DIY Halloween....part 2

Okay, so I really should have posted this part 2 earlier!  But better late than never, eh?  The next thing I did with the kids drawings (after scanning them in) was print them out and then we all cut them out.  This is again a great activity to do with the kids, they love to help and it develops their fine motor skills.  I just went round their edges after, just to neaten them up!  We then stuck the individual characters to cocktail sticks with a bit of sticky tape so we could then use them as cake decorations.

I also blew up some of their characters so they were A4 size, printed and cut them out.  These made great decorations.

Halloween wouldn't be halloween if it wasn't for candles, however, children/parties/candles don't exactly mix so as an alternative I cut out a flame on orange card and then stuck them to candles.  This was quite effective.  We had them placed all around the room up high, covered in cobwebs and from afar they looked authentic!

Using the kids drawings that we had previously cut out, I layered them onto a picture frame to create a spooky collage.  This makes a really cool picture, something you could do with any of their drawings.

So finally, we decorated the whole house using lots of autumnal things the kids had collected from the woods like acorns/conkers etc.  We also ripped scary faces on leaves.  My friend made the most fantastic chocolate sprinkle cake and a good time was had by all.  Have a look below and HAPPY HALLOWEEN.

DIY Halloween Part 1...The Invitation

We are all a little guilty of going over board with parties and although I don't feel pressured that my parties have to be amazing, I do love lots of decorations!  I just love to make things, but I can see that this is just another 'thing' we have in this modern world of ours.  By trying to make everything look perfect and impressive we have lost sight of the originally brief.....to celebrate something or someone.  

Now when I was a child parties were so simple, we would do the hokey cokey, oranges & lemons and some crazy game where you had to put on lots of adult clothes and then try to cut up chocolate with a knife and fork!  I think this simplicity has been lost  and I am going to bring it back!  Well, to my own children, at least.  

Lets start with Halloween.  I have already posted a great party package (here) but here is a great idea that you can do easily, cheaply and involve the children.  Get your children to draw lots of spooky characters, houses etc  Kids drawings are so cool, they just have great imaginations and would give any quirky illustrators a run for their money!  I then drew around them with a fine liner pen, not changing the original drawing just making it clearer for the scanner.  

I then cut out all the drawings and scanned them into Photoshop, where I created an invitation. However, you do not need to do this.  You can cut out the characters and then place them on a piece of paper, building up the invite and sticking it all down when you are happy with it.  You could use old magazines and cut out words to create the writing, like a ransom note.  This is our invite, which can then be emailed to all so you don't even have to print anything off, which is cost efficient and better for the environment.

I will post part 2 shortly, where I will show you how to use all these great drawings to create a fantastic Halloween party.

Making something out of nothing!

Finally, I have managed to do another little diy project for you!  It is one that I have had in mind for sometime and it is a great one to do with the children as it is so simple.  It is again down the route of recycling and upcycling, creating something new out of something that no longer has a use.  Follow the photographic steps and create your own little softie.  I'd love to know how you got on.

NEW FEATURE.......DIY Party Decorations - Pinwheels

In the spirit of 'reuse/recycle/renew' we have developed a new feature....A step by step guide on how to make your own party decorations.  Today we start with Pinwheels, a really easy thing to make that looks great!  Follow my Pinterest Party board here for more ideas and let me know what you think to the new feature!

Spring Summer 2013 Trend Neon / Fluoro

Neon / Fluoro is everywhere this season.  From high-end fashion, accessories and childrenswear to interiors. It is an easy, fun trend to wear with a nod to the 1990's club scene.  Styling can be subtle or as full on as you like.  From Neon graphics, trims and accessories to all over fluoro fabric shades.  There are numerous accessories available and none more so than in footwear, check out the lovely Belgium Website Les Casse Pieds (www.lescassepieds.be) there are a gorgeous pair of Neon green patent shoes as well as the neon trim high tops below or the French brand Sun Jellies in every shade (http://www.sunjellies.com/little-jellies) as see below also.

However, there are lots of DIY tutorials to help you give your current items a 'Neon' make-over.  See this post by Celina Bailey (Editor of the fantastic blog http://petitapetitandfamily.blogspot.co.uk) for the Uber cool La Petite Magazine Blog, but if that is just too tricky then why not add a neon lace as J.Crew have done to their desert boots, see link and image below.

Love it or loathe it, this trend has been here for a while and shows no signs of disappearing!  I'm pretty sure though from looking at the selected images you can see how good it is for Childrenswear and perhaps just what we need after this long dark winter!

All Images Available here 

http://pinterest.com/pin/96897829454999036/

http://pinterest.com/pin/96897829454986870/ (Babekins Magazine Fluoro Ballet pumps)

http://pinterest.com/rubancollectif/ruban-collectif-studio/ (DIY Fluoro Headdresses & tutus)

http://pinterest.com/pin/96897829454972457/ (J.Crew Fluoro Laces in desert boots)

http://pinterest.com/pin/96897829454984870/ (Barbara Decre photograph fluoro satchels & pumps)

http://pinterest.com/pin/96897829454962265/ (Les Casse Pieds.be Fluoro trim high tops)

http://pinterest.com/pin/96897829454948194/ (little-miss-y.be Fluoro hair tie)

http://pinterest.com/pin/96897829454922544/ (Fluoro decorations / accessories by milchschaumdesign.blogspot)

http://pinterest.com/pin/96897829454864089/ (Fluoro graphic styling by http://www.pauletpaula.com)

http://pinterest.com/pin/96897829454792665/ (Fluoro Yellow shorts & Jeans http://www.noahs.nl/)