This is a joint giveaway with Hobo Mama Reviews and Natural Parents Network. You may enter at one site only. Please find the section marked "Win it!" for the mandatory main entry and optional bonus entries.
WILL TRAVEL special event: I am featuring a few special travel items for review and giveaway that I was able to use on my trip with my three-year-old son and eight-year-old niece this summer. Any of these items would make a fabulous Christmas gift or be ideal for holiday travel!
Glitterful Felt Stories features incredible hand-crafted felt boards and story characters that are sure to spark your child's imagination. If you remember Flannelgraph stories from childhood Sunday school classes (anyone?), this is similar in concept but in a child-usable size and child-oriented themes, generally from children's literature or songs. The felt characters stick to the flannel board and can be rearranged at will. Felt boards make a wonderful tool to keep children engaged and happy during a long wait — such as on a trip, in a waiting room, or at a restaurant. They also make storytelling fun, because it brings the characters to life, letting you or your children "act out" the story in a tactile and visually satisfying way.
I actually won a Glitterful Felt Stories prize in another blog's giveaway (thanks, Katydid and Kid!). I was so impressed with the quality and care that went into making these one-of-a-kind pieces — and of the potential for child amusement on trips — that I contacted the owner, Shelby, and asked if she'd mind if I did a giveaway on my own site as part of my travel theme. As you can see, she agreed to give the same prize I won to one of my readers!
When I received my travel board and story, I couldn't resist opening it right away instead of waiting for our trip. This almost proved fatal (ok, not really) — it's just that Mikko took to it so strongly I wasn't sure he'd let me put it away until the trip! He even loves wearing the travel roll like a cape (no, truly) with the ribbons that close it tied around his shoulders, flying around the house like some sort of pirate superhero. Yes, that's an unorthodox use of the travel board, but kids' imaginations are priceless like that. I love when a product is open-ended enough to allow for such diverse interpretations of use!
Untying the portable travel roll. We chose pirates. Arr! The exterior, when rolled, is a fun fabric, and the other side is high-quality felt. The stitching seems really solid, and the fabric feels plush. You can roll the felt pieces up in the board and tie it with the attached ribbon so you can take your stories with you! The size of our travel board is 10.5 inches by 17 inches, so a perfect lap or airplane tray size, as I can attest.
We went with Caps for Sale
as our felt story. I simply couldn't resist, because Mikko has that book memorized and yells — no, seriously, yells! – "Caps for sale! Fifty cents a ca-aap!" the whole time you try to read it to him, which cracks me up no end. If you're familiar with the book, you can see Glitterful Felt really went all out on including every item you need to retell the story: the tree, the peddler, the monkeys, and all his colored hats, including his own. The only problem I have is fitting all the pieces on the travel board!
Mikko puts a hat on a monkey.
I put a hat on Mikko. (I'm like that.)
Here Mikko is, happily playing monkeys on the plane ride.
Besides the folding travel boards, Glitterful Felt Stories also offers wall-hanging and aluminum-backed flannel boards for use in a home or classroom (or a home classroom). They would also be great for a library story hour or playgroup. For most families, I think the patented travel boards would get the most use, because you could use them for storytime and then tuck them away; plus, you can bring them with you whenever you want a story and playtime on the go! They have some new larger-size versions if you get a character-heavy story as I did!Here are some examples of the felt stories that Glitterful Felt Stories offers, to give you an idea of the range:
Felt stories based on beloved children's books, such as Chicka Chicka Boom Boom from the children's rhyming alphabet book of the same name
Felt stories based on kids' songs, such as "An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly"
Fairy tales and other familiar stories such as "Goldilocks and the Three Bears"
Nursery rhymes like "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed", complete with mama and doctor
More strictly educational versions, such as safety and civic themes (911, fire safety, recycling):
alphabet and number recognition:
and life cycle lessons:
And if I'm itching to relive my Flannelgraph days in earnest, there are religious and holiday-themed stories, too!
