• {Free printable} Santa's Workshop Lego Challenge
    Christmas - Crafts for kids - free printables

    {Free printable} Santa’s Workshop Lego Challenge

    November 8, 2019 - By 

    My children are full of the Christmas spirit. They have designed their own Christmas cards at school, been practicing for their Christmas assemblies and  keep changing their minds about what to put on their Christmas lists. It’s really exciting to see Christmas through their eyes. Both my children (and us adults!) love Lego. This year we added the Lego Gingerbread House to our collection, and soon it will be time to get our other Christmas Lego sets out. It’s just not Christmas without Lego! {Free printable} Santa’s Workshop Lego Challenge I have a free gift for all my readers today,…

  • 17 new Elf on the Shelf antics from the gingerbread house blog
    Christmas - Elf on the Shelf - Family Life

    17 new Elf on the Shelf antics

    January 3, 2019 - By 

    Although I wasn’t entirely sure about bringing back our Book Advent (but I’m glad we did) I knew our two Christmas elves would be making an appearance on December 1st. We have two elves, one for each child, who bring the children’s Advent calendars and stay around to make sure they are having fun during December. This is a family Christmas tradition which we started a few years ago. In preparation for December 1st I found the Elf surveillance camera and sign, the two elves and started to plan some of the daily activities. Now I’m working it was essential…

  • How to make a simple twig star decoration
    Christmas - Crafts for adults

    How to make a simple twig star decoration

    December 15, 2018 - By 

    I don’t feel as though I have made as many Christmas decorations as I would have liked to this year. What with my new job, although I’m not sure I can call it ‘new’ for much longer, my crafting time is really limited. Today we had some much needed time at home though, and I was finally able to play with my new Ryobi Glue Gun. A few weeks ago we went for a lovely walk in Ruislip Woods. The weather was beautiful and I collected lots of long twigs for crafting. With Winter coming up I had a few…

  • Christmas - Crafts for kids

    Nativity lacing paper plate craft for kids

    November 28, 2018 - By 

    We don’t start celebrating Christmas until the 1st of December but I couldn’t resist sharing our Nativity Lacing Paper Plate craft with you. December seems to whizz by but I’m looking forward to sharing some of our favourite Christmas crafts with you over the coming weeks. Supplies to make our Nativity Lacing Paper Plate craft Paper plate scissors hole punch wool in yellow and brown glue stick marker brown, yellow and light blue crayons printed PDF template Nativity Lacing Paper Plate craft instructions First colour and cut out the template. Draw a cute face on Baby Jesus! Next, cut the inner…

  • Christmas - Crafts for kids

    6 Ideas for Festive Children’s Art and Crafts

    November 23, 2018 - By 

    With Christmas only a few short weeks away, there’s no better way to get into the festive spirit than with some seasonal art and craft activities for children to enjoy. All you need are some educational resources and a big imagination to get stuck in with these 6 ideas for festive craft activities. 6 Ideas for Festive Children’s Art and Crafts Salt Dough Christmas Ornaments Salt dough is a versatile modelling material, and this easy to make dough is perfect for a suitably festive activity like making Christmas tree ornaments. All you need is some salt dough, cookie cutters, some paint, and your imagination.…

  • Peppermint Oreo Bark recipe
    baking - Christmas - Crafts for adults - Handmade gifts

    Peppermint Oreo Bark recipe

    November 21, 2018 - By 

    I always have a few easy handmade gift ideas up my sleeves at this time of year. Our diary is filling up with dates to catch up with friends and family in the run up to Christmas. I have to take something with us (as well as a bottle of mulled wine!) and our Peppermint Oreo Bark recipe always goes down a treat. It only requires 3 ingredients and is quick and simple to make. Ingredients: 24 oz. white chocolate chips 10 oreos, roughly chopped ½ cup peppermints, crushed How to make Peppermint Oreo Bark Line a baking sheet with parchment…

  • ginger fudge recipe
    Christmas - Crafts for kids

    Homemade ginger fudge recipe

    November 13, 2018 - By 

    Today I’m taking part in the Kid-Made Christmas Gift series organised by Teach Me Mommy. I couldn’t wait to sign up as we love making and giving handmade gifts. I think it’s important that my children enjoy can think of others, especially at Christmas time, so have been planning what we can give this year. We wanted to try something edible and thought ginger fudge would be fun to make and well received. Homemade ginger fudge ingredients 340g can of condensed milk 385g granulated sugar 43g unsalted butter 100ml water 2.5 tbsp ginger syrup (from a jar of stem ginger)…

  • Dr Seuss's The Grinch and Max paper plate craft for kids to make from the gingerbread house blog
    Christmas - Crafts for kids - Dr Seuss Day craft - Grinchmas crafts

    Dr Seuss’s The Grinch and Max paper plate craft for kids

    October 23, 2018 - By 

    I love this time of year, especially when I have the time off work to enjoy it! We are really enjoying some time together at home to relax and craft. A few weeks ago we watched the trailer for the upcoming Grinch film. Based on the 1957 Dr. Seuss story How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, it’s something we can’t wait to watch as the book has been a staple of our festive Book Advent for the last few years. In case you’re not familiar with it: The Grinch hatches a scheme, with his trusted canine Max, to ruin Christmas when the residents of Whoville…

  • reading the Christmas catalogue
    Christmas - parenting

    He’s making a list and checking it twice

    October 1, 2017 - By 

    In this digital age I’m glad that paper catalogues still exist. Catalogues were a huge part of my childhood. There was always a pile of them at home and there seemed to be one for everything, from the Avon lady to the Clean-eze man, to clothes company’s and toy shops. Thankfully toy catalogues are still around because they give my children hours of enjoyment! Now I don’t think you can say that a toy catalogue is particularly educational but when I asked my children for the top 5 things they love from the new Smyths Toys catalogue, they sat down…