Sunday, November 07, 2010

Teifoc Brick and Mortar Building Set Review and Giveaway! (ends 11/30)

Eitech (a German company) has launched its Teifoc product line here in America.  What is Teifoc?  Teifoc is a line of innovative building sets for kids 4 and up.  Your imaginative child can build a building with brick and mortar or even build a solar powered helicopter.  If your child is more into electronics, there's a set for that too!  Each set is rated by age so that you'll choose the right toy for your little budding engineer.  Take a look at this picture below to see what we built this weekend...



What did we think of the House/Water Mill Brick and Mortar building set?  We loved that it could build our choice of two buildings and our son wanted to build the house, so that is what we went with.  It took several hours split between two days for us to build this.  Of course, I'll be honest with you... we are not masons!  There was a learning curve there and I was quite thankful my engineer hubby could help with plan reading.  He was ultimately the one who plotted out the spacing and shepherded the children as we built the house.

The Mortar:  There are directions in the box for mixing it and I would caution you to follow them exactly.  If I had to give my best estimation of the consistency needed to ice the bricks, I would say that it reminded me of a thick mixture that looked a lot like a bowl of baby cereal when you were just beginning grains!  I haven't seen anything that consistency since I started my kids on baby cereal.  Moms: You know just what I'm talking about here!

The mortar will dissolve if you submerse the project in water for at least five hours.  This is super nice since it means you can build something, dissolve the mortar, and then reuse those bricks.  I anticipate many kids will build their Teifoc collection up and build something quite elaborate.  Mortar can be bought on its own, which is another great aspect of the Teifoc building line.  We found that mixing the mortar in smaller batches was a must for us as we were learning the masonry ropes because it does start to stiffen up after several minutes.  By the time we laid the roof tiles, we were old pros at icing bricks and tiles, so we didn't have to worry about gloopy mortar that dried too quickly before we could use it.

The Bricks:

The bricks were fairly sturdy.  We had a few that were a little worse for the wear, but ultimately we had more than enough to complete our build.  The roof tiles should definitely be handled with care since they are so much thinner.  As I mentioned, if you want to break down your build, you can soak it and the mortar will dissolve.  This means you get to reuse your bricks (how eco-friendly!), just let them dry first.


Problems:

As I mentioned earlier, we are not masons.  We had to learn some technique as we went along and thus we had some issues until we got a good rhythm going.  The plans were hard to follow - even for my husband.  Another thing we encountered was that the roof slabs were about a half a brick too short.  This made it a little more challenging when it came to laying down the roof tiles.  One shutter was too short and lacked a bottom bracket to snap in.  I plan to contact the company to ask for a replacement piece.

In the end, we worked around most of the issues and completed the project.  I don't think we did too horrible (take a look at that photo again) and we'd definitely do another build....

Time:

If I had to give a ball park figure, this build took us about 6-1/2 hours total, which we split over two days.  This was actually longer than I was anticipating and I mention it just so you don't think that this is a quick build.  A Teifoc brick and mortar set will take several hours for a beginner, which should decrease as a child gets more experience with building.



Overall:

We liked the Teifoc product and enjoyed the building experience.  Neither my husband nor I have ever built anything like that before and the kids really enjoyed building too.  My 5 (almost 6) year old was initially enthused, but got bored with it after a while.  Our 9 year old was actually more engaged in the building process.   We would definitely do another Teifoc brick and mortar and would also be interested in their other products, mainly because my kids enjoy building things.  I spied many products on the USA site that I think would be great learning opportunities for kids.

Buy it!  Teifoc building sets can be found at Amazon.com as well as several other select retailers, which appear on their list.

Win it!  The generous folks at Eitech have graciously allowed me to offer up a building set as a giveaway item.  Enter to win a Teifoc Small Cottage Brick and Mortar (ages 6 and up), which you can see by going here.

