• crafts - Father's Day - Gift guide - Kids crafts

    Father’s Day gift guide

    I haven’t pulled together a gift guide since Christmas but they are quite fun posts to write. So, if you’re feeling a bit stuck with Father’s day looming next Sunday (19th June) then I hope you might find some inspiration here. Father’s Day gift guide We are a creative family so family celebrations always include a handmade element. This year the children made some lovely Father’s Day gifts, including decorated key rings from a Baker Ross craft kit and an air drying clay dish for loose change. I’m sure they’ll both be making Father’s Day cards at school but we…

  • crafts - Kids crafts

    10 Euro 2016 football crafts for kids

    According to Wikipedia (my main source of information apart from my 6 year old son), the 2016 UEFA European Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2016 or simply Euro 2016, is the 15th edition of the UEFA European Championship, the quadrennial international men’s football championship of Europe organised by UEFA. It runs from June 10 to July 10 2016 in France and 24 teams are taking part. My 6 year old loves his weekly football classes so I thought it would be fun to give him (and you) a round up of 10 Euro 2016 football crafts for kids. 10 Euro…

  • crafts - die cutting - Kids crafts - tutorial

    Cork stamped football craft

    Wine corks are an ideal material for stamping and we have plenty of them. So I made up this simple football related craft to keep my children busy this afternoon. England will be playing their first match this evening against Russia in Euro 2016 which we’re really looking forward to watching later. Cork stamped football craft We used: wine cork Swann Morton scalpel Black acrylic paint White card circles (cut using my Sizzix Big Shot Plus and the Sizzix Bigz Die Circles) I prepared the cork earlier, roughly marking a hexagon on one end of the cork, them cutting away the…

  • Aquabeaders - crafts - Kids crafts

    Aquabeads Dazzling Ring Set

    I’ve always found making things to be the best hobby. Luckily my children think so too! As my 4 year old olny has afternoon sessions we usually spend the morning crafting. This week we have been trying out a new set from Aquabeads – the Dazzling Ring Set. This is a Refill set which means you need to already have a Layout tray and water Sprayer. The Dazzling Ring Set contains over 400 jewel and solid beads, 6 x ring bodies and 3 x template sheets. My 4 year old chose the template sheet she wanted to make, I slipped…

  • crafts - die cutting - Olympics - Royal crafts - Sizzix crafts

    How to make Union flag bunting

    With The Queen’s official birthday celebrations taking place over the next few days in London, I thought I would make some special Union flag inspired bunting. How to make Union flag bunting I used the Sizzix Bigz Plus Die – Bunting (661173) which features two different bunting flag shapes, and Limited Edition Union Flag (Union Jack) Duck Tape. I love crafting with Duck Tape and this is a great way to make some bunting which should last through the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations, Euro 2016, Wimbledon and the Olympics. You can find my full tutorial over on the Sizzix blog today. You may…

  • Crafts for kids - Sports crafts

    Euro 2016 paper plate football craft for kids

    My 6 year old has been attending an after school football club this year which he loves. I have to admit I’m pretty clueless about most sports but will all this chatter about Euro ’16 I thought it was about time we had a go at crafting our own football. Paper plate football craft for kids We used a white paper plate, black card, hexagon template, scissors and Glu Dots. The first step was to cut out our hexagons. I love sewing so we used a plastic hexagon template, the kind used in English Paper Piecing. My 4 year old…

  • family - parenting - playing - toy review - UKMums.TV Preferred Blogger

    Educational Play the Schleich Way

    My 4 year old loves small world play. She often spends her mornings building small worlds in the tuff spot with her favourite toys. We’ve built up a great collection of Schleich toys and these are perfect for small world play. In fact there is so much play potential with them that Schleich have created a free 16-page brochure which is designed to be a guide to the best in imaginative play and development (link in sidebar). The brochure covers topics such as a balanced play diet, encouraging imagination and early language skills. It also comes with helpful hints and tips…

  • days out - Local Review - London

    KidZania Westfield London

    Over half term we were invited to try out KidZania which is an experience for kids based at Westfield London. We had never been before so didn’t know much before we arrived and were a little confused to arrive at KidZania International Airport! We were given 50 kidZos (the currency of KidZania), electronic tags around our wrists and a map of the city and then let through into KidZania. KidZania is a real life role play experience for 4-14 year olds, blending learning and reality with entertainment. Your experience lasts for 4 hours and as we went when it had…

  • crafts - Kids crafts - Nature crafts - tutorial

    Sun catchers from nature {inspired by Puffin Rock}

    Do your children enjoy Puffin Rock? It’s narrated by Chris O’Dowd and stars 12 year old Kate McCafferty from Derry as the voice of Oona. Puffin Rock follows the funny adventures of a family of puffins who live on a beautiful Irish island. Oona, is a smart young puffling, eager to learn and explore. She shares her escapades on Puffin Rock, with her sweet little brother, Baba, and all their friends. The show is a charming mix of natural history facts, pre-school learnings, relationship dynamics and humour. My 4 year old loves Puffin Rock so I’m really pleased the new series launched…