Tag: creative

Categories
Creative

DIY Teacher Gifts

Are you stuck what to get someone for Christmas? Wonder what to get the kids teachers for the end of the year? Well I have you sorted! Yes, worry no more!

How about making something that will be super cheap to make that you will be amazed at the outcome and even happier with the fact that you have made a unique and personal gift as well.  I wanted to give the twins teacher a little something but was wondering what to do. I wanted to get them something practical but also personal from the girls. I decided on creating tea towels with the kids hand prints on them.

Personalised home made tea towels for the twins teachers.
Personalised home made tea towels for the twins teachers.

So how did I make the tea towels?

  • I purchased tea towel material from the local sewing shop. I only bought enough for two. As you will see the material I purchased has stripes down the sides. You don’t have to get this type. Pick whatever fits the project you are creating. I paid $15, for the fabric plus the fabric pen.
  • I already had fabric paint from an earlier project.
  • When I got the fabric I also purchased a fabric pen to write the name of the teacher, the year, class and also to have the kids sign their names.
Fabric paint on plates to make it easier for kids to put hands flat to cover the whole hand.
Fabric paint on plates to make it easier for kids to put hands flat to cover the whole hand.

Process

  • I washed the material before use. This made sure to ensure that the tea towel would not shrink after I have done all this work to it.
  • Once tea towel material was dry, the kids had fun adding their hand prints to the material. Make sure to have a different colour for each child and to leave enough room top and bottom for your hems and edges.
  • I made sure to have a butter knife to allow me to spread the paint evenly over the girls hands. I got the kids to practice on a spare piece of material I did not care for so that they knew how the paint would go on the material and how much was needed to give the right effect.
  • Once the fabric paint from the kids hand prints were dry, I added the teachers names, year, and class for the girls. I added their names under the right hand prints and also got the kids to sign their names to each tea towel. It is a bit hard to write with these pens so you might need to help a little person with this.
  • Make sure to iron the fabric to set the fabric paint once all dry. The paint needs heat to set it into the fabric.

 

The fabric paint is drying, on our DIY tea towels for the twins teachers.
The fabric paint is drying, on our DIY tea towels for the twins teachers.

 

The stitch that I used was great for the edges. It looks pretty and as you will see from the below video goes over the edges nicely to make sure it is secure and will last a long time!

All wrapped up and with Panda cards. The kids are in a class called the Kinda Pandas so this was so cool I found this online.
All wrapped up and with Panda cards. The kids are in a class called the Kinda Pandas so this was so cool I found this online.

I hope this gives you some ideas and tips on how to make a cheap gift for family or your lovely teacher. Have fun and don’t get paint everywhere!

 

Originally published December 11, 2014

Categories
Recipes

Zombie Eyes

Want a very easy and a no-bake party treat?

This scary and spooky treat is simple to make and looks amazing, and no baking needed, so a win all round.

INGREDIENTS

  • Marshmallows – you can have the pink and white ones or just white it is up to you. Colour doesn’t matter.
  • Icing Pens – I used red but ran out so I ended up using a green and yellow icing pen also. As long as the colour looks spooky.
  • Smarties or M&M’s for the eyeball.

METHOD

  • Line up the marshmallows on a tray
  • Get the icing pen and draw squiggly lines all over them to reasonable bloodshot veins
  • Once all the icing is on the marshmallows you can then add the Smarties or M&Ms to the Marshmallow. It doesn’t matter what colour you add as long as it looks freaky and fun.

Now enjoy eating your zombie eyes and scaring your guests.

Make more Halloween Party Food with these inspirations from Amazon.

Sign up to get these fun and scary Monster Cupcake Toppers

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Categories
Recipes

Knead Some Creativity? Make Stunning Focaccia Designs

Processed with MOLDIV

Why settle for plain bread when you can bake a garden? This focaccia recipe is your ticket to creating a delicious masterpiece that’s as stunning as it is scrumptious. With simple ingredients, a little patience, and a sprinkle of creativity, you’ll craft a loaf that’s golden, crispy, and blooming with veggie “flowers.” Let’s turn your kitchen into an edible art studio!

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 cups “00” flour or bread flour if you don’t have 00 flour
  • 1 tsp salt 
  • 2 cups warm water 
  • 2 tsp dry instant yeast 
  • 1 tsp sugar 
  • ½ cup olive oil 

For decoration:

  • Capsicum, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, mushrooms, or whatever veggies spark your creativity!
  • Parsley, you can add other herbs if you like, for example, rosemary, chives, or basil.

I sourced all my fresh ingredients from Todarello’s Katoomba Village Fruit Market, a true gem for any home chef. Their vibrant displays of produce are a feast for the eyes, with fruits and vegetables so fresh they practically glow with flavour. From crisp capsicums to fragrant herbs, everything I needed for my focaccia garden was right at my fingertips.

Todarello’s Katoomba Village Fruit Market

Parsley

Red onions

Cucumbers
Mushrooms

Green and red capsicums

METHOD

NOTE: Preheat your oven to 200°C/390°F

Mixing the Magic: Creating the Dough

1. Awaken the Yeast

Combine warm water, sugar, and yeast in a bowl. Make sure the water is just the right temperature—like a baby’s bath. Let it rest until it gets foamy and bubbly, like a tiny science experiment.

