Mini Monsters - A review

The mini monsters were being more monsterous than ever. The end of a visciously intense week of 'challenges'/ SATs and too many early mornings left the monsters lacking in energy but with an overabundance of attitude.
Thankfully Parragon Books had sent me a little parcel from their new range called Life Canvas to review which included Mini Monsters, especially for mini monsters.

Triple win.

1. They are assembled in an instant.
2. There are 60 to choose from in the tin so even they could decide on a couple each without the need to grapple.
3. They took their attitude out on mini monster roll play.

And just in case there is a mini monster with a creative streak there are blank mini monsters to doodle and decorate at will.

Big win. Lots of fun. Great distraction. And very entertaining looking monsters.

Disclosure: I was sent some samples from Parragon Books free of charge for the purposes of review. All opinions are my own.

Silent Sunday

Twenty Five Years

Twenty five years.
Twenty. Five. Years.

Whichever way I write it, it is a quarter of a century.
That is how long it has been since my husband swept me off my feet at a party (back when they were called discos). Seems like yesterday.

So the theme for this week is time.

Me-time crafting turned into puppet making.
We don't look a day older (you'll have to trust me on that).
My Princess is growing up too quickly.
Telling the time with a dandelion clock. It was 15 o'clock by the way.
We collected leaves on our walk to pass the time. (Someone was bored)
Garden party cake making to raise money for MNDa, in honour of Ned, 9 years living with the disease and still fighting.
The quickest monster making ever thanks to Parragon Books.


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Silent Sunday

My View

My view could be exactly the same as your view, yet we can see things differently.
This is why I love photography. It gives me an opportunity to look and see something that is completely unique to me and then share it.

We created an artistic impression of our view of Burghley.

I sought refuge in a tent in our garden and 'admired' my view.

Playing with a dandelion clock and I saw the shadow.

Looking down on a sleeping little man.

Teaching crochet requires concentration and focus on where that hook is going.

Vision slightly impaired by a local brew.

Watching the barbecue and entranced by the heat haze, smoke and sunlight.

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Jeans recycling and me

By far my most popular post was the one where I showed a few ways you could recycle a pair of jeans.
But I have a confession.
I only made a business card case from the list.
*hangs head in shame*
So I sought out new inspiration.
I added some new pins to my pinterest board and I got my craft on.

 

 

 

Source: ejhern on Etsy

Souce: AnnaNimmity on Etsy

Source: ArtfullyCaroline

I was also in possession of a pair of outgrown jeans belonging to the Princess.

If you search on Pinterest for denim or jeans upcycling you will find pins of bags outnumbering other projects at a rate of at least 501 to 1-ish.

So I took my daughters jeans,

chopped them in half retaining the zip and hacked off a leg retaining the pockets,

 
turned the jeans inside out and sewed across the bottom and up the side.
I turned it the right way out again and fashioned a handle out of the leg I had cut off, attaching it at each side with several rows of stitching for strength.
By chance more than by design the handle is exactly the right length to be worn over one shoulder and also to be carried on her micro scooter.

I'm thinking a new line in upcycled jeans micro scooter accessories. Or is that too niche?

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Weekend

My weekends are mostly about negotiating the activities of three children who can't agree whether black is black or black is white let alone what they would like to do with two whole days of freedom stretched ahead of them.I have become quite adept at thinking up suggestions and bribes and we generally manage to do something interesting or vaguely amusing.

The trick is variety.

Burghley House is on our doorstep. I'd call them our next door neighbours but that would be stretching it slightly. We go often. The children know every nook and cranny of the park, every deer by name and every possible way to climb the trees. There comes a point when they they will get bored of going. But in the meantime I have to keep thinking of ways to make this time, this day, this trip more interesting and exciting than the last.

This weekend I decided it would be an art expedition and we would take paper and pens, pencils and paints to capture Burghley House. It was a long shot, but it worked and we all went willingly, laden with artist materials and a picnic.

Picnic first. Demolished in minutes. Tree climbed next. Scaled repeatedly for half an hour. And then art.

The Big One: A deer. Sort of. After 10 minutes he decided to run between our picnic blanket and a tree repeatedly.
The Princess: A self portrait. Kind of. She persevered and enjoyed herself but completely ignored all the inspiring scenery to create a portrait. Gah!
The Wee One: Made a piece of paper very wet. Then took a paintbrush and stuck it in the holes in his crocs.
Me: A drawing of Burghley House. Ish.

Next weekend, shall we take some clay?


Joining in with Sticky Fingers and the theme of Weekend for The Gallery.