Sunday, May 16, 2010

It's May Giveaway Day!

Welcome all for May Giveaway Day!


I must say I have an ulterior motive here. You know how newlyweds are so happy and they want everybody else married too. I'm having so much fun with my new obsession, that I want you addicted also! So, I have a couple of things for you.


It started innocently enough - I need some kind of handwork to keep me sane on an upcoming airline flight. There so many cute hexagon projects popping up lately, I had to give it a try.


And of course I found that it's the perfect little handwork to fill in for the carry-along I miss now that I don't knit much anymore!


With some of my first hexagons, I've made you a Lunchmate. Perfect little thing now that picnic weather is near. Open and unroll for a nice, clean spot when you're eating outside! Picnic tables can be a bit gross especially if you find a nice one under a pretty tree where birds may sit.


Leslie, at Fluff & Nonsense, made up the Lunchmate as a gift for her mom. And I thought it was awesome! I asked Leslie if it would be ok for me to copy the design for this little giveaway. She so kindly said yes, and then sent me the construction notes she had made for herself. Thank you Leslie! I put linen for the inside with the hexagons, and that yummy orange dot for the outside. Totally washable.


I also want you to give hexagons a try yourself. I made a little starter package (or add-on package if you're already addicted).


A packet of 25 card stock templates in the 1" size, and a nice stack of 70 modern 2.5" fabric squares.


To enter, please give me at least one idea to entertain a child on a long airplane flight. I want to work on my hexagons and not just entertain the 4, 11, and 13yr olds!


One person will win both of these prizes. I'm in Chicagoland and will ship internationally, but you need to have an email linked to your comment in some way so I can get a hold of you! I'll pick a winner on Thursday night - Good Luck!

434 comments:

«Oldest   ‹Older   201 – 400 of 434   Newer›   Newest»
Lichtlein said...

Wow, I'm deeply impressed!
Would be so nice to be the lucky one.

Kind regards from Germany
Claudia

frauknopf@gmx.de

Shayla Sharp said...

Hmm, haven't tried hexagons yet! No kids myself, but I entertain my little cousins for hours with guessing games and art projects.

Crystal Hendrix said...

I must say you have already got me hooked on your hexagons from your earlier posts!! :D I would say a book for the older kids, or do what I would do and that is to put a couple of good shows on an ipod and have them watch it!! And then always workbooks, coloring books. Those are great!!! :D

Sarah said...

Flying internationally with children is tough, and I haven't yet found the magic secret that doesn't require at least one parent being involved :)

When we flew last summer the biggest quiet time producer was probably a big pack of stickers. Another hit was pipecleaners.

I wish you a great flight!

La Yen said...

I grab playdough and colorforms to stick to the tray and the window. And teach them a new card game on the trip. And the only way my kid gets to play with the DS is on a plane, so that is pretty exciting for her!

Angela said...

What a great giveaway!

Hmm...I haven't had to entertain children on a plane myself, but you can't go wrong with a portable DVD player or Nintendo DS. Or you could teach them to sew hexagons! LOL

kenny said...

I absolutely LOVE this lunchmate! Love it! As someone who flew back and forth across the atlantic a lot in that age range, I found that audiobooks, word searches (for the 11 year old), colouring books (for the 4 and 7 year olds), comics (for all of them), and card games were pretty much sanity savers for my mother. Good luck!

Laura said...

Great giveaway. The best thing I've brought on planes are pipe cleaners. Super inexpensive and the kids can make all kinds of stuff from really simple to very complex without needing any extra tools.

laurapearce22@yahoo(dot)com

Nanbon44 said...

I would love to learn to make them, I have been so afraid to tackle hexplease enter my name in your lovely drawing
ladycolmn(at)aol(dot)comagons...

sy said...

a nintendo ds or a book would keep a child happy, that's what i've heard. love the lunch pad. thanks for hosting the giveaway!

Eema-le said...

We used to travel from Israel to the US every year as kids. My mom would always get us a bag full of crafts, stickers, coloring books, crayons, and anything else that wasn't too messy.

Greta said...

I'm working on hexagons myself right now and this would be amazing. Thanks for a chance to win.

Laura said...

I try to pack several small NOVEL items for my child, who is still very young. I've also found that strategically offering small desirable snacks goes a looong way.

Miss Prickly said...

Try bringing along some Fimo clay, some basic tools and a few project books. The younger child can make animals, the older kids might like to make beads or key chains. My kids could to do Fimo for hours, and it doesn't require a lot of room.

Cindy Anderson said...

Angela- Since I have a 4 year old too, I would suggest taking lots of matchbox cars and some color wonder markers and coloring books.

Carla said...

Yummy healthy snacks and portable dvd with fun movies. There are also hand-held video games with a new game. I don't travel much so I hope this helps!

Love the giveaway!

Beth said...

I don't know a whole lot about the older age kids... mine are just a year old (twins). But novelty goes a loooong way; I'd guess that goes for any age group. If they like to read, new books would be good!
lucasbeth [at] gmail [dot] com

a little sparc said...

Taking a placemat to eat outside is a great idea. For a long trip, you could try the "I'm going on a picnic" game, where you have to list things from A-Z to take on a picnic or to some other place.

pippinsequim said...

My two younger sisters and I took a plane ride across the country without our parents when we were 14, 12, and 8. As far as I recall, we were extremely well behaved, and spent most of our time drawing and eating piles of candy. (Not that I'd recommend the candy part - I wouldn't let my future kids eat as much candy as I did when I was young.) But drawing can be a really good activity if your kids are fans.

a little sparc said...

