Inspired by a photo on Pinterest that was originally featured on foodcreate, we used a simplified version of an ice cream snowman so the children could all make their own. This was our pudding on . . . → Read More: Snowman ice cream]]>
What’s the best thing to eat when you want a fun treat on a winter’s day? An ice cream snowman of course!

Inspired by a photo on Pinterest that was originally featured on foodcreate, we used a simplified version of an ice cream snowman so the children could all make their own. This was our pudding on Christmas day and the children loved making and eating them. Here’s how to make one:

 How to make an ice cream snowman

Two or three scoops of vanilla ice cream make a snowman body – and if you run your ice cream scoop under water first you’ll find it a lot easier to get the ice cream off your spoon in a great snowball shape.

Chocolate Matchsticks are just right for stick arms.

Tiny chocolate chips are perfect for eyes, mouths and buttons and easy for little fingers to pop in place. And an orange jelly bean is just thing for a carrot nose.

And that’s your ice cream snowman finished and ready to eat – cool!

happily shared with the sunday showcase

Dress up lollypop stick puppets (above)

Make a gown for a balloon puppet

Play a pattern matching game

Make your doll a beautiful bed

It doesn’t have to have a Christmas theme but we like a film that all ages can enjoy together. The girls love films I used to watch . . . → Read More: Movie night ideas]]>
One of our favourite cosy Christmas activities is snuggling up together to watch a film. Here are our four essential movie night ingredients – what are yours?

A movie, of course

It doesn’t have to have a Christmas theme but we like a film that all ages can enjoy together. The girls love films I used to watch as a child such as Mary Poppins and Charlotte’s Web, and the Wizard of OZ (so long as L’s sitting on my knee when the witch appears!) This year it’s going to be The Polar Express – have you seen it?

A cosy cover to snuggle under

We like a huge blanket that accommodates everyone, so usually pull the duvet from the girls bed. This year we’re decked out in the Ella bedding set from Feather & Black. We’re one of the official testers of their childrens beds range and B picked the pretty Ella set for her room.

Something yummy to eat

It’s got to be popcorn. We like to make some fresh and add our favourite Christmas flavoured sugar on top. I spotted these boxes made from paper plates on Pinterest and think they’ll be perfect for popcorn.

Something delicious to drink

If you’ve seen The Polar Express you won’t be surprised that the drink we’re going for is hot chocolate. Sadly, we don’t have the dancing waiters but our hot chocolate will be extra special because we’re making it with this hot chocolate on a stick idea from Holly Bell.

What Christmas movie do your kids love?

Whip up some homemade chocolates, pop them in . . . → Read More: Christmas Rescue 101]]>
Are you ready? Are you wrapped? Are you all baked and cooked and iced? With just a few days left, here’s our Christmas Rescue 101 for those moments when there’s more festive fear than Christmas cheer.

Auntie Ethel’s on her way round and we forgot to get her a present!

Whip up some homemade chocolates, pop them in the fridge and they’ll be ready by this afternoon.

It’s been snowing for three days and we’re running out of ideas!

Take your pick from our snow play ideas.

The kids are over-excited and bouncing round the house!

Chill them out with our snow play dough.

Eek, we forgot to buy anything for the neighbours kids!

A dash to the corner shop, a rummage in the craft box and you can make some homemade selection boxes.

I’ve not even started the wrapping!

For something quick to put together, and mess free so you can leave the kids too it while you sneak away to wrap their presents, try our paper plate angels.

There’s so much stuff everywhere, we can’t possibly give the kids more toys! 

Try our less is more approach to kids bedrooms before Father Christmas comes.

And… relax.

We started by printing lots and lots of circles on to pieces of card. We used our set of stacking . . . → Read More: Painted Christmas wreath]]>
The children had so much fun making this painted Christmas wreath. I like the mix of the traditional decoration with the vibrant colours the kids chose. Here’s how they made it.

How to make a painted Christmas wreath

We started by printing lots and lots of circles on to pieces of card. We used our set of stacking cups to print with, which were really easy for the children to hold and gave us a variety of sizes. We used washable paint so we could clean up the cups afterwards.

Once we’d finished the stamping fun and everything had dried we used the same cups to draw lots of circles on the painted card and cut them out.

We used a paper plate as the frame for the wreath, with the centre removed.

You know my kids have an issue with waiting for glue to dry, so we stapled all the circles in place around the paper plate ring.

We added some shiny ribbon for extra pizzazz and ta-da, our painted Christmas wreath is ready.

More Christmas crafts

If you like this painted Christmas wreath you might also like our other Christmas craft ideas.

happily shared with it’s playtime