Craft for non-crafty parents | Vegie Smugglers

Archive for Craft for non-crafty parents

Christmas silly but fun (festive ways with loo rolls!)

December 8, 2010 · Filed under Craft for non-crafty parents, News · Tagged Christmas, craft, ideas, kids products

a christmas fairy made from a toilet roll

Fairy perfection! and in January, just chuck her in the recycling

Nothing demonstrates the joy of starting and the hell of finishing a task more than the annual Christmas tree experience. The excitement! The fun! Decorating the tree each December is one of the best jobs of the year. So full of promise and hope! So different to January 10 last year when you finally had to admit that the damn thing was dead and the lovely smell of pine needles had descended into a vaguely compost-tainted stink.

Then of course the rotting tree sat down the side of the house until the council clean up in March, when brave husband lugged the (excitingly big on it’s arrival) enormous thing out onto the footpath, spiders, cockroaches and all.

This year our tree is done. Covered in school-and-daycare-made treasures. Plus some tinsel and baubles to tizz it up a little. And the pinnacle of tree-joy is, of course, the fairy. A stoic, serene little thing. Stuck in the ornament box all year, then dusted off, fixed with sticky tape and shoved precariously on the top.

This year I’m fully committing to the vaguely-daggy-craft-tree experience, complete with my loo-roll Christmas fairy. She matches in perfectly with all the other handmade stuff. A few paper chains and the tree is complete.

And why is my fairy so happy? Well, she’s a loo roll, with a lovely easy spot to shove the tree, meaning total comfort for her throughout this festive season.

Click the pic to download the fairy PDF

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas….

December 1, 2010 · Filed under Craft for non-crafty parents, News · Tagged celebrations, Christmas, craft, family, ideas

a pattern for a paper snowflake to make with your kids

Nothing says 'Aussie Christmas' as much as a bit of fake snow

Ok, it’s officially December. Being born in late November, I refuse to do anything with tinsel or Bing Crosby until after my celebration of me, but that was last week and I’ve got no more excuses to keep stalling. Time to breathe deeply and tackle the whole enormous festive task.

When do the Christmas negotiations begin at your place? For us, it’s somewhere around June that the first hints start being dropped and the tentative seasonal foreplay begins. Will we lunch here, or travel to there, “Do you think you’ll be heading our way this year?”, “How about you come to us?”, “Last year you did…” You get the idea. Trying to make everyone happy and yet somehow leaving everyone vaguely cranky with you. By mid-October plans are firming and this year we’re biting the bullet and acknowledging that after a couple of years off, we’ll be spending a nice big chunk of Christmas day on the freeway between cities so that we can fulfill all of our family commitments.

At least it gets me out of cooking the turkey. So all that’s left on my list of things to do is… ummmm… everything, actually. Possibly you are in the same boat as me? So to get things started and ease a bit of Christmas cheer into your life, here’s a paper snowflake to make. Just print it (onto coloured paper if you have some), fold on the dotted lines and cut on the solid ones. And voila! Straight to top of the class at The Northpole-Elf-Craft-Academy.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

And as another Christmas sweetener, for the next few days I’m offering a giftwrap service when you buy a copy of the Vegie Smugglers cookbook. Just write ‘giftwrap’ in the special instructions when you order and I’ll deliver it to you in a lovely bright giftwrap, complete with ribbon…

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This is Major Tom to ground control

November 17, 2010 · Filed under Craft for non-crafty parents · Tagged craft, ideas, parenting

Can you hear me Major Tom?

Sharing your childlike sense of fun and wonder with your kids gets no easier than this simple print and play dashboard. Non-vehicle specific, but probably best for cardboard spaceships, this A4 sheet guarantees smooth passage to deep space. For me, it fits perfectly on the back of an empty Vegie Smugglers box (thanks all for recent purchases!).

Download and print out the PDF, stick it onto any upturned box and you’re done. Of course, if you want to get a bit fancy about it, you can add bottle tops (no, not beer bottle tops), gaffe tape, pipe cleaner levers, toy keys, plastic knobs and a stack of stickers.