Oops. I just commented and forgot to leave my email.

alittlesparc(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

What a fantastic giveaway!! I love your little lunchmate, how perfect is that to bring along when eating your lunch or dinner. Bright and cheerful!! Okay, so we have travelled with our kids on airplanes since they were babies and now they are grown. The entertainment changed as they aged. But the younger they were, we really had to interact and play card games, coloring, hangman, tic tac toe, read books. Needless to say not much time for your own projects. But now with iPods, and small portable electronic games it is easier to entertain than ever. If you have a small laptop, they can even watch DVD's!!

Kate said...

This is really pretty! Awesome!

Airplane ideas... how about tearing out words or pictures from a magazine or newspaper to make collages?? ok, sorry, that's all I've got for you. Can't you teach them to knit or sew?? :)
steeplechaser29 (at) yahoo * com

Christina said...

How about a new box of crayons? Who can resist fresh crayons? Your giveaway is lovely and generous!

Cricket said...

Wow, what a fabulous prize! I have already started my hexagons and I do love them. In fact, I do them since they are easier to pick up and put down than knitting. And the picnic mat is great - that button!

Now, I have an idea for your 4 year old. And maybe the olders, too. Take a gallon sized ziploc bag and fill it not very full with pretty tempra paint (we used blue sparkly paint). Seal securely. Lay it flat and put a piece of clear contact paper over both sides, sealing around the edges. Flatten the paint with your hands, then put it on a flat surface and you can draw on it, then smooth it down by wiping with your palm. I have very tactile seeking kids, which might be what makes this such a big hit. They draw pictures and practice letters and numbers and such. Then you just roll it up and stash it in your bag. Of course, now that I think about it, I wonder if the airport security people would confiscate it.

Danielle said...

Adorable! Thanks for the chance to win! My only idea is seriously the portable dvd player! Thats what we use on our 8 hour car trip to see my hubby's family. Its a lifesaver!

TheFancyFritter said...

What a fun giveaway! I'd love to win! I love the fun patterns that you pick! Thanks so much!

Jess @ Scrappy n Happy said...

Hi, I love hexies at the moment too! Your lunch mate is a great idea!
I have 2 young boys and I find small books and cars work for little while. Food is always good too!

Tanya said...

How fun!
We have a 2 day drive each year to our fave vacation spot, 7 hours one day, 6 the next. We have a four year old who wants to be entertained, the portable DVD player is so wonderful as well as a bundle of new markers, crayons, stickers and coloring book. My mom sitting in the back with her also helps the hours go by!

Kat said...

I don't know if this counts, but I'd say give them some Dramamine (or Nyquill, Benedryl, etc) and let them sleep. Aside from drugs, movie? New coloring book? Maybe some crosswords or sudokus for the older ones? Good luck with your flight!

gretamargreta said...

since i font have children, i'm not sure how useful this will be....for the older ones, mad libs or brain teasers. for the little one coloring books, and i hear the leap frog is fantastic at entertaining. not sure how travel ready that is though.

Anonymous said...

OH I LOVE this give-away!!! Even if I am not the LUCKY winner I'm going to give this a try!

thanks for the chance to win!

:)
carol

maplecreekracing (at) comcast (dot) net

Mama Lusco said...

Wonderful prizes! My kids like to listen to MP3s and read when we travel. Thank you!
luscofamily(at)ortelco.net

kathy said...

Each child carries a small backpack with their own hand-picked small toys/games/treats. You can sometimes rent a dvd player from the airline for movie watching.

Val Miller said...

awesome giveaway!! I have been cutting out the paper pieces ... Plane ride entertainment ?? Jam as much stuff as possible into the carry on - portable dvd player, books, colouring, word search, etc.... they will be fine!!!

Leah said...

My kids aren't that old yet, but a new book whether of the coloring, game, reading or activity variety (depends on the personality of the child in question) are the recommendations others have made to me.
project.onemore(at)gmail(dot).com

Deb Cameron said...

I love piecing hexagons...this would be an awesome win. THanks!

Deb Cameron said...

Oh and I have two boys...lucky for me they love singing songs and reading books! Mind you they are only two and three...which has its ups and downs!

Amy said...

Wow! So much amazing generosity today! Thanks for the great giveaway!

Love all the lime-y greens peeking out of that yummy stack of fabric. And I LOVE that funky button on the lunchmate!!!

Hmm... Something to do on an airplane? My friend's kids entertained themselves for at least an hour in the car with Melissa & Dog's awesome version of travel hangman! I would totally recommend it!

Amy
goneinkognito{at}gmail{dot}com

Kristy said...

The more I have been looking around today the more hexagons I am seeing and the more i think I might like to try them.

I don't have children yet but when I was younger we lived in the counrty and frequently had to travel long distances (4 hours or more). I used to love completing mosaic book (with stickers) or, when I got older brain teasers and puzzles. These, of course, were the days before in car DVD players (the VCR was still new!)

A more crafty idea (and one you probably dont have time to create on the trip) is a mini quilt game board with felt game pieces.

Enjoy the trip!

Kelli Staggs said...

I am all about snacks and coloring books...a nice crayon roll goes a long way.

sewsassyks@gmail.com

alli b said...

The best thing I have found for entertaining kids on a flight is to take some wrapping paper & tape and some cheap little toys/colouring books & crayons, anything really and wrap them when you're waiting to board the plane - or to save security hassles you can just have the objetcs in a 'surprise tote' and at designated times throughout the trip they can unwrap/treasure hunt in the tote for a surprise.

Great giveaway!
alli b
allisonbright{at}gmail.com

kelliemorgan said...

My best one would be for the 4 year-old. Take a gallon size ziploc and put tempra paint inside. Tape shut with some duck tape and voila a handy, mess free figer painting pad. Thanks for the giveaway!
kelliemorgan17 at gmail dot com

bulabean said...

