Holiday Gift Guide 2017: Kids Will Love Getting Their Slime On with the Fun Craft City: Make Your Own Slime Kit by Karina Garcia (Review)

Disclosure:  I was sent a sample from the vendor in exchange for an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.

Buy now from Target for only $19.99

If you have young children who you let use your phone or IPad, then you probably have heard about Karina Bear and her DIY Slime YouTube channel.  Whenever I let my girls play with my phone they wind up over at YouTube watching videos of other kids playing with toys, people opening bling bags and surprise bags, or Karina's channel, where they see her making her own cool slime.  And, usually when they are done watching the videos they will come and tell me about the different slime recipes that Karina Bear made and how easy they are to make.  If only I could bring Karina into my house to make slime with the girls.  Well, now I can, thanks to Karina Garcia's new DIY Slime Kit, which hit Target store shelves exclusively back in October.  While I can't get Karina to come and make slime with the girls, as she always makes it look effortless and so much fun in her videos, the DIY Slime kit she created has everything you need to make some fun slime batches, which kids can customize to make their own.

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"Grab your official As Seen On YouTube DIY Slime Kit, available exclusively at Target (Ages 12+)! You can make Karina's official As Seen on YouTube slime at home, and create on your own terms. Crafting has never been this fun, ya'll!"

Don't forget to follow Karina Garcia, AKA Karina Bear on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/TheKarinaBear. where she shares all her great DIY slime recipes and more. My girls can't get enough of her videos, and were excited to have had the opportunity to try out this fun new DIY slime kit and make their very own slime at home.

So, with the holidays fast approaching and snow days to follow, why not consider picking up the Craft City DIY Slime Kit to put on the tree for your kids, or just have on hand for a fun rainy day or snow day activity to do with them.  Even though the suggested age is 12+, younger children, with an adult's help can whip up their own fun slime in no time.  My girls had a blast making clear slime, popping slime and their favorite was the glow in the dark slime.  As a parent, I especially loved how this kit came with everything you need to make your own slime at home.  In the past when the girls have asked me to make slime, I am usually missing an ingredient, like enough white glue.  But, when you purchase this DIY kit you are provided with everything you need including a stirring stick, measuring spoon, cup to stir slime in so you aren't dirtying your fine China. :-), and there is even a slime activator that Karina developed along with the glue you find in this kit, that helps make the slime the perfect consistency.  

We loved everything about this kit, and will definitely be picking up a couple more boxes to have on hand, so when the girls want to make slime in the future, I just have to reach for this box and know I have all the supplies I need, and get make a few different batches, that the girls can help customize with glitter, coloring, etc.

You can learn more about the new Craft City Official Make-Your-Own-Slime Kit by Karina Garcia, which hit Target store shelves back in October by visiting the official Craft City website.  And, be sure you bookmark this site as I saw at the bottom of the products page that on January 1st, Target will be releasing the Craft City Sleepover Collection, featuring their line of DIY Bath Bombs and a DIY Lip Kit. I know two girls who will want to try these DIY kits out for sure!  How about you?  I see a fun at-home spa and beauty day in our future come January when these two DIY kits from Craft City hits Target store shelves. :-)

Disclosure:  I was sent a sample from the vendor in exchange for an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.

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Spotlight on Mom -- Venessa Banks of Kidable Adventures

Like most businesses and inventions, Kidable Adventures was created out of a need.  Venessa Banks, mother to an active little boy was on the hunt for fun creative activities that her hands-on child could do that were not only fun, but educational as well.  Not finding what she was looking for, she decided to create adventures boxes for kids, to meet the needs of her growing child, as well as other parents and grandparents out there.  And, with that Kidable Adventures and the Little Thinker Box was born.

I was like Venessa and have been looking for creative activities to do with my girls.  But, even though I am a stay-at home mom, I don't have the extra free time to put together kits like Venessa offers, let alone run to the craft store or other store buying supplies needed for a given activity.  

This past Christmas, my mom's meet up group participated in a busy kits swap, where we each had to create fun activities for the 5 other families, as well as one for ourselves. The kits would include all the supplies needed, instructions,etc., all placed in a resealable gallon size bag.  Then, we got together and exchanged the busy kits, so that during the winter break and holidays, the kids would have fun activities to do, while not burdening the parents with having to come up with fun activities to keep little ones busy and entertained.  My girls loved these kits, and I made a point to look for them in the new year.  But, of the kits I found, none really kept their attention, or helped them with developmental learning, which I was hoping for.

I didn't give up my search, and was glad I didn't because this is when I stumbled across Venessa's Kidable Adventures website and fell in love with her monthly subscription box for kids.  

