Kellie Winnell

kids crafts | sock donuts

We have a lot of left over crafts from previous projects I've made with my girls.  You know what most households always have too?  ODD socks!  God knows where the other one went, but there is always a bunch of socks without a partners in this household.  This is really easy and you can find a BUNCH of youtube clips on how to make these.  How do I know that?  Because that is exactly what my girls did.  Looked it up then asked and away they went on their own.  Ugh they are getting older.

To make the filling, Heidi got my thick wool and a brush to tease it.  I didn't even know this, so even I learnt something new.  My girls are good around a hot glue gun and if they have any issues they always ask.  So if you have younger kids this may be the only thing you'll have to help with.  They've also used wool to make the icing effect on some.

What will they do with them?  Heck I have no idea.  But it kept them creative, entertained and they had fun during the process.  Beside those socks were only going to be thrown out anyways.  The results are SUPER cute!

paper flowers | kids crafts

Looking for a quick DIY kids craft?  Then this will give at least an hour of fun.

SUPPLIES :

- Pipe cleaners

- Scrap pattern paper

- Buttons

- Cupcake patty

- Wool

- Glue or double sided tape.

My girls and I used the Diamond Press machine from Spotlight, HERE.  This nifty little machine comes with the scallop shape in a bunch of different sizes.  For this project the scallop was perfect.  We have a pom pom maker at home, you can pick these up at your local spotlight or craft store.  It might look tricky at first, but even my girls can use it, it's so simple and the result, perfect pom poms.  Instead of a pom pom you could also use tissue paper, in fact both could work together.

RESULT :

Check your local Spotlight store for fun and crafts with the make it yourself movement during craft month.

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bling bling | mason jars

Another craft the girls did while at the Spotlight National Craft Month Launch was a class taught by Patience and Rachel.  This time instead of glasses we decided to decorate mason jar lids.  Both Heidi and Chloe have mini mason jars that have a slit I cut out in the lid and they've been using them as mini money jars for about a year now.  They needed an upgrade.  Also this time I joined in, I wasn't missing out on all the fun.

Heidi and Chloe went to town, pipe cleaners, google eyes, cupcake patty's, pom poms, gems, sparkle, the lot!  Best of all they are both happy with their result and now they have a 'new' money jar.

While on Rachel's instagram I was inspired to try what she referred to it as the "coral reef" effect.  My mason jar, one of the many I own, didn't have a slit and so I was free to build around on the lid.  That I did.

Now some of my favourite washi tapes are on display in this up-cycled mason jar.

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spotlight launch | craft month | cardmaking and layout

While attending the Spotlight National Craft Month Launch last Thursday, my girls got to do something they love, love, love to do and do it often and that's make cards.  Heidi and Chloe make cards for for people's birthdays, for people in our street at Easter and Christmas, they make one to thank people.  You could say that cardmaking is their thing.

Something Heidi and Chloe got you use is something I'd never seen before.  It's a Diamond Press machine available from Spotlight.  WHOA this small machine is compact and the girls found it simple to use.  For something so small it has it all, it has dies and embossing folders.   My girls went to work to make a card each.

This is Chloe thinking her way through the cardmaking process.  Chloe was making her card for a teacher she talks about often and recently had a birthday.  As I mentioned above, both girls literally make cards for everyone.  Chloe made a cute bunny card. 

Heidi decided to make a postcard and designed a tree with birds and butterflies.  Side note, is that blue stained hands?  YES it absolutely is, haha.  Making slim is sticky work.  When we got home she gave this to me as a thank you for taking them.  It now sits proudly in front of me at my desk.

Don't forget to check out your local Spotlight store for National Craft Month with events being held every weekend in March.

Last weekend I had to have a play with this new wizz bang machine, the Diamond Press, that I'm loving more and more.  It's small, compact and works like a gem.  I used to have a cuttlebug I think it's called.  But I've since put it into storage, as it was taking up too much room and I rarely used it.  This Diamond Press I'm going to use a LOT, with already my girls and I eyeing off new shapes to purchase.