Ok I've used coloring books, portable DVD player, and the best one so far..an ipod touch..lifesaver!

Anonymous said...

What a generous giveaway! I'm in Chicagoland and already addicted to hexes, so I love everything about this! Hope I win!

Chicken Willow said...

My kids always like the good old colouring...a new book and set of crayons and their set for hours. Love the fabric, I'm a hexagon addict already! Thanks for having a giveaway.

A. said...

i love this package! i've been trying to work up the nerve to try hexies, maybe this'll do the trick!!

The Sewist said...

Ohh i would love to win this its beautiful!

Long flight and kids..dvd player and pop in their favorite dvds..works a charm for me..

I am also joining in the fun and hosting a giveaway stop by when u can

Mayya @ Sew Chic and Unique

Stephanie said...

Love our friends at apple try an ipod.

Serena said...

Yes, all of the beautiful hexagons floating around the internets has really got me wanting to try them! What a lovely giveaway! Thank you!

Bluestripe55 said...

I love your giveaway! I don't have any ideas on flying with children. I am taking my first flight with my 7 month old boy. i think i need to scroll down and read all the comments myself!
thanks!


amyross06 at gmail dot com

Steph said...

how adorable! i've never tried hexagons, but i'm always amazed when people can make amazing stuff like this out of them!

stephanie dot e dot carroll at gmail dot com

Carpenters said...

Thanks for the great giveaway!

Leigh said...

Ooooh this would go so nicely with what I'M giving away!!! Vintage 2.5" squares for hexies!!! :D The last time we flew with my daughter she was only 2, but if I were to fly with her now (she's 5) I'd make an "I Spy" list or maybe even bingo cards. Have her spot a red suitcase, a person wearing sunglasses indoors, all sorts of things you'd see in an airport or on a plane!

D'Anna said...

Love your lunchmate! Thanks so much for including it in the give-away!
I live in Russia and we travel once a year to Texas to visit my family - - that 13 hr flight is a killer, especially w/little ones!
My suggestion is to get several simple toys from the dollar store and every couple of hours bring them out to PLAY! Anything new will hold their attention for a little while! Also, inflight movies are great! : )
Thanks again!

A Life Less Complicated said...

hmm how would I entertain mine? I have a 3 year old boy and he will quite happily sit with a pen and paper and draw for sometimes up to an hour. Maybe a secret goodie bag for the youngest where they can only dip their hand and grab something every hour. Things like their favourite books, small toys, maybe a couple of new things. Love the lunchmate btw

Penelope said...

I'm loving hexagons! But they're intimidating me...so your kit is perfect!

Airplane ideas...I made up a little art tote (with pockets on the outside for crayons) with a handmade colouring book, one picture for each letter of my daughter's name (E for Elephant etc). You can find pictures on the internet in tons of places!

I also included some new stickers (those tiny ones enthrall them for some reason), and another little book of puzzles (mazes, dot to dot etc).

What about a felt or magnetic dressup doll? YOu can get magnetic paper, then print a boy and changes of clothes (pirate, knight, football player, Halloween costume etc) onto it, and store it all in a magnetic tin. Felt is another option!

For the older ones, the tried and true 'plug-em-in' trick seems to be the most popular choice! How about a puzzle game like RoadBlock? I know it kept my 22 year old boyfriend busy for a few hours when it first came out years ago! There are a few versions too.

alissa222 at gmail dot com

Sew Flippin Cool said...

I've never traveled with older kids, but my younger ones love workbook/activity books, dvd players, travel games, and art supplies. Heck, when they are really little you can get away with just bringing a roll of scotch tape! :)

Gill said...

What a great idea the lunchmate is - perfect for our long drive to Ireland this summer (I'm in the UK!)
I have 3 boys and they love to play top trumps on long journeys

Gill

zarina said...

For older children its easier. For the young ones, do something that both you and the child will enjoy. The only thing that will keep them entertain is when we join in the activity.

tammi said...

This is the coolest giveaway! I am not a fan of electronics on vacations. When I traveled with my son when he was younger, I packed his backpack in layers to discover. I tucked new toys and sticker books, etc. in amongst his go-to favs. For older kids, I traveled to Latin America with a group of 5th graders who spent hours with Madlibs.

Mambutu said...

ipods and crayons (never underestimate the power of the crayon to entertain).

this lunchmate looks wonderful too.

Unknown said...

Gorgeous lunchmat. I'm not quite sure how to entertain the kids but some drawing or you could teach the kids to help you with the hexagons.

camelama said...

This is such a pretty yet useful giveaway! Love the idea of that roll-out lunch spot!

Airplane ideas: I dont' have kids so I can't really help, though I know I loved little plastic animals when I was little. Maybe a brand new zoo for the trip?! :)

Unknown said...

what a fantastic giveaway, please count me in

Miriam said...

Awesome giveaway I would totally have to try hexagons if I won this. As for ideas I haven't read all the comments so apologies if I repeat. My 4 yr old loves colour eye-spy (eg I spy something with a green lid) which I realise you have to participate in but at least you can do both. Books of stickers, a 'plane pack' with surprises in it that can be opened at various times. For the older ones they could earn points for things like counting the bald heads, finding out the names of all the stewards etc. So you write a long list of plane challenges and for each one they get certain number of points and each point is worth something at the final destination - eg 20 points = you choose where to stop for lunch or an icecream voucher etc... all the best with that long haul is not easy and thanks for a cool blog and a great giveaway. I'd love to get that in the mail here in NZ

Karen said...

Thanks for a great giveaway!
I have tried to make hexagons with little success, so your package would be just fantastic for a frustrated hexagon-maker!