The dough rising in the garden as the kitchen was a bit cold

2. Stir It Up

In a large bowl, mix your flour and salt. Slowly add the foamy yeast mixture and a tablespoon of olive oil. Stir until it turns into a sticky, thick dough. Drizzle on a bit more olive oil, coat your hands, and gently roll the dough around in the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap—it’s nap time for your dough.

Watch It Grow: Letting the Dough Rise

Put the covered bowl in a warm, cozy spot and let the dough rise for about an hour or until it doubles in size. Give it a gentle fold, drizzle more olive oil, and if you’ve got the patience, let it rest overnight in the fridge. This slow rise will give your focaccia a flavour boost that’s worth the wait.

3. Build Your Bread Garden

Spray a deep baking dish with nonstick spray and add a generous layer of olive oil. Tip the dough into the pan and gently stretch it to the corners, dimpling it with oiled fingers. Now, channel your inner artist! Use sliced capsicum as petals, cherry tomatoes for bold pops of colour, and fresh herbs for stems. Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top for the perfect finish.

Adding the dough to the pan
Decorating the focaccia

Ready to go into the oven – looking so bright and colourful

4. Bake and Admire Your Work

Bake your creation for 30–40 minutes. The bread should be golden brown, crispy on the outside, and sound hollow when tapped. Let it cool for a few minutes in the pan before transferring to a wire rack.

Cooked and ready to eat, looks so yummy!

5. Slice, Serve, and Savour

Your focaccia garden is ready to shine! Whether you’re impressing friends or just spoiling yourself, this edible beauty is guaranteed to wow. Don’t forget to snap a pic, soak up all those compliments, and revel in the delicious fruits (or flowers) of your labour. Who knew baking could be this much fun—and this gorgeous?

The crust and the cooked tomatoes looking delicious

The focaccia cut up and ready to eat
Focaccia cut up

POST FEAST REVIEW

As a newcomer to focaccia making, I was honestly impressed that my bread looked and tasted just like store-bought focaccia—and it really wasn’t that hard to make! But I think the real art is in making it taste authentic. While I did capture some of those classic focaccia flavours, I added my own modern twist with vegetables on top. They might not be traditional, but they were tasty and added a unique touch.

WOULD I MAKE THIS AGAIN?

Yes, I would make focaccia again. I have never made focaccia before, and I’m absolutely taken with how you can really make it your own! While it’s still focaccia, the toppings and design completely transform it into something unique—truly a work of art. It’s amazing how a simple loaf of bread can turn into a personalised creation. Now, I’m eager to perfect the traditional flavours of focaccia and experiment with different variations. It’s such a fun and rewarding experience, and I can’t wait to bake more delicious batches in the future!

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Categories
Creative

Create Painted Rocks

Kids love being outdoors and I find that if kids don’t get the outdoor time they are hard to deal with.

How about searching for painted rocks at your local parks? Or other parks?

WEAR OLD CLOTHES AS THE PAINT MIGHT NOT WASH OUT

How to create your very own painted rocks

  • Rocks are essential to have, you can either find wild rocks that live in your garden or park, or you can buy smooth rocks from a craft shop (otherwise known as captured rocks). We used wild rocks that were living in our garden.
  • Acrylic paint in bright colours.
  • Sharpie pens – we used the metallic ones to add a nice shimmer and due to the twins wanting to do a space theme this looked great with their space and galaxy rocks.
  • Paint brushes.
  • Container with water to wash out paint brushes.
  • Baking paper to put rocks on to ensure they don’t stick to paper (You don’t want your kid to go to hours of trouble to then have paper stick to the wet paint on their rock)
  • Waterbased Sealer – Use Mod Podge as this is ideal for rocks. I couldn’t get any and the one I used was not perfect and some of the colour of the paint came off. Once dry was okay.

WARNING KIDS WILL GET MESSY AND NEED A SHOWER/BATH AFTERWARDS.

This post was also featured in full on Kiddipedia

Check out Facebook for a Rock Group in your area, they are all over Australia so you will be sure to find one.

Online you can get clues for where to find your next rocks.

Get the whole family involved and enjoy the outdoors.

Have fun and let me know what you create, send your photos to my Facebook Page

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 Originally published Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Categories
Creative

Marbled Easter Eggs

Creating Marble Easter Eggs is fun and you get pretty eggs. It is also a fun project to do with the kids this Easter.

Marble Dyed Easter Eggs

What Do you Need to Marble Dye Easter Eggs?

  • Eggs (this is pretty essential, you will need eggs to have an Easter Egg)
  • Oil
  • Food Colouring
  • Vinegar (for dying the eggs in the fizzy solution)
  • Bicarbonate Soda (for dying the eggs in the Fizzy solution)
  • Water
Don’t they look amazing! Marbled Dyed Eggs

Method

  1. Hard Boil your eggs – If you would rather you can blow out the eggs so that you don’t need to boil them and the eggs will be preserved. I used boiled eggs.
  2. Cool down the eggs so they are not hot
  3. Dye the eggs with an overall colour first. You can do this by using my Fizzy Dyed Eggs project
  4. We dyed ours with the fizzy method
  5. Fill a bowl with water and a tablespoon of oil and another colour food colour. We did this for a bit and then also added the food colouring directly to the egg.
  6. Dry off with paper towels after you are finished.
Adding the Marble colour in the water and oil solution

This might not be the way many do this but it worked for us. Give it a go and see what different patterns and differently dyed eggs you can create.

