coney Island/ 13 miles from downtown Cincinnati

Interstate 275 at Kellogg Avenue ( Eastern Cincinnati )
COST: Adults: $10.00
Children (12 & under): FREE
Parking: FREE, courtesy of Summerfair

Advance one day, or multi-day tickets are available online at www.summerfair.org.

THE GIVEAWAY ::

I'm so excited to say that the folks at Summerfair are generously giving me a 4-pack of tickets to give to one lucky winner!  I think that your family would love this event.  I will be drawing a winner on Friday, May 18th at 2pm and the winner will have 48 hours to contact me. 

HOW TO ENTER ::

1.  Leave a comment below telling me why you would like to win these tickets.

2.  Share this contest and then leave a comment telling me how you spread the word.  If you share via Twitter, please be sure to use @LittleThingsMom in your tweet.  And if you share via Facebook please tag the little things blog & Summerfair.

3.  Leave a comment below telling me what your favorite kind of art is.

4.  Like "the little things blog" on Facebook, and if you are already a fan of that page, hit the like button on my other page to support my arts...the Cards by Katie facebook page.  If you are already a fan of both of these pages spread the word about them by inviting your friends to "like" them.  Leave a comment below telling me you did so.

5.  Follow me on Pinterest and leave a comment below telling me you did so.

Disclaimer :: In exchange for hosting this giveaway I was given two tickets to Summerfair...but even if they had not given me the tickets I would still be going to this event!  I wouldn't miss it!