Stella said...

Oh, I would love to win this delicious prize! stafish6(at)hotmail(dot)com

Nadescha said...

beautiful work!!!
puzzle books worked for me on long-haul flights when i was little :-)
please also check out my giveaway at www.cheekyapple.com :-)
mail(at)cheekyapple(dot)com

Kerry said...

Well I don't have any kids and I haven't had to fly with any, but I think having a laptop handy for them to either play games or watch movies. Thanks for the opportunity to win!!! Love those hexies!

Kelly said...

Trail mix, with very small things so it takes them a little longer to pick through and eat it, hey food can be entertaining. and thanks for the give-a-way.

Susana said...

Hi! Thanks for a very generous giveaway! For older kids, books, especially those big activity books that have puzzles, mazes, coloring, spot the differences, and so on, can really work. The 4 year old might be more difficult. Puzzles are good, and sticker books. In an emergency (of the hexagon-making sort), a portable dvd might do the trick.

Cathy said...

what a great giveaway.. i absolutely love love love heaxagons.. i've traveled with my sons, but they were quite young, we had some toys but with the ages of your children, maybe a laptop or portable DVD player would work, small jigsaw puzzles too

Unknown said...

Oh, oh, oh, I'm getting so tempted by hexagons, plus that lunchmate is awesome. I'll be keeping my fingers very tightly crossed!

Megan said...

Oh so fun!!! I have not yet been sucked into the hexagon love (and I'm scared to be sucked in!!). Thanks for the chance to win!

I'm not a huge fan of too much movie watching, but in the case of flying on an airplane...I think I'd have to take our portable dvd player and play the kids a movie. It makes for a calm and quiet time. (That is of course if that's allowed. I haven't flown in a long time and no longer know what's accepted.)

Anonymous said...

So cute - love the hexies! Hope you have a wonderful trip - if you don't want to put them in front of a monitor a big stack of books and coloring books seem to keep little people happy for a good chunk of time while traveling!

deserae said...

Love your giveaway!

Keeping kids busy is hard, but movies and books and the best way I think.

Jenny said...

thanks angela for a great giveaway! airplane...hummmm, do your older boys read? i love reading on airplanes...my younger kids love these books by DK that have 100s of stickers in them (like animals or dinasaurs etc) that the child then has to find where the stickers belong..hold on, well, something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Vehicles-Ultimate-Collection-ULTIMATE-COLLECTIONS/dp/0756632161/ref=sr_1_48?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274190511&sr=8-48
little mess too! have fun!

Unknown said...

stickers, crayons, small trinkets from the dollar store or from around the house to pull out randomly. i find "non"-toys work well here. so a box of colorful buttons to sort, shoelaces and clips, etc...

Allison said...

i'd say help them get set up watching some movies--that'll buy you a few hours of crafting time at least.

love this lunchmate! it's a great idea. i'm looking forward to picnics this summer.

Grace said...

Nice!

I did an art roll with crayons and paper for the plane and it worked well. Also, we don't do much candy but planes are a great place for a lollipop. Actually the flight attendant liked my girls and did a bunch of card tricks for them!

Sunshine said...

That lunch mate is very pretty!

It seems a line-up of crayons, colouring books, a window seat ("count the stars, darling") and a head-set for the kids movie/TV channel should do it :)

Shannon said...

I've always wanted to try hexagons!
We just got back from a trip across country. We kept the things we packed pretty minimal but what we did bring packed a punch with my 2 year old.
3 interactive books (flaps, things to find...)
A seek and find toy (a bag filled with plastic pellets and a variety of small things. Ours was alphabet themed.
A soft jungle playset
My phone and DS and husband's PSP. She's too little to play, but she loves to 'help'.
We also looked through the in flight magazines, for stuff. Like, "let's find everything blue!"

Good luck!

Sara said...

What a fabulous giveaway! I've not taken my kids on an airplane so I can't really help with ideas of how to entertain them on one. I'm enjoying reading others ideas so in the future I have ideas as well.

I love making hexagons, thanks for the chance to win.

Always Sewing said...

What an awesome give away.

How about teaching the kids to help sew the hexagons together. LOL ^_^

Ok seriously my 4 kids are getting pretty old so they entertain themselves now. But back in the day, some new coloring and or sticker books helped also a new game for the game-boy. I know today the dvd movie idea would do well. Oh and must have snacks!!!!

Unknown said...

What a great pattern/project and giveaway! As for an airplane idea...silly putty is very potable and great for making impressions of seat fabric, tray table hardware, little brother's nose, etc. Enjoy your trip!
ABAnneAB(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I'd say games that they can play with each other. Thats always what got us through long trips together! Card games were a particular favorite! Thanks for the great giveaway! I'm at meg(dot)thurgood(at)gmail(dot)com!

MossyOakLane said...

Music for the kids! It keeps our 8 year old quiet and happy when traveling!

Ariel said...

girl...I'm already addicted to Heather's hexies idea. I'd love some "add-ons" :) I have a two year old, so my ideas of keeping happy on the plane consist of the portable DVD player and lots of Elmo. xo

Brooke said...

I've only flown once with my kids and luckily it was a short flight. We had TVs on the back of each chair so our two year old was content to watch The Backyardigans.

Great giveaway. I've been wanting to give hexis a try, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

Check out my fabric giveaway at http://pitterputterstitch.blogspot.com.

Silka said...

I'd bring along a deck of cards and maybe a book with cardgame rules.

silkaphyllis at gmail.com

Dr. Bec said...

lots of crayons and a dvd player (or three!)

Krystina said...

This is awesome! I love your lunchmate. I have been resisting this hexagon addiction for awhile, but I may be giving in! As for airplanes... crayons and portable DVD players (although not given together, that would not be a good thing!)

