Augmented Reality Craft: Create DIY Valentine’s Day Cards That Come to Life!

February 4, 2020 by Beeb 1 Comment

DIY Augmented Reality Valentine's Day Cards

Thank you to Lifeprint for partnering with us on this special craft tutorial!

Our featured pick for this year’s Valen-Tech Gift Guide would not only make a fantastic present, but is also the perfect item to help you knock out all those Valentine’s Day cards: The Lifeprint Ultra Slim Photo and Video Printer. This lightweight, handheld photo printer connects to your mobile device over Bluetooth and not only prints your memories, but quite literally makes them come to life! Lifeprint uses augmented reality to create a “Hyperphoto” using ZINK zero ink printing paper. After printing your Hyperphoto, you can actually hold your phone over the photo and watch it come to life as a video!

How to Make a DIY Augmented Reality Valentine’s Day Card

For this craft, you’ll need a Lifeprint Ultra Slim Photo and Video Printer, ZINK Photo Paper, a compatible smartphone, and the Lifeprint App, which is available on both Google Play and iTunes.

Using the Lifeprint Photos app, you can create your Hyperphoto in three different ways:

Create a new video: Select the camera icon in the “My Media” screen and take a video using the app. It will automatically select the first frame as the still image that will print on the paper, or you can select a new frame to print.
Select an existing video: Choose an existing video from the camera roll within the app to turn into a Hyperphoto.
Turn an image into a video: Select your favorite still image, then tap the “…” icon on the Print Preview screen to view more options. This will allow you to choose an existing video to bundle with the image.

Once you’ve printed your Hyperphoto, select the Hyperphoto scanner within the Lifeprint App, hold it over your photo print, and watch it come alive:

How incredible is that?! Now anyone with the Lifeprint App can use the Hyperphoto scanner to watch your Valentine’s Day greeting come to life! Lifeprint is also a worldwide social printer network, meaning that you can follow each other in the Lifeprint App and actually share photos directly to any other Lifeprint printer anywhere in the world – think how much Grandma would love to get new photos of the family delivered straight to her printer anytime you snap them! And because Lifeprint is all about getting social, you can easily pull in media from Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat to compile and share all in one spot.

So now that you know the basics of creating a Hyperphoto, it’s time to get crafty for Valentine’s Day! The Lifeprint App also contains a full photo editing suite, so you can dress up your photo with frames, fonts, emojis, filters and more to create a beautiful Valentine’s Day greeting. This is such an easy and fun way to create a custom card with no special Pinterest skills required! Plus, this portable printer can be taken anywhere, so you can work on your craft whenever and wherever you have time.

Lifeprint’s ZINK Photo Paper is available in two sizes, 2×3 and 3×4.5. This means that your photos will print out to be around the same size as the cards you get in those classic boxes of kid’s Valentines for the classroom. Even better, ZINK paper has a sticky back, so these amazing Hyperphotos are also awesome stickers. And thanks to ZINK’s zero ink printing technology, you don’t have to worry about the kids somehow making a mess with ink cartridges!

I can personally attest to the fact that kids have so much fun making these prints – they can select special photos and videos for each of their friends, record a special Valentine’s Day message, use the app to draw and add stickers, and then head to school with the coolest Valentine’s Day cards ever! Kids go crazy for stickers, so just imagine the reaction you’ll get when they see magical stickers that actually come to life. Keep them, trade them, stick them on a greeting card envelope, make them into a photo garland – with Lifeprint’s Hyperphotos, the options are endless.

The Lifeprint Ultra Slim Photo and Video Printer retails for $99.99 and is available at LifeprintPhotos.com and in Apple Stores worldwide. ZINK Photo Paper refills start at $29.95, so stock up and get working on a Valentine’s Day greeting they’ll never forget!

Back-To-School Photos 3 Ways With ZINK Photo Paper

September 5, 2019 by Beeb Leave a Comment

Thank you to our friends at ZINK Zero Ink® for sponsoring this post! This post also contains Amazon Associates links.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, school starts the day after Labor Day – which meant that this little man started his first day of first grade this week! Starting first grade is a big deal for everybody in a family – it’s a milestone, and also a big change in routine. We thought it would be nice to help smooth the transition a little by doing something special to mark the occasion, so we used a modern-day take on classic camera technology to snap an instant “First day of school” photo!

