Gift Guides

Christmas Gift Guide 2017- Wooden Toys

Best Wooden Toys Christmas 2017

Another incredible year and so many amazing wooden toys that I have blogged, reviewed and discovered over the course of the year.

Wooden toys are utterly classic beauties that stand the test of time and general wear and tear of children. They are full of endless play as there are no batteries, no noises and the child gets to use their imagination to bring the toy alive.

Whether they are playing with a super cool modular dollhouse, having fun with brilliant Geo puzzles,  building castles and forts, balancing on boards, stacking cats, or creating fun play spaces for their cars, trucks and planes.

Each child who plays with these toys will have a different and unique experience from the next kid and even day to day,  as it will all depend on your child’s imagination.

It is these toys that will be passed down to the next generation, loved, played with and cherished. Not the cheap plastic ones with all the bells and whistles that will go to landfill after dying a quick death due to poor workmanship, breakages and dead batteries.

In choosing wooden toys, you are choosing to think about your child’s future and their kids’ future.

Best Wooden Toys Christmas 2017

Gift Guide details from the top of the tree and L to R are:

Egmont Doll House Modern – The Mini Manor & Co  $88.00

Ze Geoanimo by Djeco – Tiny Paper Co $54.95

Milianiwood Animal Factory – Wild and Whimsical Things $28.95

Castle Block Set – Play to Learn  $49.00

Wobbel Board – Sweet Elephants $295.00

Grimms Wooden Blocks Colour Tree Slices  The Creative Toy Shop $73.00

BuildMe Wooden Toys – Tow  $59.00

Pinch Toys – Mini Set Retro 70s Cars – Monkeynmoo Shop $32.00

Wooden Cat Stacking Puzzle – Happy Go Ducky Toys $23.00

Friendly Toys – Wooden Plane – Wiggles Piggles $39.95

This line up are all from Australian online small business retailers who are supporting their families with their business. In supporting them you support their families this Christmas.

Disclosure: this post was written in conjunction with these beautiful shops All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.

Christmas Gift Guide 2017- Big Kids

I am super excited for this year’s annual gift guides as I have collaborated with an incredible selection of stunning online toy and gift boutiques to bring you some of the best gift ideas there is for your big kids!

I love curating and selecting toys that will be a big part of your child’s future growth and development.

I hope you love this year’s selection of toys for big kids ages 4 to 8 years.

The toys and gifts here are perfect to get children into the great outdoors and do a spot of gardening and press some flowers. Or to write letters to their friends, family and even Santa and pop them in their very own letter box. Keep the big kids amused with a marble run, game of lotto, wooden shape puzzle or practice the alphabet using games via a tablet.  Perhaps you are after some good old fashioned fun and your child can pretend to be a doctor or zoom around cars and caravans imagining they are on summer holidays. Lastly for some whizz, bang fizz, test out experiments in a science kit. There is definitely something to suit your child here no matter their interests.

They are all non toxic toys that will allow your child to explore their creativity, imagination, and many are educational.Best Kids Toys 2017 - Kids Gifts and Toys Christmas Gift Guide- Big Kids 2017

Gift Guide details from the top of the tree and L to R: 

Make Me Iconic Post Box – Sweet Elephants $79.99

Flower Press Large (18cm x 18cm) – Play to Learn $55.00

Tin Toy Set Mercedes Cabrio, Coupe and Caravan Happy Go Ducky Toys $55.00

Hape Quadrilla Set – The Creative Toy Shop $119.00

Extra Large Wooden Shape Puzzle – Happy Go Ducky Toys $120.00

OMM Design Animal Lotto Game – Wiggles Piggles $29.95

Curious Kids Science ‘Chemistry in Action’ Kit – Curious Kids Science $33.00

Marbotics Smart Letters – Keld Industries $89.95

Sow n’ Sow Christmas Greetings Billy Button Gift of Seeds – Wild and Whimsical Things $9.95

Burgon Ball Hand Trowl – Wild and Whimsical Things $23.95

Burgon Ball Hand Fork – Wild and Whimsical Things $23.95

Le Toy Van Doctor Set – Wiggles Piggles $79.95

This line up are all from Australian online small business retailers who are supporting their families with their business. In supporting them you support their families this Christmas.