BrittNeal said...

This is such a cute project.

I have no kids, but when I traveled when I was little we had this little card set called 50 things to do on an airplane. They were fun little activities that usually kept us quiet and entertained!

BrittNeal (at) gmail (dot) com

Kelsey said...

I have never tried hexagons and they look like so much fun!!

Coloring books, books and a personal dvd player is what gets us through long trips!

Micmacker said...

Just like the first commenter, when my daughter was little, I would pack up little bags of toys & activities to whip out on a regular basis. Of course, if you're bored, teasing your siblings passes the time, too.

Alexandra said...

At places like Cracker Barrel they sell little mystery books. You get a special pen decoder (invisible ink). I love those. THey keep my 30 year old husband entertained even!

409cope said...

Love this great prize bundle,so very useful!cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com

Erin said...

This is excellent! I have wanted to give hexagons a try, but have been somewhat daunted. I hope I win so I can join in the hexagon love!

Åsa said...

Great giveaway! I just love it=) Thank you very much.

Angelina S. said...

I don't have children myself, but I have friends that have had much success with portable dvd players & stacks of disney movies. Such a great prize! Thanks so much for the chance to win!

Angelina

figure8angel[AT]gmail[DOT]com

Jenna H. said...

I'm a firm believer in a large set of colored pencils/crayons and a bunch of paper - let them express themselves!
Great giveaway - thanks!
jmhamlin826 AT yahoo DOT com

Charissa said...

I'm getting ready to fly with my two year old and my 5 month old and I'm taking the easy way out--a laptop with Veggie Tales. :-) She hardly ever watches at home, so it works great on trips like this.

Anonymous said...

portable dvd player and good old paper and crayons! Those work books you can get at the $1 store are cheap and fun too.

Unknown said...

model magic, or a liitle container of playdoe and construction trucks (matchbox).
sntbosch@msn.com

Jessica Christensen said...

Make the 11-year-old entertain the 4-year-old -- reading, coloring, guessing games, etc.

jessierey at msn dot com

RyanSarahN said...

my daughter is only 1 1/2, so it may not be the same, but anytime she gets a new toy it's instantly her favorite, so I would probably splurge and buy something small and inexpensive but novel for your kids.

Leanna said...

Yikes, perhaps teach them some card games before you go...battle, go fish, things like that! Thanks for the chance!

Jessica said...

New books are always a hit with my son.
curry.jessica@gmail.com

Kerri said...

oh, what a great giveaway!! the lunchmate with the hexies is F A B U L O U S!! I really have been itching to try hexies!! Hopefully next time I see Heather she'll teach me. :)

we always pack a little backpack for the kiddos when we go on trips with their favorites and some snacks. also the books on tapes they love in the car, that might work on the plane too.

Liz said...

I believe in old fashioned crayons and coloring books. My daughter loves them. Thanks for the great giveaway!

merlinthecat said...

What a great prize! I'm loving all the little hexagons I've been seeing all over the place. For a long plane ride I would bring crayons and a coloring book, and maybe a craft for my dd.

Elizabeth said...

Coloring books, snacks, doodlepro, dvds, and books are my suggestions. Thanks for the giveaway!

Keriann said...

Oh my heart is thumping with joy! These are my favorite colors! and I am so into hexies right now (though still new at it so lots of learning to go)! Let me tell ya I have never one a blog giveaway and if I could wish for my luck to change I would love for this giveaway to be "The One!"

kasimpkins [at] gmail [dot] com

Breanna S. said...

I have never flown but I am a preschool teacher so I have a few tricks! Dry erase markers are always a hit, mp3 loaded with favorite songs, finger puppets, knobby knitter, and snacks!

Jolena said...

I've never done hexagons, but they look so fun!

Lisa said...

I just have a two year old, but the last time we flew I kept her busy with coloring, a few new toys, and lots of well-timed snacks (nothing like eating to keep a kid occupied LOL!) Thanks for the chance to win :)

A family of boys said...

I love it! Thanks for the wonderful chance to win.

Hm...airplane and keep 'em busy. I'm sure you've already gotten the activity things down. We usually have a new book that the boys would enjoy. And to be honest, on the long trips, a movie to watch for a bit.

everyday inspirations said...

Make your own Eye Spy Bingo card - I know I saw a tutorial out there or downloadable premade ones, but can't remember where. Sounds easy enough to create - plus you get to mix it up per sheet, so someone wins bingo!

thanks for the chance!

catherine s.
imaginethatdesign (at) yahoo (dot) com

Tara said...

bunny, bunny, bunny, bunny, whoops, bunny, whoops, bunny....it's a simple game you play on your hand. It might annoy the other passengers after a while, but it's a good 10 minute distraction! Thanks for the chance to win!

Mary said...

Lovely prizes. For the older kids, you could introduce them to Sudoku puzzles. There are smaller, kid friendly books they could use to learn. I'm sure kids love handlheld video games too, so maybe a new game for them to play.

Kimberly said...

Excellent giveaway! To keep my kiddos entertained, I slowly dole out new (to them) toys and snacks. It's nothing new I am sure, but it works. Sometimes the oldies are goodies for a great reason. :)

Thanks for the giveaway!

Valerie said...

How cool is hat lunchmate! I want to try hexies, I just haven't had the guts to jump in yet...

I bought my little ones Nintendo DSs for travelling. Yes, they were $100 a piece, but they paid for themselves in peace and quiet...

Tawny said...

Hmm are you allowed to play with an iPhone on a flight yet? That distracts my little guy for hours. If not, maybe etch a sketch? Do they still make those? They are awesome!

Adventures with Luna said...

