The Cutest Toy for Your Little one.....and a chance to win one!

     When i first saw Derilyn's Cookie Nummie Monsters I immediately thought, "I want one.....for myself". They are so cute and I love that their hands can be tied to attach themselves onto stroller handles, etc. My daughter is 9 months old and I thought this doll would be the perfect size for her to cuddle and befriend. Derilyn was sweet enough to let me pick which one I wanted to review, so I chose this cute pink "CupCake" monster. This is one of Derilyn's premium monsters because it has soft minky fur fabric and is filled with a faux down fiberfill.

So, who is the creator of these adorable dolls?

     "Hello, my name is Derilyn and I am the mother of two beautiful little girls and have now become a stay at home mom after working hard in the retail arena for 15 years. I have decided to put my creative and artistic talents to use and share my products with you, I hope you enjoy them! 

     I have been making crafts and artwork since I was a little girl but have never tried to sell anything, so I hope I can finally make this work! I started out making throw pillows for my own home, then expanded my collections when I signed up for a local street fair where I had planned to sell my hand painted furniture. The pillows were really just there to take up space in my stall, but ended up being the only things I sold! This inspired me to start my Etsy shop, and the rest is history!
     The Cookie Nummie dolls were born when I was looking for a fun project to do with my 5-year old, Allison. We made the first doll together from a pattern I purchased at JoAnn’s, and she loved it! I had her write her name on the back of it, and to keep it from washing away, I embroidered over the lettering. This got me thinking I could make this doll a LOT cuter, and the wheels started turning. Several evolutions later, pretty much the only thing left from the original is the long arms. 
     My two year old, Sofia, can take credit for naming them. At the time, her favorite character on Sesame Street was Cookie Monster, whom she did a priceless impression of. Well, the first doll I made for her was a darker blue color, and had large googley eyes. She must have thought it looked like Cookie Monster, because she called it her “Cookie Nummie”. I was going to call them something else, but this was just too cute! 
     So this started out as fun little toys for my kids, but when we were invited to a friend’s kid’s birthday party and needed a last minute gift, a Cookie Nummie seemed just perfect. Needless to say, our friends and their daughter loved it so much they needed another one for their other daughter, and their friends needed them for their kids too. Voila! I was all of a sudden in the plush business. I hope you love them as much as we do!"

Here are a few pictures of Sofia with her Cookie Nummie:

     I was delighted when I took CupCake out of the package. I just sat there and stared at its cuteness and craftsmanship for a while. It is seriously the cutest doll I've ever seen. I kept finding sweet little details too, from the applique patches, to the cute little bow, to the embroidery of the face, patches, and lettering. The fiberfill gives it a nice density that will surely stand up to lots of hugs, squeezes, and washes. Derilyn also hand trimmed around all of the hand-stitching to make them more visible on the plush minky fabric. I can certainly see the love that went into making this doll, and I can't imagine how long each one takes to finish. The attention to detail is amazing. All of the appliques are attached with fusible webbing so there are no edges that will fray or come loose. I know this is a toy, but it is also a real work of art....and worth every penny! It is very durable and still looks new after a machine wash and dry!

     My daughter loves to sit on her little chair and hold CupCake by the ears while she watches Sesame Street. I'm sure she'll be dragging CupCake around by the ears when she starts walking. It measures 12.5"x10", so it's small enough for a baby to play with, but large enough for a toddler to hug too. I found it great for nap times.....as a cuddle buddy for baby.....or as a pillow for me :). These Nummie Monsters can also be personalized with your child's name for an extra special touch! They come in lots of different fabrics, styles, and colors. I also can't believe how affordable they are!

     Derilyn is offering a giveaway of your choice from one of her Mini Cookie Nummie Monsters with personalization! You can enter in a few easy steps (please make sure to leave a comment and email address for each entry):

Mandatory Entry:
1) follow my blog
2) go to Derilyn's Etsy store "derilyn"and comment here about your favorite item

Extra Entries:
1) Comment here about which Mini Cookie Nummie Monster you want to win
2) like my fanpage "AnnelynDesigns"
3) go to my etsy store "AnnelynDesigns" and comment here about your favorite item
4) create a treasury including an item from "derilyn"
5) create a treasury including an item from "AnnelynDesigns"

I will randomly choose a winner on Wednesday, April 6. Good luck!