ZINK Zero Ink®: Instant Photo Printing For Gen Z

Remember taking first day of school photos when we were kids? Mom would pull out that huge Polaroid camera, the flash would blind you, and you’d wait eagerly to see the photo develop – and hope your eyes weren’t crossed! Polaroid, Kodak and Canon still make instant-print cameras, but the technology has come a long way. Thanks to ZINK Zero Ink® printing technology, you can print on demand without ink cartridges or ribbons – all the color required for printing is actually embedded within the paper itself. This means that today’s instant print cameras are a fraction of the size and weight of yesteryear’s! And if you want the fun and convenience of instant printing without needing to carry a second camera around, you can also pick up standalone instant-photo printers that hook up to your smartphone and are small enough to slip in your pocket. Technology may change, but the excitement of getting an instant photo print transcends generations, and we found it to be the perfect activity to channel those first-day-of-school nerves!

How to Stage a Great Back-To-School Photo

The easiest way to get a great back-to-school photo is to use a cute, simple prop that your kids can help with. In our Back-To-School Tech Gift Guide, we featured a number of hacks for that busy first morning of school, including a Color Changing Cinema Light Box that you can use to write special messages on. We wrote “First Day of First Grade” and let the man of the hour put the letters on the box and pick which “Emojis” he wanted to use. A simple activity like this helps to quell nerves, and makes a super cute photo prop! Once we had set the stage for the picture, we snapped two photos: One on my smartphone, and one using an instant camera. This allowed us to immediately enjoy the photos in three different ways:

#1: Instagram in Real Life

Printing photos with the Polaroid ZIP Instant Photoprinter

These days, most of our photos live in the cloud and get distributed on social media. I often hear older members of the family, such as our 91-year-old Grandma, say that they miss seeing all the cute grandkid photos because they’re not on Instagram. Fortunately, you can now distribute the same photos to both the cloud and paper instantaneously with the Polaroid ZIP Instant Photoprinter! This pocket-sized printer pairs wirelessly to your smartphone or tablet via the Polaroid Print App, giving you the traditional Polaroid experience right from your phone! Using the app, you can edit your smartphone snaps with Instagram-worthy filters, stickers, and frames, send to the ZIP Instant Photoprinter to print out in less than 60 seconds, and share to social straight from the app.

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This is the simplest and most fun way to bring Instagram to the real world and share those special first-day-of-school photos with any relative. Since you can print on demand, you can make an instant copy of any photo on your phone whenever Grandma wants one! These 2″x3″ photos also make fun items for kids to trade with their friends on the schoolyard.

The Polaroid ZIP Instant Photoprinter is pocket-sized at 2.91″ x 4.72″ and weighs just .41 lbs, so you can take it anywhere you go. It retails for $90.79 and pairs with the free Polaroid Print App available on iOS and Android. It uses Polaroid ZINK Zero Ink 2×3″ Paper to print smudge-proof photos with a sticky back; a 30-pack retails for $14.50, perfect for capturing back-to-school moment into the holiday season!

#2: Make Your Own Photo Sticker in 60 Seconds

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When it comes to taking those “First-day-of-school” photos, the most important aspect is keeping it snappy and quick. Your child already has enough on their mind, and your morning will be rushed as it is – this is not the time for a lengthy photoshoot. Fortunately, the KODAK Smile Instant Print Digital Camera is here to capture and print those back-to-school memories instantly! This cute, super-portable camera has a nostalgic design, but the technology has sure come a long way from Kodachrome. Small and lightweight, this camera has an LCD viewfinder display built right in so that you can review your images before they print. (Kids these days will never know the pain of an important photo having your head cut off!) You can edit your photos right on the camera itself to add borders, filters, or put it in photo booth mode; and when your masterpiece is ready, you can print it straight from the camera in less than a minute. And because it uses KODAK ZINK Photo Paper, the images come out on adhesive-backed paper, meaning that you’ve just created your own photo sticker.

To help get this freshly-minted first grader excited for his first day, we let him know that he would get to take a special sticker with him to school – because if there’s one thing kids love, it’s stickers! He picked the perfect spot in the kitchen where he wanted to take a photo with the lightbox, I snapped a quick pic, and we had a fabulous sticker 60 seconds later.

Decorating his school folder with a KODAK Smile Instant Print

He carefully placed his special sticker on one of his school folders to commemorate the big day! This is such a fun activity for kids, and a great keepsake.