My mom always filled little goodie bags with fun surprises - things like puzzles and markers and lots of games to keep us busy. I love your hexagons!

Katie
nicandkatiehendrychs@gmail.com

Jennifer McNichols said...

Pipe cleaners! Seriously the best airplane toy ever. Lightweight, takes up hardly any space and can be played with and enjoyed by all ages! Get each kid their own bag.

free indeed said...

What a fun event and a great giveaway! Love that hexi placemat to go! How good of you to try to give us all a new addiction...like some us need another one???? I'll give hexies a try and those squares are darling!
freeindeed at myfairpoint dot net

Elizabeth Johnson said...

This is a GREAT giveaway! I love hexagons.

As for the kids, new things are always good to introduce, but keep them a surprise until the trip. Coloring books are also good (if they like to color), so maybe some new crayons and coloring books and other little (cheap but entertaining) toys would work.

Good luck and thanks so much!

momma rae said...

oh, that is cute! i have been curious about those hexagons. so, they are constructed kind of like yo-yos, no? still not sure i get it. ;)

how about a felt board to go? not a board, per se, but a roll up sort of felt play mat?

JJ said...

Fun package! I always go to the dollar store and Target dollar spot and buy a bunch of toys. Then I put them in a small bag and only bring them on flights. Works like a charm!!

Madeleine said...

Oh! Please me! I love the mat... and I've got a flight coming up and would like to try those hexagons! Thanks for the great giveaway! Have a nice summer!

Wehaf said...

Download some audiobooks from librivox.org and put them on mp3 players for the kids. Everything at librivox is in the public domain so this is legitimate. Also, if you take along eye masks and ear plugs for the kids, they can try to nap - that may be helpful.

urchiken at gmail dot com

Lee D said...

oh so need to try these hexi's in earnst. I keep saying i will, maybe if I win it will get me started. lovely lunch place mat

aSprinkling said...

How about bags with entertainment and snacks to give to them periodically. That way they have something new every once in a while...especially the littlest one.

Wendy said...

that's adorable!!
I've only done a short trip with small ones... I packed lots of little new toys and made sure to dole them out slowly so that there was something new to be given out throughout the trip.

Brooke said...

hmmm... one thing I can think of is that you have to carry snacks. Lots of snacks. My kids beg for food whenever we are.... anywhere! Love the giveaway. hexagons may be my next thing!

Phoebe said...

crazy cute! love the hexagons!!

Kelly Rachel said...

Oh....my. These are so sweet. You're doing a good job. I'm so wanting to try hexagons next.
For your kids, have a look at this:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Anti-Boredom-pocket-kit/
I saw it long ago and have always thought it might be a good idea for older kids.
Oh, and I know it's not a requirement, but I love what I've seen of your blog so I'm now a follower! :D

sang said...

Oh fun giveaway! I usually bring a portable dvd for my daughter for long flights.sang@gci.net

Beverly {Flamingo Toes} said...

What a great giveaway! Woo hoo - I'd love to win!

Jocelyn said...

Oh wow, what a fun adventure. When our children were young, I used to take a tote bag with some books. I kept them with me,and would dole them out instead of them having freedom to read them all in 15 minutes. For the younger ones, games like connect the dots and the older ones can do word finds. You can find some of these at a Dollar Store. Can you make a sewing card for the 4 year old? She can pretend that she is sewing too.You also might save something for when you are in flight only. Something special but only when you are in the air. Can you get a disposable camera and let the children take pictures out the window. I hope that helps a little. Have a great trip.

arlette said...

Friday's my birthday!!!!!, lol. Well my suggestion for entertain kids during a flight, a book, a dvd, I heard the flight attendants give puzzles to kids, a confy pillow, crayons...

Jen said...

I Love the Lunchmate!! I don't fly with kids - driving in the car with them is enough!

throuthehaze said...

etch a sketch would be fun for kids during flight
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

mamaTAVE said...

New things from the Dollar Store! You can get loads of things without spending loads of money. Since they will be new to your kids, they should keep them entertained for a while. Good luck to you with that. And thank you for an awesome giveaway!

Susie said...

Oh I would love to win this one!
Ideas for airline travel:
-lots of snacks. and then some!
-artsy projects (like pipe cleaners for the little one)
-a bagful of simple, new toys to dole out as needed (my oldest is almost-5 so not sure if this will still work on the older ones!)
-and saved the best for last - an iPhone if you have one or can get your hands on one is soooooo worth it! Load it up with games and videos and you're all set. Plus there are a ton of educational games (my kids don't know that others exist yet, shh!) - so no guilt there!
HAVE FUN on your trip!
From a nearby neighbor in Milwaukee!

Peach Rainbow said...

Coloring books or games are the only things i can think of , sorry, i am not an expert.

kathyinozarks said...

I love your giveaway, have never tried the hexagons and always wanted to.
as for keeping the boys busy, a craft project for them, puzzles, a little blank book for each to add to about their trip

Eleanor said...

What a great giveaway! Thank you for the chance to win!

My best advice is a portable DVD player or a Nintendo DS. We bought a DS for our son and daughter to share, but they are only allowed to play with it on long trips (all of our family lives out of state, so we travel often). That way, it's a special treat and not the same old, same old they will bore of. There are tons of great family and kid oriented games our there for the DS and my kids simply have a blast.

Have a great week! <3

eleanorbeasley(at)gmail(dot)com
www.unfamiliarceiling.com

Tiziana said...

Well, I love hexies...and I love drawing with kids. Everywhere,and everything (a fish with a vacuum cleaner over a sofa in a red plane flying over Iceland in a sunny day.....)is ok!!!
I'm from Italy and I like your work!!
tiziana@francescato.it

Misty.Creek said...

