ABC and 123: A Learning Collaborative: It's the Small Things Review & Giveaway

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

It's the Small Things Review & Giveaway



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This giveaway is now closed, thank you to everyone who entered!



This week we are happy to showcase Diane and her fabulous shop It's the Small Things! We were attracted to the products she carries because we could immediately see the educational tie in with many of them, especially her mini chalkboards. We know you're going to enjoy learning about her affordable products that many of your children would love.

Diane is a life long sewer and crafter, who made a lot of her now grown kid's clothes for them as they were growing up. Somehow there was never enough time for making the fun stuff. She's definitely made it priority now that she has grandchilren!

"I love finding unique things to make for them and in turn sell in my store. I spend a lot of time looking for unique items that I can make so that children can have fun learning and playing. I would love to hear about any ideas that you have for creative playing or learning items that I could find or create. Most items have been kid tested by my grandchildren who range in age from 3 to 9 so I know that children love them and they will stand up to the wear and tear that kids can put things thru."



It's the Small Things carries many unique items that stimulate the imagination while also providing quiet ways of entertainment. We especially like her line of fabric paper dolls, the dress me bears come with one clothing insert and more sets of inserts are available. These are great for young children and inserts are interchangable with dress me kitty sets.

"Dress Me Bears were designed for all those little girls and boys to play and pretend but just don't have the manual dexterity yet to dress real dolls or superheros. They are great teaching and learning tools. Great gift ideas. Simply choose the insert you'd like and insert in Bears's back pocket to dress him or her quickly and easily and they will be able to see the outfit thru the vinyl window!"

Other items she carries that we like include her tooth fairy pillows, an attractive and practical solution for parents. No more trying to reach under the pillow while not disturbing a sleeping child! The race track mat tote and her connect the dot travel game both look like great compact ways to bring entertainment along with you. The learn to tell time clock is only 5X7 and it's lightweight, so you can bring it along to practice time telling wherever you go. Another fun travel game you have to see is her puzzle and memory game set, imagine the combinations you can make! There really are a ton of fun activities you can find at It's the Small Things, take a few moments to browse through all her products, we bet your find at least one thing you love.

At Katie's Nesting Spot's household we received an I can tie my shoe activity, and ER had a whole lot of fun untying over and over the shoelaces. She isn't ready to tie them up yet, but enjoys watching me and reciting: You take one lace and make a loop. Take the other lace and make another bunny ear. Fold one under the other and viola! Tied shoes.

Her efforts at making her own bunny ears out of the ribbon lace is getting better and better. I think it's a very cute and at 7", also a compact way to practice. I like how it's not only made with a pleasing and pretty color palatte, it's also very sturdy with a layer of interfacting and quilting. It's held up to my daughter's pulling and tugging as she tries to thread the holes. It's the perfect hands on learning tool.

We also received a 5X7 blank chalkboard and a mini butterfly one. ER loves drawing and the blank mat is perfect for doodling now and for practicing writing later on. She likes to bring them along in her own little purse when we go out, especially the butterfly one. She always remembers to put them away very carefully in her craft caddy of supplies and likes that they are sized right for her to carry around. The 5X7 sized board is perfect for her, but I'd like to point out that the butterfly one has very little writing space. It would be perfect for writing down individual letters or numbers or for practicing spelling words but it's a little too small for a picture.

We carry the chalk in a little baggy but It's the Small Things makes it even easier by making crayon and chalkboard bags. They're the perfect size for on the go and for your child to take ownership of and carry themselves. We also like Diane's innovative boy and girl chalkboards, that can be used to teach colors, body parts, and used as a listen and follow directions activity.