The KODAK Smile Instant Print Digital Camera retails for $99.99 and comes in a kid-friendly, slide-open design in a variety of fun colors. The camera comes with a micro USB charging cable and a starter package of KODAK ZINK 2″x3″ Photo Paper, so you’ll have everything you need right out of the box!

#3: Create a DIY Photo Garland

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Making crafts can be fun, but also time-consuming. For most busy moms, just getting their kids to school by itself is a big enough project on the first day – never mind trying to replicate some complicated scrapbook tutorial for those first-day photos. That’s why the Canon IVY Mobile Mini Photo Printer is amazing – it puts the fun back in crafting! This purse-sized printer connects to your phone via Bluetooth using the companion app on iOS/Android. You can have all kinds of fun editing the photos in the app – the first-grader drew a big smiley face on his photo! – and then print on demand with no ink needed thanks to ZINK Photo Paper.

After the school drop-off, I thought it would be fun to print a few of the photos I had taken that morning and make a simple photo garland. It was so easy: I just took a piece of colorful twine, tied it on the mantle, and then used clothespins to attach the photos. This is a craft that even busy people have bandwidth for, and it looks super cute!

This was a fun surprise for the little guy to come home to after school – he was so happy to see the garland hanging there, and it made him feel special.

The Canon IVY Mobile Mini Photo Printer comes in three stylish colors and retails for $99.99. The Canon IVY app allows you to edit, share and print photos from your phone over Bluetooth. Canon IVY uses Canon ZINK Photo Paper to instantly print 2″X3″ photos – no ink required!

ZINK made it so easy and fun to capture and share an awesome first-day-of-school photo, and do a “Pinterest project” in a way that was actually feasible for real life, during a real busy morning!

Parents: What are YOUR tips for taking successful back-to-school photos?

How to Make a Colorful DIY Baby or Pet Gate Using Unicorn Spit! (Plus Giveaway)

April 29, 2019 by Beeb 11 Comments

How to Make a DIY Baby or Pet Gate Using Unicorn Spit

Thank you to to Eclectic Products, makers of Unicorn Spit and Glaze Coat sponsoring this post!

Since adopting a pair of sweet rabbits, my husband Jai and I have become experts in bunny-proofing. Our bunnies Keeli and Kooper are house rabbits, which means that precaution must be taken to avoid any accidents, such as the buns eating something toxic or chewing up our cords. One of the ways we keep the rabbits safe is by having baby gates blocking off sections of the house that aren’t bun-friendly. We’ve been using standard step-over baby gates, and it’s been a bit of a hassle. I can’t count the number of times I’ve hit my ankle or juggled my groceries awkwardly trying to get through. Since Jai loves woodworking and is always coming up with creative solutions around the house, he decided to make custom, handmade cafe doors to replace the baby old baby gate with. Since I’m the color queen of the family, the rooms that we were planning to put the cafe-style pet gate in are painted red and black checkerboard and light pink and purple, respectively. So to make sure the new cafe doors matched the house, we finished them using Unicorn Spit!

No, I didn’t use the Unicorn Spit to paint my nails – this was a total coincidence. Clearly, his was the perfect DIY product for someone with my colorful palette!

Wait, what?! Unicorn Spit?! No, I didn’t invite a unicorn over to my house to decorate these doors (although that is something I would totally do.) And no, this isn’t related to the unicorn bridesmaid dresses that my bridal party wore at my wedding, either! Unicorn Spit is a fabulous new one-of-a-kind gel stain and glaze. This colorful finish can be used on a plethora of DIY projects, from woodworking to jewelry, and pairs perfectly with Glaze Coat. As the name suggests, Unicorn Spit comes in a plethora of magical colors, so I couldn’t wait to create this colorful masterpiece! It turned out so fabulous, I just had to share the tutorial for anyone else in need of a better baby/pet gate!

Materials:

Lumber – we used recovered wood from an old futon

Cafe door pivots

Latch

Screws

Wood Filler

Unicorn Spit

Glaze Coat

Disposable cups

Paper towels

Tools Needed:

Table saw (jigsaw can work also)

Router

Measuring tape

Drill

Sander

Heat gun

Pencil

Instructions:

You’ll want to start off by measuring the doorframe where your cafe doors will hang so that you can size them correctly.

Cut the wood to fit your measurements using a table saw – we used reclaimed wood from an old futon frame along with some spare plywood. You can get creative and use whatever reclaimed wood you like!

