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

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 HAND & FOOT PRINTING FOR VALENTINES

Here’s one for the littles! Well anyone who fancies getting their hands and feet covered in paint!!

Check out the links below to more crafty fun for Valentines…

https://www.gluedtomycraftsblog.com/2015/01/berry-much-valentine-handprint-card-idea.html

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/

THE ULTIMATE LOCKDOWN ACTIVITY BOOK

We’ve been racking our brains over here at TMH HQ for things we can do for the kids during lockdown. Here’s one of many things we have planned, our new 35 page activity book!

Colouring-in, games, postcards to cut out to send to friends, a mini rainbow mobile to make…. Plus wellbeing activities, nature play suggestions, crafty outdoor ideas and more!

It’s a lovely keepsake to look back on in years to come.

Suggested age: 4-10 year olds

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FREE NEW YEAR PRINTABLES

It looks like we may have a little more free time than usual leading up to New Year this year! So here’s a downloadable pack to keep the kiddies (and adults!) entertained over the next few days…

The pack includes…

• Colouring-in
• Mini New Year bunting template
• Paper party hat template
• Star wand template
• 2021 to do list & All About Me activity sheets
• New Year word search

Hit the button below to download for free…

FREE NATURE PLAY ACTIVITY PACK

Back in October 2020 we worked with some wonderful locals businesses to create a community half term nature trail around Hartham Common.

Despite the blooming awful weather I was blown away by how many families joined in the fun and did the trail - thank you for all your amazing support! Over 350 people download the map and around 1000 were picked up from local shops in town.

A big thank you to all the amazing local businesses who helped so so much to bring this little project to life @naturaledgecoaching @meganrosefreelance @hertfordtheatre @theremedyworks @mumsguidetohertford @harri_bentley_photography @eyemindheart @brothershipstudio @hertscoffeelab @hertfordtowncouncil @bgreenstore

Here are the activities from the trail, which includes lots of fun nature play activities for the kids to do in the park or garden, plus colouring-in, word search, maze, bug hunt, colour-by-numbers, cutting practice... Have fun and don’t forget to share your creations with us! @themillhousehertford

FREE | NATURE PLAY ACTIVITY PACK

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