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I wanted to make a layout, it's been a while since I've made one.  But I had this idea that I knew wouldn't fit into a travellers notebook the way I had it planned in my head.  Which didn't all come out onto the paper.  I did know I wanted to use a photo from the day at the Spotlight Launch and use the photo of the, join the movement, as a title.

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spotlight launch | craft month | make it yourself | bling bling

If you've followed along with me for a while now, you'll know that I basically live and breath crafts.  Paper, DIY, knitting, and MORE, so now that it's craft month and Spotlight are celebrating this, it's exciting and a FUN excuse to do a little craft project when I can during March!   Getting asked to attend the Spotlight National Craft Month Launch was right up my ally.  A really fun thing we got to do while there, was watch Patience and Rachel decorate party glasses.  NOW... How awesome would this be for a kids party?  I do have a birthday coming up for one of my girls and a sleep over is on the cards...  So now I'm thinking this is might happen.

Both Patience and Rachel were bubbly, bursting with personality and really funny.  At one stage they pointed out to my girls that they could decorate their hats, to which they turned to me with nervous looks on their faces, like ummmmm...  to see what I would say.  Which caused laughter from the other attendees, my girls crack me up.  Both Heidi and Chloe got given the glasses made by Rachel and Patience during their demonstration. 

Chloe was SUPER keen to decorate her own pair.  So she gave Patience back her glasses, not because she didn't like or want them, but because she didn't feel right she told me making a set and getting to keep another, [proud mum moment].  We got to use these hot glue guns that had an almost pen point on them that are available from Spotlight and SO something I'm going to buy next time I get to a store.  They were awesome to use, easy and even my girls could use it.

The table was DECKED out and I mean literally with bling as far as the eyes could see.  My girls were in heaven.

Heidi kept the glasses Rachel gave to her and just added a few more touches and Chloe fully decorated her own.  Now I need to make a list of supplies.  Now that I've gotten to the end of the blog post I just know this is something I am definitely going to set up for Heidi's 11th birthday sleep over party.  Of course I'm going to join in, someone has to be the teacher right?  Plus I just can't watch and NOT join.

Don't forget to check out your local Spotlight store for National Craft Month with events being held every weekend in March.

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spotlight launch | craft month | cupcake decorating

I went to the Spotlight launch event for National Craft Month for March on Thursday.  During the month of March, Spotlight stores are hosting craft events every weekend for National Craft Month.  Be sure to check out your local Spotlight store.

One stand that caught not only my attention but my girls, was the Roberts Confectionery table.  I mean it had cupcakes on it, what isn't to love when it comes to cupcakes?  My girls got to decorate a cupcake each, something I don't think they've ever done before.  Not in this fun form anyway.  

Look at the concentration on those faces.  This I know for sure was the first time they'd put icing on and used anything like this.  Heidi with the pink icing, got the hang of it after a while.  Chloe with the blue icing, was having troubles figuring out you have to squeeze/twist from the top, but she got there.

Heidi added some handmade flowers and leaves she made and topped it with sprinkles and called it done.  Below Chloe did the same.  Both turned out amazing and I let the girls eat them in the car on the way home, even known usually I don't allow them to eat in the car.  Pretty sure they'd finished before I left the city.  I did get a little try of Heidi's, it was SO good.

Since coming home, Heidi has gotten out the clay we have and made a bunch of flowers that she learned to make at the Spotlight Launch.  I can see MANY more being made. 

Be sure to check out Spotlight and the events they have on each weekend during March for National Craft Month.

school holiday craft ideas

School holidays are coming FAST, this Friday come the end of another term.  Because it's winter here down under, I really want to have a few things for my girls to do when they are bored.  Let's be honest, that will start from day one.  I know I don't have to worry so much about my teen as she will spend most of her time sleeping!  We will visit the movies at some stage as the girls have a voucher from Christmas and Reading Cinemas have $10 tickets right now, WINNING!  I didn't want to spend a lot on these ideas 

Here are a few things I found on pinterest, because pinterest is my best friend lately and not at the same time.  I go to spend 10 min with 


CAT POT PLANT : I've had these on my list for a while and I know my girls will love to make them and I love to buy new plants, so..........WIN/WIN.  There are also these ones, here.