Put the pieces in place and drill pilot holes, followed by the screws. You can use a spade bit to countersink the screws if they don’t reach. Once the frame is built, you’ll want to test the with your cafe swivel – you’ll need to do some trimming to get the right fit.

Using a router with a rabbet bit, carve a groove in the center of the frame for the plywood centerpiece to fit.

Cut the plywood sheet to fit inside the frame. Since the router rounds the corners on the inside, you’ll need to sand the center plywood sheet after you cut it so that it will be able to slide into the frame.

Once the plywood center has been slid into the frame, get all the joints sealed with wood glue and screw it back into place.

Repeat this process to create a second cafe door. Once both doors are complete, it’s time to have some fun with color!

Using a disposable cup, squeeze the Unicorn Spit into the cup one color at a time, creating a layer of several different colors.

Once you’ve built up several layers of different colors, pour the Unicorn Spit onto the center of each door. Pick up each side and gently tilt it to distribute the colors – this will create a cool marbled effect.

Let each side dry thoroughly, then flip the door over and repeat on the other side. We used different colors on each side in order to go with our color scheme, because the rooms that these cafe doors are connecting are red and black on one side, and purple and pink on the other!

You can tape up the sides to leave the border natural wood, or you can stain it with leftover Unicorn Spit from the cups. We split the difference, staining the darker side with the Unicorn Spit and leaving natural wood on the lighter side.

After the Unicorn Spit has completely dried, tape up the frame and cover the center panel with a layer of Glaze Coat. To do this, you’ll want to follow the instructions in the package and pour each part of the glaze coat into two disposable cups, so that you can control the amount and make sure you have equal parts. Then pour both parts into one cup to combine, stirring very thoroughly. Pour the glaze coat over the center panel.

Once the surface is covered, run a heat gun over the surface to pop any bubbles, and allow the glaze to set completely.

Once the glaze has completely hardened, remove the tape and sand the frame. If you stained the frame with Unicorn Spit, it will create a distressed wood look.

Once you’re finished sanding, all that’s left is to hang them in your doorway and install the latch – and hey presto! Your very own, miniature cafe doors!

For a visual demonstration, watch our fun how-to video on YouTube:

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Enter to Win:

To help you tackle YOUR next craft project, we’re giving away a selection of Unicorn Spit colors and Glaze Coat to one lucky MomStart reader!

To Enter:

Enter this giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget below. Giveaway ends on May 13th 2019 at 11:00 PM PST. This giveaway is open to US residents, 18+ – sorry, no PO boxes. Please see the Rafflecopter widget for full details and click here to read our giveaway rules.

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Missing Link Printable Activity Sheets: Free Download

April 9, 2019 by Beeb Leave a Comment

Travel consideration provided by United Artists Releasing.

While your family eagerly awaits this Friday’s release of Missing Link, we’ve got some super fun activities to fill the time! Fancy coloring with Sasquatch, or connecting the dots with a cryptozoologist? Then click here to download free Missing Link printable activity sheets! This fun activity book will keep those opposable thumbs occupied for a while!

Missing Link film synopsis:

MISSING LINK – In Theaters April 12

Official Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | #MissingLink

This April, meet Mr. Link: 8 feet tall, 630 lbs, and covered in fur, but don’t let his appearance fool you… he is funny, sweet, and adorably literal, making him the world’s most lovable legend at the heart of Missing Link, the globe-trotting family comedy adventure from LAIKA. Tired of living a solitary life in the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Link recruits fearless explorer Sir Lionel Frost to guide him on a journey to find his long-lost relatives in the fabled valley of Shangri-La. Along with adventurer Adelina Fortnight, our fearless trio of explorers encounter more than their fair share of peril as they travel to the far reaches of the world to help their new friend. Through it all, the three learn that sometimes you can find a family in the places you least expect.

Cast: Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, Zach Galifianakis, Timothy Olyphant, David Walliams, Emma Thompson, Matt Lucas, Ching Valdes-Aran, Stephen Fry, Amrita Acharia

Director: Chris Butler

Writer: Chris Butler

Read More About Missing Link on MomStart:

For more movie news, interviews and updates, make sure to bookmark our entertainment section! Want more free printable activities and tutorials? Check out our crafting category!

Missing Link comes to theaters everywhere THIS Friday, April 12th, so click here to get your tickets now!

Free Download: Ralph Breaks the Internet Printable Activities

March 2, 2019 by Beeb Leave a Comment

In honor of Ralph Breaks the Internet coming to Blu-ray this week, we wanted to share some fun, printable activity pages that your kids can color and craft with while enjoying the movie! Click the link below to download the PDF:

Click here to download the PDF containing fun Ralph Breaks the Internet printable activities!