I've found the best entertainment to be of the electronic, portable variety. Just make sure to pack chargers, batteries and headphones. I love a few good books for myself, though.

Chelle said...

oh what a fun + darling give=away...the best airplane trick that I know of is snacks...lots of them new ones, also a little trip to the dollar store for a few fun items to pass the time on the plane works well.

Stephanie said...

Great giveaway! I would like to try a hexagon design, but intimidated. I'd love to win :)

Jody said...

I love your giveaway and the colors you have chosen! Too cute! Hmmm...keeping kids entertained on a long flight...I know what worked for my little one and that's a portable DVD player with their favourite movie. Not very original but worked like a charm!
I'm keeping my fingers crossed about your giveaway:)
jodym7@yahoo.com

Sharon said...

what a wonderful give away!

lots of books:)

elle said...

There are some nice books with magnetic pages for placing the loose magnetic shapes. Grandson has the transportation one but most shapes are now on the fridge!

Nichole said...

i have been really wanting to try out these hexagons. everyone seems to be doing them lately! i don't have any kids, so i'm not sure how much help i can be with suggestions. i hear new toys are helpful. also, portable dvd players? that's probably not the most cost effective option though

Poppyprint said...

ooo, good luck on the flight. I love your giveaway items. Sadly, my kids are old enough now to watch the films, or play on their iPods. When they were little, we did word searches and played a lot of fish and war card games and also we got a travel Yachtze game that has a velvet lining so when you roll the dice it isn't noisy - they loved that and almost forgot they were doing math!

Jess said...

I love hexagons, but I'm so scared of trying them myself! They look so difficult!
Super awesome picnic roll-up, btw. If I don't win, I'mg going to have to give that a try on my own!

MB said...

So cute! I love it and hope I win!!

Skooks said...

I don't tend to think food is something to "do" to occupy a kid, but snacks and drinks do tend to stave off the grumpies. And I only have a 3 year old, so I'm not sure how helpful I can be, but I tend to bring books and her little LeapFrog alphabet/drawing game with us wherever we go!

skooksplayground[at]gmail[dot]com

Kiza said...

This is an absolutely awesome giveaway! I have yet to give hexagons a try...but the obsession is growing. It won't be long now...

Tips for a plane flight. Hmm... My son is a bit younger - only two - and so things like crayons and books have kept him entertained on the flights we've taken thus far. Perhaps special airplane books or toys that they haven't seen before might keep an older child entertained a bit longer?

Jenn said...

good lord! with three active boys i don't know how you find the time to sew but i'm thoroughly impressed with your gorgeous giveaways and the lunchmate is a brilliant idea. i have yet to get in on the hexagon obsession but i can see that it would be a slippery slope. i don't have any fantastic ideas for kids and long plane rides but i always loved colouring and puzzle books as a kid. hope your flight goes smoothly and thanks for the chance to win.

jennykipawa@yahoo.ca

Stephanie said...

thank you for the giveaway

atchisonsteph@gmail.com

Morgan said...

I say give in to electronics - an airplane ride is definitely one time it's ok to watch a portable DVD player while listening to an iPod.

sandandstarfish said...

oh my goodness! i really hope i win this because i have been DYING to want to make some hexies but i am so afraid that everything will get lost in translation from my head to my crafty fingers! but this giveaway would be perfect for me! i really really reeeeeally hope i win!
thanks for being so generous! and you're right, who wants to sit on a picnic table where a bunch of birds have left old passed meals ;)

Jennifer said...

I would love to learn how to do hexes - they are so cute. The lunchmat is darling! I give my kids pipecleaners on planes - they can bend and sculpt them into all sorts of things, they are lightweight and don't take up a lot of space.

Erika said...

The lunchmate looks awesome! I've seen the hexagons everywhere on blogland and I want to try them out now so this is a great prize. I don't have kids but I have traveled with my nephews and we always make sure we have plenty of books and magazines they can look through and have read to them.

Lael said...

WE make coloring sheets - an adult dorws some black lines and the kid fills in the doodles. This can alos be done with stickers. The stickers are placed and a scene is colored around them. Love your gift! If I don't win I need to make!!!

Unknown said...

I am already a hexagon addict and am having withdrawal symptoms it has been so long since I did any!
As to planes and small children sticker books are definitely worth a try. My daughter loves just sitting and sticking and sticking and sticking...... Hope it goes well for you. x

Lael said...

We make coloriing sheets - and adutl draws the borders or we place stickers and the kid draws a scene arounf them.

Lael said...

We make coloriing sheets - and adutl draws the borders or we place stickers and the kid draws a scene arounf them.

Katie said...

This is a great giveaway! Although I don't have kids of my own, I do have a much younger brother. He was always soothed by the dvd player. It might also be fun to pack a little backpack for each kid with a few packages they can "unwrap" every few hours. You know, with little tags that say "To be opened at 3pm!"... or whenever your plane takes off!

Amy (ArtsyBookishGal) said...

Thanks for the giveaway!
Amy
artsyrockerchick at aim dot com

P.S. I have yet to play with hexagons, but they look fun!

Maroesja said...

for my oldest it would be easy: bring him a book, he loves to read. And of course a nintendo or gameboy or something like that.

Marcia W. said...

The younger kids might like coloring books (or scribble books) that they can use with the drop down tray. The older one might like to watch an inflight movie.
Thank you for the opportunity to enter this giveaway. mlwright29 (at) hotmail (dot) com

Mere said...

How great is giveaway?! While this may not be the great solution/suggestion, I know that my niece is super occupied by putting a dvd movie on her travel dvd player. It's not the best solution to plop a child in front of tv all the time, but it sure helps when you're traveling!