Alexander helping with the marbled Easter Eggs
The finished product – Marble Dyed Easter Eggs

We noticed that some were not holding the colour so adding the dye straight onto the egg helped.

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Originally published April 2 2021

Categories
Creative

Create Autumn & Winter Pictures

This creative activity was first posted on Kiddipedia – https://kiddipedia.com.au/creative-activities-for-kids/

The weather is colder and the leaves are falling from the trees, some leaves are so pretty and colourful it is a shame to just have them fall on the ground.

If you are wondering what to do with the kids then this craft activity is for you.

 

This task is super easy and fun and one that will occupy all age groups.

So what do you need?

  • Paper
  • Paint
  • Crayons/Pencils/Textas
  • Autumn Leaves
  • Coloured craft paper
  • Glue Stick
  • Clear contact paper if you wish to do a see-through option to stick on a window

Method

Collect your colourful leaves and anything else you wish to stick to your picture. Draw or paint the branches and other items if you like. Now with the glue stick add glue to the areas you want to add the leaves and create your autumn/winter picture.

I know it is now winter but when I did this it was officially still autumn.

If you don’t want to do it on paper as we did simply add craft paper for the branches for the trees and then add the leaves, making sure to stick them all on clear contact paper. Once your picture is complete add a final top layer of see-through contact paper and then you can put on your window. Attaching this creation to your window will allow light to come in and shine on the colours in the picture.

This isn’t an expensive task and one that will be fun for everyone, and you will be the proud owner of new artwork for your walls and windows.

Enjoy and make sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel 

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First published June 20, 2020

Categories
Creative

Amazing Smelling Raspberry Play Dough

Do you want to make some fabulous-smelling and amazingly soft play dough for the kids?

This play dough smells so good!!!  Also if your kids accidentally eat it, it won’t matter. It would just be a little salty.

I do have a secret ingredient that makes this play dough super awesome.

It’s raspberry jelly crystals

The recipe is below:

  • 1 1/2 cups of flour
  • 1 cup of salt
  • 1/4 cup McCormick® Cream of Tartar
  • 2 cups of hot water to melt the jelly crystals
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • Jelly Crystals – instead of food dye

BE CAREFUL WITH THE HOT WATER, ONCE MIXED WITH THE FLOUR THE PLAY DOUGH WILL BE NICE AND WARM

 

Method:

Mix all ingredients and knead to make a dough. Might need more flour if too sticky.

After you play with the play dough put in air tight containers or in a resealable plastic bag.

Enjoy and have fun with this great new smelling play dough.

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First published 14th April 2019

Categories
Creative

Crystal & Diamond Mining

Are you looking at something fun and different to do with the kids?

Why not take them Diamond or Crystal mining, or maybe both?

Would it surprise you that my four-year-old and I found diamonds and crystals (AKA Rocks) at our local park? I think you would be rather impressed.

It was a great time at the local park. My little boy rode his bike to the park and while there we searched for valuable crystals and diamonds.

Alexander found a few and made sure to put them safely in his pockets or if they didn’t fit my pockets. We took them home to wash them to allow us to inspect our haul of treasures.

I know that we didn’t collect actual crystals or diamonds but the hunt and chase for the real thing was super fun, plus after we were home water was involved to clean the rocks and this meant that Alex was then covered head to toe in the water and of course spent hours playing in the water and investigating his special treasures.

This great outdoor activity was first published on Kiddipedia – https://kiddipedia.com.au/creative-activities-for-kids/

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Originally published June 14, 2020

Categories
Family

The Story of the Unibunny

The Unibunny is real.

It is an animal that is a unicorn and bunny all in one.

I know many dear readers had no idea, but now you are aware of this magical creature, you will definitely keep an eye out for her next Easter. (Read the twins stories to learn more about the Unibunny)

This creature helps the Easter Bunny deliver eggs on Easter Sunday.

Julia dressed as The Unibunny.
Julia dressed as The Unibunny.

I asked the girls to write their story of the Unibunny. Click on the girl’s names below to read the Unibunny stories.

The twins wrote each story yesterday on the computer with a little help from mummy and daddy.  I hope you like them. 

See Lillian and Julia’s stories.

Julia's drawing of Sapphire the Unibunny. Very magical indeed and what a fab imagination.
Julia’s drawing of Sapphire the Unibunny. Very magical indeed and what a fabulous imagination.

Happy Easter everyone. I hope the Unibunny has given you a lot of amazing treats and I’m sure that the Easter Bunny helped out too.

 

Don’t forget that you can download some of my FREE Printables that are related to Easter:

 

Twinkl’s Amazing Easter Craft and Learning Resources:

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Originally posted on April 1 2018

Categories
Creative

Make a White Knight and Bear & Sparrow Easter Hat

Easter will soon be here and so will the Easter Hat parade at your local school.

If this is shocking, then I might have freaked you out. Breathe it is okay!