They even sell cute little glove puppets to make story or song time even more interactive!
And I thought this was a marvelous idea for young children and particularly for children with special needs who could use a visual aid for performing routine tasks. They offer Picture Learning Stories that outline the steps needed to complete a certain task, such as getting ready in the morning, going to the potty, or using good hygiene.
Anyway, that should give you an idea of the wide range you'll have trouble choosing from if you win!
BUY IT!
You can buy any of these items online from GlitterfulFeltStories.com, FunFeltStories.com, or their Etsy shop. Portable folding travel boards are $12 for the regular size, $14 for the larger. Aluminum and wall-hanging boards range from $14.99 to $19.99.
Felt stories generally start around $7.00 (although some are on sale for even less), and most are in the $10-$14 range, depending on complexity. Some of the felt pieces are "printed," so the pieces are a laminated and felted drawing (that's what our Caps for Sale ones are), and some are entirely cut out of felt and decorated with felt and glitter (hence the name!). I think they're all pretty dang impressive and seriously cannot imagine how they manage to make and sell such a variety at such low prices. Glitterful Felt is family owned and operated by Shelby Barone, a former preschool teacher and mom to three young children, and three employees. Seriously, how do they make these custom products so fast and so professionally? It's a mystery to me!
Shipping in the U.S. runs $9.95 for a felt board, $2 for one story and $0.50 for each additional story, plus a $1 handling fee. There is free U.S. shipping on orders over $50. If you sign up for the newsletter, you'll find they often offer shipping promotions and free stories with purchase. International shipping starts at $5 for one story and $0.50 for each additional story.
WIN IT!
MAIN ENTRY: Visit Glitterful Felt Stories (or any of the other shops mentioned above) and tell me which felt story you'd love to win! I'll warn you, it's going to be tough to choose.
Leave an email address in at least one of your comments if it's not clearly visible on your profile or linked web page so I can contact you if you win. (You can write it like this to foil spambots: mail {at} hobomama {dot} com or similar.)This is a joint giveaway with Hobo Mama Reviews and Natural Parents Network, a new site co-founded by Lauren of Hobo Mama & Dionna of Code Name: Mama and intending to bring together those interested in attachment parenting and a natural lifestyle. You may enter at one site only, and we'll be recording IP addresses to ensure that there are no duplicate entries. That said, please do check out and enjoy both sites!
BONUS ENTRIES, to increase your chance of winning (leave a separate comment for each so I can count them all):
- Let me know your favorite portable travel board (not the new large size but the regular).
- Heart the Glitterful Felt Stories shop on Etsy and leave me your Etsy user name in the comment.
- Let me know how you will use this felt story if you win.
- Subscribe to the FeltStories.com blog in a reader or email, or become a follower through Google Friend Connect (1 entry for each).
- Follow www.HoboMamaReviews.com publicly through Google Friend Connect, or subscribe to the Hobo Mama Reviews RSS feed in a reader or by email (1 entry for each).
- Follow www.HoboMama.com through Google Friend Connect, or subscribe to the Hobo Mama RSS feed in a reader or by email (1 entry for each).
- Subscribe to Natural Parents Network in a reader or by email.
- Follow @glitterfulfelt on Twitter and leave your Twitter name in the comment.
- Follow @Hobo_Mama on Twitter and leave your Twitter name in the comment.
- Follow @NatParNet on Twitter and leave your Twitter name in the comment.
- Tweet about this giveaway (up to 5 times total, at least 24 hours apart). You can use the retweet button at the top of the post or tweet this text: Enter to #win a charming felt story & travel board from @GlitterfulFelt via @Hobo_Mama & @NatParNet! http://bit.ly/9akWMK {12.1, US}
- Like Glitterful Felt Stories on Facebook.
- Like Hobo Mama on Facebook.
- Like Natural Parents Network on Facebook.
- Enter another of my current giveaways or the giveaways on Natural Parents Network (1 extra entry per giveaway — check back for more, because they are coming soon).