Anonymous said...

When I was little and taking a plane trip my mother would take a piece of paper from my drawing pad and draw a continuos big, loopy, intersecting line all over it in black marker. Then she would hand it back to me and tell me to colour all the spaces in between the marker lines with crayons until the whole page was filled with colours. I loved doing this! It kind of looks like stained glass when it's done. As I got older she gave me more rules - sections the same colour couldn't be touching. It kept me busy for hours!

Kaitlyn said...

I love me some hexagons right now! Plane entertainment, the good ol' DVD player is a standard but you could buy like 50 bucks in scratch tickets and see how they come out. You are bound to win at least 10 bucks back.

CraftyHourMom said...

Great giveaway! We've flown with a 9 mo old and a 2 year old. for the older guy, I made sure I had his mini Magna Doodle along - gave him hours of non-messy fun! Oh, and tip #2 - fly with grandparents! His were in 1st class, no less, so had more room and we could send him up there now and again when he was tired, and he even napped in their insane fold-down-flat beds!

james and bess said...

great giveaway! for our kids (2 1/2, 5, 8) we take along a portable dvd player, along with new "surprises" (from the dollar store) to open every so often along the way. and, we always have our ol' standby with us - paper and colored pencils/crayons - they can draw, play tic tac toe, play the dot game, the list goes on and on.

bess :)

GigiElle said...

What a generous giveaway. Thanks for doing this!!

Anonymous said...

Great giveaway! I have been wanting to learn how to make these hexagons myself.

I've flown several times with small kids and the key is to have small and fun surprises periodically. I packed snacks (including some new stuff they don't normally have and some treats), small and inexpensive toys, and other fun stuff. One thing that's cheap & great: I get a photo album from the dollar store and fill it with pictures of family, friends, and anything the kid is interested in. This makes a great book for them to look through.

Good luck!
Thanks for the chance to enter!
-mab
mab(at)onepost(dot)net

Unknown said...

I think the 13 & 11 year old should be too busy entertaining the 4 year old to bother you while you sew.

Game/puzzle books, coloring books, word searches were always a good bet to keep me busy when i was a kid.

Unknown said...

Color books and pencils are a great idea! At least for the youngest...

by Daisy said...

i would love to try to do hexagons and this would be the perfect start!!! i really hope i win because your giveaway is simply great!

Dusty said...

This is fun. I've never tried making hexagons.

Um... keeping kids busy on the plane. I'd probably load up my iPod Touch with a bunch of new games and let them go to town (although I imagine your older children have their own portable gaming-type devices.

Birgit said...

Great prizes -- thanks for the chance!

Could you get your oldest son to read a story for his younger siblings? That might work on a longer plane flight. :)

Greetings from Munich,
Birgit

Leah said...

very fun giveaway! I would love to try making some of the hexagons & this is a perfect starter kit! Super cute! I have an almost 2 yr old & really don't know any great suggestions for long flights/drives. My little guy has been on 10 flights, but they've been under 2 hours & most of the time he napped. If your kids are readers, that's a blessing! Otherwise, portable DVD player & headphones are my thought! good luck! Thanks for the chance to win! :)

VickiT said...

Oh my goodness, what an amazing bunch of goodies. I've been seeing tons of those adorable hexagons around lately as well. The more I see of them, the more I also want to make somethings too. I even went so far as to mark those templates on a site as being on my wish list. It would be wonderful to not have to buy them myself if I won your giveaway. Then I can buy more fabric.

Ideas for things on a plane now adays can be tough to think up with all the rules and regs they've come up with now we all need to follow. I'm sorry but I have no ideas myself. Good luck.

miriam sappington said...

What a great giveaway! Thank you for the chance to win! Having traveled on long flights with TWO toddlers I can tell you - crayola color wonder paper and color wonder paints, paintbrushes, and markers; snacks, and books-on-ipod. As for the older children, actual books and a portable DVD player.

Kelly O. said...

ummmm....candy??
probably not your first choice...
how about a rubik's cube?
great giveaway! thanks for the chance to win!
crossing my fingers!

Bonnita said...

That is so cute! I haven't done hexes yet, so this could be fun!
honeyb1231@yahoo.com

Urban Crunch said...

Ooooh I love this giveaway! I have no idea how to entertain children on the ground nevermind 10,000 feet in the air. I say just drug 'em - & that's why I don't have kids lol
Thanks for the generous giveaway!

I♥thesecrazykids said...

Homemade I Spy bags are great entertainment for little ones while traveling.
Thanks for the giveaway!
bcgood83@yahoo.com

StephanieS said...

I have a one year old so I'm not sure on how to keep your age children entertained. We did Mad Libs when I was younger. Sorry I'm not more creative in this area. Thanks for the chance to win. stephspitzer at gmail dot com

sewfunky said...

Please enter me in the draw and don't forget to enter mine:

http://www.sew-funky.com/2010/05/sewmamasew-may-giveaway/

Bunty said...

wow - another giveaway! Hmm in terms of flying then I would have to say that an art doodle book was a bit of a hit with my girls. An art doodle book is a book full of half finished paintings and drawings from famous artists and the kids have to finish them in the style of the artist. It kept them busy for hours :)

buntythebrave at gmail dot com

Pam said...

What a fun giveaway!!! I wish I could help you with ideas for the kids but I'm drawing a blank!!

Emily said...

Wow, this is a great giveaway! My suggestion is benadryl, lots and lots of benadryl. I'm kidding, mostly. You could always bring a portable DVD player. Not too original but it works.
hutchyhutch87(at)yahoo(dot)com

Ciara said...

I would love something to do on a plane! I fly to Turkey from Oregon this August and am in need of something to do!

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