Here is a video that Venessa has shared on her Kidable Adventures YouTube Channel that explains more about her Little Thinker Box and reason for starting her business...

After reaching out to Venessa, she graciously sent along a sample adventure box for me to share with the girls, as well as took time out of her busy schedule to complete my Spotlight Mom questions.

I couldn't wait to receive the Little Thinker Box and share it with the girls.  And, when it arrived, both the girls and I had a blast completing the different activities included in the activity box. 

Here is a quick YouTube video that gives you glimpse into a Little Think Box monthly subscription box.  This video showcases activities and items found in the March Rainbows themed box...

If you follow Kidable Adventures YouTube Channel, you will be able to find out what is in each month's Little Thinker Box.

Stay tuned on Friday, when I will share more about the Little Thinker Box I was sent for the girls to enjoy, as well as share a money saving promo code only for Inspired by Savannah.

In the meantime, please enjoy my Spotlight on Mom interview with Venessa Banks, creator of Kidable Adventures. :-)

Name: Venessa Banks

Company Name/Product/Service: Kidable Adventures; Products: Little Thinker Box and Kidables

Company Location: Athens, GA

Company Website: www.kidableadventures.com

Facebook URL: https://www.facebook.com/kidableadventures

Google+: Kidable Adventures on Google+

YouTube: Kidable Adventures YouTube Page

Age of Company: 6 months on May 1

Favorite Inspirational Quotes: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Favorite Book: Right People, Right Place, Right Plan

Tell us a little bit about yourself.  How many children do you have?  What are their ages? Your hobbies? Etc. 

I am married to the best man in the world, and we have one son. He is seven years old.

I work three jobs. I have a full-time job with the area convention and visitors bureau. I am the event planner for a regional kids expo, and I am CEO/Founder of Kidable Adventures. I am working on getting rid of that full-time job, but I know from experience, it is a good thing to have when you are trying to get a business going.

Briefly explain your business.  How did it come about?

Growing up, I loved school and loved learning. I did not want to miss a day of school. There was something about learning that excited me. Now, as a mom, I want my child to have that same excitement.

My son is an active little boy who responds better to hands-on creative ways of learning. Therefore, I am always looking for creative ways to keep him excited about learning, but sometimes a lack of time can hinder the best intentions. One day, after spending hours researching activities online, I wondered how many moms were experiencing the same struggle ̶̶ finding time to gather activities for their kids that were not just fun but educational, too. I knew I could not be the only mom experiencing this dilemma, so I decided to create Kidable Adventures.

Kidable Adventures creates hands-on educational products for kids that help them learn through creative play. We do all the work, so mom (or dad) won’t have to. Our mission is to create excitement about learning.

What is a typical work day like? 

I have a full-time job, too, so it is crazy. Really crazy! Often, you will find me up at 3:30 a.m. working on Kidable Adventures stuff. Sometimes I am up that late, working through the night, or sometimes I wake up that early to get an early start. It just depends on what’s going on.

What has been a struggle while starting up your company? 

Time and money!!! Being completely debt free is a big goal of my family, so I wanted to start the company and keep the company debt free, so that required me to wait a little longer to launch. I had to save a little at a time, until I had what I needed to launch. It was so hard being patient and waiting on the funds. When I originally decided to do this, there were not as many kid related subscription boxes as there are now. It was really hard watching all the others start, while I waited to accumulate the necessary funds. Also, working a full-time job makes start-up more complicated, time wise, but this allows me to put money made by the business back into the business until things get going good.

What did you do in your past work life? 

I worked at Walmart for over seven years. It was my first job. After college, I worked for the local government as a Management Analyst, conducting performance audits.

What have been some of your major successes? 

Developing and launching a regional magazine, women’s expo, kid’s expo, and Kidable Adventures.

What have been some of your major challenges? 

Finding time to do everything and managing that time well.

On those impossible days, what motivates you to keep going? 

The possibility of being able to do my business full-time!

What is your balancing secret in managing a business and family?

I have an awesome husband that helps a lot.  

What is next for your business? 

This year we are working on getting our name out there. There are still so many people that have not heard about us. Also, we will be adding more themes to our Kidable line.

Do you have any advice for other mom entrepreneurs that are starting out and struggling, or are on the fence about starting a business? 

For those on the fence about starting: pray about it, research it, and if it makes sense, just do it. The first step is always the hardest. For those who are doing it and struggling, you need to decide if it is a bad apple. If it is, you have to let it go. If not, keep fighting and don’t give up.

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