Summer fun!

Whoops....keep missing days of posts! Am sooooo sorry. Still...we went to a Beavers fun day earlier in the holidays and they had a great slide...it was a really long piece of shiny tarpauline type stuff that they kept on a bank and put soapy water on every so often and the kids all had a whale of a time jumping and sliding down it.

So, I decided to try and improvise my very own version of it on my crafting tablecloth (which needed a good clean anyhow)

First we placed it on a little slope that we have about halfway down the garden and you really had to jump hard and land on your feet in a skidding position...(the eldest was the only one who was any good at this!) 

But, not to be discouraged, I moved it to a slightly steeper hill in the garden......oh yes....And added a slide to the mix....

They all managed this one, even though they all got utterly soaked in their clothes doing it! They loved it! Yippee...I love it when a plan comes together....especially when it gets my crafty table clothe cleaned at the same time!

Now as it's due to rain today a bit I think we will try some junk modelling as the kids put it on their list!

friendship bands

I really enjoyed a Mums Crafting night a couple of days ago...I decided that I really need to get rid of some of my crafting stash, and thought that it would be a nice idea to get a few mums around one evening with a bottle of wine or two and see if they could make a dent in the mass of crafting bits and pieces.

They all really got into the spirit....although to be honest not a lot of my stash got used up! I still had to put most of it back away...the reason for this...only one of us knew how to make those old friendship bands...not loom bands!  So the one knowledgeable lady decided to teach the rest of us as I had so many embroidery threads.

As you can see my first attempt is not brilliant. I could not somehow manage to keep it even....too much vino??? However I did manage to finish this one for my eldest son in Brazilian colours and he was delighted with it. We all had a huge laugh and great fun, it was a nice cheap night out!!!

I think I will be doing this again soon.

Medieval Day Out

As you know I was just the tinniest bit excited about going to Hurstmonceux for their re-enactment day. The kids lasted the journey down well and then had a fab day. First we enjoyed the grand parade with the King and Queen of Hurstmonceux in their horse drawn carriage and dragons, drummers, knights etc.

They were fascinated by the re-enactment scenes in front of the castle with cannons going off, arrows being fired and sword battles amany. Their cousin kept turning around to ask me if they were only pretending ok because the real knights are in heaven yes?

The jousting was great fun and loved by all the children.

As was the Jester.

Mesmorised....

and the Pentacle Drummers!

We all had such a fun day...and I actually remembered to take some photos! Woohoo. Their Grandma actually brought each of the cousins a really nice wooden bow and arrow set to play with in the garden.

It reminded me how, about 3 years ago, I had said when the children are a little older I would like to join the local Bonfire Society...maybe now is the time.......?

Treasure Hunt

Oh my Gosh! I cannot believe it is Friday again....the week has whizzed by....I must apologise about my ad-hock posting throughout the holidays here....we are trying to fit SOOOOO much in....and the kids keep coming up with others things to do as well as their bucket list....Colouring, Hama beads and loom bands are a fav. As is visiting the local library, they are all reading so much this holiday....even my middle child is sitting and reading his library books to himself! I never thought I would see the day!!!

Here is one random thing that my middle child who is 5 1/2 now  came up with,  this wonderful treasure hunt for Mummy to do. I was busy making supper and he was nice and quiet at the table. I did not realise what he was doing at all. He spent quite a long time writing out all these clues and drawing me a 'prize' picture. 

Then he suddenly dashed off around the house and kept telling me not to look at what he was doing or where he was going. Once he had hidden the clues he told me what it was and gave me the first clue. He was SOOOO happy and excited as I went around solving his clues and finding the next ones. It was just the cutest. 

It also inspired his older brother and the Diva to make their own treasure hunt for Mummy to complete later. And when Daddy got home.....guess what they made him do?!?

Hurstmonceux Castle

Yippee....I think I am slightly more excited than the kids at tomorrows outing to the castle.We are meeting one of their aunts ( my sister) and her two children too. Will have to remember to take lots of pics and post next week... there is jousting, archery, a parade, dressing up, face painting and oh so much more....the excitement!!!

plaster of paris

My word....it has been soooo long since I thought about plaster of paris! I found someone giving away some Princess moulds and a bit of powder for free on our local Facebook page, and could not believe it so snapped them up pretty qiuckly.

Once at home with them the Diva was eager to get her hands on them and we quickly had 2 of the moulds filled and left to set on the window sill...

