Hump Day Helper #6: Space Explorers

OK, so this week it's not something crafty, but rather a great site for kids who are into the final frontier... Space!

This is a long story, but my almost 4 yr old Abby has her own version of the Why question that toddlers seem to love to much, particularly when she's in the car. She either asks where everything comes from, or how old everything is .... where do traffic lights come from? how old is fly spray? and every answer you give her prompts another.... the fact that i always answer her questions often gets me into a lot of strife and a 20 minute Q&A session that I usually get out of by saying, we'll look it up when we get home! My favorite is when she argues point blank that I do know the answer, I'm just being difficult by telling her I don't know. As flattering as it is that she thinks I'm the all seeing oracle, I just don't have answers that roll off my tongue about where gravity comes from!

Until now that is! Abs was absolutely fascinated by the recent space shuttle trip to Hubble and because I didn't have the answers or quick wit to answer her many, many, many, many space questions i followed through on my promise to look it up!

Thank the stars for the NASA website. It is very cool and has lots of interactive games and activities that appeal to even the youngest of space explorers. We are a big fan of the Buzz Lightyear Game and Space your Face gets a few giggles too! But the depth of info and images on here is just amazing. Who knew you could watch live NASA TV? Well worth a look and there are some colouring in pages to download too!

Moss Fairies

All week i have been promising myself that I'd be more consistent with my blogging, and I keep falling off the promise wagon! This time i can blame it on the fact I've had my nose in a book I can't put down. I've finally succumbed to curiosity and am reading Twilight to see what all the fuss is about. I'm about 3/4 done, saving the last little bit for my hair dressers appointment in the morning. I must say, even through it is a little predictable and the whole irresistible vampire lover thing has been done to death (pun intended), I'm quite enjoying reading a book I can whiz through and doesn't make me think to much. I tend to get hooked on series's once I've read the first (note the stash of Janet Evanovich books under my bed), so no doubt I'll be off to get the sequel sometime tomorrow too!

On a completely different note, I found the most adorable Fairy terrariums on Etsy yesterday.

This is by Doodle Bird Designs and I need one soooo much. I can't believe how adorable these are! Not to sure how I'd go finding moss growing here in Townsville though?


Gnome washing day! I'm speechless....

Find Doodle Bird Designs here on Etsy!

New Prints from Fall Down Tree

My apologies for being a bit slack in the blogging department as of late. We've had a bit of a busy run with Nannie and Grandad visiting, everyone having colds and a crazy number of birthday parties to attend! I actually forgot completely that it was Hump Day as we were so busy today with swim classes and jetting about town getting jobs done, we didn't even get a hump day to worry about this week. So.... hand over heart.... I promise to try harder next time!

During all this busy-ness, I did manage to get some fab new products loaded up into the store which have been sitting next to my desk begging to be given my attention.

Firstly, some delicious new prints from very talented Adam Record of Fall Down Tree. It is really, really hard to find great stuff for boys out there. I find it especially hard being a Mum of two little girls, so I'm never exactly sure that what I think is pretty great, is what boys will think is pretty great too! Luckily Adam's prints seem to do the trick.

There are 10 prints in stock and here are a few of my personal fav's....

The 3 prints in the To the Moon series... There's a bit of a space obsession happening at home thanks to the recent space shuttle launch and discovery of the awesome NASA website. More on that later....


and this one called Bird Band. It makes me think of that Paul Kelly song, Band on Every Corner (probably not very kid-propriate, but its what springs to mind).

See more great Fall Down Tree prints in stock now!

The Great Kids Fashion Hunt

If you've visited our homepage in the past month or so you will probably have seen the banner advertising the Great Kids Fashion Hunt on kidsfashionreview.com during June.

Well, it's way underway now, but it's not too late to sign up and take part. There is huge prize pool to win from, plus spot prizes along the way.

It's super easy to participate, and the rules aren't too hard either. Simply visit Kids Fashion Review and sign up to the website, the click on the links for the Fashion Hunt and follow the hints to find the hidden fashion hangers on participating websites.