Next, leave your delighted kiddie playing happily and go grab yourself a coffee and congratulate yourself on your parenting genius!

128 pages, 40 projects, 85 pages of printables…

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Super silly but super fun

November 4, 2010 · Filed under Craft for non-crafty parents · Tagged craft, ideas, parenting

toilet roll craft with these cute little people

The best possible toilet humour with Ivana and Gary

At VS HQ, it’s an endless and relentless search for ways to help parents in every way possible.

In perhaps my greatest triumph, I’ve now found a way to grab a few moments of creative fun on the regular trip between the bathroom and the recycling bin.

Download the PDF loo roll dolls, colour, cut, roll around your discarded toilet rolls and sticky tape in place. Your kids will think you’re awesome and you’ll get a bit of a laugh yourself.

Craft doesn't get any easier than this!

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Why I hate the Jamie Oliver haters

October 26, 2010 · Filed under Craft for non-crafty parents, News · Tagged craft, feeding the family, fundraising, kids, vegetables, vegies

vegie smugglers healthy eating worksheet

Get your kids recognising all of these fruits and vegetables, or maybe just use the shopping list when seeking out names for your newborn.

Available for your downloading enjoyment this week is a nutrition inspired bit of craft fun – a fruit and vegetable shopping list where kids can practice numeracy, reading, colouring in and most importantly recognising a range of healthy ingredients. It was inspired after watching Jamie Oliver’s recent Food Revolution USA. Did you see any of it? This bit where the kids couldn’t recognise ANY fruit and veg was downright scary.

I like to think that Aussie kids are far more knowledgable – we have such a fantastic supply of fresh produce and are surrounded by an inspiring cauldron of world cuisines. Surely this scene wouldn’t take place in any of our classrooms, would it?

Say what you will about Jamie, and the poor fella attracts his fair share of haters, he’s passionate and devoted to improving the health of thousands of children world-wide. So I can ignore the mild child abuse he perpetrates on his own children with their eccentric names. Such is the privilege of celebrity I suppose.

This Jamie-inspired worksheet is one of the three that are supplied to your daycare centre or school when you participate in a Vegie Smugglers fundraising program. The VS Facebook community will know that it’s been all action with the first fundraisers starting this week. Good luck everyone!

If you haven’t already, download the info PDF and email it to your daycare manager, letting them know that you’re keen to join in the fun. There are great benefits for all with the program, my tagline for it is “empowering parents, creating healthier families, and raising money too!” – an ethos I’m totally committed to. I passionately believe that healthier kids lead to happier families. When everyone eats better, they sleep better and then they behave better. Meaning you are rested and calm enough to parent better too.

Well, we can all try…
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For other health orientated worksheets, try these…

Which vegetables grow above and below the ground? Find out with this colouring in page.

Or this plate worksheet, ready for the kids to draw on, colour and collage.

For a full look at all my posts with free printables… CLICK HERE!
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Like this project? You can find it, along with 39 other boredom busters in the ‘Craft for non-crafty Parents’ e-book. There’s a stack of silly fun stuff, projects that encourage healthy eating and a bunch of worksheets covering preschool education and school readiness. You can buy it at the shop now!

128 pages, 40 projects, 85 pages of printables…

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We’ve got those ‘first day of term’ blues

October 12, 2010 · Filed under Craft for non-crafty parents, News · Tagged craft, family, ideas, organisation

Ahhh yes, the post-holiday comedown. How good is it!?! The joyous sound of the alarm ringing at 6am on that first Monday. Realising that there are no ironed shirts. You don’t know where the lunch box is. You never did wash the school jumper at the end of last term, and you forgot to clean the half eaten fruit out of the bottom of the backpack. Smell?! What smell?! And it’s raining. God knows where the raincoat is. Dash out the door, late, amazed at how a two-week break can cause such a break in the routine.

Thankfully, yesterday morning was salvaged by my ‘morning jobs’ chart, which as been stuck to the bathroom door since the beginning of the year. It’s an ordered list of visual prompts that my daughter goes through each day, that helps her get ready quite independently. I just have to tell her to start her morning jobs, and then I keep an eye on her and check in occasionally “what are you up to?” She checks and confirms that next job is ‘shoes and socks’ etc.

