FATHER'S DAY PAINTING KIT STEP-BY-STEP

Here’s a step-by-step guide of Ottilie and I making the Father’s Day Crate Kit. Happy crafting!

Prep:

Grab some old clothes or an apron and have a wipe or old towel at the ready!

Here goes…

Then open up the paints and paint all your crate pieces, both sides! Wait for them to dry them slot them together like this…

1. Take the long pieces with the grooves and slot them into the base (the biggest piece)

2. Take a side piece and slot it on to the end of the crate

3. Take the other two sides and slot them into the end piece

4. Add the other long side, gently rest them in place and grab the final piece

5. Push the end piece on, wiggly the side pieces in to place. It may take a couple of go’s to slot it on. Then give it a good tap into place and there you have it!

6. Drop in your gift and hand made cards and ta-daaa! If you find a slots are a little loose you can pop a little bit of glue into the slots to keep it together

EASTER EGG CRAFT KIT | STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

EASTER EGG BOX - STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Step 1: Open up your egg box and lay out your paint and craft pack. Grab an apron and pop it on!

Step 2: Paint your egg

Step 3: Use the crafty pack and your glue dots to add eyes, ears, and other features!

Step 4: Then decorate your egg box or turn it into something fun (See egg box blog post for inspo)

Step 5: Ta-Daaaa! Egg box boat with a bunny and chick!

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INSPO: EASTER EGG ANIMALS

EASTER EGG CRAFT KIT INSPIRATION

If you’ve got your hands on one of our Easter Egg Box craft kits then here’s some inspiration for you! There are so many things you can do with the wooden eggs and crafty bits included in the pack. Have a scroll down for some ideas…

When you’ve decorated your eggs, why not transform you egg box! Head over to our Egg Box blog post for inspo.

We can’t wait to see what you make - share with us @themillhousehertford

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EASTER EGG BOX - STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Step 1: Open up your egg box and lay out your paint and craft pack. Grab an apron and pop it on!

Step 2: Paint your egg

Step 3: Use the crafty pack and your glue dots to add eyes, ears, and other features!

Step 4: Then decorate your egg box or turn it into something fun (See egg box blog post for inspo)

Step 5: Ta-Daaaa! Egg box boat with a bunny and chick!

TOP 20 CRAFTY WAYS TO TRANSFORM AN EGG BOX

Did you know there were sooo many things to do with egg boxes? Dig those empty egg boxes out of the recycling and let your imagination run wild. Or transform the egg box which comes with your Egg Craft Kit

Here’s our top 20, check out the images for more inspiration!

Mermaids 🧜‍♀️
Spring wreath (these are gorgeous!) 🌷
Boats 🚤
Ice cream cones 🍦
Wall hangings 🌨
Jelly fish puppets 🐙
Under the sea coral reef 🦀
Hanging plant pot 🌸
Dancing fish 🐠
Ladybirds 🐞
Caterpillars and crocodiles 🐊
Colourful chicks & bunnies 🐰
Toy camera 📸
Flower crown 👑
Masquerade mask 🎭
Space ship 🚀
Flower bouquet 💐
Mouse house 🏠 🐭
Trains, busses and dumper trucks! 🚂
Ninja Turtles 🐢

Share your makes @themillhousehertford

TOP 10 MOTHER'S DAY CRAFTY IDEAS

Here are some fun Mother’s Day ideas to make for your Mummy, sister, Auntie, Granny…!

1. Paper flower jar

2. Flower bracelet

3. Love bug jar

4. Painted flower planter

5. ‘You’re the best hands down’ print

6. ‘Love you to pieces’ card making

7. Paper heart wreath

8. Lollypop photo frame

9. Flower foot print picture

10. Button family picture

We can’t wait to see what you make - share your creations @themillhousehertford

INSPO: EGG BOX CRAFTS

Ho brilliant are these crafty egg box ideas. Grab your empty egg cartons, a pot of paint and see what you can create!

Check out our top 20 below...

Mermaids 🧜‍♀️
Spring wreath (these are gorgeous!) 🌷
Boats 🚤
Ice cream cones 🍦
Wall hangings 🌨
Jelly fish puppets 🐙
Under the sea coral reef 🦀
Hanging plant pot 🌸
Dancing fish 🐠
Ladybirds 🐞
Caterpillars and crocodiles 🐊
Colourful chicks & bunnies 🐰
Toy camera 📸
Flower crown 👑
Masquerade mask 🎭
Space ship 🚀
Flower bouquet 💐
Mouse house 🏠 🐭
Trains, busses and dumper trucks! 🚂
Ninja Turtles 🐢

HOW TO MAKE: PAPIER-MÂCHÉ

Otts and I had a fun couple of days making a Papier-mâché Octopod! She LOVES Octonauts and I was up for a crafty challenge after a week in front of a screen, so we got our craft on!!

