Cool Things | Escape Adulthood with Kim & Jason

Can Your Crayon Sharpener Do This?

carved-crayons-chau

I have fond memories of getting the big box of 64 Crayola Crayons. All my artistic limitations were cast away as every color in the natural world was now at my disposal. (Mind you, this was before they came out with the massive 96 and 120 count boxes and way before Photoshop would provide me with a million possible color choices.)

Anyhoo, remember the sharpener on the back of that box? I mean that was the bomb. A luxury of luxuries. Well now they have developed the sharpener on the box to a level in which you can actually fashion the points into animals.

Believe it.

Actually, don’t. The photo above is the breathtaking, painstaking work of Diem Chau, a Seattle artist who came to America from Vietnam with her family as refugees in 1986. I’ve never met Diem, but I can only assume she is pretty low on the Adultitis spectrum.

Turns out that the greatest, most advanced tools in the world are still no match to the imagination of an artist who knows how to use them.

Once Chance Only Sale: Penguin Possible T-Shirt

ocos-penguin-tshirt
Since we like making stuff way more than we like managing inventory, every once in a while, we create something we think is cool, take orders for a week, and then buy the exact number of goodies we need to fill those orders. So whether it’s two or two thousand, I get to make cool things, you get a chance to own them, and we don’t waste any money on stuff that takes up space in our basement.

Now, does this mean we will never, ever, EVER offer this product again? Not necessarily. But if you see something you like, your best bet is to snag it while you can. Chances are it won’t be available anytime soon because we’ll be busy creating the next thing :)

Our latest offering is a t-shirt featuring an inventive penguin. May he serve as a whimsical reminder of the power of possibility. Printed on a Gildan Soft-Style 4.5 oz, 100% cotton pre-shrunk jersey knit with tapered neck and shoulders for a better fit. It’s SUPER soft and destined to become your favorite t-shirt :)

Your chance to order this item goes “poof!” on Friday, February 22, 2013. Get it now!

The High Roller: A Big Wheel for Grown-Ups

One of the worst parts about growing up (I know, there are many): outgrowing your Big Wheel. Yes, upgrading to a two-wheeled bike is cool, but nothing beats the pure joy of operating an old school Big Wheel tricycle. Being that low to the ground is kind of like driving a Ferrari.

One of the best parts of being grown-up is having the ability and the know-how to take awesome things from childhood and making them even…awesomer.

I give you the grown-up version of the Big Wheel, with alloy V-Brake and levers, a plush custom seat, a pneumatic 26-inch front wheel and molded 14-inch plastic wheels to promote epic Power Slides. Plus tassels!

I don’t know about you, but I want one.

The Most Original Gift of the Season is Better Than Ever

If you’re looking for a gift that 1) is guaranteed to give Adultitis a hissy fit, 2) can be customized to each recipient on your list, and 3) will be the most talked about item in your gift exchange, look no further.

It’s the Build-Your-Own Adultitis First Aid Kit, and it’s better than ever. There are now 20 different items you can choose from to create the perfect Adultitis antidote, including Silly Putty, Slinky, Play-Doh, and more!

It’s pretty much a time capsule back to childhood! Extensive tests have proven that every possible configuration is guaranteed to have an immediate and long-lasting effect on Adultitis levels of all degrees. It’s perfect for families! Parents! Siblings! Spouses! Staff! Stressed-Out Grown-Ups of any Stripe! And the best news is that the only side effect is fun :)

Give somebody on your list a gift that will not only be a highlight of the season, but a prescription for less stress and more fun all year long. Build yours right now.

One Chance Only Sale: Green Eggs & Ham T-Shirt

I am a creative person. I like making stuff. What I don’t like is managing inventory, trying to guess how many of something to buy, or the idea of living in a warehouse.

So we’ve come up with something we’re calling The One Chance Only Sale. Here’s how it works: Continue Reading →

Miniature Food, Big Wow

When I was a kid, I remember lovingly assembling and painting all the tiny creatures from a Jabba the Hutt Throne Room model playset. It was awesome.

Whether it’s dollhouses, model trains or museum dioramas, I have always been fascinated by things in miniature. So the little kid inside of me did cartwheels when I saw the work of Shay Aaron, an Israeli who makes miniature food sculptures out of Sculpey clay in 1:12 scale, which fits most standard dollhouses. I mean, check out the detail!
Continue Reading →

Gotta Love That New Art Smell

Last summer, after years of doing very little art, my creative juices started percolating. I felt the overwhelming desire to make stuff. To cast off in new directions and have fun. I started creating art again.

Not everything was great — most wasn’t — but I thought it was time to release some of the good stuff into the world. Here you’ll find the first new prints we’ve offered in several years. Perhaps one or two would look great in your home or office.

Things Are Lookin’ Up

This is the first in a series of brand new art prints I’m releasing in the coming weeks.

