• The Big Comic Relief Crafternoon magazine cover
    book review - crafts - handmade - Mollie Makes crafts

    The Big Comic Relief Crafternoon

    February 17, 2017 - By 

    I regularly write about books and magazines I’ve been enjoying. I’ve read quite a few books lately but since finishing my last one, review coming soon …. I couldn’t resist picking up a copy of The Big Comic Relief Crafternoon to read. I’m a big fan of Mollie Makes and am still enjoying the Mollie Makes Creativity I told you about here. The Big Comic Relief Crafternoon I picked up a copy in Sainsbury’s along with the weekly shop. It cost £8.99 with £5 of that going directly to Comic Relief projects. The magazine/bookazine contains over 50 crafty makes for Red Nose Day…

  • Getting creative with The Wild Garden
    book review - Craft book review - crafts - Mother's Day crafts

    Getting creative with The Wild Garden {a rub-down transfer book}

    February 9, 2017 - By 

    I love my adult colouring book collection but was recently introduced to something a little different. The Wild Garden from Usborne Publishing is a rub-down transfer book which is the perfect gift for Mother’s Day and a creative and therapeutic experience for children and adults alike.  The Wild Garden rub-down transfer book, is brimming with eleven exquisite gardens. Each ‘garden’ has a delicate line drawing to colour in and a colourful picture to fill with beautiful rub-down transfers of flowers, butterflies, birds, frogs and fish, which are stored in a handy envelope at the front of the book. There is something…

  • Win a copy of the Champions League Fact
    book review - competition

    Win a copy of the Champions League Fact File

    February 8, 2017 - By 

    My 6 year old has really surprised me with his love of football. I have never been sporty but my son attends a weekly football club and recently watched Chelsea play at Stamford Bridge. So I knew he would love the new Champions League Fact File. Just in case you didn’t know, the UEFA Champions League makes headlines from August to May every year. This action-packed book is bursting with eye-popping stats about the greatest teams and players in world football. Read all about the early years of the European Cup, discover what it takes to progress through the rounds to…

  • Making Concrete Pots, Bowls, and Platters by Hester van Overbeek
    book review - crafts - handmade - What I'm reading

    Making Concrete Pots, Bowls, and Platters by Hester van Overbeek

    February 7, 2017 - By 

    Making Concrete Pots, Bowls, and Platters is the third book by Hester van Overbeek, you can read my review of Furniture Hacks here. In this book, you will find everything you need to make a range of unique concrete projects. The comprehensive techniques section explains what type of concrete to buy, how to use it and how to decorate it. You will also learn how to mix, cast and mould concrete. From there you can put this knowledge into action to make chic home accessories such as upside-down plant pots, a concrete bowl with a wooden base, serving platters, a letter-shaped…

  • Win brand new DC Super Hero Girls books
    book review - competition

    Win brand new DC Super Hero Girls books

    January 22, 2017 - By 

    Last year we reviewed some of the new DC Super Hero Girls figures from the DC Super Hero Girls animation. They’ve been a big hit with my daughter so we were excited to see the first three books in a super exciting super hero franchise, launched by the new ‘golden trio’ – Puffin Books, Warner Bros. and DC Comics! Puffin have launched three fun new books based on the DC Super Hero Girls, the all-new child friendly comic universe from DC, in which the world’s most iconic female Super Heroes inspire and empower children of all ages, genders and levels of geekiness! Wonder Woman at Super…

  • The Art of Stone Painting: 30 Designs to Spark Your Creativity
    book review - Craft book review - crafts - handmade - Painted rocks

    The Art of Stone Painting book review

    January 19, 2017 - By 

    We love crafting with stones. They are easy to get hold of, a very tactile material and pretty easy to re-use again and again. I was pretty excited when I heard about  a new book called The Art of Stone Painting. I’ve seen some lovely stone crafts on Pinterest and wanted to find out more about creating them myself. I kindly received a copy of The Art of Stone Painting: 30 Designs to Spark Your Creativity by F. Sehnaz Bac through NetGalley. This books aims to help you transform ordinary stones into colourful works of art with this easy-to-follow guide. The Art of Stone…

  • A Boy Made of Blocks by Keith Stuart
    book review

    A Boy Made of Blocks book review

    January 18, 2017 - By 

    Today I’m taking part in a book blog tour for A Boy Made of Blocks by Keith Stuart which has recently been published in paperback. I heard about this book when it came out last year and was so excited to get my hands on a copy. A bit about A Boy Made of Blocks: MEET THIRTY SOMETHING DAD, ALEX… He loves his wife Jody, but has forgotten how to show it. He loves his son Sam, but doesn’t understand him. Something has to change. And he needs to start with himself. MEET EIGHT-YEAR-OLD SAM… To him the world is a…

  • David Walliams' new book, The Midnight Gang
    book review

    David Walliams’ new book, The Midnight Gang

    December 13, 2016 - By 

    When the clock strikes midnight most children are fast asleep, but for the Midnight Gang the journey is just beginning. This extraordinary story of five children in a wonderfully inventive and eccentric hospital setting promises to take fans from around the globe on an unmissable midnight adventure. We have never read a book by David Walliams before but I know he is a pretty successful children’s author, as well as all the other things he does. The Midnight Gang is his latest book, published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, and we were delighted to receive a copy to read together. The…

  • An Advent calendar of picture books for little readers
    Advent crafts - book review - Christmas

    An Advent calendar of picture books for little readers

    November 17, 2016 - By 

    Every November I like to plan our annual Book Advent. I started this Christmas tradition a few years ago and the children love it. On the 1st December quite a few things happen so I have to be super organised at this time of year. Advent traditions Most importantly our Elf arrives all the way from the North Pole. This is another tradition we started a few years ago. I know not everyone likes the Elf on a Shelf but my children do so he’ll be coming back again this year and making sure my children behave themselves in the…