Disclosure: this post was written in conjunction with these beautiful shops All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.

Christmas Gift Guides 2017 – Toddler

I am super excited for this year’s annual gift guides as I have collaborated with an incredible selection of stunning online toy and gift boutiques to bring you some of the best gift ideas there is for your little ones.

I love curating and selecting toys that will be a big part of your child’s future growth and development.

I hope you love this year’s selection of toys, they are for the busy toddler to keep him or her occupied, entertained with open ended toys which allow the child to use their creativity and imagination. Many of the toys are classics or modern classics that have been tried and tested by generations of kids. They are non toxic, non tech toys that will allow your child to explore different parts of their gross and fine motor skills.

Gift Guide details from the top of the tree and L to R: 

Cana Watering Can by Quut – Tiny Paper Co. $24.95

Paola Reina Doll ‘Nora’ Yellow Jacket – The Mini Manor & Co $99.00

Alimrose Angel Bunny with Wings – Wiggles Piggles  $69.95

BuildMe Wooden Toys Buster PlayMe Car $69.00

Indigo Jamm- Toby Truck from  Lucas Loves Cars $80.00

Wishbone 3 in 1 balance bike from Sweet Elephants from $289.99

Way to Play Ring Road 12 part set from Alfie Wild Kids $89.00

Fishing Set – Play to Learn $69.00

Plan Toy Beehives – The Creative Toy Shop $49.00

Milaniwood Make Maki Sushi – Wild and Whimsical Things $59.95

This line up are all from Australian online small business retailers who are supporting their families with their business. In supporting them you support their families this Christmas.

Disclosure: this post was written in conjunction with these beautiful shops All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way

Christmas Gift Guides 2017- Handmade

Best Handmade Gifts for Kids Christmas 2017

I am super excited for this year’s annual gift guides as I have collaborated with an incredible selection of beautiful handcrafted makers and creators for the best in handmade gifts for your children this Christmas.

I love curating and selecting toys that have been made with heart, passion and soul. Sometimes painstakingly designed, reworked, designed, reworked and finally the finish version is ready for children’s hands.

I hope you love this year’s selection of handmade toys and gifts. Many are pretend play toys that allow your child to imagine that they are a queen ruling over her empire, or a dinosaur bashing and crashing through the jungle, wood folk that are preparing for a Christmas party or a fairy king helping his fairies to build their fairy trees in the woods.  Others still allow your child to colour and draw or learn about the animals of the world or decorate your child’s room or hold their most treasured possessions on their back.

They are non toxic, non tech toys that will allow your child to explore different parts of their imagination, creativity, gross and fine motor skills.Best Handmade Gifts for Kids Christmas 2017 Gift Guide details from the top of the tree and L to R: 

Handmade Lee Leather Bunting – Coco Rose Interiors $70.00

Handmade Hazel Village Catalina Mouse Monkeynmoo $64.95

Handmade Silver Wand – Alfie Wild $25.00

Rose Gold Birthday Handmade crown –Schooza $14.95

Handmade Olivia Leather Kids back pack – Coco Rose Interiors $75.00

Dinosaur Tail – Schooza $29.95

In The Jungle Dinosaur Name Chart Art Hanger Dino Raw $44.00

World Animal Flash Cards – Two Little Ducklings $27.95

ZooModern Animal friends: Lars the Owl,  Abe the Fox, Evan the Rabbit and Leo the Bear $85.00 each. Available in Australia at The Woods Folk

Washable handmade playmats  Noble Cubs $25.00

This line up are all from Australian online small business retailers who are supporting their families with their business. In supporting them you support their families this Christmas.

Disclosure: this post was written in conjunction with these beautiful shops All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.

Christmas Gift Guides 2017 – Baby

I am super excited for this year’s annual gift guides as I have collaborated with an incredible selection of stunning online toy and gift boutiques to bring you some of the best gift ideas there is for your little ones.

I love curating and selecting toys that will be a big part of your baby’s future growth and development. I hope you love this year’s selection of toys that have been chosen for their ability to keep your baby happy over the next year whether that is keeping them comfortable in organic clothes, amusing them with pull along toys or stacking puzzles or giving them a soft and cuddly friend to hold.