There are lots and lots of great deals from all the other businesses taking part also, and usually a special offer each day too! And to make you feel all warm and fuzzy, it's for a great cause, helping to raise money and awareness for the Ronald McDonald Children's Charities.

Happy hunting!

Hump Day Helper #6: Paper Toys

I have been a long time fan of Tim Haugen of Fantastic Toys. He makes some of the most adorable paper craft toys your likely to see. I (or rather the "Easter Bunny") made one of these Easter Egg Dioramas for each of my girls at Easter time and hid some eggs in the bottom. It was a huge hit and the "Easter Bunny" is apparently very talented with glue according to my 3yr old!















Well, the fun needn't stop there. Tim also makes adorable paper nesting dolls, a gingerbread house, a birthday cake and the cutest dolls house complete with furniture and little inhabitants you are ever going to see.


Prices start from just $0.20US on his Etsy site but average at about $3-$4US for the paper toys pictured here. He also makes cute little softies you'll find hard to resist.

Each kit comes as a PDF document which Tim sends you via email within 24 hrs of purchase. All you need then is a colour printer, scissors, some card stock and glue. All the instructions and ingredients are listed on each item before you buy so you'll know what you need to get started.

My Easter Egg took me about 15-20 mins each to make and was a little fiddly, but the end result was quite amazing and it actually withstood quite a bit of interactive play once the girls discovered the eggy treats underneath. It's probably more of a slightly older child project, but the little ones will love the bright colours and cuteness you'll bet!

Fantastic Toys on etsy

KidStyleFile Annual Reader Survey

The stellar blog site KidStyleFile has launched their 2nd Annual Reader Survey and it's running for the full month of June. There is a prize pool totaling $12,000 up for grabs, so that's worth a few minutes of your time I'm sure!

Plus as a feel good bonus, Angela (the talented and gorgeous blogger extraordinaire) who runs KidStyleFile is donating 50c from every completed survey to the Make a Wish Foundation! Now that's an awesome show of charity for a very deserving cause.

The Annual Reader Survey is great as it gives you a chance to give something back to KidStyleFile so they can keep their finger on the button when it comes to style, whats hot and where to get it. And it also helps out businesses like Monkeytail and Wellington so I can find out buyer trends, favourite brands and what I might be doing wrong (or hopefully right) when it comes to giving my customers what they want and deserve.

If your not already a member, I recommend signing up for the KidStyleFile weekly newsletter. It comes jam packed every Tuesday with great savings, competitions and reviews from businesses you may not have met before. There's the occasional special deal from me too which is exclusive to KidStyleFile readers!

Have fun and good luck!

Hump Day Helper #5: Clothespeg Butterflies

Yay... It's my birthday today! So I've had a lovely hump day so far as hubby has the day off and my parents are visiting, so hump day this week has been a none event as the girls are more occupied than they can handle for a change!

But just in case your hump day isn't going to plan, here is a great idea i found last week via Red Current when I was searching how to make peg dolls (that another story!).

What do you need?

Some wooden clothes pegs
Some coloured tissue paper
Glue

How to do it

Fold two pieces of tissue paper in half and cut out two sets of wings from the tissue paper using this pattern (courtesy of Runner Duck).
Slide the middle of the tissue paper into a peg and scrunch it up
Glue in place - Voila!
You could fashion a couple of antennae from some fake flower parts or the like to finish it off!

Here's another slightly more complicated version from eHow


How to Make a Butterfly With Clothespins -- powered by eHow.com

Best things come in Small packages...

Do you read Small Magazine? ... No! ... Well you should! I look forward with eager anticipation to its release each quarter and am yet to be disappointed.

I think its attention to crafty goodness for kids is what appeals to be most. I love that I find something in each issue that I've never seen before and goes on my "Most Wanted Wish List". Such as one of these "Paper Airplanes" from paperpod.co.uk. How cool is this....


The photography is nothing short of stunning... I love this image from page 120 of Issue 10, you may recognise the Little Hero Super Capes


This is an image from page 7 in the Days of Summer piece. Artist divine Tutti Shafir's illustrated photo shoot!


So what are you waiting for? Go get your fix now! www.smallmagazine.net