I, Katie from A List Maker's Life, was glad to participate in this review as well. I had the opportunity to sample the Addition & Subtraction Chalkboard Flashcards with my kids.
What is it?
Computation Practice + Clever Stitching = Reuseable Addition & Subtraction Chalkboard Flashcards

Features
It's the Small Things + Attention to Detail = Quality Product
5"x6" + Pocket for Chalk = Travel Take Along
Learning Activity - Bulk = Practice on the Go
Fun Pattens + Colorful Fabrics = Kid Friendly Appearance
Layer of Felt + Stitched into the Middle = Sturdy

Practice Ideas
Child + Chalkboards + Numbered Cards = Individual Review
Child + Mom + Chalkboards = Learning Together
Chalkboard Flashcards + Manipulatives = One to One Correspondance Practices
Waiting Rooms + Chalkboard Flashcards = Boredom Buster
One-on-One Tutor - Classroom Space = Portable Laptime Review

More Options
Chalkboard Flashcards + Creativity = Alternative Uses
~Make use of the small lines by writing fractions to add and subtract
~Add small dots to the subtraction flashcard to easily convert to division problems
~Practice filling in empty numbers in the number sentence for early algebra introduction

Earth Friendly
Blackboard + Whitechalk = "Greeen" Skill Practice (These flashcards eliminate the need for paper/pencil review)

Sidenote
Chalkboard Flashcards + Teacher Perspective = Suggestions
~I'd love the option for writing 2-digit equations, possibly with a vertical orientation in addition to horizontal.

Buy It!
Interested in all the wonderful educational and fun play things It's the Small Things carry? Visit their Etsy shop and buy one their wonderful collection of products for the child in your life today!

Win It in our GIVEAWAY!
Diane at It's the Small Things is offerring one of our lucky readers a $10 gift certificate to her store!

To Enter:
Visit It's the Small Things and browse around. Come back and leave us a comment as to what you'd spend your $10 gift certificate on!

For Extra Entries:
Don't forget to leave an additional comment FOR EACH additional method.

~Become a follower of this blog
~Follow us on Twitter, tweet about the giveaway, and leave us a link to it.
~Blog about it and leave us a link to your post in the comments.
~Become a Fan of It's the Small Things on Facebook, fans receive 10% off their orders!
~Visit It's the Small Thing's holiday store, and tell us your favorite product there
~Suggest a design or product you'd like to see It's the Small Things make.

Good luck, giveaway open to all of our readers, regardless of where in the world you live. Closes July 20th, midnight EST.

Disclaimer: We received our review product from It's the Small Things, free of charge in return for writing a review of their products and hosting a giveaway on our blog. We want to stress that our opinions are genuine and no effort was made to influence them by the company.

62 comments:

  1. This is a great shop. I would add to my $10 gift certificate and go for a paper doll set, it looks great!

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  2. They have a beautiful things! I love the party set :)

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  3. My favorites items in the Small Thing's holiday store are the "Star Fairy Wand Sucker Covers set of 6" and "THE MORE YOU BUY THE BETTER YOUR PRICE WILL BE Pumpkin Holiday mats set of three mats GREAT PARTY FAVORS". :)

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  4. the Love U this much bear

    aunteegem@yahoo.com

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  5. This is the neatest little shop! It would be hard to decide on what to buy! I love the food toy sets, and the shoe tie game, and the chalkboards...I like it all!! I am pretty sure that I would spend the $10 certificate plus some!!

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  6. I am a follower of this blog - I have been for a couple of weeks now...I love this blog!!!

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  7. I blogged about this giveaway! You can see my blog entry at http://trainingupachild.blogspot.com/2009/07/giveaway-i-want-to-win.html

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  8. I became a fan of this etsy shop on facebook!!

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  9. I checked out the holiday store! The reindeer pencil toppers were ADORABLE!!!

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  10. here is a suggestion for a product...while not a toy that has different types of buttons, snaps and laces (I have seen teddy bears like that...I believe these people could easily make something like that!)

    I think that covered all the extra entries except for the Twitter one...I haven't gotten on Twitter yet.

    Thanks for the chance to win!!

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  11. I love the boy dress me bear and the math reusable chalk boards. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  12. How cute! My daughter would love the Tea Party Set!

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  13. The holiday store is adorable! I love the Pumpkin chalkboard pouch.

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  14. I love this shop! I really like the crayon rolls, and the sunrise breakfast play foods.