It was such a nice day and they are not that big so they dried quite quickly in about 2 hours when I remembered them they were bone dry!

Luckily they came out alright as I did not put any talc or anything in the mould to stop it from sticking! Then it was on to the painting!

Well...she enjoyed painting her very own princesses, however maybe this is a craft for when they are a little older as they will then paint them nicely rather than a toddler hodge podge!! 

No Computer!

EEEEKKKK. the computer broke down last week so I have been unable to post anything...am so sorry if I have anyone that regularly looks me up!

Anyhow.....next post to follow...

Sharpie marker Tshirts!

Decided when a friend came to play the other day to try and see what happens when I let them loose on a plain white cotton T shirt with some Sharpie markers!

Then as they finished all their different pieces on the T shirts I went around with a dropper and some rubbing alcohol ( from the local chemist at £3.50 a bottle) and dropped a little onto their designs.

As you can see as the colour spread out it also changed colour leaving a lovely effect....

I used old marked T shirts from the last school year....there are always some marks that don't come out and I don't want to send them to school for a new year in old T shirts! As you can see they all had great fun designing their shirts...

It took about 45 minutes for them to complete their designs, then we hung them up in the garden to dry out. When they were dry they then went into the tumble drier to make sure and then I ironed them...apparently all that is supposed to 'set' the markers onto the T shirts. We will have to see for the first wash!

As you can see they all made some fabulous designs!

Minecraft did play a part in a lot of the deisgns! 

This was a lovely craft to try at home and  gave them something unique to wear out throughout the summer. We went to the park the next day and they got lots of comments!

felt tip pictures on tissue paper.

I thought my kids might like to try drawing with felt tips on kitchen roll and squirting a little water on the drawings to blur the picture. It is a very simple and not a great deal of mess craft to try at home....you do not need loads of bits and pieces so it is nice and cheap too!

The dots all blurred together much to my daughters joy.

My eldest did a poppy field ....

and it blurred not so like a poppy field...more like fireworks or something.

My middle son did a simple pattern too...

and it blurred as such...

It took about 20 minutes for them to dry out (obviously this depends on how much water you use to blur the pictures!) But it was a nice, easy to set up, simple craft that lasted about an hour and a half by the time they had all done as many as they wanted to.

Loom watch

Ok...a couple of days ago my watch strap broke! I cannot do without my watch....however, I do not have time at the moment to go up to town and get a replacement. Then I thought about my loom band my son had made me....and my mind went ......lightbulb!!!!
So I chose my colours, red and white, and got to work....I could not figure out how to do a more sophisticated and probably therefore more secure band attached to my watch...(I cannot get the pins out either), so I stuck with a simple band....I can always change it later.....or get my son to do it for me!

Must say I am quite happy with my new loom watch strap! 

Home Cinema

Another tick off the Summer Bucket list....the home cinema. I gave the kids a choice of films that they could chose from themselves, and they chose..................MARY POPPINS!!!!! I can't believe they have not seen it yet. They all got seated on the sofa and beanbag in the sitting room and curtains were drawn, all the surround sound speakers turned up, snacks and drinks provided and on it went....

It looks really light in the picture as I had my flash on full!!! I know our TV is not very big but it is what you make it and as we do not do this very often they absolutely love it. This is the second film they have watched this hols that is an old kids musical....the other being Chitty Chitty Bang Bang....and they loved that one too....they should still make kids movies like this! For days after Chitty Chitty they were singing the song.

After this they really enjoyed spending the rest of the day in the garden too.

Christmas Holly Tea light holder.

Oh dear, have just realised that I have missed 2 posts!!!! Decided that I really need to start getting a move on with some Glass painted items for my Christmas fairs. I found a lovely container at a car boot fair ( I upcycle lots of glassware) for about 50p if I rememer correctly.
I use these paints pen paints, but generally only on flat items as they do tend to run.

I also use the 'proper' paint version of the Vitrea 160 and this emerald green is gorgeous!

First I outline the Holly leaves as so:

I do holly leaves freehand because I always think they look better if they are not quite all the same. However for some things (butterflies) I do cheat a little and draw the design on paper first and then blutack it to the inside and simply trace! I use the 160 outliner for the outlines.

Then I used the lovely emerald colour to colour the leaves in....and finally added some red berries with the more watery pens.

I will put it to one side till I have 6/7 things ready and then bake them all in the oven at the same time. Hopefully someone will like it at a fair and spend a few pennies for it....they could even use it as a sweet container in a hallway.