- Put my Hobo Mama button on your website or add http://www.HoboMama.com to your text blogroll for 2 extra entries each. The HTML code for the button is in the sidebar. Leave your site URL in the comment so I can visit.
- Put the Natural Parents Network badge on your website or add http://NaturalParentsNetwork.com to your text blogroll for 2 extra entries each. The HTML code for the badge is on the front page of NaturalParentsNetwork.com. Leave your site URL in the comment.
RULES:
- Contest open to United States street mailing addresses only.
- Contestants may enter at either Hobo Mama Reviews or Natural Parents Network but not both. Entries will be combined for the drawing of a single winner.
- Leave each entry as a separate comment so I can count them all.
- For actions like following and subscribing, if you already follow or subscribe, just let me know in your comment.
- For tasks that garner you multiple entries, you can copy and paste the comment with a #1, #2, etc.
- You don't have to do any of the bonus entries, but you do have to complete the first mandatory one.
- I will pick the winner through Random.org after the contest closes and send an email notification. Leave an email address in your comment if it's not clearly visible on your profile or linked web page so I can contact you if you win. If I can't reach a winner or don't hear back within a couple days, I'll draw a new name.
- Any questions, let me know: mail {at} HoboMama.com
Contest closes December 1 at 11:59 p.m. PST.
Disclosure: I received a free Glitterful Felt Stories story
and travel board as a giveaway prize.
I try to seek out only products I think you would find
relevant and useful to your life as a natural parent.
If I don't like a product, I won't be recommending it to you.
That's how I roll. See my full disclosure policy here.
and travel board as a giveaway prize.
I try to seek out only products I think you would find
relevant and useful to your life as a natural parent.
If I don't like a product, I won't be recommending it to you.
That's how I roll. See my full disclosure policy here.
Posts
191 comments:
Old MacDonald Had A Farm Flannel Board Felt Story
ENLARGE Portable Folding Travel Size Felt Board Flames
google follower
fb follower on network blogs
liked on fb
get emails
Corduroy Flannel Felt Board Story
snugles4433@Hotmail.com
Portable Folding Travel Size Felt Board Cowboy Print
snugles4433@Hotmail.com
I follow you on gfc
snugles4433@Hotmail.com
i would love to win the A Brown Bear Preschool Flannel Felt Board Story
i like the Portable Folding Travel Size Flannel Board Felt Board Frogs
I'd like the Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
mearley1979 at gmail dot com
I like the Fluer de Lis Portable Board
mearley1979 at gmail dot com
I heart on Etsy (mearley)
mearley1979 at gmail dot com
If I win, I will use this with my daughter.
mearley1979 at gmail dot com
subscribed to Felt Stories in Google REader
mearley1979 at gmail dot com
follow Hobo Mama on GFC
mearley1979 at gmail dot com
subscribe to Hobo Mama in Google Reader
mearley1979 at gmail dot com
I like Hobo Mama on FB
mearley1979 at gmail dot com
entered Prima Princessa
mearley1979 at gmail dot com
I like 5 little monkeys jumping on the bed
sarahlovesvegas@hotmail
Fluer de Lis Portable Board
sarahlovesvegas@hotmail
We would use this on car trips
sarahlovesvegas@hotmail
I love the Noah's Ark Flannel Felt Board Story -Liz I
chlives at hotmail dot com
I like the Old lady who swallowed a fly set.
I like the Rudolph, Rudolph What do you See story. Thanks! bethany dot jensen at gmail dot com
And the travel sized sharks board is adorable! ANd my son would love it. bethany dot jensen at gmail dot com
These are great! And you're right - hard to pick one!
I'll go for the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom felt story!
My almost 3yo son would be playing with this!
Sub'd to NPN by email.
Sub'd to Hobo Mama Reviews by email.
Sub'd to Hobo Mama via email.
Like Hobo Mama on Fb.
Like NPN on Fb.