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  15. I am also following you on twitter

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  16. I am also a fan of "It's the Small Things" on Facebook

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  17. I like the pumpkin treat bag from the holiday shop.

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  18. I would like to suggest the people at "It's the Small Things" make a quiet book for the store. :)

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  19. I would buy my children the lace up shoes & the math chalkboard..very clever skill builder toys!

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  20. I became a fan of "It's the Small Things" on facebook.

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  21. In the Holiday shop I like the Pumpkin pouch chalkboards..my girls would love to draw spooky pumpkin faces! & who wouln't love a cup of Snowman Soup..too cute!

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  22. i would get mini chalk boards, the race track mat tote, and play food.
    If i want to blog about this contest, do I have permission to include an image of one of the items in the Its the Small Things Store?

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  23. I would spend my $10 on the crayon purse... love it!!

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  24. In her holiday store I love the christmas sucker covers!

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  25. A product she could make could be a childs traveling chalk board games, such as dots, tic tac toe, hang man ect ... an all in one kit for on the road.

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  26. What a hard decision, this will probably change if I win...... I think I'd get either the dress up bears or the play food. My kids love play food.

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  27. love the napkins in the holiday shop. Very cute idea

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  28. Cute shop. I think I would buy the lace up shoes

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  29. I would so buy the "Girls learn to tie" we are currently trying to teach my daughter how to tie and this would be perfect!!

    I also love the chalkboards, and ....I could go on it is all great!!

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  30. I love the pumpkin treat bag!! How fun to give to special friends!!

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  31. I would love to get my 19 month old the pizza party play food and one of the tea party felt sets !

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  32. HOLY COW I LOVE that stuff! I would get the pizza and the chalk board... and i'd spend way more than the $10 that's for sure!

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  33. I had over 300 blogs I was following. I am going through the list and removing some to make room for others. I just dropped in and found your cool summer giveaways.

    My 3 year old will be turning 4 next month and she loves the donuts and tea set. lol I think her site is adorable. Thanks.

    DELUXE TEA PARTY SET OF 4 FELT DONUTS, 4 TEA BAGS AND 8 SUGAR CUBES WITH CHILDS INITIAL OR HEART ON THE TEA BAG TAG

    gahome2mom at gmail dot com

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  34. follower on blogger

    gahome2mom at gmail dot com

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  35. gahome2mom at gmail dot com

    facebook fan - gahome2mom

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  36. Pumpkin Holiday mats set of three mats GREAT PARTY FAVORS - so cute!!!

    gahome2mom at gmail dot com

    I had to favorite her stores. My daughters wants everything so I had to get out of there. lol

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  37. Carrie Ovard
    What great items, I would get some of the crayon rolls for my kids and have them personalized with their names.
    caovard@yahoo.com

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  38. Carrie Ovard

    I am a follower of your blog.
    caovard@yahoo.com

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  39. Carrie Ovard

    I like the snow man pencil toppers and the little chalk board pumkin things,
    caovard@yahoo.com

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  40. I would get one of the felt food play sets.

    Susana
    customblog@gmail.com

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  41. I am follower of ABC & 123!

    Susana
    customblog@gmail.com

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  42. I blogged about this contest at
    http://birkatchaverim.com/wordpress/?p=277

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  43. I would get the travel chalkboard rolls for my nephews!

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  44. I like the large doodle chalkboard roll. It would be perfect for traveling. Cute stuff!

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  45. This store has so many cute items...really hard to pick just one! I think Izzie would like the Puzzle Memory Game.

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  46. In the holiday store, I like the tic-tac-toe boards...really cute!

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  47. I would love to see more felt food designs.

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  48. I love these! I know that the girls in my family would love playing tea with these little cakes.

    http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=28068324

    tater_16_2001@yahoo.com

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  49. I think it would be cute if they made some cupcakes to go along with their tea party set.

    tater_16_2001@yahoo.com

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  50. I visited the holiday shop and I really like the 4 of July small crayola roll.

    tater_16_20012yahoo.com

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