Sensory Sunday: Noise Making with Pan and Spoons

Sensory Sunday: Exploring the world with little fat fingers.

 This week we went a bit old school. A few pans, two wooden spoons and some time to get used to the awfully loud sound they make.

Zander mostly enjoyed sucking on the ends of the spoons, which was grand until he got excited by his own reflection in the bottom of one of the pans and smashed himself in the gums. No blood though, so it's all fine.

He kind of preferred banging the spoons together rather than the noisy pans.

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#tbt: Captain America Cape

Throw back Thursday: taking a look at stuff I've made in the past.

A customer commissioned this through my online store I Can Be...Super Me last year, and it is my second favourite cape ever (the most favourite being an awesome Batgirl cape I made)

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Wreck it Wednesday: Random Items

Wreck it Wednesday: a page from one of my journals.

About 'Wreck This Journal' by Keri Smith

(Description from Amazon)

It is book for those who've always wanted to draw outside the lines but were afraid to do it. For anyone who's ever wished to, but had trouble starting, keeping, or finishing a journal or sketchbook comes Wreck This Journal, an illustrated book featuring a subversive collection of suggestions, asking readers to muster up their best mistake - and mess-making abilities to fill the pages of the book (and destroy them).

Through a series of creatively and quirkily illustrated prompts, acclaimed artist Keri Smith encourages journalers to engage in "destructive" acts - poking holes through pages, adding photos and defacing them, painting with coffee, colouring outside the lines, and more - in order to experience the true creative process. With Keri Smith's unique sensibility, readers are introduced to a new way of art and journal making, discovering novel ways to escape the fear of the blank page and fully engage in the creative process.

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Sensory Sunday: Texture Plates

Sensory Sunday: Exploring the world with little fat fingers.

I made some texture plates for Zander, with different fabrics and other random things I found around the house, glued onto paper plates.

Despite how much he hates bubble wrap,and will often cry at the very sight of a whole bunch of the stuff, this plate was a clear favourite. He even ripped it off the plate during his investigations and still didn't react in a negative way. I thought it being stuck down flat made it ok, but he got so intrigued by the bobbles that when he'd got it off it was still interesting and not scary at all.

His other favourite is of course the mirror...which he then had to kiss repeatedly.

Ed loves these plates too and keeps finding moments to ask if he can 'give Zander his plates', then he'll sit with him a play for a bit before tidying them away so they don't get broken. I'll be honest, this whole 'taking care of things and tidying up after himself' is very unlike Ed but I'll enjoy/nurture it while I can.

The plates I made have bubble wrap, cotton wool balls, velvet, denim, cordoroy, towelling, fleece, mirror, fake fur, shiney smooth fabric and a sparkly fabric.

All of these are excellent talking points for different textures.

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Friday Inspiration: Scene in a Teacup

Friday Inspiration: a picture of anything that makes me want to get creative.

I love this idea of layering...will have to have a go myself...

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#tbt: Ed's Minecraft Party Invite

Throw back Thursday: taking a look at stuff I've made in the past.

Coolest invite ever!!

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Wreck it Wednesday: Good Thoughts

Wreck it Wednesday: a page from one of my journals.

About 'Wreck This Journal' by Keri Smith

(Description from Amazon)

It is book for those who've always wanted to draw outside the lines but were afraid to do it. For anyone who's ever wished to, but had trouble starting, keeping, or finishing a journal or sketchbook comes Wreck This Journal, an illustrated book featuring a subversive collection of suggestions, asking readers to muster up their best mistake - and mess-making abilities to fill the pages of the book (and destroy them).

Through a series of creatively and quirkily illustrated prompts, acclaimed artist Keri Smith encourages journalers to engage in "destructive" acts - poking holes through pages, adding photos and defacing them, painting with coffee, colouring outside the lines, and more - in order to experience the true creative process. With Keri Smith's unique sensibility, readers are introduced to a new way of art and journal making, discovering novel ways to escape the fear of the blank page and fully engage in the creative process.

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Monday Make: Up-cycled Kids T-Shirts (again)

Monday Make: This week's project



The boys have all grown  so it's that time again...time to upcycle their favourite tees (and if they're not old enough for those kinds of opinions, my favourites).

