April 24, 2007

The Woolliest Sheep

I have been subscribed to 'Kids Craft Weekly' for sometime now and I have been collecting all the newsletters with the intention of one day printing them all out and having a little 'craft ideas' folder. We have done a couple of things from there but this is the first time I am posting about it.

We made these funny little sheep using two toilet roll tubes (or doot-da-doots as Emily calls them - which is a family kiddy nickname for them - due to the fact that you can also play them like a trumpet!! And just so you know I have only had one glass of wine tonight!). We used cotton buds for legs, stuck on with a bit of tape and cotton wool balls for the wool - I think extra large balls aren't the perfect thing for this as you get these extra woolly sheep with stumpy legs!! I also think black face would've been better - but hey this is a 3 year olds craft not ann entry for the Turner Prize, so what am I talking about? hehe

Lots of fun anyway :)

Posted by Maxine at 09:53 PM | Comments (2)

Just a Few Pics

Just a few pics from my new toy. I still have a lot of practicing to do as I am using it more like a digital and less like an SLR. Its been a long time since I spent time composing shots, its been snap snap snap for years! But the quality of this camera is just lovely when I manage to get a decent shot. The images are lovely and crisp and the colours are vibrant. Its great to get a bit of depth of field in a shot too.

Posted by Maxine at 11:25 AM | Comments (3)

April 17, 2007

The New Arrival

How excited was I to get this new baby today?

Posted by Maxine at 08:16 PM | Comments (5)

April 14, 2007

Childhood Memories

Do you know when you look back over old photos of your childhood and get all nostalgic? This is just the type of photo that captures a perfect moment in a perfect day. We all went with Karen, Noah and Seth for a day out last week. First over to Eden Pottery, where we had coffee and a scone and I bought some of their gorgeous hand thrown mugs (I am being very lazy about taking photos but will get around to it sometime). You really could spend a fortune there.

Then on to Ballywalter beach, which was just beautiful and so clean too. We lazed about, had a picnic, the kids ran around, looked into rock pools and generally had a wonderful day. Its probably the best day I have had in ages, I think because I really felt like I was on holiday. I was also thinking how lucky I am now and my family are to live so close to such beautiful countryside and beaches. When I was growing up in the Midlands it was a huge deal to go the beach and quite often a very long coach journey.

Here is Harrison with his buddy Seth and Karen just peaking in there. It was also Harrison's first experience of sand and he just loved the sensation of it on his toes. I can't wait to do it again. If I ever feel low in energy or down in the dumps I think I have to prescribe myself some sea air therapy - it does the trick without a doubt!

Posted by Maxine at 10:27 PM | Comments (3)

April 12, 2007

Play Dough

Emily and I had great fun making play dough the other day. I have seen the recipe for making this from time to time but never got around to making a note of it or even bothering I suppose. So I was really pleased when Karen got hold of the recipe so that I could take it down and make some too.

I have to say it is so easy to make and so much better than the stuff you buy from the shops, it seems a lot more pliable and easy to squidge through holes or cutters, which is great news for the little ones. Anyway I maybe preaching to the converted but I thought I would put the recipe online, that way I always know where I can find it.

Mix together:

4 cups of plain flour
6 teaspoons cream of tartar
2 cups of salt
8 dessert spoons of oil
4 cups of boiling water

Put in the fridge to cool down, then split and knead in food colouring

Posted by Maxine at 09:21 PM | Comments (1)

April 02, 2007

The Winner Is...

Congratulations Ali! Emily picked your name from the hat so the Easter goodies will be with you soon - I am not going to post about what I am sending just yet because I think its always lovely to get a surprise!

I have also decided to send a second little thing to a 'runner-up' so we did another draw and Emily picked GkGIrl - so a little thing will be over to you too. Thanks to everyone for leaving a comment and entering and if I don't post before the weekend have a lovely Easter break!

Posted by Maxine at 10:50 AM | Comments (3)