Best-baby-gifts-christmas
Gift Guide details from the top of the tree and L to R: 

Friendly Toys Wooden Pull Along Dog – Wiggles Piggles  $44.95

Blabla Mini Knit Doll Hazel – Wild and Whimsical Things $74.95

Blabla Mini Knit Doll Jasper – Wild and Whimsical Things  $74.95

Grimms Set of Natural Stacking Bowls – The Creative Toy Shop $46.00

Organic Essentials Newborn Gift set (includes baby blanket, bib & beanie) – Niovi Organics $75.00

Baby Book Blueberry Co $49.95

Grimms Rainbow Boat Grasping Toy – The Creative Toy Shop $34.00

Oli and Carol Chew Fruit – Wild and Whimsical Things $17.95 each

Noah’s Ark Stacking Puzzle – Lucas Loves Cars $38.00

Garden Sorter and Roller- The Mini Manor & Co $49.95

This line up are all from Australian online small business retailers who are supporting their families with their business. In supporting them you support their families this Christmas.

Disclosure: this post was written in conjunction with these beautiful shops All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.

8 year old BOY gift guide

So my first baby turned 8 this week! I am not quite sure how the years have flown by ever so quickly and how I suddenly have such a big boy… He has certainly made me a very proud Mama and he teaches me so much each and every day. I have definitely learnt a lot about patience, resilience, sleep deprivation and I can now negotiate better than any UN employee!

8 years old is starting to get into the “awesome” stage of life and gifts and moving away from the kiddy stage, so I found presents this year to be a little more tricky. They needed to be more rad and a little on trend.

In case any other mums, dads, grandparents or carers are also finding it hard to pick that gift for your 8 year boy, I thought I would share some of the presents that Master J received this week as well as some other gift ideas I know my 8 year old son would LOVE!

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Omy Design & Play

I am always on the search for amazing gifts, hey it’s my job right? I found French brand Omy Design & Play a few years ago when I discovered their large scale colouring posters and I mean LARGE scale and fell in love!

They were one of the first, if not THE first company, to produce them back in 2012 and I adored that they created pages of some of our favourite cities like London, New York, Paris and Sydney.  My sister gave one of the London box sets to my eldest son for Christmas in 2014 and we have had so much fun colouring it in since then.

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Christmas Gift Guide 2016 – Toddler

A selection of gorgeous gifts for your growing babes, the ones that are now crawling, cruising, or walking! I have tried where possible to shop small as by shopping small you are supporting a family, couple or entrepreneur living their dream!  Let’s support them this Christmas.

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Amazing new baby box!

 

As you know I love finding new and exciting gifts and toys for my gorgeous readers and one that I have just found out about, is so clever, I wish it was around when my boys were babes.

Tuutu Baby Box, is a pretty incredible gift idea born out of a traditional Finnish concept that has been around for over 78 years.

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Wooden Toys – made in the USA

I wrote a blog feature last month all about Australian Wooden toys and I am very exciting to start looking around the world at what other countries makers and creators are designing and producing for our children in terms of sustainable heirloom wooden toys.

This month, we travel to the grand ol USA! And gosh there is so much going on here, it was really hard to make a decision on the curated goodness coming out of the US. I think I will need to do another one very soon.

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Australian Wooden Toys

I have to say in looking for handmade and wooden toys over the past 2 years for my blog, it has honestly been quite a struggle. There are a lot of wooden toys but all made by the big companies; Plan Toys, Hape, Melissa and Doug, Janod and Kidkraft to name a few.  We love our Hape & Plan Toys but not all the companies produce solid wood toys, many are made of MDF, which isn’t sturdy and if it is painted, then it chips easily.

However, just in the past year, there has been an absolute resurgence in handmade and wooden toys.  And I can proudly say there are so many handmade and heirloom made toys being made right here in Australia, many in lovely mamas and papas homes! Woohoo!

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Christmas Gift Guide – Last Minute Gift Ideas

Ok so it happens to all of us, even the most organised of people, it is 4 days before Christmas and you realise you have extended family coming to Christmas and you have forgotten to get your cousin a Christmas present. Or perhaps your neighbour has given you a present and you forgot their children or you might need a present for your bosses kids or help, even your own!

