To keep the Girls occupied at Granny's house recently, we cut out lots of hearts from the December edition of various magazines. This was a great opportunity to hunt through for reds and pinks and glittery gold pages, so a good exercise in colour-identifying for Dimples. The Girls also worked on co-ordination and general motor skills feeding the paper into the heart cutters. Whilst it was a super activity, I've since been puzzling what to … [Read more...]
How to make bodyscrub: a great handmade gift
As you know, each month Tots100 and Center Parcs come up with a challenge designed to help you and your family explore nature, get creative and have fun! This month’s challenge, which gives you the chance to become a Center Parcs Family Blogger, Tots 100 Center Parcs Challenge focuses on relaxation health and beauty. The great thing about making your own 'spa' treatments is that the cost is very low and yet they look and smell amazing, so are … [Read more...]
Paper plate unicorn
To make a paper plate unicorn, you will need: a paper plate paper scraps (I used the outer cover of a magazine) stickers glue/sellotape First take your plate and fold the two sides in, so that you have a narrow end (the unicorn's mouth) and a wider end (forehead.) Secure with tape Fold down the narrow end plate edge to make the nose. From some of your paper scraps, form a cone and stick to the unicorn's … [Read more...]
How to make a quick hat for New Year’s Eve
There's such a big build up to Christmas that I always find New Year's Eve is overlooked, yet it is only seven days after Santa visits. We won't get back to the UK until just before New Year's so will need a few quick ideas for crafts to make to see in 2013. These hats are ideal: made from pipe cleaners and doilies they are the work of minutes. Simply cut a doily in half and form a cone. Thread a pipe-cleaner through the holes, attach to … [Read more...]
Simple Paper Wreath craft
As we are in the Czech Republic, I needed some Christmas crafts that are easy to make and require minimal crafting 'stuff'. Paper wreaths are a re-working of the traditional paper lanterns and therefore couldn't be simpler. You simply take a sheet of green paper or card and fold in half length ways. Make a series of cuts along the folded edge towards the unfolded edge, parallel to each other, along the length of the paper. Cut almost … [Read more...]
Christmas cross-stitch lanterns from recycled jars
So, you take a few old jam jars and make sure they are squeaky clean. Once dry, tape the image you want to copy onto the inside of the jar with the image facing outwards. I planned on printing off cross-stitch patterns to make my life easier but the printer wasn't working, so I had to wing it a bit. Use Sharpie Markers to make your design onto the jar. Once done, bake in the oven at 150 for 10 minutes or so to set the markers. Then add … [Read more...]
How to make a Christmas Silhouette from a box
I tweeted @CocaCola_GB this week with pride in my latest creation: a Christmas Silhouette I had made from a Diet Coke box. They made the appropriate noises, and pointed me to the BritMums #FestivePlaylist which reminds everyone of the Designated Driver programme they have every winter, which helps promote the positive role that soft drinks can play as credible alternatives to alcohol. You can use their interactive Pub Finder to find places where … [Read more...]
