Simple Gift Giving Idea

I love, love homemade gifts :) both giving and receiving them is so much fun ..

I (with a little help from my girls) made these simple Succulent Gifts as an end of year gift for my girls teachers ..

They are really simple to make and cost effective too (bonus)

Here is what you will need ::

• Succulents
• Pots
• Compost
• Handful of decorative stones 
• Cellophane and ribbon to gift wrap 

Add a little compost to the bottom of each pot, add your succulent and fill with compost , add the stones on top to decorate :) 

I watered mine and left them over night before gift wrapping ..

I added a "Thank you for helping my grow and Bloom this year" to each pot ..

You can find the printable here 

To gift wrap, I covered some cardboard with tissue paper , so that the cellophane would squash the succulent and then tied with natural raffia..

That's it, simple :)  

Sugar Cookie Recipe

Its no secret that I love to experiment in the kitchen. I love how simple ingredients can come together to create something yummy, cookies are definitely one of those edible things you can make in so many ways, perfect for any occasion.

This weekend I had two little helpers :) my 7 and 3 year old..

Here is the recipe we used ....

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 Cup butter, softened
• 1 Cup granulated white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/ teaspoon almond extract
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3 cups plain flour  

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350° F.

• In a bowl mix cream butter and sugar until smooth.
• Beat in extracts and egg.
• In a separate bowl combine baking powder with flour and add a little at a time to the wet ingredients. The dough will be very stiff. If it becomes too stiff for your mixer turn out the dough onto a worktop.
• DO NOT CHILL THE DOUGH. Divide into workable batches, roll out onto a floured surface and cut. You want these cookies to be on the thicker side.
• Bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheet until firm enough to transfer to a cooling rac.

We used a simple icing sugar frosting, which we coloured in pink (well what other colour would we use ?? ;)

Enjoy :)

Tips to make Ramadan Fun for Kids

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I came across these tips whilst searching for something else and thought that they were really good and thought I would share them with you too :) 

So, how is your Ramadan so far ?? I am not gonna lie I have found a few days difficult :( but Alhamdulilah ..

I need to catch up with my Quran reading and start my Quran journal Insha'Allah 

I will be back tomorrow sharing a simple Recipe for my Strawberry Trifle !!

Ramadan Gift Baskets ....

Ramadan Mubarak to you all :)

 One of the things I wanted to accomplish this Ramadan was starting a few traditions in our home, getting the girls excited about Ramadan the meaning and a better understanding of the reason Why this month is so special to Muslims.

When I did a search on Pinterest  (because where else do you go when you need some creative inspiration?) I found these awesome Gift Baskets and  i knew I wanted to re-create those for my girls too :)

The contents of each baskets where very similar I just changed the colours up to suit each of my daughters, the older 2 (12,10) had exactly the same and the younger 2 (7,3) had very similar also..

Contents ~ Younger age basket 

• Ramadan Activity set by the Muslim Sticker Company 
• Art Journal
• Colours
• Stickers
• Bubbles
• Paper lantern (to decorate and hang)
• Paper Garland (to colour and hang) Ramadan Joy
• Prayer Beads ~ Check out my simple DIY 
• I also found a Black soap holder , which I thought they could decorate to look like the Kabba
• Embriodery hoop and fabric 

Contents ~ Older Age Basket 

• Ramadan Fasting Chart set by the Muslim Sticker Company 
• Art Journal
• Water Colours
• Stickers
• Bubbles
• Paper lantern (to decorate and hang)
• Paper Garland (to colour and hang) Ramadan Joy
• Prayer Beads ~ Check out my simple DIY 
• I also found a Black soap holder , which I thought they could decorate to look like the Kabba
• Embriodery hoop and fabric 

My girls loved them !!! I definitely think these will be a new tradition and I am looking forward to creating with them this Ramadan whilst we discuss what Ramadan means to us ..

Sugar Cookie Recipes ....

Chewy Sugar Cookies ~ Add a Pinch

Sugar Cookies ~ Our Best Bites 

Simple Sugar Cookies ~ Completely Delicious 

I am looking forward to making some Ramadan/Eid cookies with my girls, so I thought I would share these simple recipes with you too ..

You could quite easily change the simple recipe, by adding lemon , almonds or coco to create a different flavour. 

Happy baking :) 

Re-usable Favour Bags (Ramadan Makes)

I am busy working on the girls Ramadan Gift Baskets , I wanted to make sure that they have enough activities to help keep them occupied, whilst helping them reflect on this blessed month.