And for more DIY fun, be sure to check out our Ralph Breaks The Internet bead craft tutorial as well!

Ralph Breaks The Internet Bead Craft Tutorial

February 26, 2019 by Beeb Leave a Comment

Ralph Breaks The Internet Bead Craft Tutorial

Ralph Breaks The Internet shelf decorations

Our friend and resident MomStart writer Jessie has an amazing talent for crafts. After the first Wreck-It Ralph movie came out, she created a huge Ralph out of Perler beads that she hung up on the wall as a decoration. So in honor of Ralph Breaks The Internet coming to Blu-ray, Jessie and I got together for a fun crafting afternoon so she could teach me her Perler skills in order to make a Fix-It Felix as a sequel to the first craft!

Supplies Needed:

Pattern (See below)
Perler beads in an assortment of colors
Perler pegboards
Tweezers
Parchment paper
Iron

Assembly:

To get started, you’ll need an image or pattern to use as a guide for your beaded creation. When Jessie made Wreck-It Ralph, she referenced an image of 8-bit Ralph which she used as her base to recreate in beads. Depending on your skill level and preference, you can either use an 8-bit image for reference and recreate it freehand with the beads, or follow an embroidery pattern. Since this was my first foray into the world of Perler beads, we started with a more simple project by making Fix-It Felix. To create Felix, we referenced this pattern on BraceletBook.com by Maxie – this is actually a pattern for making a friendship bracelet, but because it shows the 8-bit character on a grid, it also makes a great guide for Perler beads. To create the beaded character, you’ll want to count the number of squares on the pattern, and place your beads in corresponding spaces.

So for example, we can see that in the pattern, Felix has three black squares at the top of his head; on the next line, he has two black squares, three dark blue squares, and three more black squares. Since the image is on a grid, it makes it easy to follow along and build the character bead by bead.

Since the beads are small, tweezers make it easier to place the beads on the pegboard.

Continue placing the beads in their corresponding spots based on the grid pattern until the character is filled out.

Once you’ve filled out the entire character, you’ll want to transfer the pegbords to an ironing board. We started this project on the floor and then carefully transferred each pegboard to the ironing board, but next time I would just start the project on the ironing board at the beginning so as to not risk having to move it.

Place a piece of parchment paper over the beads and heat up your iron.

Run the iron over the parchment paper. Once the beads have melted enough to firm up and stick together, flip your creation over and repeat the process on the other side; this will help make it sturdy and stay together.

And hey presto! You’re done!

Handy tip: For best results, we recommend Perler brand beads. Jessie made this Wreck-It Ralph about 5 years ago using a combination of Perler and off-brand beads, and she’s noticed that the spots with the generic brand have warped slightly over time. Ralph has still held up nicely, but to make sure your creations are as sturdy as possible, we’d recommend opting for Perler brand beads.

Finished decorations on the shelf

These decorations are perfect to place under shelves, since it resembles the retro gameplay aesthetic of Ralph and Felix climbing up a building! We used tacks to hang Ralph on the shelf – since Felix is smaller, you can just prop him up against the wall. This craft is a lot of fun for beginners and experts alike – and it makes the perfect rainy day activity to do while watching Ralph Breaks The Internet on Blu-ray!

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Ralph Breaks The Internet Bead Craft Tutorial

How to Make a Mermaid Tail: Easy Little Mermaid Craft!

February 26, 2019 by Beeb Leave a Comment

I’ve been obsessed with The Little Mermaid since I was a child. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the film’s release – can you believe it?! So to celebrate the release of The Signature Edition of The Little Mermaid on Blu-ray, I got together with Jessie for a fun girl’s night where she taught me how to make a mermaid tail!

How to Make a Mermaid Tail: Easy Little Mermaid Craft

Supplies:

Fabric
Elastic
Thread
Kraft paper
Pen
Pins
Needle
Sewing machine
Measuring tape
Craft foam

Assembly:

To get started, you’ll want to measure your waist and buy enough fabric to wrap around yourself, plus some buffer for any mistakes; I bought two yards of fabric to make a tail for myself. You can choose any mermaid-y fabric that you like – I opted for a green crushed velvet fabric, which gave me 90s vibes that seemed fitting for a Little Mermaid costume!

