Fathers Day Fun

I think Fathers Day should be as important and memorable as Mothers Day.

In our house there was never such a fuss made, perhaps because we didn't really know what little things Dad would appreciate. Mum was always touched by bunches of hand picked wild flowers clutched in clumsy fingers; she would even forgive the hole left in her flower beds. Growing up we would spoil her with little things to make her day more special; the usual breakfast in bed, a hand-made card that got stuck to the fridge and stayed there until next year when it was finally filed away with other treasures.

Fathers Day was different though, a card yes, Mum probably even bought his favourite treats for us to hand out too but we didn't do anything much together apart from the usual Sunday Dinner. All week long my Dad would work outside. I come from a farming family so sun up to sun set Dad was trudging around with no time for fun. Sundays didn't mean a day off, even on Fathers Day, so perhaps having a sleep in the easy chair after dinner was the best present he could have had!

I hope that one day, when I have kids of my own, we will focus a bit more on Daddy and make time to spend the day together, not just on Fathers Day.

So, if you have kids and also feel that Daddy deserves more than a card this Fathers Day take a look on Pinterest for some great crafting ideas to get the whole family involved this weekend. Not only will it make your man feel appreciated but it will give the kids precious childhood memories and maybe start a lifelong tradition of making time for loved ones in our hectic lives a bit more.

Some of my favourite ideas:

• Make tents out of blankets and have a picnic inside or even better, if you can, have a BBQ and make sure you remember the marshmallows for toasting!
• Collect smooth pebbles or rocks and paint them in fun patterns, use aboriginal art for inspiration. This can keep older children busy and inspired for ages and makes great paperweights for Dad's paperwork!
• Dig out the board games and have an afternoon of fun playing Cluedo, Pictionary or Go Fish...
• Use soda bottles filled with water as ten pin bowling pins. Daddy can show off his bowling skills and bond with the kids.
• Have a paper aeroplane making competition. Whoever has the best plane that flies farthest is the winner. You could also have prizes for the most funky design.

Make your own bubble fun

Affordable and easy bubbles keep kids entertained; make up your own bubble solution and watch them have an absolute ball! 

You will need:

1 Cup water 

1 1/2 tablespoons dish soap 

1 1/2 teaspoons glycerin

Mix and leave overnight before using. Leaving over night is important to make a stronger solution so the bubbles don't burst so easily.

If you don't have bubble bottles with wands to re-fill, you can make a game of finding things in the kitchen that can be used to blow bubbles through. Any utensils with holes in will work; slotted spoons, spatulas etc. or you can use cookie cutters, plastic trays from buying fruit (the ones with holes in) or twist pipe cleaners into fun shapes. 

 
Remember this can be a bit of a messy fun-time so use a room that's easy to wipe down or better still get them outside in the fresh air.

Salt Dough Decorations

Following on from my recent blog for home-made play dough I decided to find my Mums' Salt Dough recipe and make some decorations for the Christmas tree. They make simple, effective baubles that you can keep year on year; just make sure you paint them well and store them in a dry place. This is a great activity to get the kids involved in and one they will remember for the rest of their lives.

You'll need a few simple things:

1 Cup Flour
1/2 Cup Salt
1/2 Cup Water
Acrylic Paints
Glitter
Ribbon/Wire

Mixing Bowl
Cookie cutters
Baking tray
Knitting needle or skewer

Salt dough really couldn't be easier, you simply put the salt and flour in a mixing bowl and gradually add the water while mixing with your hand.

When all the water is added you knead the dough for 10 minutes to mix it well and to make the dough more elastic.

Once this is done you can set up your work station to roll out the dough and cut out shapes using the cookie cutters. If you're making these with kids try putting their dough on a tray and sit them at the kitchen table where they will be able to sit comfortably; your kitchen counters may be a little too high for them to work from.

You may need a palette knife or fish slice to lift the delicate shapes.
Don't forget to use a knitting needle to poke a hole to hang the decorations by before they get too dry.