I will hand you a lovely cup of virtual coffee or tea depending on your preference, and you can have a little quiet time. This will allow you to process that it will soon be school holidays or the fact that kids will be hyperactive and high on chocolate due to the gifts from The Easter Bunny and a well-meaning family.

White Knight and Bear and Sparrow sent my girls some lovely Easter Hat kits. It was so much fun creating them and they look so good. Much better than I would have done on my own.
White Knight and Bear and Sparrow sent my girls some lovely Easter Hat kits. It was so much fun creating them and they look so good. Much better than I would have done on my own.

If you are like me, you failed badly at creating an Easter Hat for your kids. I ran out of time and purchased an oversized beach hat for each child. They were pink so I thought they would love them. However, as soon as decorations were added to these hats they immediately fell off and due to the size of the hat and the fact it had a very floppy rim the kids could not see very well while the hat was on. If you really must analyse how it went, it might be termed a complete disaster.

Hopefully, you are now feeling rested and relaxed after the virtual cuppa I gave you.

Now for my solution to make it all better for Easter, or the very least making the Easter Hat Parade stress free this year! Yes, it can be easier and your child will have one amazing rockstar of a hat.

White Knight Paints and Bear & Sparrow have teamed up to create to help parents take all the stress out of creating the Easter Hat.

“White Knight Paints has been a leading force in the specialty paint market for many years. When painting bathroom tiles, kitchen cabinets, metal fencing, your front porch or just indulging in a fun upcycling project, White Knight has an easy-to-use product for just about every DIY project, to help our consumers always achieve a professional result” says Brand Manager Dilani Fernando.

Bear and Sparrow is a registered Australian owned, boutique children’s decor business. They are based in Brisbane and have some lovely handmade wooden pieces.

The Easter Hats use White Knight Squirt Spray Paints. They come in 43 different colours and the new formulation has a primer and topcoat all in one. This paint dries quickly and is touch dry in just 10 minutes. This is good for craft projects with kids, you know how keen they are to start using their creations.

All the components for making this fabulous Easter Hat can be purchased at the hardware store and craft store, all for under $40.

It should take about 1 hour to make, so that is not long at all. Check out the video and download the Easter Hat Instructions here.

After your kids use their new groovy Easter Hats in the school parade you can also re-use it as a table decoration for family meals during Easter.

Check out www.whiteknightpaints.com or the White Knight Paints Australia Facebook page

Make sure you tag your bunny project with #wkxbearsparrow, #wksquirts and #whiteknightpaints #mummytotwinsplusonecraft 

Here are the girls finished hats. They look great don't they.
Here are the girls finished hats. They look great, don’t they?
Lillian loves her new Easter Hat.
Lillian loves her new Easter Hat.
Julia being cheeky with her stylish Easter Hat.
Julia being cheeky with her stylish Easter Hat.
The girls think their new hats will impress at the local school and also the Easter Bunny.
The girls think their new hats will impress at the local school and also the Easter Bunny.
Check out the bunny tail on the back of the hat. Very cheeky indeed.
Check out the bunny tail on the back of the hat. Very cheeky indeed.

C’mon and hop off and create your own amazing Easter Hat as we did. You can download the Easter Hat Instructions here, and make sure to watch the video above if you get stuck.

I hope you have fun and enjoy this project as much as we did.

A HUGE  thank you to White Knight Paints and Bear & Sparrow for sending both my kids a kit each.

Oh, and the hat boxes are so nice and great for storing your finished hat in too. This will ensure that your stylish creation is not damaged.

Julia's hat is all safe in the hat box.
Julia’s hat is all safe in the hat box.
You can add paper to make sure the hat does not move around.
You can add paper to make sure the hat does not move around.

The kids are super cute and young here, the reason is that this post was created on March 22, 2017. Still a great post and activity.

Categories
Creative

DIY Blackboard

DIY Blackboard in 3 Easy Steps
DIY Blackboard in 3 Easy Steps

What you will need

  • Blackboard/chalkboard paint from Dulux
    Blackboard/chalkboard paint from Dulux

    Paint to paint the wall any colour to fix it before you apply the blackboard paint

  • Plaster to fix any holes or uneven surfaces
  • Sandpaper to make sure all smooth if you have plastered
  • Chalkboard paint
  • Plastic sheets to ensure you have paint everywhere
  • Painter tape (you will be thankful you got it, trust me!)
  • Paint brushes
  • Chalk to use on the chalkboard
  • Kids who are keen to be artists and try out their new blackboard! I am sure you will be able to find this easily.

 

Step 1 – Prepare your wall

Make sure your surface is smooth and clean. My wall had to be patched up as it had some uneven parts. Once we re-plastered those, dried them and sanded them back the wall was painted all over with a white colour. The white colour got two coats and had to dry to make sure it was ready for the blackboard paint.

Wall plastered and sanded. Now ready for the cream paint.
Wall plastered and sanded. Now ready for the white paint.
Painting the wall white, before you add the blackboard paint.
Painting the wall white, before you add the blackboard paint.