With these posters, I can avoid becoming a shrew at 8am.

a poster of morning jobs to help the kids get organised

Chart your way to independent children

Everyone who visits, comments on what a good idea it is. So I’m spreading the joy today, with this PDF download of the morning jobs posters. Cut and paste the pictures you need (make one for each kid), and then colour the “Do I have my…” chart, where they can check their bag contents against the chart and avoid forgetting too much stuff. Get them to help with the cutting and pasting, to make the whole thing more fun. Guide them through it for the first few days (with elaborate praise when they get it right), and then watch in amazement each morning, as they bustle about getting themselves ready.

Cut, paste, colour if you like, and put the kids in charge (of themselves)

Good luck with the rest of the week.

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The real reason I do craft (is to get the gossip)

October 7, 2010 · Filed under Craft for non-crafty parents · Tagged craft, family, parenting

The world has turned in the last year as Miss Fruitarian ventures forth into the playground and the world of alliances, secrets and boys.

It’s hard to keep up. Last week you had to take sandwiches for lunch, one ponytail only and white socks. Last month it was green stockings, two piggytails and plain pasta in the lunchbox.

Miss F slaves dutifully to the trends and I am starting to dread the teenage years when all of the peer pressure starts to impact in more truly existential ways.

Figuring that good communication comes from years of habit, I’ve instigated a couple of new strategies aimed at keeping our relationship strong. We go to the library every 3 weeks after school. Choose books; read a couple then take tea at the library café. She gets to choose whatever gluggy cake takes her fancy and I latte away. These affairs are nice, but not entirely successful. They tend to go like this

Me “Who are you playing with at the moment?”
Her “Same.”
Me “How are you enjoying the games you’re playing with the girls?”
Her “Good.”

You get the idea.

More successful is the impromptu sitting at the dining table, attention wholly on her, with glue sticks, scissors and bits of paper. There is no eye contact; we are too intent on our creation. We chat about colours, how many shades of pink exist in the world etc. Then, from time to time after a little pause, I get little gems out of her like “do you know… Georgia has a boyfriend!”.

Bingo. Craft has delivered the goods yet again.

Colouring in worksheet for mum/daughter bonding time.

Get all the important news while you colour away.

With that in mind, here’s some girl colouring, with all of the little creatures they like. Interesting enough to keep her at the table for the half hour needed to really find out what’s going on.

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School holiday fun (on the cheap)

September 23, 2010 · Filed under Craft for non-crafty parents, News · Tagged craft, family, ideas, kids, parenting

Your kids can have THE BEST DAY EVER these school holidays.

Right-o. School holiday time again and desperate parents throughout Australia are trying to find fun ways to get through the break without killing their offspring. With Christmas just around the corner, it’s also great to find a few ways to pass the time without spending too much money.

I’ve done a bit of web trawling and here are some ideas about how to fill in those spare half hours (when the kids are starting to climb the walls)

Every kid I know is in love with Mister Maker. Amazing how a few empty containers and some silver paint can keep them busy for a bit. It doesn’t get much easier (or more unisex) than his Lolly Stick Lizard project that you can make in 1 minute.

Despite kids getting older, they still love to have a go with play dough – they can add a few paddle pop sticks and straws and start making a few more sophisticated things. There’s a nice article and playdough recipes at Sixty Second parent. Girls might like to add a big handful of glitter to their dough to make it all fairy sparkly.

The other morning on ABC 702, Adam Spencer played ‘Popcorn’ by Hot Butter. Remember it? Far out, my kids went nuts. So now it is on high Youtube rotation. A Youtube disco is great, since it is FREE. While you’re in the silly song groove, check out Yolanda Be Cool Vrs DCup – We No Speak Americano which will have them jumping about like idiots. And then finish them off with anything by Fatboy Slim, although The Rockafeller Skank has strange people dancing in weird dress-ups, a cowboy clad DJ and breakdancing. All good fun.

