Easels....what are the popular ones and other questions.

[ColorBlue]

Can you tell I'm brainstorming xmas and birthdays!?

I'm thinking of getting a stand up easel but am wondering if anybody has one that they particularly recommend? Also do you generally allow them to use it in your playroom....do you use a mat or something under it? My older dd was so messy I could never have done that but the twins are a bit less messy and maybe could get away with it. Thanks for your help.

Tracy

Mama to three girls, my big kindergartener Grace 11/01, and my babies Ella and Madeline 10/04.

[ellies mom]

For the money, I really like the Melissa and Doug easel. It isn't as attractive as some of the others but it folds flat, is height adjustable, holds a roll of paper and plastic trays are definately a plus. They sell for about $50 but I lucked out and got mine for $30 at a local toy store. They are commonly sold at education supply stores.
This is the M&D one.
http://ec3.images-amazon.com/images/P/B0002AUWKG.01._AA280_SCLZZZZZZZ_V64242697_.jpg

I also considered the ones from www.backtobasictoys.com and www.hearthsong.com. A lot of people like the IKEA one also. I would recommend buying the paints and jars at a local educational supply store. They are quite a bit cheaper. We bought DD a long sleeve smock for something like $4.

I keep ours in the dining room since we have room but with a floor mat (I would use a vinyl tablecloth), I would be willing to keep in in DD's carpeted playroom. I keep coloured pencils and chalk in it for her to use all the time and we pull out the paint for supervised time.

[icunurse]

TRU sells an easel through their Imaginarium store which is exactly the same as the Melissa & Doug one, but I *think* it is a little less expensive. I put a splat mat under it, have some spill-proof paint cups (mine are generic, but I know Alex makes some), and I have a cheap smock from my beloved IKEA :)
Traci
~Connor's Mom 02/2004~
Agency paperwork completed - waiting (and waiting) for another baby!

[sdbc]

We are also happy with the M&D one. It is set out all the time with crayons and paper and no mat underneath. If she is going to paint, we put a mat underneath, and we usually bring it out onto the deck.
Sue, mommy to Aurora (Rory) born 5/13/04

[DAKnits]

I have the Alex Table Top Easel which I like b/c it saves room and it has all the features I could want. I plan on putting it on the Nilo table once I get it.

http://www.babyuniverse.com/pro.asp?id=77352&rc=MSNShopping77352&srccode=cii_9686437&cpncode=11-15594118-2

My mom bought the Crayola double easel for her house and DD LOVES LOVES LOVES it!!!

http://www.amazon.com/none-Crayola-Double-Easel/dp/B0000899OB

She uses it way more than our table top easel, but I think that's b/c right now, I don't set up our easel for painting b/c I am waiting for the Nilo table to come since I don't want our coffee table to get ruined.

Edited to add: both of these have one side that is a magnetic board.

[crl]

Here's my review of our Lakeshore learning easel. http://tinyurl.com/y493on

I set ours up in the kitchen. All of our art supplies wash off easily with soap and water and it's never been a big problem to clean up.

HTH,

[1964pandora]

Someone posted a while back saying that this one was supposedly the best of the best, (obviously that depends upon what features you're looking for!) so I saved it in my "favorites." It's adjustable. Here it is:


http://www.backtobasicstoys.com/item/productID/6345/nav/sbxPS/

[lilycat88]

I was just getting ready to start an easel post myself. Are there any magnetic boards out there anywhere? Booo on Ikea for changing theirs.

[kaileysmom]

I was looking for one that offered a magnetic side as well. I came across this one http://www.bekainc.com/products/easels.html but not sure what the reviews are. What I like is that you can build it yourself. I actually wanted a chalkboard, magnetic white board, and the white markerboard. It lets you pick the two you want for each side and you can order an additional side that can be added or removed. So you can have all three! It's also adjustable and you can choose between wood or plastic trays. It also has a storage part between the two easels, which is nice.



Edited to fix link

[DAKnits]

Both the Alex Table Top Easel and Crayola double easel have a magnetic side in addtition to offering a chalk board surface and the magnetic side is a dry erase board, so you get all three.

[JBaxter]

We have the crayola one that has a magnetic dry board on one side and a chalk board on the other. It has held up VERY well.

TRU does put it on special pretty ofter ( $10off)

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2323094&cp=2255956.2273442.2255960.2256552.2256565&parentPage=family

[lilycat88]

Boy, that's certainly not a subtle easel, is it. :-) I like the stuff on it but it's a little too bright for us.

[jasmine]

We have this one from Battat:

http://tinyurl.com/yzxolx

It is great, since it has the storage bins for art supplies. The only negative is that it doesn't fold up, so you have to have the space for it. We got it at Costco for around $60 a couple of years ago, and I saw one at our local costco the other day. Unfortunately, they only had 1, so I'm wondering if it was a return?

Anyways, costco has a kidkraft one that looks really interesting...

http://tinyurl.com/ymely5

If I didn't already have the Battat one, I think I would look at the kidkraft one. It is adjustable and folds up.

[connor_mommy]

I noticed in your signature that you're kids and my kids have the same name. That's pretty cool.

mommie to: Connor 2/29/04 and Logan 5/6/06

[JBaxter]

LOL yes it is.... You are the 3rd person I know if with a Logan and a Connor! ( SPELLED correctly LOL)

[octmom]

Thanks for posting this. I intended to get the Battat one last year, but it was backordered and then target.com cancelled my order because they weren't getting them in anytime soon. I was just thinking yesterday that I might get DS an easel for Christmas. I like the looks of the Kidkraft one you posted from Costco.

[TraciG]

Does Toys R Us sell the crayola easel ??

The Double Easel is different then the crayola one,is it as good ?