Step 2 – Add the blackboard paint

Once all the wall is dry from the other paint you are now ready to add the blackboard paint. Make sure to place painter’s tape to mark the area where you would like to have the blackboard. This tape is a wonderful thing, it allows you to have great shapes that are neat and great lines and the tape just comes off after the paint is dry. It also helps you not go outside the lines. You don’t want to have black paint on the lovely white wall area. We did two layers for the blackboard paint and let it dry for a few days before we used it. Make sure to read the instructions on the tin.

Adding the blackboard paint
Adding the blackboard paint
The blackboard is ready. Looking good! Can we use it now mummy?
The blackboard is ready. Looking good! Can we use it now mummy?

Step 3 – Test out your new blackboard. Have fun!

Julia very pleased with her new blackboard.
Julia very pleased with her new blackboard.

The girls are getting so good at writing and the first thing they both wanted to do was to write their names. As a proud mummy, I had to take pictures of how clever they were, and also due to the blackboard being a new addition to our house.

Lillian happy with her new blackboard.

The art did not just remain with names or cute pictures it did get very wild and abstract. I was pleased and glad that the kids had fun. I like the idea that the blackboard is a place for the twins to express themselves and be creative.

Happy drawing away.
Happy drawing away.
The first art that graced the new blackboard, aside from the girls names.
The first art that graced the new blackboard, aside from the girls names.
The creative art from the artists, Julia and Lillian.
The creative art from the artists, Julia and Lillian.

Have you created a blackboard for the kids or yourself? Where did you put it? We made ours on the back wall of the house. This area is undercover and allows the kids to use the blackboard even if it is raining.

Now you see you can have a blackboard in 3 easy steps, why not give it a go? It is a great weekend project. Enjoy and have fun.

 

Originally published June 9, 2014

Categories
Creative

Make Salt Dough Ornaments

Salt Dough Ornaments are a perfect craft project to do with the kids.

They are fun and you can make whatever your heart desires. Your imagination can run wild.

My kids wanted to create different animals and I made them do handprints as well. You can do feet prints if you wish.

The kids will love to see their creations hanging from the tree, or on the doorknobs of cupboards and doors.

You can make these decorations for any celebration. Easter, Birthdays and more!

Make Salt Dough Ornaments today with the kids
Make Salt Dough Ornaments today with the kids

 

Ingredients

  • 4 cups of plain flour
  • 1 cup of salt
  • 1 and a half cups of water
  • Food dye (whatever colour you wish to create)
  • Paint if you wish to paint the ornaments rather than colour with food dye.
  • Glue
  • Glitter or Glitter Glue
  • Ribbon or string to thread through the ornament.
  • Chopstick or another item to make the hole to hang the decoration on the tree.
All my ingredients aside from the food dye to colour the dough.
All my ingredients aside from the food dye to colour the dough.

Method

  • Mix all the ingredients together.
  • Add the food dye and mix some more to make sure that it is the right colour.
  • I separated the dough into three different batches. I made different colours for each child. This is a good way to ensure you know who’s decorations are whos.
    Julia mixing the blue dough.
    Mixing the blue dough.
    All three coloured salt dough.
    All three coloured salt dough.
  • Roll out the dough so it is not too thick and not too thin. (I made some of ours too thick and it has taken a while to dry)
  • Cut out the shapes with the cookie cutters and then press handprints or footprints on the decorations.
    Adding the hole so you can hang your ornament. Make sure to do this before you bake the ornaments.
    Adding the hole so you can hang your ornament. Make sure to do this before you bake the ornaments.
  • Make sure to add a hole to put the string or ribbon into the decoration.  Don’t forget to do this. Once dry it will be next to impossible to add the hole for the ribbon to tie onto the tree. We used the end of a chopstick.
  • Put the decorations on a tray with baking paper and then bake in the oven.
  • Bake in the oven for 1-2 hours at 100°C. or 200 °F. Time might vary depending on how thick the dough is for your decorations.
  • If the ornaments are still doughy you can put them back into the oven, or maybe leave them out to firm up before you decorate them.
  • Once the ornaments are dry you can decorate them.
    The salt dough creature is ready to bake now. You can clearly see the hole that will allow you to put string/ribbon to allow you to hang up your decoration.
    The saltdough creature is ready to bake now. You can clearly see the hole that will allow you to put string/ribbon to allow you to hang up your decoration.

     

  • Add glue to the areas you wish to add glitter then sprinkle the glitter. Make your decoration sparkle! (I ended up buying glitter glue instead of just glitter. This saved me from adding the glue and then the glitter.)
  • Add ribbon or string to thread through the hole that you have added to the ornament to allow you to hang on the Christmas Tree or elsewhere.
Decorating the Salt Dough Ornaments with Glitter Glue.
Decorating the Salt Dough Ornaments with Glitter Glue.
The finished Salt Dough Ornaments. Some are harder than others as they were not as thick as the others. The thicker ones need more time. If I was to do it again I would make them a bit thinner.
The finished Salt Dough Ornaments. Some were harder than others as they were not as thick as the others. The thicker ones need more time. If I was to do it again I would make them a bit thinner.

I hope this helps you create your own wonderful salt dough masterpieces.

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Originally published 3 December 2017

Categories
Creative

LEGO Skittles

Note: This first appeared on my Kiddipedia article – Creative Activities for Kids

Making LEGO Skittles is so much fun and a great activity to keep little kids entertained.

