• crafts - handmade - subscription box

    Get more from your weekend with a Weekend Box {and free code!}

    Over the weekend we tried out a Weekend Box, it’s a clever little box which fits neatly through your letter box and contains four activities: Something to Cook Something to Make Something to Explore and Something Green Each activity is designed to build sensory exploration skills within little ones aged 3-8 as well as help teach them about different life skills in a fun and engaging way. Our box contained 4 instruction cards to make potato boats, DIY 3D glasses, Sand Art Explorers and a Lolly Stick Bird Feeder as well as 4 paper packets with the equipment needed. I’m…

  • book review - crafts - tutorial - upcycling - What I'm reading

    What I’m reading: Pimp Your Pumps

    Battered boots? Tired trainers? Then why not add some glitz and glamour to everyday shoes! Charlotte Liddle offers the perfect solution for those who need to spruce up their shoe collection with 35 ways to make your feet more fun. We were sent a copy to review and my head is bursting with ideas! Removeable fixes are a non-permanent way to add life and colour to a tired pair of shoes with clip-on flowers and ribbon laces leading the way. You can transform really old shoes more permanently and add a splash of colour with vibrant fabric paints, a splatter…

  • crafts - handmade - toddler

    Toddler-friendly Valentine craft

    A while ago I pinned a pretty picture of wool hearts. I wanted to try them with my son but the metal heart (made from floral wire) was too fiddly for him to hold and wrap at the same time. Instead we tried using some chunky heart-shaped cookie cutters which were much easier for him to hold. Toddler-friendly Valentine craft – wrapped wool hearts I covered the outside of the cookie cutter in double-sided sticky tape, then he had fun wrapping each one with red wool. When he had finished I tied a knot in the wool at the top…

  • crafts - Kids crafts - nursery - tutorial

    Hickory Dickory Dock craft

    My son is really enjoying being a part of his new nursery. I’m enjoying the routine (and a 3 hour break from my son every day, what’s not to love?) and he’s learning more than I could have imagined. This term has been all about nursery rhymes and he came home with a booklet for me which listed all the nursery rhymes they would be learning and some home learning suggestions. I was more than happy to receive the suggestions as, despite my Pinterest addiction, I do occasionally run short on ideas. He’s a busy little soul who’s constantly asking…

  • Chinese New Year crafts - crafts - handmade - Kids crafts - tutorial

    Finger print Chinese lanterns

    Before I bombard you with Valentine crafts (and there’s a lot!) I wanted to share one last Chinese New Year craft. 2014 is the Chinese New Year of the Horse and although Chinese New Year is celebrated on Friday January 31st, celebrations will take place on Sunday 2nd February across venues including Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Shaftesbury Avenue and of course Chinatown itself. I’m not sure I’m ready to take the children to the celebrations just yet so instead we’ve been having fun at home. We’ve already tried our hand at Chinese New Year lanterns and our latest activity involved paint. Like…

  • Chinese New Year crafts - crafts - handmade - Kids crafts - tutorial

    Chinese New Year tea light holder

    We’ve been thinking about Chinese New Year lately. 2014 is all about the Chinese New Year of the Horse but animal crafts don’t seem to be our speciality, so far. Instead we opted for some simple Chinese New Year tea light holders. We collected some old (clean!) glass jars from the recycling bin, a bottle of PVA glue, paint brush and red tissue paper which I cut into small squares. I had to google why red is associated with Chinese New Year, apparently the colour red, which corresponds with fire, symbolizes good fortune and joy. Then my son got to…

  • crafts - handmade

    Three Kings, a craft for Epiphany

    We took our tree and Christmas decorations down yesterday. It took hours but I’m quite pleased our house has now returned to normal. My son is very sad though as he adored turning off the big light “to see how pretty the tree looks”. He really ‘got’ Christmas this year and enjoyed every minute. Three Kings craft to celebrate Epiphany To cheer him up I thought we would make one last Christmas craft. January 6th is celebrated as the Epiphany, or the day the three Wise Men (or Kings) visited the infant Jesus. Our Three Kings or Epiphany craft, is…

  • crafts - handmade

    A crafty sort of year.

    2013 was a busy year for our family. We sold our lovely house and bought an even lovelier house in a much nicer part of London. The 3 year started his new nursery and has learned so many new things it’s difficult to keep up with him. He performed in his first Christmas play, sang on his first Christmas album and had a pretty good time. The 2 year old started nursery for the first time and has become a lot more confident around other people, she eats better too 🙂 I attended 3 blogging conferences but didn’t feel like…

  • Christmas - crafts - garden crafts - handmade - tutorial - upcycling

    Winter activities for small people

    I hope you’ve all had a lovely Christmas. Not that our winter holiday is over but I have let out a small sigh of relief that presents have been opened and enjoyed and several big meals have been cooked and eaten. My two little people have not let Christmas get in their way and have been wanting to be crafty regardless of their piles of presents. We’ve had playdough, practising our writing, colouring and stamping as well as outdoor family activities including a couple of walks, a trip to the park with their scooters and taking my son’s model boat…