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Christmas Gift Guides – Threenager

Some fabulous gift ideas for your threenager ahem, three year old! They seem to grow up so quickly these days and here are some fun gifts to educate and entertain.

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Christmas Gift Guide – Toddlers

Oh those important “Toddler Years”, when they start to walk, move, climb walls and tables, and generally keep themselves and you busy, oh so busy!

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Christmas Gift Guide – Newborns and Babes

Another week closer to Christmas, another gift guide from me! This week it is all about the babes!

Little ones that is.

Check out these beautiful gifts for your newborn through to 1 year old baby.

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Christmas 2015 – Wooden toys under $100

Halloween is over and let’s roll on the festive season!

With it comes all the flurry of thinking about what presents aka kids toys to buy your children, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and grandchildren. So I thought I would help out over the next few weeks and give you some ideas  with my gift guides, as we build up to Christmas 2015 ( 7 weeks + and counting, just thought I would add that in for some shock value!).

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Fabulous reads of 2015

Ok, so I admit not all of these books have necessarily been published in 2015 and it isn’t the end of the year, yet! However they make my pick of kids books for this year and will make great, ahem, Christmas presents! Yes it is nearly 14 weeks away…. there I said it. Sorry!

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Modern Day Princess Gift Guide

With the royal baby Princess now born and as we eagerly await her name, I thought I would do a little gift guide for the very modern Princess!

Modern day princess gift guide 4

1. Tough Cookie Store – Pink Crown AUS $30.00

2. Zilvi wooden wall word art AUSD $25.00

3. Hubble and Duke romper AUSD $65.00

4. Babee and Me Alphabet handmade cloth book AUS $300.00

5. LexyPexy Wooden teether “The Harlan” USD $25.00

6. Hubble and Duke Ballet Moccasins in Gold Rush – AUSD $45.00

7. Nor-Folk white tee, seeing as though the Princess will grow up in Norfolk £20.00

8. Yarning Made baby blanket AUSD $215.00

9.Luna and the Boy Royal Roundie AUS $39.00

Easter Bunny Delights

A little Easter bunny gift inspiration, a little late but gorgeous gifts for the Easter Bunny’s upcoming visit!

Easter Bunny Delights

Clockwise from top left: Bunny garland from Velveteen Babies,   Speedy Bunny print from Wee Gallery, baby teething ring from Say Seb,  Bunny ear doll from Tippitoetailor , Bunny shelf from Little Red Elk, Bunny kids blanket from Miniwilla,  Bunny and egg cookies from Hello Naomi, Bunny egg cups from Buddy & Bear, Lambswool Mr Bunny from Sally Nencini, Bunny tee from Inkibabinki , Bunny pillow from Minis by Vane and Rabbit print from Alphabets and Animals.

Wishing you and your families a very happy and relaxing Easter!!

My Little Rider – Christmas gift guide

This little gift guide “My Little Rider” is inspired by those kids that always have a car, truck, fire engine, motorbike, or digger in their hand whether at kindy, at home, at preschool or out and about. They would never leave home without one!

 

My Little Rider 2014 GG

 

1. To get your little rider cruising early, try this balance bike from Cambridge made Early Rider Lite Balance bike.  Ages 18 months +

2. We adore our Baghera in our household and these new ride ons look a joy to ride, Baghera Ride on Riders Black. Ages

3. A puzzle and car in one, Automoblox C9 Sports car. Ages 3 +

4. Orchard Toys Giant Road Jigsaw for hours of puzzle fun that you can then use to race your cars around town. Ages 3+

5.  For all “little riders”, the perfect tee from Pop Kids “Road Rebel” tee.  Ages 3 months – 8 years.

6. Mon Petit Art “Vehicles” colouring and sticker book to entertain your vehicle lover on rainy days. Ages 3+

7. Green Toys Fire Engine, made from recycled milk containers, with over 24, 482, 366  recycled so far and counting. A true “green” toy and so much fun for your fire engine loving child. Ages 12 months +

8. Alain Gree ” Transport” book to teach them all about the different types of transport.  Ages 2+

9. For a play tent for any vehicle lover, check out The Monster Factory VW Campervan play tent. Ages 2+

10. Hop and Peck British Tractor toy makes the perfect introduction to gorgeously designed . Ages 12 months +

NB:- I have chosen not to provide pricing details as these products have been sourced globally and thus are subject to change.