Playing with LEGO helps kids with problem-solving, confidence, creativity, and problem skills.

 

  Steps:   

  1. Use LEGO DUPLO/LEGO  
  2. Start building towers
  3. Make 5 – 6 different towers or more it is up to you
  4. Decorate your towers with animals or other LEGO items
  5. Get a small ball and then see how many skittle towers you can knockdown
  6. If they break, build them again and keep on playing

Enjoy and have fun playing LEGO Skittles.

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Categories
Creative

FREE DOWNLOAD: Year of the Rat Lantern Craft

Chinese New Year is nearly here, and one great way to get kids involved is with craft.

Example of what the Year of the Rat lantern looks like - download yours now
Example of what the Year of the Rat lantern looks like – download yours now

I’ve updated my printable Chinese lantern for The Year of the Rat!  Yes now, you can have your house decorated with these cute little lanterns that your kids created.

All you need to do is to sign up with your email address, once confirmed your PDF download will be instantly sent to you. It’s that easy!

 

I hope you enjoy this printable.

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Categories
Family

Happy Year of the Earth Pig – Gong Xi Fa Chai

Do you celebrate Chinese New Year? We do.

This year it is the Year of the Pig. What does the Year of the Pig mean for you? If you are interested you can check out your Chinese Horoscope from Chinese Fortune Calendar

“2019 Chinese New Year is arriving on February 5, 2019. That is the 4716th Chinese year. The zodiac sign of 2019 is the Pig. According to the Chinese Horoscope calendar, 2019 is the Female Earth Pig year. Brown is connected to the earth. Therefore, 2019 is also called the year of the Brown Pig ” (Chinese Fortune Calendar)

There are many events on to celebrate and you can see a full list below:

 

 

Celebrate Lunar New Year with Roll’d

CHÚC MỪNG NĂM MỚI!  

HAPPY VIETNAMESE NEW YEAR! 

Such yummy and healthy food at Roll'd.
Such yummy and healthy food at Roll’d.

Soldiers® or more commonly known as rice paper rolls or Vietnamese rolls are a Vietnamese dish traditionally consisting of pork, prawns, fresh vegetables, mint and coriander wrapped in rice paper. But there are all sorts of other flavours like fish, beef poached in a lemongrass broth, tofu, grilled pork patties (nem nuong) sausages and other seafood such as whole baby octopus.
Soldiers® or more commonly known as rice paper rolls or Vietnamese rolls are a Vietnamese dish traditionally consisting of pork, prawns, fresh vegetables, mint and coriander wrapped in rice paper. But there are all sorts of other flavours like fish, beef poached in a lemongrass broth, tofu, grilled pork patties (nem nuong) sausages and other seafood such as whole baby octopus.

 

Roll’d is giving away celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Luck is coming your way with one of the following gifts:

  • Buy one get one free with any menu item
  • Free side with any purchase
  • Free regular drink with any purchase
  • Free 40g Mango Weis bar

Redeem at you nearest Roll’d between February 5, 2019 – February 12, 2019.

Wait – THERE’S MORE! One lucky customer will also receive free Roll’d lunch for a month! 

Find out where your nearest Roll’d Store is and plan a Lunar New Lunch today.

 

Download a FREE Year of the Pig Chinese Lantern.

 

Have fun and I hope you enjoy your Lunar New Year Celebrations.

 

Categories
Creative

Decorate Handkerchiefs with Stained Sharpies

It is always nice to have gifts that are unique. A gift that has meaning, and of course is special to you and others.

Creating a gift that is a work of art is even better.

How about decorating a handkerchief for dad, mum, or anyone!

This gift idea is not only just for dads but can be for mum, grandparents, friends or even as a teacher gift.

Yes, this idea is easily adapted to whoever you wish to give it to. It just depends on your imagination.

This simple DIY gift is super easy to create and won’t cost the earth.

Equipment Need:

  • Handkerchiefs – You can purchase some or even make some if you are crafty at sewing. I purchased plain white ones. You can get different colours with patterns if you wish and incorporate this into your design.
  • A pack of Stained Sharpie Pens (Fabric Markers)
  • Cardboard or paper to put on desk to make sure that the pens don’t bleed onto the desk.

Before you get started with your design it is always advisable to think about what you would like to achieve.

Check out what I created below:

A Breakdown of my decorated handkerchief:

  • For my first attempt at decorating the handkerchief, I just stuck to patterns in one colour.
  • I alternated rows to give it a better visual effect.
  • As the handkerchief had a pattern on the border I decided to not decorate there and leave the pattern the way it was originally.
  • Once the patterns in the red colour were finished, I then added some text on one side of the handkerchief and did it on the other end, and it is upside down from each other. This was done on purpose to make sure the text can be read no matter which way you have the handkerchief.
  • I was going to iron the handkerchief afterwards to heat set but have read that this is not needed for the Sharpie pens.
  • One post that I read recommended leaving the decoration for an hour to set.

Lillian working on her masterpiece for daddy.
Lillian working on her masterpiece for daddy.

The twins have both decorated their own handkerchiefs for daddy and I think they look amazing.

If you need a quick gift I would give this a go. I’m sure he will not have anything like it and of course love the fact that it is such a personal gift.

