Easy Ways We're Practicing Phonics

Starting school can be a big transition for children and learning to read and write is a big part of that. Many children find it easy to to get to grips with their new learning experience but lots find it hard.

Essentials For Crafting With Kids

So, you want to get more creative with the kids. Get the paints out. Turn toilet rolls into amazing things. Whether you're a seasoned crafter or someone that has never crafted before, either with or without the kids, there's a couple of things you may need to get you started!

Seaside Spotters

We Brits love to be beside the seaside! Whether it be winter or summer, a shock February heatwave or a late summer day, a little bit of good weather sees people flock to the beach and revel in the sunshine.

Lots of you love the sunshine and you love my spotting activities for the kids too, so lets combine the two!

So, can you spot.............


The beach

5 Free Things You Can Do With Kids

Having kids can be expensive, especially when you're keeping them entertained during the school holidays. Sometimes everything you look at seems to have gone up in price or got very expensive and I know from experience how it feels to sit scrolling through your phone at things to do with the kids only to realise you can't afford them.

So, here's 5 free things you can do with kids.

A trip to the park
Most kids love a trip to the park but if you're regulars at the local swings your kids might not feel all that excited. 

30 Minute Quiet Time Activities To Do With Your Child

So, you're kids are over excited about something, hyper after school, wired on sugar after a friends party, or maybe they simply want your attention, but they are loud and need to settle down.

Maybe you've had a long, tiring day and you'd like to have a few minutes of quiet time too, or maybe you just want to sit alongside your child, cuddle them and do something together.

Well, here's a few things you and your child can do together for a quiet 30 minutes.

Puzzles
Jigsaw puzzles are something I used to do a lot of as a child and our son also took a shine to them from a very young age. 

5 Budget Easter Activities

Easter and half term are here, or just around the corner dependent on where you live! Whether your little ones are always asking for snacks, need constant entertainment or you've got the additional childcare costs, half terms are expensive!

3 Budget Ideas To Get Your Little One Involved In The Garden

Sponsored Post

It’s March and following the equinox on the 20^th, many people now say it is officially spring! The nights are lighter, the days brighter and air a little warmer. I’ve even started to hang washing out on the line so it must be warm!!

For many, and if budget allows, we start to think about holidays, school breaks and enjoying the outdoors. This year things will be low budget for us and we plan to have some time away in our little old bargain caravan!

We also plan to have a lot of time out in the garden and hope to spend some time entertaining friends and having a tipple or two! Every year we say we are going to make use of our garden and keep it weed free and well maintained but we never do! Now, with a four year old to entertain we’re finally acting like proper grownups and have made an early start. As mentioned in my Prepare Your Winter Garden For Spring post, we’ve cleaned and spruced, jet washed and scrubbed, weeded and cutback and planted seeds and bulbs. We still have some maintenance to do and, if I can get it cheap enough, I’d like some comfortable garden furniture but we are almost there.

Getting Mother's Day Crafty With Stampin' Up

Gifted

Mother's Day is just around the corner and if you're the crafty kind that's lots to craft and make. With cards, scrapbooks or a piece of artwork by the kids, there's lots to try.

But if you're wanting to try something new and take your crafting up a notch, stamping is an easy route to take. My mother in law is a big stamper and card maker and has a room full of supplies and although I've scrapbooked with her before, I've never made cards.

With a gifted bundle from Stampin' Up I've been able to get creative and make some cute little cards for Mother's Day.

39 Ways To Make Money From Your Crafting Hobby

Collaborative Post

Crafting is a great way of separating yourself from the day and letting your mind wander into something more creative. It’s also a fantastic way of making a little bit of extra cash here and there and if you don’t have time to run a full crafting business, you might be wondering how you can earn some extra money from your hobby. So, to help you out, here are some great way of making money from your crafting hobby.

Our Homemade Halloween Costume

Regular readers will know that when it comes to costumes I often knock something up myself, especially for World Book Day.

For Halloween though, Joseph has had some awesome bought costumes that were a bargain find from one of his aunties. Picked up for a few pence he's been a cute spider and a scary skeleton! This time though I wanted to have an attempt at making him something.

5 Budget Activities For Halloween

Halloween is now a matter of days away!! 

My Favourite Halloween Bakes & Crafts

Over the past few years I've written and created lots of Halloween posts. With lots to make and bake, most are budget things to try at Halloween and as lots of you love them I thought I'd share my favourite ones here for you so you don't need to search around anymore!

Halloween Spotters

Halloween and half term are just around the corner! So, if you're looking for something to do, this Halloween spotting activity is ideal!

Just like our Autumn, Spring and Summer spotting activities just keep an eye out for the things on the list and tick them as you go!

First.....

Pumpkins

Autumnal Activities

I don't know if it's the comedown of the long hot summer, or the excitement for Christmas but so many people seem to be excited about autumn.

Painting With Leaves!

Inspired by our recent Mud and Bloom box we've recently tried painting with leaves! This is another craft that is ideal for autumn, especially with the leaves falling!

Here's our little creation!

Autumn Tealight Holders

Leaf tealight holders seem to have been on Pinterest since it began!! 

I've tried to make them once before with real leaves and it was a disaster! They wouldn't stick and/or fell apart. It was one big sticky mess!

So, when I spotted a pack of fake leaves at The Works I thought I'd give them another go! Here's the results!

Autumn Wreath

I've already mentioned my love of autumn in my last post but in case you missed it I'll tell you again! I LOVE AUTUMN!

The cooler months, the falling leaves, the downward slide into Christmas, I love it!

So many of you loved my Flower Wreath that I thought I'd create another with a touch of autumn! So, here it is!

5 Budget Garden Activities

Entertaining children during the school holidays, or anytime for that matter, can be pricey.

If you're on a budget or simply don't fancy the stress of taking the kids out, I've put together five activities that are cheap and entertaining!

So, standby for some budget fun!!!

1. Bubbles

Bug & Bee Home

Some items gifted for competition entry.

Bees and bugs are important to our gardens. Many of us know that bees help us pollinate our flowers and crops and bugs feed the birds and small animals like hedgehogs.

It’s easy to tempt little creatures into your garden. They simply need a warm and welcoming environment!

This easy to do bug and bee home craft involves recycled and natural items, making it even better for the planet!

Summer Spotters

Here in the UK we have had a super hot summer but the nights will soon start to draw in and the weather will cool. Before the fun in the sun is all over though here's a little activity for the kids, Summer Spotters!

This is an ideal activity if you're going on a long journey or just want something that is free to do! 

So, can you spot the 10 signs of summer?

1. Clear skies and sunshine!

The UK summer isn't all clouds and rain, can you spot a clear sky and sunshine?