So one of the items that I wanted to include was beads, so they could make their own prayer beads.

It was so much cheaper for me to buy a big box of beads and divide them in to 4 piles, rather than buying 4 individual packets, which lead me onto this quick DIY , re-usable favour/gift bags.

The great thing about these cotton bags is that they can easily be sewn for gifts and then re-used, the hardest part is choosing the fabric :)

Materials 

• Fabric
• Ribbon, Ric Rac or Pom Poms 
• Pins
• Sewing Machine 
• Iron 

Direction

• Cut your fabric ( I cut mine 6" x 14" but you can customise your size).
• Fold the fabric in half , right sides together 
• iron, turn over the 6" edges iron to keep the fold in place , you could also pin .. This helps to create a neat finish to the tops.
• 
  
• Add any trim across the 6" edge, sew in place 
• Fold right sides together , pin in place 
• sew down the two open sides
• turn right side out 
• iron 
• cut ribbon for the bow
• Add your treats :) 

I added some tags on to each of the bags .... Cute

I hope that you enjoyed this quick DIY !! It is definetley an achievable "nap time" project ..

Linking up @ Live Laugh Rowe  , Sew Can Do

Fun Ramadan Craft Ideas for Kids ..

With Ramadan less than a week away, I thought it would be fun to share with you some fun and simple Ramadan Craft activities to enjoy with your children ..

Ramadan Decor ~ Ramadan Joy 

Paper Punch-Out Lanterns ~ Kids Activity Blog 

Eid Cookies ~ Ode to Inspiration

Numbered Flag Garland ~ Ramadan Joy 

I really want to try having a go at a few of theses activities with my girls, I love homemade decor, I think it would be the perfect start of making our own traditions too, Insha'Allah ..

How are you starting to prepare for Ramadan ??

Claire x

Cut It Out Wall Sticker Review ::

Our Customised Wall Sticker

One of the fun things about blogging is being able to work with brands, experience and try out there products ..

So when I checked out Cut It Out Wall Stickers, I knew that I would love there products ..

About the Company ..

Cut it out wall stickers was created with its customers in mind, offering you an affordable yet innovative way of styling your interior. We are a team of professional London based graphic designers who set up cut it out in late 2011. We began as a trio, tired of our mundane 9-5 jobs we decided we needed change! Following the recent trend for wall vinyl we followed in swift pursuit but of course with a little cut it out flare. Our doodled designs on post it notes grew to become panoramic wall art.

The hardest part about this review was choosing which Wall Sticker !! There is something for everyone, every style , every room .. The images on the site give a clear example of how the Wall Stickers may look in your chosen room ..

Find this Sticker here 

Cut It Out also personalise stickers,  that was the sticker I chose, it really finishes off my youngest daughters bedroom..

I will be buying more for the rest of my girls and my kitchen once that's had a makeover ..

Ordering was easy and delivery was quick ..

Application of the sticker, took a bit of time, but once you get the hang of it , its fairly easier .. the stickers are quite delicate so taking your time is the best thing to do..

All in all , a great company to work with an excellent product... 

Find this Sticker Here

So if your looking for a little something to add that finishing touch to your home, I would definitely recommend checking out Cut it Out Wall Stickers ..

Claire 

Coffee Date Friday

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If I thought last week went by quickly, this week went by like a flash !! So glad that the weekend is here though !! 

The school routine has been easier this week, but midnight bed-hopping has made me one tired mommy .

If we were meeting for coffee/tea today, we would be celebrating my baby girls 3 birthday, there would be Minnie Mouse cake and home-made cupcakes .. 

I would be Thanking you (all) for your support and kind words last week, I was glad I opened up about my upcoming surgery (next Friday).

I would share with you that I went for my Pre-Op appointment  yesterday, which went well and I had a lot of my questions answered.. 

I would be excited to tell you that I my No Sew Fabric Bow Tutorial , was accepted onto CraftGawker which has made my week !! Working on my photos is something that I hope to improve on this year too !!

This week I will be focusing on getting organised for next weekend.. 

Today though is a day of celebration, Minnie Mouse style !! Its hard to believe that she is already 3.. After a traumatic birth (emergency c-section ) at 34 weeks, she weighed only 4lbs .She has such a lovely nature, full of smiles..

What would you share with me ??