 

Julia creating her own colourful handkerchief for daddy.
Julia creating her own colourful handkerchief for daddy.

If you do create a handkerchief decorated with sharpies for Father’s Day it would be amazing if you could share your pictures on our Facebook Page. I am sure that we can gain inspiration from your creations.

My first attempt at using Stained Sharpie Pens to decorate a handkerchief for hubby.
My first attempt at using Stained Sharpie Pens to decorate a handkerchief for hubby.

 

Thanks for following another great craft idea from Mummy to Twins Plus One. Stay tuned for more on the blog soon.

 

Julia's finished artwork on a handkerchief for Father's Day.
Julia’s finished artwork on a handkerchief for Father’s Day.

Lillian's brightly coloured Sharpie coloured handkerchief for daddy.
Lillian’s brightly coloured Sharpie coloured handkerchief for daddy.

I hope you enjoyed this post.

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Categories
Teaching and Learning

Play & Learn with LEGO® DUPLO

I was lucky to go to The LEGO® DUPLO Creative Play workshop. We as a family love LEGO. Yes, rather a strong word to use for a toy but it is true. I played with LEGO when I was little, so did my sister, so did hubby and now so do our girls, and of course, our little boy will do as well.

The LEGO DUPLO Workshop was led by play expert Hanne Boutrup. Hanne was an inspiration, she made you want to play with LEGO bricks, get involved and just have fun. A perfect person to showcase the reasons that LEGO DUPLO (is for younger children to help with development and learning) is ideal for kids.

Hanne Boutrup was brilliant and really had everyone energised about LEGO DUPLO and how it helps children worldwide.
Hanne Boutrup was brilliant and really had everyone energised about LEGO DUPLO and how it helps children worldwide.

Did You Know?

The LEGO Group began in 1932, with Ole Kirk Christiansen who was a carpenter from Billund, Denmark who made wooden toys.

“LEGO is named after two Danish words LEG GODT (meaning Play Well) to produce the LEGO® name. The name is intended to reflect quality and the child’s right to enjoyable play.”

Alexander having fun with LEGO DUPLO
Alexander having fun with LEGO DUPLO

 

LEGO is a great toy but it is so much more.  So what can LEGO DUPLO do?

  • Help children with storytelling and communication. Using the LEGO DUPLO bricks and characters allows children to create their own world. When you are spending time with your child playing with LEGO DUPLO you can use the different creations as launch pads to tell stories. These creative stories help your child understand how stories are told, for example, stories have a beginning, a middle and an ending and the story needs to be told in this sequence or the person listening will get lost. This is a good skill to have as this leads to good communication that will help your child in the future.
  • You can teach fractions, shapes, patterns, colours, lengths and basic maths with LEGO DUPLO. Your kids will not even know they are learning, they will think they are just having a great time playing.
  • Being creative. Building cities, aeroplanes, birds, dinosaurs and really anything that you can think of. Don’t be confined to just the instructions that are included in the pack. LEGO DUPLO allows kids to create whatever their heart desires. There are no restrictions.

Alexander loved playing with LEGO DUPLO. When he is older I'm sure he will build amazing worlds.
Alexander loved playing with LEGO DUPLO. When he is older I’m sure he will build amazing worlds.

This workshop was hands-on. We all had to open a pack of LEGO DUPLO bricks and get building.

Our first task was to build a bridge that would allow two LEGO DUPLO characters to get across the river that had huge fish in them and who knows if they were vicious! Yes, you had no idea so best to be careful.

My group came up with a great creation that allowed the characters to cross the river. We carefully engineered a bridge with side rails and steps to access it. We were safety conscious hence the safety rails.

The Bridge our table built to get the LEGO DUPLO characters over the river safely.
The Bridge our table built to get the LEGO DUPLO characters over the river safely.

 

“Did you know that your brain is making use of the most critical skills for learning when playing with LEGO® bricks? Even when you build and rebuild with just a few bricks you stimulate more than 20 skills, supporting competencies such as problem-solving, creativity, empathy, communication and collaboration. “

 

Our second task was that we had to sit back to back to our partner and one person built with the LEGO DUPLO and the other person directed what to build. It was a very interesting lesson on communication and how to direct others when you cannot ask questions.

The second attempt at LEGO DUPLO at the Creative Workshop. It was very close but not exact. Better and more precise direction might have been better. This was a good way to showcase how if you have really good communication your team can benefit.
The second attempt at LEGO DUPLO at the Creative Workshop. It was very close but not exact. The better and more precise direction might have been better. This was a good way to showcase how if you have really good communication your team can benefit.

As you can see it was close but if the communication was more directional that would have been better. It would have hopefully led to an exact match with each creation of LEGO DUPLO.

We were also asked to take seven bricks and create a structure. It could be anything as long as it used seven bricks. This is an interesting exercise that you can use with your children. See what they create. Let them tell you the stories about the structure and why they built it the way they did.

Having a blast exploring all the blocks and new things that LEGO DUPLO offer.
Having a blast exploring all the blocks and new things that LEGO DUPLO offer.

“Did you know that LEGO® bricks produced since 1958 are fully compatible with LEGO bricks produced today”

 

The workshop showcased ways that I as a parent can help my children learn more with LEGO and also LEGO DUPLO.

