• Crafts for kids - Crafts for teens - Crafts for tweens - Valentines Day crafts

    Easy felt heart corner bookmarks for teens

    I enjoy the splash of colour which Valentine’s Day brings. The kids have been busy making handmade Valentine’s Day gifts and this year came up with a felt heart corner bookmark. These are so much fun to make and give to a friend. List of supplies: Felt Matching embroidery threads Needle Pencil or fabric marker A pair of scissors How to make felt heart corner bookmarks: Prepare the template patterns by printing the free heart template sheet, and cutting them out. Select at least 2 different coloured pieces of felt. Trace the patterns on the selected felt fabrics and then…

  • competition

    {Giveaway} Stitch Head Graphic Novel by Guy Williams

    I like nothing better than curling up with a good book at this time of year. I’ve always been a huge fan of getting lost in a good book and thankfully this is something my children share too. We love to discover new authors and were recently introduced to the amazing Stitch Head Graphic Novel by Guy Bass and illustrated by Pete Williamson. Stitch Head Graphic Novel edition by Guy Williams The first book in the best-selling, laugh-out-loud STITCH HEAD series by award-winning author Guy Bass, with illustrations by Pete Williamson, now brought to almost-life again in this brand-new, monstrously…

  • Monday Happy List

    Five Happy Things {Week 486}

    Starting the week by writing the Happy List is something I’ve been doing for a while over the last few years. It is my chance to sit down and reflect on the things that made me happy in the previous week, as well as to record some of the adventures we have as a family. Five Happy Things {Week 486} Last week I finished Godmersham Park by Gill Hornby and I enjoyed it so much I ordered a copy of her other novel about Jane Austen, Miss Austen. This is equally good and I’m enjoying reading it whenever I can. I find Jane Austen…

  • baby products

    Growing with Blocks: Adapting Building Toys to Toddlers’ Developmental Stages

    As infants transition into busy toddlers, selecting the right building toys becomes instrumental for nurturing both fine motor skills and imagination needed for the developmental years ahead. When properly tailored to match changing abilities at each age range, blocks and construction sets encourage the open-ended creative play and hands-on problem-solving so vital for early childhood growth across multiple domains. Benefits of Building Toys for Toddler Development Interactive construction toys deliver specific developmental benefits beyond just being fun pastimes. As toddlers grasp, stack, and knock down blocks, they subconsciously build neural connections that enhance spatial reasoning, geometry concepts, and general cognition.…

  • Crafts for adults

    What I made in January 2024

    I enjoyed writing my monthly crafty round ups so much that I’m going to carry on in 2024. I find it helpful to be accountable to myself and look forward to seeing the progress I make each month. It’s also not just stitching things but the delicious recipes we try or the puzzles we sit and do together, we always seem to be doing something! What I made in January 2024 January was a loooong month. I am so happy that we’ve reached the end of it and can start looking forward. The long month meant we made a lot…

  • days out - Local Review - London - London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

    Hampton Court Palace with a tween and teen

    Hampton Court Palace is a large group of buildings built over 300 years. It’s just outside London, on the banks of the river Thames, and has been on our family bucket list for a while. My tween has recently announced she hates history (which I think has more to do with her Year 7 teacher than anything else) but I don’t want that to stop her enjoying trips to historical places. Hampton Court Palace with a tween and teen We saw an offer of half price tickets in January, so we booked our Hampton Court tickets which came to £43.60,…

  • Monday Happy List

    Five Happy Things {Week 485}

    Navigating January, often considered a challenging month, requires resilience and a positive mindset. As the winter chill persists, embracing small joys becomes crucial. Embrace self-care rituals, be it cozy evenings with a book or invigorating walks in nature. Starting the week by writing the Happy List is something I’ve been doing for a while over the last few years. It is my chance to sit down and reflect on the things that made me happy in the previous week, as well as to record some of the adventures we have as a family. Five Happy Things {Week 485} January is usually a month…

  • City of Westminster - days out - Local Review - London - STEM activity

    Twist Museum with a tween and teen

    Days out with a tween and teen can be a little tricky. They love a day in London but get bored quickly, unless being fed at the latest Insta famous bakery or bubble tea cafe. My daughter asked to visit the Twist Museum for her birthday and we were excited to have a fun London day out with a tween and teen. Twist Museum with a tween and teen I booked our tickets online and it wasn’t hard to find the entrance to Twist Museum on Oxford Street. There were lockers to leave coats and bags and we were soon…

  • Monday Happy List

    Five Happy Things {Week 484}

    Navigating January, often considered a challenging month, requires resilience and a positive mindset. As the winter chill persists, embracing small joys becomes crucial. Embrace self-care rituals, be it cozy evenings with a book or invigorating walks in nature. Starting the week by writing the Happy List is something I’ve been doing for a while over the last few years. It is my chance to sit down and reflect on the things that made me happy in the previous week, as well as to record some of the adventures we have as a family. It’s a post I love to write and look back…