Oh So Crazy

Product Reviews, Giveaways, and Personal Anecdotes

You are here: Home / Home / Arts & Crafts/DIY / Printies Design Studio

Printies Design Studio

by

It’s no secret kids love stuffed animals. Everyone does! Making your own is especially fun, so when I first stumbled upon this unique way to make stuffed animals at home, I knew my daughters would love it! With Printies Design Studio, all you need is your computer and inket printer, and you’re all set to create a custom plush stuffed friend!

I love that Printies allows kids to express themselves and create something on their own. There’s absolutely no sewing, gluing, or cutting, so even the youngest kids can do it with an adult there to help out. Design, print and stuff your own Printies in three easy steps:

1. Design Online.
Download the online design studio at MyPrinties.com to bring a Printies to life. You have to register on the site and enter a special code that comes in the Printies Design Studio kit. We used the Ocean Studio. The online design software is simple to use and completely kid-friendly. After I walked her through the different options, my 5-year-old created a dolphin all by herself. Choose a “skin” color, a pair of eyes, a mouth, clothes, accessories, add text or a doodle, and even a photo! Fun!		 Product review: Printies
2. Print on Fabric Sheets.
Feed the special Printies fabric sheets into any inkjet printer to print the custom Printies design. Once the first side is complete, feed the Printies fabric sheet through a second time to print the design on the back side. Double-sided printing can be tricky, but the software guides you through it step-by-step. It’s foolproof. The magic Printies fabric sheets work just like paper in any ink jet printer and do not use any more ink than a traditional print out. I noticed ink printed outside of the template itself, which I didn’t find necessary. It would be nice if they improved upon this. Also, it’s important to pay attention to what colors you’re using on the design itself. My neighbor’s daughter chose dark purple eyes on her lighter-purple seahorse; it showed up on the screen, but not on the printout itself (so I drew them in!)		 Product review: Printies
3. Stuff and Show Off!
Tear along the perforated shape and pop out the printed, pre-sewn creation. Use the included stuffing and stuffing tool to make it soft. I found tearing the stuffing into pieces made it easier. Place it in any of the enclosed colorful pairs of shoes to seal it shut and put it on display. One downside is that the seal isn’t permanent. This is a toy that is really meant more for display rather than play. The stuffing can be removed (so don’t leave it within reach of a curious toddler…). A little glue or a needle and thread will fix this.		 Product review: Printies


Product review: PrintiesProduct review: PrintiesProduct review: Printies

This is a wonderful activity for a rainy/snowy day. Quiet and time-consuming. What more can I ask for? I pulled out a set for a playdate, and the kids, ranging in age from 2 to 5, took turns working with me on the computer to design their Printies. I did most of the stuffing, but they proudly showed their creations to their moms at the end of the day! A Printies stuffed toy would be a sweet gift; for Mother’s Day along with some fresh flowers, for instance. Think about picking up a kit and surprising your kids with it while you’re busy baking or putting the finishing touches on the holiday dinner next week!

Enough sheets and stuffing to make 6 Printies is included in each set, which retail for $19.99 each. There are three themes – Ocean, Pets, and Jungle – and 6 sets to choose from. Refill packs, which offer more of the original templates for the child, retail for $9.99 and are available for each of the themed Printies Design Studio kits. I’ve seen Printies online at Amazon.com, and on the shelves of my local Target. The kits and refills are also available at BJ’s Wholesale Club, Toys “R” Us, and Walgreens stores nationwide and online at Target.com, and Toysrus.com. Inkjet printers are so affordable these days, by the way. That printer in the photos – an HP D1660 – cost me $30 WITH ink.

No two Printies will ever be the same. Kids may start with the same fabric sheet and pre-sewn template, but their unique designs result in millions of iterations. So for under $20, kids can make six one-of-a-kind stuffed toys!

WIN IT!
I have 4 Printies Design Studio kits to give away! I’d like for you to receive it as soon as possible, so I’ll be doing things a little differently this time. Commenters #250 and #500 on this post will automatically win a kit. The other two will go to my Twitter followers. Follow me, @ohMariana, and @printies and tweet with the hashtag #printies within the next 48 hours for a chance at winning! All winners will be chosen at 12am EST on Friday. Rules: You may leave UNLIMITED comments, but no consecutive comments after the first 25 Comment away! US entries only. Update: If 250-500 comments aren’t reached, I’ll just pick winners at random from the comments.

BTW, my friends over at www.timetoplaymag.com are giving away Printies everyday this week!