Check out our step-by-step guide showing you a super quick Papier-mâché recipe…

There are two ways to make papier-mâché - glue or flour. We went for the flour option, it’s makes the papier-mâché sturdier and we needed strengthen for our Octopod!

FLOUR RECIPE

1 cup flour
1 cup water
1/2 TBSP salt

GLUE RECIPE

1 cup PVA glue
1 cup water
1 TSP salt

YOU WILL NEED…

Newsprint cut into strips
Bag of flour or PVA glue
Scissors
Old bowl
Balloons
A cup for measuring
Apron / old clothes

HERE’S OUR STEP-BY-STEP FLOUR RECIPE

Step 1 : Measure out a cup of flour and put it in a bowl

Step 2: Measure out the water in the same cup and pour half into the flour and mix

Step 3: Pour in the rest of the water and mix to a smooth paste

Step 4: Blow up your balloon(s) to a size you like, pop them on a small bowl to keep them steady

Step 5: Cut strips of newspaper, dip it into the paste, wipe off excess, lay on the balloon

Step 6: Layer up the strips on the balloon, ensuring there are no gaps!

Step 7: Cover the whole balloon, ideally you'd have two layers for strength

Step 8: Tie string to the top of the balloon, hang up and leave to dry overnight

Step 9: Once dry, cut the papier-mâché to shape, using scissors or craft knife

Step 10: Paint your papier-mâché. Pop it somewhere warm to dry

Step 11: Once the paint is dry, add any finishing touches and you're done!

Step 12: Ta-daaa!!

TOP 10 CRAFTY IDEAS FOR VALENTINES DAY

Hi guys, here’s some crafty inspo for Valentines. Get out the paint and have fun!!

Here’s my top 20…

1. Heart suncatchers

2. Cardboard tube heart printing

3. Love bug cards

4. Hot Air Balloon cards

5. Heart jars for flowers or tea lights

6. ‘You make my heart flutter’ butterfly

7. Valentines crown

8. Playing card bunting

9. I HEART you foot printing

10. Button heart cards

Check out these links for more crafty inspo…

https://westandmak.com/blogs/news/5-easy-valentines-day-craft-for-kids

https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g1093/valentine-day-crafts/?slide=7&src=nl&mag=clg&list=nl_ccr_news&date=011417

https://www.messylittlemonster.com/2020/01/valentines-day-crafts-for-toddlers.html

https://masandpas.com/valentines-craft-for-kids-little-love-birds/

https://livelikeyouarerich.com/25-easy-valentines-day-crafts-for-kids/

NEW PRE-SCHOOL ACTIVITY BOOK

It’s here! Our NEW early years Lockdown Activity Book.

This is really similar to the original activity book (aimed at 5-10 year olds) but we’ve just switched out a few pages to make it suitable for the younger ones!

There are lots of fun things to make - nature boxes, rainbow mobile, weather game, colouring-in cards, cut-out paper dolls. Plus self portraits to create and lots of fun activities for the indoors and out!

SEE INSIDE - You can view me flicking through the book over on our Facebook page here

20 CRAFTY THINGS TO DO WITH A PAPER PLATE

PAPER PLATE CRAFT ✂️
Looking for something crafty to do with the children? Here are some fun things you can do with paper plates!
From Easter bunnies, to Ferris wheels, to masks and games! See our top 20 below or swipe for inspo!

1. Paper plate crowns 👑
2. Paper plate clock - great for teaching the kids how to tell the time in a fun way!
3. Paper plate tennis - Decorate the plate, attach a stick, blow up a balloon and play!
4. Paper plate veg patch (See image!)
5. Paper plate animals - you can make so many animals out of paper plates!
6. Paper plate rainbow to hang in the window 🌈
7. Paper plate masks
8. Dream catcher - see image for inspo!
9. Easter - Hatching chicks & bunny masks
10. Paper plate bag - so cool!
11. Paper plate flowers - one for the grown ups!
12. Dinosaurs 🦕
13. Monster masks
14. Paper plate string art - hole punch holes in the plates and string thread through them creating different shapes!
15. Ring toss - all you need is toilet roll and plates!
16. Spaceships and rockets 🚀
17. Unicorn masks
18. Paper plate spiral track
19. Paper plate frisbees
20. Paper plate merry go round & Ferris wheel - if you want to me ultra creative!!

CRAFTING OUR WAY THROUGH LOCKDOWN 1.0

Lockdown hit on 23rd March 2020, we closed our doors and setup our art box subscription service to keep children busy at home. We delivered boxes weekly to lots of lovely locals aged between 3-9. Here are some snaps from those crafty times… A huge thank you to all those who got involved and supported us!