Joining Alissa @ Rags to Stitches for Coffee Date Friday

Claire xo

Simple Party Dessert Ideas

Last week I shared with you birthday gift ideas for a 3 year old , as my baby girl is turning 3 in 3 days !! 

the presents have been bought and the bike is on its way from the USA !! so excited , so all that's left to plan is the party and food. This year with my operation the week after I opted to have a party in a play area , where the food , party bags and entertainment is all ready organised !!

I am however going to have some sweet treats at home too , here are a few cute, simple ideas ..

Chocolate Dipped Marshmallows ~ Tokyo Sugar 

Sugar Cookie Sprinkles ~ Cooking with my Kid 

Dipped Oreo's ~ Polkadot Prints

Fruit Kebabs ~ Heart felt Confessions  

I have a few ideas too ..

How about party decor .. I found this on Pinterest and I love it !!!

Source

Do you have any simple party desserts or decor ideas ??? I would love to hear them :)

Claire x

3rd Birthday Gift Ideas

Its so hard for me to believe that my baby girl will turn 3 in 10 days !!

The thing with having 4 girls is, I have saved most of the "good" toys so when it comes to birthdays sometimes I find it hard to know what to buy.. 

But a bike is top of our birthday gifts this year ..

Bit disappointed that I cant find this Schwinn bike anywhere in the UK, So will have to order from the US, but its just too cute not to buy for her, I am already looking forward to the warmer weather to take her to the park on this roadster ....

Additional gift ideas ..

She loves despicable me and Minion Rush is a favourite app in our home , so I know she would love a soft minion too.

Lego and Mega blocks, are a favourite too, she spends hours building towers, cars, homes whatever she can think of.

Minnie mouse, seems to have been around my home for a long time, each of my daughters have been slightly obsessed with her at some point, yeap we are having a Minnie Mouse cake this year too !! These Cute Minnie Mouse PJ's (available on-line from the Disney Store, also on sale) would make the bedtime routine that little bit special, lets hope for a good nights sleep too !!

My 6 year old loves Doc McStuffins, to naturally my almost 3 year old does too, this Doctor bag set (also Disney Store Online),  would be perfect for imaginative play, I guess I would be the patient most of the time :)

Do you have a 3 year old ? Any gift Ideas ..

Claire xo

Thought for Thursday ...

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I am taking the girls to watch Disney on Ice tonight, not sure who is more excited, me or them !!!

Happy Thursday (the weekend is almost here)

Claire  x

Little Moments ....

Happy Monday ....

The girls are back at school today after the half term break, its quiet..

We had plenty of fun though and as they get older it seems easier to embrace the little moments.

One of the days included another boat trip, something so calming about water and the fresh air is always welcome, here are some photos for you to enjoy...

Will be back tomorrow to show you my first project life spread :) 

~ Cx 

WOMWD #4

Happy Wednesday !!

We are mid-way through the weeks school holidays. Its been lovely to have the girls at home and not have the usual routine in place ... that being said not as much crafting has been going on, but that's ok.


Here is what my desk looks like....

I like to think that this is a little more organised than usual ??

My white storage basket is now filled with embellishments and stamps (loving the Amy Tangerine alphabet stamp) and papers for my Project Life album !!! yes i started last week and am loving the process !!! I like to store my bits and pieces in these baskets as it allows me to create on the dining room table, then when i have finished easily put everything back and take into my craft space (the loft).

Whilst I love the clean look on my scrapbook pages and projects, i do enjoying having a play with gesso, modelling paste ect. Canvas are perfect for this and i love to hang them in my room after, here is a little close up ...

And someone caught me taking photos this morning and wanted to say "hello" too ...

How could I say no ???? hehehehe..

Linking up @ Stampin Ground 

Enjoying the moment

This past week was a tough emotional one for me :(.

So a day of  fun and surprisingly warm weather yesterday, was just what i needed to remind myself to enjoy the moments.

It was also a great opportunity to take my camera and take some photos, I miss carrying  my camera round and just snapping away, I must remember to take it with me more often..

Here are some photos from yesterday ..

We took the girls on a canal boat.. So relaxing !!!! They even had a go a steering so much fun !!!

Enjoying a go a graffiti art !!

I spent some time this weekend making "Autumn" inspired embellishments... I have to say that these Yo-Yo's are rather addictive. But they are the perfect quick project to make when you haven't got a lot of time..

The rest of my day will be spent tidying and a quick trip to the shops and maybe some more Yo-Yo making.

Happy Monday...