Build-a-Bear type animals for at home??

[mom2minniemouse]

We don't have a Build a Bear anywhere close to us, but I was considering doing something similar at home for DD's birthday.

Anyone know of any online merchants who stock such things, especially maybe a little more "affordable" than BAB and good quality.

TIA!
Cathy

 

[snoodledoo]

I've never used this one, but found it online...
http://www.noahsarkworkshop.com/

 

[flying_babyb]

http://americanstuffabear.com/
http://www.bemybear.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=10
or
http://stuffabearparty.com/

The second two have at home kits.

 

[caribbound]

My girls got Li'l Luvables for Christmas. I would not suggest it for a party activity unless you skipped the "machine" part of stuffing it and just had the girls do it by hand. They are the size of Beanie babies though but have similar cute clothes (sold separately) and you can buy refill bears apart from the machine that each comes with it's own stufing. The machine part has 3 different colored bears with it and stuffing. It's a two person job, one to hold it to the table and one to crank, or separate person to manage the stuffing. You have to keep taking it off and pushing stuff into the extremities since there's no force behind it going in and it's so small it doesn't naturally push into the small spaces.

They are thrilled with it, but had them all stuffed the day after Christmas and were asking Grandma for more bears (nvm the 50 Beanies we have around the house ). To me it's another bulky expensive contraption which I now have to store two of that only asks for more money to be spent on things we have too much of already or it sits uselessly. I say just buy the clothes and put them on regular Beanies!!

FWIW, As a replacement for the Build a Bear experience of making your own animal (minor as the child's involvement is for either), it works nicely for one or two, but not a group more than 5 I'd say.

 

[Fionasmommy]

Around here, Michaels and Hobby Lobby definitely have bears and bear clothes. I can't recall if they are actually stuffable bears, though.

 

[flying_babyb]

in reply to the poster above:
You can get the stuffed ones or the unstuffed. That might work well, there not that espensive and have lots of offit choices

 

[Octoberbeauty]

I saw kits at Walmart the other day that had the little machines to stuff included.

Also Target carries the smaller BAB's in kits with a bean bag type filler. Would be easy to put together, but they are smaller than the regular BAB's.

 

[munchkin bunchkin]

This may be of help! I'm using it for DD's party next month!http://adollysworld.com/index.html

 

[westcliffemom]

They do have stuffable bears & clothes @ Hobby Lobby. Check out your local craft store, they may have them too.

 

[sammysmom]

I currently am a rep for Stuff A Friend. They have animals that are very similiar to the Build A Bear. Very cute and affordable. Feel free to check out the website at: www.stuffafriend.biz/members/sammysmom

 

[java]

I currently am a rep for Stuff A Friend. They have animals that are very similiar to the Build A Bear. Very cute and affordable. Feel free to check out the website at: www.stuffafriend.biz/members/sammysmom

Am I missing something? They look more expensive than Build a bear? Because they come to you?

 

[Cindy B]

Check your local Christmas tree shop or BJ's. They had larger kits (at Christmas tree shop it was $9.99 and BJ it was like $24.99 for the same thing) with two bears to stuff and clothing. You could buy three sets and split them up for everyone and let everyone pick an outfit.

 

[Trip2Disney]

http://www.bearegards.com

They have a huge selection of animals to choose from & the kits come with everything you need (animal, stuffing, T-shirt for the animal & birth certificate).

My DD did this at a friend's birthday party a few weeks ago and loved it. They made the calico cat & it's very cute. (I like it even better than the Build-a-Bear animals.)

Hope your DD has a great birthday!

 

[dvcnewgirl]

I saw something like that at BJ's...Might want to give them a call

 

[Schachteles]

Check out the following link... http://www.thebearfactory.com/ I ordered a whole bunch of stuff from them for my DDs birthday...unfortunately I had to order like $500 worth of animals and stuff...but I am NOT looking to make a profit, just re-coop my cost and shipping...so if anyone is interested in buying some let me know...I can let you know which animals I have...I also purchased the boxes, the stars, the angels and then birth certificates. Also, I bought white tee shirts for the kids to decorate (with fabric markers that I bought at JoAnns with my 40-50% off coupons) at the party which I have extras of also. So if you are interested please let me know. I know my DH would sure love to get everything out of the house and the $$ back in the account!!

Kim

 

[Schachteles]

http://www.bearegards.com

They have a huge selection of animals to choose from & the kits come with everything you need (animal, stuffing, T-shirt for the animal & birth certificate).

My DD did this at a friend's birthday party a few weeks ago and loved it. They made the calico cat & it's very cute. (I like it even better than the Build-a-Bear animals.)

Hope your DD has a great birthday!

The animals that I have are from the same vendor as this website. If people are interested I would be willing to do an order for clothes, sound boxes, etc if anyone is interested...I know you have to be an "approved" vendor...I did my initial order a few months ago, but I am sure I could still do another one.

 

[Disneynutbsv]

there is an "at home" type party plan called Noahs ark...
http://www.noahsarkworkshop.com/

and nope, I'm not a consultant, just dealt with them before, kids had lots of fun

 

[mom2minniemouse]

Thanks, everyone!