Sailing down the river - lolly stick boats

The challenge for this week's craft hangout with Red Ted Art was lolly sticks (or wooden coffee stirrers if, like me, you have kleptomaniacal tendencies when in local coffee shops).

Some fabulous ideas shared again, check out the video and links below.

I wanted to make something we could take outdoors and play with, to extend the activity further.  I tried a kite but it was a disaster (combination of size of kite; lack of wind and distinct lack of high hills round here).

So then I struck on the idea of making little boats that we could take to the river and race.

They are super-easy to make.  For speed I used a glue gun, but if the kids are involved and you have a little patience, PVA glue will work fine.

You can come up with all manner of designs with the humble lolly stick and for older children it's good to experiment on what designs and size works well, what floats best and what sails fastest.

Kids can personalise their sails with drawings or stickers or you can use decorative paper, tissue paper or even re-use old plastic bags.

Then take them to the river and...on your marks...get set...GO!

This activity brought out rather a lot of competitiveness (particularly from Daddy it has to be said), but rather like a jockey-less horse, my view is a capsized boat isn't the winner - even if it does come first.

We had some rather persistent interference from a local swan too, so next time we'll take bread to throw him off the scent.

We had such a great time sailing our boats and it's definitely something we'll do again.  Just as soon as I've purloined more sticks.

**Think safety first near water***

Click on the links to see instructions for all these craft stick ideas:

Beautiful bi-planes by Kids Chaos
Red Ted Art's Traffic light biscuit pops and superhero puppets
Craftulate's Craft Stick Magnets

Magpie Monday - Dyeing for a new lease of life

Today's Magpie Monday comes from a plea for help from a friend.

She had a whole load of lovely Egyptian cotton towels which were too good to throw away, but were beginning to look worse for wear.  They were actually a wedding present so have done remarkably well for 9 years of use, and were in considerably better nick than most of my towels.  They were still soft, fluffy and absorbent, but were no longer sparkly white.  So instead of getting rid of them and buying new ones, she asked for my help dyeing them.

DYLON machine dyes come in a huge palette of colours, and she chose China Blue which is fresh, clean and bright, and will also match her bathroom decor.

If you've never tried machine dyeing, then I'd urge you to have a go.  It's easy and quick and as long as you follow the simple instructions, you can't really go wrong.

First we weighed the towels dry to work out how much dye we'd need.  There were 2 huge bath sheets, 1 bath towel and a 2 hand towels, so we split it into 2 loads and used 2 packs of dye in each machine load.  The towels were then washed as you have to add them to the drum wet.

Into the machine drum we added 1 kilo of salt and the contents of 2 packets of DYLON machine dye.  Then the wet towels are added and we ran a 40 degree wash.  Once the cycle is complete, wash again on 40 degrees.  And that's it.  It really is that simple.

Using DYLON dye won't damage your machine.  Once you have finished, run another wash at 40 with detergent to make sure any residual dye is gone and then your machine can safely be used again as normal.

So if you have any cotton towels; bed linen or table cloths that are looking a bit jaded, but are still in good condition, don't chuck them out but try giving them a new lease of life with a DYLON colour.

NB: always read the instructions before use.

Disclosure: I have an ongoing relationship with DYLON - please see my Disclosure Page for full details.

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Win a Discovery Pass with the Forestry Commission

Regular readers will know that as an official Forestry Commission blogger, we visit our local woods often, and I want to encourage you and your family to do the same.

Not only is it a magical, adventurous place to spend time but a recent scientific study has now proved what I've always firmly believed - spending time in the great outdoors is good for you!

"...new research reported in the British Journal of Sports Medicine now provides scientific proof that walking in nature and spending time under leafy shade trees causes electrochemical changes in the brain that can lead people to enter a highly beneficial state of “effortless attention.”

"...Entering this state of effortless attention can occur in a variety of ways—walking in the woods, hiking along a trail in a totally natural environment, or sitting by a stream watching water tumble over rocks. It seems that the experience of being in nature is transformative in and of itself—it can cause a person’s emotional state to be uplifted and mental balance to be restored. Being in nature is truly refreshing in a very deep, meaningful way." 

A discovery pass is a great way to gain year round access to your local Forestry Commission site in England, as well as helping to contribute to it's maintenance.   It gives you free car parking; seasonal newsletters and a range of discounts both on and off site.  The cost and benefits offered vary from site to site, so check out the forest map to see what's available in your locality.

If you'd like to win your very own Discovery Pass and open up a world of woodland adventure, complete the steps on the rafflecopter below.

One winner will be chosen at random after the closing date of midnight on Friday 24th May 2013.  Open to UK entrants only.  The prize will be supplied and fulfilled by the Forestry Commission and the winner must respond with their full contact details within one week of being announced.  The winner's name will be posted here and announced on Twitter.  Only one person per household may enter.  No correspondence shall be entered into.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What does 'buying local' mean to you?

We've all heard the expression, but what does it actually mean in practise?

Does it mean you buy your spuds from the farmer's market rather than the corporate giants?  That you frequent your local coffee shop rather than one of the chains?  Or is it broader than that?

I tend to be drawn to products from companies and businesses with a local connection.  Let's face it, there isn't much in the way of manufacturing left in this country, but I still find myself parting with my cash easier if it is a brand who is part of my community or has some kind of home-town connection.

I live in Bedfordshire.  Always have.  So have my parents and my in-laws.  I've lived and worked in Luton, as have my parents; my partner; his parents and our siblings.  For us, brands like Electrolux, Vauxhall and Whitbread (or Charles Wells for the Bedfordians) will always be thought of as 'local' even if they are global industries.