SOCK SNAKE : Every so often I have a bunch of socks that somehow don't have a pair anymore, seriously it's crazy.  So this is something perfect for my girls to help make and have in their room.

ROPE BASKET : Now I've made on these before, with black and white and straw rope.  But I know my girls would love to make one each of these with a bunch of colours for their little trinkets aka rocks [yeah I said rocks].  Of course I'd make one myself also.

DIY TISSUE PAPER WITH MUGS : The other week I cleaned out my mug cupboard.  It was crazy as I could literally show you a mug from each set I've had since I moved out of home.  I narrowed down my pick with the help of my girls.  While I don't want to buy more and trust me it's been hard, I think I have a mug addiction!  These would be so much fun and great for the girls hot chocolates at night.  I think even Kira would join us. 

GLOVE KITTY : This looks like so much fun and honestly you can pick up a pair of gloves from a discount store for next to nothing.  I really can't wait for the girls to make these, because they love little soft toys and to have something they made on their own, they will be so proud.

CHALK BLOCKS : My girls might be a little past blocks, but they still play with shopkins, monster high and I know for sure if they made these they would use them.  Even just blocks, then when they get older they can write letters, use them as book ends and more.

Do you craft with your kids on school holidays?

diy dinosaur keyring

I'm sharing a quick and simple DIY that is not only fun for adults but kids will love it.  I used dinosaurs but honestly you could other small plastic toys.  I'd really love to do the little army guys, my brother used to play with them all the time as a kid.  But you know I have 3 girls.  They do love dinosaurs though, mainly because they are based in movies.  Little foot, classic!

SUPPLIES :

- Small hard plastic toy

- Eye Hook

- Keyring

You can always paint them, which is something I plan to do on the next lot I make.  OR you can make necklaces with them.  Kira and I did this some time back with animals and spray painted them gold, here.

Press the eye hook down and apply pressure while turning.  By doing this you are screwing the hook into the toy.  Once all the way in, thread keyring on.  If you still have a gap like I did as the hooks were a little to big, get into the tools and close the hook.  

Guess what?  You're done and this is the result :

These make great little gifts and heck I'm going to use one myself, I love them.

hama or perler bead emoji coasters/fridge magnets

I'm so lucky our girls love to craft, being a craft lover or obsessed person myself... Each girl has a different style and way of doing things.  One is more into her crafts than the other two and that would be my middle girl, Heidi.  Chloe still loves to paint and make things, but she can easily give up and is more of a gamer girl, like myself and her dad, but her dad mainly.  Kira still joins in from time to time, but being a teen she's more a social media girl, haha, if there is such a thing?  Well there is now!

One thing my girls and I have loved is getting into are the hama beads or perler beads.  They seem to come up for both when you google and look on pinterest?  The only thing we haven't done is separate the colours, but with having more beads on the way, [totally bought for me, not lying],  I have ordered a container to do so.

Here are the emoji coasters I made, that honestly I think I'm going to turn into fridge magnets.

Also here are just a few that Heidi and Chloe have made over time.  Trust me there are many, many more in the hama/perler box, and I'm looking to make a bunch of keyrings and other ways for them to be able to use them.  They've started making my little pony ones, thank you pinterest.  We are just waiting on my latest bead purchase to arrive so they can make more.  I have an idea for those, and I'm pretty excited. I'll be sharing that idea soon.

These things are a great investment for kids that are old enough to use them.  They will have hours of fun and pinterest have amazing patterns, some are mind blowing.

school holiday kid craft ideas

Over the school holidays I always like to try and make a few craft related activities for Heidi and Chloe and sometimes even Kira joins us.

We are seeing the school holidays for the end of term coming fast, time to try and be organised.  We were given a couple of kits from Kiss Natural to review and the girls have them up the very top to make.  I personally can't wait.


