Build-A-Bear Workshop

My daughters have been to Build-A-Bear Workshop a handful of times. They visited the store in Austin for the first time last week, in fact, but that was just to buy some new spring fashions for their bears, thanks to their Auntie Monica!

Earlier this evening we went to our local Build-A-Bear Workshop with the sole purpose of checking out two new furry friends that are available for a limited-time-only, and just in time for spring! Blossom Bunny and Cheerful Cheeks Chick. We were sent a $25 gift card to make our very own bunny, and had a lovely time!

If you’ve never been to a Build-A-Bear Workshop, you really should. The process is so fun… for adults and kids alike! I’d recommend going on a weekday, as we had the store to ourselves. There are eight stuffed animal-making stations – Choose Me, Hear Me, Stuff Me, Stitch Me, Fluff Me, Dress Me, Name Me and Take Me Home. A master Bear Builder associate will guide you through each phase of the bear-making process, which will become second nature to your kids after they’ve done it a few times!

• Choose Me. As soon as we stepped foot in the store, I told my girls that we’d be taking home a Blossom Bunny. There were no complaints, as she’s so darn cute! I asked MJ if she’d like to get the Chick, too, and she responded with “Yeah! I wuv mah duck!” so we grabbed one of those as well. {Its cheeks light up!} This brings our Build-A-Bear family to five, though there are more than 30 varieties of stuffed animals available, ranging in price from $10- $25.
• Hear Me. We always skipped this station in our previous visits, but I thought – what the heck! I’ve got a gift card! – and let them each choose their sound. MJ loved pushing all the buttons. Over and over. I finally decided on a Giggle sound for her. Maya took a total of 1.5 seconds to choose “Single Ladies” from Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel. You can listen to this here. She makes her bunny dance to it, which is hilarious. I’ll try to get it on video one of these days. You can even record your own sound, a 10-second message, which is pretty cool!
• Stuff Me. With the help of a wonderful master Bear Builder associate, the girls each took turns stuffing their new furry friends. They each gave them a quick hug, to check them for the right amount of huggability, and chose a small satin heart from a nearby bin. “I wub it?” MJ asked. This warms up the heart. “I kiss it?” And she did. Then they each made a wish, and placed the hearts inside their stuffed animals. My favorite part of the entire process!
• Stitch Me. The stuffed animal is sewn shut. Before stitching the furry friend, a barcode is inserted, in case it were to ever be lost.
• Fluff Me. The girls gave their furry friends a bath, and brushed the ears and poof of orange hair, respectively.
• Dress Me. You can choose from hundreds of furbulous outfits and accessories. This is probably the most time-consuming part! Since we have two new outfits, we decided to skip this, resulting in a “But, mom!!!” moment. I was about to grab that Easter egg outfit show above, but I restrained myself. Barely.
• Name Me. Here you go to a computer, where your child answers a few questions about their new furry friend and gives it a name.
• Take Me Home. Our two new furry friends were each placed in their very own carrying case, along with a customized birth certificate. Then it was time to pay and bring them home, where they are now snuggling with their new owners in dreamland.

BUY IT!
If you want to get your hands on a Blossom Bunny ($18) or a Cheerful Cheeks Chick ($20) you should do so soon, as they’re only available for a limited time and might sell out with Easter almost upon us. Build-A-Bear Workshop knows that moms are very busy, so for this special season they’re not only providing a selection of bunnies and other stuffed animal friends, but guests can also receive an Easter basket and candy as gifts with purchase! Up until April 4th you can get a FREE Easter basket and candy with a purchase of $20 or more. Note that this isn’t guaranteed – only while supplies last, and may vary by store.

WIN IT!
One beary lucky reader will win a $25 gift card! It can be used in any Build-A-Bear Workshop store or online at www.buildabear.com. To enter, please leave a comment telling me who you’d give the card to if you won. Or would you keep it for yourself?

For extra entries:

• Subscribe to my feed by feed reader or email (or let me know if you already do).
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Two $25 gift cards, one for myself and one for giveaway, were provided to me at no charge by Build-A-Bear Workshop. Contest ends April 4th, 2010 at midnight EST. US entries only. One person per household may enter. Leave a separate comment for each entry & a valid email address. Winner, chosen at random, has 3 days to claim their prize.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page for a list of all my latest giveaways!