1. Link up a post to share a play idea, craft or activity with us.

2. Add a text link back to the Play Academy from your post . . . → Read More: The Play Academy]]> Side by side but in two completely different worlds: one riding the rails and one away with the fairies!

What have you been playing this week? Come and share an idea with us.

1. Link up a post to share a play idea, craft or activity with us.

2. Add a text link back to the Play Academy from your post to invite others to come and share the ideas.

3. Take a look at some of the other ideas linked and get some fabulous play ideas for the weekend. Bloggers just love to receive your comments, so please take a minute to let them know you stopped by.

P.S. Like to win £100 or $150 Amazon voucher? Details here!

I’m joining up with the Weetabix Fuel for Big Days campaign again this week to share some more top tips for kids. This time we want to know how you’re going to keep the kids entertained this half term holiday. Are you going to be out and about or keeping busy at home?

Did you spot me . . . → Read More: Half-term planning with Weetabix]]>

I’m joining up with the Weetabix Fuel for Big Days campaign again this week to share some more top tips for kids. This time we want to know how you’re going to keep the kids entertained this half term holiday. Are you going to be out and about or keeping busy at home?

Did you spot me in the display box over on the right-hand side? Click through and tell me what fun things you have planned for the kids during the school break.

And you’ll also find me and more suggestions for the half term week over at the Weetabix Fuel for Big Days facebook page.

#sponsored post

Oh play dough, we love you. What would the 14th February be without some valentine playdough?

It’s got to be red, or possibly pink, and some glitter only makes it better. I was thinking about adding some scent – maybe some rosewater – but I asked L what she loved and my funny little girl said . . . → Read More: Valentine playdough]]>

Oh play dough, we love you. What would the 14th February be without some valentine playdough?

It’s got to be red, or possibly pink, and some glitter only makes it better. I was thinking about adding some scent – maybe some rosewater – but I asked L what she loved and my funny little girl said ‘satsumas’, so we got as close as we could and added some orange extract.

Printable valentine playdough recipe card

Using store cupboard ingredients our easy no cook playdough recipe is ready in about 3 minutes. Download our printable valentine playdough recipe card, keep it in your kitchen and you’re ready to whip some up whenever you need a playdough fix.

For some valentine fun we had a treasure hunt to see what red and pink items we could find to add in with the playdough. Silicone and paper cake cases, foil shapes and sequins, lollipop sticks and cookie cutters are a great springboard into some play.

You could make your loved ones some cupcakes…

lollipops (a fancy plate was requested by the little baker)

and zig zag cookies…

The perfect valentine playdough afternoon tea.

Love playdough?

Love playdough as much as we do? How about a chocolate playdough recipe, snow playdough or a free ebook with a year’s worth of playdough ideas?

Follow NurtureStore on Facebook for lots more creative play ideas. 

I’ve been waiting all week to share this with you! I have the most amazing book to tell you about. It is packed full of creative Valentine craft ideas, recipes to try, decorations to make and play activities to enjoy. It is the combined work of over seventy international bloggers, inspired and collated by Jamie from . . . → Read More: the heart project]]>

I’ve been waiting all week to share this with you! I have the most amazing book to tell you about. It is packed full of creative Valentine craft ideas, recipes to try, decorations to make and play activities to enjoy. It is the combined work of over seventy international bloggers, inspired and collated by Jamie from hands on as we grow and it is now ready and waiting for you to get your own copy. The book is only available in February though, so be quick!

With a donation of just $5 US dollars (around £3), with all proceeds going to the American Heart Association, the e-book is yours. The ebook is beautifully illustrated and hyperlinked through to the individual creative projects, so you can click through to find out how you can try out each idea for yourself.

A hard-copy of the book will also be available (in soft cover), through createspace.com for $20 dollars.  Five dollars from every purchase of the hard-copy books will go to the American Heart Association.

You can see from this peak inside the book that it is gorgeous! Click the button below to get your very own copy of this very special book. Go on, go on! For just five dollars you will get a book bursting with creativity and know you are supporting a wonderful cause.

The book is the idea of Jamie at hands on as we grow and she has a very personal reason for supporting this campaign. You’ll notice the book is dedicated to Ellie Jo and you can read more about her story here.

Supported by craftprojectideas.com

Craftprojectideas.com is contributing $1 for every ebook sold this month. That means in addition to your $5 donation Craftprojectideas.com will donate another $1 on your behalf (up to $500).

the heart project giveaways

The heart project is a collaboration of the kid blogger community, featuring these fabulous sites

Download your copy of the heart project

With all these wonderful bloggers involved you know there are going to be lots if ideas in the book that you will love. Click this link, make a donation and get your own copy now.

Thank you for your support of the heart project

This activity is part of the heart project: a collaboration of over 100 creative ideas raising . . . → Read More: Valentine touchy-feely hearts]]>

This activity is part of the heart project: a collaboration of over 100 creative ideas raising money for the American Heart Foundation. You’ll need to check back tomorrow to find out all about the project but for now, here’s how to make these touchy feely hearts.

Valentine touchy feely hearts

Start by drawing lots of heart shapes on some card – all shapes and sizes, let the kids have a go!

Spread on some strong clear drying PVA / craft glue and your love heart canvas is ready to decorate.

Invite the children to sprinkle and press on all sorts of materials. Try to provide as many different textures as you can find.

Ideas to try include
:: tissue paper :: wrapping paper :: tin foil :: sequins :: glitter :: sandpaper :: wool :: string :: card :: ribbon :: velvet :: bubble wrap :: sand :: rice :: pasta :: cotton fabric :: lentils :: silk :: hessian :: chiffon

Toddlers can certainly join in with all this and even babies might help. If your baby is too young to do some sticking they can explore some of the materials while older siblings (or you!) create the hearts for them to explore once they’re finished.

As you’re using a strong craft glue most items should stick well to the hearts and still allow you to feel the full variety of different textures. If you’re using small items, such as glitter and sequins, an extra layer of glue over the top helps to hold the materials together. Adding extra folds and crinkles to the papers and fabrics adds even more texture.

The finished hearts look wonderful as a touchy feely art gallery. Hang them where your children can reach them to feel the different textures. You could also stick them in to a journal or scrap book to create a sensory book to share with babies, but be sure to read the book along with them to make sure none of the materials get free and end up in their mouths.

This project is one of over 100 creative ideas joining the very special heart project. Find out all about it here

But if you really can’t wait, why not have a look at our other Valentine craft ideas, such as our water painted hearts and our valentine gratitude tree and our symmetry art love hearts.