Technosource provided me with two Printies Design Studio kits for review and four for giveaway, at no charge to me. No other compensation was received for this post.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Wow I think this is a great giveaway! Get the kids going on the computer and make an adorable stuffed animal to show off! Great giveaway! Thx Mariana! & Thx Printies!

  2. I guess I am starting off the comments I follow you on twitter as Luv2CUSmyle
    email LuvMoeDog2@ aol dot com

  3. Oh! I also follow Printies on twitter as Luv2CUSmyle and will be following as well as commenting!
    Thx
    LuvMoeDog2@ aol dot com

  12. I’m gonna be back later to comment my butt off…or something. Heh. Right now, I have a kindergartener to teach. Happy times!`
    .-= Cindy´s last blog ..Cook’s Ham Giveaway =-.

    • Me, too! And these stoopid upper arms. Worst part of my body.
      .-= Cindy´s last blog ..Cook’s Ham Giveaway =-.

  29. Gosh I hope there wasn’t a required first entry. I didn’t see one! Anyhow. Blahbittyblah
    .-= Cindy´s last blog ..Cook’s Ham Giveaway =-.

  36. Yup. I entered the Cook’s giveaway. HOpe I win that one somewhere. I think I’ve entered at least 20 of those.

  38. I’ve got a hunch you’re gonna hit the winning comment right about the time I’m washing dishes tonight. LOL

  45. What an innovative way to make no one leave comments because they are waiting until they can be commenter #250 or #500. Guess I’m not the winner, I hope someone wins soon or this could be the longest giveaway in the history of the internet

  46. Well, I’m done with the dishes, and nobody has won yet!
    .-= Cindy´s last blog ..CSN Stores Giveaway =-.

  47. Brie, I’ve held live giveaways in the past, and usually they move pretty fast, usually because commenters start conversations. This time around it’s slow, perhaps because people are busy with holiday preparations.

  59. Adding another tweet
    https://twitter.com/Luv2CUSmyle/statuses/6753259154
    LuvMoeDog2@ aol dot com

    Anyone else w/ a comment, tweet, blog to leave? This is a great stocking stuffer gift for young children! Teach them computer, printer and you can opt to teach some beginner sewing if you want… or not! Use the enclosed “shoe clips” to set up their handmade creation!

  60. I guess I’ll have to suck it up and buy a new ink cart for my printer. I’m playing the how long I can I stretch out my ink game
    .-= Thien-Kim´s last blog ..A Little Help? =-.

  62. Come on, let’s get the conversation started! Tell me why you’re kids will like Printies. Or what you’re getting them for xmas… etc.

  63. I went to buy ink for my old printer, and realized that buying a new printer would be cheaper! It had been THAT long. I bought a cheap printer, but it does it’s job.

  67. It is sad that buying a new printer would be cheaper. It’s just have 1/2 full color cartridge and another one unopened. It’s the black ink I fly through.
    .-= Thien-Kim´s last blog ..A Little Help? =-.

  70. My 3 youngest kids would love these Printies! They are very into crafts and making things theirselves. Plus, getting to use the computer AND the printer would be so cool to my 8 yr old! He just learned that he could find and print coloring pages! He hadn’t colored for a couple years except in school until he found the coloring pages and he has been printing everyday LOL
    Thx Mariana for the chance to win these!
    LuvMoeDog2@ aol dot com

  71. Doesn’t seem to be anywhere near 250 yet….it’s a shame, my daughter would absolutely LOVE this!.

  75. well, i have to leave in an hour for book reading so i guess i won’t win.
    .-= Thien-Kim´s last blog ..Creative Everyday 2010 =-.

  76. Considering how slow this is moving, and the fact that Twitter was down most of the day, I say your odds are pretty good 😉

  77. Hope we get more comments! Orrrrr, I could win! LOL This is still a great giveaway! My kids would love and would be great for a rainy day or any day! Printies is also tweeting this so hope we see others and don’t forget to comment with hash #printies in your tweet!
    LuvMoeDog2@ aol dot com

  91. Thanks so much for the chance to win. I purchased a set at TRU and would love another one so that my girls each have their own 😉

  98. Jammie, you can talk about whatever you want – ask questions, etc! How did your kids like talking to santa? My oldest just wants to write him a letter, not actually talk in person. She waved at the mall LOL. That’s all I could get this year.

  124. trying to comment and join twitter parties
    .-= Thien-Kim´s last blog ..Creative Everyday 2010 =-.

