• Printable Elf Lunchbox Notes
    Christmas - Crafts for adults - Elf on the Shelf - free printables

    {Free} Printable Elf Lunchbox Notes

    November 24, 2019 - By 

    I couldn’t resist. Today I put the Christmas bedding on and bought some candy canes. I know the two aren’t related but it’s a sign that Christmas is coming! I quite enjoy when our Elf on the Shelf comes to visit and I have planned plenty of activities to keep him busy in the run up to Christmas. Our Christmas Elf always packs the children’s lunches in Christmas wrapping paper. This year I’ve gone one step further and made some  free printable Elf lunchbox notes to slip inside the children’s lunchboxes. Printable Elf Lunchbox Notes I thought I would share…

  • Family Life

    AD|How to not break your budget this Christmas

    November 23, 2019 - By 

    Disclosure – this is a collaborative post As much as I love Christmas it is the most expensive time of year. We all want to give our children the best gifts and memories but it can be hard to stay within budget if their Christmas lists are a little ambitious! My children seem to want the moon on a stick each year and whilst I would love to buy them everything they want it’s just not possible or healthy for them. We try to live to the 4 gifting principles to keep their expectations manageable – something to wear, something…

  • 12 Handmade gift tags to make this Christmas
    Christmas - Crafts for adults

    12 Handmade gift tags to make this Christmas

    November 22, 2019 - By 

    I’ve been really fortunate to have a couple of days off from work this week. I’ve made the most of my free time and made a huge dent in my Christmas shopping and wrapping. I get really anxious about gift giving so I find starting early helps me. Don’t get me wrong, I still have lots to do, but I feel like I can relax a little and make a start on adding a handmade touch to my gift-giving. We love the handmade touch and I couldn’t resist searching Pinterest for handmade gift tags to make this Christmas. There are…

  • Using my Cricut EasyPress Mini
    Crafts for adults - Cricut Maker

    Using my Cricut EasyPress Mini

    November 21, 2019 - By 

    Last week my Cricut EasyPress Mini arrived and I couldn’t wait to play with it. I saw it at the Cricut Meet and Greet I went to last month and loved the size. I already have the Cricut EasyPress2 which is great for bags and t-shirts but I wanted something smaller. I knew I was going to make the children a re-useable advent calendar and wanted to use the Mini to decorate the little jute bags I had picked. About the Cricut EasyPress Mini The Cricut Mini EasyPress has been designed to make detailed heat transfers easier than ever. It…

  • How to make a Playmobil family snow globe decoration
    Christmas - Crafts for adults - upcycling

    How to make a Playmobil family snow globe decoration

    November 19, 2019 - By 

    I love crafting with toys and I also love to make personalised gifts. Today I’m combining the two to make a fun Playmobil snow globe which I think would make a lovely handmade gift. It also makes a fun Christmas ornament. I’ve crafted with Playmobil figures before. The children love Playmobil so I’ve used vintage ones – Playmobil clock, Playmobil jar toppers, and vintage Playmobil figure badge. Playmobil family snow globe decoration supplies: Playmobil figures Plastic snow globe (from Hobbycraft) Fake snow Hot glue gun How to make a Playmobil family snow globe decoration First choose a selection of Playmobil…

  • Family Life - Monday Happy List

    Monday Happy List {Week 266}

    November 18, 2019 - By 

    I love to start the week by writing the Monday Happy List. It’s a chance for me to sit down and reflect on the things that made me happy in the previous week, as well as to record some of our family adventures – it’s a post I always enjoy writing. Monday Happy List {Week 266} I have been making a lot of things over the last week. Perhaps it’s the time of year or perhaps I just have my crafting mojo back. I had quite a few things I wanted to make using my Cricut Maker and they are all…

  • How to make a random weave basket
    Crafts for adults - Yodomo ambassador

    How to make a random weave basket

    November 17, 2019 - By 

    I love to challenge myself to try new things. There are so many mindful craft activities and I love spending my day off listening to Radio 4 and making something for our home. Yodomo recently invited me to try one of their craft kits. Have you heard of them? They have a selection of online courses so you craft at home, from weaving to ceramics, botany and woodwork. They kindly sent me a craft kit to make a random weave basket along with access to the online course. How to make a random weave basket The craft kit contained lengths…

  • 24 Elf on the Shelf ideas for spreading Christmas cheer
    Christmas - Elf on the Shelf - Family Life - free printables

    {free printable} 24 Elf on the Shelf ideas for spreading Christmas cheer

    November 16, 2019 - By 

    I have another fun and FREE printable to share with you today. Over the last few years we’ve been visited by our very own Scout Elf on the 1st of December. Yes, the children love our Elf on the Shelf and we love having him visit in the run up to Christmas. Last year he was joined by an elf friend so now the children both have their own Elf, who keeps an eye on them and makes sure they behave themselves. We’ve always had lots of fun with our Elf on the Shelf. Yes, I may spend a lot…

  • Our Mindful advent candle countdown
    Advent crafts - Crafts for adults - Cricut Maker

    Our Mindful advent candle kit

    November 15, 2019 - By 

    I love celebrating Advent. This year I wanted to try and keep it simple as it’s such a busy time of year, especially with two children at school. I’ve made the children their own advent calendars which hopefully I’ll be able to re-use year after year. Although I usually treat myself to an advent calendar this year I wanted something a little different. I find most advent calendars really wasteful, full of things I don’t really need (yes M&S Advent calendar, I’m talking about you!). I’m usually out of the door at half past 7 so I have little time…