It's week 50 in The Gallery and for the life of me I cannot believe that a year has gone by since it began, not that I started trying to keep up until recently. It has become such an institution in the section of the Blogosphere I feel most comfortable in that I can't remember a time before it existed. It's testament to the blogversity of the legendary Tara of Cain that she has managed to think up a different topic for each of the last fifty … [Read more...]
Map Craft: paper mache elephant from old A-Z
I saw the most fabulous paper mache elephant at The Little Green Paintbox the other day and immediately ran out into the street where DH had put the recycling to be collected. What the bin man thought of the mad woman in her PJs, I've no idea, but I rescued my milk carton and set about following the instructions. I cut off the base of the carton, using the severed handle as a trunk, and cut two ears from cardboard, adding a tab the length of … [Read more...]
The Gallery: Mother Nature
The Threeva has been learning about growing plants. She enjoys being outside and looking at the leaves on the trees and digging in the garden. She and her Daddy will go out in all weathers to potter and play. Last year they grew strawberries and if she went missing, I often found her at the bottom of the garden snaffling a few ripe berries. Given that I struggle to keep houseplants alive, my green-fingered mother took her in hand and, before … [Read more...]
Seven ways you can use your baby weight to lose your baby weight
It's a common desire, albeit after you've given birth and spent a few months adjusting to what it means to be responsible for a small crying baby 24 hours a day, to want to do something about your appearance. There are some lucky people who seem to effortlessly be back in their pre-pregnancy Jeans six weeks after having a baby, but for most of us, it's hard work shedding the few extra pounds. It is, however, effort that pays off, whether you are … [Read more...]
Edible Sparkle gifts for teachers (and mums!)
These Edible Sparkles are so simple you can make them with your children, yet they look so effective people will think they took hours to create! These are easy to make with small children too: they love bashing the honeycomb for example. I made the chocolate disc shapes with the melted chocolate and left my two girls to add the toppings themselves. They did a great job and took real pride in making the gifts for their teachers. If you don't … [Read more...]
Christmas Countdown: Handprint Cards
Christmas CountdownThe snow has arrived (at last) in the suburbs of South East London* which can only mean that, as usual, it has peaked too soon and the much-fabled White Christmas is another 388 days or so away. In the meantime, now that I have dispensed with yet another birthday, I can get on with the task of being fully prepared for Christmas. Last year, I was heavily pregnant and struggling with SPD that, combined with snowfall, rendered me … [Read more...]
Cork popping: Make Your Own Nativity
I can't remember when I started saving Champagne corks. In our last house we had a lovely big hand-blown glass bowl, bought on the very first holiday that DH and I ever took together, that sat on a table, filled with champagne corks, all of which had a significance. They all bore the date and event at which they were consumed, and I loved adding to them, or plucking one from the bowl, reading the information and remembering the happy event they … [Read more...]
