Step2 Art Easel Desk Review And GIVEAWAY! 9/01

Because I am the mom of 3 amazing kids and a NE Ohio native, I was already familiar with Step2 products. And unless you're living under a rock somewhere, I'm sure you are, too! Step2 has been providing fun, durable, and totally drool-worthy products to families for years. From rough and tumble outdoor play to products that encourage creativity and imaginative play, Step2 literally has something for everyone. Some of my absolute favorites are their brand new Welcome Home Playhouse and Sandbox Combo and their Gather & Grille Playhouse. Not to mention their amazing climbing toys and slides!

Yes, my holiday wish-list includes a TON of Step2 products! Why? Well, other than the fact that my babies' birthdays are BOTH right near Christmas, and a Step2 gift would be perfect for their big, joint present, also because Step2 is synonymous with quality. When I hear the name Step2, I immediately think of durable, engaging products that are built to withstand the elements as well as the most active of children. That's right, Step2 products are made to last for years! With an infant and a toddler, this kind of unsurpassed quality matters to me as a parent.

But while Step2 is best known for their outdoor products, they also offer a huge variety of indoor products, too! That's why when I received the opportunity to review their brand new Art Easel Desk, I jumped at the chance! My 19 month old, Sophie, has just begun to dabble in the world of art. She loves crayons (to try and eat and to scribble with) and she also loves expressing her inner Picasso with fingerpaints and water-colors! The Step2 Art Easel Desk is the perfect all-in-one art center for your budding VanGogh's!

This awesome desk offers so much fun in one rather compact little package. Despite the fact that this desk doesn't take up a ton of room, there is a plethora of storage for art supplies in this awesome desk. There are slots suitable for markers, crayons, or even paintbrushes, and the desk-top which also doubles as a dry-erase board, lifts up to reveal a spacious cubby that that large enough to hold all of your paper, paints, and other art supplies!This is great for kids who enjoy creating new things like popsicle-stick houses or picture frames. You can even use this surface for Play-Doh and modeling clay. With the ample storage, the possibilities are endless! This also helps teach organization from an early age. When it's time to clean up, my toddler knows that everything has its place and she is eager to help put everything away.

The Step2 Art Easel Desk is extremely well constructed, durable, and was easy to assemble. My husband had it together in minutes. That's right, folks. This product requires minimal adult assembly. You won't have to spend an hour trying to figure out what goes where!

Some of the features I love the most other than the ample amount of storage I already pointed out are:

• The Step2 Art Easel Desk offers 2 great work areas. Seated at the desk, or standing to use the easel! Both surfaces have a great dry-erase board for doodling fun. I like the dual work-stations because it allows kids to play and create together. No more arguing about whose turn it is to draw or paint! I can see this coming in very handy when my Xander is a little bigger!
• There are clips on the easel portion of the desk to hang artwork or allow paint to dry. LOVE this feature! No more transporting drippy projects throughout the house! Imagine the mess you'll be sparing your floors, carpets, and furniture!
  
• In addition to the lift-up desk with hidden storage compartment for paper and supplies, there is even MORE storage available above the desk work station as well as a handy tray underneath the easel. This is awesome for switching out paint brushes in between colors! 
• This wonderful art station is incredibly stable at all times. No need to worry about tipping or teetering! The ingenious design of this product ensures that it remains absolutely safe for your children. 
• The Step2 Art Easel Desk is very easy to clean. Sophie got crayon all over the dry erase boards and the bench seat, and all we had to do is wipe it down with a rag and viola! Good as new!
  
• This product is durable. It is made of the same strong plastic used in Step2's line of outdoor play toys. This means you will get years of use out of this product, making it an exceptional value.
  

Take a look at my Sophie-Monster enjoying the Step2 Art Easel Desk!

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Daddy is demonstrating that the crayon is supposed to stay ON the paper!

Sophie adding her own personal touch!

Perfect seating area for even the littlest of artists! Notice the storage above, too. We did not fill it as Sophie is just beginning and we didn't want to overwhelm her!

Sophie grabbing another crayon from the storage compartment inside of the desk.

The handy clip makes it easy to display your child's artwork!

A very happy little girl admiring her scribbles!

Overall, I couldn't be more happy with the Step2 Art Easel Desk. This is a fantastic way to introduce even the smallest of children to the wonderful world of art and creative play! It also fosters creativity and self-esteem in young children as they can independently create their very own drawings and projects with minimal assistance. All of their art supplies are right there, within reach! Of course, adult supervision is always a good idea when children this young work on projects of any kind.

The Step2 Art Easel Desk is also great for families in smaller homes or apartments. This desk is very compact, and does not require a lot of room. While my house is decently sized, we have SO much baby gear that it tends to overwhelm our living area at times. I suppose that's what happens when you have children 12 months apart in age. I was thrilled to see that this desk didn't further clutter our home and can easily be tucked away into a corner when not in use.

And of course, as always, Step2 products are of the absolute highest quality. Their new Art Easel Desk is no exception. I know my children will get many years of use from this great little art center, and I will even be able to pass it along to other children once my babies have outgrown it. Step2 products are built to last. I would definitely recommend the Step2 Art Easel Desk to any families with young children. It is brightly colored, engaging, durable, and provides ample storage for all of your art supplies. This is an excellent value for your money and will last beyond your children's toddler years. But the best perk are the smiles it will elicit from your children! And no one can put a price tag on that! The Step2 family has brought yet another fantastic product from their family to yours. But from a trusted name like Step2, would you expect any different?

BUY IT:

You can purchase this and other fantastic products on the Step2 website. They even have a handy retail locator to help you find Step2 products at a store near you!

You can also follow Step2 on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their latest products and promotions!

For even more Step2 fun, check out their YouTube Channel and their blog!

WIN IT:

One VERY lucky follower will receive the Step2 Art Easel Desk for their children! How awesome is that?!

Please use this handy Rafflecopter form to enter!

This giveaway is open to US Residents 18+ and will be open until 12:01AM EST on 9/01/2011. Winners will be chosen at random and will be announced here, tweeted, shared on Facebook, and contacted via e-mail. The winners will have 48 hours to reply and claim their prize. If I receive no response, I will be forced to draw a new winner.

***Disclosure: I received a complimentary product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***

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