Asking questions about the story, the building, the reason why something was done and finding fun ways to incorporate maths and other school learning into play is an amazing tool. Learning about patterns, counting and just having fun means that your kids will not even realise they are learning.

With the whole focus on innovation and creativity in the workplace the skills that LEGO DUPLO gives you are essential. It will help children in the workplace. If they are creative they have great ideas, solve problems and are innovative. There is a leaning now towards STEM subjects and LEGO DUPLO can help with these subjects for younger children, well at least introduce the ideas in a creative, fun and age-appropriate way.

It was lovely to meet Hanne Boutrup at the LEGO DUPLO Creative Workshop. I thought she was such an amazing speaker and so inspiring about children, learning and creativity. Alexander is also pleased to have been there as well.
It was lovely to meet Hanne Boutrup at the LEGO DUPLO Creative Workshop. I thought she was such an amazing speaker and so inspiring about children, learning and creativity. Alexander is also pleased to have been there as well.

Do your kids love LEGO DUPLO? Do you have older kids that love LEGO too?

My helper had to put his feet up. To much building with LEGO DUPLO. He had a well earned rest.
My helper had to put his feet up. Too much building with LEGO DUPLO. He had a well-earned rest.

Have you used LEGO to teach your children without them even knowing? What is your favourite thing to do with the kids and LEGO?

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Categories
Nuffnang

Review: Crayola Color Alive

Brought to you by Nuffnang and Crayola

Do your kids love to colour? Do they love to draw and do art? Mine do and they create copious amounts of art it is not funny. The girls just love to be creative and any opportunity to be imaginative and push the boundaries.

Have you heard of Crayola’s ‘Color Alive’ books?

They are so cool! It is a fabulous way for kids to have their favourite characters come to life

  • The characters can be scanned so they are seen in 4D.
  • You can take selfies with your favourite character, tickle them, even have pretend fights with them (how amazing would this be. Not just your average colouring book!)
  • The Color Alive books come with their very own crayons and some crayons give the pictures virtual color effects. Some effects that you can create are: comic symbols for Marvel Avengers, ice sparkles for Disney Frozen, fire for Mythical Creatures and pixie dust for Enchanted Fairies.

The crayons and look a special one that is just for pixie dust.
The crayons and look a special one that is just for pixie dust.

Enchanted Forest Crayola 'Color Alive'
Enchanted Forest Crayola ‘Color Alive’

The twins just loved these new colouring books. They just loved the idea that the page comes to life. Yes you read that right…All you need is an iPhone, iPad, or Android/Windows Device.  Also after you have finished colouring the whole book you can download new pages from the app. Yes how great is that. Your little ones will be so happy to have more to do, it will be a win all round.

Color Alive app is compatible with iOS, Android, and Windows devices. It is available on the iTunes App Store, Google play, and the Windows Store. For specific device compatibility, visit Crayola.com/AppCheck.

Mythical Creatures Crayola 'Color Alive'
Mythical Creatures Crayola ‘Color Alive’

See how one of my girls scanned in the dragon from the Mythical Creatures Crayola ‘Color Alive’ Book

 

I was sent the following to review:

  • Crayola Color Alive – Disney Frozen
  • Crayola Color Alive – Marvel Avengers
  • Crayola Color Alive – Mythical Creatures
  • Crayola Color Alive – Enchanted Forest

Avengers Crayola 'Color Alive'
Avengers Crayola ‘Color Alive’

The above books are are priced at $7.99 each. So that is great value. My kids have had a blast with just the few that we have been sent so I can imagine the many more hours of entertainment that is left to be had. Each pack includes six Crayola Crayons, one Special Effect Crayon, 16 Action Colouring Pages and FREE app download.

See the special effects on the dragon from the Mythical Creatures Crayola ‘Color Alive’ Book

It has been cold and bad weather lately… yes we have had snow and it has been freezing. Why not be warm inside and have your favourite characters come to life. The twins loved this and cannot wait to do more and of course get more books. One of them on the must buy list is Monster High, the girls are imagining what the characters will do

Creative shot of a fairy in one of the girls hands.
Creative shot of a fairy in one of the girls hands.

Yes even I had a picture with the fairy.
Yes even I had a picture with the fairy.

I have named this picture, "Mother of Dragons" It was this girl that created the dragon so it is an apt title.
I have named this picture, “Mother of Dragons” It was this girl that created the dragon so it is an apt title.

One of the Avengers
One of the Avengers

How cool does this avenger look!
How cool does this avenger look!

Even the baby had to have a selfie with the dragon.
Even the baby had to have a selfie with the dragon.

Geez this fairy was in everyone's photo.
Geez this fairy was in everyone’s photo.

As you can see we all got in on the fun
with the Crayola ‘Color Alive’ books.

Our overview and opinion of the Crayola ‘Color Alive’ products was 100% favourable. They are a cheap, fun and a clever way for kids to spend some time. Also due to our wet and cold weather it is something for the kids to do where you know they will be okay, have a great time and have a unique experience.

It is a great gift idea and a quick item to have on hand for your child’s next play date.

For more information please visit the Crayola Website