My Little Dreamer

This Christmas gift guide “My Little Dreamer” is inspired by the child that loves to dream at night and day dream when it is light. You know the child, they will wander down the street with you, holding your hand and they get lost in another world, as they take in their wondrous surroundings. They dawdle, they dream, they wonder, they ponder and they imagine. They sleep with vivid dreams at night, and awake from another world in the morning. This little dreamer will turn into a big believer one day soon!

 My Little Dreamer 2014 GG

1.  To help any dreamer to sleep, try this Case Studyo X Friends with You – Little Cloud Lamp

2.  The perfect print for any Little Dreamer, by Ingrid Petrie Design

3.  These softies make beautiful sleeping companions  “Famille Goutte” from Zu- Boutique

4.  Sweetest dreams with “Rosy the dreamer” pillowcase from One in Melon Designs.

5. A gorgeous tee for any dreamer, “Catch my Dreams” tee from Feather Drum

6. Organic cotton swirly cloud leggings from Candy Kirby Designs

7. The perfect tee for any night dreamer, “Moon tee” by Feather 4 Arrow 

8. A fab book to help those children who may struggle with bad dreams at night,  The Dream Jar by Lindan Lee Johnson and illustrated by Serena Curmi

9. For the softest cutest cuddly try Blabla apple pillow  for your sweetest dreamer

10. Stunning star petite light for a gorgeous night light from Fromage La Rue

 

My Little Artist – Christmas gift guide

Inspired by own son who is the happiest when he is drawing or colouring on notepads, scrap paper, paper towel holders, boxes and more. This one is for you, my beautiful Jasper.

My little artist xmas gift guide 2014 KGT final

1. For colouring fun on a giant scale, try the  Omy Design and Play Giant Colouring poster

2. For finger painting fun and travel friendly, the Finger painting set by NPW

3.  To inspire and captivate your little artist to learn about the history of art this book is amazing,  If I were an Artist by Minus Editions

4.  Your little artist will love designing their own monster tee, Creatures and Features by Neve and Hawk

5. For every budding artist,  The Artist long sleeved tee by Organic Zoo

6. Stunning rudolph crayons bv Crayonbox2013

7. All artist’s need something to draw with and what better pencils than these,  Slogan pencil from Bonne Nuit

8. Ebery artist needs somewhere to sketch their creations and this one is a great gift idea, “Oh what fun” by ordinaryartists

9. For one of the best artists and illustrators in the business, Herve Tullet – Mix it up

10. A great little notebook to bring out the fun in drawing and help them create, How to dress a fox by Wee Gallery 

My Little Ballerina – Christmas gift guide

Inspired by those gorgeous little girls who love to dress up and dance and twirl in their tutus all day long. This one is for you!

My Little Ballerina GG 2014 KGT

1. Studio Escargot Ballerina Doll. Ages 3+

2. Tiger Tribe Ballerina musical jewellery box. Age 3 years+

3. Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle. Ages 3-6 years.

4. Hubble and Duke Gold ballet moccasins. Ages 0+

5. thepoppytree “Little Dancer Ballet Girl” print. Age 0+

6. Manuala De Juan Charlotte T-bar pink patent leopard shoes,  Ages 2+

7.  Hubble and Duke Plie Jete Pirouette t-shirt, denim bloomers and knee high socks. Ages 0+ to 6 years.

8. Tiger Tribe Magna Carry Ballet Concert playbook. Ages 3+

9.  Tutu Du Monde Swan Queen Tutu Dress. Ages 2+

10. Tutu Du Monde  Blushing Violet headband- Fraise. Ages 2+

NB:- as the prices for all the products are across different currencies, I have not included these in the gift guide.

My Little Explorer – Christmas gift guide

Inspired by children who love  “The Great Outdoors”, check out these gorgeous gift ideas for your “Little Explorer” this Christmas!