Once you've cut your decorations out, lay them on a baking tray to dry. You can either leave them in a warm dry place to dry hard which will take a couple of days or you can put them in the oven at a very low temperature for a few hours. If you notice they are going a little brown you should cover them with tin foil until they are dried thoroughly.

Now they are ready to decorate in any way you can think of! So get creative with paints, glitter, sequins or anything else you can stick onto your shapes. Don't forget to lay down newspaper first, especially if the kiddies are helping and be sure that you're around to supervise them.

Once they are dry you can thread your ribbon or wire through the hole and have fun finding places to hang them.

Have a very happy Christmas everyone!

Ruthie

Craft Tips for Newbies No 12

If you're have trouble threading a needle try holding the needle in front of a white surface so that the eye is more visible.

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Your very own Wells Dressing!

Crafting with the kids on this rainy day? Lots of ideas in our making section and also freebies for those registered on the site. http://www.seekitout.co.uk/to-make.html
 
FAMILY CRAFTING IDEA
How about a family craft day to see who can create something amazing. In the Peak District the traditional Wells Dressings use natural products from nature and clay to produce spectacular pictures, the tradition goes back way into history.  The results they achieve are spectacular to say the least.
 
So how about some simple plasticine or similar, even double sided tape (carpet tape - try B&Q), piece of card or board, rice, dried pulses, scraps of fabric, beads, old wrappings, egg shells, flower petals, moss, pebbles or scrunched up paper to create a family masterpiece, does not have to be done in a day so could not be more perfect.  Slip under a bed or on top of a cupboard for safe keeping till done.  Worried it will dry out cover carefully with cling film till done. Check these ideas out bit.ly/M0xPMu  Often religious yours can be anything, people, flowers, Olympics, date in History, even random modern art.... the world really is your oyster

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Expanding your world

Seek It Out has linked up with Craft Blog UK so you guys who follow us can find even more useful stuff on their blog too.  So many helpful hints, tips, how to's etc. out there in the bigger blog world and we want to help Seek It Out followers find them easily.

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Heat wave or Hurricane - half term blues....

One moment we are basking in the heat and next sloshing around in wellies.  Heating off, heating on, never sure what to do for the best.  Half term fun seriously limited by the weather which is a shame but not the end of the world.  A Seek It Out follower recently told me how she had fun with her house full of her & other's kids, all climbing the walls as all the outdoor activities were cancelled. Determined not to have the day spent in front of the TV or on the Xbox she decided to have a competition. Had to be simple and fun as she only had one other adult in the house to help plus a mixed group of kids.

Clear they had to use what they had at home, so T towels were the order of the day.  Out with the sewing machine (adults to be the machinists for the teams), the bits and bobs box (old ribbon, odd buttons, bits of gift wrapping etc.) and some fabric remnants. The kiddies were asked for ideas, adults worked out if they could make the item with what they had and then in teams of three they started project number one.  To make a simple tote bag from a T towel.  Each team was told to work on their own design and look, with some adult support but only when asked for.  Several hours and several cookie breaks later all bags were complete.  The differences were amazing considering everyone was in the same room. Competition was lively but healthy which made it all the more exciting.  There were three bags in total, one had long handles, the other two short.  One had an internal pocket with a button flap and another a bottle strap inside.  Colours varied, some using mixed T towel pieces for contrasting effect and so the variations went on. Their attention to detail was really good, helped by a practical briefing from the adults on how it needed to be strong and robust if a bag.

 

The kids were really chuffed with their efforts and keen for more, no one slinked off to the computer or TV.  In fact so keen they wanted to do something else, after much thought and more rummaging two more projects came out, TV remote tidy bags for sofa arms using from fabric remnants and decorated napkin rings using fabric and beads from a broken necklace.

Just shows when we are pushed we really are a clever bunch, pulling rabbits out of the hat without hardly a thought.  I have to add my pal is creative but she is no keen crafter, so this was a big deal but it worked a treat.  What could you do with your kids, a bake off or craft off?

Do not let the rain clouds spoil your fun. Remember we love to post great projects on our gallery.

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