I created this one in response to the global economic crisis. I don’t know about you, but I’ve found it downright exhausting to hear the constant stream of negativity on the news and in daily conversation. No doubt, we are living in trying times, but no matter how dire the circumstances, there are always hidden opportunities waiting to be found. Some of the largest and most important companies and technological advances were born in the most challenging periods of history.

Some may discount the power of positive thinking, but the truth is this: You can’t spot a good opportunity when you’re looking at life with a bad attitude.

I used the weather section of a national newspaper as the foundation of this piece to serve as a reminder that it’s up to us whether our future forecast is sunny or gloomy.

Two sizes of prints are available, and the original is, too. And in an effort to spread some extra positivity around, I’m also releasing this as a free download for Kim & Jason Insiders.
Continue Reading →

A Print Perfect for Mom

I drew this one long ago, and it’s still one of our best sellers.

Available at your friendly neighborhood Lemonade Stand.

Here’s to moms, the everyday superheroes.

Does Your Family Have TOO Much Fun?

If your family is already having more fun than you can handle, please disregard this message. Continue Reading →

Stress Relief Available on an E-Reader Near You

Apparently, ebooks are all the rage these days. They are even beginning to outsell books printed on paper, which I suspect is making forests of spruce trees celebrate with wild abandon. Continue Reading →

Banish Adultitis From Your Relationship

Is your relationship missing some of its magic?

You can probably blame Adultitis for that. It likes it when things are bland, boring, and firmly entrenched in a rut. Fortunately, the appropriately named Adultitis First Aid Kit is designed to tackle this problem head on! Just imagine, you and your sweetheart getting back to the days when you first met, when things were fresh and exciting and giddy.

Yeah, that sounds about right.

10 Cool Things You Won’t Find At Any Mall

The thing I hate most about running a business is the selling part. Unfortunately, it’s kinda sorta the most important part. No sales = bye bye business. Of course, everything a business does is selling (or at least marketing, if you prefer). How you answer the phone. What your website looks like. How well you perform for a client can lead to referrals. But I can never shake feeling like a used car salesman whenever I ask for the sale. Especially when it comes to the Kim & Jason Lemonade Stand. Continue Reading →

New Candles That Don’t Smell Like Old Ladies

The Kim & Jason Lemonade Stand features some interesting candles, most of which Martha Stewart probably wouldn't like.

Does it make me any less of a man if I say that I love scented candles (especially fruity ones)?

Don’t answer that.

It’s true, though. I really DO like scented candles. But only certain kinds. I’ll pass on vanilla and anything that’s supposed to smell like flowers but actually smells more like an old lady who wears fake nails and applies makeup with a trowel.

And sometimes I get turned off by the names that try too hard, especially the ones that remind me of farts, like Subtle Breeze or Broken Wind.

Most of all, I like the ones that smell like my childhood. Continue Reading →

The Hard Work of Being Optimistic

A little tool to help you become more of a "half full" type of person. Available at the Kim & Jason Lemonade Stand.

Labor Day weekend is upon us; the unofficial end of summer that reminds us, “Quit goofing around, it’s time to get back to work.”

Perhaps you’ve heard the rumor that unemployment is really, really high.

If not, it’s probably because it’s been drowned out by all the other bad news being reported by seemingly every media source. The economy is depressed. Terrorism is on a rampage. And the Earth is melting. (Or is it freezing — I wish they’d make up their minds.)

If you listen to the pundits for too long, you’ll become convinced that we’re living in the worst period of time in the history of the world.

Bummer, huh? Continue Reading →

Drawing on Boxes: Custom Art for Customers

So we recently unveiled a new way to buy Kim & Jason greeting cards and get your hands on some original art. The WOW Greeting Card Box Set is packed with 48 cards spanning all of life’s big moments, and the box top features a little drawing by moi.

I have to say that I am loving the opportunity to get back into drawing and inking the characters I grew to know so well while doing the daily comic strip from 2000-2007. Since every box is different (customized based on the information specified by each customer), I thought it would be cool to give you a look at some recent creations. Continue Reading →

Art Collecting Just Got Fun. And Functional.

The Golden Birthday. The First Kiss. The New Job. The Milestone Anniversary. Life is filled with big deals. The stuff that sweeps us off our feet and the moments we remember forever. We often mark these occasions with greeting cards, because emails and text messages just won’t do.

But the worst is being stuck without a card and having to make a last-minute trek to find the right one in a rush. Blechh. Talk about a major downer and an epic pain in the butt. Life is busy enough without this extra hassle. Continue Reading →

New Jelly Bean Inspired Greeting Card Sets

A variety of flavors available now at the Kim & Jason Lemonade Stand!

It was the classic dilemma of childhood. You walk into a candy store, greeted by the jingling bell tied to the front door. Your feet shuffle across the black and white tiled floor to the glass case showing off its colorful assortment of sugary goodness. Holding everything from fudge to to gumdrops to saltwater taffy, it was willing to part with its carefully guarded yummy treasures — at a price. You’d plunk your handful of pennies down on the counter and begin the thoughtful deliberation.

