I spy with my little eye :: get your activity on

There are sooooo many great ideas out there we want to try. Here's a few on our current "do it" list:
:: Storytelling stones are the flavour flave of the blog world at the moment and we're busy collecting to make a set for some outdoor Spring time play.
These are from Amy at Sweet Sweet Life. Too. cute. clever. lady.
Check these links for tutes and inspiration too:
—red bird crafts
—maya*made

:: And while we are collecting suitable stones for that project we're also looking for little pebbles for this one:
Alphabet pebble magnets from the amazing Playful Learning.

:: Okay so I may not understand what she is saying but I really enjoy the pictures and ideas on this blog. I'm feeling this felt car mat in a big way and am thinking I could really go to town and bling it up big time (I promise to share if I pull my finger out on this one).

:: This little study centre over at FamilyFun reminded me that I had bookmarked the same idea over at Martha quite some time ago. I think it's time this mama rocked it for our little homework-beaver. Actually I could use one of these to hide behind when I'm laptoping.


:: And this fairy furniture from Monkey Lobster is just the freakin bees knees, no? The littles (not to mention the fairy folk) are going to go nuts and this mama may just pass out from the cuteness of it all!
Right-o then, best be off to make some of this magic actually happen in real life. Have you got any fun projects on the boil at your place? Feel free to share your links x

Christmas eve making: stockings out of old pillowslips

It's not too late to whip up a quick Christmas stocking for your kids. In previous years we have used stockings that someone gave us but I was never really in love with them so this year I left them in the box when we decorated and just kind of pushed the stocking thing to the back of my mind. Yesterday I couldn't escape the guilt of not having stockings any longer so we decided to make our own out of old pillow slips. It took about an hour and we did it all by hand. They are by no means perfect stocking shapes but they are ours and very manageable for five and three year old helping hands to get involved with. I raided the sewing basket and used old ribbons, some felt (as pockets for a little note to Santa), buttons, and even iron on patches. As you can see the only part of the pillow case I cut was the top front boot shape and re-sewed the edges together. They will be lying on the foot of some pretty excited little people's beds tonight in anticipation of being full of fun things come the morning (note to self: don't panic, of course you have enough gifts to fill the stockings. There will be NO ducking to the shops on Christmas Eve, that's why you get your Christmas shopping done early. You would only waste money on useless plastic crap that would end up as landfill in a couple of weeks. Okay, deep breath...). I can't believe it's Christmas Eve! My excitement levels are nearing the little ones' now (obviously!).