Getting ready to draw the outline for the tail

Once you have your fabric, it’s time to get sewing! Roll out your kraft paper on the floor, sit down with your legs pointed, and have a friend trace a mermaid tail shape around you. We ran out of kraft paper, so we substituted kitty cat wrapping paper, which worked just as well!

Once you have your tail shape, cut it out and pin it to your fabric. To do this, you’ll want to take your entire length of fabric and fold it in half once. This way, when you pin the pattern on and cut through the fabric, you’ll end up with both sides of the tail cut out and pinned together. Make sure that you fold the fabric inside out – for example, if one side of your fabric has a pattern and the other side is blank, fold it in half so that the blank side is facing up when you pin the pattern to it. That way, once the tail is sewn and turned inside out, the pattern side of the fabric will be on the outside of the tail.

Once the pattern is pinned on, cut the tail out.

Once you have your tail cut out, remove the paper by taking out each pin and pinning it back underneath to just the fabric.

Run the sides of the tail through the sewing machine, leaving the bottom open for your feet, then turn the tail inside out. Measure a length of elastic around your waist, cut it to size, then take the top of your mermaid tail and fold it down over the elastic. Run it through the sewing machine to sew it shut and create an elastic waistband.

Next, cut out your fin out of the remaining fabric. We just did this freehand, leaving sample room for my feet. Turn the fin inside out and run it through the sewing machine, leaving an opening at the top so that you can affix it to the tail and fit your feet through it.

Place your fin on a piece of craft foam and trace around it. Cut the shape out of the foam, then cut it down to be smaller than the fin, so that you can place it inside the fabric to help the fin keep its shape. Then, turn your fin inside out, slip the foam inside it, and sew it on to the tail. We did one side of this on the sewing machine and then finished the other side by hand.

And hey presto! Your tail is done!

When the tail is finished, you can stick your feet through the fins and pull it up to your waist, a little like putting on a giant onesie. Moving in it feels like wearing a very tight pencil skirt with very high heels – you can waddle in it if you’re extremely careful, but remember that this is meant as a fun costume to lounge and take photos in rather than walk around in. It is a mermaid tail, after all! 😉

The sky is the limit as far as fabric is concerned – Jessie picked out this amazing sparkly fabric for her mermaid tail, which she used as the template to help me make mine from. Ariel may want to be a part of our world, but we clearly want to be a part of hers with our fun mermaid tails!

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The Signature Edition of “The Little Mermaid” showcases its award-winning musical score and iconic songs such as “Under the Sea” and “Part of Your World” with a sing-along mode allowing you to accompany this beloved cast of characters on their journey. Never-before-seen bonus features bring legendary composer Alan Menken and some of Disney’s most recognizable leading ladies together around a piano to reminisce, sing and celebrate “The Little Mermaid.” The latest installment of “Stories from Walt’s Office” compares Walt and Ariel’s love of collecting treasures. Viewers will also receive an inside look at the “The Little Mermaid” cast in their original recording sessions, explore hidden treasures and fun facts from the film, and enjoy a special performance of “Part of Your World” by a cappella singing sensation DCapella. Plus, fans will have access to hours of additional classic bonus features!

Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale about a beautiful mermaid princess who dreams of becoming human, “The Little Mermaid” was directed by John Musker and Ron Clements (“Aladdin”). It features the voice talents of Jodi Benson (“Toy Story 2,” “Toy Story 3”) as Ariel, Pat Carroll (“Laverne & Shirley”) as Ursula, Samuel E. Wright (Broadway’s “The Lion King”) as Sebastian, Christopher Daniel Barnes (“The Brady Bunch Movie”) as Eric, Kenneth Mars (“Young Frankenstein”) as Triton, Buddy Hackett (“The Music Man”) as Scuttle, Jason Marin (“Back to the Future”) as Flounder and René Auberjonois (“The Patriot”) as Chef Louis. The film was originally released in theaters on Nov. 15, 1989 and is the 28th film from Walt Disney Animation Studios, and the first in what many described as a new Disney animation renaissance.

BLU-RAY & DIGITAL

Sing-Along Mode – Sing along to the movie in this sing-along version of the film.