Entered Pocket Game/I Spy Stick giveaway. :)
Entered I Spy Bag giveaway. :)
And...I like the shark portable travel board.
Oops! And my email is kreeeesta at hotmail dot com :)
noah's ark is cute
they are all cute!
thanks,
nsurja at hotmail dot com
I really like the portable foldable travel size Frogs-
danellejohns at gmail dot com
Ahh my main entry didn't post first.
I like the kissing hand felt story
danellejohns at gmail dot com
I hearted on Etsy-Danellejohns
danellejohns at gmail dot com
One of my kids favorite books was the Kissing Hand when they were younger. I think they would love to use it with their old book to read totheir new baby brother.
danellejohns at gmail dot com
I have subscribed and verified via email to Glitterfelt
danellejohns at gmail dot com
I follow FeltStories publicly via GFC-DanelleJohnson
danellejohns at gmail dot com
I follow FeltStories via feed GoogleReader
danellejohns at gmail dot com
I follow you via feed GoogleReader danellejohns at gmail dot com
I follow you publicly via GFC-DanelleJohnson
danellejohns at gmail dot com
I am an email subscriber of HoboMama
danellejohns at gmail dot com
I follow HoboMama via feed GoogleReader
danellejohns at gmail dot com
I follow HoboMama publicly via GFC-DanelleJohnson
danellejohns at gmail dot com
I am an email subscriber to Nat Parent
danellejohns at gmail dot com
I follow/like you on Twitter-DanelleJohns(Danelle)
danellejohns at gmail dot com
I follow/like Nat Parent on Twitter-DanelleJohns(Danelle)danellejohns at gmail dot com
I follow/like glitterfeltfun on Twitter-DanelleJohns(Danelle)danellejohns at gmail dot com
I follow/like you on FB-DanelleJohns
danellejohns at gmail dot com
I follow/like NatParent on FB-DanelleJohns
danellejohns at gmail dot com
I follow/like Glitterful Felt on FB-DanelleJohns
danellejohns at gmail dot com
I really like the A Caterpillar Flannel Board Felt Board Story
a10small at hotmail dot com
I think the down by the bay story board looks fun, I remember this song from kindergarten. Not going to say how long ago that way.lol
my son would use it. He loves to be creative.
I follow hobo Mamas
I follow natural parents network
I like hobo mama onfb
I like natural parents network on fb
I entered the breast friend contest
I like gliterful felt stories on FB
would like the An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Bat Flannel Felt Story
mverno@roadrunner.com
I would have to choose Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. My 5 yr old needs help with letter recognition. and We love the book. on_extra (at) yahoo (dot) com
My boys would like the pirates
on_extra (at) yahoo (dot) com
I would use this to help my 5 yr old with letter recognition
on_extra (at) yahoo (dot) com
I signed up for feltstories.com e-mails
on_extra (at) yahoo (dot) com
I signed up for your e-mails
on_extra (at) yahoo (dot) com
chicka chicka boom boom
I would like The Three Little Pigs Flannel Felt Board Story
I like Portable Folding Travel Size Flannel Board Felt Board Frogs
we are right now reading this story at least 3 times a day. this would be cool addition.
Subscribed to the FeltStories.com blog in email
Following www.HoboMamaReviews.com publicly through Google Friend Connect
Following www.HoboMama.com through Google Friend Connect
Following @glitterfulfelt on Twitter - @besttoddlertoys
Following @Hobo_Mama on Twitter - @besttoddlertoys
Following @NatParNet on Twitter - @besttoddlertoys
Liked Glitterful Felt Stories on Facebook.
Liked Hobo Mama on Facebook.