 

My little Explorer Christmas gift guide 2014

 

 

1. Perfect for the little explorer, “The Outdoor Explorer Kit” from Seedling has a LED headlamp, canvas carry bag, magnifying glass, sketchpad, pencils and bug checklist. Age 5+

2. All little explorers need to stay warm with Roxy Marj heirloom bear blanket . Age 0+

3.  The perfect indoor or outdoor swing from Peachy Baby which is what all little explorer’s need!Age 4+

4. All little explorer’s need a best friend to take on their adventures and Petit Pippin’s handmade Luca Fox softie is the perfect companion. Age 0+

5. For the little explorer’s bedroom, this would make the perfect match “Live for Adventure” mountain wooden plaque from Zilvi. Age 0+

6. The perfect cushion to rest their tired heads on or to decorate their room, is this soft alpaca mountain cushion from Homely Creatures. Age 0+

7. For daily inspiration for all intrepid explorers, this Blacklist “Choose your own adventure” print is a must. Age 0+

8. The perfect tee for any avid adventurer, Modern Burlap’s “Free to Roam” tee . Age 3-6 months to 10 years.

9. The sweetest of toy camera’s for all those pictures of their explorations by Handmade by Suussies. Age 3+

10. All explorer’s need time to rest with a Such Great Heights Bear Wonder tent. Age 2+

11. Flatout Frankie cardboard aeroplane can help to transport the little explorer to all places and times! Age 3+

12. A little explorer can remember all the bugs they discovered on their adventures using this Bug Finger Paint set by NPW. Ages 3+

My little Christmas gift guide series

For this year’s “Kids Gifts and Toys” Christmas gift guides I have decided to focus on children’s  personalities and what they love and enjoy doing. I hope these create meaningful and fun gift guides and enable you to find those unique and fun presents for your children this Christmas.

I have tried to focus on supporting small business and independent labels where possible this Christmas as its nice to know where our money is going and knowing we are helping out other mothers and their families.

So stay tuned for the Kids Gifts and Toys ” My Little” gift guide series….I hope you will find some of the best toys and gift ideas for your children this Christmas right here.

Cardboard creations!

For something a little different this Christmas, how about some cool creative fun with cardboard?! Check out these awesome creations which your kids will adore playing in and with. Plus they are all recyclable – FAB!

Studio Roof ( formerly Kidsonroof) : a Dutch brand which started the cardboard revolution in my mind back in 2005. This is one of the best rocket ships i have seen and I love their little playhouse!

Kidsonroof rocketship

cardboard-playhouse-kids-casa-cabana-white

Flatout Frankie – NZ designed cardboard fun which was established in 2011 and who create those FAB dinosaur, unicorn and oven creations

Roar_head_boy_flatoutfrankie Kitchen_flatoutfrankie
horse_girl__unicorn flatoutfrankie

 

flatoufrankie aeroplane

Paplegehuset – newcomer to the field from Denmark, they are creating anything from castles, tipis, cars, igloos, kiosk, dolhouses and more!

Paplegehuset castle

Paplegehuset kiosk  flyvemaskine

iglo

 

Build a  Dream playhouses – one of my favourites on the market today for their social responsibility motto and stunning creations.  You and your children will be decorating up a storm with these playhouses this Christmas! NB: – they arrive in white and you decorate to your heart’s content.

 

the-snack-shack-color-4

the-cosmic-cruiser-color-4

the-dream-machine-color-5

 

Imaginabox by On the Gro : for those who want to create their own cardboard fun with their boxes, check out the below kits to help! They are reusable, so if the box gets a little tired, grab a new box and re-use the stickers!

imaginabox oven alt

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onthegro oven

on the gro
 

 

3rd Birthday Gift Guide

3rd Birthday Gift Guide: 

3rd birthday gift guide KGT

1. Scribble Book by Herve Tullet   2. Maven Doll   3. Kiko+ Gatcha Gatcha Wooden Gumball Machine by Kukkia    4. Sonny Angels   5. Seedling Paper Doll friends   6. Crayonbox Lego crayons   7. Rock and Pebble Apple and Pear house   8. Micro Mini Scooter   9. Struckla and Peach masks   10.Tiger Tribe Kit Pax Rocket Ship   11. Twig Creative wooden camera    12. Press Here by Herve Tullet   13. Melissa and Doug Easel accessory kit   14. Make a portrait by Shusha toys   15. Superhero peg dolls by Made by Layla   16. Melissa and Doug Easel