The Art and Joy of Gift Giving

Nothing is more exciting for a child than unwrapping a big present. How much more exciting would it be when the wrapping paper looks like this...

This is a great way to use paintings the kids have made and to get them actively involved in the pleasure of gift giving. The girls decorated the card, painted the wrapping paper and wrapped the gift. We gave her an apron I made and a book that we love to read at home. Happy 2nd birthday Olivia! We hope you enjoyed your gift as much as we enjoyed making it!

Rainy Day Play

Nothing beats little hands kneading warm, home made playdough on a cold, rainy day. Making it can be just as fun as playing with it. Kids getting creative and busy makes mum very happy...

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 cup plain flour
• 2 tablespoons cream of tartar
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon oil
• Food colouring

Instructions:

• Mix ingredients
• Stir over heat and it congeals
• Let it cool then play
• Keep it in the fridge

A Purse for Poppy's Special Things...

 

Check out this purse I made, designed by none other than 3 year old, Miss Poppy! She asked me yesterday if I could make her an art folio like Mum's and in the process, decided that a purse would be more practical as she has so many special things which she needs to keep in a special place to take with her everywhere. (These special things include a battery-AA, a hairclip, the top of of a broken whisk, a cardboard pony) Ah, the life of a 3 year old!!!

So it had to have a short handle, a flap, a button, and it had to be pink. Poppy helped me design the bag, draw the pattern, picked out the material and supervised all the assembling and sewing of the bag. She ran a tight schedule too. It may have taken 3 hours over 2 days and the materials may have cost $3.

More Bunny Rugs for Buster

I have been making these bunny rugs for a baby boy that we are expecting, more cute prints I found at Lincraft this time, half price so a very cost effective project after all and sewing of straight lines, vastly improving. The girls are enjoying them very much. Ruby has pinched them from the baby's room many times, they make great covers for potted plants flags for bike handles and are useful for hiding cheeky little 1-year-olds under, as I have discovered, so I don't know if they'll get to the baby or not...