Here are a few that I have either not long pinned or had pinned for some time now, heck I may had even shared one before on the blog claiming to make it some time soon.  I know for sure the girls really want to make the following :

 

 

by Disney Inspired : source here

by one good thing by jillee : source here

by buzzfeed : source here

I thought I would share a few things I've made and blogged with the girls before :

Rock Dominos : here

Felt Banners : here

Bird Puppet : here

Icy Pole Stick Jewellery Holder : here

easter crafts with my girls

On school holidays I love getting a few things together for my girls to craft and make.  Sometimes it's from scratch, sometimes it's plaster painting.

The girls made these simple Easter decorations the other day.  I'm not huge on decorating for Easter, it's not really a 'thing' I do.  But I love how excited they both get, and wanted them to be able to share it.

They are now hanging from our mantle.  We attached them to green twine, as a way of representing grass. Makes sense right?

Yesterday my girls got busy with two things.  Now I love toilet roll crafts, I know some people are very anti toilet roll crafts, but who didn't use them as binoculars as a kid?  They were the bomb!  My girls also got busy with their hama beads.  I love watching them use these, mainly because they get to see the image they are doing come to life.  Heidi and Chloe also made these cute bunnies from toilet rolls.

Of course no toilet roll craft is complete without the old binoculars as I said, haha....

mini felt banners

Heidi, Chloe and I got busy on the Friday.  Making several things, rock domino's, canvas partings, wooden puppets and these banners.

We got up early and headed to the golden M for breakfast to celebrate the last day of school holidays.  Came home, painted the rocks, painted canvases, had lunch, walked down the street, picked up some felt, came home, made the banners, made stick people, played domino's and then it was 4pm and I was buggered haha.

But the girls had such a great day and I love spending as much time as I can with them.  Kira slept her last day away.....  Teenagers, [rolls eyes].  

I really love how their banners turned out and they will take pride above their beds.  I got the idea from Rachel and her tutorial, here.

 

Now to add some string to hang with and hang them above their beds.

rock painted dominos

Over the school holidays I always like to try and keep the girls crafty.  This school holidays we weren't as motivated.  I think with nicer weather, the girls spent more time outside and it's almost like we were all just enjoying a break from routine.  Because we all know the crazy season is coming up fast.  

I shared this idea that I found on pinterest in a blog post, here.

The girls and I spent a good hour or more finding a bunch of rocks from the back garden.  We washed them and left them over night to dry.

The next day after returning from the golden M for breakfast we got messy, I think I got more paint on me than the girls did, haha, but they loved it.  Best of all we had another amazing day of sunshine and they all dried super fast, winning!

school holiday crafts for kids ideas

School holidays have started, and something I love doing with my girls, even my teen if she actually gets out of bed before lunch, is to get them creative.  I've been looking up ideas mainly on pinterest since last school holidays.  Most are using things you could already have laying about the house, which is even better!  Here are some we will be working on during the 2 week break that I thought might interest you as well.

by Molly Moss : source here

by maceta gatuna : source here

by craftaholics anonymous : source here

by hello natural : source here

by the house that lars built : source here.

by one good thing by jillee : source here

by me : give a girl a blog : source here.

currently creative link-up #3

Welcome to another 'currently creative link-up'.  I first started this idea, back in January 2013, here.  As I said then, the concept of this is to share what you are currently working on, already made, thinking of making, a goal you have, your creative space and more. 

So what do you do, how can you join in?  Create a blog post, optional to grab the badge at the top of this here blog post popping it on your own, add your blog link below and share your "currently creative".

Don't have a blog?  But have a picture? I am pretty sure InLinkz now allows flicker, facebook and instagram links.  

School holidays here, and winter, not a lot to get out and do as it's been freezing.  So I wanted to keep my girls active and entertained.  So we've been getting a little creative lately.

Here is what I am currently getting creative with :

  

Hadn't made one of these since school.  Was so much fun and the girls really enjoyed it and now are so proud of themselves and their little loom band box.

While this was more me, as you have to use a hot glue gun and YES I burnt myself, wearing a blister today.  Well worth it for the laughter they are bringing the girls.  Heidi and Chloe still enjoyed putting the colours together and holding things out to me to help.  The tutorial I used is, here.

An InLinkz Link-up