Crayola Digital Light Designer and Marker Airbrush {Review & Giveaway}

While my kids' preferences for certain characters or toys may have changed over the years, there is one category that has forever remained a surefire hit: art.

It doesn't matter if we have stacks of coloring books taller than they are or more crayons, markers and glitter glue pens than we can count, being given the opportunity to use their imagination and express their creativity through art has always been (and surely always will be) a big part of our lives.

Truly, I can't think of the name that knows more about encouraging and unleashing our kids' ideas and love of art than the one and only Crayola. And, this holiday season Crayola has made it even easier to find the perfect gift for kids everywhere with their convenient and fun Holiday Gift Guide.

With ideas easily broken down by age, it only takes a few clicks before you're presented with a huge variety of options that are sure to entertain, amaze and educate the children on your list.

After having had positive experiences with every prior Crayola product we've ever tried, I knew that two gift guide suggestions, the revolutionary Digital Light Designer and the new Marker Airbrush would make my girls' eyes light up for the holidays and beyond.

From the moment that the kids and I saw Crayola's Digital Light Designer in a television commercial, we were all intrigued. Coloring on a 360° domed drawing surface? How was that even possible? And did I just imagine that the images were moving or were they actually coming to life? Maybe it's time to turn off the TV.

Admittedly, I was pretty eager to try out this innovative tool and couldn't wait to open up the triangular box to see just how much fun waited inside!

After I pulled out the Digital Light Designer and its included stylus, I was surprised (and pleased) to find that there wasn't much to do to set this up and have it ready for use.

After installing four D batteries in the base and two AAA batteries in the stylus (not included), one flip of the power switch and it was time to draw, create, animate and play.

Although it took glancing at the directions a few times, it was easy to see that switching between the three different modes of play was pretty simple once you got the hang of it.

• Draw – Using the digital light stylus, kids can select colors and line width to begin free-drawing anywhere on the domed surface, switching between eight different colors

• Animate – Kids can activate their creations with amazing special effects, making them spin, change colors, melt, or even mix up the drawings

• Play – With eight different interactive games and activity apps, kids can spend hours creating or just doodling with Rainbow Draw, magically duplicate their creations with Mirror Draw, create funny animated faces, play interactive mazes, and more

The combination of all three modes really do let kids create dynamic free-hand drawings and spend ages activating animations and playing interactive drawing games. Whether making a specific dinosaur, smiley face or flower, or simply doodling squiggles and lines, the digital light stylus is easy to hold and the ability to draw anywhere on the domed surface is entertaining and fun.

Pulling up the menu of choices from the bottom of the dome is done with a single tap and seeing the LED technology bring kids' colorful ideas to life is such an unexpected and unique treat!

I appreciate that there is a storage slot for the stylus right on the side of the Digital Light Designer, so turning this off and storing it away is done in seconds. Aside from the batteries, this innovative tool really only requires a hard, flat surface and some creativity!

For a portable, mess-free and exciting way to draw with light, this product allows kids to use their imaginations to create, erase, re-create, color over and more with ease. There are also pre-programmed scenes (e.g. butterflies, flowers, spaceships, and more) already included in case young artists need a boost getting started or just want something already made to animate or alter.

Retailing for $49.99, the Crayola Digital Light Designer is designed for ages 6+ and can be purchased directly from Crayola, on Amazon and in stores near you. You can also add the Crayola AC Power Adapter to your shopping list if you'd prefer to not have to worry about replacing batteries.

When kids aren't playing with light with their 360° dome, another extremely unique way to turn traditional coloring into something so much more is with the Crayola Marker Airbrush.

An extremely uncomplicated device, the Marker Airbrush is kid-powered (no batteries needed!) and works with a simple hand pump. As I pulled all of the pieces out of the box, I was yet again pleased to see that it was barely going to take any time before this was ready to use.

Including the Airbrush Sprayer, eight washable markers, four bright fabric markers, 20 sheets of paper, and four stencil sheets, it took less than a minute before I was producing my own fun airbrush effects.

First, attach any Crayola Broadline Marker (including Crayola Classic Washable Broadline Markers, Crayola Pipsqueak, Washable Broadline Window Markers, Fabric Broadline markers and more) right to the end...

...followed by 15-20 pumps on the handle. Then just point the sprayer at your paper, fabric or windows and spray away!

Switching to a different marker is just as quick and easy, as you simply pull out the current marker and replace it with the next. Re-pump the handle to build up more pressure and spray some more!

Whether kids use the Marker Airbrush to create free-hand airbrushed drawings or use the stencil sheets to create professional-looking masterpieces, this is such a fun way to turn regular markers into a whole new art form!

Retailing for $24.99 from Crayola, on Amazon (also in pink), and in stores near you, the Crayola Marker Airbrush is designed for ages 6+ and is unlike anything that I have seen before. It's just such a fun way to turn markers into something so much more!

When it comes to unleashing your child's creativity, Crayola has the products that will make the perfect gifts. We have yet to meet a Crayola item that we haven't enjoyed and I love seeing my kids light up when they are inspired with new ideas and ways to express their imaginative visions.

This holiday season, be sure to visit Crayola's Holiday Gift Guide to help find just the right gift for the young artists on your list and connect with Crayola on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with the latest news, updates and more.

And, thanks to their generosity, one person will get to bring home the creative ingenuity that Crayola can provide, because...

One lucky person will win a Crayola Digital Light Designer and a Crayola Marker Airbrush!

Enter using the Giveaway Tools form below — simply enter your name and email address and click on each entry that you would like to complete. Follow the directions for each individual method, entering in the necessary information when asked. If you have any questions or problems, feel free to let me know.

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The Crayola product to try, information, and additional gift pack have been provided by Crayola.. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.