If you’re keen for a bit of kitchen time (after you’ve made all of my recipes, of course), check out Annabel Karmel’s cooking with kids section for a good range of recipes. Usually though, the kids just want to make sweet stuff – nothing beats this
chocolate chip cookies recipes from Martha Stewart kids.

And if they’re still bored? They can design and make a lounge room cubby house or whip up this cute paper chatterbox from www.freshforkids.com.au (which comes with instructions).

And don’t forget the craft worksheets that I’ve already posted on here. Reprint and do them again – kids don’t seem to mind the repetition!

So that’s my list. But what’s on yours?

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Boys will be boys, and girls will be (quite annoyed) girls

September 9, 2010 · Filed under Craft for non-crafty parents · Tagged craft, ideas, kids

There’s no two ways about it. Miss Fruitarian is pissed off.

Demarcation lines in our house are usually strictly adhered to. She does the craft. Mr Meat & Potatoes plays with cars. It’s a gender divide that I would have denied existed 6 years ago, but I now know, that there is some inherent boy and girl gene that prevails over all nurturing factors. It’s the gene that stipulates that most boys like blue, machine noises and farts and most girls prefer skipping places whilst wearing frilly outfits.

And what have I done? Well, with my space boy and my soccer team craft projects, I have CROSSED THE LINE. And she’s not happy.

Yes, the neighbours did see me do this.

So here, dedicated to my little lovely, is the girliest of all girly crafts. A pretty birdie with cute patterns that you can colour, cut and paste. You can use them in a dainty collage (as Miss F has demonstrated below), or do several, stick them to lengths of curling ribbon and voila! You have a birdie mobile. Of course, actually taking them outside and putting them in trees where your neighbours can see you, is optional.

Maybe just stay indoors and make your little girl's day.

Go on, I dare you. This is foolproof craft, for non-crafty parents. Give it a try.

Download the birdie craft worksheet as a PDF.

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We love you dad!

September 2, 2010 · Filed under Craft for non-crafty parents, News · Tagged breakfast, celebrations, craft, parenting

It’s Father’s day in Australia this weekend. We don’t do much to celebrate in our house. Particularly since both kids are now toilet trained. That used to the best part of birthdays and special parent days – sending the child with the poo in his pants to your partner, knowing that you just weren’t going to have to deal with it. For his final hurrah last mother’s day, a 3-year-old Mr Meat & Potatoes decided to poo three times in the one day. The bliss! The joy! Escaping multiple sticky revolting messes and knowing that he was all cleaned out for the next day too.

So without nappy avoidance, it’s back to more traditional, servitude methods of celebrating my husband’s greatness. I’ll cook and clean and give him a day off. And I’ve made this week’s craft with a decidedly male bent. No dad will be able to resist these soccer players. They’ll immediately be down on the floor with their little champions screaming “ole ole ole ole”.

Ole ole ole ole! Fun for dads too!

Mr Meat & Potatoes is modelling here. The PDF of the Italian football team comes complete with the pitch and 11 players with two different finger hole sizes – one for dad and one for his little protégé. Keep in mind I’ve allowed for big fingers – you might need to cut the size of the circles to suit the digits of your loved ones.

Baggio has nothing on Mr Meat & Potatoes

And while they’re immersed in their blokey fun, why don’t you whip up these oaty banana pancakes for breakfast. Then later in the day, when they’ve moved to the couch to watch footy finals, you can present them with these healthy and tasty sausage rolls.

Don’t worry, just smile, grin and bear it. Life returns to normal tomorrow.
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128 pages, 40 projects, 85 pages of printables…

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Vegie Smugglers

Archive for Craft for non-crafty parents

Christmas silly but fun (festive ways with loo rolls!)

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas….

This is Major Tom to ground control

Super silly but super fun

Why I hate the Jamie Oliver haters

We’ve got those ‘first day of term’ blues

The real reason I do craft (is to get the gossip)

School holiday fun (on the cheap)

Boys will be boys, and girls will be (quite annoyed) girls

We love you dad!

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