Mandatory entry:  Visit Eitechamerica.com and come back here and tell me what other Eitech products have caught your eye.  They have more than just brick and mortar sets!  In fact, they have several toys that are for ages 4 and up.  Idea:  Look by age group for someone you'll be shopping for this holiday season.  What would you buy them?  You must leave a comment for this entry and be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you are selected as the winner of this giveaway.  Once you have completed this mandatory entry, you can gain extra entries by:


Extra entries (1 entry each):

Follow EitechToys on Twitter (@eitechToys)

Like Eitech on Facebook

Subscribe to Making Ends Meet via email (right side bar) or, if you already do, tell me in a comment.


Become my Google Friend or tell me if you are already a Google Friend in a comment

Follow me on Twitter (@PinchingAbe)

Tweet out this contest on Twitter or Share it with your friends on Facebook.  For Twitter entry, leave a comment with a link to your status showing the tweet.  Tweeting can be done once daily.  For Facebook, if you can link me to your status, please leave me a comment.  If your account is private, just copy and paste what you wrote there and post it in a comment.

For a tweet,  you can use:   Win a Teifoc Small Cottage Brick and Mortar Building Set from @eitechToys. Ends 11/30 http://tinyurl.com/2aycnne

Giveaway notes:  This giveaway is open to US residents only, who are 18 years or older.  This giveaway runs through 11/30/2010 at 11:59 PM and the winner will be drawn via Random.org on 12/1/2010.  The chosen winner will have 48 hours to respond to a winning email.  If no response is received within 48 hours, I will have to choose another winner.

Disclosure:  I received a complimentary product for the purposes of review.  This blog post is not compensated.  Eitech is also providing a giveaway item in conjunction with this review.  The opinions stated herein are either my own, my husband's or my children's and relate to our experience with this product. 

72 comments:

♡♥♬ Raven In A Blue Room ♬♥♡ said...

I love the Eitech® Basic Mini Rocking Horse Construction Set

Thank you for hosting this giveaway

schnitzomage {at} gmail {dot} com

♡♥♬ Raven In A Blue Room ♬♥♡ said...

following @eitechToys on twitter @left_the_stars

♡♥♬ Raven In A Blue Room ♬♥♡ said...

I like Eitech on facebook (Louis Here)

♡♥♬ Raven In A Blue Room ♬♥♡ said...

following you on twitter @left_the_stars

Unknown said...

My kids would love putting together the Classic Ferris Wheel Construction Set

danellejohns at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I follow eitechToys on Twitter-DanelleJohns(Danelle)

danellejohns at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I follow/like eitechToys on FB-DanelleJohns danellejohns at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I am an email subscriber

danellejohns at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I follow you publicly via GFC-DanelleJohnson

danellejohns at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I follow you on Twitter-DanelleJohns(Danelle)

danellejohns at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I love the Exclusive Train Construction Set
velvethubler at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I Follow EitechToys on Twitter as @vhubler
velvethubler at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I Like Eitech on Facebook
as Velvet Hubler
velvethubler at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I am a new email subscriber
velvethubler at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I am following you on Twitter as @vhubler

Unknown said...

I tweeted the giveaway http://twitter.com/vhubler/status/3146819773145088

firegirl said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
firegirl said...

My niece would love all of them! I can see her making the Eiffel Tower with lights but what she asked for for Christmas was bricks : ) They have Awesome brick and morter sets. I will be getting her this! Thanks for the chance to win one!

FiregirlRI@aol.com

firegirl said...

I liked Eitech on facebook

Firegirlri@ aol dot com

Marianna said...

I like the Classic Fork Lift construction set
mannasweeps (at) gmail DOT com

Marianna said...

I like Eitech on facebook - Marianna Sweeper Ballard

slb3334 said...

experimental gears kit.

slb3334@gmail.com

Michelle said...

I like that Experimental Gears set--which, of course, I would be buying for my boys (or that's who would receive the present, but I would have a ton of fun with it, too, LOL).

Michelle said...

I'm following Eitech on Twitter @momchelle.

Michelle said...

I like Eitech on Facebook.

Michelle said...

I just tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/momchelle/status/6295935919325184

Anonymous said...

Eitech® Experimental Electronic Set looks like a great idea for my 10 year old - love that it makes music and flies a little frisbee.. it would be very rewarding to build something and have something useable afterwards :-)Kellyneish@aol.com

Aleksandra Nearing said...