Liked Natural Parents Network on Facebook.
entered I spy giveaway
I want the Old MacDonald Had a Farm Flannel Board Story and the Felt Board Ice Cream (cupcake print)
appetizerforacraftymind(at)yahoo(dot)com
My favorite portable travel board is the Felt Board Ice Cream (cupcake print)
appetizerforacraftymind(at)yahoo(dot)com
I would use this for long drives in the car and also at the Doctors office.
appetizerforacraftymind(at)yahoo(dot)com
I'm following GlitterfulFelt on twitter @buttonlove
appetizerforacraftymind(at)yahoo(dot)com
I'm following NatParNet on twitter @buttonlove
appetizerforacraftymind(at)yahoo(dot)com
I entered your Giggle Junction I Spy Bag giveaway
appetizerforacraftymind(at)yahoo(dot)com
I entered your Grow Smart Games My Pocket Games or I Spy Sensory Stick giveaway
appetizerforacraftymind(at)yahoo(dot)com
I like the Three little pigs one.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
Life Cycle of the Frog Felt Story
pinkveganmiso(at)yahoo(dot)com
A Caterpillar Felt Board Story. So cute!
diogisam(at)yahoo.com(dot)com
The Night Before Christmas Felt Board Story
They are all so cute! I think I'd pick either the Caterpillar Felt Board Story or An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly Flannel Board Story.
i would love to win Counting With Fish Bowls Flannel Board Story
melissa.barnes76 at yahoo dot com
favorite protable travel board is the travel size felt board - footballs :)
melissa.barnes76 at yahoo dot com
i will use it to teach my kids with math if i win - perfect learning tool - great for on the go too
melissa.barnes76 at yahoo dot com
follow on gfc
melissa.barnes76 at yahoo dot com
email subscriber
melissa.barnes76 at yahoo dot com
email subscriber for natural parents network
melissa.barnes76 at yahoo dot com
follow glitterfulfelt on twitter as lovinmykiddos
melissa.barnes76 at yahoo dot com
follow hobomama on twitter as lovinmykiddos
melissa.barnes76 at yahoo dot com
follow natparnet on twitter as lovinmykiddos
melissa.barnes76 at yahoo dot com
tweeted http://twitter.com/lovinmykiddos/status/6928166606077952
melissa.barnes76 at yahoo dot com
entered my pocket games
melissa.barnes76 at yahoo dot com
We love the Old MacDonald story board.
Carolyn
goecono@comcast.net
I'd either choose the Upper and Lowercase match or the Ice Cream Counting Flannel Board Felt Board Story...but,it's hard to choose,I love them all!
princessjen_7@hotmail.com
Snowman, Snowman What Do You See? Felt Board Story
Deborah
homemakerhoney @gmail .com
I would choose the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom set, my 3 year old is very interested in learning ABC's right now.
A Slippery Fish! kimbarsness(at)yahoo(dot)com
I'd get The Snowy Day set. rebolsen at gmail dot com
I like the Brown Floral travel board. Rebolsen at gmail dot com
I hearted Glitterful Felt Stories on etsy as Charming Violet. rebolsen at gmail dot com
My two daughters will use this. rebolsen at gmail dot com
I would love the 5 little ducks board! My little cousin is almost 2 1/2 and he's my little shadow. He loves to do animal sounds and counting. (or trying to at least!) This would be such a great christmas gift for him! He would be SO excited! :)
CerenaLeigh
Luckycldh(at)aol(dot)com
The football board and the fleur de lis is my favorite!
CerenaLeigh
Luckycldh(at)aol(dot)com
How can you choose?! There are so many great ones! We like the If You Give A Mouse A Cookie set, the Caps For Sale set, the Sheep In A Jeep set, and Ten Apples Up On Top set...just to name a few. :-)
I subscribe to your emails! :-)
I follow as ACMommy on Google :-)
The Cowboy print and the Frog print portable folding boards are cute!
I will use this felt set for traveling, doctor's visits when we're stuck in a waiting room, and for a fun preschool day activity.
I entered your Giggle Junction's I Spy giveaway!
There were ten in the bed and the little one said...move over, move over.
10 in the bed would be so much fun to sing and play with my upcoming grandchild.