Sadly, the days of being able to buy candy for a penny are behind us, and the old fashioned corner confectionery stores have been overrun by the generic big box behemoths. Perhaps equally distressing is that in an age where everything seems to be digital, virtual, and anonymous, we’re slowly losing the art of the handwritten note.

It is with that yearning for yesteryear that I am happy to announce the release of some pretty sweet greeting card sets. The die-hard fans who’ve been with us from the beginning will remember these babies. Back in the day, we sold them to gift shops and as part of a fundraising program. Back then, they only had 8 cards in a set. Continue Reading →

Red Rover Approved Clothing

I collect t-shirts. I love ‘em. Except for when I play dress-up at weddings and funerals, I pretty much wear one every single day. I even wear a t-shirt when I speak, which absolutely horrifies my more uptight, more “properly dressed” speaker friends.

I have nothing against ties, I just don’t want them strangling my neck on a regular basis.

As a graphic artist, one of my favorite things to do is design t-shirts. It’s one thing for an artist to have someone point out how much they appreciate a particular work, but it’s another thing entirely to have them like it enough to actually wear it.

Like, in public. Continue Reading →

Old School Love for New Tee

Our “Old School” Hopscotch T-Shirt is getting lots of love.

First this schoolyard classic was top of the Daytee voting two weeks ago, and now it receives some bloglove from a cool t-shirt-loving blogger, Coty Gonzales.

I’ll confess I was never a huge hopscotchist (hopscotchianado? hopscotcher?). Maybe it the gravel driveway we had growing up or maybe it was my clumsiness that doomed me to skinned knees with all that hopping about, either way I certainly don’t have the fond memories Coty has of hopscotching in Hawaii:

I have to admit, in elementary school I had some mad Hopscotch skills. I remember this popular recess time game being very intricate and competitive. It was much more than just hopping from square to square. There were certain levels that required you to start by launching from a certain start distance and let’s not forget the difficult “washing machine” level that required you to spin 360 degrees block to block.

Thanks for the sharing your story Coty! Keep up the fun blogging!

Read the complete review on his cool blog and be sure to check out Co-Tee TV. Now why don’t you hop up like Coty and share your old school hopscotch story in the comments?

Be The Free Prize

Photo by silent (e)

When I was a kid, my favorite cereal of the moment was usually ranked based on two very important criteria: total sugar content and desirability of the free prize inside. Once in a while, the prize inside was so valuable, you had to save up UPC labels from multiple boxes of cereal and send away for it. And once in a while, my mom let me do just that.

I remember one instance when I sent away for a limited edition Emperor Palpatine figurine from the then newly released Star Wars movie, Return of the Jedi. I think I started checking the mailbox the very day we sent out the hand-written envelope bursting with cardboard box tops to Kellogg’s.

Another opportunity to appreciate the joy of not knowing.

Every day I’d eagerly await the postman’s grinding engine stopping at the end of our gravel lane. I’d casually walk down the driveway, even though my heart was skipping several hundred feet ahead of me. Peering into the mailbox, I looked for any unusually-shaped box or bulky envelope. For a stretch of days that went longer than I’d hoped, but probably not as long as they seemed, the dark interior revealed nothing but boring envelopes addressed to everyone except me. Continue Reading →

Eddie Logan’s Bubble Gun

Is this a long-forgotten buddy sitcom from the 70s starring a bright-eyed boy and his precocious inanimate object? Or just a shameless plug for one of my favorite cool things at the Lemonade Stand? You decide. Either way, I think you’ll enjoy it:

Chocolate Milk Made Easy

Consider another one of those age-old problems solved.

That’s what we do here.

Have You Ever Washed Your Face with a Fudgesicle?

Sometimes I wonder if we’ll ever have enough money to make a Super Bowl commercial. Maybe one starring a dancing lizard or Justin Timberlake.

And then I wonder that even if we did, would I be crazy enough to spend it in such a gratuitous manner?

We’ll cross that bridge when we get there, I suppose. Until then, we’ll continue to operate with a shoestring marketing budget that is short on cabbage and long on weird ideas. Which is actually a good thing.

And very childlike, indeed.

When I was a kid, afternoons often evaporated in a whirlwind of exciting adventure fueled by little more than a unique garage sale find and oodles of imagination. And that’s how most small businesses start: with some great, crazy ideas and a mishmash of borrowed things, like time, office space, and computers.

In any enterprise, the ideas make the difference. Many wise established companies will tell you that too much money is a bad thing, as it can often serve as a poor substitute for insightful, creative, and weird ideas. Weird ideas seem to be something we at Kim & Jason have in abundance. Such as…

What if you washed your face with a fudgesicle? Continue Reading →