For instructions on how I do this, see my previous post on this.

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Sensory Sunday: Shredded Paper

Sensory Sunday: Exploring the world with little fat fingers.

During a stroke of genius, I decided not to put this all straight in the recycling and thought I'd give Zander some time with it first.

Careful examination...

This is the first time, the very first time, he didn't put it all straight in his mouth. In fact, he never did put any of it in, which is unheard of. He normally gives everything a little taste but not this stuff. Probably helped that he'd just had a massive bowl of poddidge.

Crawling through it makes a good sound.

He thought it was hilarious when I dumped it all on his head, especially when some of it stayed there balanced precariously on his forehead.

Rustle, rustle, rustle.

This week's fun has really made me think about the benefits of sensory and messy play. I tend to save these activities just for Zander; I wait until the bigger boys are at school and then do it. It's nice because lets face it, if I didn't do this, all of Zander's Mummy one-on-one time would probably just be watching me do all the housework and I feel a hell of lot less guilty spending some time cleaning up once I've spent some serious quality time with my little Zander Boo.

But, I wonder...what about the bigger boys? They get one-on-one time with me too, so it's not about that.While we played, it occurred to me how much the boys would love to have a chance to throw this stuff about too and that maybe I should give them an opportunity. For them, even though they are well past the baby exploration stage, it would still be a joyfully sensory exploration of a different kind. Mostly, they'll probably just go completely wild, but it may also be a chance for us to spend some quality time together too. They'd probably love to experience 'silly' mummy for a moment too.

As I expected, it went very well...

Then Nanny came over and got buried alive.

And then we cleaned up together and got the living room back to normal...well...our normal at least.

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Sticky Saturday: Minecraft Ore Pebble Painting

Sticky Saturday: messy play fun with kids

My apologies for the naked child. It's Saturday and he doesn't get dressed unless he absolutely has to. C'est la vie. I'm sure most of you understand. He also has chocolate on his face having eaten a chocolate spread sandwich for lunch. Not winning any awards today am I? *laughs and carries on with day as normal*

My boys love collecting pebbles everywhere they go and they love Minecraft so, I thought I'd combine the two and give them something they can play with away from screen time, because let's face it, when they're not attached to those screens, they're re-enacting what they'd be doing on them. Running round the house/school playground at pick up/anywhere 'mining', chopping down trees and fighting mobs is all quite normal, so I thought some 'ore' pebbles would be fun.

I mixed up some acrylic paint to get the right colours, added a bit of PVA to help it stick and left them to it. They sprinkled on some super fine glitter to give them an extra sparkle and they look gorgeous.

I may varnish them if I get a chance, I think they'd look amazing with that extra sheen.

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Friday Inspiration: Reading Nook

Friday Inspiration: a picture of anything that makes me want to get creative.

I'll be honest, I'm desperate for a little place I can go to read.

I had a little hunt on Pinterest for inspiration, but most of what I found is so completely unfeasible in my house, including most of these, but I thought I'd share my findings regardless.

If you have under stairs storage (which sadly I don't, my kitchen is under the stairs), it could be done up a bit like this.

link

This is entirely possible if you have a corner of your living room that can be given over to book shelves.

link

Again, living room corner, just ignore the baskets on these shelves and fill them with books.

link

This is a fabulous idea and quite easy to put together with a bit of Ikea furniture.

link

This is my utter favourite but who has a teeny tiny room like this? I presume that, and I may of course be wrong, closets like this actually reside in the kitchen and are actually really useful larders and who wants a reading nook in the kitchen?

link

I also love this one and when the boys grow up and leave home, I'll probably do this in their room.

link

And then I got thinking about how and when I'd use the space. 
The reality is I have small people to keep an eye on all the time and although I don't actually have time to read during the day, I do every night in bed, surrounded by book shelves. I literally cannot sleep without turning off the real world and entering someone else's.
 I was thinking it would be lovely to have a big comfy armchair to sit in and I could get one when there isn't a giant cot in the way, but seriously, what's comfier than your bed? So maybe I already have my reading nook?

I think it's time to be grateful for what I have and if nothing else, not buying new furniture or redecorating means there's more money for books!

My 'reading nook'.

For more ideas, check out my reading nooks pinterest board.

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