Father Christmas is on his way

I love Christmas anyway I am such a big kid, but it is even more special this year as Rex really is starting to know what is going on. We took Rex to see Father Christmas at Brocketts farm in Surrey. It was so magical and if you want a really special meeting with Father Christmas you must go there. 

Rex's face was amazing to see and made me feel that there really is a Father Christmas again.

Well we have now left food on the lawn for Santa's Reindeer, Father Christmas's mince pies are by the fireplace. All set for the big day.Oh apart from the wrapping so much of that to still do !

Merry Christmas everyone ! 

Hope yours is full of love, magic, kindness and laughter. 

Kat x

Magical Reindeer Food

I just took Rex to see some real reindeer this morning, they are amazing. Rex was desperate to touch and feed them. Inspired by seeing the reindeer and my wonderful friend Alice. Alice showed me this amazing magical flying reindeer feed they make every year for her boys. So I decided to make some magical reindeer flying food for Rex to sprinkle on the lawn on Christmas eve for Santa's reindeer to eat too.

It's so easy to make, I just used an old jam jar and printed out a label and stuck it on. Then poured in some plain porridge oats and some glitter and shake up.

There you have it Magical flying food for reindeer's, ours is a Christmas eve special mix. I'm leaving the jar in the fireplace tonight for Rex to find as if it was a delivery from Lapland x

DIY Fox Head Wall Bust

Ive finished one of Rex's Christmas pressies at last, a papier mache foxes head wall bust.

I fell in love with one I saw at Bodie and Fou which is so beautifully made from wool felt, and I have always loved the papier mache animal heads from Athropologie. Neither of those come cheap and I just couldn't justify it. So I thought I would try my hand at making a hybrid version myself. 

Here is the finished fox head hanging where it will go in Rex's room.

The instructions of how to make your very own animal head are below. 

To make your chosen animal head simply make a base out of card stuck together with cello tape or masking tape.

I found that PVA mixed with a little warm water makes a stronger papier mache than wallpaper paste.

Add the strips of newspaper to the head and build up shape for noses etc with scrunched up paper and beads are great to use for eyes all covered in layers of papier mache.

Then Paint your head when dry. I used for the whiskers embroidery thread stiffened with PVA, it works a treat.

DIY Home Made Christmas Wrapping Paper

Here's a really quick, cheap, useful and fun Christmas craft, making your own wrapping paper. All you need are some potatoes, a chopping board, a knife, some paper and paint.

Just cut a shape from your potato to make a shaped stamp, dip it in the paint and your away. Rex and I had a paper printing factory going early on Sunday morning. I thought the paper turned out really well. I especially liked the holly with Rex's fingerprints as the holly berries.

Up Up & Away

Ive always loved old fashioned illustrations of brightly coloured hot air balloons, so beautiful. So I thought I would make some for our tree. 

These really are so easy to make. All you need is some PVA glue, Newspaper cut into strips, balloons, string or embroidery thread, a large tapestry needle,an old egg box and paint.

Blow your balloon up as big or as small as you like. I thought I might make some bigger ones in the new year with Rex.

Cover in Papier Mache and leave to dry. They dry super fast on a radiator.

Stick on 3 threads to balloon and cover in papier mache. Then cut a section from an egg box.

Then cover your make shift basket also in papier mache and leave to dry. When dry thread your strings attached to balloons on a needle and stitch on basket thread by thread and knot to secure.

Paint your balloon and stitch through top of balloon to create a hanging loop.

Mama Style

I think Ive been inspired by all the bright Christmas decorations in the house.

Love our Tree

Rex and I finished decorating the tree this weekend and its so beautiful. So amazing to have a very special little helper this year. Rex is now taking the baubles off everyday and leaving them round the house and hiding my favourites in his special hiding places. I could just stare at a Christmas tree all day especially at night sitting in the dark with the lights on so magical. Especially with Rex repeatedly shouting again and again Pretty Lights Mummy!Pretty Lights Mummy!Pretty Lights Mummy!! x

DIY Christmas Animal MenageTree

Raid your kids toy boxes and make these funky animals for your trees this Christmas.

All you need are some plastic animals, screw in loops and some acrylic or enamel paint.

The yellow elephant I made especially for Rex as his favourite song of the moment is Yellow Elephant and it gets dragged off the tree every day and kissed. 

Mama Style

Thought id give you a bit of mama style today as I haven't done a style post for ages. Plus I think this outfit is slightly ridiculous and deserves sharing. A slightly bonkers combination of Cowboy Boots, Maxi Kilt, Spotted Chiffon shirt and some Indian Jewellery, oh and a Studded Belt. 

It works though weirdly x I do love a mix up !

Pyjama Craft

We love a bit of craft in our PJ's its the best. Something to do on those crazy early cold mornings, creates an inspiring start to the day. Sticky Paper rocks! I'd completely forgotten about it during my adult life until recently I spotted it and the love of sticky paper came flooding back. Maximum fun with minimum mess.