I first went into a Build a Bear a few years ago. It was a bit macabre... the skins of teddy bears lined bins waiting for their future owners (or gift-givers) to come and stuff them.
It was a weird twist on a taxidermist. I was surprised I didn't see kids screaming about their dead teddy bears.
Once that sick thought left my head, I invited myself to create a bear. Most recently, we made a cow and a dog as gifts for people in our wedding party. Let me explain how the process works:
The costs displayed are how much it would be to stuff a shell. If you want to add clothes (and there is a veritable boutique of clothing, some seasonal, some year-round digs), you pay additional fees, listed on the outfit.
For instance, I picked out a beagle. The shell, including a small red foam heart that you rub to warm up (and dance around too), was around $15. You pick out your shell, and walk over to the stuffing machine. A worker will fill the shell, and ask you questions about who you are, who the animal is for, and ask you to place the heart you have selected into the animal after you rub it on your head, your heart, etc.
I felt silly, but I gave it a go. Watching my husband do it was worth the initial awkwardness, though.
When you are done, you can walk over to the "tub" and rinse the animal. Basically, gusts of air can blow any fuzzballs off the fur. Then... the fun begins.
These animals have more clothing and accessories than I do. Seriously. From socks to shoes, barrettes to combs, carrots and costumes to jackets and pom-poms, I guarantee you can outfit your creation any way that you deem appropriate.
For my dog, I chose a "Red Hat Society" hat, and a fluffy dress a la "Gone with the Wind". No shoes or anything.
Once you are done, you scan the UPC tag, and fill out a birth certificate for your creation. You choose the name, and fill out basic information such as your name, the recipients, etc. You pick up the certificate at checkout.
Along the steps, VERY helpful and friendly staff will aid you with any questions or concerns. They laugh and joke with you, and during both trips that I have gone, they obviously enjoy their jobs. They tend to make you think they are trained for children, but hey, we are all kids at heart.
At checkout, you get a large cardboard "house" to place your bear/dog/cat/cow/etc. into, along with the birth certificate. For my dog, my total cost was around $34.
Everyone will enjoy this gift... it is hand made, and you get to choose everything that goes into it, quite literally. With customizable clothing and skins, you can make something truly special for someone that you love. Granted, it is a bit more pricy than buying one from a shelf, but that is what the catch to this store is.
If you want an experience to make a special stuffed animal, suck up your pride and your self-consciousness, and visit this place. I guarantee that you will have fun, and make something extra fun to boot.
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