The Electrolux factory was manufacturing vacuums and washing machines in Luton from 1927 - 1998, and even though they no longer produce goods on site, it is still home to their headquarters.  It was a huge part of the landscape of my partner's childhood, being practically on his doorstep.  He remembers community events in the sports and social club, and meeting the Spurs team and Ossie Ardiles there after a game against Luton Town.

So for me, if I'm looking for a new washing machine, induction hob or even a pint of beer, I like to go with a company that is supporting the local economy and workforce.

How about you?  Do you feel a sentimental draw to certain companies connected to your home town?

Disclosure: this is a featured post brought to you in association with Electrolux.  Any musing and reminiscing is purely my own.  Please see my disclosure page for full details.

Chill Factor Slush Making Cup

Sometimes you see a gadget that just looks too good to be true.  Well, I thought this would be one of those. Something which promised amazing things but failed to deliver.

We were asked to review the Chill Factor Squeeze Cup from Character Online, and of course I said yes.  Ruby loves slushies but after the scary blue poo incident following a trip to the cinema, I've always steered her away from them.  I mean, what's in those things??

The idea of making our own at home, and the control I'd have over what went in them was very appealing, but still I had my doubts it would actually work.

While she was at school, I popped the squidgy cup in the freezer in preparation for home time.  Yes, I guess it's a bit of a fag having to remember to freeze it in advance, but it's no different really from remembering to fill up the ice cube tray so you have a supply for cold drinks.

Once the cup is frozen, you fill it with squash, or juice or whatever drink you want.  You then squeeze the sides (I found that the sides were a little too frozen solid to squeeze, but scoodging it at the bottom and pushing the liquid up over the icy sides worked perfectly).

As a side note, it's an interesting practical science experiment to see how water expands as it freezes and the volume increases - what fits easily into the cup as liquid squash, fills up and over the brim as frozen slush.  "Yeah whatever Mum, what does it taste like??"

Well, it's safe to say it's a huge hit.  The scoop straw with comes with the cup is perfect for slurping/munching and spooning the slush; it's easy to clean; comes in a range of bright colours and allows you to make much healthier versions of slush drinks at home.

I can't wait to get it off her now and make some frappuchinos - oh no wait - frozen daiquiris!  Now you're talking.

Disclosure:  I was sent the cup for the purposes of this review however all views expressed are my own and are honest.

How to make simple felt mice

These little chaps are so quick and easy to make that they're breeding like nobody's business in our house.

Felt is such a great material to work with.  It's cheap; it cuts easily; holds it's shape; doesn't fray; can be glued or sewn and comes in a huge array of colours.

Watch the craft hangout video below for loads more cool idea and felt crafts.

To make the mice you will need:

Felt scraps
Embroidery thread
Needle
Buttons or beads for eyes (optional)
Stuffing - poly-fill toy stuffing or use cotton wool.

For each mouse you will need one large circle of felt and two smaller ones.  I drew around a cup for the body and a 2p coin for the ears, but make them whatever size you want.

Ruby managed to sew a couple herself, they are that simple.  She needed a little guidance, but this was a great project for her first proper sewing with a real needle.  For an adult, you can knock one of these up in 5 minutes.

Fold the large circle in half and stitch around the edge, stopping about halfway to stuff with filling.  Then continue sewing to the end, tie a knot and leave a length of thread for the tail.

Next, sew on some eyes, either using small buttons/beads or just with knots. Take the smaller circles and pinch to form the ear shape then sew one each side.




In the video, Maggy shares her felt strawberries and doughnuts; Christmas decorations and pine cone fairies.  Ali from Kids Chaos makes some great character finger puppets - love the Yoda! And Anthea from Zing Zing Tree makes some beautiful felt flowers and pinwheels which can be used for jewellery; hair accessories and gift wrapping embellishments.

What's your favourite felt craft?

Magpie Monday - Wine Box Woes

Now, I like a nice wooden wine box as much as the next guy, but do I want to pay a tenner for one?  I mean really?  For something that is essentially just packaging?  No of course not.

I've always tried to sweet talk my way round wine merchants in their little shops to let me take one or two off their hands, but they've got wise to the fact that they can make spondoolies on eBay for them.

The other weekend, while mooching around a nice little market town, me and a friend happened to pass of Off Licence which was packing up and shipping out.

The door was open and a stream of people were loading up display stands and merchandise into the back of a van.  There were a few sorry tins of larger rolling about on the floor, but never before had I seen a sight as sorry as the two supermarket shopping trolleys inside piled high with shards of wood.

Someone had taken a hammer to all the beautiful wooden crates and smashed them to smithereens.  I could have cried.

I tried to show the necessary compassion for the owner who's business and livelihood had obviously gone down the swanny, but actually I wanted to slap him for his wanton destruction!

I managed to spot one unscathed box and asked nicely if I could have it, wished him well for the future and skulked off.

So, what to do with my wooden crate?  First I know I need to remove those dodgy metal staples, but for now it's housing my magazines.  I could put it to use to hold my bottles of home brew (which incidentally tastes pretty good, even if it does make you feel like someone's given you two dead arms after half a glass).  I might have it next to the fire to hold logs.  Or I may use it in the bathroom to hold loo rolls like this.

There are lots of great ideas on t'internet, and I'm quite liking the idea of a pet bed like this one by Glam Mutts - although there's no way my big oaf would fit in there, perhaps better for a cat?

My dawg might quite like this raised feeding station though. Check out this tutorial to make your own by Design Sponge.

And I adore this stylish bike accessory upcycle (bwahaha) by Field Guided.

Or maybe I'll just look out for a few more and wall mount them for storage/book shelves.  Who knows.  Do you have any other ideas for me?

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