Alan Menken & the Leading Ladies Song – From the voice of a mermaid to the tunes of a muse, the music of Alan Menken has scored the soundtrack for some of Disney’s most iconic leading ladies. Join Alan, Jodi Benson (Ariel), Paige O’Hara (Belle), Judy Kuhn (Pocahontas Singing Voice), Lillias White (Calliope) and Donna Murphy (Mother Gothel)as we celebrate the music of their films in honor of the one that started it all … “The Little Mermaid.” In this discussion, the ladies will share their memories of musically creating their characters with Alan, discuss what it means to be part of the Disney Princess/leading lady legacy and create new memories as they sing with Alan around a baby grand piano.

“What I Want From You…Is YOUR VOICE” – Enter the recording studio and get an inside look at the cast of “The Little Mermaid” in their original recording sessions.

Stories From Walt’s Office – Gadgets & Gizmos – Like Ariel, Walt Disney was a collector of many different things from miniatures to early mechanical characters that inspired the invention of audio-animatronics. We take a look at some the collections that Walt kept in his office in the third episode of this series.

#TreasuresUntold – Join Ruby Rose Turner and Olivia Sanabia from the Disney Channel Original Series “Coop and Cami Ask the World” as they take a deep dive to explore some hidden treasures and fun facts about Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.”

DCapella “Part of Your World” Music Video

Classic Bonus Features – revisit four exciting bonus features from previous releases including:
- Deleted Character: Harold The Merman
- Under The Scene: The Art Of Live Action Reference
- Howard’s Lecture
- Audio Commentary With Ron Clements, John Musker and Alan Menken

DIGITAL EXCLUSIVES

“Part of Your World” – A 30-Year Retrospective – Songwriter Alan Menken and Jodi Benson, the acting and singing voice of Ariel, sing the epitome of Disney “I Want” songs “Part of Your World” and discuss its impact since it was first heard 30 years ago.

Classic Bonus Features – Over 3 additional hours of previously released classic bonus features including Deleted Scenes, Easter Eggs, Music Videos and more!

*Bonus features may vary by retailer

Ralph Breaks the Internet Activity Sheets #RalphBreaksTheInternetEvent

November 21, 2018 by Beeb Leave a Comment

Ralph Breaks the Internet poster

Today’s the day! Ralph Breaks the Internet is now playing in cinemas everywhere. To help you celebrate – and keep the kids occupied while you get ready for Thanksgiving! – we’re sharing these fun, printable activity sheets!

Ralph Breaks the Internet Activity Sheets

Instructions: Click on each image below to download the fullsize, printable PDF file of each activity sheet.

Vanellope and Ralph Coloring Sheet

Ralph Breaks the Internet Film Synopsis

In RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET, video-game bad guy Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) and best friend Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman) leave the comforts of Litwak’s arcade in an attempt to save her game, Sugar Rush. Their quest takes them to the vast, uncharted world of the internet where they rely on the citizens of the internet—the Netizens—to help navigate their way. Lending a virtual hand are Yesss (voice of Taraji P. Henson), the head algorithm and the heart and soul of the trend-making site “BuzzzTube,” and Shank (voice of Gal Gadot), a tough-as-nails driver from a gritty online auto-racing game called Slaughter Race, a place Vanellope wholeheartedly embraces—so much so that Ralph worries he may lose the only friend he’s ever had. Directed by Rich Moore (“Zootopia,” “Wreck-It Ralph”) and Phil Johnston (co-writer “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Zootopia,” writer, “Cedar Rapids”), and produced by Clark Spencer (“Zootopia,” “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Bolt,” “Lilo & Stitch”), “Ralph Breaks the Internet” hits theaters on Nov. 21, 2018.

All you Netizens, be sure check out the Ralph Breaks the Internet official website and follow along with #RalphBreaksTheInternet on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram! And don’t forget to check out our posts from the #RalphBreaksTheInternetEvent:

Hotel Transylvania 3: Plan a Spook-Tacular Sleepover!

October 9, 2018 by Beeb 1 Comment

This post contains our Amazon Associates link.

Hotel Transylvania 3

The beginning of October signals the start of my favorite time of year: Halloween season! All Hallow’s Eve is my favorite holiday, and I love getting into the spooky spirit by decorating and hosting my famous Halloween parties. My taste is firmly on the “Cute and campy” side of spooky fun, so films like Hotel Transylvania 3 are much more up my alley than creepy horror movies. Just in time for Halloween, Hotel Transylvania 3 is coming to Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD TODAY, October 9th, and is packed with bonus features – such as a tutorial on how to plan a spook-tacular sleepover!

Hotel Transylvania 3 Bonus Clip: Plan a Spook-Tacular Sleepover!