  129. I love the Time To Play Mag giveaways….but I have entered everyday for several months and never won 🙁 It should be my turn soon though! 🙂

  130. Christine at this rate it’ll be a while before we hit 250 comments.
    .-= Thien-Kim´s last blog ..Creative Everyday 2010 =-.

  132. I’ve won a giveaway from them – back in April of last year – so I KNOW it’s possible LOL. I won Hide ‘Em & Find ‘Em Eggs around Easter.

  134. I’ll pick two winners here and from Twitter, regardless of not reaching 250 comments. Guess I just picked a lousy week to do this live!

  135. Mariana – good to know it is possible! 🙂 Those guys on time to play are so funny…love them!

  138. I had the pleasure of meeting both Chris and Jim in October (even had dinner with them!) and they are as much fun in person as they are on video & Twitter.

  144. The last live giveaway I hosted was for custom stickers from Uprinting… it lasted only a few hours, and comments went well past 250. Weird.

  145. Well, I’m getting tired. This might be my last comment for the night
    .-= Thien-Kim´s last blog ..Creative Everyday 2010 =-.

  151. We’re supposed to get 5+ inches of snow this weekend.
    .-= Thien-Kim´s last blog ..Creative Everyday 2010 =-.

  159. Battle Strikers! Those are super cool. I want some. My kids are too young though, so I don’t have an excuse.

  160. I have to go to the bathroom but I am too cold to get up. Sorry maybe that wasy too much information 🙂

  163. I know don’t those Battle Strikers look cool? What about that Mindflex thing where you move things with your thoughts…creepy

  166. Almost over! Glad you tweeted that! I really want this for my younguns.
    .-= Cindy´s last blog ..Powermat Giveaway =-.

  167. C is for crafting beautiful handmade gifts
    H is for homemade eggnog & holly
    R is for Rudolph w/ his nose so bright
    I is for Icicle tinsel hanging on the tree
    S is for Santa w/ his big round belly
    T is for Tree decorated and glowing
    M is for Mistletoe
    A is for …And to all a Good Night
    S is for Stocking filled w/ nuts and fruit

    Okay so I tried something else- LOL
    I have my kids do things like this at Christmas when they get bored and I just need a few minutes of them being quiet and still to fix dinner or something.
    We use Christmas, Santa, Snowman, and others- I have them write down words they can think of that is associated w/ Christmas OR I have my older ones find as many words that they can made out of the letters of words I give them. I love crafts so the Printies will be so cool!
    LuvMoeDog2@ aol dot com

  169. Luv2CUSmile, that’s cute! I can’t wait until my kids are old enough for that.
    .-= Cindy´s last blog ..Powermat Giveaway =-.

  172. Mindflex is a lot of fun. I found myself really drawn in by it, concentrating on trying to move the ball through the obstacle course. Straining my brain, haha!

  174. Did anyone see all the different types you could make with this? You can also add a photo. & the little shoe closures are so cute! I like that you can make one so many different ways! This has lots of toy awards too!

  178. With this already presewn for the kids even a 3 yr old could make these with a bit of help from mom! That is so great. Small children feel such accomplishment when they can make something on their own! A great craft to do for stay at home kids… (I use that term for the younger ones- non-school age) Seems when my younger ones were watching their brothers leave for school they would be so upset. I always had to make it fun to be home w/ Mom. This would be a perfect activity for that! My youngest is now 8 yrs old- All my babies are getting big but this could also be a “sick at home” activity. Another time it seems I need to find things for my kids to do. When they are too sick for school but not so sick they are laid out in the bed all day…

  179. My daughter has been learning to sew so I will give her the option of sewing the bottom closed. This is great for her too so it will give her some easy sewing practice.

  183. Mariana if this was printed on draft I wonder how great it would come out? Maybe do that with one and let my kids use fabric markers that wash off to decorate them further! They can use them like that Doodle Bear toy that you write on and wash off!

  185. I think the Pets theme is the most popular. My 5yo loves the Ocean one the most at this point, b/c she’s really into all the “under the sea” stuff. Her fave is the dolphin! The Ocean ones are strange shapes, so a little more challenging to stuff than the other ones.

  187. I’m not sure how well they’d handle being washed. I know you can’t wash them if they’re printed – since it’s just regular printer ink that’s not water resistant. (At least mine’s not!)

  189. Hmm- good to know for that- I do T-shirt iron on’s so I do have a printer w/ permanent ink- Will have to break down for the kids to use… I didn’t think about it! LOL

  192. I just think they are so cute and how great to come out with kid friendly products where kids can get experience with printing and such!