For a fun last minute gift for your lovely next door neighbour who invited you in for New Year drinks, find yourself two small children, a pair of scissors, a stick of glue and a cheap calendar. Take your (in)expensive calendar and tear it apart page by page. Cut a rectangle out of the centre of the back-board so that you have a frame. Slice the top of each page off so that you are left with the twelve months. Stick these to the … [Read more...]
How to make a pine cone Christmas Tree
Red Ted Art has toilet roll fetish when it comes to craft. Nurture Store is a mahoosive fan of playdough. I have a (very) soft spot for crafting with corks. What's not to like? At the very least they give me a reason to regularly open a bottle of wine. And not just at home either. Whenever we go out to events or restaurants, even the Parents' Drinks at LBG's school, I have been known to sidle up to the bar staff and flutter my eyelashes in … [Read more...]
Cork printing craft for Valentine’s Day
Last year, LBG and I had a fabulous time making Valentine's Day cards to post over with Red Ted. I just looked at the pictures and cannot believe how much her pudgey little hands have changed. It's also fair to say that her skill set has changed to. She was unexpectedly off school today with laryngitis and, despite having very little voice, made it quite clear what sort of cards she wanted to make. The idea I had was to do wax crayon … [Read more...]
How to make a family calendar
Last year we made a wonderful calendar after seeing Nurture Store's family calendar. It was a very simple way of showing the important dates in our lives in a sequence that LBG could understand. A year on and it's that time again. Only I made a few adjustments to the original. It all came about when I was tidying away the paper plate phonics chart we have been using to help LBG with her reading skills. It occurred to me that I could use the … [Read more...]
The Advent Adventure Continues: only two days to go!!
Today will be an odd day. DH is finally home for the holidays, and we are off to the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway for our (now-) Annual Santa Special trip. We're all very excited about it, since it really marks the start of our family Christmas Celebrations. Sadly, though, it is the first Anniversary of the loss of my Gran. I'm finding it challenging to juggle the range of emotions that these things make me feel. I have been focussing … [Read more...]
Seeking Pinspiration?
Crikey- this time next week it'll all be over! Can you believe it? I thank the good Lord for coming up with Pinterest, and the interweb in general. Aside from providing my beloved husband (the internet, not Pinterest) it provides hours and hours of distraction and ideas to keep the Girls occupied. We've been busy with our Advent Activity Calendar, as inspired by Activity Mom this month, and it has been wonderful, so thanks to Activity Mom. … [Read more...]
Snow is falling: top sledging tips
Dashing (safely) Through the Snow Top Tobogganing Safety Tips from The Handpicked Collection If the forecasters are to be believed, we’re in for more snow this winter, which is great news for children who can’t wait to wrap up warmly and run outside for some sledging fun! Make sure your children know exactly what’s what to prevent accidents ruining their favourite wintry activity with these sensible … [Read more...]