Are these crafts adorable, or what?! If you’ve ever been to one of my Halloween parties, you’ll know that these are exactly the kind of Halloween crafts I make. I might need to pick up a copy of this DVD for some party inspiration!

Free Printable Activities: DracuStraws & Drac’s Spooky Smoothie

To get a head start on your spook-tacular party planning, click on the image above to download two fun, free, printable activity sheets: One is a craft instructional showing you how to make DracuStraws, and the other is a recipe for Drac’s Spooky Smoothie – the perfect Halloween party punch!

Scary-Oke Sing-Along “Oh, These Wolf Pups!”

I love doing karaoke at parties – so what better activity for a Halloween gathering than “Scary-oke”? The home edition of Hotel Transylvania 3 includes three different sing-alongs – check out the bonus clip above for a sampling what scary-oke you can expect!

Here’s the full list of the Hotel Transylvania 3 bonus materials you can look forward to:

Bonus Materials Include:
• Three All New Scary-Oke Sing Alongs: Sing along to three Hotel Transylvania 3 inspired songs with your favorite characters!
o “Dennis Had a Giant Dog” – Sung by Dennis & Winnie
o “Monsters Like to Party Down” – Sung by Johnny
o “Oh These Wolf Pups” – Sung by Wanda Werewolf
• Plan Your Own Spook-tacular Sleepover: This feature will give you all details on how to make your own sleepover spook-tacular! From snacks to crafts to games and more, follow these steps to create a Hotel T sleep-over with your friends and family, the perfect setting to binge watch all 3 Hotel Transylvania movies.
• Vampire Make Over: Mavis and Drac Tutorial: Learn how to turn yourself into your favorite Hotel Transylvania 3 characters.
• Behind the Screams – The Voices of Hotel Transylvania 3: Step behind the “screams” with the returning stars and hilarious new cast to see how these characters are brought to life in the recording booth.
• Johnny’s Home Movies (Franchise Recap): Johnny brings viewers up to speed on what’s happened in the Hotel Transylvania franchise so far.
• “I See Love” Monster Dance Party Dance Along: Get up and get moving to this haunting monster mash.
• Drac’s Zing-tastic Read Along: It’s storytime with your favorite characters have a silly tale about Drac’s search for a Zing! Read along or sit back and enjoy!
• Two Mini Movies (rated G): Two mini-features that will have you howling.
o Puppy
o Goodnight Mr. Foot

So what are you waiting for? Snag your copy of Hotel Transylvania 3 today on Amazon!

Millennium Falcon Papercraft & More Fun!

September 21, 2018 by Beeb Leave a Comment

This post contains our Amazon Associates link.

SOLO: A Star Wars Story is now available on Digital HD, and will arrive on DVD, Blu-ray™, Blu-ray 4K Ultra HD™ and On-Demand on my birthday, September 25th! Happy birthday to me from a galaxy far, far away! To celebrate, we’re bringing you a scoundrel’s bounty of fun, from crafts like a Millennium Falcon papercraft and Chewbacca foldable to a fun sweepstakes, bonus clips, concept art and more!

Free Downloadable Millennium Falcon Papercraft:

Simply click the link above to download a printable PDF of two paper foldables to cut out and enjoy: A build-your-own Chewie plus a fun Millennium Falcon papercraft.

Want more Star Wars craft fun? Then don’t miss our 13 Intergalactic Star Wars Crafts roundup and How to Make a Chewbacca Bookmark tutorial!

Xbox One X Solo Custom Console Sweepstakes

Lucasfilm and Xbox are teaming up to bring you the Xbox One X Solo Custom Console Sweepstakes, where you could win a custom console that includes a physical copy of Solo: A Star Wars Story on 4K Ultra HD. The sweepstakes is open to residents of the US and Canada, excluding Quebec, and runs until September 30th, 2018. Enter now by visiting SoloxBoxSweeps.com!

Bonus Clips

Get a peek behind the scenes with these fun bonus clips from SOLO: A Star Wars Story:

SOLO: A Star Wars Story Concept Art

Speaking of behind-the-scenes treasures, this SOLO: A Star Wars Story concept art gives us such a neat look at the filmmakers’ vision for SOLO, and brings a little extra insight into the process that goes into fleshing ideas out from paper (Or tablet, these days!) onto the big screen:

Millennium Falcon Animated GIF!

You can watch SOLO: A Star Wars Story on Digital HD now – and be sure to pick up a physical copy on September 25th!