Crayola Tabletop Portfolio Style Easel

()The age range states for this artistic toy is awfully wide.I'd say the upper limit would be2nd or 3rd grade merely because the side-flaps aren't terribly durable when the Easel is in Stand-up mode.Those sides just kinda flop around & cannot be secured to the back or to stand up on their own.It's the only real design flaw I could see besides the fussy opening & shutting mechanism which could have been so much simplier as a strip of velcro.As it stands, it'san easily breakable plastic circlular lock that looks cool but isn't all that firednly for a child's hands.This locking system does, however, hold tightly for the time being and that's a nice plus for my own little artistwho tends to keep unfinished masterpieces up on the big easel.There's roomhere to keep your drawing paper clipped in nice & tight.So far the thing hasn't broken and it's been used off and on for a few weeks pretty heavily.I admit, being surprised by that but in a very happy way!Still, Velcro is always preferable to fussy but cool lookin' locks as far as this parent is concerned.

Now, the easel itself ia very basic and while it is constructed to be easily adapted into a standing Easel, it's best functionailty is as a desk-top or even a lap-top center of creativity for young artists.The flaps each have detachable pockets.On the left are the Dry Erase "crayons"which mimic the look of a crayon but are just dry erase markers. These are for use on either the White Dry Erase Surface or the Black Dry Erase surface which are both included with the Easel.The Black & White surfaces for the dry Earase "Crayons" are opposite sides of the same Dry Erase boards. You just flip it over and Voila!That's a nice, space-saving feature. The right Flap of the Easel contains Ten Crayola Super Tip Markers but these are intended ONLYfor use on paper that you might clip to the Easel and NOT for use on either Dry Erase Surface included. Keep that in mind!it's an important detail to convey to your child.You don't want those Dry Erase 'Crayons" getting ruined too quickly and having a sad-faced youngster asking "what happened?", do ya?One real postive feature I like is the sturdy handle at the top of the Easel that's good for young hands to grasp.I can see thisEeaslel quickly becoming a must-have item for doodling in the car whilst stuck in traffic or on long rides.

The Crayola Tabletop Portfolio Style Easel is a clever little item that provides a sturdy work surface.Your own little Artist can use the tools already in the kit or provide their own.Whatever floats their boat! The single most useful aspect is it's adaptible nature and portability.So long as your kid is not the Samsonite Luggage Gorilla, tossing this thing at trees & crocodiles, I'd bet that this will be a welcome addition to their blossoming Crayola universe of tools and other art toys!

New info: We've been using this mostly in the car and keeping it in the backseet organizer.It often gets ported inside to another kids' house and even with all that use, I haven't seen any major damage but I am worried about the flap hinges staying intact long-term.However, considering the price, even if I had not been given this for free to test, I'd be satisfied if this Art Toy (which runs in the $23 range ) provided good, continuous use and interest for 6 months of heavy usage in the car and outside the home.For our Playroom, we have a much sturdier set-up that we expect to last well into the teen-years!This is a nifty "keep 'em busy" art toy that every parent and granbdparent ought to have in the backseat of their cars.

()There are some good things about this product and some things that really need improvement.

Pros:

* The novelty of having the art on an easel was pretty exciting for my 3 year old. She has used this a lot more than she would if the paper were just flat on the table.

* It's nice to have a portable dry erase board.

* It comes with dry erase crayons, eraser, markers and paper

* It folds up nicely and is quite portable

Cons:

* The markers are not washable. Why oh why would they put regular markers in the same package as a dry erase board. My 3 year old REALLY wanted to use those markers on the dry erase side. I finally just took them away. The Crayola washable markers do actually come off the dry erase okay. We're doing a little better with the markers on the paper, crayons on the board idea, but it's hard.

* The thing itself can be a little flimsy and topple over.

* The clips that hold the paper in are impossible for a small child to use. When my daughter needs a fresh sheet of paper, I need to help her.

* There is a black side to the dry erase board, which is cool, but the crayons (except yellow) don't show up on the black side.

* I think the price is a little steep for what you get, I think. I'd prefer an under 20 pricepoint.

Overall, it does keep my daughter busy and we can take it with if need be, but it does need a little more rethinking on Crayola's part.

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()This went to my five year old daughter who likes to draw. The material is vinyl wrapped around cardboard, similar to what most school folders or "trapper keeper" style folders are made from. It does fold up nicely and set up and take down is something she can handle. If she takes care of it, it should last quite a while, but it isn't a bullet proof build by any means and I would say is just average for build quaility. It is a nice set up though and not much bigger then a standard binder type folder.

It includes a small dry board, several sheets of paper, dry board crayons, dry board erase mit, and fine tip (NON dry board markers). The easel has pockets to store the crayons, eraser, and markers.The idea is you use the crayons with the dry board (white side and black sided) and the markers with the paper. You cannot use the markers with the dry board. She is five, we talked about it several times, and she understands for now. That being said I am fully prepared for the day she forgets the talk we had and becomes distraught after ruining the dry erase board. Such is life with a kindergartner, but maybe making them dry erase markers might have been a better way to go. The only other thing is the erase mit works OK, but like most dry erase boards you can never seems to get it all off, and despite the fact that 99% of it came off very easily, that last 1% resists all efforts to scrub, scrape, and remove it.

She does like it, uses it, and it is a good fit for our needs and her age. She was very excited when she received it and I know it will be something she uses going forward.

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()The Crayola Portfolio Style Easel is a portable, all-in-one drawing kit. When opened, the center sections props up into a double sided easel, for coloring with erasable crayons on the dry erase board, and opposite, for using markers on paper. When your little artists have finished their works of art, the tools slide into their own plastic sleeves, the easel folds in on itself and snaps, and the slotted handle on top makes it easy for kids to tote and stow. Our preschool grandchildren love using this kit, and also enjoy pretending it's a suitcase or briefcase. My sole concern with this product is that, being made of relatively light-weight vinyl, it remains to be seen how durable it will be. But, so far, so good, and it encourages the kids to put things away when they're through.

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Cool because it's portable however my three year old gets frustrated that he can't erase the dry erase board easily.You really have to put some elbow grease into it and then it still leaves behind a bit of color.All in all it's good for your lil' artist but I don't see it lasting that long because it's not very durable and is a bit chinsy .

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