The Classif ferris wheel set looks really fun!
aleksa91 hotmail com

Aleksandra Nearing said...

@busyworkingmama follows you on twitter
aleksa91 hotmail com

ranya112 said...

I think my grandson would really like the Classic R/C Off-Road Vehicle Construction Set.

iridia718 at gmail dot com

Suzanne Møller said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
darlanpaulsmamma said...

they have a lot of great products - my kids would love Eitech® Basic Quad Racing Car Construction Set also -
thanks for giveaway
melissa.barnes76 at yahoo dot com

darlanpaulsmamma said...

follow eitech toys on twitter as lovinmykiddos
melissa.barnes76 at yahoo dot com

darlanpaulsmamma said...

like on fb as melissa barnes
melissa.barnes76 at yahoo dot com

darlanpaulsmamma said...

email subscriber
melissa.barnes76 at yahoo dot com

darlanpaulsmamma said...

follow on gfc
melissa.barnes76 at yahoo dot com

darlanpaulsmamma said...

follow you on twitter as lovinmykiddos
melissa.barnes76 at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

I like the Experimental Gears set
thank you
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net

Anonymous said...

I like them on fb
thank you
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net

Anonymous said...

I sub
thank you
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net

Anonymous said...

I follow
thank you
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net

Anonymous said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/tatertot374/status/7435089369636864
thank you
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net

Brooke C said...

I like the Eitech Deluxe Solar Powered
Construction Set
italiaangel80@gmail.com

Brooke C said...

I follow eitech toys on twitter
@italiaangel80
italiaangel80@gmail.com

Brooke C said...

I like eitech toys on facebook
(brooke comperchio)
italiaangel80@gmail.com

Brooke C said...

I subscribe via email
italiaangel80@gmail.com

Brooke C said...

I follow on GFC
italiaangel80@gmail.com

Brooke C said...

I follow you on twitter
@italiaangel80
italiaangel80@gmail.com

Brooke C said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/italiaangel80/status/8919136721707008
italiaangel80@gmail.com

BeeCute said...

Main; My son would love this!! He would also like the Solar Powered Airplane and Helicopter set.

mandmvaught@centurylink.net

BeeCute said...

i follow Eitech on facebook

mandmvaught@centurylink.net

BeeCute said...

i follow Eitech on twitter

mandmvaught@centurylink.net

BeeCute said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/mandmvaught/status/9024823560765440

mandmvaught@centurylink.net

BeeCute said...

i follow u on twitter

mandmvaught@centurylink.net

BeeCute said...

GFC follower

mandmvaught@centurylink.net

Anonymous said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/tatertot374/status/9045098025197569
thank you
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net

Jenn S. said...

The Eitech® Basic Train Construction Set is really neat.
jas8929 at gmail dot com

Jenn S. said...

Already follow Eitech on twitter: jashelep
jas8929 at gmail dot com

Jenn S. said...

Alredy follow Eitech on facebook.
jas8929 at gmail dot com

Brooke C said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/italiaangel80/status/9411481464479744
italiaangel80@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Experimental Gears set
amy16323(at)gmail(dot)com

Jess L said...

I have a 9 yr old son who would LOVE this. I think he'd also really like the Eiffel Tower set!

beckytag said...

Love this! I also think my boys would like their deluxe Solar Powered Construction set.
beckytag618 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I love the concept behind this toy. I also like their Classic R/C Off-Road Vehicle Construction Set and think my kids would have a blast playing with that as well.
greenlancer at comcast dot net

Anonymous said...

Followed Eitech on Twitter
@bellanova85
greenlancer at comcast dot net

Anonymous said...

Followed you on Twitter
@bellanova85
greenlancer at comcast dot net

Anonymous said...

Tweeted
http://twitter.com/bellanova85/status/9681511112515584
greenlancer at comcast dot net

Brooke C said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/italiaangel80/status/9688536676569088
italiaangel80@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/tatertot374/status/9721172845400064
thank you
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net

cman said...

Eitech® Basic Mini Rocking Horse Construction Set.

cman said...

I'm a GFC Follower.

cman said...

I'm an email subscriber.