Your WW post got me over here - this thing is SO cute! I love the Caps for Sale story, too! So yes, please include me in this drawing! It could make a great gift for Sasha or her cousin. :-D
Oh, and you have my email or can reach me through my blog, of course.
Here is entry #2: I have a thing for flames, but the pirates are SO cute. I think for us I might have to choose the frogs... not sure why. Maybe it is that lovely shade of green combined with pink.
Entry #3
Hadn't realized (and already said it above) that this was an entry:
If I win I'll likely hoard this thing to myself to share with my daughter (or give her for Giftmas) rather than give it to my niece. It is so cool I'd like to have it here at home. :-)
I liked Glitterful Felt Stories on FB.
Not sure if you're counting this:
I already like Hobo Mama on FB!
Not sure if you're counting this:
I already like NPN on FB!
I have the Hobo Mama button on my blog.
I display the NPN badge on my blog. (AND I link to it on Sunday Surf often)
I love the Noah's Ark storyboard!
My favorite (can't see the name) is a new one with a floral black, yellow and red print on it. bluemelon1@yahoo.com
We will use the flannel board for story telling, teaching something new (even a new story), and airplane travel!
Follow Hobo Mama Reviews through Goggle Friend Connect
Subscribe to HM Reviews through RSS feed
Follow Hobo Mama on Goggle Friend Connect
If I win I would get the Old MacDonald Had a Farm (although it was darn hard to choose just one!)
sgt@tighi.net
Subscribe to Hobo Mama on RSS feed
"Liked" HoboMama on Facebook
Entered to win the Giggle Junction I Spy Bag
Entered to win Grow Smart Games My Pocket Games....
Put Hobo Mama's button on my blog (#1)
Put HoboMama.com on text blog roll, on personal blog (#1)
My son totally loves sharks right now, so my favorite portable travel board would have to be the sharks board.
Put HoboMama.com on text blog roll, on personal blog (#2)
Put Hobo Mama's button on my blog (#2)
If I win I will use this during a road trip to visit my fmaily in California for the holidays (typically a 5 hour drive)
Follow HoboMama Reviews on Google.
Follow HoboMama.com on Google.
I'd love to win the If You Give A Mouse A Cookie Flannel Board Story. We got that book from the library a few weeks ago. dramaqueesnmum at gmail dot com
I like the Speckled Frogs
kpintnathotmail.com
I love the Noahs ark board :)
I am your google friend
I added this shop to my favs noweesmom
I follow you on Twitter noweesmom
I follow NP on Twitter noweesmom
I follow Shelby on Twitter noweesmom
I like GFS facebook page :)
I like your facebook page :)
I like NP facebook page :)
Oooh! So hard to choose, but I'll go with Caps for Sale as well, we LOVE that one!
sunfrog at comcast dot net
Hearted GFS on Etsy!
I follow you on twitter!
I follow NPN on twitter!
sunfrog!
I link to you in my blog sidebar ;-)
I like you on FB
I like NPN on Facebook
I subscribe to HoboMamaReviews in a reader
I subscribe to HoboMama through Google Friend Connect
I have the NPN badge on my blog!
Whoops, just adding 2nd entry due to NPN button.
2nd Entry for linking to HoboMama on blogroll!
Noah’s Ark "Printed" Felt Board Story.
New Custom 11 x 14 Aluminum Frame Flannel Board
I hearted them, user name gkran.
I will use it to teach my kids Noah's Ark story.
I'm a GFC Follower.
I'm an email subscriber.
I'd love to win the Uppercase and Lowercase ABC Matching Felt Board Flannel Board Story. If not, I may buy it for myself for Christmas. :)
Liked Glitterful Felt Stories on FB
Liked Hobo Mama on FB
Liked Natural Parents Network on FB
I know the contect just ended, but I wanted to say that I too remember the flannel boards from childhood Sunday school classes. I was search from them for my homeschool classroom & ran across your give away. :) Thanks for sharing!!
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